Boxing News

Rocky Marciano’s indomitable will to win was unmatched. He imposed that will on all of his forty-nine opponents and finished his career without ever tasting the bitter taste of defeat as a professional fighter. The only champion in history to retire

with an unblemished record, he is without a doubt one of the greatest heavyweight champions who ever lived. Never a technician, he was crude and undoubtedly lacked in the boxing skill department but it didn’t matter. He didn’t need the help of a jab, fancy feints or clever footwork, he was a natural born fighter who went into the ring and simply punched whatever he could, as often as he could, as hard as he could. Marciano famously clubbed and battered his opponent’s arms and shoulders until they could no longer keep them up to protect themselves, then went in for the kill. This was how he operated; the man was prepared to walk through fire and absolutely refused to lose. He possessed a rock solid chin and concussive power in both hands but what really separated him from the rest was his unbelievable conditioning. Because he was a smallish heavyweight at only five-feet-eleven-inches, he always felt at a disadvantage and took the line of thought that he needed to train twice as hard as everyone else if he was to be successful against naturally larger foes. It worked, the pressure he applied on his opponents was relentless and ultimately broke most of them down, he was a tank with no reverse gear. Here’s a look back at his career. More...

The movie of the life of James J. Braddock starts in a few weeks, titled the “Cinderella Man.” The big screen depicts Braddock and his family going through the hard times of the great depression. His struggles helped many unemployed rise above the poverty of the times. He gave them hope. Bankers and the rich looked up to Braddock as he hit

hard to climb into the seat as world champion. The nation's economy placed over twenty percent of the population in bread lines. Rather than allow his family to starve, he boxed to win the heavyweight championship of the world. Mr. Ron Howard always makes movies true to life. The movie holds on to the facts of the real life hero Braddock. The Braddock family watched the filming on location at the very old Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. The Maple Leaf Gardens still shows athletic events, one of the oldest stadiums left standing today. Ron Howard found and decided to film on this location since it looks much like the former Madison Square Garden Bowl. Madison Square Garden Bowl held thousands of fight fans when Braddock won the heavyweight championship of the world from Max Baer in 1935. The Braddock family plans to take part as extras during the very exciting fight scenes in the movie. More...

On March 3, Baby Joe Mesi fought with Vassiliy Jirov in Las Vegas. The fight went all Joe’s way until the final round. Joe pounded away taking almost every round in the fight, and in the last round, his head felt a crushing upper cut. Baby Joe took a couple of shots in the head and went down hard. At first, Joe kept coming forward, since he does not believe in stepping backward. Towards the end of the round, Joe hung on and finished the fight out. He showed us how he can take a punch. He graciously accepted the win over Jirov, and told us that he learn a lot from the fight, and would do better next time. Few boxers would rise off the mat to finish the round. Showing ring wise behavior, he finished with a few of his special hooks. He won on points. Later in the week, some rumors floated around that Joe developed a bruise on the brain. After a few months, this problem received confirmation by the Mesi camp. More...

There is no question that George Foreman was a phenomenal puncher, his raw power and killer instinct were devastating and made him arguably the most feared fighter who ever lived. He cemented his standing as an all time great heavyweight by regaining his title at the age of forty-five, becoming the oldest

man to win the heavyweight crown. So where does “Big George” rank as a heavyweight? Most of the lists I have seen over the years have him in the top five, almost always behind Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis but very often above the likes of Larry Holmes, Rocky Marciano and Jack Johnson who were all dominant champions in their respective eras. Was he greater than Jim Jeffries, Jack Dempsey, Joe Frazier, Evander Holyfield or Lennox Lewis? I'm going to look back over his career and you can make up your own mind. More...

When I was eleven, the best movie ever came out. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960) showed in the theaters and was a great Walt Disney first. Having my mother reading us to sleep, one of our favorite stories continued night after night the Mark Twain classic. We all loved Big Jim in the book, and when we saw him on the screen

for the first time, we just knew that this Jim appeared to us exactly like the book. The lovable giant in the movie showed us a big man, and a gentle man. Archie Moore played the kind Big Jim in the movie. We never guessed that this fellow really carried a past around with him: a record of 194 victims in the ring. Who believes in anyone ever coming close to the all time victim record in the ring? Who ever suspected that Huckleberry’s best friend showed no hint of the killing machine in the ring? His 141 career knockouts are still a boxing record, one considered unbreakable. After retiring from fighting, he stayed involved in boxing. He spent time training the likes of George Foreman (young and old), heavyweight contender Earnie Shavers, and the Nigerian Olympic boxing team. Born on Dec. 13, 1913 in Mississippi, he appeared a natural for the movie roll of Huckleberry Finn. With 229 bouts, he won 194 times, laying a foundation for an all time record of this number of victims. More...

