Category Archives: Rankings

FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez

David Martinez, DMBoxing News, Photos, Rankings

 collection NEW 300x240 FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez

(Spring / Summer 2014 Edition)

I am truly honored to be providing this website to everyone. My wealth in boxing goes back to 1961, and so boxing is truly embedded in my life. I am sharing a few photos for viewing of my collection in my over fifty years of boxing.

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I also want to say thank you to a group of people that help me make this website what it is and will continue to be. They are: John Boitnott (Web Master); Bob Quackenbush (Photo Editing and Proof Reader); Rusty Rubin (In Rusty’s Corner); Tom Donelson (Boxing Writers Association); Dave Wilcox (Glove 2 Glove); Jim Amato (Senior Boxing Writer); and Kathy Kraft (Proof Reader). I have always said “a captain is as only as good as his crew” and this crew is beyond my belief in what they provide with their expertise.

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I would also like to acknowledge the women that model my products; they are kind enough to do their part with providing beauty when I advertise my items for sale.collection 3 150x150 FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez

A new feature that has everyone talking is from Harold Lederman of HBO World Championship Boxing. He offers his expertise with short videos on upcoming fights and fighters. Coming next month for your viewing, Harold will offer a take on how to score – which he does best – in boxing.

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There are a few people (Adam Pollack, Steve Corbo and Armando Cabrera are at the top of the list) that have provided GUEST POSTS for this website. If there is anyone that would like to do so, I welcome your thoughts and opinions. You can send for approval “directly” to my email address: dmmcgn9@verizon.net

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On an event note – the 2014 California Boxing Hall of Fame Ceremonies will be held on October 18, at the Sportsmen’s Lodge, 12833 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA. For information regarding tickets for this event contact Don Fraser (818) 761-4887 or email address: neicyrox@sbcglobal.netcollection 41 150x150 FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez

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I know you have many choices in boxing, thank you for making this website one of them!

In closing, here’s my top 12 (dozen) “pound for pound” in boxing – as of May 27, 2014

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The Best of 2013 in Boxing

David Martinez, Rankings, Recap

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

I have assembled my personal choices in boxing for the past last year 2013 in the five major categories. Picks are solely my opinion, as I respect and welcome opinions of others.

Mayweather 168x300 The Best of 2013 in Boxing

 

FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: Floyd Mayweather Jr.

WBA welterweight champion and WBC junior middleweight champion

Showing no signs of aging in the ring, Floyd won both of his bouts in 2013 in dominating fashion over two highly touted opponents Robert Guerrero and Canelo Alvarez.

He remains the best “pound for pound” in the sport and I for see that not to change anytime in the near future.

Runner Up:  Timothy Bradley

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FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez

California Boxing Hall of Fame, David Martinez, DMBoxing News, Eddie Futch, Rankings

Untitled 1dmboxing1 edited 300x300 FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez(Fall 2013 Edition)

On a quarterly basis I always want to take the time to say thank you to a group of people that help make this website the success that it has become since I brought it to you in July 2007.

These people are: John Boitnott (Web Master), Bob Quackenbush (Proof Reader & Photo Editing), Rusty Rubin (In Rusty’s Corner), Dave Wilcox (Glove2Glove), Jim Amato (Senior Boxing Writer), Tom Donelson (Member Boxing Writers Association), Kathy Kraft (Proof Reader), Phyllis Vincent (Proof Reader) and the many others who have contributed input with their article features and comments to this site. Johnny Ortiz and Steve Corbo are personal friends who offer their views and I respect both as they are pure boxing experts to the highest degree.

Eddie Futch 95x300 FROM THE DESK OF: David MartinezA thank you is also in order to John Palminteri (KEYT Newschannel 3 ABC-TV) for his outstanding photos and coverage on the recent Henry Calles professional fight at the Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, California on August 16, 2013.

