(Fall 2025 Edition)
The Fall 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 the website that I will 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).
I would also like to have a big shout out to John Boitnott, who worked tirelessly last month when this website took an unfortunate mechanical hit and was not available for viewing for a two week down-time period. The process was certainly a complex series of issues to deal with, but with faith and patience it all came together. Thank you, John! So grateful for you and for the loyalty of all that stayed with us during this untimely mishap.
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 $24.00 to: David Martinez Boxing, 810 Coronel Street, Santa Barbara, California 93109 – AND – the price includes FREE shipping to all USA mailing zones.
There are many who have texted or contacted me with certain questions and offered their personal opinions. I kindly respect everybody, and here I would like to share three (3) questions which have recently come to my attention, with my answers in response.
1 – How well did you know two of these boxing men, the late Johnny Ortiz and Dick Mastro?
ANSWER – I met Johnny back in 1997 upon my joining the World Boxing Hall of Fame as a Board of Directors member. I knew about Johnny prior to that because I would catch him at times when I was in the Los Angeles area and listened to his boxing radio talk show, “Ringside with Johnny Ortiz”. Upon meeting Johnny, we immediately bonded as loyal friends, mainly due to our great love for boxing. Johnny has been featured on my website, we have done radio broadcasts together, taken trips to boxing matches, done things socially, and always sat together while never missing a monthly board meeting with the World Boxing Hall of Fame during our tenures with the organization.
I didn’t know Dick personally, but had seen him on a few occasions at various boxing venues and luncheons in Los Angeles. I honorably subscribed to his outstanding monthly publication called the Official Boxing Record in the seventies and eighties. I enjoyed the many article features, World Ratings, Ringside Results, Fighter Records, Classified Ads, Mail Box Letters, and his excellent Editorials. Amazing that the price for each issue was only a buck, which was truly a bargain for any boxing enthusiast – including myself.
2 – Where do you rate Vicente Saldivar among your Greatest Mexican-Born fighters?
ANSWER – I consider Saldivar the most underrated Mexican boxer of all time. I personally have seen him fight live three times (Raul Rojas – May 1965 / Jose Legra – July 1969 / Frankie Crawford – July 1971). After Chavez, Olivares, Zarate, Sanchez and just ahead of Lopez, Canto, in that order, I rank him #5, at the height, prime, pinnacle of his career among the Mexican Born.
3 – If, you were to rate the top twenty-five boxers never to have been knocked out, who were they?
ANSWER – Here’s my list, in order, but please note that, arguably and without debate, one can move these great fighters around in different order to their own liking. Eder Jofre, Carlos Monzon, Barney Ross, Marvin Hagler, Rocky Marciano, Gene Tunney, Pancho Villa, Salvador Sanchez, Charley Burley, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Kid Gavilan, Ricardo Lopez, Panama Al Brown, Packet McFarland, Mike Gibbons, Hector Camacho, Joe Calzaghe, Khaosai Galaxy, Juan Manuel Marquez, James Toney, Les Darcy, Billy Graham, Riddick Bowe, Joe Lynch, Mike McCallum, and an honorable recognition to Jimmy Barry, who’s professional career in the ring was prior to the 20th Century (1890-1899).
In closing, congratulations to Terence “Bud” Crawford regarding a most convincing unanimous decision win over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in their recent super middleweight fight.
I know there are many choices in boxing … I sincerely thank you for making dmboxing one of them. Your continued support is so very much appreciated!