CELEBRATING BIG GEORGE FOREMAN
The Ring Magazine, June 2025 • GEORGE FOREMAN SPECIAL ISSUE
Nujuma, a Ritz Carlton Reserve
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Where two worlds make one
DEPARTMENTS 4 OPENING SHOTS
60 GEORGE VS. GEORGE FOREMAN SHOWED THE WORLD TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF HIMSELF – AND BOTH WERE REMARKABLE By Don Stradley 68 THE CYCLONE IN THE STORM BARRY MCGUIGAN’S VICTORY OVER EUSEBIO PEDROZA PROVIDED AN EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT OF UNITY DURING NORTHERN IRELAND’S DARKEST TIME By Ruth Raper 74 RIGHT ON TARGET MANY HAVE PREDICTED THAT JARON “BOOTS” ENNIS WILL EVENTUALLY REACH THE POUND- FOR-POUND PINNACLE, AND SO FAR IT’S LOOKING LIKE A SAFE BET By Joseph Santoliquito 80 UNINTENDED GREATNESS BOXING WAS NEVER KENSHIRO TERAJI’S DREAM, BUT HE NOW FINDS HIMSELF AMONG THE POUND-FOR-POUND BEST FIGHTERS IN THE WORLD By Daisuke Sugiura
38 LEGENDS NEVER DIE AN ILLUSTRATED TOUR THROUGH THE INCREDIBLE LIFE AND CAREER OF BIG GEORGE FOREMAN By kronkAAArt 42 AN EPIC JOURNEY FOR SIX DECADES, BILL CAPLAN HAD A FRONT-ROW SEAT FOR THE RISE, FALL AND RETURN OF ONE OF BOXING’S GREATEST CHAMPIONS By Gareth A Davies 48 A KING AMONG KINGS FOREMAN WAS ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING LINKS TO THE AGE OF LEGENDS THAT DEFINED BOXING IN THE 1970S By Thomas Gerbasi 54 MIRACLE ON LAS VEGAS BLVD THEY SAY THE LAST THING A FIGHTER LOSES IS POWER, AND A 45-YEAR-OLD FOREMAN PROVED IT AGAINST MICHAEL MOORER By Michael Rosenthal
11 RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer 17 BERNSTEIN ON BOXING By Al Bernstein 21 STEVE’S SOAP BOX By Steve Kim 24 MY FIRST TIME By Bernard Hopkins and Tom Gray 28 BY THE NUMBERS By Don Stradley 30 RING RATINGS PACKAGE 86 FUNDAMENTALS By Lee Groves 88 FIGHT DOCTOR By Dr. Margaret Goodman 92 COMMISSIONER’S CORNER By Randy Gordon 94 FINISHING SHOTS 96 FIGHTLINE
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Cover Illustration by Richard T. Slone
How stc is Powering a New Era of Entertainment Gaming Gone Global The very qualities cherished by boxing fans across the world are now entering a new arena: digital combat sports. As the world becomes more connected, audiences are discovering fresh arenas to engage with their favorite pastimes – in the digital realm. In April, SNK Games, the developers behind cult- classic Fatal Fury, partnered with Ring Magazine in a world-first. Bridging the realms of the digital world and the boxing ring, fans of Fatal Fury were given exclusive presale access to the long-awaited match between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. The event symbolized more than just a promotional crossover—it marked a turning point in the convergence of traditional and virtual combat sports. While the competitive sports of gaming and boxing colliding at the iconic grudge match, all eyes are turning towards the growing world of virtual gaming and digital entertainment as it grows in prominence worldwide. The Fatal Fury event reflects more than just a cultural crossover between boxing and gaming fans – it signals the rising influence of digital entertainment on an international scale. And leading the change in this global transformation, is Saudi Arabia’s leading digital enabler – stc group. With 70% of the population under the age of 35, Saudi Arabia is rapidly becoming a future-focused society where technology and entertainment intersect. As part of its National Gaming and Esports Strategy, the Kingdom is investing heavily in the global gaming industry, including high-profile stakes in companies like SNK and Nintendo. The aim is to foster a thriving, locally anchored gaming culture that also drives global influence, and Saudi Arabia is already making its mark as a key player in shaping the global future of digital entertainment.
The iconic boxer, Muhammad Ali, once said, “The man who has no imagination has no wings.” Boxing is one of the world’s oldest sports, and yet, it has only increased in cultural prominence over the years. Innovative ways of reimagining the sport have ensured that audiences across time can continue to connect with the cut-throat and exhilarating world of boxing. Much like boxing, gaming is being reimagined to unprecedented levels and a new era is taking flight. In 2024, Saudi Arabia held the first-ever Esports World Cup, and stc group played a central role as its Elite and Founding Partners. From powering the event’s connectivity, to ensuring flawless live broadcast coverage through its advanced network infrastructure, stc enabled fans worldwide to experience the tournament in real time, no matter where you may be. The Esports World Cup was one of the most- watched events in the world – a milestone made possible by stc’s unmatched digital capabilities. Leveraging its extensive network, broadcast outlets, and digital connectivity capabilities, stc group ensured that fans around the world could witness the new era of digital entertainment with just the tap of a screen. It demonstrated that Esports, like boxing, can deliver high-intensity competition, crowd-pulling drama, and cultural impact on a global scale. The world is beginning to grasp a new meaning behind Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a leader in global combat sports. With the reinvigoration of cult classic video games in tournaments and competitions in a world-first, stc group is bringing the future of entertainment to your screen. From the roar of fans in a packed stadium to the click of a controller, the pulse of modern sport is now beating through screens and stadiums alike. As the stages spotlighting Esports and boxing converge, one thing is clear: stc group isn’t just connecting audiences to the future of digital entertainment – it’s shaping it.
OPENING SHOTS In the heart of New York City under the lights of Times Square, Ryan Garcia and Rolando Romero faced off in what was supposed to be a showcase for Garcia, but it was Romero (right), an 8-to-1 underdog, who dropped his foe en route to a unanimous decision victory.
