1.
John Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry
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John Douglas was born in Florence, Italy, the eldest son of Conservative politician Archibald Viscount Drumlanrig and Caroline Margaret Clayton. He had three brothers, Francis, Archibald, and James, and two sisters, Gertrude and Florence and he was briefly styled Viscount Drumlanrig following his fathers succession in 1856, and on the latters death in 1858 he inherited the Marquessate of Queensberry. The 9th Marquess was educated in the training ships Illustrious and Britannia at Portsmouth and he was Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the 1st Dumfriesshire Rifle Volunteers from 1869 to 1871. In 1864 Queensberry entered Magdalene College, Cambridge, which he left two years later taking a degree. He was more distinguished in sport, playing cricket as well as running, hunting. He married Sibyl Montgomery in 1866 and they had four sons and a daughter, his wife successfully sued for divorce in 1887 on the grounds of his adultery. She survived him to the age of 90, dying in 1935, Queensberry married Ethel Weeden in 1893 but the marriage was annulled the following year. Queensberry sold the family seat of Kinmount in Dumfriesshire, Scotland and he wrote a poem starting with the words When I am dead cremate me. After cremation at Woking Crematorium, his ashes were buried at Kinmount in the Douglas Mausoleum outside Cummertrees Parish Church. His eldest son and heir apparent was Francis Viscount Drumlanrig, who was rumoured to have engaged in a homosexual relationship with the Liberal Prime Minister. He died unmarried and without issue, Douglas second son, Lord Percy Douglas, succeeded to the peerage instead. Lord Alfred Bosie Douglas, the son, was the close friend and lover of the famous author. Queensberrys efforts to end that led to his famous dispute with Wilde. Queensberry was a patron of sport and a boxing enthusiast. The following year the Club published a set of rules for conducting boxing matches. The rules had been drawn up by John Graham Chambers but appeared under Queensberrys sponsorship and are known as the Queensberry rules. A keen rider, Queensberry was also active in fox hunting, as a rider his first winner was in the Dumfriesshire Hunt Club chase in 1865, and his last was at Sandown Park in 1883. He was Master of the Worcester Fox Hounds in 1870 and he was on the committee of the National Hunt but never won a Grand National as a rider, a last-minute substitution on the victorious Old Joe keeping him out of the 1886 National
2.
Amateur boxing
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Amateur boxing is a variant of boxing practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games, Pan American Games and Commonwealth Games, as well as many associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration, comprising three rounds of three minutes in men, and four rounds of two minutes in women, each with an interval between rounds. Mens senior bouts changed in format from four, two-minute rounds to three, three-minute rounds on January 1,2009 and this type of competition prizes point-scoring blows, based on number of clean punches landed, rather than physical power. Also, this format allows tournaments to feature several bouts over several days, unlike professional boxing. Head protection was used in competition until March 2016, before it was removed by the AIBA due to a higher concussion rate with Head Protection. However, womens boxing will continue with Head Protection, after the AIBA announced that they did not have data to decide if there was higher risk of concussion in women. A referee monitors the fight to ensure that competitors use only legal blows, referees also ensure that the boxers dont use holding tactics to prevent the opponent from swinging. Referees will stop the bout if a boxer is seriously injured, bouts which end this way may be noted as RSC, RSCI RSCH or KO. Amateur boxing emerged as a sport during the mid-to-late 19th century, in England, the Amateur Boxing Association was formed in 1880 when twelve clubs affiliated. It held its first championships the following year, four weight classes were contested, Featherweight, Lightweight, Middleweight and Heavyweight. By 1902, American boxers were contesting the titles in the A. B. A, Championships, which, therefore, took on an international complexion. By 1924, the A. B. A. had 105 clubs in affiliation, Boxing first appeared at the Olympic Games in 1904 and, apart from the Games of 1912, has always been part of them. From 1972 to 2004, Cuba and the United States won the most Gold Medals,29 for Cuba and 21 for the U. S, the first World Amateur Boxing Championships were staged in 1974. Computer scoring was introduced to the Olympics in 1992, each of the five judges had a keypad with a red and a blue button. The judges pressed a button for which ever corner they felt landed a scoring blow, three out of the five judges had to press the button for the same boxer within a one-second window in order for the point to score. A legal scoring blow was that which is landed cleanly with the surface of the glove, within the scoring area. As long as the punches landed within the area, they are legal. The AIBA introduced a new scoring system in January 2011, each judge gives an individual score for each boxer
3.
Marquess of Queensberry Rules
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The Marquess of Queensberry rules is a code of generally accepted rules in the sport of boxing. They were named so as John Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry publicly endorsed the code, the code of rules on which modern boxing is based, the Queensberry rules were the first to mention gloves in boxing. In popular culture the term is used to refer to a sense of sportsmanship. The boxing code was written by John Graham Chambers, a Welshman and this code of rules superseded the Revised London Prize Ring rules, which had themselves replaced the original London Prize Ring rules of Jack Broughton. This version persuaded boxers that you must not fight simply to win, no holds barred is not the way, you must win by the rules. One early prize fighter who fought under Marquess of Queensberry rules was Jem Mace, former English heavyweight champion, in 1889, the Queensberry rules came into use in the United States and Canada. To be a fair boxing match in a 24-foot ring. The rounds to be of three minutes duration, and one time between rounds. If one man fails to come to the scratch in the 10 seconds allowed, a man hanging on the ropes in a helpless state, with his toes off the ground, shall be considered down. No seconds or any person to be allowed in the ring during the rounds. The gloves to be fair-sized boxing gloves of the best quality, should a glove burst, or come off, it must be replaced to the referees satisfaction. A man on one knee is considered down and if struck is entitled to the stakes and that no shoes or boots with spikes or sprigs be allowed. The contest in all respects to be governed by revised London Prize Ring Rules. Current modern rules per the Association of Boxing Commissions are as follows, a boxing match consists of a determined number of three-minute rounds, a total of up to 12 rounds. A minute is typically spent between each round with the fighters in their assigned corners receiving advice and attention from their coaches. The fight is controlled by a referee who works in the ring to judge and control the fight, rule on the ability of the fighters to safely, count knocked-down fighters. There are three judges at ringside to score the fight and assign points to the boxers, based on connecting punches, defense, knockdowns, because of the open-ended style of boxing judging, many fights have controversial results. Each fighter has a corner of the ring, where his or her coach, as well as one or more “seconds”, may administer to the fighter at the beginning of the fight
4.
British Boxing Board of Control
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The British Boxing Board of Control is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff, the Board is known for its unique scoring system. Except for title fights, the referee is the sole scorer. After the bout, the hands his decision to the MC and the winner is announced. The Boards headquarters include a museum of boxing memorabilia
5.
Earl of Lonsdale
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This family descends from Sir Richard Lowther, of Lowther Hall, Westmorland, who served as Lord Warden of the West Marches. His great-grandson, John Lowther, was created a baronet, of Lowther in the County of Westmorland and he was succeeded by his grandson, the second Baronet. He was a politician and held several ministerial posts during the reign of William III. In 1696 he was raised to the Peerage of England as Baron Lowther and his eldest son, the second Viscount, died unmarried at an early age and was succeeded by his younger brother, the third Viscount. He was also a prominent politician, on his death in 1751 the barony and viscountcy became extinct. The late Viscount was succeeded in the baronetcy by his cousin, James Lowther. He was the son of Robert Lowther, son of Richard Lowther, Lowther was a Member of Parliament for over twenty years and served as Lord-Lieutenant of Westmorland and Cumberland. He inherited not only the Lowther estates in Westmorland, but also the Whitehaven estates that had belonged to Sir James Lowther. The Earl was childless and all his titles were heading for extinction and these titles were also in the Peerage of Great Britain. On Lord Lonsdales death in 1802, the baronetcy and the peerages of 1784 became extinct and he was succeeded in the barony and viscountcy of 1797 according to the special remainder by his third cousin once removed, Sir William Lowther, 2nd Baronet, of Little Preston. He was the son of the aforementioned Reverend Sir William Lowther, 1st Baronet, of Little Preston, great-grandson of Sir William Lowther, brother of Sir John Lowther, 1st Baronet. In 1807 the earldom of Lonsdale was revived when he was created Earl of Lonsdale, in the County of Westmorland, the same year he was also made a Knight of the Garter. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl and he was a prominent Tory politician and notably served as Postmaster General and Lord President of the Council. In 1841 he was summoned to the House of Lords through a writ of acceleration in his fathers title of Baron Lowther. He was childless and on his death the titles passed to his nephew and he was the eldest son of the Hon. Henry Lowther, second son of the first Earl. He represented Cumberland West in the House of Commons and served as Lord-Lieutenant of Westmorland and Cumberland and his eldest son, the fourth Earl, died without male issue at an early age and was succeeded by his younger brother, the fifth Earl. He became known as Englands greatest sporting gentleman and he was succeeded by his younger brother, the sixth Earl. As at 2010 the titles are held by the grandson, the eighth Earl
6.
Lonsdale Belt
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The Lonsdale Belt is a boxing prize introduced by Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale, to be awarded to British boxing champions. It is still awarded to British champions today, lord Lonsdale organised boxing matches and was the first president of the National Sporting Club. In 1909, he introduced the Lonsdale Belt as a new trophy for the British champion at each weight division. The belts were crafted from porcelain and twenty-two carat gold, supported by red, white and blue fabric backing, however, a British champion was allowed to keep his Lonsdale Belt if he defended his title successfully twice. Later belts were made from nine carat gold rather than the original twenty-two carat, a total of 22 Lonsdale belts were issued by the National Sporting Club, and of these 20 were won outright. The holders of the first Lonsdale belts were, - Flyweight — Sid Smith,1911 Bantamweight — Digger Stanley,1910, jim Higgins, Johnny Brown won the same Lonsdale belt outright. The NSC bought it back from Digger Stanleys widow after his death, bugler Lake got one notch on it before losing to Johnny Brown in 1923. Brown went on to win it outright and retain it and his son, Edward Brown, donated this original belt to the Museum of London in 2010. It can be seen at their Docklands museum, the National Sporting Club became virtually defunct in the early 1930s and lost control of the sport to the British Boxing Board of Control. The latter body began issuing Lonsdale belts from 1936 onwards, the first holders of the B. B. B. C. Besides Henry Cooper the following boxers have won two Lonsdale belts outright, - Nel Tarleton Ronnie Clayton Peter Keenan Howard Winstone Brian Curvis Clinton McKenzie, decided no longer to award any fighter more than one belt in the same weight division. This still allows a fighter to win outright at two or more different weights. The Lonsdale Belt won by Bombardier Billy Wells in 1911 is now kept at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, South East London, and is not on display to the general public. In November 2000 the belt awarded to Randy Turpin in 1956 was auctioned for £23,000, while, in September 2011, Hood, who died in 1992, had displayed the latter above the bar at the Bell public house in Tanworth-in-Arden of which he was the licensee. Lonsdales Belt, The Story of Boxings Greatest Prize
7.
