1) Sugar Ray Robinson suffered his first defeat of his career to Jake LaMotta on February 5, 1943 … the rematch for that fight would take place how many days later in same month ?
a) 7 days
b) 10 days
c) 14 days
d) 21 days
2) What Gold Medal winner was voted the most outstanding boxer in the 1976 Olympics ?
a) Howard Davis, Jr
b) Sugar Ray Leonard
c) Leo Randolph
d) Michael Spinks
Bobby Chacon & David Martinez
photo taken June 2006
By Jim Amato / Senior Boxing Writer
Arturo Gatti was probably the warrior of this era. Some of his battles, win or lose are becoming legendary. Rewind now back to early 1970′s to the mid 80′s. There was a boxer, a champion who was Gatti before there was a Gatti. If anyone recalls Bobby ” Schoolboy ” Chacon they have to remember his blood and guts wars with Rafael ” Bazooka ” Limon and Cornelius Boza Edwards. He was a fine boxer but in many cases his heart over ruled his head and he decided to slug instead of box. It may have cost Bobby some fights but the fans sure got their money’s worth. The got a lot highlight clip memories too.
Bobby was born in 1951 and he turned professional in 1972. He became an instant sensation winning his first 19 fights. He fought fifteen times in 1972 alone! The streak continued into 1973. Along the way he defeated world title challengers Tury ” The Fury ” Pineda and Frankie Crawford. He also stopped former champion Jesus ” Chucho ” Castillo. Only fourteen months into his pro career Bobby was matched with the great Ruben Olivares. ” Rockabye ” Ruben took the ” Schoolboy ” to school that night halting Bobby in the ninth round.
To Chacon’s credit he bounced right back with four straight wins and into a showdown with hard punching crosstown rival Danny ” Little Red ” Lopez. Danny’s older brother Ernie had twice challenged the outstanding Jose Napoles for the welterweight title. Now little brother Danny appeared ready for stardom. Chacon derailed the Lopez Express this night. Bobby boxed beautifully and stopped a dead game but beaten Lopez in round nine. Lopez would recover and end up having a nice run as featherweight champion. Why isn’t he in the International Boxing Hall Of Fame?
Continue reading Why Bobby Chacon was Bad to the Bone
By David Martinez / Boxing Historian
The date was March 3, 1993, and the fight was between two superb boxers with a combined ring record of sixty-three wins andone loss: Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez (36-1) vs. Michael “Manitas De Piedra” Carbajal (27-0) for the WBC/IBF Junior Flyweight Championship from the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel.
As I was gathering food and drinks to host the fight at my home, a friend called to tell me that he was not coming because (quote) Nobody Important is Fighting!
To this day, I have never forgotten that CLASSIC statement… I actually say that to the people who think boxing is a dead sport but ask me, “so when is the next big fight?”
Continue reading “Nobody Important is Fighting”
By David Martinez / Boxing Historian
In part four of my six part series on Muhammad Ali, I will go back to almost the exact time when I started to follow boxing – 1961. It was June of that year and I just celebrated my thirteenth birthday and as a young boy, I eagerly anticipated every boxing match and its results, as I still do today.
Something else happened in June 1961 that would be a significant part of a young Cassius Clay’s (“aka” Muhammad Ali) life in boxing. One man, a wrestler, named Gorgeous George Wagner, would singly install the name “The Greatest” to Clay’s fame, and what came with that was his charisma and showmanship.
A 19 year-old Clay was to have his seventh professional fight vs. Duke Sabedong in Las Vegas. That same week, also in Las Vegas, Gorgeous George was to have a wrestling match vs. Freddie Blassie, with both being promoted by Mel “Red” Greb.
When Greb brought boxer and wrestler to a local radio station studio to promote both events, Clay met George. Clay was first on the radio and quietly, in a low voice, predicted a knockout in his fight. Then the 46 year-old George came on air and erupted loudly by saying: “I am the Gorgeous One! Not only am I the best wrestler, but the most beautiful man who ever lived! If this bum I’m fighting messes up my pretty golden hair, I’ll tear his arm off! And if this punk beats me, I’ll take the next plane to Russia! But that will never happen, because I am the greatest! Continue reading Muhammad Ali / Part Four
By Rick Farris
Throughout boxing history the welterweight division has been blessed with exceptional prizefighters. Names such as Walker, Ross, McLarnin, Armstrong, Robinson, Griffith and Leonard are just a few of the greats that come to mind. However, another name cannot be overlooked when considering great 147 pounders, Jose Napoles.
Napoles’ nickname “Mantequilla” is the Spanish word for butter and anybody who had the pleasure of watching this brilliant boxer perform understands that Napoles’ style was as smooth as butter. It was a style that combined great boxing skill, devastating punching power and cool control of the ring. It was a style that created trouble for any opponent he faced. I’d have to say the best way to describe Napoles’ style is “timeless”. It was a style that could unravel the old timers and the new breed as well.
I had the opportunity to watch this great welterweight’s career evolve into a world championship during the years I was boxing. Napoles started out as a lightweight, but had to take on the best junior welterweights and welterweights in the world in order to get fights. Napoles beat them all in convincing fashion until finally, with the help of a great promoter, a champion finally gave him a title shot.
I’ll give a brief run down of Napoles early career, however, my story begins in 1968, about a year before he won the title. Although I never boxed with Napoles, I know three men who challenged Mantequilla for the title. Ironically, all three of these welterweight contenders challenged Napoles for the crown twice. Much of my opinion of Napoles is based on the words of these three men who know him far better than those of us who saw him from ringside or watched him train in the gym. You get to know exactly how great a fighter is, or is not, after banging it out with him for fifteen rounds.
The three contenders whom I am referring to are Ernie “Indian Red” Lopez, Hedgeman Lewis and Armando Muniz. All three were talented and tough welterweights during the 60’s and 70’s, and all three agree that they never fought anybody better than Jose Napoles.
Jose Napoles was born in Cuba on April 13, 1940. He made his pro boxing debut in 1958, at the age of 18, and fought the first four years of his professional career in Cuba. Between 1958 and 1961, Napoles put together a record of 17-1 (8 KO’s) before fleeing the regime of Fidel Castro and making his home in Mexico. Without the perils of living in a communist country, Napoles would now have a chance to make a name for himself in the world of boxing. Continue reading JOSE NAPOLES