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OPENING SHOTS Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue (right) was shockingly put down by a left hand from the tough and dangerous Ramon Cardenas in the second round, but The Monster didn’t disappoint in his first appearance in the U.S. in almost four years – he got up, wore Cardenas down and stopped him in the eighth round.
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GEORGE FOREMAN COVERS THROUGHOUT THE DECADES
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RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer HIGHS AND LOWS (AND HIGHS)
June 2025
Founder Nathaniel Fleischer (1888-1972) Owner His Excellency Turki Alalshikh
Editor-in-Chief Douglass Fischer Managing Editor Tom Gray Senior Editor Brian Harty Creative Director Lamar Clark Controller Deborah L. Harrison
T he mood in the boxing world was on an extreme high going into what promised to be a memorable Cinco De Mayo weekend, in part because of what took place in London the previous weekend. April 26 belonged to Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn, as well as the 65,000 enraptured fans who passionately cheered them on through 12 scintillating rounds at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The prolonged celebration of their instant classic carried considerable momentum into the fight week buildup to three major cards headlined by three of the most popular boxers in the sport – Ryan Garcia on May 2, Canelo Alvarez on May 3 and Naoya Inoue on May 4. However, most of that euphoric energy petered out during the unprecedented May 2 event that took place on the streets of Times Square. By the end of the May 3 show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, boxing’s mojo was all but declared dead. Before I get into its resurrection and praise Inoue for dramatically rekindling the excitement with the help of unheralded but unrelenting challenger Ramon Cardenas on May 4, I must give
The Eubanks’ ring walk ignited 65,000 fans and set the table for an unforgettable instant classic.
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props to the two offspring of legendary British rivals Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn. Eubank Jr. and Benn settled their long-standing family feud in sensational fashion, both giving 100% in every round before absolutely emptying their tanks in an unforgettable final stanza. They rose to the occasion and exceeded expectations, producing early candidates for Fight, Round and Event of the Year. The WWE-level promotional build-up to Eubank-Benn had it all in terms of storylines, chief among them the divide between Eubank Jr. and Sr., which had persisted for years. Their 11th-hour reunion was revealed to the Tottenham crowd and those watching the Sky Box Office and DAZN pay-per-view broadcasts just minutes before their ring walk together. The sight of the two entering the stadium to Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” – the theme song of Eubank Sr.’s storied career – evoked
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THE RING (ISSN: 0035-5410) June 2025, is published 12 times per year by The Ring Magazine FZ, LLC P.O. Box 90254 Brooklyn, NY 11209. Postmasters: Send change of address Notices to: The Ring Magazine Subscriber Service Dept., PO Box 16027, North Hollywood, CA 91615-6027, Phone: 818- 286-3101; rngcs@magserv.com. Single copy price $9.99 in U.S.A. ,10.99 Canada (£10.99 in the U.K.). Global Subscription price $60.00 for 12 issues plus S&H. Not responsible for the loss or non-return of unsolicited articles or photographs, which will not be returned unless accompanied by a self- addressed envelope bearing the proper amount of postage. The entire contents of this magazine are copyright ©2025 The Ring Magazine FZ-LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the content of advertisements appearing in this magazine, nor the delivery or quality of merchandise or services offered. No endorsement of any such advertisement is intended or implied. Advertisers and agencies assume liability for claims arising from the content of their advertisements. FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES AND RATES: advertising@ringmagazine.com. U.S. / Canadian and International distribution by Comag Marketing Group LLC, 155 Village Blvd #200, Princeton, NJ 08540. UK distribution by Seymour Distribution Ltd., 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, England, EC1A 9PT. Printed In USA and the UK.
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overwhelming emotion from the British fans. (Even Yours Truly was a little choked up – and I’m an American Nigel Benn fan!) But none of that would have mattered had the fight not delivered. The pulse-pounding Round 12 of Eubank-Benn is among the top five final three minutes to a major main event that I’ve witnessed live. It’s up there with Round 12 of Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez III, Marco Antonio Barrera- Erik Morales I and III, and Morales- Manny Pacquiao I. That’s what fans will remember about this fight. Not the father-and- son storylines. Not the egg slap. Not the video game commercial. Not even Eubank winning by unanimous scores of 116-112. Hotly contested fights that end like Eubank-Benn make lifelong boxing fans out of casuals and remind longtime observers why they love the sport. That cold, breezy night in a packed, open-air soccer stadium is easily one of the most exhilarating events I’ve attended in more than 25 years of covering major boxing cards. The following Friday in New York City was not. There was tremendous hype and promotion going into the tripleheader topped by Garcia vs. Rolando Romero and supported by Devin Haney-Jose Ramirez and Teofimo Lopez-Arnold Barboza Jr. However, the co-mains – obviously intended to set up an anticipated rematch between Garcia and Haney – were absolute duds. To his credit, Lopez showed up. The defending Ring/WBO 140-pound champ was not at his elite best, but he was focused and on form, which was more than enough to handcuff Barboza for 12 rounds. The previously unbeaten contender didn’t have an answer for Lopez’s athleticism and counterpunching style, and unfortunately for those watching the DAZN PPV, he was unwilling to force a fight. The entertainment value of the show went from “mid” to dreadful with Haney-Ramirez, which looked like an
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premier platform for established and emerging boxing talents, access to world-class training facilities and delivering top-tier boxing events. Both of these projects align with Sela's overarching vision of creating spectacular and impactful entertainment experiences. The company's proven track record in delivering high-profile events, from the vibrant Riyadh and Jeddah Seasons, Esports World Cup, Formula E, Six Kings Slam to landmark boxing matches like Crawford vs. Madrimov and Joshua vs. Dubois, provides a strong foundation for its global boxing endeavors. Sela's international strategy extends beyond single partnerships. It embodies a commitment to understanding diverse global audiences and tailoring experiences that resonate authentically. By forging strategic alliances, Sela is positioned to continue its trajectory as a leading force in the international sports and entertainment landscape. The global stage is now set for Sela to further amplify its impact and redefine global entertainment experiences.
