Boxing Articles - Fight Reports ...

Boxing Champions of 1974 Verses 2004 By Simon Harrison

As I lack any kind of originality, I thought I would put spin on an old idea, which I have written about before. A couple of week ago I celebrated my 30th birthday, so I thought I would do a little piece to assess the strength of boxing on July 23 2004 against the date of my birth; July 23 1974. So here is my take on contests from Flyweight though to Heavyweight... More


Lennox Lewis Legacy By Simon Harrison

"There's no way I could ever beat him. He's just too big and too strong. I'm just glad he didn't kill me. He's a magnificent fighter." The words of a drug free; free thinking; lucid speaking Mike Tyson; after the bout with Lewis... More


Julio Cesar Chavez By Simon Harrison

We all know boxing is great, and one of the reasons is, it is as a sport totally unique. And for all the massive advantages this "uniqueness' gives the sport, there are some draw backs. One of the saddest is we often see our heroes of yesteryear destroyed in front of us. Saturday night in Mexico, hopefully the last ring appearance of Julio Cesar Chavez occurred.... More


Class of 1994 Against Class of 2004 By Simon Harrison

Who wins in a battle of the class of 2004 against the class of 1994? Below is my take on the battle from 126 up, as my current knowledge of anyone 122 and under is criminally poor...More


What If.... By Simon Harrison

The general consensus is that the 70s was the golden era of heavyweight boxing, and that this helps Ali be perceived as the "greatest' champion of the division. But some on this site claim Tyson as the best. So I thought I would put Tyson back 25 years, so that his career time mirrored Ali, and see in my opinion how he would of done, against the fighters of the Ali era.. It also helps that Tyson's career length, nearly mirrors that of Ali.More


All Time Heavyweight Boxing Tournament By Simon Harrison

Below is my all time Heavyweight tournament; What if a mythical tournament could be made up of all the heavyweight champs since the use of Queensberry rules started the modern era of boxing?More


KEN NORTON - SHOULD HE REALLY BE IN THE HALL OF FAME? By Jim Amato

Seven and a half years ago the very personable and popular Ken Norton was enshrined in Boxing's Hall of Fame. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. I met Ken a couple of years ago in Canastota. More


Here's A Dozen Boxing Super Fight Duds By Jim Amato

Well right now the big hoopla is the proposed Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. meeting. If these two do hook up it will be a box office bonanza. I want it to happen. I still have my doubts that it will come off. Nevertheless it is the fight that the fans want to see.More


THE RISE AND NEVER FALL OF GEORGE CHUVALO By Jim Amato

For most of the 1960's and part of the early 1970's Canadian George Chuvalo was a mainstay in the talent rich heavyweight ratings. RING Magazine founder Nat Fleischer called George on of the most durable fighters he had ever seen.More


The Eight Man Elimination Boxing Tournament By Jim Amato

April 27th of this year will mark the 35th anniversary of one of the World Boxing Association's crowning achievements. The grand finale of their eight man elimination tournament to find a successor for the deposed Muhammad Ali.More


Manuel Ramos By Jim Amato

When you think of Mexican fighters it is usually a tough little hombre like a Ruben Olivares, Vincente Saldivar or Julio Cesar Chavez. More often then not the better battles from Mexico scaled under 160lbs.More


JACK "The Giant" O'HALLORAN By Jim Amato

As Muhammad Ali ruled the heavyweight division in the mid 60's, white hope contenders came and went. Henry Cooper, George Chuvalo and Karl Mildenberger all were vanquished by the "Greatest".More


Joe Louis v Max Schmeling By Lee Bellfield

It was 1936 and Jesse Owens was winning 4 gold medals at the Berlin Summer Olympics. In boxing the new heavyweight prospect was Joe Louis who was unbeaten as a professional on his way to a world title shot.More


The Sugar Ray Leonard - Roberto Duran Trilogy By Lee Bellfield

A classic rivalry between two different boxing styles and personalities. Duran who was stepping up to welterweight had been the lightweight champion for 6 years between 1972 and 1978. Leonard was a 1976 Olympic Gold medallist and had won the WBC welterweight championship from Wilfred Benitez in a classic boxing match with a 15th round knockout in November 1979.More


Hasim Rahman v John Ruiz By Jim Amato

On December 13th in Atlantic City two former heavyweight champions will fighting for their career survival. Hasim "Rock" Rahman will take on former W.B.A. title claimant John Ruiz.More


