RINGSIDE
arena was packed with a record turnout (21,324). NYC fans gathered to support Brooklyn’s Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington and to appreciate the skills on display by the modern equivalent to “Sweet Pea” in the main event. Their loyalty to their own and to the sport was rewarded with the privilege of witnessing Carrington win his first world title in sensational fashion and Stevenson’s coronation as America’s premier boxer. The boxers’ performances made the night special, but the fans made the event one for the history books.
school of journalism, I went to my first two boxing events at Madison Square Garden. The first was on February 6, 1993. I was part of a large group of guys from my dorm who purchased the cheapest tickets available to witness Riddick Bowe make the first defense of the heavyweight championship he had seized from Evander Holyfield less than three months earlier. The Brooklynite was served the proverbial “gimme,” a shopworn version of Michael Dokes. Nobody expected the stumbling former titleholder to put up a fight, and nobody cared when Bowe easily overwhelmed the hapless challenger in the opening round. The crowd of more than 16,000 didn’t come to see a competitive fight; they were there to celebrate Bowe’s homecoming. It seemed like the entire NYC boxing community – and I’m talking about everyone from every gym across the five boroughs – was there to support the newly crowned champ and to have a good time. I had so much fun that night that I made sure to spend a lot more on the ticket for my second MSG experience, which was exactly one month after Bowe-Dokes. I wanted a good view of the ring when Buddy McGirt put his WBC welterweight title on the line against Pernell Whitaker. The Garden was a little more than half full (just under 11,000), but the atmosphere didn’t suffer. It wasn’t the festive mood I experienced at Bowe-Dokes, but more of a palpable anticipation. Everyone crowded into the lower bowl of the arena and locked their focus on the master boxers. They weren’t just there to cheer on McGirt, who hailed from Long Island. They wanted to witness two future Hall of Famers match wits, and when Whitaker earned a close-but-deserved decision, they applauded. I got the sense – from talking to excited fans on the subway to MSG and after I got to my seat – that everyone there equaled or surpassed my own knowledge and passion for the sport. It was like a convention for boxing purists. The vibe inside The Garden on January 31 was a combination of the Bowe-Dokes and McGirt-Whitaker atmospheres, only this time the storied
leapfrogged like that. It’s absolutely no slight to Shakur, who I think someone can justifiably say is the hardest fighter in the sport to beat potentially. I just think so much of Bam and how audacious and destructive he’s been in his rise. I would say No. 4 [for Stevenson].” It was truly a photo finish for Stevenson. Rodriguez easily could have remained ahead of his fellow southpaw technician. I think the two young Americans (both are in their 20s) will compete for their pound- for-pound placement for years to come. It won’t be long before the dynamic duo are vying for the No. 1 spot.
H H H H
H H H H
Stevenson’s near-shutout decision over Lopez vaulted him to No. 3 in The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings, behind Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue and in front of Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez. The decision to advance Stevenson from No. 7 to surpass his equally talented countryman was not quick or easy. The Ring Ratings Panel was split between placing Stevenson at No. 3 and at No. 4 (behind Rodriguez) and remained deadlocked for an entire week. Every time someone voted for Stevenson to ascend to No. 3, another panelist backed Bam to remain in that spot. It got to the point when it was time to pull the trigger. (I couldn’t be the tie- breaker because I’d already cast my vote to keep Rodriguez at No. 3). So, I reached out to the few panelists who had not yet chimed in on the pound-for-pound debate. The first one back would decide the matter and we’d move on. Lamar Clark came through for Stevenson. “That’s a tough one. Skill for skill, Shakur stands out, and when you factor in a dominant showing over Teofimo, who’s a proven champ, it’s hard to overlook that,” said our creative director, who was among the New York fans in attendance on January 31. “Bam is a beast. The [Fernando] Martinez win was incredible, but for now I’d move Shakur above him for beating up a prime Teo.” Less than a minute later, Corey Erdman replied with this note: “It’s so tough. I think Bam is too good to be
The Ring archives are now 100% digitized and available upon free registration on our website (ringmagazine. com) and the Ring Magazine App. This includes every magazine (dating back to 1922), more than 100 years of photos, and the Boxing Encyclopedia & Record Books that were published annually between 1941-1987. And it’s all searchable! I’ve already gone down numerous rabbit holes, from Henry Armstrong fight reports to Sammy Angott photos to searches for my first freelance articles in the ’90s (yes, I’m a vain motherfucker). Check it out for yourself. Here’s an assignment that comes to mind after reminiscing about my first experiences at the Mecca of Boxing: search “Madison Square Garden.” I have the sweetest memories of so many historic main events there since becoming a full-time boxing writer in 2000, starting with Lennox Lewis vs. Michael Grant. Felix Trinidad vs. William Joppy and Bernard Hopkins followed in 2001. Miguel Cotto came into his own vs. Zab Judah and Shane Mosley in 2007. Gennadiy Golovkin proved to be a bona fide attraction vs. David Lemieux and Daniel Jacobs in 2015 and 2016. Jorge Linares vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko made for a special night in 2018. I could go on and on, but what are your favorite Madison Square Garden memories? How far back do they go? I guarantee The Ring archives have you covered.
12 RINGMAGAZINE.COM
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker