(Winter 2025 Edition)
The Winter 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 / Guest Posts).
There are three other people who are no longer with us (R.I.P.) who were very instrumental in their contributions to the website, and 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).
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 $25.00 to: David Martinez Boxing, 810 Coronel Street, Santa Barbara, California 93109 – AND – the price includes FREE shipping to all USA mailing zones.
A huge shout out to my friend Steve Corbo, from Chicago, who has recently submitted many of the Ring Trivia questions currently listed on my website. His trivia is outstanding and although I know 95% of the answers without cheating by looking them up, one that I missed was “Which world champion never had a fight at the Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium?”
A – Marvin Hagler
B – Sonny Liston
C – Muhammad Ali
D – Leo Randolph
My answer was “A – Marvin Hagler” … but the correct answer was “D – Leo Randolph”.
I thank Steve for his interest and contributing, as he is the second person to do so – the late Don Fraser (R.I.P.) also sent me many boxing related trivia items to post.
There have been many that have texted or contacted me with certain questions and offered their personal opinions. I kindly respect everyone, and here I would like to take the opportunity to share three (3) questions which have recently come to my attention, with my answers in response.
1 – In the articles that you have written, was there a quote that you made that drew lots of attention?
ANSWER – To name one, it would be from June 18, 1980 in a newspaper article prior to the WBC welterweight title fight, Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Duran. In analyzing the fight, I was quoted saying “This kid Duran is still the ‘win-or-lie-in-the-dust’ fighter which I consider the badest thing to come out of Panama since the yellow fever”.
2 – It is noted that you had several visits with boxing historian Al Nelson, who was the curator back in the sixties of the Jeffries Barn Muesum in Buena Park, California. What can you remember, that you didn’t know prior, from a man that lived in the era of boxing at the turn of the 20th century (i.e.) 1900?
ANSWER – He was a wealth of information. He told me that Bob Fitzsimmons was the hardest puncher among the heavyweights (including Sam Langford), and that Joe Choynski was the most underrated heavyweight of a group that included Jim Jeffries, Jack Johnson, Tommy Burns, and Marvin Hart. He also remarked that welterweight / middleweight Tommy Ryan was the most talented, and his rivalries with Mysterious Billy Smith and Charles Kid McCoy were fierce and incredible.
3 – Who are boxers that died too young, that you rank by their greatness?
ANSWER – The five outstanding boxers who passed away before twenty-five years of age (listed in order by active years and their ring records) are: Stanley Ketchel (51 wins, 4 losses, 4 draws, 1 no contest, 48 by KO); Les Darcy (52 wins, 4 losses, 32 by KO); Pancho Villa (77 wins, 4 losses, 4 draws, 1 loss by foul, 23 no decisions, 22 by KO); Tyrone Everett (36 wins, 1 loss, 20 by KO); and Salvador Sanchez (44 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw, 32 by KO).
I know you have many choices in boxing and I sincerely thank you for making dmboxing.com one of them. The continued support is much appreciated as is the opportunity I have to serve you!