With the recent passing of Ken Norton, I want to acknowledge that he was trained by the legendary Eddie Futch, who also trained 21 other world champions. Eddie trained four of the five boxers that beat the great Muhammad Ali; they were Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick. The anniversary of Eddie’s death is next week on October 10th; we lost Eddie in 2001. I would like to offer a prayer for a man that I consider the best trainer in boxing in my lifetime, Eddie Futch.

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FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez

David Martinez, Rankings

Untitled 1dmboxing1 edited 300x300 FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez(Spring 2013 Edition)

I would like to start by saying thank you for making this website one of your choices in boxing. It is my pleasure to share my passion for a sport I have been attached to since 1961. This website was started in 2007, and has received many more views than any of my expectations  – thank you!

The people that contribute are: John Boitnott (Web Master), Bob Quackenbush (Proof Reader / Photo Editing), Rusty Rubin (In Rusty’s Corner), Dave and Deborah Wilcox (Glove 2 Glove), Jim Amato (Senior Boxing Writer), Tom Donelson (Member Boxing Writers Association), Steve Corbo (Boxing Expert / Writer), Kathy Kraft (Proof Reader), Phyllis Vincent (Proof Reader). A captain is only as good as his crew and these people allow me to steer this ship with honor and expertise.  The girls who pose with my products are all friends and are not professional models.  They offer their time, and lend their beauty, to help in a kind way.

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Bob Foster and the light heavyweight division

David Martinez, Rankings

Bob Foster0003 crop Bob Foster and the light heavyweight division

                                By David Martinez  /  Boxing Historian

I consider myself truly blessed to have seen over the past fifty years all the boxing greats. I have written various articles ranking different boxers in their primes, but I feel compelled to write now about a division in boxing that hardly anyone ever talks about – light heavyweight.

This weight class of 175 pounds was formed in 1903 and its inaugural champion was Jack Root. Before the cruiserweight division was formed in 1979, which was originally 190 pounds but has since been changed to 200 pounds, light heavyweight was the one just below the heavyweight division.

I started to watch boxing in 1961 and prior to then, the ten (not in order) greatest light heavyweights, in my opinion,  were:  Bob Fitzsimmons, Sam Langford, Harry Greb, Gene Tunney, Tommy Loughran, Maxie Rosenbloom, Billy Conn, Jimmy Bivins, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore.

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The Best of the Year 2012

David Martinez, Rankings, Recap

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

 

FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: Juan Manuel Marquez

Marquez0001 crop2 300x298 The Best of the Year 2012

The Mexican warrior wins mega fight IV vs. Manny Pacquiao in December by a spectacular knockout. The result gives Marquez his first definitive victory in his epic four-fight series against arguably one of the best in boxing today.  Marquez also recorded a one-sided win over Sergey Fedchenko in April to win the vacant interim junior welterweight title.

Runner Ups (in order): Nonito Donaire; Danny Garcia.

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“World Colored Heavyweight Championship”

David Martinez, Heavyweights, History, Rankings

thCA27MP152 World Colored Heavyweight ChampionshipBy David Martinez / Boxing Historian

 

Let me bring you a feature story that you will probably not read any where regarding, all together, the five best black heavyweights at the turn of the 20th century.

I got the idea when I over heard some mutual friends talking about the best black baseball players that never got the chance to play in the major leagues, and had to settle playing against each other in the old negro league.

I have rated many boxers in many categories throughout my over 50 years of boxing … on this website alone you will find that I have rated the best heavyweights, the best lightweights, the best Mexicans fighters, and now I will personally rate the best black heavyweights in a time period that but only one of them, Jack Johnson, had the opportunity to fight for the heavyweight championship.

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The Greatest Mexican-Born Boxers “pound for pound” of all time

David Martinez, Rankings

Chavez0007 crop The Greatest Mexican Born Boxers pound for pound of all time

          By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

 

Picking the five best Mexican boxers was really an easy task because the five I have personally chosen are so close in greatness at the peak of their careers, that I could virtually switch the order around in any way and that would satisfy any boxing fan.