Mass media
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The mass media is a diversified collection of media technologies that reach a large audience via mass communication. The technologies through which communication takes place include a variety of outlets. Broadcast media transmit information electronically, via such media as film, radio, recorded music, digital media comprises both Internet and mobile mass communication. Internet media comprise such services as email, social sites, websites. Print media transmit information via physical objects, such as books, comics, magazines, newspapers, event organizing and public speaking can also be considered forms of mass media. The organizations that control these technologies, such as studios, publishing companies. In the late 20th century, mass media could be classified into eight mass media industries, books, the Internet, magazines, movies, newspapers, radio, recordings, and television. The explosion of digital technology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries made prominent the question. For example, it is whether to include cell phones, computer games. In the 2000s, a called the seven mass media became popular. For example, the Internet includes blogs, podcasts, web sites, the sixth and seventh media, Internet and mobile phones, are often referred to collectively as digital media, and the fourth and fifth, radio and TV, as broadcast media. Some argue that video games have developed into a mass form of media. While a telephone is a communication device, mass media communicates to a large group. In addition, the telephone has transformed into a phone which is equipped with Internet access. A question arises whether this makes cell phones a mass medium or simply a device used to access a mass medium. There is currently a system by which marketers and advertisers are able to tap into satellites and this transmission of mass advertising to millions of people is another form of mass communication. Video games may also be evolving into a mass medium, video games provide a common gaming experience to millions of users across the globe and convey the same messages and ideologies to all their users. Users sometimes share the experience with one another by playing online, excluding the Internet however, it is questionable whether players of video games are sharing a common experience when they play the game individually
8.
Jack Dempsey
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A cultural icon of the 1920s, Dempseys aggressive fighting style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first million-dollar gate and he is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and was inducted into The Rings Boxing Hall of Fame in 1951. Born William Harrison Dempsey in Manassa, Colorado, he grew up in a family in Colorado, West Virginia. The son of Mary Celia and Hiram Dempsey, his familys lineage consisted of Irish, Cherokee, following his parents conversion to Mormonism, Dempsey was baptized into the LDS Church in 1903 following his 8th birthday, the age of accountability, according to Mormon doctrine. Because his father had difficulty finding work, the family traveled often and Dempsey dropped out of school to work. Due to his lack of money, he frequently traveled underneath trains, desperate for money, Dempsey would occasionally visit saloons and challenge for fights, saying I cant sing and I cant dance, but I can lick any SOB in the house. If anyone accepted the challenge, bets would be made, according to Dempseys autobiography, he rarely lost these barroom brawls. For a short time, Dempsey was a bodyguard for Thomas F. Kearns, president of The Salt Lake Tribune. The two men remained friends for years afterward, Dempsey often fought under the pseudonym, Kid Blackie, though during his stint in the Salt Lake City area, he went by Young Dempsey. Much of his career is not recorded, and stated thus. He first competed as Jack Dempsey in the fall of 1914, in Cripple Creek, upon learning Copelin had sparred with Jack Johnson, and given Bernie Dempsey was nearing 40 years of age, he strategically decided to back out of the fight. He substituted his brother, still unknown in Eastern Colorado, as Jack Dempsey, the fans at ringside immediately knew this was not the man theyd paid to see. The promoter became violently angry and sailed into us, barehanded, Copelin himself, who outweighed Dempsey by 20 lbs. upon seeing Dempseys small stature in the ring, warned the promoter, I might kill that skinny guy. The promoter reluctantly permitted the fight to commence, and in his first outing as Jack Dempsey, the future champion downed Copelin six times in the first round and twice in the second. From there, it was a battle of attrition, until a last knockdown of Copelin in the seventh, Dempsey, In those days they didnt stop mining-town fights as long as one guy could move. This trial by fire carried with it a $100.00 purse, the promoter, angered at the switch pulled by the brothers, had laid no promised side bets. and even if I did, I wouldnt give you anything. Such lessons were hard, but fighting was something Jack Dempsey did well, following the name change, Dempsey won six bouts in a row by knockout before losing on a disqualification in four rounds to Jack Downey. During this early part of his career, Dempsey campaigned in Utah and he followed his loss against Downey with a knockout win and two draws versus Johnny Sudenberg in Nevada
9.
Jack Kearns
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Jack Doc Kearns was an American boxing manager from the state of Washington. He is most famous for managing Jack Dempsey, who was World Heavyweight Champion from 1919 to 1926 and he also managed Mickey Walker, Joey Maxim, and Archie Moore. He was given the nickname Doc from Dempsey, a book of his memoirs, The Million Dollar Gate, was published posthumously in 1966
10.
Tex Rickard
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George Lewis Tex Rickard was an American boxing promoter, founder of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League, and builder of the third incarnation of Madison Square Garden in New York City. During the 1920s, Tex Rickard was the promoter of the day. Sports journalist Frank Deford has written that Rickard first recognized the potential of the star system, Rickard also operated several saloons, hotels, and casinos, all named Northern and located in Alaska, Nevada, and Canada. Rickard was born in Kansas City, Missouri and his youth was spent in Sherman, Texas, where his parents had moved when he was four. Rickard became a cowboy at the age of 11, after the death of his father, at the age of 23, he was elected marshal of Henrietta, Texas. He married Leona Bittick and acquired the nickname Tex at this time, after the death of his wife and son, Rickard went to Alaska, drawn by the discovery of gold there, arriving in November 1895. Thus he was in the region when he learned of the nearby Klondike Gold Rush of 1897, along with most of the other residents of Circle City, Alaska, he hurried to the Klondike, where he and his partner, Harry Ash, staked claims. They eventually sold their holdings for nearly $60,000 and they then opened the Northern, a saloon, hotel, and gambling hall in Dawson City, Yukon, Canada. Rickard lost everything—including his share of the Northern—through gambling, while working as a poker dealer and bartender at the Monte Carlo saloon and gambling hall, he and Wilson Mizner began promoting boxing matches. In spring 1899, with only $35, Rickard left to chase the gold strikes in Nome, the two became lifelong friends, though for a brief period of time ca. 1901, they were competing saloon owners in Nome, where Rickard owned the Northern hotel, during the final week of Rickards life, Earp learned he was ill and sent him a telegram. Earp died the month as Rickard. By 1906, Rickard was running the Northern saloon and casino in Goldfield, in Goldfield, he promoted another professional boxing match. A year later, Rickard opened the Northern Hotel in Ely, Northern had been a favorite name for Rickard. Rickard also organized the Ely Athletic club and was the owner of mining properties in the Ely area. Rickard temporarily left both boxing and the United States in the early 1910s and this was the time of Jack Johnsons tumultuous reign as heavyweight champion. S. and went to South America. Rickard returned after Jess Willard dethroned Johnson in 1915, in 1920, Tex secured the rights to promote live events from Madison Square Garden in New York. By 1924, Rickard began putting together the financing to construct a new Garden, in the 1920s, the best boxing promoters and managers were instrumental in bringing boxing to new audiences and provoking media and public interest
11.
Georges Carpentier
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Georges Carpentier was a French boxer, actor and World War I pilot. He fought mainly as a heavyweight and heavyweight in a career lasting from 1908 to 1926. Nicknamed the Orchid Man, he stood 5 feet 11 1⁄2 inches, Carpentier was known for his speed, his excellent boxing skills and his extremely hard punch. Halle Georges Carpentier is named after him, born in Liévin in Pas-de-Calais, Carpentier began his career by progressing up through the weight divisions, fighting in every division from welterweight upwards. With his first professional bout at age 14, he was champion of France and of Europe in 1911, middleweight champion of Europe in 1912. On June 1,1913, he beat Bombardier Billy Wells in Ghent, the white heavyweight title bout sported a purse worth 9,000 pounds sterling. Carpentier was also a referee during the stages of his career. Carpentier was a French Air Force aviator during World War I and was awarded two of the highest French military honors, the Croix de Guerre and the Médaille Militaire. This served to heighten his already exceptional popularity, not only in France but in the United States, Carpentier defended his title twice again in 1919 before dropping down a weight class to challenge Battling Levinsky for the light heavyweight championship of the world. The fight took place on October 12,1920, in Jersey City, carpentiers attempt at the heavyweight Championship of the world came on July 2,1921, again in Jersey City, when he faced Jack Dempsey in front of boxings first million dollar gate. Carpentier was badly beaten around before suffering a knockout in the minute of the fourth round. Carpentier never fought again for that title and his last truly noteworthy fight was on July 24,1924, with Gene Tunney at the Polo Grounds in New York, Carpentier lost the bout by TKO after fifteen rounds. He retired from the ring after an exhibition bout in 1927. Following his retirement from boxing, Carpentier spent a number of years as a vaudeville song-and-dance man, mostly in England and he is the author of a boxing novel, Brothers of the Brown Owl, A Story of the Boxing Ring published c.1920 by Cassell and Company. He also appeared in half a dozen motion pictures, starring in silent films and talkies. He made three films in Hollywood, one for director J. Stuart Blackton in England and two in his native France and his last screen appearance was in 1934. Soon after, he became proprietor of a bar, Chez Georges Carpentier. In several different locations, this is the profession he would exercise until shortly before his death, from the time they boxed together in 1921, Carpentier remained close friends with Jack Dempsey
12.
