Last week, dmboxing.com published a list of 150 boxing Nicknames, put together by ring announcer / writer Steve Corbo.
(Part #2 of 2)
Here are the 150 Nicknames with the corresponding real names of the fighters.
Continue reading Boxing NicknamesBy David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com
In this edition of “Pages From The Scrapbook” features my pre-fight article piece – that was published in the Santa Barbara News Press on September 21, 1985 for viewing – regarding the Larry Holmes vs. Michael Spinks / IBF heavyweight championship fight.
Three groups of people, seem to come by nicknames naturally. First, the kids from my old neighborhood. Second, gangsters. And third, the group with the most colorful nicknames of all, professional boxers!
I started to list my ten favorite boxer nicknames. That list quickly grew to 15, then 20, and then I couldn’t stop. I finally called a halt at 150. As with the kids in my neighborhood, some fighters become so identified by their nicknames… we forget their real names. Case in point, Canelo! I’ve run into many a fight fan who when asked what they think of Saul Alvarez, say “Who’s he?”
Test your knowledge and see how many nicknames you can match with the boxer’s real name. This list is certainly not complete, I actually came up with more than 150 but had to draw the line somewhere! There is no preference in ranking or order. They are simply at random as they came to me when putting this together. The numbers are there only as a point of reference. Comment about fighters, and their nicknames, not on this list. Or ask questions about those who are! I welcome your feedback.
Continue reading Boxing Nicknames
By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)
Naoya Inoue is one of the greatest fighters of this generation and certainly ranks as one of the greatest, period! In a weekend in which great fights were promised but failed to deliver, this one did. The first round was feeling round in which the underdog Cardenas got in a few jabs as Inoue was looking to see what Cardenas had. Cardenas showed a quick jab.
Cardenas launched a combination at the beginning of the second round while Inoue used his jab, body and head shot against his opponent. Cardenas began to push the action and near the end of the round, he put Inoue down with a sharp left hook.
Cardenas continued to move forward and using his defense to avoid the big Inaoue shots and Inoue found himself in a fight and Cardenas deliver combinations while Inoue found himself open to the counters. After three rounds 29-27 in favor Cardenas.
The fourth round was Inoue best of the first four round as he moved forward out boxing Cardenas and forced Cardenas to retreat.38-37 still in favor Cardenas. The fifth round was closer as Inoue continued to pursue his opponent, but Cardenas successfully countered to make the round close but Inoue even the fight on my score card.
The sixth round saw Inoue dominating the round and punish Cardenas throughout the round and for the first time, Inoue showed the domination expected and halfway through the fight, Cardenas was behind 57-56. Very few thought this fight would last this long.
Continue reading Inoue defeats Cardenas by 8th-round knockout
By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)
Canelo Alveraz wanted to reclaim his unanimous undisputed super middleweight championship as he fought the present IBF supermiddleweight William Schull. Alvarez was the super middleweight champion, but he was stripped of his IBF championship when he chose to fight Berlanga versus the IBF mandatory challenger.
This fight follows the pattern of the Time square boredom as we saw the lowest total of punches by both fighters in CompuBox history and Canelo Alvarez even finished in the top three in individual lowest total. He averaged 5 landed for 13 punches and Schull averaged 5 punches and threw 24 per round.
Alvarez was not impressive in this bout, but he did win as he landed nearly 40 percent of his punches whereas Schull only landed nearly 20 percent. Schull tried to box his way to victory and landed a punch here or here but for the most part, Schull was ineffectua.
After four rounds, you could have called the fight even as Schull avoided getting hit and Alvarez was throwing very little and landing little.
Continue reading Canelo by decision over Schull … regains undisputed 168 title belt
By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)
On Friday night, May 2, 2025, it was boxing in New York Times Square, however the Haney -Ramirez and Garcia-Romero were setting records for some of the lowest boxing CompuBox stats. Most fans would been better off people watching in Times Square or watching paint dry than either of those two matches.
Teofimo Lopez faced the undefeated Arnold Barboza, jr. in the WBO super lightweight championship. Barboza entered the fight after a split decision victory over Jack Catterall and there was still concern if Lopez will be able to reach his full potential, This fight, he defeated a slick undefeated boxer rather easily as Lopez won the bout 116-112, 16-112, and 118-110.
Barboza has been looking forward to fighting Lopez, but it was obvious that he was not yet ready to fight Lopez.
