Irongloves Boxing Blog » Boxing Nostalgia

Boxing History: Johnson vs. Jeffries

Irongloves Boxing — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:00:39 +0000

Although many current analysts say that Johnson’s basic boxing stance transformed boxing, at the time, he was criticized for being devious and cowardly. He was more patient than many of his fellow boxers, starting a bout slowly at first. Each round, he would build up into a more aggressive fighter while waiting for his opponent to make a mistake. When he saw his chance, he would swiftly use that mistake to his full advantage. You can see him using this technique in this old film.
The fight between Jack Johnson and James Jeffries was held on July 4, 1910 in an outdoor ring in Reno, Nevada. Over 20,000 people watched what was then called the “Fight of the Century”. Johnson had won in 1908 and this caused so much racial tension that some white people called for a “Great White Hope” to take the title away from Johnson. Jeffries had retired but decided to make a comeback saying, “”I feel obligated to the sporting public at least to make an effort to reclaim the heavyweight championship for the white race. . . . I should step into the ring again and demonstrate that a white man is king of them all.”
Johnson fought racism both in and out of the arena. Some of his biggest battles occurred far away from a boxing ring, when he took a stand against the prejudice and bigotry of his time.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Boxing History: Dempsey vs Willard

Irongloves Boxing — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:45:48 +0000

This video doesn’t need a detailed description. It is a great example of Dempsey’s relentlessness. It shows why Dempsey has continued to be one of the most popular boxers in history. Keep in mind that “that rules at the time permitted standing almost over a knocked-down opponent and hitting him again as soon as both knees had left the canvas.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Will Boxing struggle Pacman retires?

Irongloves Boxing — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:29:14 +0000

Source: Bleacher Report/Trae Thompson

Manny Pacquiao definitely isn’t showing any signs of a letdown.

Boxing’s pound-for-pound champ looked strong in both of his wins over Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito last year. Pacquiao will return to the ring on May 7 when he faces Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The fight has drawn heavy criticism, even from Pacquiao fans who were hoping to see a third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Of course, most boxing fans still want a megafight with Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., but at this point there are thoughts about whether the fight will ever happen and whether Mayweather is simply ducking him.

Beating Mosley and fighting Mayweather seem like the final things left in what’s already a tremendous legacy. Question is: What happens when Pacquiao retires? Will boxing persevere after he’s gone, or will it be in trouble?

Let’s discuss. Here are a few thoughts it will struggle, and some say it will be just fine. It will most likely have peaks and valleys. It’s realistic to expect a downturn of sorts when you lose a superstar. It’s what happened when Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard both retired for good, but the key is to make sure there are other high profile fights being made and other fighters who are emerging and putting themselves in line for title shots.

It will be Fine – Not the first time:
This won’t be something new for boxing to lose a superstar. The sport has continued to persist and even grow after greats like Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Mike Tyson have finished fighting. Fans always miss watching them, but at the same time, their absence also gives other fighters a chance to get the spotlight.

It will Struggle – Losing the likes of Pacquiao:
Sports fans can appreciate talented boxers, but they’re drawn in by brawlers and fighters. Pacquiao has been one of the best. He hasn’t been afraid to stand in and trade, and can also take punishment.

It will be Fine – The pond is still stocked:
Boxing certainly isn’t hurting in the talent department. There are still plenty of great fighters to watch like Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez and Andre Berto (pictured). The problem, of course, lies in the heavyweight division and lack of talented American heavyweights, with the Klitschko brothers really the only thing worth seeing.

It will be Fine – The glamour division:
Fact is that boxing will continue to be on life support as long as the heavyweight division remains so dreadful. There isn’t a true, viable, charismatic American heavyweight right now who can capture the public’s attention, and mainstream sports fans won’t waste their time watching hulkish heavyweights from Britain or Eastern Europe.

