(Spring 2026 Edition)
The Spring season is officially upon us, and as I respectfully do on a quarterly basis, I continue to say thank you to the small team of people who truly help make dmboxing.com the success it has been since its first publication on July 15, 2007.
I would like to acknowledge:
Bob Quackenbush (Proofreader / Photo Editing)
Tom Donelson (Member, Boxing Writers Association of America – BWAA)
Kathy Kraft (Proofreader – Retired)
Steve Corbo (Boxing Writer / Guest Posts)
There are also three individuals who are no longer with us (R.I.P.) who were instrumental in their contributions to the website, and I will never forget them.
Rusty Rubin (In Rusty’s Corner / Glove2Glove)
Harold Lederman (HBO World Championship Boxing / “Hey Harold!”)
Jim Amato (Senior Boxing Writer / Boxing Historian)
Many people have texted or contacted me with their input, opinions, and thoughtful questions. I respect everyone’s interest and would like to share five that recently came to my attention, along with my response.
1 – Who was the first president you served under upon your membership in the World Boxing Hall of Fame?
ANSWER:
That would be the honorable Dub Harris. Prior to my induction in November 1996, he interviewed me in his Los Angeles (Commerce), California office. I was admittedly a bit nervous but confident. He asked several boxing questions, and after my quick and correct responses, he welcomed me into the organization on the spot. He asked me to begin officially in January 1997 as a Board of Director, and I was later assigned the role of Boxing Historian. I will always be grateful to Mr. Harris for his trust and the opportunity he gave me.
2 – What was your first visit to the historic Olympic Auditorium?
ANSWER:
My very first visit to the Olympic Auditorium, in 1960, was actually for a wrestling show—not boxing. It wasn’t until June 15, 1961, that I attended my first boxing card there. My uncle Peter took me out to dinner prior to my upcoming June 25th birthday at the “Original House of BBQ” on nearby Vermont Avenue in downtown Los Angeles, and then we headed to the fights. The main event that Thursday night featured Danny Valdez vs. Tony Herrera for the vacant USA California State Featherweight Championship. Valdez won by 8th-round knockout. A special side note was seeing referee Joey Olmos for the first time. He was a well-known referee, judge, and later Chief Inspector for the California State Athletic Commission. Ironically, later in life, we shared a wonderful friendship.
3 – What do you know about the Cauliflower Alley Club?
ANSWER:
In the early 1990s, I attended their banquets and became a member, with Norm Cote and Gary Ballin instrumental in getting me involved. The club, founded in 1965 by Mike Mazurki, unites boxers and wrestlers and holds an annual reunion. When I joined in 1992, Archie Moore was president, and later that year Lou Thesz succeeded him. It was a wonderful gathering of professional superstars and lasting friendships. One of my most memorable moments was meeting my favorite wrestler, “The Destroyer” — and yes, he wore his mask the entire time. The organization still exists today, holding its annual reunion in Las Vegas each August.
4 – How far back do you go in knowing anyone from their living eras in boxing?
ANSWER:
That would be Al Nelson, a boxing historian and curator of the Jeffries Barn Museum located at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. I met him in the late 1960s. He had lived during the turn-of-the-20th-century era of Jim Jeffries, Jack Johnson, and Bob Fitzsimmons. I visited him many times to learn from his firsthand knowledge of boxing’s rich past. One collectible I treasure is an original cigar box cover (circa 1900) featuring undefeated world heavyweight champion Jim Jeffries. In the short time I knew Al Nelson, I considered his memory and knowledge to be a true gift.
5 – You have seen many great knockouts in boxing. Which ones stand out?
ANSWER:
A difficult question because there are so many. I will highlight three:
A perfect left hook knockout: Ezzard Charles vs. Bob Satterfield – 2nd round, January 13, 1954, Chicago.
A devastating knockout: Bob Foster vs. Mike Quarry – 4th round, June 6, 1972, Las Vegas.
A surprising knockout that I witnessed live at ringside: Jose Luis Garcia vs. Ken Norton – 8th round, July 2, 1970, Los Angeles. Norton entered that bout 16-0 with 15 knockouts in a scheduled 10-round fight, and was knocked out for his first professional loss.
A friendly reminder: the 8th Annual Paul Banke BOXFAM / BBQ is set for Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Azusa Memorial Park (320 N. Orange Avenue, Azusa, California 91702), with festivities beginning at 10:00 AM. This enjoyable gathering brings together boxers, vendors, family, and friends, featuring live music and plenty of delicious food in a “potluck” sharing-style setting.
I would like to say a sincere thank you to everyone who has supported my website. Since July 15, 2007, I have published 2,232 feature articles. It has been my absolute pleasure to serve.
The rich history of boxing has intrigued me since my involvement began in 1961, and that is why I consider myself first a historian — and secondly, a boxing expert.