It’s proven so, so hard for a number of great fighters to exit the sport on a win. So often we’ve seen legends battle on for too long; taking that ‘fight too many.’ Sadly it happened to at least three of the immortal heavyweights featured in the now 30 year old “Champions Forever” video tribute (still a fantastic watch a full three decades on).
Boxing History
Boxing history articles
45 years ago today: “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!”
A long 45 years ago today, a young and undefeated fighter from Texas named George Foreman met a near 3-1 betting favourite in the form of the likewise unbeaten “Smokin’” Joe Frazier, as the Philadelphia warrior attempted to defend his world title for a fifth time.The two punchers met in Kingston, Jamaica in a bout dubbed “The Sunshine Showdown,” and those fans who witnessed the fight saw a shockingly violent affair, where the 24-year-old challenger with the 37-0 record utterly annihilated the 29-0 world ruler.
30 Years Ago Today: Tyson crushes old champ Holmes in passing of the torch
Three full decades ago today, “Iron” Mike Tyson, at his absolute peak, scored a crushing, somewhat disturbing to watch KO over former champ and all-time great Larry Holmes. The fight, staged in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was dubbed “Heavyweight History,” and though the match-up was much maligned in certain quarters, it did prove to be a passing of the torch – a most graphically violent one.
The Floyd Mayweather who crushed Diego Corrales: Pretty enough to have beaten any 130 pounder ever?
Some fight fans point to Floyd Mayweather’s commanding decision win over Canelo Alvarez, others to “Money’s” brutal dismantling of the much loved Arturo Gatti. But many other boxing fans say there is one commanding choice when it comes to the 50-0 master’s finest, most exceptional and – perhaps most importantly – fan-friendliest ring performance: his 2001 annihilation of the late, great Diego Corrales (for those fight fans who believe, how great must it be, Diego and Arturo, talking and comparing their great wars and great fights, as they share memories up above!)
Marcos Maidana: A special kind of tough
Argentine warrior (warrior with a capital ‘W’) Marcos Maidana is living like a king these days, his wealth and comfort a well-earned result of the blood, sweat and tears he left inside the ring – and the pain he inflicted. Aside from Jose Luis Castillo, did any fighter come closer to beating the sublime Floyd Mayweather; in “El Chino’s” first fight with “Money?”
Marvelous Marvin: The Early Years
Turning pro to little or no fanfare back in May of 1973, no-nonsense southpaw Marvin Hagler (the ‘Marvelous’ was added much, much later; and legally) slogged his way up the hard way. Fighting tough guys for low pay checks, Hagler’s inner hardness was formed. Nothing came easy to him, and there were very few opponents that could in any way be referred to as anything other than formidable.
Recalling the Ezzard Charles-Archie Moore wars
Whenever any list of the greatest-ever light-heavyweights is compiled, two names are ALWAYS present: Archie Moore and Ezzard Charles. Moore, the undisputed KO-King, was world champion at 175; “Ageless Archie” enjoying a both long and memorable reign. Charles, as good as he was, was never world ruler at 175, yet he did go one better than Moore, in winning the world heavyweight crown.
Charles, one fine, fine fighter, also bested Moore on three occasions in non-tile bouts. Many fans rank Moore as the overall greater fighter, but Charles, as the saying goes, really did have Moore’s number. Their final fight took place 70-years ago this week (January 13, 1948).
Happy Birthday, George Foreman: “Big George” is 69 today – is Foreman the greatest living heavyweight?
Heavyweight legend, former two-time king George Foreman today celebrates his 69th birthday. In great health, and always in great spirits, “Big George” is the elder statesman of boxing, the way the departed Muhammad Ali perhaps should have been in his later years had ill health not struck him down. Immensely popular (it’s so hard to believe how Foreman was a bad guy, a disliked fighter back in the 1970s), Foreman perhaps holds the distinction of being the greatest living heavyweight boxer.
The night Larry Holmes gave Howard Cosell a bloody mouth
There was a time when Howard Cosell was very much the voice of boxing; the man on the microphone whenever the big, big fights took place. Cosell, though, was far from the most popular sports commentator in the world, with some people, be it fans or active fighters, feeling the ABC man was just a little bit too big-headed and pompous for his own good.
Gennady Golovkin Vs. Julian Jackson: Talk about a Dream Fight!
Reigning middleweight king Gennady Golovkin has thus far stood up to every punch he has been hit with, he has beaten every man he has faced at pro level (Canelo Alvarez aside, yet most people feel GGG did more than enough to have won the September Super-Fight that was instead scored as a draw) and he has made an incredible number of title retentions.