In my many years coaching the young kids at local boxing gyms, here’s sharing my capsule look at the four (4) major punches. With most boxers being in the orthodox stance – southpaws can reverse these sequences listed.
THE LEFT JAB – The jab is the best punch in boxing. It starts low because it carries the arms low. A sudden straightening of the arm to almost full length, as it begins a short forward step of your left foot, which must be flat on the ring apron when the jab lands.
THE RIGHT CROSS – The motion of the cross is like of a shot-put. Power starts with a push off the right foot, continues up through hip, shoulder and elbow.
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 — CORRECT ANSWER
2 – What great boxer fought these two brothers, Javier and Armando Muniz?
The Summer 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 / Proof Reader).
There are three other people who are no longer with us (R.I.P.) that were so instrumental in their contributing input to this website that I must mention and 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).
As seen 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. To purchase this attractive product, kindly send $23.00 to: David Martinez Boxing, 810 Coronel Street, Santa Barbara, California 93109 – AND – the price includes FREE shipping to all USA mailing zones.
Boxing has been a way of life for me, to know it is to live it, since 1961, and it is truly an honor to bring everyone my boxing world with respect and credibility being my priority. I welcome all input and opinions; your support fuels me to be the best that I can be. As a collector of boxing memorabilia for many years, it’s always nice to receive items from people that kindly add to my collection; it is such a wonderful gift. One in particular recently was the original fight program from Tokyo, Japan, that my friend and fellow coach at our local Duke’s Boxing Gym, Robby Ruef, gave me. During his recent vacation trip there, he attended the May 11th Fernando Daniel Martinez vs. Kazuto Ioka WBA junior bantamweight championship fight card and, as an extra bonus, brought back a box of cookies for my wife, Cely. A huge thank you to Robby for surprising us; his thoughtfulness truly defines kindness.
There are additional gifts in boxing that I have received, and there are many, but three which certainly stand out: an original cigar box cover dated (circa) 1900 with the image of undefeated heavyweight champion Jim Jeffries; an original ticket stub and the fight program from the Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali bout, March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden, New York; and original hand wraps worn by WBC Featherweight Champion Danny “Little Red” Lopez from his title defense against José Caba on September 25, 1979, which in later years he personally autographed for me.
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.
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?
By David Martinez / Boxing Historian/ dmboxing.com
In this edition of “Pages From The Scrapbook” features my pre-fight article piece – that was published in the Santa Barbara News Press on September 21, 1985 for viewing – regarding the Larry Holmes vs. Michael Spinks / IBF heavyweight championship fight.
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.”
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.
Easter coming this Sunday – the greatest day in the Christian calendar which celebrates theResurrection of Jesus Christ – www.dmboxing.com sincerely wishes everyone a safe and blessed Easter!