NOVEMBER 2025
The Ring Magazine - The Bible of Boxing, November 2025 • Volume 102, No. 12
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40 THERE WAS ONLY ONE RICKY HATTON WILL FOREVER BE REMEMBERED AS THE CONSUMMATE PEOPLE’S CHAMPION By Gareth A Davies 46 THE WEIGHT OF HISTORY EVEN COMPARED TO PAST CHAMPIONS WHO JUMPED DIVISIONS IN SEARCH OF GLORY, TERENCE CRAWFORD’S VICTORY OVER CANELO ALVAREZ IS A STAGGERING ACHIEVEMENT By Don Stradley 52 THE FINAL CONFLICT? CHRIS EUBANK JR. DISCUSSES HIS BLOCKBUSTER REMATCH WITH CONOR BENN AND A CAREER BEYOND FAMILY FEUDS By Tom Gray 62 SIX DAYS IN NAGOYA A JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN TO WITNESS NAOYA INOUE IN ACTION By Tom Gray
68 THEREINVENTION AFTER A HIGH-PROFILE
28 BY THE NUMBERS By Don Stradley 31 RING RATINGS 44 IN MEMORIAM: JOE BUGNER By Lee Groves 58 HOW TO WATCH BOXING By Adam Abramowitz 74 FUNDAMENTALS By Michael Rosenthal 86 COLLECTOR’S SHOWCASE By Dan Rafael 88 THE FIGHT DOCTOR By Dr. Margaret Goodman 90 A SLICE OF BOXING By Thomas Hauser 92 COMMISSIONER’S CORNER By Randy Gordon 94 FINISHING SHOTS 96 FIGHTLINE
PERFORMANCE THAT FAILED TO IMPRESS, HAMZAH SHEERAZ REGROUPED AND RETURNED WITH A VENGEANCE By Cormac O’Donnell 76 MYTHICALMATCHUP: NAOYA INOUE VS. WILLIE PEP “THE WILL O’ THE WISP” TAKES ON “THE MONSTER” IN A FIGHT FOR THE UNDISPUTED FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP By Ron Lipton DEPARTMENTS 4 OPENING SHOTS 13 COME OUT WRITING 17 RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer 23 BERNSTEIN ON BOXING By Al Bernstein 26 STEVE’S SOAPBOX By Steve Kim
RIYADH SEASON BOXING
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Young fans get a look at Terence Crawford’s new belt at a Raiders vs. Chargers NFL game in Las Vegas.
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OPENING SHOTS STALEMATE AT 168: On the Canelo vs. Crawford undercard in Las Vegas, two unbeaten super middleweights put it all on the line in a high-octane thriller. Both Canada’s Christian Mbilli (left) and Guatemala’s Lester Martinez enjoyed serious success throughout the course of a pulsating 10-round bout. The split draw was deemed a fair result and sets the stage for an immediate rematch.
RINGMAGAZINE.COM 5
Fast & Simple Banking
Beyond the Ropes: How KSA’s Digital Revolution is Reshaping Boxing
The global fight game is undergoing a seismic shift, and its new center of gravity is in Saudi Arabia. This transformation is driven by a national blueprint that has made sports a cornerstone of economic and social growth. At the heart of this transformation is stc group, the technology powerhouse building the future of boxing with its state-of-the-art digital infrastructure. A New Golden Era in Riyadh Forget the old guard. Riyadh Season has become the new standard for mega-fights, making once- impossible matchups a reality, attracting the sport’s biggest names with purses that are reshaping the landscape of prizefighting. The evidence for this approach lies in Saudi Arabia’s ability to unite rival promoters and their fighters on single fight cards to make previously impossible matchups a reality. Events like the “Day of Reckoning” and the “5 vs 5” in Riyadh are prime examples of this, as they featured top fighters from competing stables and promoters working together to create an environment where the biggest fights can finally happen. This is a strategic way to overcome the traditional fragmentation in the sport that has often prevented these highly anticipated bouts from taking place. This commitment to elevating the sport extends beyond the ring, with the construction of world-class, purpose-built venues like Kingdom Arena. Saudi Arabia is proving it can deliver on its ambitious vision for sports entertainment. These events serve a strategic purpose: to boost tourism and diversify the economy. This trajectory is underscored by the projected growth of the Saudi sports market, which is expected to swell from $8 billion to a massive $22.4 billion by 2030. Delivering on this vision and sustaining such growth requires a world-class digital backbone. Powered by stc group: The Digital Corner For Saudi Arabia, stc group is providing the digital infrastructure that makes these mega-events possible, acting as the key enabler of this transformation. The company’s high-speed 5G network is critical, enabling flawless, high-definition live streaming for global broadcasters. It’s a vital link between the drama in the ring and millions of fans worldwide, ensuring a seamless viewing experience with zero lag, even with millions of simultaneous users.