James J. Jeffries
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James Jackson Jeffries was an American professional boxer and former World Heavyweight Champion. He was known for his enormous strength and stamina, using a technique taught to him by his trainer, former Welterweight and Middleweight Champion Tommy Ryan, Jeffries fought out of a crouch with his left arm extended forward. He was able to absorb tremendous punishment while wearing his opponents down, a natural left-hander, he possessed one-punch knockout power in his left hook, and brawled his way to the top of the rankings. Jeffries stood 6 ft 1 1⁄2 in tall and weighed 225 pounds in his prime and he could run 100 yards in just over ten seconds, and could high jump over 6 feet. In 1891, Jeffries father moved his family from their Ohio farm to Los Angeles, James worked for a while as a boilermaker before going into boxing. In later life, The Boilermaker was one of his professional nicknames, as a powerfully built and athletic teenager, Jeffries boxed as an amateur until age 20, when he started fighting professionally. In his third fight, Jeffries knocked out the highly regarded black boxer Hank Griffin in the fourteenth round, Jack Johnson had fought Griffin on three separate occasions. Jeffries fought the top contender, Gus Ruhlin, to a draw. Ruhlin was knocked down with a punch at the end of the final round and was saved by the bell from being counted out. The decision was met with reactions from the audience, many of whom felt Jeffries won. On his way to the title in 1898, Jeffries knocked out Peter Jackson and this had been only the second defeat in Jacksons entire career, his first loss was from a four-round fight over thirteen years earlier around the beginning of his career. Jeffries defeated the formidable Mexican Pete Everett by knockout in only the round on April 22,1898. His next fight was against the Irishman Tom Sharkey, the fight went the full twenty rounds and Sharkey was knocked down in the eleventh round. After defeating the big, fast-moving, sharp-jabbing black, Bob Armstrong, on June 9,1899 in Brooklyn, New York he defeated Bob Fitzsimmons by KO in the eleventh round to win the Heavyweight Championship of the World. That August, he embarked on a tour of Europe, putting on exhibition fights for the fans, Jeffries was involved in several motion pictures recreating portions of his championship fights. Filmed portions of his bouts and of some of his exhibition matches survive to this day. In his first title defense, he won a decision in a rematch over Tom Sharkey. Jeffries set the record for the quickest KO in a Heavyweight title fight ever and his next defense was against the former Heavyweight Champion and legendary technician, James J. Corbett
13.
Bob Fitzsimmons
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Robert James Bob Fitzsimmons was a British professional boxer who made boxing history as the sports first three-division world champion. He also achieved fame for beating Gentleman Jim Corbett, and he is in The Guinness Book of World Records as the lightest heavyweight champion and he was also known for his pure fighting skills due to dislike of training for fights, which cost him at times in his career. Considered one of the hardest punchers in boxing history, Fitzsimmons is ranked as No.8 on Ring Magazines list of 100 greatest punchers of all time, Fitzsimmons, the youngest of 12 children, was born in Helston, Cornwall. His father was James Fitzsimmons, an Irishman born in County Armagh and his British mother was Jane Strongman, born in St Clement, Bob emigrated to New Zealand at the age of nine along with his parents, brothers and sisters. His family settled in Timaru, among many other British settlers and he was a practising blacksmith most of his life Between 1880 and 1881, Fitzsimmons reigned as champion of the Jem Mace tournament in New Zealand. Some say he officially began his career as a boxer in New Zealand later in 1881. Records remain unclear whether he received payment for a bout in which he knocked out Herbert Slade in two rounds, Fitzsimmons had six fights in New Zealand, two of them bare-knuckle events. He won one and lost five and it remains unclear whether any of those bouts involved payment. Boxing record books show Fitzsimmons officially began boxing professionally in 1883 and he beat Jim Crawford there by getting a knockout in three rounds. By this stage, Fitzsimmons had established his own style and he developed a certain movement and caginess from one of the greatest bare-knuckle fighters, Jem Mace. Mace encouraged Fitzsimmons to develop his technique, drawing on the enormous power he had gained from blacksmithing. Fitzsimmons delivered short, accurate and occasionally conclusive punches and he soon built up a reputation as by far the hardest puncher in boxing. Moving on to the United States, Fitzsimmons fought four times in 1890. Then, on 14 January 1891, in New Orleans, he won his first world title from Jack Dempsey, Fitzsimmons knocked out Dempsey in the 13th round to become the World Middleweight Champion. Fitzsimmons knocked Dempsey down at least 13 times and by the left him in such a pitiable condition that he begged him to quit. Since Dempsey would not do so, Fitzsimmons knocked him out, on 22 July, police broke off his fight with Jim Hall after he had knocked Hall down several times. Fitzsimmons spent the two years fighting non-title bouts and exhibitions until giving Hall a chance at the title in 1893. He retained the crown by a knockout in round four, two months later Fitzsimmons was charged with manslaughter but was acquitted
14.
Philadelphia Jack O'Brien
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Joseph Francis Hagan was the world light heavyweight boxing champion. OBrien was inducted into the Ring Magazine hall of fame in 1968, the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1987, born in Philadelphia, Hagan was the older brother to Young Jack OBrien and the cousin of heavyweight boxer Jack Rowan. OBrien turned pro in the 1890s and he stood 5-10 1/2 and weighed 152-165 pounds. He was agile, quick and limber, a two-handed puncher who landed often and his best punches were a left jab and a hard overhand right, and he was a good defensive fighter who blocked punches well and counter-punched accurately. O’Brien won the light heavyweight championship with a 13-round TKO over Bob Fitzsimmons in San Francisco, California. He challenged world heavyweight champion Tommy Burns on November 28,1906, in Los Angeles, the referee was former world champion James J. Jeffries. O’Brien challenged Burns again in Los Angeles on May 8,1907, and he fought the fearsome middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel in a 10-round No Decision on March 26,1909, in which O’Brien was saved by the bell at the end of the 10th round. He fought heavyweight champion Jack Johnson in a six-round No Decision on May 19 and his career record in 194 fights is 145 wins,16 loses and 28 draws. Hagan is believed to have managed a gym at 1658 Broadway, New York City, World middleweight champion Harry Greb trained in O’Brien’s at gym, and the only existing films of Greb in action are workouts and sparring with O’Brien. He died on November 12,1942, known Exhibitions fought by OBrien, 1909-8-20 EX4 Dick Gilbert, Denver, Colorado 1909-2-11 EX4 Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1909-1-04 EX2 Fred Cooley, Washington S. C. Philadelphia, PA 1909-1-04 EX2 Jack Reed, Washington S. C, Philadelphia, PA 1909-1-04 EX2 Jack Cooper, Washington S. C. Philadelphia, PA 1908-9-23 EX4 Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Philadelphia, PA 1908-4-04 EX4 Anthony J
15.
Tommy Ryan
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Tommy Ryan was a famed American World Welterweight, and World Middleweight boxing champion who fought from 1887–1907. His simulataneously holding records in weight classes was a rare and impressive feat for a boxer. Ryan was considered an excellent boxer-puncher, and many consider him one of the all time greatest middleweight champions and his boxing record was 86 wins,3 losses and 6 draws. Ryan first won the title in a match with Mysterious Billy Smith on July 26,1894. He was knocked out by Kid McCoy in the 15th round on March 2,1896 and this bout forms part of the lore of the McCoy legend. McCoy served as a partner for Ryan, and absorbed many beatings at the hands of his employer. Ryan was notorious for showing mercy to his sparring partners. As a result, McCoy hated Ryan, and sought revenge and it is alleged that McCoy, who appeared thin, pale and frail, persuaded Ryan that he was seriously ill before their fight. McCoy, who was famed as a trickster, purportedly rubbed flour on his face so as to appear deathly ill, Ryan is said to have fallen for the ruse, failed to train properly and was not in top condition for the bout. Whether true or not, McCoy scored a win over Ryan in the non-title match. Ryan was also instrumental in the career of heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries, in fact, Ryan is credited with changing Jeffries stance and teaching him to fight out of a crouch. Ryan also seconded James J. Corbett in his attempt to wrest the heavyweight crown from Jeffries. Corbett however, blamed Ryans strategy for his defeat, in 2003, Ryan was listed in The Ring magazines list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. Ryan died on August 3,1948 at Van Nuys, California, aged 78
16.
Jack Johnson (boxer)
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John Arthur Jack Johnson, nicknamed the Galveston Giant was an American boxer, who—at the height of the Jim Crow era—became the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion. Johnson was faced with controversy when he was charged with violating the Mann Act in 1912, even though there was an obvious lack of evidence. In a documentary about his life, Ken Burns notes that for more than thirteen years, Jack Johnson was the most famous and his father Henry served as a civilian teamster of the Union’s 38th Colored Infantry, and was a role model for his son. As Jack once said, his father was The most perfect physical specimen that he had seen, although his father was only 5 ft 5 in. Growing up in Galveston, Texas, Johnson attended five years of school and was known as a bright, talkative, like all of his siblings, Jack was expected to work to keep the family going while he was growing up. He helped sweep classrooms to ease the work for his father, for this work he was paid 10 cents and a red pair of socks, which his boss had a seemingly endless supply of, every Saturday. Johnson remembers growing up with a gang of boys, in which he never felt victimized or excluded. Remembering his childhood, Johnson said, As I grew up, I ate with them, played with them and slept at their homes. Their mothers gave me cookies, and I ate at their tables, no one ever taught me that white men were superior to me. Jack carried this mentality to his career, as he would not be intimidated to fight any man. During his days as a child Johnson was a young boy and not much of a fighter. Jack was usually able to avoid quarrels until he was years old. About to run away from the quarrel Johnson remembers Grandma Gilmore, or his mother, after winning the fight, Johnson developed a new mentality, and toughness to carry with him through his life. After Johnson quit attending school, he began a job working at the local docks and he made several other attempts at working other jobs around town, until one day he made his way to Dallas, finding work at the race track exercising horses. Jack stuck with this job until he would find a new apprenticeship for a painter by the name of Walter Lewis. Lewis, who had a passion for boxing, enjoyed watching friends spar, Johnson later claimed that it was thanks to Lewis that he would become a boxer. After returning home for a period of time, Johnson once again left at the age of 16. While in Manhattan, Jack found living arrangements with Joe Walcott, once again Johnson found work exercising horses for the local stable, until he was fired for exhausting a horse
17.
