Chief
Scribe: Michael Amakor: Its often been said that
you don't play boxing. Nothing could be further from
the truth. Don't lace up the gloves and enter the
squared circle unless you are ready to leave a piece
of yourself in the ring. The ring is a merciless
arena where champions separate themselves from
contenders. Win lose or draw we boxing fans
appreciate the spectacle afforded us by these
gladiators. Enjoy,
Sadly, I have just learned that former
British empire boxing champion Yvon "The Fighting Fisherman" Durelle has
died at age 77. Family members said he suffered a stroke on Christmas
day and also had Parkinson disease.
With the recent
death of Canadian great Yvon Durelle I thought it would be fitting to post
this article. Archie's first fight with Durelle was surely a defining
moment in both of their careers.
He was possibly the greatest light heavyweight of all time, The wily
"Old Mongoose" Archie Moore. The man who scored 140 knockouts in a
career that spanned from 1936 to 1963
On December 9, 2004, Vasilly "The
Tiger" Jirov faces "Double M" Michael Moorer for the
Vacant WBC Continental Americas and North American
Heavyweight Titles at the American Airlines Arena in
Miami, Florida. The tiger from Kazakhstan is the
former WBC Continental Americas Cruiserweight
Champion and he first shot into prominence back in
June 1999 when he scored a technical
Lineal
Jr.
Middleweight/WBC
Super
Welterweight
(June
23, 2001
–
September
13,
2003, 2
Defenses);
WBA
Super
Welterweight
(September
14, 2002
–
September
13,
2003, 1
Defense);
WBO
Middleweight
(June 5,
2004 –
September
18,
2004);
WBC
Super
Welterweight
(May 6,
2006 –
May 5,
2007)
Hailed from:
Montebello,
California
Record: 39-6
(30 KO)
Boxrec
Record
Record
against
champions
and Hall of
Famers: 24-5
(17 KO)
Champions
faced: Troy
Dorsey,
Jimmi
Bredahl,
Jorge Paez,
John John
Molina,
Rafael
Ruelas,
Genaro
Hernandez,
Jesse James
Lejia, Julio
Cesar
Chavez,
Miguel Angel
Gonzalez,
Pernell
Whitaker,
Hector
Camacho, Ike
Quartey,
Felix
Trinidad,
Shane
Mosley,
Arturo Gatti,
Javier
Castillejo,
Fernando
Vargas, Luis
Ramon Campas,
Felix Sturm,
Bernard
Hopkins,
...continue
If
Bennie Briscoe was never born,
we would have invented him. With
the courage of a lion, the
persistence of a beaver, and the
indestructibility of a Sherman
Tank, Briscoe was able to wreak
havoc on the middleweight
division for 20 years (1962-
1982). The boxing ring was his
altar and worshiping fans packed
venues all over the world to get
a glimpse of the bald-pated,
murderous body-punching fighter
who according to his promoter,
J. Russell Peltz, “slammed away
at your foundation until it
turned to chalk.” He was bigger
than life and the
personification of what it meant
to be a
Philadelphia fighter—tough,
relentless, resilient,
unequivocal—bad! No fighter in
the world was more dedicated to
breaking their opponent’s will
and demolishing their spirit by
doling out punishment to the
body. Hence, when I had the
chance to meet Briscoe, I didn’t
know whether or not to bow,
genuflect or shake his hand. I
was a teenager and it was before
one of my amateur bouts at the
Athletic Recreation Center at 26th
and Master Streets in
Philadelphia. I heard that
Briscoe was in the building, so
I rushed out of the basketball
gym, which served as our
dressing room, with my autograph
book to view the legend and get
his John Hancock. Tongue-tied, I
introduced myself and asked for
an ..continue
The
smoke is
gone but the
fire burns.
If Joe
Frazier did
not tell
everyone
that he was
from
Beaufort,
South
Carolina, we
would have
claimed him
as our own
in Jamaica.
His journey
of
overcoming
and making
lemonade
when life
handed him
sour lemons
is truly a
story that
we
immigrants
find
redeeming.
No surprise
that I was
well-aware
of Joe
Frazier
before ever
setting foot
in this
country.
My
countrymen
sang the
catchy
little
ditty— “Joe
Frazier,
sharper than
a
razor……”—which
was forever
etched in my
mind.
As fate
would
prescribe we
moved from
Kingston to
Philadelphia—the
home of the
legendary
Smokin’ Joe
Frazier and
I immersed
myself in
the sweet
science. I
would
eventually
meet this
great
man—sometimes
eyeing him
from across
the ring in
the corner
of a few of
my opponents
as I made my
way through
the amateur
ranks.
Gracious,
warm and
dignified he
was
everything
that one
would want
in a hero—a
pleasant man
who
metamorphosed
into a
relentless
pugilist
sedulous in
his pursuit
of rendering
another man
comatose on
the canvas.
Yet, he was
just as nice
outside the
ring as he
was vicious
inside “his
office”—the
squared
circle in
which he
earned
millions.
