Boxing History

Boxing history articles

“Smokin’” Joe Frazier’s daughter launches petition for Philly street to be named after him

“Smokin'” Joe Frazier's daughter launches petition for Philly street to be named after him

Muhammad Ali has a street named after him, so too does the flamboyant promoter who earned millions from the epic battles Ali and his fiercest rival, “Smokin’” Joe Frazier thrilled the entire world with. And now, in what seems only fitting, only fair, former heavyweight king Frazier could soon have a street named after him.

As per a piece on Yahoo! Sport, Joe’s daughter, Weatta Frazier Collins has started a petition to re-name Glenwood Avenue in downtown Philadelphia as Joe Frazier Boulevard. Already the petition has almost 6,000 signatures – 5,800 in all.

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From the archives: Dempsey brutalises Willard! Happy 4th of July, America

From the archives: Dempsey brutalises Willard! Happy 4th of July, America

On July the 4th, 1919, a truly memorable and brutal heavyweight championship prize fight occurred in Toledo, Ohio. The reigning heavyweight king, Jess Willard, who had become known as “The Great White Hope” in the months leading up to his successful challenge of the controversial Jack Johnson, was to make his first defense against the much smaller Jack Dempsey. What followed was a performance by Dempsey that revolutionized professional boxing.

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Who was the greater fighter: Tyson or Holyfield?

Who was the greater fighter: Tyson or Holyfield?

Here on the celebration of Mike Tyson’s 51st birthday – and just two days and 20 years on from the former heavyweight champ’s infamous “Bite Fight” with Evander Holyfield – it might be interesting to ask: who was the greater fighter, Tyson or Holyfield?

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Glenn McCrory on Holyfield-Tyson II

Glenn McCrory on Holyfield-Tyson II

Dubbed, for obvious reasons, “The Bite Fight,” the return meeting between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson shocked the entire world like no other boxing match in history. Or rather it was the events in the third round, and the subsequent events that followed, that caused the enormous shock.

Twenty years have passed since that incredible night at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and no-one who was there has forgotten what happened – even if plenty of them, such as Sky Sports commentator Glenn McCrory, would like to forget.

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Lennox Lewis looks back on the infamous “Bite Fight” – At the time I thought I will never fight him now

Lennox Lewis looks back on the infamous “Bite Fight” - At the time I thought I will never fight him now

Like the rest of the planet, retired heavyweight great Lennox Lewis is simply unable to forget the shocking, sickening scenes the boxing world was unfortunate enough to have endured twenty full years ago today. It was two decades ago today when, as every fight fan, casual observer and even non-sports fans knows, Mike Tyson twice plunged his bared teeth into the ears of Evander Holyfield.

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Mayweather Vs. Gatti: Floyd at his meanest

Mayweather Vs. Gatti: Floyd at his meanest

Going into the fight that took place 12 years ago today, there were plenty of fight fans bracing themselves for a great fight, a competitive fight. Instead, what we saw when Floyd Mayweather Junior challenged Arturo Gatti for his WBC 140-pound belt was a massacre.

Boxing his pay-per-view debut, Mayweather, aged 28, sporting a 33-0 record and at his blinding peak, dismantled the hugely popular Gatti in every which way. Gatti, who had gone beyond the call in his three wars with Mickey Ward, convinced his fans, most of them anyway, that he would be too rough, tough and hungry for Mayweather. Instead, Mayweather fought one of his most aggressive, ruthless and nasty fights.

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