The celebrated life of the historic boxing ring of Madison
Square Garden will officially be retired on Wednesday,
September 19th. The legendary ring has hosted more championship
bouts than any other boxing ring in existence and throughout
the years has become the place where champions became legends.
by Jim
Amato
Ralph earned a reputation as a top flight cutman throughout his
association with the sport. Nevertheless Ralph's contributions go far
beyond that. He began the publication Computer Boxing Update in 1984 and
it evolved into today's standard for the up keep of boxing records.
Brooklyn New York's light welterweight Dmitriy "Star of David" Salita (27-0, 15
KOs) told the press he wouldn't mind fighting Figueroa, who earned himself the
title, King Of the Bronx, because he'd proven himself amongst the competition.
HE STILL IS A WINNER TO
ME...by Olympic Champion Howard Davis
The world saw your heart when you fought Chavez! With each
round we saw your Heart getting Bigger and Bigger! You let
it all hang out, for the world
to see what kind of CHAMPION and Man you are...
by Elisa Harrison
Most boxing fans may remember Howard
Davis as an accomplished amateur champion, and proud
holder of the 1976 Olympics gold medal as well as the
Val Baker award winner for Outstanding boxer of the games... Much to my surprise,
I have just found out that Howard Davis didn't just do boxing...
Audley Harrison was involved in a head on collision
while driving home after training yesterday. Audley had just
finished training at Buddy McGirt's gymnasium in Vero Beach
and was driving with Kelvyn Travis heading to get some food,
when a driver failed to yield and pulled out right in front of him on US Highway
1. The impact totally caved in the front of the rental car...
Just a quick shout out to let you know I am
fighting on September 29th in Sheffield on a world title show
to be showcased on Setanta in the UK. Tune in!!
by Jim Amato
I honestly feel I was very fortunate to grow up in a period
of some truly great fighters. Boxers... champions who
dominated their respective divisions. This isn't about Ali
and Frazier. The mark they left on boxing is stamped for
eternity. No, this is about dominant champions like Bob
Foster, Dick Tiger, Emile Griffith, Carlos Monzon, Rodrigo
Valdez, Jose Napoles, Antonio Cervantes, Roberto Duran,
Carlos Ortiz, Flash Elorde, Alexis Arguello, Vicente
Saldivar, Eder Jofre, Fighting Harada, Ruben Olivares, Carlos
Zarate, Pone Kingpetch, Pascual Perez, Chartchai Chionoi,
Betulio Gonzalez and Miguel Canto.
BOXER DIES IN CALIFORNIA...
Jackson Bussell, a 28
year-old boxer from Reno, Nevada, died following a bout
against Javier Garcia, 2-0-1, 2 KOs.
Bussell, 1-1-2, collapsed after the six round bout against
Garcia at the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas, California, on
Thursday night.
Bussell, who made his professional debut in May of 2007 had
fought four times this year. Reportedly Bussell was taken to Northridge
Hospital Medical Center where he lost his last battle.
Our condolences go to the Bussell family, and may Jackson Bussell rest in peace.
“My dream has always been to have a company that not only put on great
fights for boxing fans, but that also treated the athletes fairly,” said
Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar de la Hoya. “With the newest
members of our management team - Marco Antonio Barrera and Shane Mosley
– joining Bernard Hopkins and myself, we have all the pieces in place to
change the way business is done in the sport of boxing for the better.”
“There is
no greater thrill for a boxing fan than to be able to see a big fight in
person,” said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions.
“But in recent history it was impossible to do so unless you were
prepared to spend a week’s salary to do so. We want to change that
so now you can get a ticket to a big event and still have money left to
buy a program, park your car, and have some food.”
by Elisa Harrison
Most boxing fans may remember Howard
Davis as an accomplished amateur champion, and proud
holder of the 1976 Olympics gold medal as well as the
Val Baker award winner for Outstanding boxer of the games... Much to my surprise,
I have just found out that Howard Davis didn't just do boxing...
At no time would you ever see the disgraceful conduct witnessed in Colombia
allowed to happen, and continue to persist, during an MMA fight card, or the
actions of a bungling referee like Genaro Rodriguez being tolerated, and most
important - worthy fighters like Kendall Holt would not be denied their
championships.
Kendall Holt has traveled back home, with a loss instead of a title belt. The
World Boxing Organization and its President, Francisco Valcarcel, Esq., now have
the opportunity, as well as the obligation, to do what is proper in regards to
this debacle.
Despite
their current contract dispute, promoter Dino Duva is sending
his support to junior welterweight contender Kendall “Rated R”
Holt in his quest to secure a rematch against WBO Champion
Ricardo Torres.
Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC, is extremely pleased to announce the
acquisition of the following titles from Kappa Publishing Group, Inc.: The Ring
magazine, KO, World Boxing and Pro Wrestling Illustrated, which are the leading
periodicals in the boxing and wrestling industry.
During the recent annual meeting of the
Association of Boxing Commissions, the membership recognized the
need for a database to track the records, suspensions, (both
medical and administrative) along with the identification of
mixed martial arts contestants participating in the United
States and Canada.
A bill to establish a United States Boxing Commission to administer the Act,
and for other purposes.
This bill was considered in committee which has
recommended it be considered by the Senate as a whole.
Although it has been placed on a calendar of business,
the order in which bills are considered and voted on
is determined by the majority party leadership.
Bill overview, bill status, committee assignments, etc. can be viewed
here.
As the month of September
approaches, us in the boxing galaxy wait in anticipation for
our own unofficial playoff system. Like college football,
boxing fans complained for years that the best must fight
the best, to the deaf ears of powerbrokers.
by Tom Dickey
My rankings are just that, my rankings, my humble opinion. It was fun seeing how
much my pound for pound rankings have changed over one year. Actually, after
Floyd and Pacman it was tough to compile and organize. Some fighters benefited
from others' misfortunes and poor performances, while others advanced based on
their own solid performances.
It is said a picture is worth more than a thousand words ... amen ... enter
ESPN2 studio fraud Kenny ... the con is in tossing chatter at us faster than a
gatlin' or burp gun ... is like auditioning for an auctioneer gig. Truth is
Brian baby wants it that way - but then he blows his cover with that ludicrous
studio clinic with guest fighter ... seeing Kenny in a fight pose is the best
ever credibility buster I have ever seen.
'WHO'S
YOUR DADDY' PART II: MONZON - BENVENUTI...
by Jim Amato In November of 1970 enter Argentina's Carlos Monzón. A
disputed draw against the feared Bennie Briscoe earned Carlos a rating. Still
Carlos was not considered a serious challenge to Nino's crown. WRONG!!!
fight Ricky Hatton December
8 in Las Vegas, Nevada, will become a celebrity dancer for the show.
LARRY
MERCHANT - A LIVING LEGEND!
...
by Rizwaan Zahid During an interview with Vernon Forrest last summer after his questionable
victory over Ike Quartey, Vernon thanked God, as well as his friends and family.
Larry countered, “Would you also like to thank the judges?” This rather blunt
style is not new for Larry, who has had previous arguments with Floyd
Mayweather, Jr. and has even proceeded to refer to certain fights as “crap,”
when they simply have been just that...
IPRO AIMS TO PROVIDE FINEST TRAINING FOR BOXING OFFICIALS...
by Barry
Druxman
International Professional Ring Officials was
established in 2002 in Washington State. IPRO is an
independent organization, whose goals are to train
professional boxing officials and to donate money to retired
boxers with medical and other needs. Since that time, IPRO
has held yearly conventions in Las Vegas and Seattle. The
organization includes nearly 300 members from over 30
states, Canada, Puerto Rico, England and Germany. Our goal
is to provide the finest training for officials.
Being a shot fighter nowadays has become a
lucrative business as major networks no longer play a vital role
in creating “stars.” Arturo Gatti’s last three beatings were all
televised and he was paid handsomely for his (and his fans)
stubbornness. In the golden era of boxing being a “shot” fighter
would put you in stark surroundings like Fairgrounds, having to accept
meager purses...
James was a Champion in life as well as
outside of the ring and to imagine more unjustifiable way
to go I could not. The last time I spoke to James was in
Liverpool, while watching Audley Harrison demolish
journeyman Wade Lewis in a handful of rounds.. He was just
like he always was, dressed immaculately towering
awesomely above everyone, the single sign of his age, a
pair of tiny spectacles. James had only praise for the
then unbeaten Harrison, whispering to me, “he has skills,
but then again so did I...”
Jose Sulaiman, President of the WBC, addressed the meeting
to discuss the WBC new open scoring after the fourth and eighth rounds in
championship bouts. The ABC voted to not use open scoring at this time. There
was much discussion on regulating both amateur and professional mixed martial
arts events by the state and tribal commissions.
Jim Amato
September 29th, 2007...Will this be the
day that puts Youngstown, Ohio back on the fistic map? Undefeated
knockout artist Kelly " The Ghost " Pavlik of Youngstown meets world's
middleweight champion Jermain Taylor who is also unbeaten. This is the
fight at 160 pounds that the fans wanted to see. Kudos to the
management of the fighters and the promoters for putting this
together. It reminds me of the old days where a true champion meets
the real #1 challenger.
by Scott Sanders
What CompuBox offers is a breakdown of punches thrown
and landed. It breaks down how many of the punches are jabs or power
punches. It discriminates body punches from head shots. While these
stats are generally interesting, they can't be taken as the last word in any
case. First of all, they are counted by humans, not measured by
stopwatches. Anything gathered by humans is obviously vulnerable to human
error.
