Boxing News

When discussing great pound for pound fighters, Evander Holyfield is rarely mentioned in the debate. Yet, Holyfield was not just a great Heavyweight but he was the premier cruiserweight before becoming a heavyweight. As a heavyweight fighter, he was one of the best of his generation.

As a cruiserweight, Holyfield was the first true superstar of that division. His domination of the division began when he took a split decision over Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the WBA Cruiserweight Championship. Qawi, an excellent light heavyweight before moving up to snatch the cruiserweight championship, was a tough swarming fighter. More...

Woozel, Boxing, and Me is Rusty Rubin's most recent book. Over the past two years, the industrious Mr. Rubin has written three books. (I should forewarn the readers that I co-authored Mr. Rubin second book, Billy Soose, The Champion that Time forgot. I also contribute to Mr. Rubin magazine.) This is Mr. Rubin best book for it gives us an insight in the world of boxing as well Mr. Rubin own personality.

Throughout the book, we view Mr. Rubin own odyssey and his relationship with Susiey "Woozel" Walker, a close friend. Rusty details his own health problems that and his own journey recovering from heart ailments that nearly killed him and the road back to health. Yet through all of this, Rubin own optimistic view of life never changed. For Rubin, his writing was his life but it was a career that never made him rich. Rubin never measured his wealth in money but in the friends that he made.

This book is two books in one. It is a story of a relationship between two close friends and it is a book about boxing. Rubin relays his own view on boxing and add contribution by many of his friends. More...

James Toney is one of the all time greats. For nearly two decades, this warrior has fought many of the best fighters of his generation from Middleweights to heavyweights. Against Sam Peter, one of the Heavyweight division heavy-handed sluggers, Toney escaped danger time and time again. In a close fight that saw him on the losing end of a split decision, Toney's jab found its mark repeatedly. There were times that the old boxer found himself stunned but he not only survived but he bloodied both the nose and lips of the stronger Peter. This fight could have easily been scored in Toney's favor and most ringside observers including Showtime Al Bernstein had Toney winning the fight.

On paper, this was a fight that should never have gone the distance. Peter was younger, stronger and had the bigger punch. Yet, Toney threw accurate combinations and if he was not dodging Peter sledgehammer punches, he took them. Say what you want about Toney, the guy can take a punch. Toney was one of those rare fighters who could do it all in the ring. He could fight from the outside and box or he could fight inside. He could counter you off the ropes or he could simply embarrass you in the middle of the ring.

If Toney showed his greatness, Peter showed improvement from his last big fight with Wladimir Klitschko. In that latter fight, Peter followed the Ukrainian around the ring and Klitschko continuously peppered Peter with his piston like jab. Peter never cut off the ring and he rarely punched the body. More...

What Can Be Seen Below The Maddening Crowd

There is sadness in Boxingville as no American boxer holds any of the Heavyweight crowns. With Oleg Maskaev demolition of Hassim Rahman, the Heavyweight division is left with only one true American legitimate contender in Calvin Brock. While there are some hopeful below Calvin Brock such as Tony Thompson or Ray Austin, there is little to suggest that these heavyweights have the stuff to seriously challenge the Eastern bloc, in particular Serguei Lyakhovich and Wladimir Klitschko.

At the beginning of the 20th century, there was a mad dash to find the Great White Hope to defeat the great Jack Johnson. Now in one of the great irony of history, there is now an push by American promoters to find the next great American Heavyweight Hope to challenge the solid white Russian bloc that now dominate the Heavyweight division, any ethnicity can apply. Every where there is a cry, "Where is the next great American Heavyweight?" Sounds like a plot for the next Contender reality series. More...

What to Watch For

The James Toney-Samuel Peter has the feel of the Chris Byrd-Ike Ibeabuchi bout nearly a decade ago. That bout featured an up and coming Nigerian fighter vs. a slick American boxer. Byrd's quickness versus Ibeabuchi's power and in that fight, power overcame the quickness.

Toney is the master boxer and is the kind of fighter who is hard to hit even when he is standing in front of you. Peter is a power-punching machine who can crack opponent's body parts with sledgehammer power. This is an intriguing match up since Toney has the ability to embarrass you and Peter can stop you with just one shot.

Toney has so far shown that he can compete with the heavyweight elites. He beat Ruiz even though steroid use caused the result to be changed to no contest. He held on to force a draw, controversial as it was, with Hassim Rahman. Peter first big fight with Wladimir Klitschko ended with Peter knocking Klitschko down three times; but losing by decision. Peter was nearly stopped in the last round and the Ukrainian out boxed the Nigerian Nightmare most of the night for an easy decision despite hitting the canvas three times. More...