Inside the arena, stc group is pushing the envelope of fan engagement. While AR wayfinding that guides fans to facilities and seating, it signals the kind of innovation being developed to elevate future venue experience. Separately, 360° immersive streaming, at home viewing experience with multi angle coverage, that already implemented during the Formula 1 Grand Prix and a recent football match at Kingdom Arena offers a glimpse into the future of how fans will experience live events. These technologies bring fans closer to the action while demonstrating the potential of stc group’s infrastructure to transform sports entertainment at scale. Beyond the ring, stc group’s digital footprint supports the entire Riyadh Season festival, from F1 to the Esports World Cup, proving that this is not just a boxing play but a comprehensive digital strategy. This focus on live broadcasting and immersive fan engagement aligns with a broader trend in the global sports industry, which sees content creation and distribution as a top use case for technology like GenAI. Building a Legacy Beyond the Canvas This boxing boom is just one facet of a broader sporting ambition, as Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive strategy includes parallel investments in sports like football and motorsports. Its rising prominence is evidenced by the country’s hosting of more than seven major boxing events since 2021. Saudi is building a culture of sports and a sense of national pride from the ground up, not merely hosting events. This transformation is fueled by strategic investments and the digital infrastructure provided by partners like stc group. As a leading digital enabler, stc group is a key force behind this shift, providing the advanced infrastructure and technological partnerships that enable these global-scale events and shape the future of sports. By setting a new standard for promotion, production, and global fan interaction, stc group is helping Saudi Arabia build boxing’s future, not just host it.
powering the future of sports in KSA
COME OUT WRITING
Canelo Alvarez is a great fighter. He fought the best of several weight classes in an impressive way. One of the best in years. Then there was Terence Crawford. Not only did he fight the perfect fight, he really fought. Not only was he moving perfectly in and out, he also scored with big shots. It reminded me of Hagler- Leonard. Leonard fought a clever fight, piling up the points necessary to win. Against an all-time great. Canelo said it best: He couldn’t get a grip on Crawford. All credit to the winner. And also to the one who lost – fighting hard and no excuses. Jaap Paulsen
One Pace
EVERY STRIDE BUILDS STRENGTH
KING CRAWFORD Terence Crawford truly showcased to the world what it’s been missing out on. He was exceptional, relentlessly attacking and maintaining his defensive stance throughout the entire 12 rounds. He engaged in toe-to- toe combat with Canelo Alvarez throughout the fight. While I believe Canelo gave it his all, he simply couldn’t comprehend Crawford’s fighting style. And that’s what makes Crawford remarkable – his adaptability. In my opinion, Crawford is the Michael Jordan/GOAT of this era, and he’s a fighter every aspiring boxer should study. Stuart Stilwell Crawford, gracious in victory, did not try to diminish Canelo’s legacy and personally returned the defeated fighter’s belts. Canelo, humble in defeat, made no excuses and maintained that he did everything he could to win. He praised the skill of Crawford and admitted the new champion was the better man that
evening. These are the kind of role models all men should look toward in today’s adversarial age. A true champion has talent, takes real risks and respects both his opponent and the ultimate outcome. This was a beautiful night for boxing on many levels, and I cannot think of a better face for the sport right now than Terence Crawford. Joe Vandeven Crawford won because he fought Canelo exactly the way he should have. Through fast footwork (which Canelo lacks), jabs and combos, Bud effectively took him apart. Piece by piece, round by round. He didn’t engage in too much power punching; Canelo has a strong chin and has taken heavy blows from big fighters before. I knew that Crawford would win by decision and the fight would go the distance. He effectively put on a boxing clinic. It’s not so much heavy punching as it is time-tested, fundamental technique. Mike Moorhead
Impossible. That’s what many said as Crawford dared to be great. Then they tried saying he was only in it for the payday. I’ve watched all kinds of narratives, only to watch Bud defeat them all. From “he don’t sell” to “he’s on the wrong side of the street” to “he is too small.” All along the way, TBC took many 0s. He fought every style put in front of him. It took around six years, but he made a meme out of ESJ once he finally got the fight. Even I questioned if Canelo was too big a bite. Once the first three rounds were over, it was clear who would win. The fight reminded me of the Spence fight, except Canelo has a chin. Bud Crawford cemented himself in the top five pound-for-pound of all time. His legacy of what he does for the kids and the city of Omaha will live way past his sports legacy. I don’t forget either that it takes his whole team. TBC listening to trainers made everything possible. Eric D
