David Martinez Boxing

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

Who was the greatest lightweight ever? To answer that question, and I have been asked this many times the same, my answer remains the same – there were actually two of them and in my life time I had the pleasure of able to see one of them – Roberto Duran.

The other was way before my time and he was Benny Leonard who fought from 1911 to 1932, a superb boxer puncher who dominated the lightweight division in his era.

Video #1
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdCeA-FpdiI]

Roberto Duran (nickname Manos de Piedra – Hands of Stone) is undoubtedly the greatest lightweight (135 lb) champion of our time and, at the peak of his career, definitely ranks in the top 10 best pound-for-pound boxers ever.

He fought the best fighters such as Hiroshi Kobayashi, Ken Buchanan, Esteban DeJesus, Ishimatsu Suzuki, Ray Lampkin, Carlos Palomino, Sugar Ray Leonard, Wilfred Benitez, Pipino Cuevas, Davey Moore, Marvin Hagler,Thomas Hearns, Iran Barkley, Vinny Pazienza, Hector Camacho, and William Joppy – just to name a few.

In February 1968 Roberto Duran has his first professional fight and won thirty in a row leading up to his first title bout in June 1972, where he defeated Ken Buchanan for the WBA Lightweight championship. Duran made twelve successful title defenses before giving up his champion’s belt in February 1979 when he moved up in weight to the 147 pound welterweight class.
Read more…

Rusty Rubin is the editor-in-chief of the Ringsports.com, and the author of three highly acclaimed boxing books!

‘Healing, therapeutic’ and ‘helpful in dealing with a life threatening illness’, are the words that seem to be most used when readers have called and written to me about “Woozel, Boxing and Me” (Authorhouse.com #31810).

This book has been given 4½ stars at Amazon.com (read the reviews) and was awarded “Boxing Book of the Year, 2006” by 13thround.com.

“Woozel, Boxing and Me” is far more than just a compilation of many funny and true boxing stories, oddities and quotes.

The book serves as a final tribute to the memory of Susiey Walker, my zany best friend of more than 25 years, who loved life and knew how to live it to the max.
Read more…

Induction Ceremonies 2007

By Ray Cerda

Photos By George Garcia

On Saturday, September 22nd, with a standing room only crowd, over 500 people crowded into the Sportsman Lodge in Studio City, California to pay tribute to the 2007 class of inductees into the California Boxing Hall of Fame. The class was packed with a very impressive list of inductees that included Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Fernando Vargas, Albert Davila, Art Frias, Jimmy Harryman, Genaro Hernandez, Armando Muniz, and Cali Martinez.

The non-boxer category read the same with Richard Schaefer, Don and Lorraine Chargin, Dr. Michael De Luca, Frank Espinoza, Josie Arrey-Mejia, Carlos Avilas, Hank Nagamine, David Martinez, and Frank Baltazar, Sr.

Sugar Shane Mosley and David Martinez

In the posthumous category were Henry Armstrong, Diego Corrales, Larry Soto, Howie Steindler, and Dynamite Jackson.
Read more…

On June 4, 2007, I received a letter from the California Boxing Hall of Fame, President Don Fraser, that I would be inducted into the hall of fame on September 22 – the class of 2007.

I am truly honored, and I consider it very special when you are recognized by your own peers for such an award – my induction.

The list of inductees is very impressive:
Read more…

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

One of the most asked questions that is asked of me is – who do I think is the greatest boxer of all time?

That is very easy for me to answer, in my opinion – it is – Sugar Ray Robinson.

At the peak of his career he was the best ever, and although we have had many greats in boxing – he was the greatest.
Read more…

I want to take this opportunity to thank you – everybody – for making my new boxing website a complete success after one month of operation.

The numbers are in and I am happy to report that there were 2,066 log-on responses in the first 30 day period … an average of slightly over 500 per week.

I personally want to thank my producer, John Boitnott, and my web master, Eric Angella, for their professional work behind the scenes.
Read more…

by Ray Cerda

On Saturday, November 10th, the most anticipated fight of the year will take place, as Miguel Cotto will put his WBA world title on the line when he squares off against WBC Interim Champion Sugar Shane Mosley.

Read more…

By Tom Donelson

Zab Judah made his comeback against Edwin Vasquez and looked sharp. Yet, questions remained. Teddy Atlas predicted Judah would knock out Vasquez in short order but Vasquez came up with a perfect game plan that not only allow him to survive but be competitive. Judah was the better, the more technically skilled fighter but Vasquez showed himself to be resourceful and tough. This toughness allowed him to survive.
Read more…

Thank You Michele for your continuing up dates on truly a boxing icon Chuck Bodak.

Here is my favorite picture of him that I took ten years ago, October 1997.

Read more…

HEAVYWEIGHT

CHAMPION: OLEG MASKAEV (KAZAKHSTAN)

WON TITLE: August 12, 2006

LAST DEFENCE: December 10, 2006

LAST COMPULSORY: August 12, 2006

WBA CHAMPION: Ruslan Chagaev (Uzbekistan)

IBF CHAMPION: Wladimir Klitschko (Ukraine)

WBO CHAMPION: Sultan Ibragimov (Russia)

Read more…