It is 7pm
and I just
returned
from saying
goodbye at
the first of
two viewings
at the Wells
Fargo.....continue
In Defense
of John "The
Quietman"
Ruiz
By Michael
Amakor
Recently
reinstated
World Boxing
Association
WBA
Heavyweight
Champion
John Ruiz
just
released an
open letter
to the
President of
the
Gilbertyo
Mendoza, in
it he states
"It has come
to my
attention
that, behind
my back,
James Toney
and his
people are
attempting
to have the
WBA lift or
modify the
two-year
sanction
against him
fighting for
my
title....his
explanation
about taking
prescription
drugs for an
arm injury
turning into
a
performance
enhancing
anabolic
steroid is a
lie."
The NYSAC
has already
rejected
this false
excuse. Ask
yourself,
why has he
not
appealed?
The answer
is obvious:
Toney knows
that if he
does, the
results of
his blood
tests would
be open to
the public,
the
extremely
high levels
of the
illegal
steroid he
took would
be revealed,
and his
"excuse"
would be
laughed at.
Instead he
hides behind
this false
story and
...continue
Carmine
Orlando
Tilelli?>
BY: GEORGE
HEADLEY HANSON
JR.
“I had no
amateur fights,”
stated Carmine
O. Tilelli, the
voice on the
other end of the
telephone. This
was news to me
because in all
my research,
this relevant
fact was
omitted. Having
covered the
former
bantamweight
champion, Joltin’
Jeff Chandler,
my first boxing
article, I knew
that it was
possible to have
limited
experience and
rise to the top
of your
profession. Jeff
turned
professional
after only two
amateur fights.
But to have had
zero amateur
fights and a
professional
record of 100
wins – 25 losses
– 7 draws – 1
no-decision with
32 knockouts;
winning the
world
middleweight
championship
along the way –
that was
something else.
Who is Carmine
Tilelli?
Carmine O.
Tilelli is the
name on the
birth
certificate of
former
middleweight
champion and
Boxing Hall of
Famer, Joey
Giardello. Born
in Brooklyn in
1930, Giardello
grew up in a
tough
neighborhood and
loved to fight.
At sixteen years
of age he joined
the Army, using
the name of his
childhood
friend, Joey
Giardello,
because he was
too young to be
an enlisted man.
After leaving
the army at
eighteen, he
visited a friend
in Philadelphia.
Without any
money and a love
for fighting he
went to a gym,
got a trainer
and shortly
afterwards
turned
professional. He
made $35 for his
fight and he
recalls thinking
he was rich. It
was 1948 and
that was a lot
of money.
Gasoline was 26
cents per
gallon; the
minimum wage was
40 cents per
hour; the ..continue
Why Talk
about Freedom?—Jack Johnson
By:
George Hanson Jr., Esq -
February 15, 2010
Before Muhammad Ali,
there was Jack Johnson—black, brash, bold,
uncompromising. He was a rich celebrity athlete
looming larger than life, breaking social taboos and
oftentimes causing men to question their manhood. In
the process, he became the most notorious
African-American on the planet. Facing the world
unafraid, Johnson won the heavyweight championship,
made a fortune, drove fast cars, wore expensive
suits, appeared regularly in the press, and later in
radio and in motion pictures, married three white
women, became a fugitive, fled the States for seven
years, spent a year in jail, authored two books and
patented a wrench before his life ended in a car
crash in 1946. Why talk about freedom?
I discovered Jack
Johnson in a dusty volume of Before the Mayflower: A
History of Black America, 1619-1962 (1963) by Lerone
Bennett tucked away on a bookcase in my seventh
grade homeroom. One year removed from Jamaica, I
read the entire three-volume set which gave me a ...continue
THE GREAT ARCHIE MOORE
By Jim Amato -
January 7, 2007
AUTHOR'S NOTE ; With the recent
death of Canadian great Yvon Durelle I thought it would be fitting to post
this article. Archie's first fight with Durelle was surely a defining
moment in both of their careers.
He was possibly the greatest light heavyweight of all time, The wily
"Old Mongoose" Archie Moore. The man who scored 140 knockouts in a career
that spanned from 1936 to 1963 never lost his crown in the ring. Although
he unsuccessfully challenged twice for the heavyweight title, he did
campaign successfully among the "Big Boys" throughout his tenure as a
professional boxer. His record reads lie "Who's Who" of boxing history. In
228 recorded bouts, Archie was only stopped seven times, a testimony to
his courage and uncanny defensive ability.
