Ring Mar 2025

The Ring Magazine, March 2025 • Conor Benn Vs. Chris Eubank Jr. • Fatal Fury: City Of The Wolves

56 BUILT FOR BATTLE FEATHERWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER NICK BALL AND LIVERPOOL’S EVERTON RED TRIANGLE GYM WERE MADE FOR EACH OTHER By John Evans 62 FUTURE SHOCK SOME ARE ASKING IF MOSES ITAUMA IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, BUT THE BELIEVERS SAY HE’LL LIVE UP TO THE HYPE By Adam Smith 68 NO MORE WORDS LAUREN PRICE AND NATASHA JONAS ARE PAST THE TALKING STAGE OF THEIR MARCH UNIFICATION – NOW COMES THE ACTION By Diego Morilla 72 FEEDSTORE FOLKLORE WILLIE PEP AND SUGAR RAY ROBINSON ONCE MET IN AN INCONSPICUOUS AMATEUR BOUT NOW STEEPED IN LEGEND By Don Stradley DEPARTMENTS 10 COMMISSIONER’S CORNER By Randy Gordon 13 RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer 16 BY THE NUMBERS By Don Stradley 18 STEVE’S SOAPBOX By Steve Kim 20 BERNSTEIN ON BOXING By Al Bernstein 22 CALL OF THE WARRIOR REVIEW By Thomas Hauser 24 RING RATINGS PACKAGE 28 NEW FACES By Thomas Gerbasi 78 THE FACE OF BOXING By Wojtek Urbanek And Thomas Hauser 80 COME OUT WRITING 82 WORLD BEAT 94 FROM THE ARCHIVE 96 FIGHTLINE

44 SLOW-COOKED SUPERFIGHT

30 IN THE NAME OF THE FATHERS

EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE NAOYA INOUE VS. JUNTO NAKATANI, BUT THE FIGHTERS ARE TAKING THE LONG ROAD By Daisuke Sugiura

CONOR BENN AND CHRIS EUBANK JR. WILL RESUME THE FIERY FEUD STARTED BY THEIR LEGENDARY FATHERS 35 YEARS AGO By Gareth A Davies 38 GOLIATH “MEXICAN MONSTER” DAVID BENAVIDEZ CONTINUES TO FEAST ON CONTENDERS WHILE PURSUING LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT SUPREMACY By Keith Idec

50 SQUARED CIRCLE LOVE TRIANGLE

TEOFIMO LOPEZ SAYS THE FAMILY DRAMA IS UNDER CONTROL AND “THE TAKEOVER” CAN FINALLY RESUME By Joseph Santoliquito

Cover Illustration By Rodrigo Lorenzo

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What is FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves? SNK’s beloved Fatal Fury series first hit the market in 1991, spearheading the fighting game boom that went on to sweep the industry in the 1990s. GAROU: MARK OF THE WOLVES (released in 1999) has for some time served as the franchise’s most recent installment. But that is all about to change. Twenty-six years on, a brand-new entry – FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves – is set to arrive on the scene! FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves features a unique art style, an innovative REV System that supercharges the excitement, plus a host of other battle systems even more robust than before. The game also breathes new life into the series by introducing two distinct control schemes, ensuring the most immersive engagement for newcomers and veterans alike. And those are just some of the new features to be discovered! The streets of South Town are a hotbed of action, wild dreams, and even wilder ambition. Here, at long last, a new legend is about to unfold. About SNK Headquartered in Osaka, Japan, SNK develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software on a global scale. Known for such franchises as THE KING OF FIGHTERS, METAL SLUG and SAMURAI SHODOWN, SNK continues to focus on its rich console game and arcade history.

OPENING SHOTS No fighter likes a stalemate, but this one was a crowd-pleaser: Irish fringe contender Connor Coyle (left) stood his ground against Vito Mielnicki Jr. during an action-packed 10-round middleweight bout on the Denys Berinchyk- Keyshawn Davis undercard, holding off a late rally from the popular New Jersey native to remain unbeaten via majority draw.

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OPENING SHOTS In his first world title challenge and just his 13th pro bout, Keyshawn Davis (left) was untouchable. The 25-year-old Virginian lifted the WBO lightweight crown from Denys Berinchyk with a fourth-round KO in The Theater at Madison Square Garden on February 14.

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stc Group: Connecting the Kingdom and Beyond Just as boxing must constantly evolve to remain competitive, so too must brands adapt and innovate in the dynamic digital landscape. stc Group's impressive climb to a top ten ranking in the Brand Finance Report reflects precisely this kind of evolution: a foundation of established principles adapting to the demands of digital transformation. From its inception, stc has prioritized innovation and customer experience, consistently evolving to meet the changing needs of the market. This forward-thinking approach positions stc as a leader in the tech sector, operating across a diverse range of digital terrains, from cloud infrastructure and terrestrial networks to space-based solutions and even undersea cables.