The Haney-Ramirez bout was the definition of “uneventful.”
interesting boxer-vs.-pressure fighter matchup on paper. However, Ramirez couldn’t pull the trigger while the constantly moving and holding Haney refused to. The seemingly mentally shot fighter outpointed the physically shot fighter to earn a unanimous decision. In the main event, Garcia, a 12-to-1 favorite according to oddsmakers, was upset by Romero. This could have been a compelling shocker had their styles played out as hoped. Both are explosive- but-flawed punchers. However, the only drama during the 12-round bout came in the second when Romero dropped Garcia with a hook. Nothing happened after that. Garcia was hesitant and uninterested until the final bell. Romero won rounds by merely boxing with purpose, walking the social media star down with a jab to the midsection. Rolly didn’t step up the pressure or go for the knockout, but he won an unlikely unanimous decision. The boxing world was not kind on social media. Ring Magazine contributor and ratings panelist Adam Abramowitz: “Lot of fighters accepted losing tonight. Not one went out on his shield, or even tried to. So little urgency in these fights.” Ring Magazine contributor and proofreader David Greisman: “Teofimo Lopez landed just 127 punches tonight in 12 rounds (73 of them power shots).
“As bad as that may sound, the other two winning fighters – Devin Haney and Rolly Romero – landed 127 punches COMBINED (63 of them power shots).” Greisman continued: “Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez is legit one of the worst fights I’ve ever seen. And there have been some terrible ones.” Hall of Famer and Ring Magazine columnist Al Bernstein: “I am loath to criticize boxers in this way, but tonight there was not a lot of urgency from any of the six fighters involved. Just kind of disappointing. And it is in stark contrast to the Eubank-Benn match – not that we expect every bout to be that exciting and well-contested.” We don’t, but we do expect fighters – especially those making seven figures – to let their damn hands go. Canelo Alvarez, who was making eight figures in his Riyadh Season debut on May 3, did not let his damn hands go. Neither did his opponent, William Scull, who saved most of his energy for his legs. By the fourth round, I knew we were in for a monotonous 12 rounds. This is what I posted on X before Round 5: “Ugh. I don’t care for stick-and-
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movers who move more than they ‘stick.’ And I don’t care for low-volume plodding pressure fighters. We don’t need a 168-pound version of Haney-Ramirez.” But that’s what we got. Another example of one boxer refusing to engage with the other being unable – or perhaps unwilling – to do anything about it. Only this time, the guy who stank it out was a lowly “B-side” and thus received no favors from the official judges, who handed in tallies of 115-113, 116-112 and 119-109 for the Mexican superstar. Alvarez – who was content to stalk Scull, occasionally aiming right hands to the Cuban’s body – regained the IBF strap. So, he will enter his September 12 superfight with Terence Crawford as the undisputed super middleweight champ but maybe not as the odds or media favorite. Midway through the fight, I posted: “OK, Canelo landed a few nice body shots in Round 6, but halfway through this fight I can see why Terence Crawford wants to fight him. If Canelo doesn’t get upset tonight and the planned September showdown happens, I’m changing my pick to Bud. Canelo’s in quicksand.” Once again, the “Boxing X” community was not happy: Veteran scribe Dan Rafael: “Per @ CompuBox: By throwing a combined 445 punches over 12 rounds, Canelo (152 punches) and Scull (293 punches) set a new record for fewest punches thrown in a 12-round [bout, according to] CompuBox’s 40-year history of more than 15k bouts tracked. Old record: 459 (Parker-Wilder). “Canelo’s 152 thrown punches were the 2nd fewest in a 12-round fight in CompuBox’s 40-year history and 15k+ fights tracked. And he still won easily against a track star.” Scull is partly to blame for the low- volume snooze fest, but elite fighters should know how to break down and eventually clip skittish stick-and-movers. (See Naoya Inoue’s 11th-round TKO of Paul Butler for a recent example.) At this point in his career, Canelo can only pull the trigger on one punch at a
Canelo seemed just as disgusted as the fans watching.
time vs. a runner. Added Abramowitz on X: “I don’t think this was a good version of Canelo by any means, but this was embarrassing by Scull. Even if you believe that Scull was doing well in the fight, the way he fought those last two rounds was just embarrassing. I’ve seen so many truly awful performances this weekend. “Thankfully, Bud is a complete fighter, an elite veteran who has too much pride and confidence to do anything resembling Haney or Scull… so we’ll probably get a proper fight on Sept. 12 in Las Vegas, but there’s no denying that Canelo looked flat in Riyadh.” And there’s no denying that The Monster was absolutely electrifying on May 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Inoue and Cardenas – as well as Rafael Espinoza and Edward Vazquez in the co-feature to the ESPN broadcast – gave fans everything missing from the May 2 and 3 main events. They took risks. They took punches. They got hurt. They raged back. Inoue was decked hard in Round 2, but the undisputed junior featherweight champ got up and resumed his seek- and-destroy mission against a dangerous and defiant Cardenas, who earned a legion of fans with his bold stand against the Japanese superstar. Inoue dropped Cardenas in Round 7 and
forced referee Thomas Taylor to save the San Antonio native in the eighth. Espinoza battered gutsy Vazquez to a seventh-round stoppage in defense of his WBO featherweight title. The 6-foot-1 Mexican threw 520 punches (landing 40%, according to CompuBox), more than the combined total punches thrown in each of the Haney-Ramirez, Garcia-Romero and Alvarez-Scull bouts. “Boxing X” was unanimous in declaring that these co-mains “saved the weekend.” Ring Magazine columnist Steve Kim: “A text I got from Larry Merchant earlier: ‘OMG, a real fight.’ “I got others from casual fans who were amazed by #InoueCardenas.” Kim had considered not attending the Top Rank show when Inoue’s little- known opponent was announced, but he ultimately decided to go. A choice he’s glad he made. “You go to a fight, and you just never know what you might witness,” Kim posted to X. “Tonight is one of those nights I won’t forget. They are fewer and far between nowadays, and you appreciate them more at this point.”
