FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez

FROM THE DESK OF:

(Spring 2026 Edition)

The Spring season is officially upon us, and as I respectfully do on a quarterly basis, I continue to say thank you to the small team of people who truly help make dmboxing.com the success it has been since its first publication on July 15, 2007.

I would like to acknowledge:

Bob Quackenbush (Proofreader / Photo Editing)

Tom Donelson (Member, Boxing Writers Association of America – BWAA)

Kathy Kraft (Proofreader – Retired)

Steve Corbo (Boxing Writer / Guest Posts)

There are also three individuals who are no longer with us (R.I.P.) who were instrumental in their contributions to the website, and I will never forget them.  

Rusty Rubin (In Rusty’s Corner / Glove2Glove)

Harold Lederman (HBO World Championship Boxing / “Hey Harold!”)

Jim Amato (Senior Boxing Writer / Boxing Historian)

Many people have texted or contacted me with their input, opinions, and thoughtful questions. I respect everyone’s interest and would like to share five that recently came to my attention, along with my response.

1 – Who was the first president you served under upon your membership in the World Boxing Hall of Fame?

ANSWER:

That would be the honorable Dub Harris. Prior to my induction in November 1996, he interviewed me in his Los Angeles (Commerce), California office. I was admittedly a bit nervous but confident. He asked several boxing questions, and after my quick and correct responses, he welcomed me into the organization on the spot. He asked me to begin officially in January 1997 as a Board of Director, and I was later assigned the role of Boxing Historian. I will always be grateful to Mr. Harris for his trust and the opportunity he gave me.

Continue reading FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez →

Fight Club OC is back on April 9, inside The Hangar at the OC Fair and Event Center

California Boxing, dmboxing.com, Upcoming Fights

Southern California’s premier hybrid fight promotion Fight Club OC returns April 9th with a seven bout lineup featuring new stars and returning local talent. Fight fans will see Golden Boy’s two new top prospects in 1-0 Nikolai Terteryan and 4-0 (3KO’s) Samuel Torres from Gilroy, CA. Two more undefeated fighters, 2-0 (1KO) Carjon Roberts vs 3-0 (3KO’s) Elliot Taylor will be fighting for the Tequila Mandala Belt in our featured bout of the night. Plus a Flyweight Female MMA bout between 3-3 Natalie Schlesinger vs 6-7 Shino Vanhoose is also set for this April 9th fight card and three other exciting bouts. This is the type of show Fight Club OC is known for nationwide,… rising stars laying it all on the line for the Orange County fight fans.

Continue reading Fight Club OC is back on April 9, inside The Hangar at the OC Fair and Event Center →

P4P Women’s Rankings / dmboxing.com

David Martinez, P4P Rankings - Women

NOTE: Due to many requests and the increasing interest in women’s boxing, I am delighted to feature this category on www.dmboxing.com for viewing.

Current Top Dozen

(As of: March 11, 2026)

1 – Claressa Shields (18-0 / 3 by KO)

2 – Katie Taylor (25-1 / 6 by KO)

         3 – Amanda Serrano (48-4-1 / 31 by KO)

4 – Chantelle Cameron (21-1 / 8 by KO)

5 – Gabriela Fundora (17-0 / 9 by KO / 1 NC)

6 – Mikaela Mayer (22-2 / 5 by KO)

7 – Alycia Baumgardner (17-1 / 7 by KO / 1 NC)

8 – Dina Thorlund (24-0 / 9 by KO)

9 – Lauren Price (9-0 / 2 by KO)

10 – Yokasta Valle (34-3 / 10 by KO)

11 – Elif Nur Turhan (13-0 / 8 by KO)

12 – Elle Scotney (11-0 / 0 by KO)

Current Champions

Current Champions

Displayed are the “Current Champions” in boxing 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: March 6, 2026

Heavyweight (+200 lb /+90.7 kg or +224 lb /+101.6 kg)