Born on December 13, 1913, ( or 1916 to Archie) Moore boxed for years
without due recognition. He fought all over the country. He even traveled
to Australia and Argentina in search of fame and fortune. After six years
on the circuit, Archie began to make his move toward the big time. In
1942, he knocked out Shorty Hogue in two rounds. Hogue had decisioned
Archie no less than three times earlier in his career. He also beat rugged
Jack Chase and drew with Ed Booker. In 1943, he won two out of three
against Chase. In 1944, Moore lost by a knockout to Booker and also
dropped a decision to the great Charley Burley. 1945 was a good year for
Archie as he lost only ...continue
For a boxer who had crossed gloves with the likes
of Sam Langford, Joe Gans. Philadelphia, Jack O'Brien, Mysterious Billy
Smith, Kid Lavigne, George Gardner, Dixie Kid, Rube Ferns, Tommy West, Dan
Creedon, Honey Mellody and Joe Choynski, His was not a fitting end. Joe
Walcott was born on March 13, 1873, in Barbados, British West Indies. On
December 15, 1901, he stopped Rube Ferns in five rounds to capture the
welterweight title. Ninety years later, the man nicknamed the Barbados Demon
was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Walcott's career began in 1890 and lasted through
1911. He engaged in 135 recorded pro contests, but Joe insisted there were
many more. He failed in his first two attempts to win title recognition
losing to lightweight champion Kid Lavigne in 1897, and welterweight
champion Mysterious Billy Smith in 1898. After beating Ferns in 1901, he
held the crown until losing to Dixie Kid in 1904. He reclaimed the title
when Dixie Kid moved up in weight, but lost all recognition when he was
defeated by Honey Mellody in 1906.
From his retirement in 1911 until 1935, Walcott
worked many different jobs. His boxing fortune had long since depleted.
Destitute he eventually surfaced in New York City. It was there that Mayor
Jimmy Walker learned of Joe's Plight. Walker was able to get Joe a job at
...continue
For most of the 1960’s and part of the early 1970’s Canadian George
Chuvalo was a mainstay in the talent rich heavyweight ratings. RING
Magazine founder Nat Fleischer called George one of the most durable
fighters he had ever seen. In his long distinguished career the rock
jawed Chuvalo was NEVER off his feet. Amazing seeing the competition he
faced. For the sake of space let’s start looking at George’s career from
1965 on.
Chuvalo’s 1965 bout with ex-world champion Floyd Patterson was one of
the year’s best action fights. George never stopped coming forward as he
landed clubbing rights to Floyd’s head and terrific lefts to his body.
Still Floyd showed a heart that everyone doubted he had. He absorbed
Chuvalo’s fury and used his outstanding hand speed to win a popular
decision over George. Although George lost, his courage impressed the
crowd. Despite the losing effort Chuvalo was matched with World Boxing
Association titleholder Ernie Terrell. When Ali met Sonny Liston in
their rematch the W.B.A. stripped Ali and recognized the winner of a
Terrell-Eddie Machen bout. Terrell captured a boring verdict and the
“vacant” crown. Against Chuvalo, the 6’7” Terrell used a long jab and a
grab and clutch style to outscore George over fifteen rounds.
The roller coaster career of Chuvalo continued into 1966. George
traveled to London and was upset by Argentina’s Eduardo Corletti in ten
rounds. The loss appeared to have pushed George out of the title
picture. Instead he benefited by being in the right place at the right
time. When a proposed Ali-Terrell fight fell through, Ali agreed to come
to Toronto and defend against George. Although the bout was ..continue
I just had the absolute pleasure of viewing "Ring
Of Fire"; A documentary on the great career of former world champion Emile
Griffith. The main focus was the effect the death of opponent Benny "Kid"
Paret in the final chapter of their exciting trilogy. In reality it was more
then that. It showed what a great fighter and even greater man Emile
Griffith was and is. I think that it has been forgotten what a superb boxer
Emile Griffith was. He was one of the best welterweights and middleweights
of all time. His record is a "Who's Who" of boxing. What a roster of top
shelf competition he met.
After watching this show I had to wonder how great
Emile may have become. Even after the Paret tragedy Emile compiled an
impressive list of titles and opponents. To me there is no doubt that Emile
lost that "killer instinct" after the Paret incident. In watching the early
part of the broadcast you came to realize that Emile never really had it at
all. It had to be instilled in him. I honestly believe that never in Emile's
wildest dreams could he see the gloom that awaited him. This is a man of
honor and loyalty. The people that really know him like Gil Clancy, Howie
Albert. his family, etc...They conveyed the the deep emotions and feelings
of this proud but yet humble man.
The ending was fitting, emotional and finally a
closing of a sad but real novel.. Hopefully the final chapter was read and
finished. The book I hope is now closed. Paret's son and Emile have bared
their souls to the world. I hope now that Emile feels absolved of any wrong
doing and grief. He is too good of a man to feel otherwise.
Chief
Scribe: Michael Amakor: Its often been said that
you don't play boxing. Nothing could be further from
the truth. Don't lace up the gloves and enter the
squared circle unless you are ready to leave a piece
of yourself in the ring. The ring is a merciless
arena where champions separate themselves from
contenders. Win lose or draw we boxing fans
appreciate the spectacle afforded us by these
gladiators. Enjoy,
Before Muhammad Ali,
there was Jack Johnson—black, brash, bold,
uncompromising. He was a rich celebrity athlete
looming larger than life, breaking social taboos and
oftentimes causing men to question their manhood. In
the process, he became the most notorious
African-American on the planet. Facing the world
unafraid, Johnson won the heavyweight championship,
made a fortune, drove fast cars, wore expensive
suits, appeared regularly in the press, and later in
radio and in motion pictures, married three white
women, became a fugitive, fled the States for seven
years, spent a year in jail, authored two books and
patented a wrench before his life ended in a car
crash in 1946. Why talk about freedom?