Saudi in Boxing and Telecoms: A Masterclass in Branding Alexander Isley, [Entrepreneur and branding expert], once said: “A brand is the promise of an experience”. But what happens when a brand transcends a promise and becomes a force of nature? This is the story of boxing’s resurgence and the parallel rise of stc Group, a telecommunications giant, both fueled by the ambition of Saudi Arabia. Boxing’s Revival It’s no exaggeration to say boxing was on the ropes. Since the golden age of Ali and Duran, the sport’s image suffered something of a technical knockout. But the final bell hadn’t yet rung. Boxing is back, revitalized by Saudi Arabia’s strategic investments and negotiating prowess, spearheaded by the vision of H.E Turki Al-Sheikh. Fans are now witnessing the fights they craved, living out modern versions of the iconic moments from the 20th century - and even catching an Oasis show along the way. From Riyadh to London to Las Vegas, the Riyadh Season banner flies high, bringing boxing fans the bouts they had given up on, ushering in a new golden era. Brand Strength: More Than Just Belts How did boxing nearly fade away? The rise and fall of a brand’s strength tells a powerful story. It's a potent mix of history, success, compelling narratives, and an evolving promotional landscape. Boxing battles for attention against a crowded field of sports, from football to golf to MMA. Major fights, like Dubois v AJ, become cultural historic moments. Influencers from around the world are now also fighting for a share of voice, competing with broadcasting powerhouses and global streaming services. But brand strength isn't just about pay-per-view buys and sponsorships. It’s rooted in the feeling you get when you see a punch and hear the crowd gasp - the emotion it stirs, the lives it touches.

strongest brand in the middle east. $16.1 billion brand value

Parallels: A Winning Strategy

The trajectory of stc Group mirrors the strategic growth seen in the resurgence of boxing. Just as strategic investment can elevate boxing’s global profile, stc's commitment to technological advancement has strengthened the vital infrastructure that communities worldwide rely on for connectivity. Both operate within highly competitive environments and understand the power of a trusted and reliable brand. This shared understanding, combined with strategic vision, significant investment, and effective execution, has propelled both to remarkable success. Bright Horizons: Shaping the Future The future is bright for boxing and stc Group – and they are partnering for the journey. Boxing, with its captivating blend of athleticism and drama, is poised for a return akin to its best years. With sustained investment and a focus on renewed storytelling, the sport is reclaiming its global dominance. stc Group remains ideally positioned to capitalize on the ever-growing demand for innovation – and leading the fight into the future of the digital transformation in the Kingdom and beyond. By continuing to innovate and invest, stc has already solidified its position as a leading telecom provider, connecting people and businesses across the region and beyond. Just like boxing, the power of brand building continues to win, and Saudi Arabia is at the center of it all.

Brand Finance Global 500 2025

COMMISSIONER’S CORNER Nothing To Fix Here By Randy Gordon

better today than it ever has been. That’s because of all the training and seminars they go through. Plus, there is so much scrutiny put on these guys by social media, the print media, announcers, the fans and their own commissions. There will always be close decisions and even controversial ones, but you won’t see judges giving close rounds to the hometown [fighter] just because he’s the hometown favorite.” Larry Goldberg , president, Boxing Insider Promotions: “Nobody means for it to happen. Cheering for the local fighter definitely can affect a judge’s perception.” Larry Hazzard , commissioner, New Jersey State Athletic Control Board: “The notion that the hometown fighter should win should not exist in the mind of the judges. Yet that concept is ingrained in the minds of many. It’s up to us, as regulators, to change that. The judges, who are certainly affected by the crowd, need to have the courage to score every close round the correct way and with the correct boxing criteria, and not lean towards the hometown fighter.” Melvina Lathan , former world- class judge and former chairperson of the New York State Athletic Commission: “I never allowed where the fighter is from to come into my mind. I pay attention to the round, score it and move on. In my years as head of the New York State Athletic Commission, I expected the same from my judges. I believe they performed in that very manner.” Don Majeski , booking agent, matchmaker, historian: “Many fights are celebrity-driven. Face it: The tie in any round goes to the attraction. Because judges are human, they can and have been swayed by a cheering hometown crowd. A very close fight between a hometown guy and his out-of-state opponent will usually go to the hometown guy. If

that same fight took place on neutral grounds, either guy could win. But in front of the hometown crowd, the hometown wins. Nothing shady. No incompetence. Just a very close fight in front of a hometown crowd.” John McKaie , New York-based judge: “When I judge, I see two fighters. I don’t care who they are. I score each round on who won, not on where they are from or what their reputation is.” J. Russell Peltz , promoter and IBHOF inductee: “Decades ago, Philadelphia and Massachusetts were two [places] which were known for hometown decisions. Oh, there are some bad decisions rendered, but not so much of the hometown variety. I think because of all the scrutiny, social media and strength of today’s commissions, there are fewer hometown decisions than there were years ago.” Marc Ratner , former longtime executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission and current vice president of regulatory affairs for the UFC: “Living in Las Vegas, where there are so many major fights which have huge ramifications on the sport, I differentiate between ‘bad decisions’ and ‘hometown decisions.’ Most of the big fights, with the exceptions of those including Floyd Mayweather, are fought between non-Nevadans. Many times, favored fighters get beat, and the judges may be one Nevadan and the other two judges from around the country or even from outside the U.S. There are a lot of decisions that are controversial, and some I disagree with, but very few I view as being ‘hometown decisions.’” Jack Reiss , recently retired top referee, still a licensed judge with the California State Athletic Commission. He has judged over 500 bouts: “Our job is to closely watch each round and then score it. I have no – and show no – favoritism to either competitor.”