It will be Fine — Staying power:
Boxing, in a way, is the sports equivalent of termites or roaches: It’s been around forever, and isn’t leaving anytime soon. Boxing may not be what it once was on a national scale here in America, but it continues to expand its reach around the globe and attract more fighters from Latin America, eastern Europe and southeast Asia.

It will Struggle — Lack of marketing:
Even with Pacquiao still around, promoters are still struggling with how to grow the sport and market it and fighters to mainstream sports fans. There are more opportunities than ever now for the sport to extend its reach through social media, Internet radio and the continued emergence of more websites that are wanting to provide fans with more information and news about the sport.

It will be Fine — Pass the torch:
If there is someone who’s on the cusp of superstardom, it’s middleweight king Sergio Martinez. He’s got the looks and the talent to attract fans, and the middleweight division has always garnered respect among even mainstream sports fans for ages.

It will Sruggle — Who’s the Superstar?:
Boxing always thrives when it has a superstar, a face to the sport. Someone who will draw people in. Pacquiao has been drawing fans in, along with Floyd Mayweather Jr., but you can’t really say Floyd will keep carrying the sport, since his legal troubles haven’t been decided.

Martinez would be the most likely heir to this position, but time will tell if he can capture the public’s imagination like Pacquiao and Mayweather have.

It will be Fine — Keep it in context:
Pacquiao definitely is carrying the sport right now, but his name doesn’t carry the same weight in America—especially among mainstream fans—as that of Oscar De La Hoya, Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield. Pacquiao’s had great pay-per-view numbers, but those three consistently set records and were able to cross over and attract people who didn’t follow boxing to watch their fights.

CONCLUSION:
Boxing certainly will miss Pacquiao once he retires, but the sport’s growth and its problems don’t hinge on him alone. As long as promoters keep a business-as-usual mindset and don’t seek new avenues and means to market fighters and fights, then boxing will continue to remain a niche sport and become less and less relevant while UFC builds momentum and flourishes.

Joe Louis the skillful boxer

Irongloves Boxing — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:36:43 +0000

Here is some real old-time footage. For you boxing historians, you will enjoy watching Joe Louis at work.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Thanks to our Las Vegas friend Pete for the video.

RIP Ted Lowry, legend from the past

Irongloves Boxing — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 06:01:18 +0000

“Tiger” Ted Lowry passed away last Monday, June 14th at 90 years old.

Ted Lowry’s boxing career began in 1940, when he was 18-years-old, and ended in 1955. (He reportedly knocked out three opponents in one night.) He is the only fighter to twice last the ten-round distance with undefeated heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano. During World War II, which “interrupted” his boxing career, Lowry was a member of the all-Black 555th Parachute Battalion–which became known as the “Triple Nickles.”

Ted did not get the breaks he deserved during his lengthy career. The fact that he never fought in Madison Square Garden says it all. But he was never bitter. The only time he ever came close to an expression of anger was when he recalled an experience in the Army while assigned to a base in the Southwest that also housed German prisoners of war. The busses that ferried soldiers and prisoners around the base required black soldiers to sit in the back but allowed the German POWs to sit up front.

He had 144 pro fights, fought Marciano in 1949 & 1950. See stats at> BoxRec

Old Time Coaching from the past

Irongloves Boxing — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:01:43 +0000

Heavy Bag ~vs~ Heart Rate
One day a week the coach would meet with us to test and see if we were doing our roadwork. He would have us hit the heavy bag for 1 minute, then rest for 20-30 seconds, the he would check our heart rate. If our heart rate was high between 80-90% of the maximum heart rate zone and if it wasn’t going back down rapidly, this would tell him that we weren’t keeping up with our roadwork. Pretty interesting huh?

Former boxing champ Greg Page dies at 50

Irongloves Boxing — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:54:03 +0000

Click here to read the full story at>> fanhouse.com

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -Greg Page, a former heavyweight boxing champion who suffered a severe brain injury in a 2001 fight, has died at his Louisville home. His wife, Patricia Page, said she found the one-time World Boxing Association champion in his bed Monday morning. Patricia Page said he died of complications related to injuries he suffered in the fight.