Esteban De Jesus - A Tragic Story By Jim Amato

If ever a boxer was a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, it was Puerto Rico's Esteban De Jesus. This former one time claimant of the W.B.C. lightweight title may have been the best Puerto Rican 135 pounder since Carlos Ortiz.More


Boxing Classics - Jack Johnson v Tommy Burns - December 26 1908 By Lee Bellfield

History was to be made on this momentous day in 1908. For the first time ever in boxing history a black man was to fight for the World Heavyweight Championship. Sure black men were allowed to fight for lesser weight titles but not the biggest prize in sports.More


Mike Tyson - How it could have been By Simon Harrison

So after 19 years "Iron' Mike finally has decided to hang up his gloves. We all know that he has pretty much been in semi-retirement for the last 3 years, but I think the death of his manager Bill Cayton was the final straw.More


Boxing Classics - The Muhammad Ali v Joe Frazier Trilogy - 1971-1975 By Lee Bellfield

Probably the most famous rivalry in boxing history. When Muhammad Ali was stripped of his championship in 1967 following refusal of the draft to fight in the Vietnam War the heavyweight championship was thrown into a state of confusion.More


Boxing Classics - Jess Willard v Jack Dempsey - July 4 1919 By Lee Bellfield

Independence day In 1919 was to begin a new era in heavyweight boxing. The era of the Manassa Mauler.More


Battle of Britain By Simon Harrison

Who produces the best boxers in UK is it the south? Is it the rest of the country? Below is my take on a South of Britain verses the rest of the UK. The fighters are in my opinion the best produced by the respective area in the last 30 years or so.More


Boxing Classics - Sonny Liston v Cassius Clay - February 25 1964 By Lee Bellfield

It was the summer of 1960. Floyd Patterson was the World Heavyweight Champion. Sonny Liston was terrorising the division. And Light Heavyweight Cassius Clay was winning Olympic Gold in Rome despite being afraid of flying. Little did we know at this time Clay and Listons paths would cross again.More


Larry Hard Luck Middleton By Jim Amato

What would you say about a fighter who met the likes of Ken Norton, Ron Lyle, Jimmy Ellis, Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonevena and Joe Bugner? All boxers who either held or fought for the world's heavyweight championship.More


Jose Torres By Jim Amato

There was a time in the mid 60's that revolved around who would be Muhammad Ali's next opponent. The former Cassius Clay was chewing up and spitting out challengers with alarming ease.More


Marvis Frazier - The Lost Son By Jim Amato

The camera rolls and the highlight clip begins. It shows a young, undefeated but green Marvis Frazier dancing while taunting heavyweight champion Larry Holmes. In the blink of an eye Holmes unloads a right hand sucker shot that sends Marvis backward and into a sprawled position on the canvas.More


Joey Carkido By Jim Amato

The great city of Youngstown, Ohio has produced many a fine fighter. Lenny and Ray Mancini, Tommy Bell, Tony Janiro, "Red" D'Amato and Harry Arroyo, etc...More


Boxing's Big Mac By Jim Amato

Long before Mark McGwire was launching tape measure home runs in Oakland and acquiring the nickname "Big Mac", West Coast sports fans used to cheer the feats of another "Big Mac". MacArthur Foster a heavyweight boxer from Fresno, California won his first 24 professional bouts all by knockout.More


Salvador Sanchez Alexis Arguello By Jim Amato

It is a shame that Salvador Sanchez never had a chance to reach his full potential. His tragic car accident cut short any already outstanding career. He dominated the featherweight division after his title winning knockout of the respected Danny Lopez. Nine defenses followed including wins over Juan La Porte More


INTERVIEW WITH HAROLD LEDEMAN - HBO BOXING By Jim Amato

What would an HBO boxing telecast be like without the voice and input of guest judge Harold Lederman? Harold has become a mainstay with the popular HBO broadcast team. More


Cus D'Amato By Hornfinger

Cus D'Amato guided Floyd Patterson to the top and 30 years later met a troubled Brooklyn teenager who had drifted into a life of petty crime and thuggery. This teenager was Mike Tyson. Tyson was sent to a reform school, which looked to set him up for a life in and out of incarceration, with every possibility that his felonies would become more and more serious as he reached adulthood.More


Jimmy Ellis By Jim Amato

It's too bad that the cruiserweight division was not around in the 60's and 70's. Many fine boxers scaled under 190 pounds and gave creditable performances against bigger men. Doug Jones is an example as he came close to upsetting Cassius Clay in 1963.More