Benny Leonard
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Benny Leonard was an American professional lightweight boxer. Widely considered one of the greats, he was ranked 8th on The Ring magazines list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years. In 2005, the International Boxing Research Organization ranked Leonard as the #1 lightweight, statistical website BoxRec rates Leonard as the 2nd best lightweight ever, while The Ring magazine founder Nat Fleischer placed him at #2. Boxing historian Bert Sugar placed him 6th in his Top 100 Fighters catalogue, benny Leonard was born and raised in the Jewish ghetto, which was then located in the lower east side of Manhattan, New York City, on whose streets he learned to fight. He was the son of Minny and Gershon Leiner, who immigrated from Eastern Europe, Leonard was known for his speed, excellent boxing technique and ability to think fast on his feet. He also was a hard hitter, who scored 70 KOs out of his 183 wins, Leonard was defeated 24 times and was held to a draw on 8 occasions. As was common in the era in which he fought, Leonard engaged in several matches and is believed to have fought 219 bouts. He won 12 of his next 18 bouts, establishing a reputation as a local fighter before meeting Canadian Frankie Fleming in May 1912. Leonard was knocked out for only the time in his career. He lost a rematch with Fleming 16 months later, leonards next big test came when he took on featherweight champion Johnny Kilbane in Atlantic City in April 1915. Kilbane won six of ten rounds to win the decision, Leonard then reeled off a string of 15 straight victories, which earned him the chance to meet Freddie Welsh for the lightweight championship on March 3,1916. Although newspaper reporters at Madison Square Garden believed that Leonard had won, the two fighters met again four months later in Brooklyn, and this time Welsh won decisively, staggering Leonard and nearly putting him down with a right to the jaw in the sixth. On February 28,1917, he fought onetime Bantamweight Champion Jimmy Reagan at the Manhattan Casino in Manhattan, New York, in a ten-round match, that the New York Times considered a draw bout. The Des Moines Register considered the fact that Reagan had gone ten rounds without being knocked out by the champion a remarkable accomplishment. According to the Ogden Standard, Dozens of times Jimmy seemed on the point of going down, the Standard also wrote of Leonard, that there wasnt a punch that he didnt aim at Reagan, and there wasnt one that was forceful enough to keep the Californian at bay. Winning 17 of 19 bouts after his loss to Freddie Welsh. The challenger floored the champion three times in the round before referee Billy McPartland stopped the bout, making Leonard the lightweight champion of the world. He officially defended the title seven times over the eight years
18.
Boxing in the 1930s
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Boxing in the 1930s was affected by one of the biggest economic struggles in the history of the United States, the depression era. Because of the suffering American economy, many boxers were offered lower amounts of money causing them to not box with passion, when the decade began, there was no champion the world heavy weight title belonged to no one. The sport boxing was boycotted for lack of money to output to the boxers, the Heavyweight division, from 1930 to 1937 in particular, could be compared to the Heavyweight division of the 1980s. Six champions were crowned before Joe Louis began his run as Heavyweight champion in 1937. He retired in 1949, still holding the title of World Heavyweight Champion, Baby Arizmendi conquered the first world title for Mexico in 1934. For his part, Kid Chocolate became the first world champion from Cuba, february 10 – In the decades first world title fight, Jimmy Slattery becomes world Light-Heavyweight champion, beating Lou Scozza by decision in fifteen rounds for the vacant title, at Buffalo. February 18 – Jack Kid Berg becomes world Jr. Welterweight champion, knocking out Mushy Callahan in eleven rounds, march 21 – Midget Wolgast wins the vacant New York Flyweight title with a fifteen-round decision over Black Bill, New York City. June 11 – Max Schmeling wins the undisputed World Heavyweight title, defeating NBA champion Jack Sharkey by a four-round disqualification, after being hit with a damaging low blow. Schmeling became the first boxer to win the title by disqualification, and he remains as of 2004, june 25 – Maxie Rosenbloom wins the world Light-Heavyweight title with a fifteen-round decision over Jimmy Slattery, in Buffalo. July 17 – Al Singer wins the world Lightweight title with a knockout over Sammy Mandell, setting a record for the fastest fight in that divisions history. October 4 – Panama Al Brown retains the world Bantamweight title with a decision over Eugene Huat. November 14 – Tony Canzoneri wins his second title, knocking out Al Singer in the first round and breaking Singers record for the fastest finish in a world Lightweight title fight. December 11 – Battling Battalino retains the world Featherweight title with a decision over Kid Chocolate. December 26 – Frankie Genaro and Midget Wolgast try to unify the world Flyweight title,22 May – Battling Battalino retains his world Featherweight title, with a ten-round decision over Fidel LaBarba, in New York City. July 3 – Max Schmeling retains the world Heavyweight title, with a knockout of Young Stribling. July 15 – Kid Chocolate becomes Cubas first world boxing champion in history, knocking out world Jr. Lightweight champion Benny Bass in seven rounds, july 23 – Battling Battalino retains the world Featherweight title with a ten-round decision over future world champion Freddie Miller, at Cincinnati. August 5 – Maxie Rosenbloom retains his world Light-Heavyweight title with a decision over former world champion Jimmy Slattery. September 10 – Tony Canzoneri retains both his Jr. Welterweight and Lightweight world belts, with a unanimous decision over former world champion Jack Berg
19.
Jess Willard
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Jess Myron Willard was a world heavyweight boxing champion known as the Pottawatomie Giant who knocked out Jack Johnson in April 1915 for the heavyweight title. He was known for his strength and ability to absorb tremendous punishment. Willard held the championship for more four years. Today his reign is considered the 11th longest in the heavyweight division and he lost the title to Jack Dempsey in 1919 in one of the most severe beatings ever in a championship bout. Jess fought for two rounds before retiring on his stool because of the injuries he received in the first round. A working cowboy, Willard did not begin boxing until he was 27 years old, Willard was of entirely English ancestry, which had been in America since the colonial era. The first member of the Willard family arrived in colonial Virginia in the 1630s, despite his late start, he proved successful as a boxer, defeating top-ranked opponents to earn a chance to fight for the championship. Willard said he started boxing because he did not have much of an education and he was often maligned as an uncoordinated oaf rather than a skilled boxer, but his counterpunching style, coupled with his enormous strength and stamina, proved successful against top fighters. Jess Willard was charged with murder, but was successfully defended by lawyer Earl Rogers. On April 5,1915, in front of a crowd at the new Oriental Park Racetrack in Havana, Cuba. Willard said, If he was going to throw the fight and it was hotter than hell out there. Johnson later acknowledged lying about the throwing the fight after footage of the fight was widely available in the United States. Shortly after the fight Jack Johnson had actually accepted defeat gracefully saying Willard was too much for me, Johnson found that he could not knock out the giant Willard, who fought as a counterpuncher, making Johnson do all the leading. Johnson began to tire after the 20th round, and was hurt by heavy body punches from Willard in rounds preceding the 26th-round knockout. Willard fought several times over the four years, but made only one official title defense prior to 1919, defeating Frank Moran on March 25,1916. At age 37, Willard lost his title to Jack Dempsey on July 4,1919, Dempsey knocked Willard down for the first time in his career with a left hook in the first round. Dempsey won the title when Willard was unable to continue after the third round, in the fight, Willard was later reputed to have suffered a broken jaw, cheekbone, and ribs, as well as losing several teeth. His attempt to fight to the finish, ending when he was unable to come out for the round, is considered one of the most courageous performances in boxing history
20.
Bert Sugar
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Bert Randolph Sugar was a boxing writer and sports historian recognizable by his trademark fedora and cigar. Sugar was born in Washington, D. C. on June 7,1936, Sugar graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1953, where he was a reporter and columnist for the schools newspaper. His entry in the school yearbook for that year predicts he will become a radio announcer or sports writer. Sugar graduated from the University of Maryland and he earned a JD and MBA from the University of Michigan in 1960. After passing the bar exam, he worked in the business in New York City for ten years. During his time in the business, he worked at several different agencies, including J Walter Thompson, PKL. Sugar bought Boxing Illustrated magazine in 1969 and was editor until 1973, from 1979 to 1983 he was editor and publisher of The Ring. In 1988 he once again began editing Boxing Illustrated, in 1998 he founded Bert Sugars Fight Game. Sugar authored over 80 books, focusing on his favorite sports boxing, various boxing books that Sugar has written include Great Fights, Bert Sugar on Boxing,100 Years of Boxing, Sting like a Bee, The Ageless Warrior and Boxings Greatest Fighters. Sugar was called The Greatest Boxing Writer of the 20th Century by the International Veterans Boxing Association, in May 2009 he and Running Press published Bert Sugars Baseball Hall of Fame, A Living History of Americas Greatest Game. Sugar also co-wrote a book about Harry Houdini titled Houdini, His Life, Sugar appeared in several films playing himself, including Night and the City, The Great White Hype and Rocky Balboa. Interviews with Sugar feature in Unforgivable Blackness, The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, along with Lou Albano, he helped write The Complete Idiots Guide to Pro Wrestling. He wrote a sports column for Smoke Magazine, a quarterly cigar lifestyle magazine. Sugar was described by Bob Costas as being Runyonesque, and as one of the foremost historians alive, Sugar was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in January 2005. In May 2010, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, in 2011, he was featured on The Pentagon Channels Armed Forces Boxing Championships. Sugar had been scheduled to broadcast the 2012 matches, but his health prevented him from doing so. Sugar died from cardiac arrest on March 25,2012 at age 75 and his family was at his bedside at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York. Prior to his death, Sugar had been battling lung cancer, talkin Boxing with Bert Sugar - Boxing Insider - August 12,2011
21.