...
by Mike Cassell/The Philadelphia Boxing Report
Ronald 'Winky' Wright never got the respect he deserved, so he got on a plane,
went around the world a few times, and just beat the hell out of everybody. By
the time he came back our way, he not only demanded respect, he made a damn
good case for being crowned, pound for pound, the best fighter on the planet.
If there is one problem in boxing, it is the fact that the top fighters rarely
fight each other. The solution is the same as the problem. Money.
SIGN A PETITION TO HAVE
KATSIDIS VS. AMONSOT RINGSIDE DOCTOR INVESTIGATED!...
by Ricardo
Lois
After receiving several e-mails in support of my recent column
outlining Dr. David Watson's performance on Saturday night, I
have taken the liberty to start an online petition asking the
Nevada State Athletic Commission to investigate Watson's
actions.
My original article can be read
HERE and another informative article
on Dr. Watson by Elisa Harrison of Bragging Rights Corner can be
read
HERE.
... by Jim Amato
John was born in 1955 and he had a very
successful amateur career although he was stopped in the Olympics by
the great Teofilo Stevenson. He had a good pro style and he quickly
began to move up in the ratings after turning professional in 1977.
PROSPECTS, CONTENDERS, PRETENDERS...
by George Elsasser
Prior to the magic lantern, the big city had small clubs sprinkled over
its suburbs - my beloved borough of churches and bars had the B’way and
Grove in close proximity - B’way on Tuesday nites and the Grove played SRO
on Saturdays. A short ride on the El over the Queens border was the
Jamaica Arena.
... What’s in it for you? (somehow I knew you’d ask) Good question, but the real
question is what’s not in it for you. So, you ready for my pitch? Put down
the money stack for just a second I wanna say something important….. Fight
Jermain Taylor NOW!
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THE BEST: NOW, JUST ONE OF
THE REST... by Rizwaan Zahid Since Lennox walked out of
the sport as champion, many wondered who would be the next fighter to be
recognized as the best by the majority of fans and critics, and be deemed,
well, unbeatable.
Pernell Whitaker is being inducted into the
International Boxing Hall Of Fame in a few weeks. This is an honor he richly
deserves.
What a career he had!
by Jim Amato
On April 5th former heavyweight contender Lou Savarese will have his third
fight since 2004 when he meets Matt Hicks (10-1 with 10 KO's) in Houston,
Texas. Hicks' only loss was by knockout to J.D. Chapman in 2006.
I am disturbed about potential damage to my
hard-won reputation as a result of allegations in recent news reports
concerning performance-enhancing substances.
“I do not use steroids. I have never used
steroids. I resent that my name has been linked to known steroid users by
sources who refuse to be identified in order to generate publicity for their
investigation.
There has been a great deal of discussion and argument recently over the
relative merits of MMA versus Boxing, among fans, the media and self-appointed
spokesmen Joe Rogan and Lou DiBella. It’s getting old.
Floyd and Zab fought at a club. - I’m gonna leave that one right there folks
because I’m as flabbergasted as you are. When I read that report
I wore the same expression I had when some of my thug cousins
tried to sneak into the family reunion banquet. And you want to
know the kicker? Reports also say there was “blood” at the
scene! No blood in the boxing match that many paid good money to
see but blood at the damn club. Where’s Chris Rock when you need
him?
Anybody get the distinct feeling that
Kassim Ouma will run through Sergio Mora like OJ runs
through an airport? I just believe the African is a “real fighter” and
Sergio’s development is stunted by way of celebrity.
THE UNDESIRABLE 10-OUNCE CRUNCH...
by Ricky Ray Taylor
Yet through 100+ bouts as a competitive amateur boxer, personal
experience has proven that the most profound difference between a gym
workout and the real fight is the always unbefitting and highly
undesirable 10 oz. CRUNCH.
Boxing vs the UFC has turned into one
of the more talked about topics in the professional fighting world.
There was a time when the thought of this debate was laughable. <
Checking my own favorites list on Internet
Explorer, I found over 40 listings for boxing sites. I thought it would be interesting to list about a half
dozen and evaluate the pluses and minuses of each one...
HBO BRINGS IN BOB PAPA, OUSTS FRAN CHARLES...
by K Largo I am glad Fran Charles is
gone, and I believe Papa will do a great job.
However, it is almost painful to watch Lennox
Lewis struggle through the commentary while Max
is a step short of needing a straight jacket to
get through the night.
6-2007
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