Sometimes in heavyweight boxing a fighter, with just one win, arrives on the world stage and captures the attention of anyone and everyone interested in boxing in a massive way. This was exactly what happened on this day, Halloween, in 1992. Lennox Lewis may already have been known to a good share of fight fans, due to his winning the Olympic gold medal in 1988, but his performance on this night really catapulted the Brit to superstardom.
Boxing History
Boxing history articles
Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, once bitter ring enemies, make peace with one another
In the 2000s, they engaged in one of the most fierce, genuinely hate-filled rivalries in lower weight boxing history. Super-bantamweights/ featherweights /super-featherweights Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales went to war three times – the first battle, from February of 2000 being recognised as one of the greatest fights in modern day boxing history – and they came to blows outside of the ring also. Simply put, these two did not like each other.
New Zealand Judge Passes Away
It is sadden to announce that New Zealand Judge Douglas Carrick Belton has passed away at 4pm on 20th of October. Belton had a long battle with cancer which he was in remission at one point, however this year the cancer came back.
Belton is well known for allot of things, including for being the president of the Commonwealth Boxing Council, President of New Zealand Professional Boxing Association inc, New Zealand Representative of WBC and OPBF.
25 years on: Ray Mercer’s brutal KO of Tommy Morrison still disturbs
The fight was dubbed “Test of Courage” and the loser of the heavyweight battle that took place a quarter of a century ago today had to show real courage in even stepping back into a boxing ring after what happened to him in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Tommy Morrison, unbeaten, heavily hyped and even a movie star, was challenging recently crowned WBO heavyweight champ Ray Mercer in a clash of unbeaten punchers. What followed was nothing short of gruesome.
Read more25 years on: Ray Mercer’s brutal KO of Tommy Morrison still disturbs
Evander Holyfield: A dead-cert for the Hall of Fame
Dan Rafael of ESPN.com has reported how the nominees for this year’s ballot for the Hall of Fame have been sent out to those writers who are eligible to vote, and there are three new names on the list: Evander Holyfield, Marco Antonio Barrera and Johnny Tapia. All three greats appear to be slam-dunks to get voted in and enshrined next summer, but in the opinion of many, cruiserweight and heavyweight legend Holyfield is even more deserving of the honour than the two lower weight kings, despite their extraordinary accomplishments.
Read moreEvander Holyfield: A dead-cert for the Hall of Fame
20 years ago today, Pretty Boy Floyd fought for money for the first time
Twenty years ago today at The Texas Station Casino in fabulous Las Vegas, one of the most enormously successful, talked about and controversial boxing careers of recent years began at pro level, as a 19-year-old Floyd Mayweather Junior scored a second-round KO over a guy named Roberto Apodaca. Nicknamed “Pretty Boy,” the 130-pounder, trained by his uncle Roger (as his father was currently in jail, soon to be released) earned the first of many pay checks.
Read more20 years ago today, Pretty Boy Floyd fought for money for the first time
R.I.P Aaron Pryor: “The Hawk” takes his final flight
In sad and shocking news, it has been reported by ESPN that boxing legend Aaron Pryor has passed away at the age of just 61. No news has yet been confirmed regarding what the cause of death was (Aaron was battling heart disease but this has not yet been confirmed as the cause of his untimely death), but fight fans the world over are certain to be moved by this loss. Pryor, a fabulous talent who engaged in a number of thrilling, unforgettable bouts, is one of the finest and most celebrated fighters to have come out of Cincinnati.
Born in October of 1955, Pryor, an amateur standout who met, amongst other future stars, Thomas Hearns (a win for Pryor) and Howard Davis Junior (a loss) turned pro in late 1976. Knocking out a guy named Larry Smith in his hometown, Pryor was paid the handsome sum of $400. Greatness, and a fair amount of controversy, awaited “The Hawk.”
Read moreR.I.P Aaron Pryor: “The Hawk” takes his final flight
30 years ago today: Honeyghan shocks Curry in a monstrous upset
Thirty years ago today in Atlantic City, New Jersey a British fighter pulled off a truly stunning upset victory over a man many listed as the best in the world pound-for-pound at the time. Lloyd Honeyghan, a Jamaican-born Londoner, met Texan Donald Curry in a fight that contested the world welterweight crown. What followed was a fight and a win that had British fight fans dancing in the streets.
Read more30 years ago today: Honeyghan shocks Curry in a monstrous upset
25 Years ago today: the ill-fated Michael Watson-Chris Eubank rematch
A quarter of a century ago today a boxing match took place in London. It was a fight that will always cause any fight fan who witnessed it to have an uneasy, disturbing feeling. Michael Watson and Chris Eubank, two men who seemed to have a very real dislike for one another, met in a much anticipated, publicly demanded rematch. At the conclusion of just over 11-rounds of warfare neither man would ever be the same again.
Three months earlier, down at middleweight, Watson and Eubank had contested the WBO title, with the already controversial and unbeaten Eubank walking away with a debatable 12-round majority decision victory. The boos that met the announced decision ensured the two would have to fight again. When they did, as super, super-middleweights, an entire nation was watching. The incredibly determined Watson, a no-nonsense fighter who had worked his way up the hard way throughout his career, was utterly relentless, winning round after round after round.
Read more25 Years ago today: the ill-fated Michael Watson-Chris Eubank rematch
Illinois Boxing Hall of Fame 2016 Inductees
Mike McNamara, the Co-Director of the Illinois Boxing Hall of Fame, announced the Hall’s 2016 class of inductees today.
As was the case with the Hall’s first class in 2015, this year’s inductees include a wide range of participants and contributors to boxing in Illinois. They are:
