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Boxing News and History Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
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20-year-old Mike Tyson made his Las Vegas debut in 1986 when he ran through Alfonzo Ratliff at the Hilton.This was Tys...
09/06/2026

20-year-old Mike Tyson made his Las Vegas debut in 1986 when he ran through Alfonzo Ratliff at the Hilton.

This was Tyson's first fight against a former world champion as Ratliff, who had a 14-inch reach advantage, won and lost the WBC cruiserweight Title in 1985.

"Tyson punched harder than a mule can kick," said a shell-shocked Ratliff after the fight.

Interestingly, at 221.5 pounds, Tyson was fighting at the heaviest of his professional career to date. He did not exceed this weight until his first fight with Evander Holyfield over ten years later.

World heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey knocked out 'The St. Paul Thunderbolt' Billy MIske at the Floyd Fitzsimmons Aren...
09/06/2026

World heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey knocked out 'The St. Paul Thunderbolt' Billy MIske at the Floyd Fitzsimmons Arena in Benton Harbor, Michigan in 1920.

Shockingly Miske fought Dempsey while suffering from Bright's Disease, an inflammation of the structures in the kidney that produce urine. To quote from the biography Billy Miske: The St. Paul Thunderbolt: "A number of years later, in his autobiography, Dempsey would comment, 'During the fight, I began to feel that Billy wasn't giving me as tough a battle as I had expected. He did not seem like his old self.'"

Miske was effectively dying when he challenged for the richest prize in sport. He died of kidney failure less than four years later.

This was the only time in over 100 bouts that Miske was knocked out.

"Naturally I am glad that I won," said Jack Dempsey after the bout. "I never doubted for a minute that I would win, but I want to go on record as saying that I believe Miske is one of the gamest men the ring has ever known. I hit him with everything I had when I drove that right into his body in the first round. When it landed I expected him to hit the floor. I was surprised when he remained on his feet. I believe that punch won the fight for me. He seemed to slow up after that."

"The better man won," said Miske. "I am greatly disappointed. I was confident that I would realise my ambition and become the world heavyweight champion. That blow to the body in the first round sure did hurt me."

Also on the bill, Sam Langford was comfortably outpointed by Bill Tate over six rounds and the legendary Harry Greb outpointed Chuck Wiggins by a wide margin over six rounds.

Tijuana's 21-year-old Erik Morales defeated the veteran (39) southpaw Daniel Zaragoza to claim the WBC super-bantamweigh...
09/06/2026

Tijuana's 21-year-old Erik Morales defeated the veteran (39) southpaw Daniel Zaragoza to claim the WBC super-bantamweight crown in 1997.

The fight took place at the El Paso County Coliseum and was a hard fought, close battle before Morales stopped Zaragoza in the 11th round. Morales, who was 26-0 entering the fight, went on to a Hall of Fame career. Zaragoza never fought again and finished his career with 55 victories.

Possibly the greatest fighter never to have fought for a world title, Charley Burley was born in Bessemer, Pennsylvania ...
09/06/2026

Possibly the greatest fighter never to have fought for a world title, Charley Burley was born in Bessemer, Pennsylvania in 1917 to a mixed-race couple: his father was a black coal miner and his mother a white Irish immigrant from County Cork. Raised in Bessemer, the only son of seven children, the family moved to Pittsburgh when his father was killed in an industrial accident in 1925.

Burley took up boxing at the age of 12 when he and boyhood pal, Ossie Harris, joined up with the Kays Boy’s Club in the Hill District of Pittsburgh.

He was among a group of formidable avoided black fighters in the 1940s referred to as "The Black Murderers' Row," a term coined by writer Budd Schulberg. The group included Eddie Booker, Jack Chase, Cocoa Kid, Bert Lytell, Lloyd Marshall, Aaron "Tiger" Wade and Holman Williams.

Among others, Burley defeated future world champions Fritzie Zivic, Billy Soose and Archie Moore. He was never stopped in 98 professional fights.

Camille Ewald instilled a lot of family values in Mike Tyson.Ewald was fiercely protective of Tyson, often defending him...
09/05/2026

Camille Ewald instilled a lot of family values in Mike Tyson.

Ewald was fiercely protective of Tyson, often defending him: “Mike is a normal, balanced boy and has very good control over himself and his body. He didn’t have an unusual temper. He was very mild-mannered. Now all of a sudden he needs medicine and he has this disease. He wouldn’t take an aspirin for a headache when he was here.”

Ukraine-born Ewald lived an incredibly long life. She passed away in 2001 at the ripe old age of 98.

The owner of the fastest hands in the heavyweight division during the 1980s, Tony 'TNT' Tubbs’ skills were all the more ...
09/05/2026

The owner of the fastest hands in the heavyweight division during the 1980s, Tony 'TNT' Tubbs’ skills were all the more impressive given his waistline – one that seemed more suited to his surname than he might have liked.

No one could deny Tubbs was gifted .

After beating Jimmy Young and “Bonecrusher” Smith, he claimed the WBA title from Greg Page in 1985. But the belt slipped from his grasp a year later, surrendered to Tim Witherspoon in 15 closely contested but rather dull rounds.

In 1988, Tubbs showed promise against a peak Mike Tyson, taking the first round on one judge’s card before succumbing to Tyson’s power in the second.

He impressed again in November 1989 with a win over leading contender Orlin Norris, but that victory was later overturned to a No Contest after co***ne was found in his system. A substance that would bring Tubbs trouble on several occasions throughout his career.

In 1991, Tubbs boxed beautifully, only to lose a contentious decision to the rising Riddick Bowe. While wins over Bruce Seldon, Alexander Zolkin, and Brian Minto (in 2004) reaffirmed his talent, first-round losses to Jimmy Ellis and Lionel Butler served as stark reminders of his vulnerabilities.

In May 2023, 1988 Olympic boxing gold medallist Park Si Hun travelled from South Korea to Roy Jones Jr’s ranch in Pensac...
09/05/2026

In May 2023, 1988 Olympic boxing gold medallist Park Si Hun travelled from South Korea to Roy Jones Jr’s ranch in Pensacola to return his Seoul Olympic gold medal, marking a historic moment in boxing. This act of reconciliation aimed to rectify one of the sport’s most controversial decisions.

Accompanied by his family, Park surprised Jones at his home, returning the medal 35 years after the controversial judges' decision at the Seoul Olympics. The meeting, which addressed a decades-old injustice, was significant for both men.

In 1988, Roy Jones Jr dominated his gold medal bout against Park Si Hun, but to the shock of the world, judges awarded Park the victory by a narrow 3-2 margin. The decision sparked an investigation, leading to reforms in Olympic scoring for years to come.

Despite the crushing defeat, Jones didn’t let the incident define him. Supported by his Pensacola community, especially young fans, he resolved never to leave the outcome to judges again. His subsequent triumphs cemented his legacy as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters, becoming the first to win the heavyweight title after starting at light-middleweight.

Following the 1988 decision, Park apologised to Jones, acknowledging his loss. However, Park’s life spiralled into severe depression, multiple su***de attempts, and public vilification in South Korea. In a candid three-hour interview, Park shared his struggles after the medal’s return.

On May 30, 2023, Jones, expecting a routine interview, was stunned to find Park in the boxing ring. In an emotional scene, Park presented the gold medal, saying through his son’s translation, “I had the gold medal, but I wanted to give it back to you. It belongs to you.” Park then added, “This gold medal is your problem now.”

The meeting symbolised justice and camaraderie. Captured on camera, it marked a new beginning for both men. Inspired by the experience, Jones is now considering a documentary about his life, legacy, and the resilience of the human spirit, with film development currently underway.

One of the finest lightweights in history, Ike Williams was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment in 1994. Williams ...
09/05/2026

One of the finest lightweights in history, Ike Williams was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment in 1994. Williams died of natural causes. He was 71 years old.

Trenton, New Jersey's Williams turned pro in 1940 and had a record of 123-25-5, with 60 knockouts, when he retired in 1955.

Williams, a vicious body puncher, won the NBA lightweight title when he knocked out Juan Zurita in 1945 at Mexico City. Williams was recognised as the undisputed world lightweight champion with a sixth-round knockout of Bob Montgomery in 1947.

From 1948 through 1950, Williams made five successful defences of the 135-pound crown and fought 27 other bouts as well. Williams often fought against light-welterweights and welterweights.

Defeated such fighters as Kid Gavilan, Beau Jack, Montgomery, Sammy Angott, Zurita and Johnny Bratton.

Muhammad Ali, then an 18-year-old Louisville light-heavyweight by the name of Cassius Clay, gave the US its third gold m...
09/05/2026

Muhammad Ali, then an 18-year-old Louisville light-heavyweight by the name of Cassius Clay, gave the US its third gold medal in boxing in 1960 when he soundly whipped Ziggy Pietrzykowskl, the experienced Polish Olympian, in the 178-pound Rome Olympic final.

The other American golden boys were 21-year-old light-middleweight Willie McClure and Eddie Crook, a 31-year-old middleweight.

Interestingly, Ali nearly didn't travel to Italy at all. A turbulent flight to California for the Olympic trials had put him off flying.

Only after some more gentle encouragement from his mentor, Joe Martin, was Ali persuaded to get on the plane.

Reputedly, the teenage boxer did insist on taking a parachute on board for the journey – just in case.

“That man was beautiful. Timing, speed, reflexes, rhythm, his body, everything was beautiful. And to me, still, I would ...
09/04/2026

“That man was beautiful. Timing, speed, reflexes, rhythm, his body, everything was beautiful. And to me, still, I would say pound for pound...I'd say I'm the greatest heavyweight of all time, but pound for pound, I still say Sugar Ray Robinson was the greatest of all time.”

Muhammad Ali

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