Archie Moore The Old Mongoose By Jim Amato

He was possibly the greatest light heavyweight of all time, The wily "Old Mongoose" Archie Moore. The man who scored 140 knockouts in a career that spanned from 1936 to 1963 never lost his crown in the ring.More


Al Lewis The Blue Bomber By Jim Amato

The late 60's and early 70's spawned an array of fistic talent in the heavyweight division. From the great champions Patterson, Liston, Ali, Frazier and Foreman along with Ellis and Terrell to the parade of bonafide contenders. Almost always among the top contenders of the day were the names of Chuvola, Quarry, Bonevena, Norton, Lyle, Shavers,Bugner, Leotis Martin and Henry Clark.More


Candy Slim Remember Him? By Jim Amato

He began his career in 1964 but it was not until 1973 that he crashed into the heavyweight ratings. In between were periods of inactivity and a multitude of meaningless bouts.More


Eastman Vs Calzaghe Eubank Benn Collins Watson By Isaac Shaw

After watching Howard Eastman dominate Hacine Cherifi, who is regarded by the WBA as a top ten middleweight, it was clear he is a fighter who really should be a world champion.More


Ray Mancini Vs Harry Arroyo Boxing Article By Jim Amato

Let us make believe that it is 1984 again and the management of Ray Mancini decided NOT to defend his W.B.A. lightweight title against Livingstone Bramble. Instead they opt to unify at least part of the championship against cross town rival Harry Arroyo, the I.B.F. title holder.More


Evander The Real Deal Holyfield Boxing Article By Isaac Shaw

So Evander Holyfield, the "Warrior' the "Real Deal' and perhaps now we can write "Shot Fighter' is to fight James Toney in the highly anticipated "War on Oct 4.' I've decided to write this piece before the fight as I can see no benefit to Holyfield, win or lose, and his career.More


The Sad Saga of Thad Spencer By Jim Amato

At one time he was the most prominent heavyweight in the world beside of the deposed Muhammad Ali and streaking Olympic Gold Medalist Joe Frazier. He was the favorite to win the hastily put togetherWBA elimination tourney that was set up to find a successor to the alleged draft dodger Ali.More


THEY COULD HAVE BEEN CLASSICS By Jim Amato

In April of 1967, Jimmy Ellis pounded out a fifteen round decision over Jerry Quarry to win the vacant W.B.A. heavyweight championship. In March of 1968, Joe Frazier halted Buster Mathis to win heavyweight title recognition in New York State.More


Prince Charles Williams By Jim Amato

One of the best boxers to come out of Ohio in the last twenty years is "Prince" Charles Williams of Mansfield, who held the IBF light-heavyweight title from October 29, 1987 to March 20, 1993.More


Lightning Strikes.... Again! By Jim Cawkwell

Seven pounds and several degrees of commitment and entertainment beneath the main event to be discussed shortly, Zab Judah relieved Demarcus Corley of his WBO championship in a bout that saw both men turn in unexpectedly subdued performances.More


Jerry Quarry By Jim Amato

Mike Tyson was the self proclaimed "Baddest Man On The Planet." Even after his decisive loss to Buster Douglas in 1990 and three year exile to prison many still believed him. His two subsequent losses to Evander Holyfield have now changed all that.More


Holyfield Vs Toney By Jim Amato

Well, finally, the heavyweight division is heating up. No longer will the fans have to worry about the ups and downs of Mike Tyson. Granted he's still a factor but an old factor. The division will survive. If it survived the Tubbs, Page, Witherspoon era, it will survive today.More


Laila Ali vs Christy Martin By Jim Amato

What's The Point ? There is nothing like a bench clearing brawl in a baseball or a tussle at a pre- fight press conference to bring the highlight clips to the top of the newscast. Baseball players will most liekly be fined. Highlighted boxers will most likely be rewarded. What's wrong with this picture?More


Joe Bugner By Jim Amato

Well, let's get this over with once and for all. Who was the best white heavyweight since Ingo, or since 1960? Many names come to mind but few have reached the pinnacle of world champion status. You could make a case for South African Gerrie Coetzee who briefly held the W. B. A. crown. More


If I Were Mike Tyson By Jim Amato

Just imagine that at one time you the most feared boxer in the world. You are the self proclaimed "Baddest man on the planet", and nobody dares to doubt you. Trevor Berbick, Tyrell Biggs, Pinklon Thomas and Larry Holmes have crumbled at your feet. Michael Spinks tasted your power and never boxed again. It all ended in 1990 when Buster Douglas exposed you More


Roy Jones Jr By Jim Amato

Roy Jones Jr., by far the class of the 175 pound weight division at this time. His decisive knockout of Virgil Hill and his lopsided decision victory over Lou Del Valle solidified that distinction. How would Jones have fared in an era where there was some real competiton? Where would he have fit in during the talent rich 70's and early 80's? I have picked who, in my opinion, were the ten best light heavyweights of that time period. Eight were champions and two were long time contenders. I then matched each against Roy in scheduled fifteen round bouts as they were back then. Based on my recollections of these boxers talents, I have formed the following scenarios. More


Boxing Article - FLIGHT OF THE HAWK By Jim Amato

We've read about it in newspapers and in magazines. Throughout the 80's it was hot boxing news. The crash and burn career of former champion Aaron Pryor made headlines for a decade. Now the whole story is out in a book titled, "FLIGHT OF THE HAWK." Pryor tells all about his ups and downs in and out of the ring. After reading this book you'll realize that Aaron's toughest battles were not against Alexis Arguello but against the demons of the street. More


GREGORIO "GOYO" PERALTA By Jim Amato

Sometimes it isn't just talent that makes someone successful inside the ropes. A generous dash of luck usually helps. Also being in the right place at the right time doesn't hurt. Unfortunately for Gregorio Peralta of Argentina on this occasion two out of three isn't good. He had talent and lots of it but he lacked luck and the ability to be in the right place. Peralta was a throw back to the cagey old veteran boxers of decades before. More


DOYLE BAIRD By Jim Amato

The Rubber City of Akron has probably never produced anything resilient then a boxer named Doyle Baird. Rugged and balding, he was often compared to Carmen Basilio in looks and his swarming style. After a fine amateur career he turned professional in 1966 under the wing of Don Elbaum. After defeating Ted Wright two years later he had amassed a 23-2 record. On October 14, 1968, Doyle fought middleweight champion Nino Benvenuti in a non-title bout at the Akron Rubber Bowl.More


LEOTIS MADE THEM NOTICE By Jim Amato

It was December of 1969 and Charles "Sonny" Liston, the former world's heavyweight champion was making a serious run toward another title shot. After his two humiliating losses to Clay-Ali, Sonny was considered washed up. When he began his comeback against weak opposition it drew little attention. With Ali forced out of action due to his stand on the Vietnam War,More


Cleveland Pride; Joey Maxim By Jim Amato

The proud city of Cleveland takes great pride this Hall Of Fame weekend to remember their Hall of Famer and former world light heavyweight champion Joey Maxim. Born Guiseppe Antonio Bernardinelli on March 22, 1922 in Cleveland. Joey turned professional in 1941 after a successful amateur career. He took his name "Maxim" because his rapid-fire jab resembled the Maxim machine gun. It's a jab that carried him through 115 professional fights against the likes of Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott, Sugar Ray Robinson, Archie Moore, Jimmy Bivins, Freddie Mills, Gus Lesnevich and Floyd Patterson. More


Can "Bad" Bernard Cage Toney"The Tiger" ? By Jim Amato

Well it's all set. On August 9th in Las Vegas World Middleweight Champion Bernard Hopkins will take on Cruiserweight titleholder James Toney. At one time Toney was a very good middleweight champion. He also held the super middleweight title and was a high ranking light heavyweight for many years. He recently rejuvenated his career capturing the Cruiserweight Title from Vassily Jirov in a candidate for fight of the year. More


Q and A with former IBF lightweight champ Harry Arroyo By Jim Amato

During the mid-1980's Youngstown's Harry Arroyo established himself as one of boxing's most popular fighters on television. His stirring battles with "Choo Choo" Brown, "White Lightning" Brown and Terrence Alli made him a household favorite. A potential matchup with cross-town rival Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini loomed in the future but it wasn't meant to be. Harry lost his title to the clever Kronkster Jimmy Paul. Subsequent losses to then unknown Sammy Fuentes and future champions Vinny Pazienza and Loreto Garcia forced Harry out of the limelight. He then became a stepping stone for young boxers like Carl Griffith to make their way toward title shots. More


A NIGHT AT THE FIGHTS FEATURING HERBIE HIDE AND THE REAL CLASS OF 2002 By Adeyinka Makinde

Mick Hennessy is a truly new breed of promoter. It is Hennessy's concept to market a set of young, promising professional fighters known as the Real Class of 2002, in manner that binds them all together as if all were inextricably bonded in one, common destiny. They share the same trainer, Robert McCracken, are jointly promoted and advertised in grandiosely constructed posters while most, and occasionally all in the stable tend to fight on the same date. But Hennessy is innovative in another more fundamentally critical manner. This is in the manner of the selection of the opponents for his fighters. The part scientific, part esoteric exercise of the promoter-manager in "bringing along' their promising charges at the right pace is one that involves a complex interplay of skill, pragmatism and opportunism.