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BERNSTEIN ON BOXING A BANNER YEAR IN THE MAKING By Al Bernstein
there are three more matchups featuring Ring Magazine champs – Alycia Baumgardner, Ellie Scotney and Dina Thorslund – against three hard-charging challengers in Jennifer Miranda, Yamileth Mercado and Shuretta Metcalf. Every match on this card has the potential to be a good one. The Taylor-Serrano match is special in every way. Two razor-thin and disputed decisions that went Taylor’s way have left plenty of unfinished business between these two women, who make for the absolute perfect style matchup in the ring. Both previous fights were thrilling and well-fought. The buildup to this fight has already been spicier than the first two, so that will satiate fans who want drama to go along with great boxing action. These two could fight 10 times, and every time it would likely be an action-packed 10-rounder that went right down to the wire. This card promises to be a landmark event for women’s boxing. The following night, the next edition of the Ring fight series will provide four more potentially exciting matches. While some are debating which fight deserves to be the main event, no one is debating whether this is a good card. Master boxer Shakur Stevenson will defend his lightweight crown against body-punching whirlwind William Zepeda, and they will share the top of the card with two 168-pounders: Edgar Berlanga and Hamzah Sheeraz. Then there’s an excellent 140-pound matchup with WBC titleholder Alberto Puello taking on the always exciting Subriel Matias in a fight that could well steal the night. Rounding out the televised card is David Morrell Jr., back in action after his classic fight in February with David Benavidez, taking on 175-pound knockout artist Imam Khataev. Both cards have important fights, and both have depth in their undercards. Criteria met. I can’t hang my hat on one weekend if I am to claim the rest of this year could be special. So, consider all these
FOR MOMENTS THAT STAY WITH YOU
A s we reach the halfway point of this year in boxing, it is apparent that 2025 has much more to give. The first six months have produced some good fights and exciting moments, but what awaits us might be even better. Yes, I know I’m known as a glass-half-full guy, but hear me out on this one before the boxing cynic in you takes over. The criteria for a good year in the sport is fairly simple: 1. How many important matches are made, and 2. How many good fights overall are made on all levels. An objective look
Taylor-Serrano 3 headlines a spectacular card at MSG.
ahead tells us 2025 will very likely succeed in both categories. The final six months of the year could not possibly get off to a better start, with stacked, back-to-back shows on July 11 and 12. On the 11th, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano will pack Madison Square Garden for their third fight, with the undisputed junior welterweight championship on the line. On that four-fight card,
Inland Sea
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BERNSTEIN ON BOXING added the IBF and WBC belts to her collection. Both fighters looked spectacular in those outings, and this is as close to a 50-50 fight as you will ever see.
fights that are on tap for this year.
refereeing and scoring. Fans and pundits alike are wondering whether Roach is better than people thought or Davis just had an off night. The latter’s large fan base is eager to see their hero redeem himself. For Roach, it is
H Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev. Yes, some people wanted Bivol to face Benavidez next rather than completing this trilogy, but not one boxing fan
H Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford. In terms of marketability, this is the very definition of a megafight. There is debate about Crawford being able to climb so high in weight and be effective against Alvarez, but the Omaha great has never failed as a pro and he says he’ll be more than a worthy opponent for boxing’s biggest star. This match will garner coverage from all sports media and shine a light on the sport for casual boxing fans. It would be hard for me to imagine that among these already scheduled and virtually certain to be scheduled fights, we don’t get a classic or two – maybe more. All of this boxing action does not even take into account the many unannounced matches involving other stars and prospects for the rest of the year. I have maintained
doubts that this will be an excellent fight. These two men have carved out a special place for themselves in light heavyweight history. H Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev. This battle for 122-pound supremacy is the matchup that most fans have clamored for this past year or so. It will probably happen in September, and depending on the results of the fight, don’t rule out Inoue getting back in the ring in December to add even more luster to 2025. That could be against the always fun to watch Nick Ball. H Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois. This rematch, scheduled for July, has appeal because of the controversy in their first fight. Many feel that the body punch that dropped Usyk and delayed the fight for nearly four minutes was not a low blow, as it was ruled, and it
that boxing’s product has been consistently good in
Canelo vs. Crawford has all the elements of a superfight.
should’ve been a fight-winning punch for Dubois. This fight has further allure simply because fans appreciate any chance to see the great Usyk in action before his amazing career ends. H Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach. This rematch of their controversial draw has captured the imagination of fans for a variety of reasons. It is widely thought that Roach was robbed of a win by poor
recent years, whatever other issues the sport has faced. Now I will go one step further and suggest that the remainder will exceed the first half in terms of boxing excellence. Am I just a cockeyed optimist? Based on the evidence I see, I think I’m being a realist. If I’m wrong, quotes from this column will be plastered all over social media in December with clever memes to show what an imbecile I am. If I’m right, maybe one or two people will post something like this: “Great year in boxing. I think I remember a column in Ring Magazine that predicted this. That Doug Fischer guy really knows what he’s talking about.”
a chance to cement a position in the upper echelon of the sport.
H Mikaela Mayer vs. Lauren Price. This battle for the undisputed welterweight championship is one of the most appealing matches in women’s boxing. Both fighters pledged their desire to make it happen after their last bouts, in which Mayer defended her WBO title and Ring Magazine/WBA champion Price
The Usyk-Dubois rematch is threatening to become personal.