Tom Taylor , California-based, A-list referee: “I believe we would be naive to think ‘hometown decisions’ don’t happen. Speaking for myself, I view every fight as the blue corner against the red corner. That’s it! Nobody gets any kind of favoritism.” Bruce Trampler , matchmaker and IBHOF inductee: “Hometown decisions are common, but they don’t necessarily imply crookedness. It’s just natural for fans to loudly root for the hometown guy. Their cheering can influence the judges, especially in very close rounds.” Steve Weisfeld , judge, regarded by many as the best in the boxing business: “Before we can even be an apprentice amateur boxing judge, we are taught not to listen to the crowd or be influenced by any number of extraneous factors. Sometimes hometown boxers win, and sometimes they don’t. Both occur due to the action inside the ring, not outside of it.” After you read this, keep a close watch on the decisions rendered on boxing shows you attend or view on TV. You’ll see decisions of every variety. You’ll see ’em all. Rarely will you see a “hometown decision.”

R ecently, I went out to dinner with my wife and three other couples, all neighbors of ours. The four women sat together, talking about who-knows-what, while the group of men discussed some of their favorite things – all of them sports-related (new golf clubs; upcoming skiing trips; would the Los Angeles Dodgers repeat; the collapse of the New York Jets and New York Giants; and what my opinion was of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight). Naturally, I was asked, “Was the outcome fixed?” I told them, “I didn’t know it was broken!” The three guys I was with are all casual fans but truly enjoy talking about boxing, watching boxing and reading about it. They enjoy it so much that I can see each becoming a more ardent, knowledgeable and interested fan. The Paul-Tyson discussion opened up a whole new topic: “Does the hometown (local) fighter always win the decision if there isn’t a knockout ending?” BOOM! That’s the reputation boxing has, even to many IN the business. I explained this to my friends: When I was a young, fledgling fan of boxing more than six decades ago, I believed that hometown fighters would automatically win the decision if the final bell sounded. It’s what I learned from a few uncles and older cousins who watched the sport in the 1940s and ’50s on Friday Night Fights and Gillette Cavalcade of Sports . Also, a boxing judge who was already a 32-year veteran when I became chairman of the NYSAC in 1988 told me, “I always give

close rounds to the hometown fighter when he is facing an out-of- towner.” When I told him he was to immediately change his feeling on that – and he is to score each and every round for the fighter who won the round – he told me my “absurd theory” will get me laughed out of boxing. He told me none of my veteran judges would score it that way. “A tie in any round goes to the hometown fighter,” he insisted. After I spoke to each of those veterans one by one, telling them my “absurd theory,” a few said they would comply with my wishes – and did so going forward. Several didn’t. Their judging licenses weren’t renewed. With all I’ve seen and learned over the decades, the term “hometown decision” still bothers – and concerns – me. Coming from New York, I have seen plenty of close decisions, even a few questionable decisions within New York’s vast boundaries.

Roy Jones Jr. is robbed in the Seoul 1988 Olympic final.

However, in my years as New York’s boxing commissioner, I can honestly say I never witnessed a blatant hometown decision in my state. Not one! Very close? Yes. Controversial? Perhaps, but mainly to the losing fighter and their camp. But blatantly hometown? As I said three paragraphs ago: “Never.” I became curious as to what many of today’s boxing insiders thought of the term “hometown decision.” I called one dozen of the most experienced, qualified names in the

H H H

By the time you read this column, the best boxing card in recent memory – February 22 in Riyadh – will have taken place. Don’t be surprised if, by the end of 2025, many year-end awards come from this absolutely- phenomenal fistic smorgasbord.

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Want to be a part of this column? You can, simply by sending your questions, thoughts, rants… whatever…to my email, which is TheCommishRandyG@gmail.com. I will print several of the best in next month’s “Commissioner’s Corner.”

sport to get their thoughts. Here are their responses:

Henry Hascup , president of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, regarded by many as the leading historian in the sport: “I think the judging is

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RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer The Beast Must Be Fed

March 2025

Founder Nathaniel Fleischer (1888-1972)

K eeping up with what passes for boxing news in this age of “content creation” is difficult even during a slow period. When things speed up, it’s impossible.

Owner His Excellency Turki Alalshikh

Editor-in-Chief Douglass Fischer

Managing Editor Tom Gray

Mind you, I’m not blaming content creators for all of the confusion and misinformation that exists today, and “fake news” certainly isn’t relegated to the boxing world. Tabloids

Senior Editor Brian Harty

Creative Director Lamar Clark

and 24-hour cable news began blurring the lines between rumor and fact – and between informing the public and entertaining the masses – decades before websites replaced newspapers. Now that social media is in full bloom and information is disseminated faster than the speed of thought (or common sense), there’s just no time for seemingly outdated concepts like credible sources and fact-checking, or lofty ethics such as not misleading the public. Journalism has been eschewed in favor of “feeding the beast.” The fans that comprise “the beast” – and, sadly, much of the media that feeds it – can’t tell the difference between an official event announcement, a fight deal that’s still in the works or promotional subterfuge. This was never more evident than during the first week of February, which began with reports that the much-talked-about Canelo Alvarez- Terence Crawford super middleweight clash had been “agreed to” and set for Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, followed by rumors of Canelo vs. Jake Paul on Netflix being a “done deal” for May 3, also in Sin City, followed by news of the abrupt cancellation of Canelo-Crawford. And just before the weekend, news of

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The Canelo-Paul-Crawford news/rumor triangle nearly broke Boxing X.

