RING TRIVIA for September 2026 (CORRECT ANSWERS)

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 major pop singer had to cancel their concert date at New York’s Madison Square Garden to allow the Ali vs Frazier heavyweight championship “fight of the century” bout on March 8, 1971 ?

a) Cat Stevens
b) Carole King
c) James Taylor ~ CORRECT ANSWER
d) Lionel Ritchie

2) Who is the “only” boxer in his career that fought “both” Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali ?

a) Floyd Patterson
b) Sonny Liston
c) Archie Moore ~ CORRECT ANSWER
d) Henry Cooper

Continue reading RING TRIVIA for September 2026 (CORRECT ANSWERS) →

FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez

(Fall 2026 Edition)

The Fall season is officially upon us and as I respectfully do on a quarterly basis, I continue to say thank you to a small team of people that truly help make dmboxing.com the success that it has been since the first publication on July 15, 2007. I would like to acknowledge these people, who are: Bob Quackenbush (Proof Reader / Photo Editing); Tom Donelson (Member Boxing Writers Association of America / BWAA); Kathy Kraft (Proof Reader – retired); and Steve Corbo (Boxing Writer).

There are three other people who are no longer with us (R.I.P.) that were so instrumental in contributing and giving input to the website that I will never forget them. They are: Rusty Rubin (In Rusty’s Corner / Glove2Glove); Harold Lederman (HBO World Championship Boxing / Hey Harold!); and Jim Amato (Senior Boxing Writer / Boxing Historian).

A shout out to family and many wonderful friends, professional boxers, and young women over the years since 2007 that have dispalyed my dmboxing products, the hats, t-shirts, tank tops, coffee cups, pens, mini-flashlights, etc … and in this edition “thank you” Sarah (Cammann) Cozik.

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 for the opportunity to serve you all.

Continue reading FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez →

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: September 15, 2026

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

WBAWBCIBFWBOThe Ring
Murat Gassiev
34–2 (1) (27 KO)
July 1, 2026
Agit Kabayel
27–0 (19 KO)
June 27, 2026
Filip Hrgović
21–1 (16 KO)
August 29, 2026
Daniel Dubois
23–3 (22 KO)
May 9, 2026
Oleksandr Usyk
25–0 (16 KO)
August 20, 2022

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

WBAWBCIBFWBOThe Ring
David Benavidez
Super champion
32–0 (26 KO)
May 2, 2026
Michał Cieślak
28–2 (1) (22 KO)
June 28, 2025
vacantDavid Benavidez
32–0 (26 KO)
May 2, 2026
Jai Opetaia
31–0 (24 KO)
July 2, 2022
Jai Opetaia
Regular champion
31–0 (24 KO)
September 12, 2026
Continue reading Current Champions →

RING TRIVIA for September 2026

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 major pop singer had to cancel their concert date at New York’s Madison Square Garden to allow the Ali vs Frazier heavyweight championship “fight of the century” bout on March 8, 1971

a) Cat Stevens
b) Carole King
c) James Taylor
d) Lionel Ritchie

2) Who is the “only” boxer in his career that fought “both” Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali ?

a) Floyd Patterson
b) Sonny Liston
c) Archie Moore
d) Henry Cooper

Continue reading RING TRIVIA for September 2026 →

P4P Women Rankings … dmboxing.com

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: September 6, 2026 )

1 – Katie Taylor 26-1 / 6 by KO)

2 – Claressa Shields (19-0 / 4 by KO)

         3 – Amanda Serrano (50-4-1 / 31 by KO)

4 – Gabriela Fundora (18-0 / 10 by KO / 1 NC)

5 – Chantelle Cameron (23-1 / 8 by KO)

6 – Alycia Baumgardner (18-1 / 7 by KO / 1 NC)

Continue reading P4P Women Rankings … dmboxing.com →

Ten / Oddities in Boxing

FLASHBACK – This article feature was originally published on April 10, 2019 for viewing – www.dmboxing.com

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

Boxing has certainly had its share of odd events. In no particular order of preference here are ten that have always stood out to me.