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to gloat. It was just thanking him for everything he did for me – which he obviously deflected humbly. Gosh. I can’t believe I’m never going to talk to him again. Literally tears in my eyes. I was about to text him during the Canelo-Crawford broadcast complaining how late the main event is starting on the East Coast. Maybe I’ll start up my East Coast notebook for Ring again in memory of Tom. Man, this hurts. David Kolb MIKE MCCALLUM Thank you to The Ring for the article on the late, great Mike McCallum (September 2025). “The Bodysnatcher” was one of the best fighters of his era. May he rest in peace. Because he was so talented, he was among the most COME OUT WRITING
Contrary to the popular narrative that Crawford destroyed Canelo and dominated the fight, that simply isn’t accurate. This was a much closer contest than people realize. I encourage everyone to rewatch it – without commentary – and carefully score each round. Yes, Crawford did win, but by a razor-thin margin. His clean combinations against the so- called boogeyman of the 168-pound division naturally created excitement and earned him well-deserved credit. But let’s be clear: This was not a one- sided performance. Crawford pulled ahead in the final rounds, but it wasn’t domination – it was a tactical edge, and just barely. As a side note, Canelo looked like a man who’s lost some of his hunger. He came to box, not to destroy – and against an all-time great like Crawford, that’s a dangerous strategy. The Canelo who fought GGG or who stopped Caleb Plant would have had a much better shot here. With more aggression, motivation, better combination work and less telegraphing, he could’ve pushed Crawford into real trouble. If Canelo can make those adjustments – and rediscover that ruthless edge – a rematch could be a very different story. J. Armando Lopez I’ve been telling everyone that would listen that Crawford was going to win. He is too skilled to get caught by anything Canelo had. Real boxing fans won a lot of money on September 13. Ed Lysaght You always hear the old saying in boxing: “Styles make fights.” To me, that’s what this whole Crawford- Canelo fight came down to. Crawford’s ability to adjust, control range and set traps was always going to give him the edge. Canelo’s a powerhouse, no doubt, but I figured Crawford’s style – measured, patient – and boxing IQ would pile up the rounds on the scorecards. That’s why I leaned toward him winning a decision.
What I wasn’t sure about, though, was whether the judges would actually give it to him. I’ve watched enough boxing to know that sometimes the guy who deserves it doesn’t always get the nod (Triple G’s fights with Canelo still stick in my head). So, yeah, I had that concern in the back of my mind. But wow, what a fight, and was I happy with how it all turned out. Crawford showed why he’s special, and the right guy got the decision. Both guys carried themselves with class and respect after the fight. That’s the kind of thing boxing needs more of, and I hope we keep seeing it. Jason Young
room with my uncles. I was such a huge fan of him as a kid that I cried when he lost to Pacquiao. I couldn’t even watch boxing for a while after that. His style, attitude, look, resilience and overall personality were all just few of the many amazing qualities that Ricky Hatton had, not only as a fighter but as a human being. His ability to have an impact on so many people across the world is amazing to me, even to inspire some kid like I was. Rest in peace, Ricky. Kyzer Hehn In 2014, I was an aspiring boxing writer and produced some articles for free for various websites. I got in contact with Ricky’s agent, Paul Speak, for an interview with
strong, so determined, brought low by something that most of us are afraid to admit, was pure inspiration. Ricky was loved because he gave us all hope. Inside and outside of the ring, his heart won ours. During an interview, Ricky was asked how he’d like to be remembered, and he replied, “I’d like to be remembered as the world champion that was one of us.” There are billions of “us,” but there will only ever be one Ricky Hatton. Rest easy, champion. James Hack I fought and fought with my mother 20 years ago for her to let my uncle take me to the Tszyu-Hatton fight. What came in the aftermath of Ricky pulling it off was a buzz and a special bond where me and my mother would watch the big fights together. I was messaging her about how sad it was to see Canelo potentially past his best, though credit to Crawford. Then something really sad came along. Ricky was an icon in and out of the ring, and for me and many others, no doubt, gave people something to bond over and get behind, much like our football clubs. Gutted with the news. May he finally be at peace. A true legend of a man who had time for everyone. He will never be forgotten. Danny Selvidge The first superfight I attended was Gatti-Mayweather in 2005. After the bout’s conclusion, a potential matchup loomed between Mayweather and recently crowned lineal junior