Gene Tunney
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James Joseph Gene Tunney was an American professional boxer who competed from 1915 to 1928. He held the heavyweight title from 1926 to 1928. A highly technical boxer, Tunney had a rivalry with Harry Greb in which he won three, drew once, with one loss. He also knocked out Georges Carpentier and defeated Jack Dempsey twice, first in 1926, Tunneys successful title defense against Dempsey remains one of the most famous bouts in boxing history and is known as The Long Count Fight. He retired undefeated as a heavyweight after his victory over Tom Heeney in 1928, Mary Lydon from Culleen House, Gorthgarve, Kiltimagh, County Mayo, Ireland, emigrated to the United States after the Great Famine. She settled in New York City where she met John Tunney, also from Cill Aodain and they married after a short courtship. The Tunneys had seven children, one son was murdered around 1920, another was a NYPD Detective from 1924 to 1951, dying in 1971, Tunney fought some 68 official professional fights, losing only one, to Harry Greb, while fighting as a light heavyweight. Tunney fought many other fights whose scoring was unofficial, judged by newspaper reporters and he also lost none of these newspaper decisions. He reported that he lost a fight during World War I. Tunney was regarded as a skillful boxer who excelled in defense. In addition to beating Dempsey, the most famous fighter of his era, Tunney defeated Tommy Gibbons, Georges Carpentier and many other fine boxers. Already the U. S. Expeditionary Forces champion, Tunney spent the winter of 1921 as a lumberjack in northern Ontario for the J. R. Booth Company of Ottawa, without revealing he was a champion boxer. He explained this as wanting the solitude and the labors of the woods to help condition himself for the career that appeared before him. Tunney also had an acting career, starring in the movie The Fighting Marine in 1926. Unfortunately, no prints of film are known to exist. In 1928, Tunney married a wealthy socialite, the former Mary Polly Lauder, the couple lived in Stamford, Connecticut and had four children. Among them is John V. Tunney, who was a U. S, senator from California from 1971 until 1977. Tunneys daughter Joan was committed to a hospital on June 6,1970 after she murdered her husband
22.
Max Schmeling
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Maximillian Adolph Otto Siegfried Max Schmeling was a German boxer who was heavyweight champion of the world between 1930 and 1932. His two fights with Joe Louis in 1936 and 1938 were worldwide cultural events because of their national associations, starting his professional career in 1924, Schmeling went to the United States in 1928 and, after a ninth-round technical knockout of Johnny Risko, became a sensation. He became the first to win the championship by disqualification in 1930. Max retained his crown successfully in 1931 by a knockout victory over Young Stribling. A rematch in 1932 with Sharkey saw the American gaining the title from Schmeling by a controversial split decision. In 1933, Schmeling lost to Max Baer by a technical knockout. The loss left people believing that Schmeling was past his prime, meanwhile, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party took over control in Germany, and Schmeling came to be viewed as a Nazi puppet. Schmeling finally got a chance to regain his title in 1938, during World War II, Schmeling served with the German Air Force as an elite paratrooper. After the war, Schmeling mounted a comeback, but retired permanently in 1948, after retiring from boxing, Schmeling worked for the Coca-Cola Company. Schmeling became friends with Louis, and their friendship lasted until the death in 1981. Schmeling died in 2005 aged 99, an icon in his native Nazi Germany. Long after the Second World War, it was revealed that Schmeling had risked his own life to save the lives of two Jewish children in 1938, in 2003, Schmeling was ranked 55 on The Ring magazines list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. He died 2 years later on 2 February 2005 at the age of 99, Schmeling was born in the Pomeranian town of Klein Luckow. He first became acquainted with boxing as a teenager, when his father took him to film of the heavyweight championship match between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier. Impressed with Dempseys performance in fight, young Schmeling became determined to imitate his new hero. He began boxing in amateur competitions and, by 1924, won Germanys national amateur title in the heavyweight division. Ironically, though he idolised the raging, brawling Dempsey, Schmeling developed a careful, using this style, he won seventeen of his first twenty-three bouts, thirteen by knockout. In 1925, he got into the ring with Dempsey, who was then still heavyweight champion of the world and was touring Europe, Dempsey boxed for two rounds with the then-unknown German and, according to a story later told by Schmeling, was greatly impressed
23.
Max Baer (boxer)
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Maximilian Adelbert Max Baer was an American boxer of the 1930s as well as a referee, and had an occasional role on film or television. He was the brother of heavyweight boxing contender Buddy Baer and father of actor Max Baer Jr. Baer is rated #22 on Ring Magazines list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. Baer was born on February 11,1909 in Omaha, Nebraska to Jacob Baer, who was half Lutheran German and half Jewish German, and Dora Bales, Baer was nominally raised in a nonsectarian home. Jacobs expertise in the business led to numerous job offers around the San Francisco Bay Area. While living in Hayward, Max took his first job as a boy for John Lee Wilbur. Wilbur ran a store and bought meat from Jacob. The Baers lived in the Northern Californian towns of Hayward, San Leandro, Livermore was cowboy country, surrounded by tens of thousands of acres of rangeland which supported large cattle herds that provided fresh meat to the local area. In 1928, Jacob leased the Twin Oaks Ranch in Murray Township where he raised more than 2,000 hogs, a ring tragedy little more than a year later almost caused Baer to drop out of boxing for good. Baer fought Frankie Campbell on August 25,1930, in San Francisco in a ring built over home plate at San Franciscos Recreation Park for the title of Pacific Coast champion. In the second round, Campbell clipped Baer and Baer slipped to the canvas, Campbell went toward his corner and waved to the crowd. He thought Baer was getting the count, Baer got up and flew at Campbell, landing a right to Campbells turned head which sent him to the canvas. After the round, Campbell said to his trainer, Something feels like it snapped in my head, but went on to handily win rounds 3 and 4. As Baer rose for the 5th round, Tillie Kid Herman, Baers former friend and trainer, in a rage and determined to end the bout with a knockout, Baer soon had Campbell against the ropes. As he hammered him with punch after punch, the ropes were the only thing holding Campbell up, by the time Referee Toby Irwin stopped the fight, Campbell collapsed to the canvas. Baers own seconds reportedly ministered to Campbell, and Baer stayed by his side until an ambulance arrived 30 minutes later, Baer visited the stricken fighters bedside, where he offered Frankies wife Ellie the hand that hit her husband. She took that hand and the two stood speechless for a moment and it was unfortunate, Im awfully sorry, said Baer. It even might have been you, mightnt it, at noon the next day, with a lit candle laced between his crossed fingers, and his wife and mother beside him, Frankie Campbell was pronounced dead. Upon the surgeons announcement of Campbells death, Baer broke down, the Campbell incident earned Baer the reputation as a killer in the ring
24.
James J. Braddock
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James Walter Cinderella Man Braddock was an American boxer who was the world heavyweight champion from 1935 to 1937. Fighting under the name James J. Braddock, Braddock was known for his spoiling, counterpunching style, powerful right hand and his iron chin. He had lost several bouts due to chronic hand injuries and was forced to work on the docks and he made a comeback, and in 1935 he fought Max Baer for the Heavyweight title and won. For this unlikely feat he was given the nickname Cinderella Man by Damon Runyon, Braddock was managed by Joe Gould. Braddock was born in Hells Kitchen in New York City on West 48th Street and he was the son of immigrant parents, Irish mother Elizabeth OTool and Anglo-Irish father Joseph Braddock. He stated his lifes ambition was to play football for Knute Rockne at the University of Notre Dame. Braddock pursued boxing, turning pro at the age of 21, after three years, Braddocks record was 44–2–2 with 21 knockouts. In 1928 he pulled off an upset by knocking out highly regarded Tuffy Griffiths. The following year he earned a chance to fight for the title, Braddock was greatly depressed by the loss and badly fractured his right hand in several places in the process. His career suffered as a result, as did his disposition and his record for the next 33 fights fell to 11–20–2. With his family in poverty during the Great Depression, Braddock had to give up boxing for a little while, due to frequent injuries to his right hand, Braddock compensated by using his left hand during his longshoreman work, and it gradually became stronger than his right. After his boxing comeback, Braddock returned the money he had received and made frequent donations to various Catholic Worker Houses. In 1934 Braddock was given a fight with the highly touted John Corn Griffin, although Braddock was intended simply as a stepping stone in Griffins career, he knocked out the Ozark Cyclone in the third round. Braddock then fought John Henry Lewis, a light heavyweight champion. He won in one of the most important fights of his career, Baer hardly trained for the bout. Braddock, on the hand, was training hard. Not a boxing contest or a clownin contest or a dance, whether it goes 1 round or 3 rounds or 10 rounds, it will be a fight and a fight all the way. When youve been through what Ive had to face in the last two years, a Max Baer or a Bengal tiger looks like a house pet
25.
Joe Louis
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Joseph Louis Barrow, best known as Joe Louis and nicknamed the Brown Bomber, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. He reigned as the heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949. Louis championship reign lasted 140 consecutive months, during which he participated in 26 championship fights, the 27th fight, against Ezzard Charles in 1950, was a challenge for Charles heavyweight title and so is not included in Louis reign. Louis was victorious in 25 title defenses, a record second only to Julio César Chávez with 27. Louis cultural impact was felt well outside the ring and he was instrumental in integrating the game of golf, breaking the sports color barrier in America by appearing under a sponsors exemption in a PGA event in 1952. Born in rural Chambers County, Alabama, Louis was the seventh of eight children of Munroe Barrow and he weighed 11 pounds at birth. Both of his parents were children of slaves, alternating between sharecropping and rental farming. Munroe was predominantly African American, with some white ancestry, while Lillie was half Cherokee, Louis spent twelve years growing up in rural Alabama, where little is known of his childhood. He suffered from a speech impediment and spoke very little until about the age of six, Munroe Barrow was committed to a mental institution in 1916 and, as a result, Joe knew very little of his biological father. Around 1920, Louiss mother married Pat Brooks, a construction contractor. In 1926, shaken by a gang of men in the Ku Klux Klan, Louiss family moved to Detroit, Michigan. Joes brother worked for Ford Motor Company and the family settled into a home at 2700 Catherine Street in Detroits Black Bottom neighborhood, Louis attended Bronson Vocational School for a time to learn cabinet-making. The Great Depression hit the Barrow family hard, but as an alternative to gang activity and his mother attempted to get him interested in playing the violin. Legend has it that he tried to hide his pugilistic ambitions from his mother by carrying his boxing gloves inside his violin case, Louis made his debut in early 1932 at age 17. More likely, Louis simply omitted his last name to keep his boxing a secret from his mother, in 1933, Louis won the Detroit-area Golden Gloves Novice Division championship against Joe Biskey for the light heavyweight classification. He later lost in the Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, the next year, competing in the Golden Gloves Open Division, he won the light heavyweight classification, this time also winning the Chicago Tournament of Champions. However, an injury forced Louis to miss the New York/Chicago Champions cross-town bout for the ultimate Golden Gloves championship. In April 1934, he followed up his Chicago performance by winning the United States Amateur Champion National AAU tournament in St. Louis, by the end of his amateur career, Louiss record was 50-3, with 43 knockouts
26.