Big George Foreman pounded the pulpit and preached Christianity to the congregation while we sat on the wooden pew. Thumping meaning into words, feelings of peace and love, the former champion hammered out points. Cleaned up, glorious George wooed the crowds with smiles and friendship. He chewed each word, as if steak-gravy

worked on mouthfuls in a meditative way. Almost hulking, as though burdened by heavy muscles, he gleamed from a face put in long years from the squared ring; an aggressive jaw smiled fresh-shaven, sprouted skin folding into a coffee grin. “Keep your chin up, but not too high. When life knocks you to the canvas, get back in there. No bell saves a chump. In 1977, after my fight with Jimmy Young, I became reborn again in the locker-room. The sleeper awakened. Reborn, and I retired from boxing.” George Foreman raised his heavy arms in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. George broadcast over the radio waves, counseled prisoners, and spent time in his youth and community center. Life of his arteries, veins stood up in the backs of his hands, large swollen knuckles, smashed and battered, a testament from the old days. Stretching the elasticity and pumping the blood flows, he pointed towards the stain-glass window of Christ. The big money, sharp glorious fighter, the 45,000 hours for the weary fifteen rounds, he heard nothing but his words boom, no yelling houses of whirlwind finishes. Brain and bones finished eloquent, helping the old guard see the light. More...

Rocky Marciano awoke slowly, the champ always slept before a fight. His eyelids kept falling shut again and again before they finally stayed open. He knew this was his last fight; the first thought crawled across his sleep-thickened mind. He wanted to stop this business, he’d probably tell his wife Barbara tomorrow. He slept on the gym bench, tumbled out of sleep, shivering in the fall air from the open windows. His last fight with Archie Moore loomed outside the steel doors. He needed to ready himself for the fight. His mouth tightened looking out into the bleak frosty night, making his blood run slow and deadening his reflexes. Lack of sunshine hurt his vision. Tonight, when his eyes must work perfectly, or lose, maybe die. Die. He pushed the thought away quickly. A groan rumbled in his chest. A full rest and still tired. He dropped his hands, sat staring at his veined hands, their backs almost bronze from the training camp. He flexed the blunt fingers, tried to work limberness into them, heard popping from hands to shoulders. The flesh felt stiff, something from his leather hide and bones. More...

Most fight fans never remember Kenny Norton as the real reason for the movie Rocky. We would never have had the great movie Rocky without his fight with Wepner in 1970, which created the spark for Stallone to make this fine film. Yes, Kenny Norton is the real Apollo Creed. Kenneth Howard Norton was born on August 9,

1945 in Jacksonville, Illinois. He fought at 210-pounds and was 6' 3" (1.91 m) in the ring. He become the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion in 1978, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in1992. His son worked as a linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers. He entered into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989. He was an aggressive fighter who could move with a confusing fluidity and he commanded a dangerous repertoire of punches. Unlike many fighters, Norton did not grow up boxing or dreaming of becoming a fighter. He played football, basketball, and track in high school and received a scholarship to Northeast Missouri State, which he attended for two years. More...

Jack Dempsey, the movie from 1983 stars Treat Williams and Sally Kellerman. The “Manassa Mauler’ walks across the screen and shows the life of Jack Dempsey. With him in the movie, it represents the last picture show of him since he died that year. The film opens in Utah in 1911, where the teenage Dempsey works out in hopes of cracking the big time. Eight years later,

Dempsey enters into his famous bout with reigning champion Jess Willard. From 1919 through 1926, Dempsey keeps the heavyweight championship title; he also carries on a wild and profligate private life, including an expensive marriage and even more expensive divorce with silent film star Estelle Taylor, his second wife and played by Victoria Tennant. Deanna Piatelli stayed with him until his death and she was the most loyal of his four wives. He also married Hannah Williams. Maxine Gates, played by Sally Kellerman and first of his wives, married Dempsey from 1916 until 1919. Treat Williams trained with Al Silvani, who worked with Stallone on the earliest Rocky epics. An excellent movie to watch and gather the facts of Dempsey’s life. He appears in the movies as himself and archive footage. More...