Lopez boxing skills were on display as he slipped punches and proved elusive while he landed counters. Barboza tried to jab his inside, but this proved ineffectual as he landed only 38 jabs versus 54 jabs for Lopez. Lopez had rhythm and even did a little showboating while Barboza landed only 16 percent of his punches. (In fairness and while he was more accurate, Lopez landed only 22.1 percent.)
Lopez landed 127 punches versus only 71 punches for Barboza, nearly five punches more punches per round than his opponents and landed more than double power shots. Lopez boxing superiority and powerful right hand prove decisive and he by himself threw more punches than Haney and Ramierz combined, and more than Garcia-Rolando combined in their fight.
Lopez goal is now take on Jaron Ennis.
CompuBox Punch Stats
| Punches | Lopez | Barboza |
| Total landed | 127 | 71 |
| Total thrown | 574 | 426 |
| Percent | 22.1% | 16.7% |
| Jabs landed | 54 | 38 |
| Jabs thrown | 376 | 238 |
| Percent | 14.4% | 16% |
| Power landed | 73 | 33 |
| Power thrown | 198 | 188 |
| Percent | 36.9% | 17.6% |
By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com
Over the years, I have had the pleasure of meeting some very interesting and knowledgeable people in boxing since my love and interest in the sport began in 1961.
Al Nelson was one person who I came across, and I am very lucky to have known him.
Nelson was the curator of the Jeffries Barn Museum located at Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, California. I was introduced to him though my friend, Gary Ballin, in the late sixties. Nelson was a true living icon and boxing historian from the turn of the 20th Century in the Jim Jeffries, Jack Johnson, and Bob Fitzsimmons era. I would take it upon myself to make many visits to Al just for the opportunity to learn, educating myself about the era of boxing history in which he lived.
I remember a few things from our talks. He stated that Bob Fitzsimmons was the hardest puncher of his time; that Jim Corbett was a complete master in the ring; and although Jeffries was his favorite, Jack Johnson was the best of the heavyweights.
Just before he passed away, Nelson gave me many old photos and booklets, plus a very special gift which is an original cigar box (circa 1900) with the image of undefeated heavyweight champion Jim Jeffries on the cover. I was humbled when he said “David, your enthusiasm is such a delight to me.”
Continue reading Al Nelson / Boxing HistorianStay tuned to www.dmboxing.com each month for your complete boxing schedule
* NOTE * Listed bouts subject to change or cancellation
Continue reading FIGHT CALENDAR for May 2025 / dmboxing.com
By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com
I will always remember October 23, 1986, when I was scheduled to referee and judge several amateur bouts on a huge local boxing show in Santa Barbara, California. The bouts were matched and supervised by Art Carbajal in conjunction with our local boxing club, La Casa De La Raza.
The absolute highlight of the evening was the attendance of Sugar Ray Robinson, rated by 98% of all boxing experts and historians world-wide as the greatest boxer “pound for pound” of all time. I was fortunate to personally meet him, obtain his autograph, shake his hand, and take several photos, which are simply priceless.
In the dressing room area after the bouts, I spent some quiet time with him and his wife, discussing various historic moments in his brilliant career. We addressed the topic of who exactly was Sugar Ray’s toughest opponent, which I said was Jake La Motta. However, I was nicely corrected, as they confirmed it was Fritzie Zivic.
After that evening we would go on to exchange letters and Christmas cards; this lasted until Millie’s death in November 1995.
Continue reading A Night Meeting Sugar Ray RobinsonDisplayed are the “Current Champions” in boxing today with each shown in their respective weight division, world title belt organization, professional ring record in the following format: win-loss-draw-no contest (knockout wins) and the date of winning their title.
As of: April 18, 2025
Heavyweight (+200 lb/+90.7 kg or +224 lb/+101.6 kg)
| WBA | WBC | IBF | WBO | The Ring |
| Oleksandr Usyk Super champion 23–0 (14 KO) September 25, 2021 | Oleksandr Usyk 23–0 (14 KO) May 18, 2024 | Daniel Dubois 22–2 (21 KO) June 26, 2024 | Oleksandr Usyk 23–0 (14 KO) September 25, 2021 | Oleksandr Usyk 23–0 (14 KO) August 20, 2022 |
| Kubrat Pulev Regular champion 32–3 (14 KO) December 7, 2024 | Agit Kabayel Interim champion 26–0 (18 KO) February 22, 2025 | Joseph Parker Interim champion 35–3 (23 KO) March 8, 2024 |