Anthony Joshua survives early knockdowns, wins by 2nd round knockout … Tim Tszyu by decision over Errol Spence Jr.

Heavyweights, Middleweights, Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)

Anthony Joshua needed to get a win over Kristian Prenga for a big payday against Tyson Fury.  Twenty seconds into the first round, the promoters of the Fury-Joshua feared the worst as Prenga landed a right hand followed by a right-hand uppercut sending Joshua down in the first twenty seconds.   Joshua got up but legs remained unsteady and was knocked down second time.  Prenga had his best chance, but Joshua recovered enough to start going after Prenga in the second round.  Joshua superior jab landed and he followed up with right hand that stunned Prenga.  Prenga could not escape his fate as two big rights send Prenga though the ropes.  The fight was waved off as Prenga did not recover.   Joshua managed to escape with a second-round knockout victory after nearly losing in the first round.

Tyson Fury upheld his side of the deal in Thailand as he easily outboxed Mariusz Wach before stopping Wach in the seventh round.

Fury used the fight as a training session as he looked for rounds as he dominated all seven rounds, forcing Wach’s corner to stop the fight. Fury stated, “I’ve had one fight in two years … This is my second fight in two years, of course I wanted to get the rounds in. I want to be active.”  

Joshua showed his main vulnerability, his chin as he got nailed with shots in the first round and nearly lost his big payday.  While Joshua has good boxing skills, so does Fury.   This fight has been talked about for years and may eventually come but after neither men have a title at stake. 

Continue reading Anthony Joshua survives early knockdowns, wins by 2nd round knockout … Tim Tszyu by decision over Errol Spence Jr. →

James Toney vs. Samuel Peter – REVISITED

David Martinez, DMBoxing News, Hall Of Fame, Heavyweights, History, Rusty Rubin

RING SPORTS MAGAZINE

James Toney vs. Samuel Peter

By: David Martinez / Boxing Historian
World Boxing Hall of Fame

       It sure wasn’t the worst decision that I have seen in boxing, though the thousands in attendance at the Los Angeles Staples Center on Saturday night, September 2, 2006, and the millions watching on Showtime TV must have thought so after Samuel Peter was awarded a 12 round “split” decision over James Toney.

          When I think of the most unbelievable decisions that I have seen in boxing in my 45 years in the sport, the first two that come to mind  are: Floyd Patterson losing to Jimmy Ellis in 1968 and Carlos Zarate losing to Lupe Pintor in 1979. Both fights rank high on my list of the worst decisions.

          In the Toney vs Peter fight, I personally saw Toney as the clear cut winner 115 to 112 (7 to 5 in rounds) on my scorecard, and this was even with Peter having a point deducted by referee Raul Caiz, SR. in round nine after a double punch (using both hands at same time, also called “cuffing”) to Toney’s head, a punch that I haven’t seen since I was a kid at a carnival sideshow thrown by a kangaroo!

          This fight was billed as a WBC heavyweight title elimination, with the winner being awarded a guarantee to fight current WBC champion Oleg Maskaev.

The 38 year old Toney entered this fight with a title belt of his own – something called the IBA Heavyweight Championship – and he had not lost a fight since 1997.

The 25 year old Peter, who entered the fight as the third ranked heavyweight contender by the WBC, is one of the hardest hitting punchers in this division today. His style is very similar to another hard hitting heavyweight, Mac Foster, who fought back in the mid-sixties and seventies.

Continue reading James Toney vs. Samuel Peter – REVISITED →

Happy Anniversary #19

David Martinez, dmboxing.com

David Martinez

Boxing Historian

dmboxing.com

On July 15, 2026, www.dmboxing.com officially will celebrate a milestone, of nineteen years of existence.

The website started back in 2007, and since then I have published 2,255 articles and features for world-wide viewing.

It’s absolutely a delight to bring you boxing, as I produce this site to be the best that I can provide.

Along the way, I have been blessed to become acquainted with a wonderful array of fans, and with some to becoming the closest of friends to me, and that I consider a great gift to outstanding friendships.

I am also grateful to have a special team of people that have enhanced the success of this website, and a loyal fan base who I would like to thank for their continued support and positive input. My involvement in boxing goes back sixty-five years to 1961, and my top priority is to provide honesty and credibility to dmboxing.com for all concerned.