Last time out, I explained to you the beginnings of the period that brought us the heavyweights, known as the lost generation. I spoke to you about Leroy Jones, Tony Tubbs and Greg Page. This time I bring to you the careers of Michael Dokes, Tony Tucker and Pinklon Thomas. “Dynamite’ Michael Dokes began his career in 1976, defeating one Al Byrd in two rounds, slowly he built an eleven fight unbeaten record, before defeating (WU10) in March 1979, Wendall Bailey, who at the time had a 13-0 resume. Dokes followed this up in September 1979, by winning another ten-round decision over world ranked Jimmy Young. As the eighties began, Dokes at 13-0 was a hot prospect on the fringes of world class, and he beat future European Champion Lucien Rodriguez to solidify his ranking in February 1980. Dokes then had his first blip, drawing in April of 1980 with then heavyweight contender and future cruiserweight titlist Ossie Ocasio, but in their June 1980 rematch, Dokes redeemed himself, flattening the Puerto Rican in a round! In 1981, Dokes continued to gain experience beating the likes of Randall “Tex’ Cobb and Brit John L Gardner. In January 1982 Dokes won the NABF title in a round against Lynn Ball, before after one more successful defense of his North American title, Dokes got his world title shot against Mike Weaver in December 1982. More...

There may have never been a more talent rich period in the heavyweight division then from 1968 to 1978. With Muhammad Ali (a.k.a. Cassius Clay) on the sidelines due to his draft case, other big men emerged. They would compete with each other on an almost equal basis for the next decade. Joe Frazier had risen to the top of the heap but the level below him would remain as mainstays in the ratings for years to come. Jimmy Ellis, Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Floyd Patterson, George Chuvalo and Henry Cooper would eventually give way to Ron Lyle, Joe Bugner, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers and Jimmy Young. All time great champions like George Foreman and Larry Holmes also made their mark and Ali re-emerged to reclaim his throne. More...

November - Evander Holyfield V Riddick Bowe 1992-1995.

The heavyweight division in 1992 was looking to the future after the incarceration of Mike Tyson. The champion was Evander Holyfield and the two brightest young heavyweights coming through the ranks were Olympians Lennox Lewis and

Riddick Bowe. Holyfield was being criticized for ignoring the younger contenders and fighting the likes of older ex-champions such as George Foreman and Larry Holmes. Riddick Bowe by the summer of 1992 had won all of his thirty-one professional fights and had just defeated Pierre Coetzer in an official final eliminator for the WBA heavyweight title.
Bowe was now the next official contender while Lennox Lewis signed to meet Razor Ruddock in an official WBC title eliminator. Ruddock by many was considered to be the top dog in the heavyweight division following his two tough all be it losing fights against Mike Tyson the year before. On October 31 1992, Lennox Lewis silenced his doubters by destroying Ruddock in two rounds in London to earn a shot at the crown. He now awaited the winner of Holyfield and Bowe. More...

In 1966, two heavyweights of Puerto Rican heritage turned professional. Each would have an impact on the talent rich heavyweight division of the late sixties and early seventies. Their careers would mirror each other’s and they even took the time to cross gloves on a couple of occasions. Pedro Agosto and Jose “King’ Roman met some of the best heavyweights of the era with a varying degree of success. Agosto's career started with a bang as he reeled off twelve straight kayos. He won his first sixteen overall including a twelfth round stoppage of Roman. Jose started with much less fanfare. In 1967, he dropped a decision to rugged Hal Carroll. He also suffered kayo losses to Herman Harris and Al Singletary. In 1968, Jose beat Charlie Polite and Singletary in a rematch. He was halted by Charlie “Emperor’ Harris and Agosto. More...