The Ring (magazine)
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The Ring is an American boxing magazine that was first published in 1922 as a boxing and wrestling magazine. As the sporting legitimacy of professional wrestling came more into question, the magazine is currently owned by Oscar De La Hoyas Golden Boy Enterprises, which acquired it in 2007. Dan Daniel was a co-founder and prolific contributor to The Ring through most of its history and it refers to itself as The Bible of Boxing. During the Fleischer years, the page or indicia of every issue carried the claim. He may leave it on his library table safe in the knowledge that it not contain one line of matter either in the text or the advertisements which would be offensive. The publisher of The Ring guards this reputation of his magazine jealously and it is entertaining and it is clean. In 1977, three versions of the magazine came out. One, the Spanish version, was named Ring En Español and was published from Venezuela and distributed around all Spanish-speaking countries, there was also a Japanese-language version published in Tokyo and a French version published in Paris. By 1985, both Sugar and Gordon had moved on, then watched from the sidelines as The Ring nearly went bankrupt in 1989 and it rebounded under new management in 1990. The Ring magazine was saved from ruin in 1990 by Boxing Hall of Fame Publisher Stanley Weston who founded Boxing Illustrated, KO & World Boxing and GC London Publishing Corp. Weston was a sentimentalist and 52 years after joining The Ring magazine as a stock boy and he not only resurrected the magazine from its imminent collapse, he re-established the publication as the definitive source for boxing news. An outstanding boxing artist, Weston painted 57 covers for The Ring with his first cover, Weston was also a photographer who, according to his own estimate, shot over 100,000 boxing photos—the majority of which are housed in the archives of The Ring magazine. Bernard Hopkins, Julio César Chávez, Félix Trinidad, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, Mauro Mina, the Ring has used cover artwork created by famed artists such as LeRoy Neiman and Richard T. Slone. The Ring magazine was formerly led by International Boxing Hall of Famer Nigel Collins, sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC, owns The Ring, which it acquired from Kappa Publishing Group in 2006. Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC is owned by a group of investors led by Oscar de la Hoya. Also acquired were KO Magazine and World Boxing, the magazines rankings are recognized as official by some in the U. S. media, particularly ESPN. Also there is a 35-member ratings advisory panel, which many of the media that cover boxing. The Ring was headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania until 2011 when it was relocated to Los Angeles, the Ring has its own championship belt in a given weight class where The Ring champion holds a linear reign to the throne, the man who beat the man
27.
Henry Armstrong
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Henry Jackson Jr. was an American professional boxer and a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong. Armstrong was one of the few fighters to win in three or more different divisions, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight and he defended his welterweight title a total of nineteen times. In 2007, The Ring ranked Armstrong as the second-greatest fighter of the last 80 years, Bert Sugar also ranked Armstrong as the second-greatest fighter of all time. Armstrong was born December 12,1912, in Columbus, Mississippi but moved with his family to St. Louis, Missouri, during his childhood, where he became involved in boxing. He was the son of Henry Jackson Sr. a sharecropper of African American, Irish and Native American descent, Armstrong graduated from Vashon High School in St. Louis and was later inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame. Armstrongs two nicknames were Hurricane Henry and Homicide Hank, Armstrong began his professional career on July 28,1931, in a fight with Al Iovino, in which Armstrong was knocked out in three rounds. His first win came later year, beating Sammy Burns by a decision in six. In 1932, Armstrong moved to Los Angeles, where he lost two decisions in a row to Eddie Trujillo and Al Greenfield. Following these two losses, however, he started a streak of 11 wins, in 1936, Armstrong split his time among Los Angeles, Mexico City and St. Louis. A few notable opponents of that year include Ritchie Fontaine, Arizmendi, former world champion Juan Zurita, early in his career, he fought some fights under the nickname Melody Jackson. In 1937 Armstrong won 22 bouts in a row,21 by knockout and he beat Casanova in three rounds, Belloise in four, Joe Rivers in three, former world champion Frankie Klick in four and former world champion Benny Bass in four. Armstrong was then given his first world title fight, for the title in the 126 pound weight class against World Featherweight Champion Petey Sarron at Madison Square Garden. Armstrong knocked Sarron out in six rounds, becoming the World Featherweight Champion, and closed the year four more knockout wins. In 1938, Armstrong started with seven more knockouts in a row, the streak finally ended when Arizmendi lasted ten rounds before losing a decision to Armstrong in their fourth fight. Armstrongs streak of 27 knockout wins in a row qualifies as one of the longest knockout win streaks in the history of boxing, according to The Ring magazine, in his next bout, he knocked out Eddie Zivic, Fritzie Zivics brother. Armstrong, at 133½ pounds, beat Ross,142 pounds, by unanimous decision and he then lost weight and beat World Lightweight Champion Lou Ambers by split decision, becoming the first boxer ever to hold world championships in three different weight divisions at the same time. He decided not to make the 126 pound weight anymore and left the featherweight crown vacant. After that, he concentrated again on defending the world Welterweight title, and made eight defenses in a row
28.
Sugar Ray Robinson
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Sugar Ray Robinson was an American professional boxer. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990, Robinson was 85–0 as an amateur with 69 of those victories coming by way of knockout,40 in the first round. He turned professional in 1940 at the age of 19 and by 1951 had a record of 128–1–2 with 84 knockouts. From 1943 to 1951 Robinson went on a 91 fight unbeaten streak, Robinson held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951, and won the world middleweight title in the latter year. He retired in 1952, only to back two and a half years later and regain the middleweight title in 1955. He then became the first boxer in history to win a world championship five times. Robinson was named fighter of the year twice, first for his performances in 1942, then nine years and over 90 fights later, renowned for his flamboyant lifestyle outside the ring, Robinson is credited with being the originator of the modern sports entourage. After his boxing career ended, Robinson attempted a career as an entertainer and he struggled financially until his death in 1989. In 2006, he was featured on a stamp by the United States Postal Service. Robinson was born Walker Smith Jr. in Ailey, Georgia, to Walker Smith Sr. Robinson was the youngest of three children, his older sister Marie was born in 1917 and his older sister Evelyn was born in 1919. His father was a cotton, peanut, and corn farmer in Georgia, according to Robinson, Smith Sr. later worked two jobs to support his family—cement mixer and sewer worker. He had to get up at six in the morning and hed get home close to midnight, the only day I really saw him was Sunday. I always wanted to be with him more. His parents separated and he moved with his mother to the New York City neighborhood of Harlem at the age of twelve, Robinson originally aspired to be a doctor, but after dropping out of De Witt Clinton High school in ninth grade he switched his goal to boxing. When he was 15, he attempted to enter his first boxing tournament but was told he needed to first obtain an AAU membership card, however, he could not procure one until he was eighteen years old. He received his name when he circumvented the AAUs age restriction by borrowing a birth certificate from his friend Ray Robinson. Subsequently told that he was sweet as sugar by a lady in the audience at a fight in Watertown, New York, Smith Jr. became known as Sugar Ray Robinson. Robinson idolized Henry Armstrong and Joe Louis as a youth, and actually lived on the block as Louis in Detroit when Robinson was 11. Outside the ring, Robinson got into trouble frequently as a youth, the couple had one son, Ronnie, and divorced when Robinson was 19
29.
Jake LaMotta
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Giacobbe Jake LaMotta is an American retired professional boxer, former World Middleweight Champion, and stand-up comedian. Nicknamed The Bronx Bull and The Raging Bull, LaMotta was a rough fighter, with use of constant stalking, brawling and inside fighting, he developed the reputation for being a bully, and is often referred to today as a swarmer and a slugger. LaMotta, who has lived a turbulent life in and out of the ring, was portrayed by Robert De Niro in the 1980 film Raging Bull and his brother Joey LaMotta was his manager. LaMotta was born to Italian parents in the Bronx, New York City in 1921 and he was forced by his father into fighting other children to entertain neighborhood adults, who threw pocket change into the ring. LaMottas father collected the money and used it to pay the rent. His cousin was inventor Richard LaMotta, in 1941, at the age of 19, LaMotta turned professional. During World War II, he was rejected for service because of a mastoid operation on one of his ears. LaMotta went 14–0–1 as a middleweight in his first fifteen bouts before losing a controversial split decision to Jimmy Reeves in Reeves hometown of Cleveland. Chaos erupted after the decision was announced, fights broke out around the ring and the crowd continued to boo for 20 minutes. The arenas organist tried to calm down the crowd by playing the Star Spangled Banner, one month later, LaMotta and Reeves fought again in the same arena. Reeves won a much less controversial decision, a third match between the two took place on March 19,1943 in Detroit, Michigan. The first five rounds were close, though Reeves was struggling in the fourth, in the sixth round, LaMotta floored Reeves, who was only down for a second. Once the fight resumed, LaMotta landed a left on Reeves chin, Reeves was blinking his eyes and shaking his head as the referee counted him out. LaMotta fought Sugar Ray Robinson in Robinsons middleweight debut at Madison Square Garden, New York, LaMotta knocked Robinson down in the first round of the fight. Robinson got up and took control over much of the fight, a 10 round rematch took place February 5,1943, at Olympia Stadium in Detroit, Michigan. LaMotta landed a right to Robinsons head and a left to his body, Robinson was saved by the bell at the count of nine. LaMotta, who was leading on the scorecards before knocking Robinson out of the ring. Robinson had trouble keeping LaMotta at bay, LaMotta won via unanimous decision, giving Robinson the first defeat of his career
30.