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Fight Reports - A NIGHT AT THE FIGHTS FEATURING TAKALOO By Adeyinka Makinde

The name Mehrdud Takalobighashi is doubtless not one that resonates with any scintilla of familiarity in the boxing world at large. However, shorten the surname, then narrow the geographic scope and Takaloo, an Iranian-born but British bred fighter based in the English seaside resort town of Margate, assumes a higher level of recognition. Takaloo, in fact, is currently one of the more popular figures among the British fight fraternity. Fighting in the light middleweight division, he is already a two-time "world" champion; title holder, that is, of the WBU belt. Slick boxing and powerful punching are the hallmarks of the 28 year old whose fights are trailed by a merry band of fanatical supporters. His opponent on the twenty-fourth of May at Bethnal Greens York Hall in a Sports Network sponsored promotion was the Dominican veteran, Josa (nee Jose Jaoquin) Rosa-Gomez .

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Jameel "Big Time" McCline By Jim Cawkwell

For a fighter who speaks of himself in the third person outside the ring, Jameel McCline exhibits a strange lack of confidence once inside it. His hunger for success and positive outlook cannot be denied but both are undermined by several factors that contribute to what could be described as an often hesitant or supressed ring style. I have often watched McCline with a sense of frustration, wondering how a man with such awesome physical attributes can perform in such a subdued manner. Debuting as a professional fighter on October the 10th 1995, McCline did not have the comfort of an extensive amateur background to cushion his early experiences.

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Lightning Strikes By Jim Cawkwell

The morning of January 26th 2002 saw Shane Mosley as not only the world's premier welterweight, but also a top three pound for pound candidate, meanwhile, the pugilistic abilities of Vernon Forrest were only esoterically understood. The aftermath of Mosley-Forrest staged at Madison Square Garden that same day is proof of how dramatically a destiny can be changed.

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Fight Report - Kostya Tszyu Vs Jesse James By Jim Cawkwell

Of all the stars currently lighting up light welterweight skies, that of Jesse James Leija was not generally considered to be among the brightest. For all the sympathy he was afforded following his moral victory over the reluctant Camacho.jr, the boxing community's confidence in him to dethrone undisputed king Kostya Tszyu was not high.

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A NIGHT AT THE FIGHTS -FEATURING THE REAL CLASS OF 2002.....AND HOWARD EASTMAN By Adeyinka Makinde

The idea and role of the boxing promoter has perhaps become predictable over the last few decades. The young up and coming ones have been apt at simply applying tried and tested formula's inherited by the passing guards, adapting to the realities of change only out of necessity rather than as part of a substantively thought out desire to be innovative. So while accommodation is made in relation to cable pay-per-view and television rights as avenues for box office and sponsorship, little has been done in terms of marketing the sport in refreshingly new ways.

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When the "0" goes By Jim Cawkwell

Years pass and many fighters make their mark upon boxing, some good, some great...some sensational, possessing almost inconceivable talent. You can revisit the history books and see a fantastic array of styles and personalities, men that have given us moments to savour as long as boxing lives. Something they all share though is the inescapable scrutiny of the media and fans of the boxing community. One of the most interesting aspects of this is the reaction fighters receive when they lose their unbeaten record and of course the reaction of the fighters themselves.

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Thoughts On The Vargas Steroid Controversy By Rossboxing.com

Historic boxing matches leave us with images and memories that last a lifetime. Classic bouts between Ali and Frazier, battles between Hagler, Leonard, and Hearns, and countless others leave impressions forever in our minds. Such fights are remembered for the prowess and heart that these athletes demonstrate in the ring. Recently, we were treated to a battle of two world champions, when Oscar de la Hoya and Fernando Vargas fought on September 14th. Unfortunately, due to recent steroid allegations against Fernando Vargas, this bout may be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

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THE BENN-EUBANK-WATSON RIVALRY By Adeyinka Makinde

"I'll hit him with so many lefts, he'll by crying for a right." Nigel Benn warning Michael Watson what to expect during their fight.

"If I don't get respect from Nigel Benn out of the ring, I certainly will get it inside" Michael Watson's retort.

"Boxing is a mugs game" Chris Eubank.

