George Chuvalo still going strong at 80: Big birthday celebrations to take place on Tuesday

09/07/2017 James Slater

Without a doubt the greatest heavyweight to have come out of Canada, George Chuvalo, the tougher than tough fighter who, as the saying goes, ‘fought ’em all,’ turns 80 next week (September 12).

There are, The Toronto Sun reports, big celebrations set to take place next Tuesday, at a party fans can attend. And Chuvalo, who has famously suffered more than anyone has a right to in their personal life – George losing three of his sons, two to drugs, and also his wife, who tragically committed suicide – has the right to celebrate despite the hardship. A real survivor, both in and out of the ring, George has commanded nothing but respect for decades.

Featherweight great “Sugar” Ramos passes away aged 75

09/04/201709/04/2017 James Slater

In sad news, it has been reported how featherweight great Ultiminio “Sugar” Ramos passed away yesterday aged 75. The Cuban who relocated to Mexico and became a firm fan favourite had been battling cancer.

Turning pro in October of 1957 in Havana (before Fidel Castro’s regime began), Ramos relocated to Mexico in the early 1960s so as to carry on with his hugely promising career and to fulfil his dream of becoming world champion.

Happy Birthday, Lennox Lewis – The greatest heavyweight champ after Ali?

09/03/201709/02/2017 James Slater

“Not in this lifetime,” heavyweight legend George Foreman on the subject of him fighting Lennox Lewis.

Retired heavyweight legend Lennox Lewis turns 52 today. The last undisputed world heavyweight king holds another fine distinction: that of being a fighter who defeated every opponent he ever faced. Yes, Lewis suffered defeat – by stoppage, at the hands of Oliver McCall in 1994 and to Hasim Rahman in 2001 – but he did what the greats fighters do: come back and get revenge.

Looking back on some great KO’s in boxing; Lights Out!

09/01/201708/31/2017 James Slater

This great sport has produced many thrilling, moving, shocking and even unforgettable knockouts throughout its history. And though many boxing fans tune in hoping to see other things: skill, defence, speed, overall ring generalship – there really is nothing like a sizzling KO!

Here, in looking back on some classics, these KO’s will certainly ring a bell:

Marciano: The only truly revered Rocky

08/30/2017 James Slater

With all due respect to Rocky Graziano, Rocky Lockridge, Roman “Rocky” Martinez, the fictitious Rocky Balboa, and all those tough triers known throughout the world as a “Real-Life Rocky,” there is in truth only one Rocky that truly and deeply matters: Rocky Marciano – “The Brockton Blockbuster;” the man who the old timers claim was simply incapable of losing a fight.

Remembering the great Diego Corrales: “Chico” would have turned 40 today

08/25/2017 James Slater

Had his life not been so cruelly taken from him via a motorbike accident in May of 2007, when he was just 29 years old, legendary warrior Diego “Chico” Corrales woud have celebrated his fortieth birthday today. Remembered as one of the bravest, never-say-die fighters of the modern era, Corrales gave us so many classic, monumental ring wars.

Born on August the 25th, 1977, in Sacramento, the lanky puncher with the incridble heart turned pro in March of ’96. A three round TKO win over one Everett Berry was his and the beginning of a sensational boxing career had begun. Corrales went unbeaten in his first thirty-three fights, picking up the IBF super featherweight title with a seventh round stoppage of Roberto Garcia in 1999. This belt proved to be the first of many titles he would box for.

60 years ago today: Another fighter having his pro debut met a guy named Floyd in a much derided “mismatch”

08/21/201708/21/2017 James Slater

There will be no world title on the line on Saturday night when Conor McGregor, making his boxing pro debut, will climb into the ring to face huge betting favourite and common sense favourite, Floyd Mayweather Junior. However, there once was a fight, perhaps more derided and ridiculed than the upcoming bout, that saw a man make his pro debut AND challenge for a world title at the same time.

On this day in 2000: Naseem Hamed gave us his final thrilling victory

08/22/201708/19/2017 James Slater

On this day 17 years ago, Britain’s Naseem Hamed, the hardest puncher in featherweight boxing history, scored his final thrilling, memorable ring victory. Facing former amateur standout Augie Sanchez in Mashantucket in a fight that went out on HBO, Hamed scored a brutal KO win in defence of his WBO crown.

The fight, after a relatively uneventful opening round (uneventful compared to the sheer street-fighting element that was to come) became a sensational slugfest, with a ton of leather thrown from both sides, trips to the canvas from both fighters that could so easily have been scored as legit knockdowns, blood and finally a savage KO. Indeed, the action that came thick and fast over four rounds was all but impossible to keep up with.