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Canelo-Paul being canceled sucker- punched an already dazed boxing public just before it was given whiplash by the announcement that Canelo-Crawford was back on. Hardcore fans were confused, bedazzled and disgruntled. And just to be clear, I’m not pointing a finger at any boxing news source – Ringmagazine. com and The Ring’s social media branches were very much a part of the shit show. By the time this issue sees print, “the beast” will have moved on to the next feeding frenzy, so I won’t bother with any deep dives on old news. Nor will I assign blame for the misdirection, as many fans did (understandably), or declare the

THE RING (ISSN: 0035-5410), Special Issue (March 2025), is published 12 times per year by Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC, P.O. Box 90254 Brooklyn, NY 11209. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY 11209 and additional post offices. 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 $8.95 in U.S.A. and Canada (£5.99 in the U.K.). Subscription price U.S. and possession $39.99 for 12 issues including Canada. Mexico add $5. All remaining countries add $10 for 12 issues per year. 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 Sports and Entertainment Publications, 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@sepublications.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.

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RINGSIDE

“winners” and “losers” of the whirlwind news cycle, as content creators and members of the media did. The players involved in what unfolded – Alvarez, Crawford, Paul, Turki Alalshikh, Al Haymon, Richard Schaefer, Netflix and DAZN – are all power brokers in this wayward business. They’ll be just fine – at least financially speaking – no matter what happens. Here’s all that matters to me: Alvarez gave Paul the middle finger and signed a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season beginning with William Scull in Saudi Arabia on May 3, which sets up the most intriguing matchup that can take place in America and could quite possibly be Canelo’s swan song on U.S. soil. I don’t care much for his Riyadh debut. Scull, the holder of the IBF 168-pound title that was stripped from then-undisputed champ Alvarez last year, is no different from the challengers the Mexican star outclassed in 2024 – Jaime Munguia and Edgar Berlanga. Scull is undefeated, Ring-ranked, and he has no chance. The only difference is that the Germany-based Cuban lacks the aforementioned pair’s fan-friendly styles (and fan followings). However, a victory over Scull will lead to the Vegas showdown with Crawford in September, and I do care about that one. It’s the biggest legit event that can take place in North America, and the U.S. boxing scene desperately needs it. It might be the last major U.S. event that Alvarez takes part in. The other two fights of Canelo’s four-bout deal will take place in Riyadh in February and October 2026. Alalshikh’s social media post announcing the deal with Canelo noted that February and October would be “big fights.” A rematch with Dmitry Bivol has been mentioned as a potential matchup for the February date along with other opponents that, quite frankly,

gloves). Here’s some free advice for Paul: Instead of talking your usual shit during the pre-fight buildup to this fight, just hang out with Andy. Smoke weed, play Xbox, do fun shit and share it on your social media. That will be sufficient promotion, and I bet it encourages the big lug to take it easy on ya. Badou Jack – No, this respected veteran isn’t Mexican, but his world title is! The Dubai-based Swede, who faced the best super middleweights and light heavyweights before moving to cruiserweight, isn’t as big as Ruiz, but he’s more dangerous because he’s serious about his profession. Paul won’t get the WBC 200-pound titleholder to agree to Tyson Rules, but he might be getting him at the right time. Jack is 41 and hasn’t fought in more than two years. More free advice for Paul: Get him now before someone else does, like the WBC’s No. 1 contender, Ryan Rozicki. Rozicki, the heavily tattooed hitter from Canada who bears an uncanny resemblance to Conan O’Brien, might not be a bad choice for Paul if Ruiz and Jack aren’t available. I’m kidding. That dude is terrifying. He’ll try to kill Jake. I have no idea who Paul will choose to fight this year or who will ultimately face Alvarez in 2026 – and there’s no doubt that there will be a revolving door of rumored opponents – but I hope the coverage of that process is done with more professionalism and patience than the reporting of their aborted May 3 event. I know that’s easy for the editor of a magazine to say. A monthly publication isn’t under the insane minute-by-minute pressure to break news that websites and social media accounts are tasked with. The Ring often has the luxury of waiting until the dust settles on finalized events before writing about them, so we have time for journalism and the ethics that come with the profession. I only bring this up, dear readers, because I want you to hold us to those standards. We have to feed the beast like every other media outlet, but we’ll feed it quality food.

sound only slightly more interesting than William Scull. I doubt either of Canelo’s 2026 dates will include David Benavidez, The Ring’s No. 2-rated light heavyweight, who spent three years (2021-2023) lobbying for a shot at the future hall of famer. Alvarez, a 66-bout veteran at 34, has reached the “Money” Mayweather phase of his near-20-year pro career. Let’s face it, Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs), known to his fans as the “Mexican Monster,” is what a prime, mid-2000s Antonio Margarito was to the aging welterweight version of Floyd – too much pressure, too many punches, too big, too damn tough and too much risk. I won’t be shocked if 2026 is Canelo’s final year as a prizefighter. I wish there were a legitimate Mexican or American star ready to take his place, but alas, the best-known boxer that North America has to offer is a former Disney Channel actor who made his name during the early days of social media and content creation. Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) – whose previous bout, an eight-round decision over 58-year-old Mike Tyson, nearly crashed Netflix – actually has the opportunity to become an even bigger attraction by taking over the May and September holiday weekends that had belonged to Canelo (and to Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya and Julio Cesar Chavez in previous decades). I have a couple dance-partner suggestions for Paul if he does indeed take over the Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day weekend dates: Andy Ruiz – the roly-poly former unified heavyweight champ is Mexican, bilingual, affable and, believe it or not, he’s still got fans despite only fighting three times over the past five years and looking pedestrian at best. Ruiz is also laid-back to his detriment (and Paul’s advantage). He might be past his prime and desperate enough for the payday to play nice with Paul, especially if the 28-year-old influencer fights him under the “Tyson Rules” (eight-round distance, two-minute rounds, 14-ounce

Tyson-Paul was a megaevent, but not the kind Canelo wants to be part of.

