Bill Richmond: ‘The pugilistic pioneer’

Luke G. Williams
08/07/2015 11:36am

Over 200 years ago, a former slave from America electrified the English prize ring and became one of the leading celebrities in Georgian England. Luke G. Williams traces the incredible life and times of Bill Richmond.

In most studies of 'black history', two boxers usually feature above all others: Jack Johnson and Muhammad Ali, great men who, through their forceful personalities and moral courage succeeded in obliging the world to re-evaluate its prejudices and preconceptions. Yet Johnson and Ali were far from the only black boxers of historical note in the 20th century - Joe Louis, by defeating Max Schmeling, struck a symbolic blow against fascism, while it is often forgotten that the first black world champion was the featherweight, George Dixon.

The curse of the junior and super divisions

Michael Montero & Tiffany Lam
08/07/2015 12:30am

Michael Montero discusses the history behind boxing’s divisions, starting with the five original weight classes in the 1800s all the way to the 17 divisions in the current system. He argues that the 'junior' and 'super' divisions not only add more paper titles, but they weaken the talent pool in the classic eight weight classes.

Jason Quigley: The Golden Boy of Donegal

Declan Taylor
07/07/2015 11:25am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whPb32XjbzE

If you’ve never been to Donegal you really should go. Situated on the northern tip of Ireland, it is a place known for its areas of outstanding natural beauty, where miles of low peaks inland give way to yet more miles of labyrinthine coastline. It is also where Shay Given comes from. Donegal's tourist brochures claim: 'Up here, it's different' and that might explain Jason Quigley's response when asked what he misses most about home, having swapped Ulster's largest county for Los Angeles almost 12 months ago. “Hailstones,” he says, without too much hesitation. Donegal's 'Golden Boy' is certainly different.

Remembering Gene Fullmer

Graham Houston
06/07/2015 11:15am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX62G2aaxuc

To say there was nothing fancy about Gene Fullmer is a bit of an understatement. Fullmer was a rough-hewn battler, a mauler and a brawler. He was also very tough, very well conditioned and extremely difficult to discourage. Fullmer, who died on 27 April at the age of 83, must have been doing something right, because he twice won the middleweight championship and made seven successful defences in his second tenure. He also twice defeated Sugar Ray Robinson and drew with him once in a four-fight series.

LA Fight Club highlights

Michael Montero & Tiffany Lam
04/07/2015 11:42am

Highlights from Thursday night's "LA Fight Club" show from Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. This month's offering featured bouts with Diego De La Hoya, Gilberto Gonzalez and Oscar Negrete. The card aired on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes live from downtown Los Angeles.

'The Blade' is still gleaming

Mark Butcher
03/07/2015 10:13am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GBbLUkQn2s

Neither homelessness nor hospitalisation has been able to blunt ‘The Blade’. Iran Barkley has overcome these trying times with the same inner steel and trademark toughness that saw him blow away Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns in three rounds in June 1988. Despite many a travail, ‘The Blade’ is still gleaming. Back in 2010, after a run of bad luck, Barkley lived on the subway for three months, but now has an apartment in his native Bronx. A few blades have been spotted on the New York subway over the years, but nothing like this one. “I was in the subway for a few months. It was crazy, but it was something I had to go through,” said Barkley. “But God made it better for me, someway and somehow. He had some friends who came for me and put me in the shelter and now I have got my own place and I’m cool.”

Quigg masters university of the gym

Terry Dooley
02/07/2015 10:55am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4ZAMkmzcFs

Bury’s Scott Quigg lives and breathes the 'Hard work, dedication' mantra that has become an oft-quoted phrase in modern-day boxing. Indeed, this mindset has not just brought him to the top of his chosen profession, it also led the WBA super-bantamweight titlist into the sport after it became clear that school wasn’t working out for him. “The final straw was when I thought: ‘Right, I’ll give this a go’ and worked hard,” said Quigg (30-0-2, 22 early), when telling Boxing Monthly why he left school at the tender age of 13. It was Mock Exam time and my favourite subject was maths. I did all my homework and concentrated then did the test. I thought: ‘I’ve got it here, I’ve done well’ then got the test sheet back, red crosses on every question."

Bradley-Vargas revisited

Michael Montero & Tiffany Lam
30/06/2015 6:25pm

Highlights and reflections on the dramatic Bradley-Vargas card from the StubHub Center in Carson, California, which headlined the 1,000th fight celebration of HBO Championship Boxing. Michael Montero provides analysis on Timothy Bradley's exciting victory over Jessie Vargas including CompuBox punch stats and the controversial ending to the fight from referee Pat Russell. Montero also discusses the special media day event he participated in with the California State Athletic Commission.

 

Latest World and British Ratings (July 2015)

Colin Harris
30/06/2015 10:50am

Boxing Monthly’s World and British rankings for July 2015 are explained by Colin Harris, our in-house ratings statistician. Trainer, fighter, manager and promoter queries are welcome.

Mosley: ‘Mayweather would have trouble in another era’

Kelsey McCarson
29/06/2015 10:30am

Shane Mosley, winner of world titles in three different weight divisions and arguably one of the best lightweights in boxing history, isn’t sure today’s premier boxer, Floyd Mayweather, would be quite so successful competing during another era. “Floyd is a phenomenal fighter. He’s sharp and he works hard and does what he’s supposed to do to win fights,” said Mosley. “But you put him in a different era where you have some hungry guys and I think he has some trouble. Like I said, the amateur program messed up these up-and-coming fighters where they’re not fighting the same. Floyd got the scoring from his father and his uncle and stuff like that where he learned that style. It’s going to be hard to beat him. You can’t beat him at that.”

The Russell and Doggett show

Mark Butcher
28/06/2015 1:24pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQDGeYu0ljc

Boxing has a tendency to touch the surreal and provide moments where we rub our eyes and wonder ‘did that really happen’? This was again in evidence on a strange weekend of refereeing gaffes on either side of the world which unfortunately overshadowed events in the ring. In Carson, California, Pat Russell incomprehensibly stopped a fight seven seconds early and appeared to hand Jessie Vargas a dramatic, last gasp win over a hurt but recovered Timothy Bradley while, in Bangkok, Larry Doggett allowed Amnat Ruenroeng to bodyslam, chokehold, grapple and even mount a bemused John Riel Casimero.