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STEVE’S SOAPBOX MEDIOCREWEIGHT By Steve Kim
T he middleweight division is one of the most storied in boxing history. The likes of Harry Greb, Stanley Ketchel, Sugar Ray Robinson, Marvin Hagler and Bernard Hopkins are just some of the names in this lineage. It’s one of the sport’s original weight classes, before the juniors and supers arrived, and carries a certain mystique with it. But where have you gone, William Joppy and Keith Holmes, much less Gennadiy Golovkin? Right now, I don’t think I have ever seen this division so devoid of marquee talent or notable names. Yeah, yeah, I
Alimkhanuly is the leader at 160 but lacks a big-name nemesis.
know, I’m now the old guy on the beat, and perhaps I do occasionally go all Statler and Waldorf. But just look at the current Ring Magazine middleweight rankings:
There’s not a lot of glamor in what is traditionally one of the sport’s glamor divisions. As you look at this lot of 160-pounders, you see some familiar names mixed in with relative unknowns. The Ring championship is currently vacant. And it’s justified because, quite frankly, nobody has done anything worthy enough to earn it. But if there is someone who might make a move, it’s Alimkhanuly,
1. Zhanibek Alimkhanuly 2. Carlos Adames 3. Hamzah Sheeraz 4. Erislandy Lara 5. Chris Eubank Jr.
6. Etinosa Oliha 7. Kyrone Davis 8. Troy Isley 9. Shane Mosley Jr. 10. Denzel Bentley
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STEVE’S SOAPBOX
There’s not a lot of glamor in what is traditionally one of the sport’s glamor divisions.
who on April 5 made a successful homecoming to his native Kazakhstan by defending his IBF and WBO titles with a fifth-round stoppage of France’s Anauel Ngamissengue. The 32-year- old Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs) is generally considered the world’s best middleweight – but again, considering his colleagues, it’s not exactly an earth- shattering distinction. While he’s a unified titleholder, keep in mind that after winning the WBO belt in May 2023, he then took the IBF
schedule – at least by today’s standards – under the guidance of Tom Loeffler. The plan was simple and effective: In lieu of facing big names early on, they would work in volume, grow audiences on HBO and build Golovkin into a
the HBO Boxing franchise, while Alimkhanuly is just a spoke in the Top Rank programming wheel on ESPN. The reality is that he has never really been a priority for Top Rank. In fact, his bout with Mikhailovich was
strap from Vincenzo Gualtieri (TKO 6), who wasn’t even rated in the top 10 by The Ring. His other middleweight title bouts have come against Denzel Bentley (UD 12), Steven Butler (KO 2) and Andrei Mikhailovich (TKO 9). So yes, by virtue of his undefeated mark and his two title straps, perhaps Alimkhanuly should be considered the best middleweight. It’s akin to being the fastest tortoise in a 100-meter dash, though. But make no mistake: “Qazaq Style” is an all- around talented fighter. He has power in both hands, and utilizing his southpaw stance he
originally supposed to take place in Las Vegas but was temporarily scuttled when Alimkhanuly fainted the night before the weigh-in – the result of severe dehydration. The fight instead took place a few months later in Australia, meaning that his last two bouts have taken place outside the U.S. and were only streamed on ESPN+. Golovkin chased Canelo Alvarez and eventually earned a few big paydays against him, but who is Alimkhanuly’s red-headed whale? Currently, the other titleholders are Erislandy Lara (WBA) and Carlos
WBC titleholder Carlos Adames (right) attacks Hamzah Sheeraz.
has shown that he can box effectively when necessary. Versus the game Ngamissengue, Alimkhanuly exhibited the ability to counterpunch inside the pocket and set up his power shots. He’d almost certainly be favored against every other current middleweight. The fact is, though, no one has truly made their mark in this division. The aforementioned Golovkin, like Alimkhanuly, is from Kazakhstan. But really that’s where the similarities end. This is not a knock on the latter, but it should be noted that after “GGG” was first introduced to audiences in the United States, he was kept on a busy
Adames (WBC), who are represented by Premier Boxing Champions. In years past, facing them would have been difficult, if not downright impossible. But now it seems that Top Rank and PBC are willing to sit down and break bread. (Geez, I wonder what brought that about?) Even then, would becoming the undisputed champion against this crop really mean that much? To be fair, getting this distinction in any era would be a landmark achievement for a prizefighter. But the reality is that wearing the division’s crown probably still wouldn’t make him a star.
legitimate gate attraction in both Los Angeles and New York. Alimkhanuly has been relegated to the usual twice-a-year schedule that most modern-day titleholders employ while playing to relatively small crowds in obscure locations like Stockton, which visitstockton. org describes as “a flavorful Northern California getaway,” and Rosenberg, Texas. Golovkin was a pillar of
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It is no exaggeration to say that Bernard Hopkins might be one of the greatest athletes who has ever lived. His dedication to boxing was bolstered by a physical fitness obsession and an early reappraisal of his dietary habits. By the time he was 40 years old, Hopkins had made a record 20 middleweight title defenses to secure his status as an all-time great. But he wasn’t done. His monastic lifestyle extended Hopkins’ youth far beyond that of a mere mortal and saw him win multiple belts at light heavyweight. He won his final world title fight at the age of 49, a record that is sure to stand the test of time. • However, like many great fighters, all of the glory that Hopkins attained was rooted in very humble beginnings.
Bam’ Hines … I could name all of them. They were really respected because Joe Frazier had been the heavyweight champion of the world. “This gym was like a dungeon with a very intimidating atmosphere. It was like a box with enough room for 15 to 20 people on one floor and a mirror on one wall from end to end. I wanted the attention of all the trainers in there, so I’d be shouting and screaming as I hit the bag. I was there watching pro fighters, people who were older than me, people who had been on TV. So you can imagine, I was saying to myself, ‘I can be Joe Frazier. I can be Robert “Bam Bam” Hines. I can be [former IBF junior welterweight titleholder] Gary Hinton.’ Just look at the track record of Philadelphia fighters.”
MY FIRST AMATEUR FIGHT “We still laugh about it today. My first amateur fight was against Robert ‘Bam Bam’ Hines, who had beaten Gary Hinton [as an amateur]. He was a southpaw, and he beat the living lights out of me. I told my trainer that I’d get him in the next round, and he said, ‘The fight’s over. They stopped it!’ It was the second round of a three-round fight in the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Championship [in 1977]. That’s a big tournament because you’re representing your state.
