Night at the Movies

FLASHBACK / This article originally was published on dmboxing website April 4, 2022

This previously published movie review appears courtesy of the Author and the Italian American Veterans Museum – iavmuseum.org – for viewing on www.dmboxing.com

By Steve Corbo

“Somebody Up There Likes Me”

This 1956 movie, directed by Robert Wise, is based on the autobiography by boxer Rocky Graziano . Starring Paul Newman as Rocky and Pier Angeli as his wife, it also features appearances by Sal Mineo and Steve McQueen.

Raised on New York’s Lower East Side, Rocky was a gang member and criminal by his early teens . As a child, his father made him fight for the entertainment of adults in the neighborhood. He soon developed a talent for knocking down anybody that stood in his way . In and out of reform schools, Rocky was on a fast track to the graveyard or the penitentiary. If you thought his stint in the Army might straighten him out, think again .

Despite his lengthy criminal record, he was drafted during WW II. The Army didn’t have a chance. He refused to train, was constantly in trouble and when push came to shove, he shoved back hard . He crossed the line when he beat up his commanding officer. Now in serious trouble, Rocky went AWOL back to the streets of New York. Hiding out and wanted by the authorities, he wandered into Stillman’s Gym hoping to make a couple of bucks as a sparring partner. As he prepared to climb into the ring to face a pro fighter, he’s told to make sure he has the protective cup all boxers wear. Unfamiliar with the world of pro boxing, Rocky replies, “I don’t need no cup, I’ll drink out of the bottle.”  He then proceeds to knock the other fighter out with his sledgehammer right hand.

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P4P Rankings / dmboxing.com

Top Dozen / June 13, 2025

NOTE – Previous Rankings listed here are from last posting on April 9, 2025

1 – Terence Crawford (41-0 / 31 by KO) Previous Ranking #1

2 – Naoya Inoue (30-0 / 27 by KO) Previous Ranking #2

3 – Oleksandr Usyk (23-0 / 14 by KO) Previous Ranking #3

4 – Dimitry Bivol (24-1 / 12 by KO) Prevoius Ranking #4

5 – Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2 / 39 by KO) Prevoius Ranking #5

6 – Jesse Rodriguez (21-0 / 14 by KO) Prevoius Ranking #7

7 – Junto Nakatani (31-0 / 24 by KO) Previous Ranking #8

8 – Artur Beterbiev (21-1 / 20 by KO) Previous Rankig #6

9 – David Benavidez (30-0 / 24 by KO) Previous Ranking #9

10 – Kenshiro Teraji (25-1 / 16 by KO) Previous Ranking #10

11 – Teofimo Lopez (22-1 / 13 by KO) Previous Ranking #11

12 – Shakur Stevenson (23-0 / 11 by KO) Previous Ranking #12

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James J. Corbett

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

The rich history in boxing has always intrigued me. The old boxers have fascinated me since my childhood. I would pick the minds of people that lived before I was born to educate myself about how they lived.

Even though I have never spoken to anyone that actually saw him fight, James J. Corbett  was certainly a great boxer in his own right prior to the turn of the 20th century. His fame came when he knocked out undefeated champion John L. Sullivan to win the heavyweight title in 1892. With this victory, Corbett became the first heavyweight to win a championship under the Marquess of Queensberry Rules.

Corbett was born on September 1, 1866 in San Francisco, California.

As a young teenager he took a job as a bank clerk, and outside of his life at the bank, he began training under the watchful eye of Englishman boxing instructor Walter Watson at the local Olympic Athletic Club.

In July 1886, at the age of eighteen, Corbett had his first professional fight which was a knockout victory over Frank Smith. After a few fights and exhibitions in between, Corbett’s career took off when he faced Joe Choynski in a three fight series that began on May 30, 1889. The first fight of the trilogy was ruled a no-contest after four rounds when it was stopped by the local Fairfax, California, Sheriff due to jurisdiction restrictions. The second fight was just six days later in nearby Benecia, where the fight was held on a barge. It was a terrific, action packed bout and in round three the seams in Choynski’s gloves cut Corbett’s face. Later in the fight, Corbett broke his left hand, yet he came through to knockout Choynski in the 27th round with a left hook to the head. The two fought again on July 15, 1889 with Corbett winning a four round decision. The amazing thing was that all three fights were completed, in succession, in a forty-six day time frame.

 On February 18, 1890, Corbett won by decision over Jake Kilrain who had earlier fought an epic battle in a loss to John L. Sullivan. In a fight for the ages, on May 21, 1891, at the Athletic Club in San Francisco, Corbett faced an outstanding boxer, Peter Jackson, a black fighter known as the “Black Prince”, who Sullivan had refused to fight. The Jackson bout ended with both men completely exhausted. The decision was ruled a no-contest after 61 grueling rounds.

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RING TRIVIA for June 2025

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 (5) 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 – A former boxer that used the name Marty O’Brien, is the father of who?

a) Perry Como

b) Jackie Gleason

c) Ernest Borgnine 

d) Frank Sinatra 

2 – What great boxer fought these two brothers, Javier and Armando Muniz?

a) Thomas Hearns

b) Roberto Duran

c) Sugar Ray Leonard

d) Wilfred Benitez

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June 19th Fight Club OC Show Will Bring The Action Like Summer Heat!

“Something for every fight fan” is what Fight Club OC shows are all about, and the Thursday, June 19th show in The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa will be no different.

This seven bout June 19th show will feature: a great female bout between two young ladies, Elena Mandujano from San Bernardino making her pro debut vs Amanda DeRosa from Hesperia….a major MMA war between Richie Palomino 7-6 from Santa Ana against Palmdale’s Saad Ul-Hassan 8-9. Boxing pro debuts for LA’s Leon “Suede The Plug” Miller Jr as he faces Albert Ochoa 1-0, Lake Forest’s Ryan Jones will also be making his boxing debut against Maclovio Salas. In MMA action Christopher Cruz is set to face Robert Duran at 130lbs. Boxing on June 19th from Martinez, CA will be 4-0 (4KO’s) Abraham Lozano vs 1-1 Rasuiod Hollie. In our Tequila Mandala Young Champions bout will be Alfredo Quinones 2-0-1 from Carlsbad facing Julian Baez 2-1-0 from Camarillo.
Remember part of the Fight Club OC action is CASH….CASH…..CASH! Yes, it’s the Hustler Casino $1,000 KO Promotion and the Fight Club OC Says KO OC Hunger where five people who bring a non perishable item to the show may be one of five winners of $200 each.

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Boxing Nicknames

By Steve Corbo

(Part #1 of 2)

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. 

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Inoue defeats Cardenas by 8th-round knockout

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.

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