Gene Fullmer
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Lawrence Gene Fullmer was an American middleweight boxer and world champion. Fullmer began his career in 1951 and won his first 29 fights,19 by knockout. His manager during many years of his career was his mentor, Marv Jenson, Fullmer won the world middleweight championship on January 2,1957, when he upset the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson by soundly winning a unanimous 15-round decision. On May 1,1957 they fought a rematch, the fight began as expected, with Fullmer using his strength and awkwardness to bull into Robinson and really force him onto his heels. In the fifth round Robinson, while backing up, lashed out with what has called the perfect left hook. It caught Fullmer flush on the chin and knocked him out, in 1959, the National Boxing Association withdrew its recognition of Robinson as middleweight champion. Fullmer and fellow former middleweight champion Carmen Basilio fought for the vacant NBA title on August 28,1959, meanwhile, Robinson was to lose his version of the middleweight championship to Paul Pender. Fullmer and Pender never met to settle their claims to the middleweight title, meanwhile, Fullmer fought and turned back the challenges of many top contenders, such as Basilio, Spider Webb, Florentino Fernández, and welterweight champion Benny Kid Paret. He narrowly escaped being dethroned when he was held to 15-round draws by Robinson, the draw against Robinson was widely criticised by almost every ringside observer, who had Robinson winning 11-4 or 10-5 in rounds. In their final meeting, a bout in 1961, Fullmer beat Robinson by unanimous decision. Fullmer finally lost the title to Dick Tiger on October 23,1962 in a unanimous decision. They fought a rematch on February 23,1963, which resulted in a draw, fullmers attempts to regain the middleweight crown finally ended when he was TKOed in seven rounds by Tiger on August 10,1963. Fullmers final record included 55 wins,6 losses, and 3 draws, Fullmer had two younger brothers who boxed, Don Fullmer, who twice challenged for the World Middleweight Title, and Jay Fullmer, who boxed as a lightweight. Fullmer was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and it was also frequently mentioned that he was a father and that he paid tithing on his boxing winnings. Fullmer appeared in a role in the 1968 film The Devils Brigade as a Montana bartender. Fullmer is featured on the cover of the album Greatest Hits by Alice in Chains, on January 21,1962, Fullmer appeared on Whats My Line. But not as a mystery guest and his line was that he was a mink rancher. His fight with Dick Tiger appears prominently in the video for the Iggy Pop song American Valhalla
31.
Carmen Basilio
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Basilio began his professional boxing career by meeting Jimmy Evans on 24 November 1948 in Binghamton, New York. He knocked Evans out in the round, and five days later. By the end of 1948, he had completed four bouts and he started 1949 with two draws, against Johnny Cunningham on January 5, and against Jay Perlin 20 days later. Basilio campaigned exclusively inside the state of New York during his first 24 bouts and his first loss was at the hands of Connie Thies, who beat him in a six-round decision on 2 May 1949. He fought Cunningham three more times during that period, Basilio won by knockout in two rounds on their second meeting, Cunningham won by a decision in eight in their third fight and Basilio won by a decision in eight rounds in their fourth. In the middle of that 24 bout span,1950 rolled over, for fight number 25, Basilio decided that it was time to campaign out West so he went to New Orleans, where he boxed his next six fights. In his first bout there, he met Gaby Farland, who held him to a draw and he and Farland had a rematch, Basilio winning by a knockout in the first round. He also boxed Guillermo Giminez there twice, first beating him by knockout in eight, in his last fight before returning home, he lost by a decision in 10 to Eddie Giosa. For his next seven bouts, Basilio only went 3-3-1, and he beat Jimmy Cousins among others that year, but he lost to Chuck Davey and Billy Graham. The draw he registered that year was against Davey in the first of the two meetings that year, things began to change for the better for the fighter in 1953. Basilio started winning big fights and soon found his name climbing up the Welterweight divisions rankings, soon, he found himself in his first world title fight, against Cubas Kid Gavilan for Gavilans world welterweight championship. Basilio lost a 15-round decision to Gavilan and went for a meeting with Cunningham. Then, he and French fighter Pierre Langois began another rivalry, in 1954, Basilio went undefeated in eight bouts, going 7-0-1 with 2 knockouts, and defeating Langois in their rematch by decision. 1955 arrived and Basilio began by beating Peter Müller by decision, after that, Basilio was once again the number one challenger, and on June 10 of that year, he received his second world title try, against world Welterweight champion Tony DeMarco. In what has become a fight of classic sports channels such as ESPN. Basilio had two bouts, including a ten-round decision win over Gil Turner, before he and DeMarco met again. Their second fight had exactly the result as their first bout. For his next fight, in 1956, Basilio lost the title in Chicago to Johnny Saxton by a decision in 15 and it has often been said that the reason that Saxton got the nod was because of his ties with the underworld
32.
Ezzard Charles
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Ezzard Mack Charles was an American professional boxer and former World Heavyweight Champion. Charles defeated numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes and he retired with a record of 93 wins,25 losses and 1 draw. He was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, but is thought of as a Cincinnatian. Charles graduated from Woodward High School in Cincinnati where he was becoming a well-known fighter. Known as The Cincinnati Cobra, Charles fought many notable opponents in both the heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, eventually winning the World Championship in the latter. Although he never won the Light Heavyweight title, The Ring has rated him as the greatest light heavyweight of all time, Charles started his career as a featherweight in the amateurs, where he had a record of 42–0. In 1938, he won the Diamond Belt Middleweight Championship and he followed this up in 1939 by winning the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament of champions. He won the national AAU Middleweight Championship in 1939 and he turned pro in 1940, knocking out Melody Johnson in the 4th round. Charles won all of his first 15 fights before being defeated by veteran Ken Overlin, victories over future Hall of Famers Teddy Yarosz and the much avoided Charley Burley had started to solidify Charles as a top contender in the middleweight division. However, he served in the U. S. military during World War II and was unable to fight professionally in 1945, shortly after his knock-out of Moore in their third and final meeting, tragedy struck. Charles fought a young contender named Sam Baroudi, knocking him out in Round 10, Baroudi died of the injuries he sustained in this bout. Charles was so devastated he almost gave up fighting, Charles was unable to secure a title shot at light heavyweight and moved up to heavyweight. After knocking out Joe Baksi and Johnny Haynes, Charles won the vacant National Boxing Association Heavyweight title when he outpointed Jersey Joe Walcott over 15 rounds on June 22,1949. The following year, he outpointed his idol and former World Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis to become the recognized Lineal Champion, successful defenses against Walcott, Lee Oma and Joey Maxim would follow. In 1951, Charles fought Walcott a third time and lost the title by knockout in the seventh round, Charles lost a controversial decision in their fourth and final bout. If Charles had won this fight, he would have become the first man in history to regain the heavyweight championship and his two stirring battles with Marciano are regarded as ring classics. In the first bout, held in June 1954, he valiantly took Marciano the distance, Charles is the only man ever to last the full 15-round distance against Marciano. A number of fans and boxing writers felt that Charles deserved the decision, in their September rematch, Charles landed a severe blow that literally split Marcianos nose in half
33.
Jersey Joe Walcott
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Arnold Raymond Cream, best known as Jersey Joe Walcott, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1930 to 1953. He held the heavyweight title from 1951 to 1952, and broke the record for the oldest man to win the title. That record would eventually be broken in 1994 by 45-year-old George Foreman, after retiring from boxing, Walcott did some acting, playing small parts in a few movies and television shows. He also refereed several boxing matches, but after the ending to the second fight between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston, Walcott was not asked to referee again. From 1971 to 1974, Walcott held the position of Camden County, New Jersey, sheriff. From 1975 to 1984, he was the chairman of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission, Walcott was born in Pennsauken, New Jersey. His father was an immigrant from St. Thomas, Danish West Indies and his mother was from Jordantown, New Jersey. Walcott was only 15 years old when his father died and he quit school and worked in a soup factory to support his mother and 11 younger brothers and sisters. He also began training as a boxer and he took the name of his boxing idol, Joe Walcott, a welterweight champion from Barbados. He added Jersey to distinguish himself and show where he was from and he debuted as a professional boxer on September 9,1930, fighting Cowboy Wallace and winning by a knockout in round one. After five straight wins, in 1933, he lost for the first time. He built a record of 45 wins,11 losses and 1 draw before challenging for the title for the first time. Walcott lost early bouts against world-class competition and he lost a pair of fights to Tiger Jack Fox and was knocked out by contender Abe Simon. But that would change in 1945 when Walcott beat top heavyweights such as Joe Baksi, murray, Curtis Sheppard and Jimmy Bivins. He closed out 1946 with a pair of losses to former heavyweight champ Joey Maxim and heavyweight contender Elmer Ray. On December 5,1947, he fought Joe Louis, at thirty three years of age breaking the record as the oldest man to fight for the heavyweight title. Despite dropping Louis in round one, and again in round four, most ringside observers and boxing writers felt Walcott deserved the win, a debate ensued, and sportswriters carried the topic throughout America. The lone official to vote for Walcott, referee Ruby Goldstein, was cast as a hero, letters and telegrams poured in to the Goldstein household, praising his judgment
34.
