A Boxing Memory: John Tate Going into the 15th round of his first defence of his WBA world heavyweight title against Mike Weaver in 1980, Big John Tate only had to stay standing to win. Ahead on points, Tate looked secure, tantalisingly close to what lay ahead. Weaver with an ordinary-looking record of 21-9 seemingly … Continue reading A Boxing Memory: John Tate
A Boxing Memory: Matthew Ellis There are two sides to Blackpool. The bright lights and hustle and bustle of the seafront. The holiday brochures in more normal times only show you want they want to see. The decay and dereliction of the back streets are not seen, and holidaymakers and locals avoid them with equal … Continue reading A Boxing Memory: Matthew Ellis
Witherspoon vs Bruno: Blood, Sweat & Tears There was a time not that long ago that British heavyweights were branded and labelled as horizontal. A near-century of failure to capture the biggest and richest prize in boxing resulted in that unfortunate and unflattering assessment. Bob Fitzsimmons, the last British-born heavyweight champion of the world, held … Continue reading Witherspoon vs Bruno: Blood, Sweat & Tears
John Conteh: One Of Britain's Finest By Daniel Smith Dublin, July 19th, 1972. John Conteh: ‘Muhammad, can you give me some advice please?’ Muhammad Ali: ‘Yeah, get out of my division!’ In 1968, a fighter by the name of Bobby Blower travelled a hundred-and-seventy miles from Wolverhampton to Basildon to compete in the Amateur Boxing Association … Continue reading John Conteh: One Of Britain’s Finest
A Boxing Memory: Wilfred Benitez At seventeen, Wilfred Benitez was a world champion. At twenty-eight, he was effectively finished as a fighter. By the time he was thirty-eight, his life was a whole lot different. Too many fights, and too many punches absorbed. The glory days long gone, and his fortune was also a thing … Continue reading A Boxing Memory: Wilfred Benitez
ALI VS LISTON: THE REMATCH THAT GOT AWAY by Paul Gallender BOSTON, MA - Friday, November 13, 1964 In three days, Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston would meet at a time when their physical and mental conditions were as closely aligned as they would ever be. The much older Liston was in the best fighting … Continue reading ALI VS LISTON: THE REMATCH THAT GOT AWAY
Ali vs. Berbick: The Final Goodbye There can’t have been a more depressing end to a boxing career than how Muhammad Ali signed out on a truly memorable and often historic run in the sweet science. Ali could have resisted the urge to keep chasing further glory and the need to fight his dwindling finances. … Continue reading Ali vs Berbick: The Final Goodbye
Jamie Moore vs Ryan Rhodes: Pride, Heart & Respect In 2009, two boxers temporarily put their friendship aside. Jamie Moore entered that Bolton ring the betting favourite and on the verge of a world title. Moore was defending his European light-middleweight title, but the title seemed a minor irrelevance. Much more was on the line. … Continue reading Jamie Moore vs Ryan Rhodes: Pride, Heart & Respect
Hector Camacho: The Bright Lights & The Sad Demise There was something rather sad, albeit predictable in many ways, how the boxing career of Hector Camacho fizzled out so quickly. Yes, he had a long career, turning professional in 1980 before belatedly calling it a day in 2010, but Camacho was starting to fade as … Continue reading Hector Camacho: The Bright Lights & The Sad Demise
A Boxing Memory: Jack Sharkey By Garry White The little boy, encouraged by the broad-shouldered man in front of him, takes a shy swing. “Oh, you can hit harder than that, Jackie,” says the man, playfully. The little boy tries again, his face beaming, and this time, the man, his father, tumbles to the ground, … Continue reading A Boxing Memory: Jack Sharkey