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BY THE NUMBERS: King Levinsky by Don Stradley • Illustration by KronkAAArt He’s not in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, but hard- hitting Harris Krakow of Chicago, better known as “King Levinsky,” was more entertaining than 80% of the people enshrined in Canastota. After all, this is a man who claimed he once lost a fight because his feet hurt. It was only later that he realized he’d put his shoes on the wrong feet. Here’s his story by the numbers.

seconds against Joe Louis » In 1935, a whopping crowd of 39,195 came out to Chicago’s Comiskey Park to see Louis destroy Levinsky in less than a round. Levinsky went down four times before referee Norman McGarrity stopped the debacle. For perhaps the only time in his career, Levinsky heard boos from a Chicago audience. He’d never fight in his home city again. The fight spurred rumors that a terrified Levinsky begged the referee to stop it, which Levinsky denied. There were also allegations that gangsters had paid Levinsky to flop. Adding to Levinsky’s woes, his purse was held up by a local fishmonger who claimed Kingfish owed him money for a shipment of herring.

title shots » The closest Levinsky came to a title shot was in 1934, when he boxed an exhibition with reigning champion Max Baer. In Round 2, Levinsky made the mistake of taunting the champ. Baer responded by knocking Levinsky cold. According to the AP report, Kingfish “had to be carried to his corner” and needed five minutes to recuperate.

suitcase full of neckties » Levinsky tried several occupations, including stints as a tavern owner and a professional wrestler. His real talent, and what he became best known for, was hustling neckties. The old fish peddler became a necktie peddler, cutting a swath from Chicago to Miami to Las Vegas, his merchandise displayed in a giant cardboard case. He managed to sell enough of the gaudy things to make a living of sorts. It became common to see Levinsky at major fights or baseball training camps putting the squeeze on someone to buy one of his items. Boxing insiders made jokes about him and his ties, and at least once every few years some sportswriter would fill a column with tales of the pathetic old heavyweight reduced to selling ugly neckwear. Yet Levinsky seemed happy. He was usually driving a flashy car with an attractive lady for company. Life was good. Levinsky claimed his customers included Frank Sinatra and other celebrities, and by the 1970s his wife (number three) was giving the ties a personal touch by ironing on a special “King Levinsky” autograph. Levinsky had a few different sales pitches, one of which was “Hey, I’m punch drunk. Can you help me out by buying a tie?” Another had Kingfish saying, “I’m only selling neckties until I can get a rematch with Joe Louis.” Perhaps his greatest hustle involved a simple wristwatch. Levinsky would show it to some sucker and say, “Dempsey gave this to me after we fought. It’s probably worth a few hundred bucks, but I’ll sell it to you for 20.” Once the sale was made and the happy customer walked away, Levinsky would reach into his pocket and produce another watch identical to the one he’d just sold. There’s no telling how many people thought they owned the very watch that Dempsey had given to Levinsky. People often debated if he was as dumb as he acted, but when it came to separating people from their money, all agreed Kingfish was a genius.

fights » Levinsky (1910-1991) was primarily a heavyweight gatekeeper. If you were a young prospect during the Great Depression era or a faded star making a comeback, you’d inevitably cross swords with him. He wasn’t clever or crafty, just a slugger who somehow managed to win more fights than he lost. Levinsky’s record of 74-35-7 (with 40 KOs) reflects an erratic career, but not his ability to draw customers or the stunning power of his overhand right. The Brooklyn Times Union once described Levinsky’s right hand as “a fearful thing to watch as it goes swishing through the air.” Having grown up in Chicago’s largely Jewish west side, Levinsky first earned money at his family’s fish market on Maxwell Street. When he turned to boxing, his wild- swinging style and fun-loving personality earned him a local following. Because of his earlier vocation, Levinsky became known forever as “The Kingfish.” Levinsky’s most significant win came in 1931, when he conquered the brilliant Tommy Loughran. In what the Associated Press called the “biggest ring upset of the season,” Levinsky defeated the former light heavyweight champion by 10-round decision, dropping him multiple times in the process. Though Loughran defeated him in two other bouts, Levinsky’s victory over him was a career peak. Levinsky also triumphed over Leo Lomski, Jimmy Slattery, Paulino Uzcudun, former heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey and Don McCorkindale, whom Levinsky decked seven times en route to a decision win. There was also a surprise first-round knockout of the highly regarded Charley Retzlaff. Unfortunately, he failed against Max Baer and Primo Carnera. “Da Preem” beat Levinsky twice on points. Baer did the same.