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 WBA crown. He was a game fighter and a hard puncher but his chin was not always reliable and his boxing skills were limited. No, for my money the best Caucasian boxer over the last forty-plus years was none other than Joe Bugner. Before you laugh, look at the facts. Joe was born in 1950 and turned pro in 1967. He was still fighting well into the nineties. His record is a who's who of the heavyweights of that era. He went the distance with Muhammad Ali twice. His second encounter was in a losing effort for the championship. In all, he traveled twenty-seven rounds with the “Greatest.’ He also went twelve rugged rounds with Joe Frazier losing a close verdict. Bugner did win decision victories over title claimants Jimmy Ellis and Greg Page. Past his prime, he was halted by future titleholder Frank Bruno. More...

There was a time in the mid sixties 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. His hold on the heavyweight title was reaching the point of fan boredom. Few could see any serious contenders on the horizon. Then a tremendous boxer-puncher of Puerto Rican heritage exploded on to the scene. He was really a blown up middleweight with an extensive and successful amateur background, but boy could he fight! He was a thing of beauty to watch. Hands held high in front of his face in the peek-a-boo style taught to him by his mentor Cus D'Amato. The flashing combinations, the burning body shots and his business like command of the situation inside the ropes. He was quite simply, a fighting machine. More...

The world amateur welterweight champion, for 1991, from the Soviet Union: K Tsziu. K Tsziu??? Just another footnote in amateur boxing right? Another thirty-something, steroid abusing, insignificant nobody from the mighty amateur program of the dreaded Red Empire? Well no,

K Tsziu would become Kostya Tszyu, the superb junior welterweight champion of the world. Two factors started this journey that turned Tszyu into the fighter he is today, the imminent crumbling of the Red Empire, and that promoter Bill Mordey was willing to fund Kostya Tszyu's defection to Australia on the strength of his performance in the 1991 world amateur championships that were held in Australia.

So in March 1992, Kostya Tszyu had uprooted from Siberia, moved to Australia, and despite being unable to speak hardly a word of English, was making his pro debut. As instructions were given, Tszyu was told though his translator that it was very important that he KO'd his tough-ish opponent in the first round; Tszyu duly obliged! But after the bout Tszyu enquired, why it was so important he won in a round? It turned out the translator had messed up, his trainer actually said it was important he made a fast/good start in the first round, not necessarily win! More...

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. Marvis showing he is a true Frazier gamely arises. Quickly Holmes pins him in a corner and pummels him unmercifully until the ref intervenes. The look on Frazier's face isn't so much a look of pain. It is a bewildered, shell-shocked look like Ken Norton had after Gerry Cooney had worked him over in a corner. A look that said, "What the hell hit me?" More...

It was to be the last time the incomparable Muhammad Ali would ever successfully defend the heavyweight championship. It would be held in boxing’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. It would also feature Ohio’s most popular heavyweight of the last quarter of a century,

Recent Picture of Shavers, Holmes and Conteh - Click for larger image - © Mike Cleary

Earnie Shavers. The 'Acorn,' as Ali had dubbed Shavers would be a prohibitive underdog. He was accorded a puncher’s chance at best against the aging but still crafty king of the heavyweights. What transpired the night of September the 29th, 1977 established Earnie as a legitimate contender and forecast the soon to be demise of 'The Greatest'. More...

What do you say about a fighter who was good enough to challenge for world title recognition in two different weight classes? What do you say about a fighter who holds knockout victories over former world champion and hall of famers Carl 'Bobo' Olsen and Bob Foster? In all he met six world titleholders. He also crossed gloves with top contenders like Eddie Machen, Pete Rademacher, Zora Folley, Billy Daniels, George Chuvalo, Thad Spencer and Boone Kirkman. Impressive? You bet! Here's more. He gave 'The Greatest' his toughest pre-championship fight and to this day, there are many who feel that the decision rendered that night was a travesty. More...

He came from a fighting family and by the time his boxing career ended in 1971 he was the most beloved British boxer of all time. Only once did he challenge for the world's title, but he dominated the British heavyweight scene for over fifteen years. His popularity soared even more after retirement and eventually the Queen of England knighted him.

Sir Henry Cooper was more than just a British fighter; he was a fine example of what British boxing is all about. Henry's professional career started in September of 1954 and he proceeded to win his first nine fights including an eight round points win over Joe Bygraves. In Henry's tenth bout, he lost the first of many bouts due to an eye cut to Uber Bacilleri. He would later avenge that loss. More...