THE FORGOTTEN GREAT WHITE HOPE 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”. When Ali was forced to relinquish his crown in 1967, the best of the white contenders was probably Jerry Quarry….
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. Unfortunately he boxed during the era of possibly the…
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. Jack Johnson was born in 1878 in…
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 The World Heavyweight Championship was again split into 2 parts. The WBA elected to hold an…
Bernard Hopkins on the other hand is a “throwback’. This is in stark contrast to Floyd and Hopkins happens to be a rarity in boxing today. He hasn’t lost a bout in 11 years and while it is true that he did lose to RJJ 8 rounds to 4, he was nowhere near the fighter…
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. His hold on the heavyweight title was reaching the point of fan boredom. Few could see any serious contenders on the horizon. Then…
Marvis Frazier – The Lost Son 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….
Born November 16th 1961 in Hammersmith London England, Bruno was the youngest of six children. Bruno’s first experience of boxing was in 1973 whilst at Oak Hall School in Sussex (an establishment for “problem’ children). As an amateur he won 20 out of 21 contests boxing for the Sir Philip Game Amateur Boxing Club. In…
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. Frank Bruno…
Independence day In 1919 was to begin a new era in heavyweight boxing. The era of the Manassa Mauler. The Heavyweight Championship was in a poor state of affairs in 1919. The champion Jess Willard had only made one title defence since beating Jack Johnson in 1915. This was against Frank Moran. Dempsey however in…
Sonny Liston v Cassius Clay – February 25 1964 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…
Bernard Hopkins/Floyd Mayweather is the heir apparent to Roy Jones’ mythical pound for pound title according to most writers and fans alike. This truly and precarious and prestigious position differs from any other sanctioning title or linear championship. That is the reality of why Antonio Tarver doesn’t automatically garner that ultimate championship status.