My First Time by Bernard Hopkins As told to Tom Gray
“I’ll never forget it, because we knew each other. Robert’s got to be a year or two older than me. I’m 60, and he’s got to be 62 or something. (Note: Hines is 64.) I’m 60, and I still remember that butt-whipping. Robert Hines is the reason I became so good against southpaws. We sparred at Joe Frazier’s gym and at Champ’s Gym, which is another historic gym in Philadelphia. “I learned how to handle southpaws through getting my lessons, my adolescence ass-whippings, from Robert Hines.”
THE FIRST TIME I LACED UP THE GLOVES
“I was 8 or 9 years old. My Uncle Arthur – we called him Arty for short – was a highly respected prospect who sparred many times with Marvelous Marvin Hagler. At the time, Hagler had come down to beat two of the greatest middleweights from Philadelphia, Willie ‘The Worm’ Monroe and Boogaloo Watts. I got my DNA from Arthur McCloud, who was my mother’s brother. “My Uncle Arty took me down to Joe Frazier’s gym on Broad and Glenwood. I fell in love with boxing to the point that I was feared in the neighborhood from a young age. This was 1977, ’78, ’79, and there was an amateur program at the gym. They had the Golden Gloves, the AAU and the nationals. I remember that clearly, like it was yesterday. This amateur program produced world champions – the likes of [former IBF junior middleweight titleholder] Robert ‘Bam
MY FIRST PROFESSIONAL FIGHT OCTOBER 11, 1988
OPPONENT: CLINTON MITCHELL VENUE: RESORTS INTERNATIONAL, ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY
“I was inexperienced, but I had a heart bigger than the city of Philadelphia. Mitchell had been a really good amateur, and I was the opponent that night. I just wanted to get my first professional fight under my belt. For the previous five years, I’d been getting copies of Ring Magazine sent to me in prison (Hopkins spent time inside for armed robbery), so I was just grateful to be fighting. “I felt that I lost the fight (Hopkins dropped a four-round
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MY FIRST TIME: BERNARD HOPKINS
Hopkins’ victory over Robert Allen in 2004 set up the superfight that would produce The Executioner’s most memorable punch.
MY PERFECT PUNCH SEPTEMBER 18, 2004 OPPONENT: OSCAR DE LA HOYA “My best shot to stop a guy is with Oscar De La Hoya. You cannot shake off a good body shot – you can ask any Hall of Famer or contender; you can ask anybody who did boxing for sport or for play. I was taught this in Philadelphia. That’s why Joe Frazier was so vicious with the left hook from every angle. The left hook to the body was my favorite punch. We know the jab is the set-up punch: jab and left hook; left hook, then jab. You can do so much with the left hook. “I knew Oscar was wearing down, and we talk about it and laugh about it. I knew he was wearing down because every round, I was picking up the pace. If you watch from the sixth round on, that’s when I start to put on the pressure. I started giving him feints with my head, like I was going to the body, but I didn’t go, and I seen him react to it. He braced himself, figuring that it was coming, and once I got him conscious of that, I caught him later on as he threw a punch out of panic. I got closer to him. He knew it was
majority decision). I was in shape, but I wasn’t in shape for real boxing. I got tired. There’s a difference between boxing in prison and boxing in Atlantic City Resorts International. I did my best. Was I upset? Yes! Do you want to know how upset I was? I didn’t fight again until 1990. Let’s just say 1989 was rough and I should be in prison right now. I can’t say much more, because my wife is looking at me. I was now out of the gym and I was crushed. I’d made $150 for my pro debut and lost. “Mitchell had won Golden Gloves titles and he was decorated. I found that out after the fact, but if you look him up, he was highly regarded. His career was cut short when he was diagnosed with a disease (diabetes) and he passed away.”
coming, threw a punch out of desperation, and I connected as he was throwing. One of the best punches you can hit a guy with is catching him before he catches you. I got there first. “Before the left hook, I gave him a throwaway jab as a distraction. It’s like someone saying, ‘Look over there, that’s a nice car!’ They turn away, and you steal their pocketbook. That’s the New York hustle. If anyone ever says to you to look over there, don’t look.” You can follow the great Bernard Hopkins on Instagram @bhopdaalien .
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BY THE NUMBERS: George “Scrap Iron” Johnson by Don Stradley • Illustration by KronkAAArt
1 impostor » The nerve of some people. In 1964, a shameless character calling himself “George ‘Scrap Iron’ Johnson” (and claiming to be from Oklahoma City, no less) fought light heavyweight Andy Kendall in Portland, Oregon. The fake Johnson was KO’d at approximately 1:00 of Round 1, and if that wasn’t enough to prove he wasn’t the real Scrap Iron, his weight of 175 certainly was. The real Scrap was 40 pounds heavier and hadn’t seen 175 in many years. 3 fights with Jerry Quarry » Quarry was a fiery young contender when he first met Johnson in 1966 at the Olympic Auditorium. A great left- hooker, Quarry scored a KO at 2:40 of Round 2, though Johnson always claimed the fight was stopped too quickly. Quarry went on to have several high-profile fights, while Johnson grew comfortable in his role as a gatekeeper. They met again at the Olympic in 1970. This time, Quarry won a unanimous decision, but he didn’t look good and the 5,500 fans jeered the verdict. Their third meeting took place in Honolulu in 1975 when both were past their best years. In a virtual repeat of their second bout, Quarry won the 10-round decision, only to be booed. “Scrap doesn’t go out easy,” Quarry said. 7 rounds with George Foreman » George Foreman once told The Ring that Johnson had the best chin of anyone he’d fought. Indeed, Johnson’s durability was the stuff of legend. Not surprisingly, he took everything Foreman threw in their May 1970 bout. The referee stopped the contest in the seventh because Johnson was cut, but Foreman had not knocked Johnson down and never seriously hurt him. Later, Foreman hired Johnson as a sparring partner. Johnson also worked as Joe Frazier’s sparring partner in the mid-1970s, bouncing between the Frazier and Foreman camps. By then, Johnson was done as a fighter, but his ability to absorb punishment remained second to none.