A decade later, we would cross paths once again at the concessions for Mayweather-Pacquiao. Gracious as ever, he once again granted my request for a picture and said he remembered me when I shared my recollection of our previous interaction. I was elated to hear about his 2024 IBHOF induction. Ricky Hatton was a warrior and a class act who adored his fans. The boxing community has lost a legend. Thomas C THOMAS GERBASI I mourn the loss of Thomas Gerbasi with the rest of the Ring staff. He was a superlative, top-shelf boxing writer, a wordsmith, and anything he wrote was a delicious read. I would communicate with him complimenting his inspirational writing for many
Crawford outclassed Canelo with humility
and precision – no swagger, just fists writing legacy. Hatton, the “Hitman,” gave us nights of thunder, Blue Moon roaring, and later showed
years, and he was always sweet and gracious to me in his responses. He
Ricky for an article I was writing. Ricky took nearly 30 minutes out of
avoided (although I don’t believe Marvelous Marvin Hagler ducked anyone). McCallum’s biggest career mistake was joining the Kronk boxing team, turning many potential opponents into sparring partners. It wasn’t until he left
had a good sense of humor and was above all a good man with a kind heart. So sorry for our collective loss of a friend and great writer.
his day to happily chat to me on the phone and answer my questions. My name had no weight that I could bring to the table. This just summed Ricky up. A true man of the
his greatest fight in shedding weight and reclaiming health. Two champions, two eras, one truth: Greatness is grit.
Ricky Hatton will always be a true fan favorite.
Ron Lipton
and family
When hockey was on strike/lockout in the early and mid- 2000s, Tom gave me the opportunity to start covering boxing. Up to that point, I was just a massively passionate fan but learned from my dad about pugilism. But Tom got me involved. MaxBoxing, Ring Magazine, Yahoo, whatever… I owe all of my boxing memories to Tom. But it went deeper than that; he taught me how to write in long form. To tell a story. And that helped me win an Emmy Award in 2014 for Madison Square Garden (New York Rangers). And Tom was one of very few people I called after I won. But this call wasn’t
the Kronk gym and went to the Duvas that McCallum got fights with ex- stablemates David
people who had time for everyone. A rare trait for an athlete who reached the pinnacle of their sport, as he did. He really was just “one of the lads” that happened to gain fame. And it never, ever changed him. Frank Walsh When we talk about the greatest boxers of all time, we often discuss their impact both on the sport and outside of it, and to me, Ricky Hatton filled out both criteria. He had wars with some of the best of the generation; for a time, he seemed indestructible, which is why, when he opened up about his struggles, he became a hero. To see someone so
Tom Gerbasi’s contribution cannot be overstated.
Ingrid Windsor Joseph
RICKY HATTON While I never met or saw Ricky Hatton in person, I grew up watching him as a kid and was a huge fan. I grew up in the Arctic Region of Canada, where boxing is not a prominent sport, so I constantly watched it growing up, and some of the strongest memories I have are of watching Hatton vs. Malignaggi. I lost my mind over that fight. I even created my own homemade sign that said “Hitman” on there and would sing along with the crowd chants from the TV while watching it in the living
welterweight champion, Ricky “Hitman” Hatton. As the venue
Braxton and Milton McCrory. In McCallum’s greatest career victory, his KO of Donald Curry, he once again came from behind to launch that titanic, tremendous hook. In honor of Mike McCallum, The Ring should have a Mythical Matchup of The Bodysnatcher vs. Hitman Hearns.
emptied, I maneuvered my way toward the cage separating the floor from the lower bowl, hoping to get a glimpse of a celebrity or one of my boxing heroes. As one guard approached me to usher me from the arena, Hitman caught my eye maybe 50 feet beyond the barrier. I yelled out to him, “Mr. Hatton, would you be willing to take a picture with a fan?” He walked right up to me and, with the help of that same guard, my brother and I got a pic with the champ.