These statements sum up the respective personas of the participants in one of British boxings most compelling rivalries. Eubank, provocative, lispingly verbose, dapper, haughty and overtly pretentious, was the antithesis of the snarling, unabashedly brutal mien of Benn and both men, brash and flashy by nature, contrasted sharply with Watson, an uncomplicated man of reserved disposition.

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A NIGHT AT THE FIGHTS -FEATURING DANNY WILLIAMS By Adeyinka Makinde

On the evening of Tuesday 17th September, Bethnal Greens York Hall played host to the British and Commonwealth heavyweight championship bout featuring champion Danny Williams. Williams is an articulate, well-groomed convert to the Islamic faith who now is a familiar figure on BBC boxing presentations. Until recently in the company of Marvellous Marvin Hagler, Williams has being seen clutching his title belts while bandying opinions at Audley Harrison matches.

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He ain't heavy By Jim Cawkwell

Imagine you're Roy Jones. You're an athlete about as close to physical perfection as possible, but not just any athlete. The sport you're in is the hardest of them all, one on one, the ultimate confrontation. And you're the best...not only at your weight, but also in the entire world. You out-boxed James Toney when he was pound for pound the best in the business, and not by a little, by a mile. You beat Bernard Hopkins to the middleweight title he now defends, a unified champion with his own place in history. You stopped Virgil Hill with one body shot the list goes on.

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Roy Jones Jr By Dave Shaw

Roy Jones Jr. has achieved in this sport what every boxer dreams of when they first lace up a pair of gloves.being the best there is! Everyone knows Roy Jones Jr. is the very best that the sport has to offer! Why then, does Roy seem to think that he needs title belts to prove his greatness to his fans. It makes one wonder if Roy has ever heard the old saying that 'the title doesn't make the fighter, the fighter makes the title'.

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PETER OBOH By Adeyinka Makinde

York Hall, situated in the East London district of Bethnal Green, is one of the legendary venues of British boxing. It is, perhaps, the only remaining venue of this stature given the demise of Liverpool Stadium in the 1980's. But the halls reputation is not one that is based on architectural magnificence like the octagonal grandeur of 'The Ring' in Blackfriars or the massive environs of the Johnny Best era Liverpool Stadium or the big fight opulence of Madison Square Garden, rather York Hall, a picturesque Victorian edifice is small and understated. Like the late American 'farming' arena's such as New York City's St. Nicholas Arena, it's enduring charisma derives from it's hosting of those smaller promotions of the debutants, up and coming, the rising star and the champions-in-waiting.

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BOXING DIALOGUE - AN INTERVIEW WITH RON LIPTON By Adeyinka Makinde

New York born Ron Lipton has lived and breathed boxing for as long as he can remember. In the early 60's as a homeless seventeen-year-old son of recently divorced parents, he literally sought refuge amongst the boxing gymnasiums that proliferated Manhattan Island; meeting and sparring with legendary figures such as Dick Tiger and Rubin Carter. He competed in the 135-147lb class in Golden Gloves and AAU tourneys, winning three Golden Gloves titles and losing only three times in forty-two contests. He never fought a professional bout, turning instead to serve a distinguished career in law enforcement. After retiring from the police force due to injuries sustained in the course of duty, he turned his talents to writing on matters fistic and is a highly rated referee. As well as winning awards for his writing and his film & stage boxing choreography, Ron Lipton is the recipient of an award for lifetime services to the advancement of civil rights. In this frank and hard-hitting interview, Ron Lipton speaks about the game he loves and tells it as he sees it.

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MICHAEL GERARD TYSON: A PUGILISTIC OBITUARY By Adeyinka Makinde

Memphis, Tennessee is a city that is rich in culture and history. It is the home of Blues music deity W.C. Handy and Rock n'roll king Elvis Presley, both of whose legacies are preserved respectively in the garishly constructed tourist Mecca's of Beale Street and Graceland. The "Bluff City", a strategically vital plateau that overlooks the river Mississippi, has over the centuries formed the backdrop to acts of subjugation: the Chickasaw Indians conquered by the Spanish; the Spanish outmanoeuvred by the French; the French deposed by the English; the English overthrown by the Americans and the secessionist confederate states of the South overrun by the North during the American civil war. Add to the list of vanquished that of Michael Gerard Tyson,

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The Artist Formerly Known As Prince By Jim Cawkwell

The debate over the illegitimacy of Manuel Calvo as a credible opponent for Naseem Hamed's return was settled long ago, but trust Hamed to turn a seemingly routine assignment into a higher drama. The first disgruntling aspect of the proceedings was the long awaited entrance. No doubt at his own insistence Hamed was announced as the undisputed featherweight champion of the world, a statement that surely made any knowledgeable fan keenly anticipating the true featherweight championship contest between Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales cringe.