equally colorful sister » Not trusting the people around her brother, Levinsky’s sister, Lena, left the family fish business and became his co-manager. “She was crazy,” said promoter Chris Dundee. “She would cuss like a man, and when she was at ringside, she was jumpin’ all over the place. That’s why they called her ‘Leapin’ Lena.’” Known for constantly changing her hair color and for a shrieking voice that could be heard up in the cheap seats of any arena, Lena amused sportswriters with her bold behavior. Among her many stunts was when she came between Kingfish and his new wife, a 19-year-old fan dancer named Rosie Glickman. Thanks partly to Lena’s meddling, the marriage lasted only six weeks. (Rosie sued Lena, claiming she had turned Kingfish against her.) Indeed, Lena was a unique character. But in 1935, after she’d suffered a nervous breakdown, a trio of psychiatrists declared Lena insane. After a period at Kankakee State Hospital, Lena resurfaced in the 1940s as the owner of a dress shop. Though famously protective of her brother, Lena was sometimes accused of mishandling his finances. Even Kingfish said, “Lena lost the money because she fell in love with a con man.”

did the crowd. Dempsey blamed his poor performance on a head cold, but Levinsky’s 15-year edge in youth had something to do with it, too. “When the bell clanged at the finish of the fourth round,” Dempsey wrote in his 1977 autobiography, “I knew I no longer had any business being in the ring.” Being known as the man who thwarted Dempsey’s comeback was nice publicity. Kingfish milked it for the rest of his life.

rounds with

Jack Dempsey » When Dempsey’s post- retirement barnstorming tour brought him to Chicago in February of 1932, Levinsky was the obvious opponent. The exhibition drew more than 23,000 fans to Chicago Stadium, breaking the city’s previous indoor attendance record for boxing. When it was over, 18 of the 24 sportswriters polled thought Levinsky got the best of it, as

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STEVE’S SOAPBOX

R.I.P. To The Dean Of Boxing Writers By Steve Kim

“If he had the opportunity to go after something, he was going to double and triple down on that opportunity, even if he didn’t feel that strongly about it.”

was irascible. He was curmudgeonly. He was Oscar the Grouch. He could turn on a dime. His fuckin’ cane was a lethal weapon – and I loved him.” In the 1980s and ’90s, Katz was arguably the most powerful boxing scribe in America. Pre-internet, almost every major paper had a dedicated boxing writer that did weekly columns and covered the big fights. And being based in New York (first with the New York Times and then the Daily News) meant he had the biggest bully pulpit. “He was very influential,” said DiBella, “because he was among the two or three best boxing writers of his time. But also because he didn’t give a single fuck and was a gigantic fan.” In that era, the likes of Katz, Borges, Wallace Matthews, Jerry Izenberg, Jon Saraceno, Pat Putnam, Ed Schuyler, George Kimball, Bernard Fernandez and Phil Berger were the guardians at the gate. What they wrote mattered. To DiBella, what Katz thought meant even more. “I consulted Michael Katz more about the matches I made and the decisions I had to make than I did anyone else in the press,” he admitted. DiBella believes that generation of writers was much more independent and downright ballsier than modern- day media members. He has a point. But being friendly with Katz didn’t shelter you from his barbs. “Katz would kill me when he was in on a fight I made,” DiBella says with a laugh. “One of my funniest stories ever was after [Arturo] Gatti had been in one of his losses – which was a bloodbath. In the next fight, Katz calls me and goes, ‘You’re a sick fuck. You’re the greatest matchmaker of your time, but you’re a sick fuck. You’re like the Marquis de Sade. What are you trying to do, kill people?’ “And then he goes, ‘I love it. It’s a great fight.’” A few days later, DiBella opened up the paper. “[Katz is] ripping me apart for putting ... Gatti in another World War, calling me ‘Marquis de Sade.’” Katz was fearless and perhaps

reckless in his approach. He could have the most poisonous of pens, something that DiBella admired. “If he had the opportunity to go after something, he was going to double and triple down on that opportunity, even if he didn’t feel that strongly about it. If he had an angle, if he had a story, he didn’t care who he offended. In fact, if he wasn’t offending somebody, he thought he wasn’t doing it right.” DiBella freely admits: “Michael Katz was a mentor in some ways, a dear friend of mine. He still went after me more than people I don’t get along with. You weren’t going to change Michael, and that’s why you loved him, because there was an honesty and a professionalism around his curmudgeonly, insanely hostile nature at times that just made him one of the best.” While Katz’s relationship with DiBella was mostly love with a bit of hate, it was hate and more hate with Arum, the founder of Top Rank, who was the unintended third man in the Katz-Borges fracas. “He clearly wasn’t objective,” said Arum, who admitted that other writers who came before him had severe biases of their own, pointing out that Dick Young was so anti-Don King that “when you read him, you had to take him with a grain of salt.” But what truly bothered Arum was that “Katz tried to peddle himself as

being fair. He wasn’t.” Things got so bad between them that Arum sued Katz for libel after he called him a “Yom Kippur whore” in a piece he penned for International Boxing Digest in 1997 as Top Rank promoted a fight card on HBO during that holy weekend. After some intervention from Thomas Hauser, a settlement was reached, and Katz did issue an apology. Things never thawed between the two. “No, I never liked Katz. I never liked his personality. I never liked the fact that he felt himself to be the oracle, when he wasn’t,” Arum told The Ring. “I thought he was a posturer and I didn’t think he was a great writer. That’s the truth.” Arum, who is now 93, has a much higher assessment of the generation of writers that came before the above- mentioned, including Young, Red Smith, Milton Gross, Shirley Povich and his personal favorite, Jim Murray. In Arum’s view, they were truly gifted wordsmiths. Those who came after them were “pale reflections.” Katz was not beloved by everyone. With his personality, and with what he wrote, he probably understood that better than anyone. There are many descriptions that have been written about him, but perhaps it was put the best by longtime manager Shelly Finkel, who at one time enjoyed a close relationship with Katz: “He was a boxing character.”