WBAWBCIBFWBOThe Ring
Oleksandr Usyk
Super champion
24–0 (15 KO)
September 25, 2021		Oleksandr Usyk
24–0 (15 KO)
May 18, 2024		Oleksandr Usyk
24–0 (15 KO)
July 19, 2025		Fabio Wardley
20–0–1 (19 KO)
November 17, 2025		Oleksandr Usyk
24–0 (15 KO)
August 20, 2022
Murat Gassiev
Regular champion
33–2–0–1 (26 KO)
December 12, 2025		Agit Kabayel
Interim champion
27–0 (19 KO)
February 22, 2025

Cruiserweight (200 lb /90.7 kg or 190 lb / 86.2 kg)

WBAWBCIBFWBOThe Ring
Gilberto Ramírez
Super champion
48–1 (30 KO)
March 30, 2024		Noel Mikaelian
28–3 (12 KO)
December 13, 2025		Jai Opetaia
29–0 (23 KO)
May 18, 2024		Gilberto Ramírez
48–1 (30 KO)
November 16, 2024		Jai Opetaia
28–0 (22 KO)
July 2, 2022
Michał Cieślak
Interim champion
28–2–0–1 (22 KO)
June 28, 2025
Continue reading Current Champions →

RING TRIVIA for March 2026

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 to follow by end of each posting month for your viewing.

David Martinez / Boxing Historian
 

1 — What boxer had the nickname “The Brooklyn Billy Goat”?
            a – Shannon Briggs
            b – Paddy DeMarco
            c – Riddick Bowe
            d – Junior Jones
 
2 — In his only professional defeat, who did Tyrone Everett lose to (by
split-decision) in a WBC junior lightweight title bout?
            a – Ben Villaflor
            b – Kuniaki Shibata
            c – Samuel Serrano
            d – Alfredo Escalera

Continue reading RING TRIVIA for March 2026 →

Carlos Chavez / Memories

David Martinez, History

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

A fighter that my uncle admired, and one which was before my time in boxing, was Carlos Chavez.

My uncle’s favorite boxer, though, was Manuel Ortiz. He met Ortiz on several occasions when both were living in the Imperial Valley town of El Centro, California.

I recall my uncle telling me that Carlos Chavez fought all the best boxers in a career that spanned seventeen years, from 1939 to 1956.

Chavez’s opponents included Lou Salica, Harold Dade, Lauro Salas, Willie Pep, Jimmy Carter, Paddy DeMarco, Tony DeMarco, Mario Trigo, Tony Olivera, Art Aragon, Jesse Flores, Eddie Chavez, Maxie Docusen, Paulino Montes, Cisco Andrade, and his epic five-bout series with all time great, Manuel Ortiz.

Continue reading Carlos Chavez / Memories →

Carl Froch Retires

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Middleweights

***** FLASHBACK *****

This article was originally published on www.dmboxing.com – August 4, 2015

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

 Last month, at age 38, four-time super middleweight champion Carl Froch, from Nottingham, England, UK, has officially announced his retirement.

The British fighter enjoyed a successful career for fourteen years. His professional ring record stands at 33 wins and 2 losses, with 24 by knockout.

His only losses were to Mikkel Kessler in 2010, which he avenged three years later, and to Andre Ward in 2011 in the final of the Super Middleweight Six World Boxing Classic Tournament. The judges’ scores in the Ward fight were 115-113, 115-113, 118-110 … My unofficial scorecard was 117-111 for the winner Ward.

His most notable wins were over Jean Pascal in 2008, Jermain Taylor in 2009, Andre Dirrell in 2009, Arthur Abraham in 2010, Glen Johnson in 2011, Lucian Bute in 2012, and George Groves in 2013 and 2014.

Froch was listed on everyone’s best top10 “pound for pound” list, and in my most recent (June 2015) ranking he was number nine.

The boxing world will certainly miss this great champion Carl Froch, as he plans to move on to be an analyst with the British TV network Sky Sports. May he enjoy a long and healthy retirement with his partner Rachael, five-year-old son Rocco, and two-year-old daughter Natalia; and expecting a third child next month in September – Congratulations