“The Pink Cat”

Irongloves Boxing — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:55:03 +0000

Perry Scott Walker Professional Boxer, born October 30, 1969 in Mesa, lived in Apache Junction, Arizona.

Walker’s nickname was “The Pink Cat,” and he gained some attention in the 1990s boxing scene for wearing pink boxing trunks and slicked-back hair, the latter a tribute to his idol, James Dean. He is best known for winning a ten round decision over hall-of-fame champion Alexis Arguello, ending Arguello’s ill-conceived bid at a comeback in 1995. Walker fought another hall-of-famer Julio Cesar Chaves in 1996 in a nationally televised bought, losing in a second-round knockout. Walker infamously cried tears in the ring after the knockout, fueling rumors (started by the Pink Cat nickname and pink trunks) that he was gay. Later in his career, Walker won the WBC Continental Americas light welterweight title over Francisco Cuesta on July 17, 1995. He retired with a record of 25-7-1 (13 KO�s).

January 31, 2004 Walker was found dead (age 34) in his home of unspecified causes. He is a member of the Arizona Boxing Hall of Fame. Fight Record: BoxRec

Footnote: Personally I don’t think he was gay, he was just man enough to dare to wear pink. It is really bad what they say about people after they are dead and gone. A friend of ours from Las Vegas knew Walker, said the guy was a truly skilled boxer.

Ali – Experienced two blood clots in his legs

Irongloves Boxing — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:12:07 +0000

Near the beginning 1976, Ali would go on to fight journeymen fighters for example Jean Pierre Coopman and Richard Dunn (Ali’s final big success of his career), endearing effortlessly within the distance against both. In April 1976, an unfit and unhealthy Muhammad Ali out pointed the hard and sturdy, young brawler Jimmy Young, who went on to conquer George Foreman by verdict and made Ali appear dawdling and static.

Ali’s next competition after Dunn was a June 25th show against the Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki. Even though extensively supposed as a publicity stunt, the contest would have a extensive lasting damaging influence on Ali’s mobility. Inoki spent a lot of the brawl on the land just trying to injure and harm Ali’s legs, whereas Ali spent the majority of the fight evading the kicks or residing on the ropes. And at the end of fifteen rounds, the session was declared a draw. On the other hand, Ali’s legs were badly bleeding, even leading to infectivity. He suffered 2 blood clots in his legs.

The Fight of the Century — Frazier Vs. Ali

Irongloves Boxing — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:20:42 +0000

In 1970, Muhammad Ali was permitted to fight again. With the assist of a state senator, he was given a certificate to box in Georgia as at that time it was the single state in America with no boxing commission. In 14 October 1970, he bunged Jerry Quarry on a cut after three sturdy rounds. Soon after the Quarry fight, the New York State Supreme Court ruled that Muhammad Ali had been unfairly deprived of a boxing license. So, once again capable to fight in New York, he bravely fought Oscar Bonavena at Madison Square Garden in December 1970. And after a strong 14 rounds, Muhammad Ali stopped Bonavena in the 15th, paving the way for a title fight in opposition to Joe Frazier, who was himself undefeated at that time.

On March 8, 1971, Mr. Ali and J. Frazier met in the ring at Madison Square Garden. Undoubtedly, that fight, famous as ‘”The Fight of the Century,” was one of the most excitedly expected bouts of the entire time and remains one of the utmost renowned. It marked two experienced, unbeatable fighters, both of whom had rightful claims to the heavyweight crown. The fight lived up to the excitement, and then Frazier punctuated his victory by flooring Ali with a solid left hook in the 15th and last round. Frank Sinatra took photos of that historic match for Life magazine. Famous boxing anchor Don Dunphy and actor and boxing enthusiast Burt Lancaster called the momentous action for the broadcast, which ultimately reached millions of people.