10 tough rounds with Joe Frazier » Though he came out on the losing end, Johnson’s 10-round stand with Frazier at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles may have been his career highlight. On May 4, 1967, Johnson entered the ring against a young, prime time Frazier, who was 15-0 at the time. Though Frazier appeared to win each round, the 9,000 in attendance were clearly on Johnson’s side. Johnson electrified the crowd in the third when he trapped Frazier in a neutral corner and wobbled him. “Johnson lashed out with rights and lefts that snapped Frazier’s head back,” reported the Los Angeles Times. Frazier came back and took control, but Johnson had given the customers a thrill. At the fight’s end, they showed their appreciation. “The fans were on their feet,” wrote the Times, “showering the ring with money and chanting ‘Scrap Iron, Scrap Iron’ while awaiting the verdict, but actually the issue was never really in doubt.” Frazier said of Johnson, “He’s got a good right hand. He’s a tough fighter.” Nights like this made journalists realize Johnson was more than just a human punching bag. What did Johnson think? “It was just another loss,” he said. 6 fight winning streak » After Johnson went the full route with Frazier, it seemed his manager, Benny Conyers, decided to match him more carefully and build up his record. During the next several months Johnson produced a career-high six consecutive wins over opponents less formidable than Frazier, including Ray “Windmill” White (a light heavyweight), Roy “Cookie” Wallace and Alvin “Tiger” Carter, whose record was 3-13-1. Another of his victims was musclebound veteran Santo Amonti, who had once been the heavyweight champion of Italy. Johnson knocked Amonti out and into retirement, causing some journalists to wonder if Scrap Iron was the new Italian champion. “The Italians will love him,” wrote L.A. columnist Jim Murray. “They revere old ruins.” Unfortunately, Johnson’s reward for this undefeated run was an opportunity to fight Sonny Liston in Nevada. Liston was past his prime, but he was better than Cookie Wallace. “Liston hit Johnson with more punches than ringsiders could count,” reported the Fresno Bee. Referee Harry Krause stepped in at 2:55 of the seventh, ending the fight and Johnson’s winning streak. A sidenote to the Liston fight is that Johnson was scheduled to get married at midnight after the bout. He postponed it a day so he could recover from the fight. Johnson later joked, “Liston hit me so hard, I married the wrong woman.”
He packed too many pounds on his 5-foot-9 frame, and he lost more often than he won. Yet “Scrap Iron” Johnson (1938-2016) was one of the most entertaining journeymen of his day. Known for his willingness to take punishment from the best heavyweights of his era, Johnson embodied the image of the game trial horse. With his upbeat personality, a less-than- athletic physique and a penchant for snazzy hats and footlong cigars, Johnson was a colorful character in the Los Angeles fight scene and a crowd-pleasing addition to any undercard. He’d earned the nickname of “Scrap” as a child in Oklahoma City, where he worked at his uncle’s body shop carrying car parts in a wheelbarrow. Later, teammates on his high school football team added the word “Iron.” Few fighters have been so worthy of a nickname. Here’s his story by the numbers.
1 draw with Scott LeDoux » Even in the twilight of his career, Johnson was being hired to test young heavyweights. In August of ’75, he arrived in St. Paul, Minnesota, to fight Scott LeDoux, a 14-1 local prospect. Johnson entered the ring heavier than ever. “His long purple trunks stretched from above an ample stomach almost to his knees,” reported the Minneapolis Star. But Johnson could still put a scare into a young prospect. He staggered LeDoux more than once and finished stronger over the final three rounds. When the verdict was announced as a majority decision for LeDoux, the hometown crowd roared its disapproval. Local reporter Joe Hennessy took credit for examining the scorecards and noting an error. The three judges had turned in one card for LeDoux, one for Johnson, and one even. After Hennessy pointed this out, the verdict was immediately read again as a draw, though the 4,000 fans at the St. Paul Civic Center were still booing.
28 losses » The record speaks for itself: 22-28-4 (11 KOs). Fighters who are brought along carefully and protected by handlers do not put up such numbers. As far as a career strategy, Johnson’s camp simply threw him to the lions and then patched him up to fight another day. For much of his career, he was employed part-time as a “community aid” at Jefferson High School in L.A., the only way for this hard-luck heavyweight to make ends meet. Still, some of Johnson’s bouts were minor classics of their time, like the night he went 10 rounds with Eddie Machen in 1966. It was one of many nights where Johnson lost the fight but won the crowd. This was the theme of his career, and probably what earned Johnson his 2005 induction into the California Boxing Hall of Fame. 54 fights » A reporter once asked Johnson how many fights he’d had. “I never bothered to keep track,” Johnson said. “I just take ’em one at a time. Makes no difference to me who I’m fighting.” It didn’t help that Johnson’s camp often fudged his record and shaved off five or six losses. They were also vague about his age and the number of years he’d been in the business. At one point, when he was 4-7, a promoter billed Johnson as 26-5, and the “champion of Oklahoma.” No wonder he wasn’t sure of his exact record.