1 – November 6, 1993 / Las Vegas, Nevada … Holyfield vs. Bowe II, a fan James Miller lands by parachute into the ring during round 7 causing a 21 minute delay in their heavyweight championship fight.

2 – December 4, 1912 / Paris, France … Georges Bernard fell asleep at the end of the sixth round during his middleweight title fight with Billy Papke.

3 – September 13, 1975 / Caracas, Venezuela Luis Etaba defeated Rafael Lovera by 4th round knockout to win WBC junior flyweight title, only to learn afterwards Lovera had never fought a professional fight before and only fought that one fight in his career.

4 – December 13,  1887 … “Nonpareil” Jack Dempsey retained his middleweight title by knockout in the 45th round over John Reagan. The bout took place in two rings. It Started in Huntington, Long Island and after the ring was flooded by nearby river, in the 8th round, both fighters boarded a tug boat and continued their bout 20 miles away in another ring.

5 – January 15, 1977 /  Las Vegas, Nevada … Howard Smith wins a 10 round decision over Henry Clark. In round one, the original referee (Ferd Hernandez) suffered a epileptic seizure causing a fifteen minute delay before new referee (Richard Greene) was brought and the fight resumed. On a side note, prior to becoming a referee, Fred Hernandez boxed professionally and once scored a 10 round split decision win over an aging 44 year old Sugar Ray Robinson in 1965.

Continue reading Ten / Oddities in Boxing →

P4P Rankings / dmboxing.com

Top Dozen / August 20, 2026

NOTE – Previous Rankings listed here are from last posting on June 7, 2026

1 – Naoya Inoue (33-0 / 27 by KO) Previous Ranking #1

2 – Oleksandr Usyk (25-0 / 16 by KO) Previous Ranking #2

3 – Dimitry Bivol (25-1 / 12 by KO) Previous Ranking #3

4 – Jesse Rodriguez (24-0 / 17 by KO) Previous Ranking #4

5 – Shakur Stevenson (25-0 / 11 by KO Previous Ranking #5

6 – David Benavidez (32-0 / 26 by KO) Previous Ranking #6

7 – Jaron Ennis (36-0 / 1 NC / 32 by KO) Previous Ranking #12

8 – Devin Haney (33-0 / 1 NC / 15 by KO) Previous Ranking #8

9 – Oscar Collazo (15-0 / 12 by KO) Previous Ranking #9

10 – Junto Nakatani (32-1 / 24 by KO) Previous Ranking #7

11 – Canelo Alvarez (63-3-2 / 39 by KO) Previous Ranking #10

12 – Jai Opetaia (30-0 / 23 by KO) Previous Ranking (HM)

Continue reading P4P Rankings / dmboxing.com →

Jack Dempsey / Museum / Manassa, Colorado

***** FLASHBACK *****

This article was originally published on www.dmboxing.com / October 9, 2023

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

It was in August 1975, when traveling back to visit my relatives in various locations in the state of New Mexico, I ventured north for an unbelievable experience, a visit the birthplace of Jack Dempsey, Manassa, which is located in the southern part of Colorado, in the “San Luis” Valley.

Upon my arrival, I located a log cabin style house in the middle of town, that was actually moved to this city park location in July 1966, and was refurbished in honor of Jack Dempsey. The interior walls were lined with photos and mementos of Dempsey’s brilliant career.

The Curator there was so wonderfully nice and was amazed at my focus and interest, that he thinking I lived nearby, offered me a job there as a tour guide. Then he did something that was truly amazing, removing the actual gloves from a display case that Dempsey wore in the Luis Angel Firpo fight (September 14, 1923) so I could wear them while posing for a picture.

Unfortunately, I had a misfortune happen regarding these photos. In November 1983, while moving from my old house to my new house, it started to rain that day and the water got into the U-Haul trailer we were towing and into my nicely framed photos. I cried and was so upset and disappointed beyond belief. The photo of me wearing those gloves was the one most damaged.

Known as “Kid Blackie” and “The Manassa Mauler”, Jack Dempsey was certainly one of the greatest heavyweights in the history of boxing.

Continue reading Jack Dempsey / Museum / Manassa, Colorado →