(Winter 2016 Edition)
It’s the time of year to say… Merry Christmas Everybody!
As we wind down 2016 and approach the new year of 2017, I want to say thank you to a group of people that make this website the huge success that it is. They are: John Boitnott (Web Master); Bob Quackenbush (Proof Reading and Photo Editing); Tom Donelson (Member Boxing Writers Association); Jim Amato (Senior Boxing Writer); Harold Lederman (HBO World Championship Boxing / Hey Harold!); Steve Corbo (Guest Post and Advisor); Adam Pollock (Book Reviews); and Kathy Kraft (Proof Reader); and in memory of my friend Rusty Rubin, the former editor of Ring Sports Magazine, and the first contributor to dmboxing.com in July 2007 with his award winning column In Rusty’s Corner and Glove2Glove. May his soul rest peacefully in Heaven with God forever.
In appreciation of this wonderful group of people that help me so much with the website, I am giving them a special friendship gift for Christmas, my official dmboxing.com pen, to sincerely say thank you!
I would also like to thank the lovely ladies that pose with my website products. These ladies are not professional models but are my friends who add their beauty by contributing. To view all my products available to purchase, just go to the Categories section and click on dmboxing Products.
On December 3, 2016 my friend Gene Aguilera was inducted into the WBC World Boxing Council Legends Hall of Fame. It was an extreme honor for me to be his presenter, and it was such a deserving honor for Gene. In prior years, with the World Boxing Hall of Fame and California Boxing Hall of Fame, I have been a presenter for Rodolfo Gonzalez (WBC lightweight champion); Ernie Terrell (WBA heavyweight champion); Eddie Perkins (WBA junior welterweight champion); Eddie Futch (arguably the greatest trainer of the 20th century); and Harold Lederman (HBO World Championship Boxing). But it is Gene that is so very special in my heart because our roles were reversed – he was my presenter upon my induction on May 17, 2015.
Gene is the author of one of the best publications in boxing today, “Mexican American Boxing in Los Angeles.” His book is simply a must for all boxing fans and especially for those that grew up in the rich era of boxing in southern California. Gene offers this book at a ridiculously low price of just $20.00, which makes it a steal and great holiday gift. For further information and purchasing, contact Gene at (323) 697-7197.
Last week on December 15, 2016 longtime personal photographer and close friend of Muhammad Ali passed away at the age of 77.
Bingham had been with Ali since 1962 and since that time took hundreds of photos of Ali. They were inseparable and he literally sat at the right hand of the greatest sports figure of the 20th Century.
Here’s a photo I took of them in April 2005.
May his soul rest in peace in Heaven with the Lord.
On March 23, 2016 I published my article piece “The 25 Greatest Boxers of All Time” and it drew lots of attention with comments that I truly appreciated. Many asked if that was my top 25, what are my next 25? To see my top 25, go to the Categories section on this website and click onto that link. Once in, scroll down a bit to view the article piece.
Here’s that second tier of The Greatest Boxers of All Time, 26 to 50, rating them at the height, peak, prime, and pinnacle of their careers:
26) Sandy Saddler
27) George Dixon
28) Tommy Ryan
29) Abe Attell
30) Terry McGovern
31) Pascual Perez
32) Flash Elorde
33) Jose Napoles
34) Pancho Villa
35) Marcel Cerdan
36) Jack Britton
37) Julio Cesar Chavez
38) Fighting Harada
39) Tiger Flowers
40) Joe Walcott
41) Kid McCoy
42) Charley Burley
43) Sugar Ray Leonard
44) Jim Driscoll
45) Wilfredo Gomez
46) Alexis Arguello
47) Marvin Hagler
48) Packey McFarland
49) Floyd Mayweather Jr.
50) Ruben Olivares
Please note that scheduled for viewing in two weeks is my “Year in Review / The Best in Boxing 2016” which includes my personal picks in the five major categories: Fighter of the Year, Fight of the Year, Round of the Year, Knockout of the Year, and Upset of the Year; and my top dozen (12) boxers “pound for pound” ranking ending the year 2016.
I know you have many choices in boxing – I sincerely thank you for making dmboxing.com one of them!