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RETREADING HAGLER VERSUS HEARNS By Adeyinka Makinde

There are only a few fights among the many which litter the annals of boxing history that deserve the superlatives given to the middleweight championship bout held on April 16 1985 at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas between Marvin Hagler, the undisputed champion and Thomas Hearns, a world welterweight and super welterweight titlist. An eagerly anticipated bout at the time of its happening, the Hagler-Hearns clash superseded expectations and added a glorious chapter to the corpus of boxings most celebrated clashes.

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UK Joe Calzaghe vs Charles Brewer and undercard By Jim Cawkwell

Joe Calzaghe had been quoted earlier in the week on the preparation for his fights, his words were that he trains as if he is the challenger not the champion, after this performance we can safely say that he fights like the challenger too. Whereas his opponent Charles Brewer seemed oblivious to his status, acting as if he was the champion and not a fighter with several high profile losses behind him who may be on his last chance as a championship contender.

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Guerra! By Jim Cawkwell

My perception of a fight contested at the highest level in boxing has come to be that you have two athletes that have trained themselves to a physical peak, conditioning and capability second to none. They meet at a point of complete confrontation, to decide who is the stronger, faster, smarter and ultimately superior fighter. Surrounded by thousands they carve out a place for themselves, a solitary arena where intellect and explosive aggression are revealed. A place where every factor is crucial, timing, balance, weight, tactic an infinite number of possibilities. In any given moment the fight can be won or lost for either man.

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Now or never: Lewis-Tysonr By Jim Cawkwell

It's the greatest fight that just won't happen, at the very least, historically and economically Lewis-Tyson makes all the sense in the world but the latest in a catalogue of bizarre misdemeanours from Mike Tyson, a man who has come to define controversy leaves us in unfortunately familiar territory. No mans land. Their championship experience, respective styles, awesome power, personal rivalry and quest for historical placement make it a fight that would surely stand with the best of all time.

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Remembering Dick Tiger By Adeyinka Makinde

There perhaps have only been a few in the modern epoch of boxing who have represented the themes of blue collar fighter and ageless ring warrior as compellingly as did Richard Ihetu, better known by his ring pseudonymn, Dick Tiger. Indeed, it was once written that that he 'was the type of fighter who rolled up his sleeves, spat on his hands and went to work, giving an honest labouring mans effort. Each time. Everytime.' A succinctly unglamorous portrayal of a simple and uncomplicated man who bore the struggles and travails of a lifetime with admirable courage and dignity.

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Three Times a Charm By Jim Cawkwell

"You can do whatever you want around a sleeping elephant whatever you want, but when it wakes up, it tramples everything." One of my favourite quotes taken from the film, "When We Were Kings," depicting the epic battle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire, 1974 for the world heavyweight title. Lennox Lewis, much like his idol Ali had in 1974, walked towards the ring to contest the championship of the world but also towards his destiny. He also had to hear the doubters proclaiming his demise and summon the courage and mental strength to see him through his darkest hour.

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Lennox Lewis: Striving for a Place in History By Adeyinka Makinde

Lennox Lewis' four round destruction of Hasim Rahman in Las Vegas has given Lewis the twin satisfaction of revenging his loss to Rahman and garnered him a third heavyweight championship. But whether this will enable him to take his place among the pantheon of all-time great heavyweight champions is quite another matter. Rahmans knock out of Lewis, seven months earlier in South Africa, as unexpected and as shocking a defeat by a journeyman fighter of an incumbent champion as ever happened, will go down as one of boxings great upsets along with James Braddock's win over Max Baer and James 'Buster' Douglas' knock out of Mike Tyson.

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Pug of Ages "Weep for me" By Adeyinka Makinde

The saga of modern boxing, the sport of sanitised brutality continues into a new century. This in itself is something of an achievement, for many powerful interests have over the preceding decades taken the view that the existence of the sport, is inherently antithetical to the values held sacred within a functioning civilised society and still agitate for it's obliteration. The industry is thus forced time and again to justify itself, to revalidate and to campaign for its perpetuation. In every succeeding era, boxing, to borrow an overused phrase appears always to be on the ropes, absorbing each body blow tossed its way and suffering from a self inflicted cancer of corruption and fighter exploitation.

