The great, the fascinating, the exciting and the controversial boxing career of Mike Tyson officially ended today – in Washington DC of all places. Tyson was an ageing, past his best former champ in June of 2005, fighting only for money, yet it was still one huge shocker when the somewhat clumsy, somewhat unheralded, somewhat slow and lumbering Kevin McBride forced the 39 year old to quit on his stool after six rounds.
Boxing History
Boxing history articles
15 years ago today: Lennox Lewis destroys the remnants of the once great Mike Tyson
15 years ago today in Memphis, a must-see heavyweight collision took place, and going in nobody really knew what to expect. What we did see when a still-in-his-prime Lennox Lewis met former champ Mike Tyson was the utter annihilation of a once great fighter; in many ways a spectacle that was equally as sad to see as Rocky Marciano’s retirement of the one great Joe Louis.
Ali at his peak: Unbeatable?
A half century ago, the world was being dazzled, baffled and entertained by a heavyweight champion who fought like no heavyweight before him. Muhammad Ali, aged 24 and approaching his absolute peak, had won the crown a couple of years earlier and he had made the title retentions he registered since shocking the greatly feared Sonny Liston look almost easy.
New book counts the number of punches “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali took
Today, June 3rd, marks the first anniversary of the death of the one and only Muhammad Ali; without a single doubt the most famous boxer of all time. The tributes continue to come in thick and fast for the three time world heavyweight champion who would have been 75 today had he not lost his long and extremely brave battle with Parkinson’s.
The books continue to roll in, too – even though, as has been pointed out by more than a few boxing aficionados, there surely cannot be anything to write about Ali that hasn’t already been written. We’ve had “The Real Story,” with Ali’s autobiography, released way back in 1975, we’ve had another endorsed account of Ali’s life, with the 1991 effort by Thomas Hauser, and we’ve had hundreds, if not thousands of Ali books since.
Vernon Forrest – would he have beaten Floyd?
A very fine, take no prisoners welterweight who never once looked to pick and choose his opposition, the late, great Vernon Forrest more than made his mark on the sport despite his shocking and untimely passing.
Forrest, a superb amateur, was so good that twice, with both men in their prime, he beat – and beat up – Sugar Shane Mosley. These two had met at amateur level, yet despite his Sugar, Mosley never was able to get to grips with Forrest’s poison. Fast, dangerously powerful and in possession of a great chin, Forrest could have been a superstar. He wasn’t, in large part due to how one man avoided him: Floyd Mayweather Junior.
The legendary Roberto Duran lists his top five all time fighters
Recently, the great, the immortal, the legendary ( and also the most down to earth boxing superstar one could wish to meet) Roberto Duran paid a visit to this writer’s home town. Duran, for many millions of fans, THE greatest living fighter (above Ring Magazine’s recent choice for the honour; Sugar Ray Leonard ) dropped in at Henry Wharton’s gym in York.
Video: Top 20 Super Middleweights since 1989
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fIHFLem59s
In the third and latest historical divisional rankings experiment, we turn our eyes to the super middleweight division. Who were the top 20 super middleweights of all time? It is an intriguing topic that has undoubtedly been the cause of its fair share of heated discussions.
Video: Top 20 Light Heavyweights since 1924
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQN36ArBYiQ
Who are the best light heavyweights in boxing history? This question does not carry quite the same weight as the long running debate over the best heavyweight boxers in history, but it still remains an intriguing topic that has caused its own fair share of heated discussions. These long running debates are something that has captivated boxing fans and historians alike for many years. Ranking athletes from different eras is a tricky business that usually boils down to personal preference and opinion, and this is just as true in professional boxing as it is in any other organized professional sport.
Video: Top 20 Heavyweights since 1924
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC8sAf0ROwE
Who are the best heavyweights in boxing history? This timeless question has been a recipe for countless discussions. The long running debate is something that has captivated boxing fans and historians alike. Ranking athletes from different eras is a tricky business that usually boils down to personal preference and opinion, and this is just as true in professional boxing as it is in any other organized professional sport.
Fab 4 Rivalries – Duran, Leonard, Hagler, Hearns (Boxing Documentary)
The “Fab 4” is the nickname that refers to the four elite Hall of Fame boxers – Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. These four men are widely regarded as four of the very best who ever competed in the long rich history of professional boxing.