O n Tuesday, January 28, word started to Michael Katz had passed away at the age of 85. This news was confirmed as his colleagues who for years had a seat on press row beside him started to pen tributes in his honor. One of the most poignant came from Ron Borges (formerly of the Boston Globe), who at one time was his friend, and then a hated rival – to a point that they had an infamous skirmish at a Top Rank promotion that got physical and left Bob Arum spread throughout the boxing community that

on the floor as collateral damage. Borges had the grace to laud Katz for his talent and his moments of goodness, but also the honesty to point out his flaws. To love Katz meant that you would inevitably hate him at times. To be his friend meant that you were inevitably going to be his enemy, at least at certain points. That’s just the way it was with the talented and temperamental “Dean of Boxing Writers,” who wrote loudly and carried a big cane – that he wasn’t afraid to swing. Perhaps his unconditional love was reserved for his family, which seemed

The late, great Mike Katz was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.

to be the case. For everyone else, his feelings were a bit more volatile, depending on his mood or his internet connection that day. With him, you were either an ally or an adversary. There was almost no in-between. Lou DiBella, who from 1993-2000 was the “boxing czar” for HBO Sports, was among those who greatly admired Katz. He said of him, “Katz

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BERNSTEIN ON BOXING This Is The Way By Al Bernstein

demeanor and even suggested she’s happy to come back to America for the rematch despite the incident and losing a close decision. There are differences to point out between these two women. The 34-year-old Mayer, adept and comfortable with being a public figure in every way, is three years older than Ryan, the more reserved, less-loquacious Brit. And Mikaela has more pro experience with a 20-2 record to Sandy’s 7-2-1 mark. They have, however, traveled a somewhat similar boxing highway. Both had lengthy and successful amateur careers that had them starting somewhat late as pros at age 27. Both have been in close fights that did not go their way. Mayer suffered two heart-wrenching losses, one to Alycia Baumgardner, and the other to Ryan’s countrywoman, the ageless Natasha Jonas. The Jonas loss was especially tough, because the vast majority of fans and pundits (including me) thought Mayer won that decision. Ryan lost the close one to Mayer and was robbed of a win by way of a spurious draw vs. Jessica McCaskill, denying her two additional titles and a Ring championship. She also lost a split decision to former longtime lightweight and junior welterweight titleholder Erica Farias in an upset but avenged that defeat. Farias also lost a decision to Mayer around the same time. Another similarity between the two is that both were able to get title matches immediately following title losses. Mayer’s next fight after the loss to Jonas was her chance at Ryan’s title, and here we have Ryan getting the immediate rematch with Mayer. I mentioned this kind of thing as a strength of women’s boxing, and it is that. But fair reporting dictates that I point out the fact that women’s boxing still has work to do in creating better depth of good fighters in each division. So, the good name fighters have an easier time getting “next” without falling far back in line. In men’s boxing, there is more depth in

most divisions, and that works against this happening as much. There is no question, however, that the number of highly talented women in each division, especially the lighter weight classes, has vastly improved in the last several years, and this process continues at a fairly rapid pace. So, what of this appealing rematch in the ring on March 29? It is a perfect style matchup. Neither woman was down or hurt in their first match, but both appeared to be buzzed a couple of times by big shots, and there were plenty landed. Ryan needs a quicker start in the rematch. She surrendered some early rounds – or more aptly put, Mayer took them. In a 10-round fight with only 20 minutes of actual boxing, that can cost you the fight. Ryan’s mission is to cut off the ring and create good angles for her counterpunching. Mayer, who used lateral movement to good effect, combined clever boxing with moments when she stood her ground and landed quick combinations. She would like to repeat that in this match. There is no question Ryan was doing better in the second half of the fight than she did in the first part. Can she sustain that momentum in “Round 11”? We are talking about nuanced changes in strategy and technique, but overall it would be shocking if this match was not extremely similar to the first fight – and that is precisely why it merits a column from me in Ring Magazine. There is no reason to think we won’t see another fight of the year candidate. While the drama surrounding the first event has fueled much of the interest in this rematch, at the end of the day it is more noteworthy on its own merit. It is one of two women’s welterweight title matches in March. On March 7, Jonas is defending her two crowns against the undefeated Ring/WBA champ Lauren Price, the pride of Wales. It would be on-brand for women’s boxing if the winners of these two fights would meet this year to create an undisputed champ, and that has already been discussed

publicly by the four participants. In 2024, there were seven title unification matches in women’s boxing and two more with all four titles and Ring championships on the line for undisputed status. And more importantly, almost all of the title defenses were between two of the best fighters in their respective divisions. As the first quarter of the year comes to an end with what most everyone expects to be an exciting battle between Mayer and Ryan, the rest of the year in women’s boxing should start to come into focus. A Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano trilogy match is expected to happen, and anyone who saw the first two believes the third will be another thrilling chapter in their storied rivalry. Claressa Shields is likely to lure either Savannah Marshall or Franchon Crews-Dezurn to her new, higher weight class for rematches. Shields and Crews-Dezurn had an exciting battle in their pro debuts, and the Shields-Marshall 2022 battle was one of best of the year, male or female. Newer champions seeking to be established stars, like Gabriela Fundora, Caroline Dubois, Skye Nicolson, Ellie Scotney and Yamileth Mercado, will be scheduling title defenses, and veteran champs such as Alycia Baumgardner, Terri Harper and Dina Thorslund will look for big fights to burnish their reputations. Chantelle Cameron, the only one with an official win over Taylor, is seeking a chance at another world title. Even to invested boxing fans, some of these names may not be familiar, and that is the challenge women’s boxing continues to face – more exposure for its talented fighters. But even on the male side of things, that problem exists. While all that sorts itself out, women’s boxing can rest assured that in the welterweight division, March promises more excitement with its top four fighters facing each other and an undisputed champion within sight. But then again, in women’s boxing, as the Mandalorian would say, “This is the way.”