Wise E. Gardner II
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RINGSIDE By Doug Fischer GREATNESS ACHIEVED
November 2025 Volume 102, No. 12
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
Jeddad Knows Age Every Moment Matters Here Jeddah is Different
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I can’t say much about Terence Crawford’s performance against Canelo Alvarez that hasn’t already been said. The 38-year-old veteran is finally getting his flowers as one of the best – if not THE best fighter – of his generation since annexing the undisputed super middleweight championship from the Mexican superstar on September 13. What I can add to the accolades – and feel comfortable doing so as someone who’s covered world-level boxing for more than 25 years – is that Crawford’s unanimous decision over Alvarez ranks among the finest legacy-boosting victories of this century. With one awe-inspiring performance, Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) became the first male three- division undisputed champion of the sanctioning body era, reclaimed the No. 1 spot in The Ring’s pound-for- pound rankings, made our choice for
Crawford is the only fighter to win four divisional Ring titles.
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Fighter of the Year a no-brainer and elevated himself from a first-ballot Hall of Famer to an all-time great. If you think it’s premature to attach “great” to Crawford’s name, consider the legendary company he’s in based on his career accomplishments to date:
THE RING (ISSN: 0035-5410) November 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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Crawford joins Bob Fitzsimmons, Tony Canzoneri, Barney Ross and Henry Armstrong as the only male three-division undisputed champions in the sport’s history. (Armstrong was the last to do it – 87 years ago!) He’s the ONLY fighter to win Ring Magazine titles in four weight classes (lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight and super middleweight), which surpasses three-division
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RINGSIDE
No. 1 or No. 2 ranked TV show in the days that followed. The event generated 41.9 billion impressions online and across social media conversations, and it was also heavily covered by mainstream and legacy media (The New York Times, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, etc.).
Ring champs Sugar Ray Leonard (welterweight, junior middleweight and middleweight), Manny Pacquiao (featherweight, junior lightweight and junior welterweight), Floyd Mayweather Jr. (lightweight, welterweight and junior middleweight) and Alvarez (junior middleweight, middleweight and super middleweight). Crawford joins Thomas Hearns, Leonard and Mayweather as five-division world titleholders. (Only six-division titleholder Oscar De La Hoya, seven- division beltholder Amanda Serrano, and Pacquiao, the recordholder with world titles in eight weight classes, exceed that elite foursome.)
10th round and agreed with the 115- 113 score. If casual fans saw it that way, it’s not a bad thing. It means they witnessed a compelling fight. My guess is that the next time a legitimate championship fight is presented on Netflix, they will watch with interest. T hough it hurts my heart to do so, I must acknowledge the passing of two beloved members of the world boxing community – Ricky Hatton and Thomas Gerbasi – the most genuine individuals that I or anyone else had the pleasure of meeting. Hatton was hands down the most popular British fighter of the 21st century. His fans filled U.K. arenas, particularly in his hometown of Manchester, and they often traveled en masse to his major fights in Las Vegas. They
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Most importantly, the fight wasn’t a dud. From my vantage point in the stadium (a floor seat next to Lamar Clark, the creative director of this fine magazine), Crawford was in control from start to finish. However, Canelo landed enough to make it interesting in some rounds, giving his fans hope that he might be able to clip Crawford with a big shot down the stretch of the fight.
Of the many impressive weight- hopping victories I’ve witnessed over the decades, Crawford’s super middleweight triumph
ranks with Roy Jones Jr.’s heavyweight title-winning decision over John Ruiz and Pacquiao’s punishing 12th-round stoppage of Miguel Cotto. In terms of performances by a veteran between the ages of 35-40, Crawford outboxing Canelo
literally took over The Strip for the Jose Luis Castillo, Paulie Malignaggi, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao events. The Hatton- Pacquiao weigh-in was the loudest I ever experienced. But Ricky wasn’t just an attraction, he was a legit junior welterweight badass during the 2000s and he reached the pinnacle of his division and the sport midway
is up there with Bernard Hopkins’ masterclasses against Felix Trinidad and Antonio Tarver, or Pacquiao outpointing Keith Thurman. C rawford wasn’t the only big winner on September 13. The Riyadh Season-backed event, which took place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, scored several victories for a struggling U.S. boxing scene:
Expectations were high for a clash of two pound-for-pound-rated fighters, and they didn’t disappoint.
through the decade when he stopped Kostya Tszyu to earn the Ring/IBF junior welterweight championship. He added the WBA belt to his collection with a brutal ninth-round KO of Carlos Maussa to clinch The Ring’s 2005 Fighter of the Year award. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024. Hatton was a frenetic pressure fighter who often fought through bloody facial lacerations as he overwhelmed his opposition, usually with vicious body punching. However, outside of the ring he was a low-key sweetheart, just one of the guys. Somehow, he remained that way throughout the height of his career and fame.