Continue reading Happy Anniversary #19 →

Canelo Alvarez / RECAP 2026

Recap, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America / Respected in boxing reporting, and a loyal contributor to www.dmboxing.com since 2008

Saul Alvarez is one of the best pound for pound and has been for the past decade, but Canelo has another distinction. As great of a career he has, there are two fighters that he lost reinforced the greatness of two other fighters, Floyd Mayweather and Terrace Crawford. Both fights had similarity, with both Mayweather and Crawford moving up to fight Alvarez who was the bigger fighter.

Thirteen years ago, a 36-year-old Floyd Mayweather undefeated at 44-0 faced a 23-year-old Alvarez. Alvarez was the younger fighter but at 23, he had a 42-0-1 and was coming into his peak. But the older Mayweather gave Alvarez a boxing lesson as he connected on 46 percent of the fight versus only 22 percent for Alvarez and Mayweather landed 42 percent of his jab whereas Alvarez was ineffectual at only 15 percent. The only controversy was not that Mayweather was the winner, but one judge had it a 114-114 draw. As one ESPN writer noted, “Mayweather, 36, of Las Vegas, fought like a man years younger, as usual. He landed his right hand almost at will and peppered Alvarez with solid jabs. Mayweather was so quick, he evaded nearly ever heavy shot Alvarez threw.”   And Alvarez noted after the fight Mayweather was very elusive and acknowledged that at the end of the fight, he was frustrated. Mayweather was 150 pounds below the 152-catch weight and Alvarez made weight but after rehydration, he walked into the right at 165 pounds. CompuBox had Mayweather landing 232 punches out of 595 punches and Alvarez only connected on 117 punches out of 525 thrown. Mayweather who retired with 50-0 record, showed his mastery over a younger fighter.

Continue reading Canelo Alvarez / RECAP 2026 →

Jaron “Boots”Ennis defeats Xander Zayas / seventh round stoppage

Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)

Jaron “Boots” Ennis took on Xander Zayas, for Zayas’ WBA / WBO Junior Middleweight titles. Both fighters were undefeated, but Ennis was the heavy favorite and in the first round, he showed why he was the favorite as he thumped Zayas around the ring. An Ennis left spun Zayas to the canvas for a knockdown and gave Ennis the opening round sending many fans wondering how quickly this would end.

In the second round, Ennis continuing to pound Zayas as he easily took the round and the fight moved to the third, where Zayas showed life as landed a right hand that Ennis walked through but the second right got Ennis attention and Zayas won the round and in the fourth round saw a Zayas punch spin Ennis head around as both fighters gave as much as they got.  The round was close, but I gave it to Zayas, but it could have gone for Ennis. In the third and fourth round, Zayas landed 50 punches to Ennis 41. Zayas 28 and 22 punches in the third and fourth rounds, whereas Ennis landed 19 and 22.

Ennis got control of the fight in the fifth as he nailed Zayas with everything but the kitchen sink. He sent Zayas down a second time with a right upper cut and overall, he landed 37 punches to Zayas 16. 

In the sixth round, Ennis landed three times as many punches but at the end of the round, Zayas was still standing. The seventh round saw the end of the fight. Both fighters mixed it up in the middle of the ring, but Ennis landed a hard punch combination and began walking Zayas down   Ennis left connected and followed by swift combinations, send Zayas down for a third time and the fight ended as Zayas went down to a knee.

Continue reading Jaron “Boots”Ennis defeats Xander Zayas / seventh round stoppage →

RING TRIVIA for June 2026 ** CORRECT ANSWERS **

David Martinez, Trivia

I have always been intrigued with boxing trivia. This actually began back when I was a young kid in 1961. I would pick the minds of the older generation and ask questions about their era to educate myself. It’s now my pleasure to bring the boxing trivia format to my website www.dmboxing.com for everyone to enjoy. On a quarterly basis I post five multiple choice questions – in March, June, September, and December – with the correct answers following by end of each posting month for your viewing.

