Browsing Category Boxiana

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  Boxiana 6

  The Boston Bonecrusher

  When we compare the great fighting champions of past and present, inevitably we draw a distinction between the true warrior and the mere athlete. At that point we ...

  On March 3, 2021 / By Michael Carbert
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  Boxiana 0

  Kenty vs Espana

  After decades of decline, Detroit, Michigan, attempted to reverse the years of stagnation and neglect and reassert itself in the late 70s as one of America’s great cities. A ...

  On March 2, 2021 / By Robert Portis
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  Boxiana 4

  Nelson vs Fenech II

  It may not be right or just, but the fact remains that when it comes to drawing attention and selling tickets, the heavyweights are always tops in boxing. ...

  On March 1, 2021 / By Michael Carbert
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  Boxiana 0

  Feb. 28, 1973: Napoles vs Lopez II

  They call boxing the cruelest sport for a number of reasons, one of them being that no matter how talented or dedicated a boxer is, his success ultimately ...

  On February 28, 2021 / By Robert Portis
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  Boxiana 6

  Feb. 25, 1964: Clay vs Liston I

  An earthquake. The ground collapsing beneath one’s feet. All that is established and familiar giving way to things new and strange and frightening. We’re only human so don’t ...

  On February 25, 2021 / By Michael Carbert
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  Boxiana 7

  Feb. 24, 1989: Duran vs Barkley

  Iran “The Blade” Barkley vs Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran represents a very special page in the history book of boxing. This intense and historic battle is nothing ...

  On February 24, 2021 / By Rafael García
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  Boxiana 0

  Feb. 20, 1993: Chavez vs Haugen

  When Joe Cortez stopped the fight, even Haugen must have felt like things were in their right place. He took on the role of villain with Chavez, years ...

  On February 20, 2021 / By David Como
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  Boxiana 5

  Feb. 19, 2000: Morales vs Barrera I

  No one can really pin down how the animosity began. Perhaps it was a regional rivalry with Erik Morales hailing from the working class region of Zona Norte, ...

  On February 19, 2021 / By Rene Ricardo Bernal
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  Boxiana 0

  Feb. 18, 1989: Whitaker vs Haugen

  Looking back it’s difficult not to feel some measure of regret for Pernell Whitaker, and this is apart from the fact he was taken from us far too ...

  On February 18, 2021 / By Michael Carbert
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  Boxiana 0

  Feb. 16, 1970: Frazier vs Ellis

  Following Muhammad Ali’s refusal to be drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1967 and his being relieved of both his title and his license to box, the matter ...

  On February 16, 2021 / By Michael Carbert
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  Boxiana 0

  Feb. 15, 1982: Leonard vs Finch

  It is 1982 and Sugar Ray Leonard is the king of not only the welterweight division, but of the entire sport of boxing. No other fighter is as ...

  On February 15, 2021 / By Robert Portis
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  Boxiana 1

  Feb. 14, 1951: Robinson vs LaMotta VI

  Of all the most memorable rivalries in the long history of boxing, that between Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta stands apart. First, these were two all-time greats. ...

  On February 14, 2021 / By Michael Carbert
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  Boxiana 6

  Feb. 11, 1949: Pep vs Saddler II

  There is a certain mystique to legendary fights of yesteryear, a nostalgia that speaks of a time when ‘The Sweet Science’ was larger than life and ruled supreme. ...

  On February 11, 2021 / By Daniel Attias
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  Boxiana 0

  Feb. 11, 1990: Douglas vs Tyson

  Thirty years ago today, it happened: Douglas vs Tyson. The biggest upset in boxing history. Every fan knows the narrative. In 1990, the undefeated Mike Tyson appeared indomitable, ...

  On February 11, 2021 / By Eliott McCormick
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  Boxiana 1

  Feb. 9, 1974: Monzon vs Napoles

  By this time no one questioned the greatness of Jose Napoles. The former Cuban who had emigrated to Mexico after the government of Fidel Castro deemed pro boxing ...

  On February 9, 2021 / By Michael Carbert
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  Boxiana 8

  Feb. 7, 1882: Sullivan vs Ryan

  At the dawn of pugilism’s gloved era, championship claims were difficult to prove or sustain absent reliable record-keeping and a means to ensure prizefights could happen without police interference. ...