That didn’t happen. It was Crawford who raised his game in the championship rounds, and, as it turned out, he needed something special to win by scores of 116-112 and 115-113 (twice). Again, that’s not the fight that I witnessed, but I wasn’t scoring the bout, round by round. Pundits and members of the press row media that I respect – including Dan Rafael, Mike Coppinger, Sergio Mora, Adam Abramowitz and Cliff Rold – had the fight even after the
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The attendance – 70,482 – is the second- biggest indoor gathering for a boxing event in U.S. history. That astonishing gathering produced a gate of $47.2 million, the third-highest ever for boxing. The live broadcast on Netflix pulled in more than 41 million global viewers over the weekend and the on-demand replays were the streaming platform’s
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RINGSIDE
and among the first boxing scribes to embrace mixed martial arts. More importantly, he was a devoted family man of integrity who seemingly made friends with everyone he met. Always generous with his time, he mentored a new generation of combat sportswriters over the past two decades. Our journalistic journeys in boxing began around the same time, the mid-90s, and we became friends and business partners by the start of the 2000s thanks to his involvement with HouseOfBoxing.com and MaxBoxing. com – pioneering websites that would not have succeeded without him. The founding owners of MaxBoxing – me, Gary Randall, Steve Kim and Gerbasi – all brought something to our upstart online publication, but Tom was its heart. The fighters came first with Gerbasi, who wrote and edited with compassion and never allowed the seedy business side of boxing to jade him. He never let his volatile coworkers – which included our eccentric and bipolar star columnist, Michael Katz – shake his good nature, either. When we bickered and fought among ourselves, it was Tom who brokered peace and reminded us that we were lucky to do what we were doing. “Lighten up, fellas. This beats cleaning toilets.” Gerbasi, proud of his working-class roots, spoke from experience. I looked up to him and sought his advice on marriage, fatherhood and balancing career and family. And, yeah, he was the guy I’d vent to whenever Katz bruised my ego or Gary and Steve were driving me crazy. Tom had a way of turning my frustration to laughter. He used to joke that he was the “bartender.” “I’m the guy one of you calls to complain about the others.” He was so much more. He was our big brother. He was our rock. He was the best of us. Our hearts go out to his wife, Sonia, daughter Jordan and granddaughters Sheala and Olivia.
Always down to earth, Ricky Hatton embraced many nicknames.
I met him in Las Vegas in 2002 while covering Marco Antonio Barrera- Johnny Tapia at the MGM Grand. A member of Barrera’s team named Vince Caruso introduced us. Hatton was by himself and nobody recognized him at the lounge where we sat and chatted over a couple beers. Fast forward to 2009. I interviewed him in Los Angeles for a pre-fight promo on his showdown with Pacquiao. He was the exact same guy: down to earth, self- effacing and funny. Despite his considerable accomplishments, Hatton’s legacy is the connection he had with his fans, which could be seen for weeks following his death. Countless photos and selfies taken with Hatton, often after his fights, flooded social media. British boxing royalty and bona fide celebrities posted such images, as did Hatton’s former opponents, fellow Hall of Famers, and the media that covered him, but the
majority of the posts came from his fans on both sides of The Pond. It was the perfect eulogy for a true people’s champion. There has been a depressing amount of deaths in the boxing community this year, but Gerbasi’s passing was unfathomable to those who knew him. I still can’t wrap my head around it. I’m stunned and maybe in denial that our dear colleague is gone from a heart attack at 57. A proper tribute to Gerbasi’s life and career will be published in the December issue, and there is much to celebrate. Tom was an award- winning journalist and author, a pioneer in online boxing coverage, an early advocate for women’s boxing
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BERNSTEIN ON BOXING
GRATITUDES AND GRIPES By Al Bernstein
T his month in the United States, we traditionally set aside a holiday as Thanksgiving – a day to reflect, accentuate any positive aspects of our life and be thankful for it while hopefully surrounded by our friends and family. Or maybe it’s just a day to stuff ourselves with turkey and trimmings and watch football until we are bleary- eyed. For the sake of this column, I am sticking with the first option. We boxing fans need to be reminded of all the things we have to be thankful for right now. But, this being boxing, where nothing is totally positive, I will turn this premise on its ear a little. Along with all the things we are thankful for, I will appease the normal fan’s mentality and list the things we are NOT thankful for as well. Being me, one of boxing’s annoyingly glass-half-full guys, I will start with the positive. I’m thankful for these things:
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This age of brilliant fighters from Japan shows no sign of slowing down. With several world champions and well over a dozen top contenders in numerous divisions who were either champs at one time this year or could be soon, the Japanese wave of excellence is very real. Then you can add in the fact that virtually all these boxers have a crowd-pleasing, all-action style, and it makes for quite a delightful trend. Father Time, though still undefeated in boxing, suffered quite a setback this year when Oleksandr Usyk (38) and Terence Crawford (nearly 38 at the time) fought like they were in their prime. Both men solidified their position as two of the top three pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. At least one champion in the sport, Naoya Inoue (the other challenger for top three pound-for-pound honors), is slated to
Undisputed 122-pound champ Naoya Inoue is still flying high.