Rocky Marciano
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Rocco Francis Marchegiano, best known as Rocky Marciano, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1947 to 1955, and held the world heavyweight title from 1952 to 1956. He went undefeated in his career and defended the six times, against Jersey Joe Walcott, Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles, Don Cockell. Known for his relentless fighting style, stamina, and an iron chin and his knockout-to-win percentage of 87.75 remains one of the highest in heavyweight boxing history. Marciano was born and raised on the side of Brockton, Massachusetts, to Pierino Marchegiano. Both of his parents were immigrants from Italy and his father was from Ripa Teatina, Abruzzo, while his mother was from San Bartolomeo in Galdo, Campania. Rocky had two brothers, Peter and Louis and three sisters, Alice, Concetta, and Elizabeth, when he was about 18 months old, Marciano contracted pneumonia, from which he almost died. He attended Brockton High School, where he played baseball and football. However, he was cut from the baseball team because he had joined a church league. He dropped out of school after finishing tenth grade, Marciano then worked as a chute man on delivery trucks for the Brockton Ice and Coal Company. He also worked as a digger, railroad layer. Rocky was also a resident of Hanson, Massachusetts, the house he lived in still stands on Main Street, in March 1943, Marciano was drafted into the United States Army for a term of two years. Stationed in Swansea, Wales, he helped ferry supplies across the English Channel to Normandy, after the war ended, he completed his service in March 1946 at Fort Lewis, Washington. While awaiting discharge, Marciano, representing the army, won the 1946 Amateur Armed Forces boxing tournament and his amateur career was briefly interrupted on March 17,1947, when Marciano stepped into the ring as a professional competitor. That night, he knocked out Lee Epperson in three rounds, in an unusual move Marciano returned to the amateur ranks and fought in the Golden Gloves All-East Championship Tournament in March 1948. He was beaten by Coley Wallace and he continued to fight as an amateur throughout the spring and competed in the AAU Olympic tryouts in the Boston Garden. There, he knocked out George McInnis, but hurt his hands during the bout and was forced to withdraw from the tournament and that was his last amateur bout. In late March,1947, Marciano and several friends traveled to Fayetteville, North Carolina, to try out for the Fayetteville Cubs, Marciano lasted three weeks before being cut. After failing to find a spot on team, he returned to Brockton
35.
Archie Moore
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Archie Moore was an American professional boxer and the longest reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion of all time. He had one of the longest professional careers in the history of the sport, nicknamed The Mongoose, and then The Old Mongoose in the latter half of his career, Moore holds the record for the most career knockouts in boxing history. Moore was a highly strategical and defensive boxer, with a chin and bludgeoning power. Moore is rated by prominent boxing website BoxRec as the 3rd greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all-time, Moore was also a trainer for a short time after retirement. He trained boxers such as Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and James Tillis, a native of Benoit, Mississippi, Moore was raised in St. Louis, Missouri. A victim of racism for much of his career, Moore was an important figure in the American black community and he also established himself as a successful character actor in television and film. Moore died in his home of San Diego, California. Born Archibald Lee Wright, the son of Thomas Wright, a laborer and drifter. He always insisted that he was born in 1916 in Collinsville, Illinois and his father abandoned the family when Archie was an infant. Unable to provide for him and his sister, his mother gave them into the care of an uncle and aunt, Cleveland and Willie Pearl Moore. Archie later explained why he was given their surname, It was less questions to be called Moore and he attended all-black schools in St. Louis, including Lincoln High School, although he never graduated. His uncle and aunt provided him with a stable upbringing, but after his uncle died in an accident around 1928. One of his first thefts was a pair of oil lamps from his home and he later recalled of his stealing, It was inevitable that I would be caught. I think I knew this even before I started, but somehow the urge to have a few cents in my pocket made me overlook this eventuality. After he was arrested for attempting to change from a motormans box on a streetcar, he was sentenced to a three-year term at a reform school in Booneville. He was released early from the school for good behavior after serving twenty-two months, around 1933 Moore joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, working for the forestry division at a camp in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Having determined to become a boxer, he decided to make his work at the camp a form of training, the captain of the camp permitted him to organize a boxing team, which competed in Golden Gloves tournaments in southern Missouri and Illinois. He was furious at me and told me to keep my punches up, since I had been hitting Bill in the head I would have missed him altogether if I threw my punches any higher
36.
Muhammad Ali
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Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer and activist. He is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated figures of the 20th century. From early in his career, Ali was known as an inspiring, controversial, Cassius Clay was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and began training as an amateur boxer when he was 12 years old. At age 18, he won a medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. At age 22 in 1964, he won the WBA, WBC, Clay then converted to Islam and changed his name from Cassius Clay, which he called his slave name, to Muhammad Ali. He set an example of pride for African Americans and resistance to white domination during the Civil Rights Movement. He was eventually arrested, found guilty of draft evasion charges, Alis actions as a conscientious objector to the war made him an icon for the larger counterculture generation. Ali is regarded as one of the leading heavyweight boxers of the 20th century and he remains the only three-time lineal heavyweight champion, having won the title in 1964,1974, and 1978. Between February 25 and September 19,1964, Ali reigned as the heavyweight champion. He is the boxer to be named The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year six times. Nicknamed The Greatest, he was involved in historic boxing matches. Notable among these were the first Liston fight, the Fight of the Century, Super Fight II, the Thrilla in Manila versus his rival Joe Frazier, and The Rumble in the Jungle versus George Foreman. At a time when most fighters let their managers do the talking, Ali thrived in and indeed craved the spotlight, as a musician, Ali recorded two spoken word albums and a rhythm and blues song, and received two Grammy Award nominations. As an actor, he performed in films and a Broadway musical. Additionally, Ali wrote two autobiographies, one during and one after his boxing career, as a Muslim, Ali was initially affiliated with Elijah Muhammads Nation of Islam and advocated their black separatist ideology. He later disavowed the NOI, adhering initially to Sunni Islam and later to Sufism, after retiring from boxing in 1981, Ali devoted his life to religious and charitable work. In 1984, Ali was diagnosed with Parkinsons syndrome, which his doctors attributed to boxing-related brain injuries, as the condition worsened, Ali made limited public appearances and was cared for by his family until his death on June 3,2016, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born on January 17,1942, in Louisville and he had a sister and four brothers
37.
Sonny Liston
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Charles L. Sonny Liston was an American professional boxer who competed from 1953 to 1970. Liston was particularly known for his toughness, formidable punching power, although widely regarded as unbeatable, he lost the title in 1964 to Muhammad Ali, who entered as a 7–1 underdog. Controversy followed with claims that Liston had been drinking heavily the night before the fight, in their 1965 rematch, Liston suffered a shocking first-round knockout which led to unresolved suspicions of a fix. He was still a world-ranked boxer when he died under mysterious circumstances, underworld connections—along with his unrecorded date of birth—added to the enigma. The Ring magazine has ranked Liston as the seventh greatest heavyweight of all time, Charles Sonny Liston was born into a sharecropping family who farmed the poor land of Morledge Plantation near Johnson Township, St. Francis County, Arkansas. His father, Tobe Liston, was in his mid-40s when he and his wife, Helen Baskin, Helen had one child before she married Tobe, and Tobe had 13 children with his first wife. Tobe and Helen had 12 children together, Sonny was the second youngest child. There is no record of Listons birth and his familys home state of Arkansas did not make birth certificates mandatory until 1965. His family, but not Sonny Liston, can be found in the 1930 census and it has been suggested Liston may not have known what year he was born, as he was not precise on the matter. He finally settled on a date of birth of May 8,1932 for official purposes, one writer concluded that Listons most likely date of birth was July 22,1930, citing census records and statements from his mother during her lifetime. Tobe Liston inflicted whippings so severe on Sonny that the scars were still visible decades later, the only thing my old man ever gave me was a beating, Liston said. Helen Baskin moved to St. Louis, Missouri, with some of her children, leaving Liston—aged around 13, Sonny thrashed the pecans from his brother-in-laws tree and sold them in Forrest City. With the proceeds, he traveled to St. Louis and reunited with his mother, Liston tried going to school but quickly left after jeers about his illiteracy, the only employment he could obtain was sporadic and exploitative. Liston turned to crime and led a gang of toughs who committed muggings and he became known to the St. Louis police as the Yellow Shirt Bandit, due to the shirt he wore during robberies. Liston was caught in January 1950 and he gave his age as 20, while the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported that he was 22. Liston was convicted and sentenced to five years in Missouri State Penitentiary and his time in prison started on June 1,1950. Liston never complained about prison, saying he was guaranteed three meals every day, stevens organized a sparring session with a professional heavyweight named Thurman Wilson to showcase Listons potential. After two rounds, Wilson had taken enough, better get me out of this ring, he is going to kill me
38.
Floyd Patterson
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Floyd Patterson was an American professional boxer who competed from 1952 to 1972, and twice reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1956 to 1962. At the age of 21, he became the youngest boxer in history to win the title, as an amateur he won a gold medal in the middleweight division at the 1952 Summer Olympics. Although Mike Tyson later became the youngest boxer to win a heavyweight title at the age of 20. Both Tyson and Patterson were trained by Cus DAmato, born into a poor family in Waco, North Carolina, Patterson was the youngest of eleven children and experienced an insular and troubled childhood. His family moved to Brooklyn, New York, where Floyd was a truant, at age ten, he was sent to the Wiltwyck School for Boys, a reform school in upstate New York, which he credited with turning his life around. He stayed there for almost 2 years and he attended high school in New Paltz, New York where he succeeded in all sports. At age fourteen, he started to box, trained by Cus DAmato at his Gramercy Gym, aged just 17, Patterson won the Gold medal in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics as a middleweight. Defeated Omar Tebakka 3–0 Defeated Leonardus Jansen TKO1 Defeated Stig Sjölin DQ3 Defeated Vasile Tiţă KO1 Pattersons amateur record over 44 fights was 40–4, Patterson carried his hands higher than most boxers, in front of his face. Sportswriters called Pattersons style a peek-a-boo stance, most people think Patterson did enough to win, and Maxims greater fame at the time helped to sway the judges. Although Patterson fought around the light heavyweight limit for much of his career, he. In fact, DAmato made these plans clear as early as 1954, however, after Rocky Marciano announced his retirement as World Heavyweight Champion on April 27,1956, Patterson was ranked by The Ring magazine as the top light heavyweight contender. The Ring then moved Patterson into the rankings, at number five. After beating Tommy Hurricane Jackson in a fight, Patterson faced former Light Heavyweight Champion Archie Moore on November 30,1956. He beat Moore by a knockout in five rounds and became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in history and he was the first Olympic gold medalist to win a professional heavyweight title. After a series of defenses against fringe contenders, Patterson met Ingemar Johansson of Sweden, Johansson triumphed over Patterson on June 26,1959, with the referee Ruby Goldstein stopping the fight in the third round after the Swede had knocked Patterson down seven times. Johansson became Swedens first World Heavyweight Champion, thus becoming a hero as the first European to defeat an American for the title since 1933. Patterson knocked out Johansson in the round of their rematch on June 20,1960. Johansson hit the canvas hard, seemingly out before he landed flat on his back, with glazed eyes, blood trickling from his mouth and his left foot quivering, he was counted out
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