My order is simply based on what I have seen, my research, interviews with the people that have lived in their eras, and my expertise on how they would of done against each other had they fought at the peak of their careers.

The level of their competition also plays a huge factor, but not necessarily their ring record, and I can say that I have been so blessed to have had the opportunity in my lifetime see all of these great champions in their respective careers.

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In My Era of Boxing

David Martinez, History, Rankings

Roy Jones In My Era of BoxingBy David Martinez / Boxing Historian

I started to officially watch boxing in the year 1961. I was 13 years old, and it’s been over fifty years since my love for the sport began. I have seen so many great boxers and I consider myself blessed to have been able to live to see them.

I thought it would be interesting to list the best fighters in each weight division – my opinion – that I saw during that time span. They all have one thing in common; they are great champions. As this period of time only covers 1961 to the present, the greats such as Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, and Rocky Marciano, are not included.

This has nothing to do with who beat whom; (i.e.) why Oscar De La Hoya isn’t listed and he beat Pernell Whitaker, or Holmes is ahead of Tyson and got beat by Tyson, or “where is Foreman; he beat Frazier?”  It is about each boxer at the height of their career and how I saw them; this is what I am basing my ranking upon for the best of the best.

Here’s each division with the best boxers listed – in order – as I felt they were at the pinnacle of their careers:

Heavyweight  Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, Sonny Liston,  Mike Tyson, Joe Frazier
Cruiserweight (195 lbs)  Evander Holyfield
Light Heavyweight (175 lbs)  Bob Foster, Archie Moore, Michael Spinks
Super Middleweight (168 lbs)  Roy Jones, Jr., Joe Calzaghe
Middleweight (160 lbs)  Carlos Monzon, Marvin Hagler, Bernard Hopkins
Junior Middleweight (154 lbs)  Terry Norris, Koichi Wajima
Welterweight (147 lbs)  Jose Napoles, Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Thomas Hearns, Felix Trinidad
Junior Welterweight (140 lbs)  Aaron Pryor, Wilfred Benitz
Lightweight (135 lbs)  Roberto Duran, Carlos Ortiz, Pernell Whitaker
Junior Lightweight (130 lbs)  Julio Cesar Chavez, Alexis Arguello, Manny Pacquiao, Flash Elorde
Featherweight (126 lbs)  Vicente Saldivar, Salvador Sanchez, Marco Antonio Barerra
Junior Featherweight (122 lbs)  Wilfredo Gomez, Erik Morales
Bantamweight (118 lbs)  Eder Jofre, Ruben Olivares, Carlos Zarate, Fighting Harada
Junior Bantamweight (115 lbs)  Khaosai Galaxy
Flyweight (112 lbs)  Miguel Canto, Mark Johnson
Junior Flyweight (108 lbs)  Jung Koo Chang, Yoko Gushiken
Strawweight (105 lbs)  Ricardo Lopez, Pone Kingpetch

Why Mike Tyson is NOT in My Top Ten!

Ali, David Martinez, Eddie Futch, Ernie Terrell, Hall Of Fame, Heavyweights, Jim Amato, News, Rankings, Rusty Rubin

Why Mike Tyson is NOT in My Top Ten!
By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

I have rated many fighters in many different divisions, eras, and ethnic groups. One of my first ranking features that I posted on this Web site (see Archives / August 2007 or Rankings on menu to view) was my view of the top ten heavyweights of all time (i.e.) “Rating the Heavies”, in which I have gotten some criticism for not including Mike Tyson in my elite group.

First let me say that it is always a pleasure to write what I have seen in my 48 years of following boxing as a sport I deeply love. I have seen every heavyweight champion fight, either by living during his era, by film or by speaking with individuals who actually saw these champions fight, even at the turn of the 20th century. I respect everyone’s opinions and, of course, have mine to tell after having studied this very subject, giving a great degree of research on my part.

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