Robert Duran – Under ...

By Jimmy Krug. Roberto Duran began his boxing career in 1968.  Twelve years later (before his 2nd fight with Sugar Ray Leonard), Duran’s record stood at 72-1 (55 KO’s).  The year was 1980.  The price of a first-class stamp was .15 cents.  Regular gasoline was about $1.25 a...

Questions and Answers w...

By John Christenson. The following was taken from a 1962 interview with 7th ranked Heavyweight contender, Cassius Clay.  The Olympic Gold Medalist was 13-0.  At 6’ 3”, the young Clay weighed under 200 pounds, a Cuiserweight by today’s standards.  Although not all of the questions...

Jack Johnson – The Or...

By Jimmy Krug. The life story of Jack Johnson has been discussed in dozens upon dozens of books, magazines, articles and debates over the last 100 years.  It’s hard to do justice in a single column to a man whose popularity transcended the sport as was the case with Jack Johnson. ...

Dramatic Fights of the ...

By Joe Torcello.  (Part 2 of 4) 1930 – 1939 Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling June 22, 1938 Max Schmeling had been the first fighter to defeat Joe Louis in 1936. Schmeling broke down an overconfident Louis and eventually knocked him out in the 12th.  Although Louis had gone on to win...

Dramatic Fights of the ...

By Joe Torcello.  (Part 1 of 4) Decade of: 1900 – 1909 Tommy Burns vs. Jack Johnson December 26, 1908 It has been said that Tommy Burns was chased by Jack Johnson across the world in an effort to secure a title fight.  Years later, however, it was revealed that Burns intentionally...

Gene Tunney – Odd...

By Jim Galiano. In a time when America’s Boxing hero’s were hard drinking, hard living, warriors of the ring, Gene Tunney was definitely cut from a different mold.  He suffered the same misfortune as Larry Holmes would suffer many years later.  He followed in the footsteps of...

Lennox Lewis: Assessin...

By Jimmy Krug. Perhaps no other champion in recent history has been evaluated so many times and from as many different angles as Lennox Lewis has.  On paper Lewis was one of the most physically imposing champions in the history of the division, standing 6’ 5” with an 84” reach. ...

Max Baer – A Champion...

By Jim Galiano. Some called him a “Killer.”  But for Max Baer, fighting was just a job that paid the bills.  He once said, “Some guys string electrical wire for a living.  I punch people with my fists.”  That’s how he looked at it.  It was nothing personal.  Baer possessed...

The Forgotten Trainer o...

By Harry Wiley. My dad was Harry Wiley the trainer of Sugar Ray Robinson . He was born October 23, 1907 in New York City. After graduating from Dwitt Clinton in Manhattan he decided to have a go at boxing. He started well and won his first seven fights, then “disaster”...

The Greatest Light Heav...

By Jimmy Krug. On April 22, 1903, Jack Root defeated Kid McCoy (W10) in Detroit, Michigan for the newly created, Light Heavyweight title.  This past April, the Light Heavyweight division quietly celebrated its 106th birthday.  And while there was no fanfare, no parades, and probably...