David Martinez / Boxing Historian

1 – What boxer had the nickname – Boxing Marvel?

a)  Joe Gans

b)  Benny Leonard

c) Jack Britton *** CORRECT ANSWER

d) Peter Kane

2 – What actor who was to portray a professional boxer in a major movie was told he was overweight and was referred to Dr. Steven R. Gundry for his weight loss?

a) Will Smith – Muhammad Ali

b) Russell Crowe – James J. Braddock

c) Usher – Sugar Ray Leonard *** CORRECT ANSWER

d) Denzel Washington – Rubin “Hurricane” Carter

Continue reading RING TRIVIA for June 2026 ** CORRECT ANSWERS ** →

FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez

David Martinez, FROM THE DESK OF:

(Summer 2026 Edition)

The Summer season is officially upon us and as I respectfully do on a quarterly basis, I want to say a big thank you to a small team of people that help enhance dmboxing.com and make it the success that it has become since the first publication on July 15, 2007.

I would kindly like to acknowledge these people who are Bob Quackenbush (Proof Reader / Photo Input), Tom Donelson (Member Boxing Writers Association of America / BWAA), Kathy Kraft (Proof Reader ~ Retired), and Steve Corbo (Boxing Writer).

I must mention, and will never forget, three other people that are no longer with us (R.I.P.) that were very instrumental in contributing to this website. They are Rusty Rubin (In Rusty’s Corner / Glove2Glove), Harold Lederman (Hey Harold! / HBO World Championship Boxing), and Jim Amato (Senior Boxing Writer / Boxing Historian). Each brought their wealth of knowledge in boxing and they were my dearest friends, never to be forgotten, as they rest peacefully in heaven with the Lord.

I would like to express my deepest and loving consolation to family and friends on the passing of Gwen Adair. She died on April 30, 2026, at the age of 93. Gwen was an outstanding referee and judge, and certainly a trailblazing pioneer in women’s boxing. Our friendship was always bonded with mutual respect and kindness – she will truly be missed and not forgotten by all that knew her.

Boxing has been a way of life for me (to know it is to live it) since 1961. Through all these years, it was the rich history that captured my attention, which is why I consider myself first a boxing historian, and secondly a boxing expert. It is truly an honor to bring everyone to my boxing world, with respect and credibility being my intended top priorities. I welcome all input and comments and appreciate the support which simply fuels me to be the best that I can be to respectfully serve you all.

A friendly reminder to everybody that coming up next month on Saturday, July 18th is the Paul Banke 8th Annual BOXFAM / BBQ that will be held at Azusa Memorial Park, 320 N. Orange Avenue, Azusa, California 91702. It’s an enjoyable gathering of boxers, vendors, friends and family, plus a D.J. and live music with plenty of delicious food on hand in a “pot-luck” sharing style setting.

Continue reading FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez →

Muhammad Ali / Antonio Inoki … Fifty Years Ago June 1976 / Tokyo, Japan

Ali, dmboxing.com, History, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson (BWAA) Member Boxing Writers Association of America / active contributor to dmboxing.com since 2008

For more boxing fans, Muhammad Ali exhibition with wrestler Antonio Inoki is often a forgotten fight but this fight essentially represented a turning point in Ali’s career as the damage done to Ali’s leg hasten the end of his career.

Following the thrilla in Manila, in which Ali described as the closest to death as both Ali and Frazier beat what greatness left in their body. Ali, decide he wanted to show he was the greatest in all human combat competition and his opponent, Antonio Inoki, wanted to show his skills to a larger audience and while Japan has been the home to sumo wrestling, but professional wresting was new in Japan. And while outcomes predetermined, competitors used actual submission holds and hard strikes.

Ali was guaranteed 6.1 million to Inoki 3 million dollars, but actual rules were not decided upon at first. In 1976 and during our 200 years celebrations, America essentially forgiven Ali for Vietnam era draft battles and he was the people champion with his comeback story to win his title seven years after he was stripped of it when he knock out George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle. Sylvester Stallone based his antagonist in Rocky, Apollo Creed on Ali and his fight against Chuck Wepner.

There were danger signs that Ali was slowing down and the dancing master of the sixties given way to a boxer who could tolerate unearthly ability to absorb punishment. He fought Ken Norton with a broken jaw he got in the second round and still managed to survive the fight on his feet and lose a split decision. He would avenge the defeat just five months away with unanimous decision and his defeat of Foreman included Foreman pounding Ali on the ropes as part of Ali rope a dope strategy.

Continue reading Muhammad Ali / Antonio Inoki … Fifty Years Ago June 1976 / Tokyo, Japan →