All posts by David Martinez

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

Continue reading P4P Rankings / dmboxing.com

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.

Continue reading James J. Corbett

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

Continue reading RING TRIVIA for June 2025

Al Nelson / Boxing Historian

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 Historian

A Night Meeting Sugar Ray Robinson

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 Robinson

P4P Rankings / dmboxing.com

Top Dozen / April 9, 2025

* NOTE * Previous Ranking listed here are from February 18, 2025 posting

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

2 – Naoya Inoue (29-0 / 26 by KO) / Previous Ranking #2

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

4 – Dimitry Bivol (24-1 / 12 by KO) / Previous Ranking #6

5 – Canelo Alvarez (62-2-2 / 39 by KO / Previous Ranking #5

6  Artur Beterbiev (21-1 / 20 by KO / Previous Ranking #4

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

8 – Junto Nakatani (30-0 / 23 by KO) / Previous Ranking #8

9 – David Benavidez (30-0 / 24 by KO) / Previous Ranking #10

10 – Kenshiro Teraji (25-1 / 16) / Previous Ranking HM

11 – Teofimo Lopez (21-1 / 13 by KO) / Previous Ranking #11

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

Continue reading P4P Rankings / dmboxing.com

RING TRIVIA for March 2025 – 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 (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 – On September 8, 2009, in Las Vegas, Oscar De La Hoya fought a three round exhibition match against NBA star Shaquille O’Neil … prior to the bout what former heavyweight champion worked out in training for O’Neil?

(A) Michael Moorer

(B) Lennox Lewis

(C) Oliver Mc Call *** CORRECT ANSWER ***

(D) Hasim Rahman

2 – In 1924, what former chief sparring partner of Jack Dempsey, went the distance with two great heavyweights, Gene Tunney and Harry Greb, losing to both by decision?

(A) Fred Fulton

(B) Martin Burke *** CORRECT ANSWER ***

(C) Johnny Risko

(D) Tommy Gibbons

Continue reading RING TRIVIA for March 2025 – ANSWERS

George Foreman (R.I.P.)

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

So incredibly sad – in learning about the loss of one of the greatest heavyweight boxing champions – ever – George Foreman. The news of his passing (March 21, 2025) just staggered me & as well as others. I can tell many stories, but one that stands out to me is from October 19, 2002 at the World Boxing Hall of Fame banquet. Upon his induction – in my position as Board of Director – I personally escorted George into the Green Room before his pre-interview with CNN television. I was able to spend precious time with the champ & take a few photos & he autographed one of my collectable photos of himself … such a giving & gracious man – iconic in the boxing world … may his soul rest peacefully in heaven with the Lord!

(Professional Ring Record: 76-5 / 68 by KO)