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Rekindle Old Rivalry By JD Vena

There are many additives within the sport that make boxing an intriguing game to follow. No, I'm talking about round card girls, which don't get me wrong are great, particularly the twins featured at the Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet. I'm referring to rivalries, more specifically, the heated ones. Like in most any other sport, a rivalry is what adds a little flavor to a match-up. I shouldn't even have to get into why you might have looked forward to seeing Cam Neeley step onto the ice with Claude LeMieux and I sure as hell better not have to explain why the Ali-Frazier series (between the dads of course) was so memorable, other than what took place between them in the squared circle.

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Tale of the Gator By Mike Fitzgerald

Of all my children Craig cried the least if at all. We did not have room for crybabies in our household. I remember one time I came home and there was blood everywhere. I didn't know what happened. I followed the trail of blood and it led to Craig. He was about seven at the time.

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On Greatness By Adeyinka Makinde

Right from the time of its making, the Bernard Hopkins-Felix Trinidad match up promised the victor a reward which would transcend the 'secondary issues' of multi-belt holder and financial remuneration. The writing and talking both between and within the lines pointed to a coronation of sorts; the anointing and appointing of the 'one left standing' as a bonafide great of the contemporary game and most likely a place among the standouts of the different era's. Indeed, the creation of the Sugar Ray Robinson Trophy in honour of the man many critics rank as the interdivisional champion of all time; or colloquially, as pound-for-pound, the most complete boxer

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Frankie DePaula: In Memorium By Adeyinka Makinde

Within the lexicography of Italian-American fighting legends are illustrious figures like Willie Pep, Jake LaMotta, Rocky Marciano, Carmen Basilio, Rocky Graziano, and Joey Giardello; all at one time or another champions of their respective weight divisions during the Twentieth Century. One name, which sadly will forever be missing from this exalted club, is that of Frankie DePaula, a New Jersey born brawling sensation of the 1960's. That DePaula has become known as a "nearly man' and "also ran' if not outright forgotten in the bowels of boxing historiography is not surprising but nevertheless is lamentably nothing short of a tragedy.

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Courage under fire Part 2 By Jim Cawkwell

Anyone who has seen the Marco Antonio Barrera-Prince Naseem Hamed fight or is familiar with my previous report covering it will be well aware of the rather bleak situation Naseem Hamed appears to be in today regarding his reputation and stature in world boxing. After all it is almost six months since the fight itself and we have nothing but rumours of his intentions, a statement regarding a press conference that has yet to materialise and an enduring memory of him describing how his first and only professional defeat must be the will of Allah.

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Anatomy of a Grudge Fight By Adeyinka Makinde

The recent conflagration between heavyweight champion, Hasim Rahman and his challenger Lennox Lewis may be given two differing interpretations. The first is to submit that both men have acted in a disgraceful manner unbefitting of world class sportsmen and should be chastised for bringing the game into disrepute, while the alternative view is to rejoice at the demystification of Lewis's reputation as the rather passionless prince of cool and celebrate the introduction of the element of personal animosity

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Patriotism and Boxing By Adeyinka Makinde

The passions evoked by the flag throwing shenanigans at the press conferences involving Bernard Hopkins and Felix Trinidad are of course not new to boxing as indeed it is not unfamiliar with the whole concept of sporting competition. In patriotism we find mankind laden with a highly charged and combustible smorgasbord of elemental emotions encompassing love and hatred (love for your kind and hatred for his opponent) as well as hope and fear (visions of glory should your man win entwined with a doomsday - like foreboding should he lose).

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Courage under fire By Jim Cawkwell

"Prince Naseem Hamed has been beaten!" Though it was hardly conceivable before the fight it was now a painful reality for Hamed as Marco Antonio Barrera sat above the huge crowd at the MGM Grand basking in the adulation that his performance warranted. Life is a series of moments and this one must have been as sweet as any experienced by Barrera in his career.

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The Forgotten Trainer of Ray Robinson By Harry Wiley

First of all I would like to thank Saddo and his terrific site, for making this possible. My dad was Harry Wiley the trainer of Sugar Ray Robinson . He was born 10/23/07 in New York City. After graduating from Dwitt Clinton in Manhattan he decided to have a go at...

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Everybody has a Price By Jim Cawkwell

The moment referee Daniel Van de Wiele counted ten over the fallen form of the now former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis the world of heavyweight boxing was ripped wide open. Lewis did not have the conditioning to rise from the savage right hand that a moment earlier had found it's way flush on to his jaw.

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