All posts by David Martinez

FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez

David Martinez, FROM THE DESK OF:, hats

(Winter 2024 Edition)

The Winter holiday season is officially here and, as I respectfully do on a quarterly basis, I want to say thank you to a small group of people that truly help make dmboxing the success that is has been since the first publication on July 15, 2007.

I take great pleasure in acknowledging these people who are:  Bob Quackenbush (Proof Reader); Tom Donelson (Member Boxing Writers Association of America); Kathy Kraft (Proof Reader); and Steve Corbo (Boxing Writer).

There were three other people who are no longer with us (R.I.P.) that were so instrumental with their contributing to this website. They are: Rusty Rubin (In Rusty’s Corner / Glove2Glove), Harold Lederman (HBO World Championship Boxing / Hey! Harold podcast videos); and Jim Amato (Senior Boxing Writer / Boxing Historian).

As viewed in this edition, my official website hat is displayed. It is blue in color with embroidered logo on front, and website address on back. It has an adjustable Velcro strap to fit all sizes. Purchasing this attractive product can be done by sending $22.00 to: David Martinez Boxing, 810 Coronel Street, Santa Barbara, California 93109 – AND – the price includes FREE shipping to all USA mailing zones.

As for the many who have texted or contacted me with certain questions and offered their personal opinions, I’m sharing three (3) questions of concern which recently have drawn my attention, with my answers in response.

1 – You have mentioned boxing historian Al Nelson who lived in the Jim Jeffries, Jack Johnson, and Bob Fitzsimmons era. How was it and when was it that you actually met him?

*** ANSWER: It was November 1968. I had just returned from my second tour of duty in Vietnam. My friend, Gary Ballin, invited me to go to Jeffries’ Barn located at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. Al Nelson was curator there and a living icon in boxing. He had more knowledge of the fighters of that time than anybody I have ever met. My mind was like a sponge absorbing his expertise, and the education he gave me from his life experiences was incredible. He was a treasure in my life. 

Continue reading FROM THE DESK OF: David Martinez →

P4P Rankings / dmboxing.com

David Martinez, P4P Rankings - Current

Top Dozen / December 17, 2024

* NOTE: Last “Previous Ranking” were based on October 7, 2024 *

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

2 – Naoya Inoue (28-0 / 25 by KO) / Previous Ranking #2

3 – Oleksandr Usyk (22-0 / 14 by KO) / Previous Ranking #3

4 – Artur Beterbiev (21-0 / 20 by KO) / Previous Ranking #5

5 – Canelo Alvarez (62-2-2 / 39 by KO / Previous Ranking #6

6 – Dimitry Bivol (23-1 / 12 by KO) / Previous Ranking #4

7 – Jesse Rodriguez (21-0 / 14 by KO) / Previous Ranking #8

8 – Junto Nakatani (29-0 / 22 by KO) / Previous Ranking #9

9 – Gervonta Davis (30-0 / 28 by KO) / Previous Ranking #7

10 – Vasiliy Lomachencko (18-3 / 12 by KO) / Previous Ranking #10

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

12 – Shakur Stevenson (22-0 / 10 by KO) / Previous Ranking #12

Continue reading P4P Rankings / dmboxing.com →

Jeff Smith – Not To Be Forgotten

David Martinez, History, Middleweights

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

My friend, the late Boxing Historian Al Nelson, who was much older than I and who lived at the turn of the 20th Century, told me back in 1969 about a fighter named Jeff Smith, saying “This guy was as tough as nails” … this was a quote in which I took great interest. So, I did some research of my own on this middleweight boxer.

I was amazed at the crop of high level fighters that he faced in his career which included Harry Greb, Gene Tunney, Mike Gibbons, Georges Carpentier, Les Darcy, Tommy Loughran, and George Chip.

Smith began his boxing career in 1910, and engaged in 183 bouts, until his retirement in 1927. In that 17 year span he compiled 141 wins, 34 losses, and 5 draws, with 3 no-contests.

In retirement, he became a physical education instructor with the Bayonne Board of Education and the Fort Dix (New Jersey) Army Base, and also taught boxing lessons at a local YMCA.

Continue reading Jeff Smith – Not To Be Forgotten →

RING TRIVIA for December 2024

David Martinez, Trivia

I have always been intrigued with boxing trivia. This actually began back when I was a 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 – When Oscar De La Hoya suffered the first knock down of his professional career, who was his opponent?

a) Troy Dorsey

b) Narcisco Valenzuela 

c) Jimmy Bredahl

d) Jorge Paez 

2 – Who was the first heavyweight to win the championship three times?

a) Floyd Patterson

b) George Foreman

c) Joe Frazier

d) Muhammad Ali 

Continue reading RING TRIVIA for December 2024 →

Tommy Ryan

David Martinez, FLASHBACK, History, Middleweights

*** FLASHBACK ***

This article was originally published on www.dmboxing.com (June 16, 2021) for viewing

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

One of the greatest boxers at the turn of the 20th century was certainly Tommy Ryan. Born on March 31, 1870 in Redwood, New York by the name Joseph Youngs, he later changed his name after running away from home at a young age.

He worked in lumber yard camps, where he learned his boxing skills. On January 1, 1887, at the age of 17, he turned professional and scored knockout wins in seventeen of his first eighteen fights.

In his career he would engage in a five fight series with the tough Mysterious Billy Smith, and after two draws, Ryan would win a 20-round decision in their third fight to capture Smith’s welterweight title on July 26, 1894.

On January 18, 1895, Ryan defeated top contender Jack Dempsey (The Nonpareil) by a third round stoppage to retain his title.

Ryan would fight Smith again in their fourth encounter on May 27, 1895, but the police interfered in the eighteenth round and the result was ruled a draw.

The following year on March 2, 1896, Ryan suffered his first career loss to Kid McCoy by a 15 round stoppage.

Continue reading Tommy Ryan →

Jake Paul defeats Mike Tyson by Decision … Katie Taylor over Amanda Serrano

Heavyweights, Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)

The big fight on Netflix was Mike Tyson versus Jake Paul or that was the the fight that got all the intention.  Jake Paul’s job was to defeat a former great heavyweight who has not been in the ring in two decades and eligible for senior citizen discount. 

J

ake Paul did what Jake Paul was supposed to do, win the bout with jabs and combinations whereas Tyson hardly looked the fearsome fighter he was at his peak and connected on two punches per round.  It was easy fight for Paul and sad ending for Tyson but both men got rich in the process. 60 million people tuned in. 

In the fight round Paul landed a right that shook Tyson and Tyson landed a left hook that twenty years ago would have sent Paul in the front row, but it did nothing .   Paul jab was effective in keeping Tyson off.  I could remember a time when no jab would keep Tyson off in his prime.  He would find a way around it and knock you out.  But that was the young twenty something Tyson.  Tonight, father time reminded Tyson that indeed, he was an old fighter.

Continue reading Jake Paul defeats Mike Tyson by Decision … Katie Taylor over Amanda Serrano →

Official Boxing Record

Boxing Books, David Martinez, History

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com

Back in the late 1970’s, I was introduced to a man that was the outstanding editor and publisher of the monthly Official Boxing Record, Dick Mastro. Although I did not know Dick personally as he was based out of Hollywood, California, I always admired his dedication to a publication that offered boxers’ ring records, world ratings, international champions, the mail box, a classified directory, and my favorite features, Down Cauliflower Alley by Noble “Kid” Chissell and Squaring the Round by Dick Mastro. 

Through the years, I have subscribed and collected over 100 copies of his fine (digest size) product. I have always contended that the greatest boxing historians that I have met are Al Nelson, Nat Fleischer, Bert Sugar, Hank Kaplan, Don Fraser, and Emanuel Steward; but it just might be appropriate to add Dick Mastro to that list of men who collectively knew boxing to the highest degree.

Continue reading Official Boxing Record →

What’s My Line / TV Show … Featuring Sugar Ray Robinson

"Sugar" Ray Robinson, David Martinez, FLASHBACK, Video, What's My Line

FLASHBACK !!!

This article feature was originally published on June 21, 2013 for viewing on www.dmboxing.com

SRR0003-crop

This popular panel game show ran on CBS-TV from 1950 to 1967. This is Sugar Ray Robinson – the show was shot on July 1, 1956 – almost 57 years ago. Sugar Ray is considered the greatest boxer of all time in any weight class by experts in boxing. The phrase “pound for pound” was invented just for him when they compare any boxer of any era. I am sharing a photo that he autographed for me at a local amateur boxing show in my home town of Santa Barbara, California in 1986. This photo was taken in New York on September 23, 1958; he is with Hogan “Kid” Bassey (left) displaying their world championship belts. Click below on link to view: What’s My Line episode.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAMb_XMfhkE&feature=youtube_gdata_player