The first Ryan vs. Mayer fight was an all-out war in New York.

Or maybe you are a fan that doesn’t care about that stuff but just loves a great fight? Well, when Ryan decided to still go through with the fight after that traumatic incident, she combined with Mayer to produce one of the very best fights of 2024. It was 10 rounds of back-and-forth action, Mayer controlling parts of the fight with combination punching, movement and good countering, while Ryan found her rhythm in the middle rounds and then landed big left hooks and rights as she marched ahead. It was a scintillating and close fight that ended in a reasonable majority decision verdict for Mayer, marred only by Waleska Roldan’s absurd 97-93 scorecard. There is no universe in which Ryan won only three of the 10 rounds. It was a fight that cried out for a rematch because of the closeness and excellence of the fight and the events leading up to it. This being women’s boxing, of course we get a return bout. The tension between these two boxers and their camps is still thick going into the rematch. Mayer is anxious to put to bed the idea that she won because Ryan was distracted by the horrid event on fight day, and Ryan badly wants to win her title back. Mayer, with experience as a media person herself, is more adept at framing things about Ryan – even to Ryan’s face. The Californian has tried to get in Ryan’s head in joint interviews. She says that Ryan’s team failed her in how they reacted to the fight-day incident and has suggested to Ryan that they will do so again this time. Great Britain’s Ryan, for her part, has tried to present a calm

M ost everything about women’s boxing is terrific. The best in the sport fight each other regularly, no one gets kicked to the curb for losing a fight, and action-packed 10-round title fights with razor-thin margins of victory are the norm, not the exception. If there was ever a poster child for all that, it is the March 29 rematch between Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan. This fight is the sequel to a WBO welterweight title bout that literally had something for any boxing fan,

no matter what their taste. Are you someone who likes turmoil, conflict and hostility in the build-up to a fight? Well, ahead of their September 27 battle last year, Mayer accused Ryan of stealing her longtime trainer, Kay Koroma, to train her for the fight. Pre- fight appearances featuring both camps were volatile, to say the least, and as Ryan was leaving the hotel to go the arena on fight night, some cowardly jerk drove by and threw red paint on her as she stepped out the front door. This put the fight in jeopardy and fueled more rancor between the two camps. Enough turmoil for you?

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BOOK REVIEW: Call of the Warrior By Thomas Hauser C all of the Warrior is a coffee-table photo book published by Hail Mary (founded in 2020 with the goal of publishing high-quality art and photography books). Twenty-eight members of the boxing community are profiled, with text written by Gareth A Davies and matching photo layouts. The book has superb production values. Its 256 pages are printed on heavy, glossy stock. If there’s a flaw, it’s that the text is a little too smooth around the edges. The book is a celebration of boxing. But too often, its subjects are portrayed in an overly flattering light. Davies has been covering boxing since 1990. He’s one of the sport’s most knowledgeable observers and knows its underside well. The inclusion of dark shadows would have allowed the light to shine brighter in the contrast. Call of the Warrior is available from multiple outlets, including https:// hailmarypublishing.co.uk. Thomas Hauser’s email address is thomashauserwriter@gmail. com. His most recent book – MY MOTHER and me – is a personal memoir available at Amazon. com. In 2004, the Boxing Writers Association of America honored Hauser with the Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence in boxing journalism. In 2019, Hauser was selected for boxing’s highest honor – induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Joe Calzaghe: “There’s always a temptation to fight, especially if you’re the champ and no one has ever beaten you. But I’d come to a point where the satisfaction of retiring undefeated outweighed the thrill of another fight.” Photo by Sonya Jasinski

paranoia. And having reached my Everest, I didn’t know what was left for me in life. Now I know what it is. And I have to deal with it. After the fights, I’m depressed. I have two characters. Tyson Fury as a man is very flawed. But The Gypsy King is untouchable. He’s never experienced a low time or depression

Canelo Alvarez: Destiny is not a matter of chance It’s a matter of choice Life is hard but never give up Keep on fighting & always believe in yourself to achieve your Dreams Photo by Sonya Jasinski

Tyson Fury: “Beating Klitschko, a goal I’d had from the age of fourteen, triggered something. I’ve suffered with a lot of mental health problems my whole life – OCD, depression, anxiety,

or anxiety. Never had suicidal thoughts. When I return from that person and come back into myself, that’s when I have trouble. Tyson Fury is a man, not a boxer.” Photo by Sonya Jasinski

Frank Warren: “My thing about boxing is never be disappointed about being disappointed. That’s it. Get on with it. Take each day as it comes. Expect the unexpected.”

Photo by Sonya Jasinski

Anthony Joshua: “This wasn’t planned. I didn’t start boxing when I was ten or eleven years old. I fell into this. At first, it was just a bit of fun. I wanted to get strong. I enjoyed it.”

Photo by Chris Floyd

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