fight four times in this calendar year. Inactivity by many champions hampers the sport, and he is the poster kid for keeping a fan base involved and satiated. In a number of instances, judges were able to look past the favorite status of one fighter and award the decision to the actual winner. Several of these upsets include Ricardo Sandoval’s win over Kenshiro Teraji, Armando Resendiz’s victory against Caleb Plant, Ekow Essuman over Josh Taylor and Tiara Brown beating Skye Nicolson. It is heartening to see this happen, because it is not always so in boxing. Lester Martinez and Christian Mbilli; Kaye Scott and Olivia Curry; Chris Eubank
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BERNSTEIN ON BOXING Jr. and Conor Benn; Isaac Cruz and Angel Fierro; Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith; Kenshiro Teraji and Seigo Yuri Akui; Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev; Fernando Martinez and Kazuto loka; Vergil Ortiz and Israil Madrimov; and David Benavidez and David Morrell shared the ring together. Don’t tell me there were not exciting fights this year. • The best fight the best in women’s boxing. Champions always look to unify, and undisputed title fights are frequent. In this regard, women’s boxing is a step ahead of its male counterpart. And add to that the fact that promotional companies (especially MVP Promotions and Salita Promotions building on what Matchroom Boxing did) are vigorously promoting the women’s game. Major women’s fights are now a regular and important part of the boxing schedule. And even more importantly, they are well-fought and fun to watch.
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The level of astonishingly cruel vitriol spewed at boxers on social media seems to be growing. I understand the passion of fans, but some of what we see there is just hard to take. The idea of announcers NOT talking once in a while during a boxing telecast seems to be an option that is seldom taken. A producer once told a verbose play-by-play colleague of mine, “Could you give natural sound a chance?” Good advice. Media, fans and even fighters themselves continue to refer to people being the “A” and “B” sides in fights. This infuriates me. There is no A and B – there are only two fighters competing. No other sport does this. When a “1” seed plays a “12” seed in tennis, they don’t suggest an A and B side. The same is true when a division leader in baseball, basketball or football plays a last-place team. Nobody uses that phrase. It permeates the promotion and coverage of a fight before, during and after the bout, and in a subjectively scored and sometimes refereed sport like boxing, that promotional advantage can become a more insidious one. It is unfair to one of
the participants and often paints a skewed view of the event. Mainstream sports media (especially in the United States) and many casual fans (influenced by that media) believe the novelty fights that happen with such frequency these days represent the face of the sport. They are one-off events done for commerce and mostly don’t have any real impact on the standings of the sport. Because they often involve big names from the past or crossover celebrities of the present, they get more attention in some quarters than two current champions in a terrific 50-50 matchup. I’m not attacking the right of novelty fights to exist or whether people should be invested in them. To each his own. I’m simply saying that the sports media and casual fans often suggest they are the best that boxing can offer. That is not the case. Not enough platforms (especially but not limited to the U.S.) want to show the sport. Platforming is an issue for the sport as much as the usual one: getting mainstream media to cover boxing. There are still interfering and oftentimes biased actions taken by referees in fights. This has been a trend in recent years and is not abating. We often concentrate on the poor and sometimes biased judging, but referees are guilty of those offenses as well, and they often deeply impact a fight. I will not end this column with negative thoughts, because on the whole I want us to be thankful for the good in the sport we enjoy so much. So, let me say the one thing that I think we can all agree on: We are thankful for the courageous and talented men and women who are willing to train hard for weeks and often months and then go into the ring to do battle to create a great boxing match. I have covered and known boxers for 45 years, and my respect for them has never waned, nor should it. We need to be thankful that these people exist, for they are the lifeblood of boxing.