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Ring Ratings Analysis Through fights of May 4, 2025 • By Brian Harty
the ring, and it’s unfortunate that he didn’t spend more of those two-plus months cutting weight, because a bit more mobility might’ve helped against Efe Ajagba, who used his much quicker feet and long reach to box from a safe distance in their 10-rounder on the Canelo-Scull undercard. Bakole lumbered forward in pursuit of a fight, and occasionally a brief one broke out, but the bout never really found a storyline and was scored a majority draw. Accordingly, Ajagba was lifted from No. 10 to No. 9 so he could sit beside No. 8-rated Bakole on the list. CRUISERWEIGHT On the tail of losing his WBO title in a brave but futile stand against Gilberto Ramirez last November, Chris Billam-Smith (No. 2) jumped back into the trench for 12 rounds of fierce hand-to-hand combat with Brandon Glanton (No. 8 at the time) on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn in London. This time it was Glanton who was tough but unsuccessful, however. Billam-Smith held off the American’s charges long enough for exhaustion to set in, then capitalized with cleaner punching down the stretch. Clearly itching for another title shot, “The Gentleman” held his position below No. 1-rated Ramirez while Glanton dropped to No. 10. After 26½ months out of the ring and somehow still the WBC titleholder, Badou Jack finally returned and defended his belt with a majority decision over Noel Mikaelian, who himself had been inactive for 18 months but was somehow not the WBC titleholder (it’s complicated). But considering the amount of downtime, it was a decent scrap. Jack reentered the list at No. 6, Mikaelian settled in just below him at No. 7, and two men had to make way for their arrivals: One was Glanton, and the other was No. 4-rated Richard Riakporhe, who tested the water at heavyweight on the same card and scored a fourth-round stoppage of journeyman Kevin Nicolas Espindola. SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT Back in December, Jaime Munguia tried his traditional steamroll approach against Bruno Surace and ended up on the starched side of a one-punch Upset of the Year. In the May 3 rematch, Munguia introduced just enough discipline to box smartly and avoid another disaster as he wore Surace down
after which Stanionis’ corner surrendered. With the WBA/IBF unification fight also being a Ring No. 1 vs. No. 2 contest, Boots traded in his number for the vacant championship and everyone else moved up a notch, except Stanionis, who remained at No. 2 while Brian Norman Jr. (No. 3 last month) jumped into the No. 1 slot. At the bottom, Chukhadzhian reentered the list at No. 10. And it should be said that Ennis’ win did earn a few votes for him to enter the pound-for-pound list, but the panel still leaned more toward bringing Benavidez back into the fold. Rohan Polanco rose from No. 9 to No. 7 after a punishing shutout decision over unrated Fabian Maidana, who went down from a body shot in the final round but showed toughness worthy of the family name (his older brother is former welterweight titleholder Marcos Maidana) in making it to the final bell. JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT Dalton Smith entered the ratings at No. 10, partially on the merit of a 12-round blowout of Mathieu Germain in Sheffield, Smith’s hometown, and also because the existing No. 10, former division champion Josh Taylor, was looking at an impending matchup with Ekow Essuman at welterweight. Haney (No. 1) also went north for his fight with Ramirez, so his removal made room for undefeated (24-0, 19 KOs) southpaw Andy Hiraoka at No. 10. The movement at the top of the list plus a drop for losing a unanimous decision to division champ Teofimo Lopez left Arnold Barboza (No. 3 last month) sitting at No. 4. JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT In his second fight at 130 pounds, Raymond Ford pitched a 10-round shutout against Thomas Mattice and entered at No. 10, replacing Albert Bell, who seems like he’s been stuck in a revolving door at the bottom of the list for ages.
with a steady regimen of body shots, and the result was a wide unanimous decision and a promotion from No. 8 to No. 5 in the Mexican’s favor. Surace slipped from No. 7 to No. 8 while the loser of the main event, Scull, was pushed down to No. 6 from No. 5. MIDDLEWEIGHT Eubank Jr.-Benn was, thankfully, a heavily hyped-up fight that delivered a hell of a good time for the 65,000 fans who packed Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to witness the hereditary grudge match, but it resulted in no movement in the ratings. Eubank stayed put at No. 5 and Benn remained outside the list. In one of the support bouts, 25-year- old Irishman Chris McKenna notched the biggest win of his career thus far with a wide unanimous decision over former 154-pound titleholder Liam Smith, 36, who one panelist said “looked like a shell of his former self.” McKenna replaced Denzel Bentley at No. 10. WELTERWEIGHT Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis was another chance to see a developing star in action and another opportunity to trot out some corny riffs on Ennis’ nickname: Stanionis went to boot camp and got stomped; he asked for a promotion and got the boot instead, he made like a hard drive and got booted up, the boots licked him. Or simply: Boots kicked his ass. Aside from landing a good shot here and there, any pre-fight promises the Lithuanian made about applying relentless pressure were stifled once Ennis settled into his comfort zone. From there, the Philadelphian was so fluid with his stance, defense and punch choice that it was difficult to pin his style down – sometimes he looked like a Mayweather wannabe and others he just seemed to be making it all up in the rhythm of the moment, Drunken Master-style. That relaxation still led to lapses that resulted in punches received – good for entertainment value – but Stanionis didn’t have the power to capitalize on those sporadic hits. Regardless, Ennis clearly approached this assignment with something to prove after his previous fight, a more lackadaisical UD victory over Karen Chukhadzhian, and tore into his opponent with unapologetic gusto. He capped it off with four rapid-fire uppercuts to score a knockdown at the end of the sixth round,
POUND FOR POUND Movement on the P4P list was more about demotions than promotions in the past month. Canelo Alvarez dropped a notch to No. 8 after his record-setting win over William Scull – that record being the lowest number of thrown punches (445) that CompuBox has ever counted in a 12-round fight, and Canelo only accounted for about a third of them. He is once again the undisputed super middleweight champion after reclaiming the IBF title, and the
Eimantas Stanionis eventually folded under the pressure from Jaron Ennis.
hope now is that Terence Crawford will force a less cautious version of the Mexican superstar to show up in September. Devin Haney (No. 9 last month) and Jose Ramirez also seemed reluctant to risk much in a fight that saw just over 500 punches thrown. Haney cruised safely to a unanimous decision win, but the performance didn’t really scream “best in the world,” so he was dropped from the list and David Benavidez returned at No. 10.
FEATHERWEIGHT You’d think that with a six-inch height
HEAVYWEIGHT In late February, Martin Bakole sacrificed himself to save the day by swooping in from his home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to be a last-hour replacement against Joseph Parker. On May 3, he was back in
advantage, Rafael Espinoza would’ve been landing a lot of punches on the top of Edward Vazquez’s head, but the lanky WBO titleholder used an astonishing number of uppercuts and body shots – even crouching to do the latter – in pushing his opponent toward a seventh-
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