  On February 7, 2021 / By Patrick Connor
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  Boxiana 0

  Fight City Legends: The Mighty Atom

  The writer of a profile of Jimmy Wilde, aka “The Mighty Atom,” is tempted to put down the particulars of Wilde’s incredible record – 152 bouts, 146 victories, ...

  On February 6, 2021 / By Robert Portis
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  Boxiana 2

  Feb. 5, 1943: Robinson vs LaMotta II

  A rivalry is not a rivalry after just one fight. Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta had faced each other for the very first time just four months prior ...

  On February 5, 2021 / By Robert Portis
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  Boxiana 0

  Feb.3, 1996: Barrera vs McKinney

  It’s 1996 and HBO has decided to start a new series of live boxing, providing fight fans with more excitement and their prizefighters with more exposure. At that time, ...

  On February 3, 2021 / By Robert Portis
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  Boxiana 1

  Feb. 2, 1980: Sanchez vs Lopez I

  Danny “Little Red” Lopez had won the WBC version of the featherweight crown in 1976 and no one begrudged him the title. This was because Lopez, contrary to ...

  On February 2, 2021 / By Michael Carbert
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  Boxiana 0

  Feb. 1, 1965: Patterson vs Chuvalo

  The popularity of boxing has waxed and waned over the decades, but the 1950s saw a new source of anxiety emerge for professional prizefighting: television. With boxing featured ...

  On February 1, 2021 / By Michael Carbert
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  Boxiana 4

  Jan. 29, 1983: Duran vs Cuevas

  Roberto Duran vs Pipino Cuevas. Just two or three years earlier, an absolute dream match, but now a meeting of ex-champions, if not has-beens; two once proud warriors, ...

  On January 30, 2021 / By Michael Carbert
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  Boxiana 0

  Jan. 29, 2005: Gatti vs Leija

  As 2005 started, Arturo Gatti‘s star was once again on the rise. He had previously earned the title of “Blood and Guts Warrior” after enduring thirty rounds of ...

  On January 29, 2021 / By Rafael García
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  Boxiana 7

  Jan. 28, 1974: Ali vs Frazier II

  That first historic Ali vs Frazier confrontation in 1971, without question one of the biggest sports events of all-time, took a significant toll on both “Smokin’ Joe” and ...

  On January 28, 2021 / By Michael Carbert
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  Boxiana 0

  Jan. 24, 1982: Pedroza vs Laporte

  Few champions have ever won as many world title matches as Panama’s Eusebio Pedroza and yet the prolific featherweight’s career is defined more by who he didn’t fight ...

  On January 24, 2021 / By Robert Portis
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  Boxiana 6

  Jan. 24, 1976: Foreman vs Lyle

  Following his surprise defeat to Muhammad Ali in one of the most historic fights in boxing history, George Foreman returned from Africa not just a former champion, but ...

  On January 24, 2021 / By Michael Carbert
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  Boxiana 8

  Jan. 22, 1988: Tyson vs Holmes

  Throughout his career, Larry Holmes had been underestimated. When he started fighting his way up the heavyweight ranks while working as a sparring partner for Joe Frazier and Muhammad ...

  On January 22, 2021 / By Michael Carbert
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  Boxiana 4

  Jan. 21, 1978: Duran vs De Jesus III

  The rivalry came as a surprise to everyone when it began in November of 1972. A surprise because, at the time, no one expected the fistic dynamo that ...

  On January 21, 2021 / By Neil Crane
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  Boxiana 0

  Jan. 21, 1927: LaBarba vs Clark

  Flyweight wasn’t much of a division until Jimmy Wilde came along. While not the first of the little champions, “The Ghost With the Hammer in His Hand” showed ...

  On January 21, 2021 / By Patrick Connor
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  Boxiana 1

  Jan. 20, 1980: Arguello vs Castillo

  It is 1980 and Alexis Arguello is a two-time world champion, already regarded as a future Hall of Famer, if not an all-time great. The Nicaraguan is the ...

  On January 20, 2021 / By Robert Portis