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Talented 140-pounder Andy Hiraoka is finally getting a world title shot. He faces a tough challenge against Gary Antuanne Russell, but Hiraoka is also a force in the ring. I make it a 50-50 battle. Boots Ennis may actually be close to running out of C-plus opponents to fight. The two judges who gave Elijah Garcia the win over Terrell Gausha don’t judge every major boxing match. Monique Fundora gave birth to son Sebastian and daughter Gabriela. She gave the world two boxing champions Unheralded Abass Baraou got a chance to compete in a major fight and came away with an upset victory that eventually led to world titleholder status. He is an example of a hardworking boxer who has faced long odds at times but never stopped reaching for glory.
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Tank Davis and Jake Paul are out to make an exhibition of themselves.
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And, here are the things I am NOT thankful for:
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STEVE’S SOAPBOX LAST OF THE MOHICANS By Steve Kim
Basically what happens now is that a young, promising fighter like Shakur Stevenson will win a world title in his early 20s in his 13th pro fight, and then, as his contracted minimums elevate because he’s now a champion, he quickly gets relegated to boxing twice a year on the platform in which his promoter has an exclusive output deal with. There was a time when there were non-title bouts in which champions could earn a few bucks for facing lesser opposition. Again, this wasn’t about the money. “This is what you do, and this is what you love. So you’ve got to stay sharp,” said McGirt, whose final career mark was 73-6-1 (48 KOs). While some would argue that boxers today are saving themselves from wear and tear by fighting less, others would counter that layoffs necessitating long “comeback” training camps are actually putting more mileage on a fighter’s odometer. “I get frustrated, because I say to myself that in this game, you can get old walking up the stairs. I’m not going to say that they don’t get it, because when you’re young and making money, you say, ‘It’s never going to happen to me.’ But it happens,” said McGirt. “Now it’s just about the money, and sometimes these promoters just give in to these guys. Whereas back in the day, if you didn’t take a fight, they said, ‘OK, no problem.’ They’d call somebody else.” Carl Moretti, the VP of boxing operations for Top Rank, says that one battle they face often is trying to convince boxers and their representatives that staying active and having to take less money at times will pay off in the long term. But the common retort is: “We’re not going backward on the money.” Even if they go backward on the quality of the opponent. “We try to tell them, ‘Don’t look at it as going backwards; look at it as one total amount for two fights,’’’ stated Moretti, who began his career at MSG
already had 38 bouts to his credit (36- 1-1) when he finally won his first world title (IBF junior welterweight belt) against Frankie Warren in February 1988. Unfortunately, he lost his title to the gifted Meldrick Taylor two fights later. But instead of wallowing in his defeat, McGirt performed eight times the following year in what was his eighth year as a pro. “Sometimes it’s not always about the money; it’s about keeping your tools sharp,” said McGirt, now an accomplished trainer. “The only way you’re going to keep them sharp is by fighting and staying busy. You never know when you might get that opportunity.” McGirt laments, “Today’s guys, everybody wants to stay undefeated. They’re worried about losing.” Perhaps that’s an issue, but many of today’s boxers who are signed with the major promoters have built-in minimums that can prohibit activity if they are too pricey. McGirt says he just negotiated fight-by-fight during his career, calibrating his expectations based on the level of the opponent. “I listen to some guys talk, and they say, ‘Yeah, they offered me x amount of dollars and I ain’t taking that shit.’ And I’m saying to myself, ‘You’re crazy.’” Nowadays, long-term exclusive promotional contracts come with minimum purse guarantees as the boxer advances from prospect to contender to world titleholder. These payment tiers often lock boxers into a limited number of fights once the fighter reaches contender or world level because their handlers don’t want to fight for anything less than their guarantee, regardless of who the boxers are paired with. Activity becomes stifled as the money increases. Boxers have always had agreements with promoters, but the business was different back in McGirt’s day. “In ’88 or ’89, you got a call from ABC. They’re going to give you $150,000. Who’s going to turn that down? Now guys look at $150,000 like, ‘You’re joking.’”
Boxing, where he worked closely with McGirt. What was done then simply would not happen now. “Those eight fights, [McGirt’s] biggest purse was probably $100,000,” recalled Moretti. McGirt was so active that he literally took a fight on a week’s notice. After defeating Tony Baltazar in early July, he was offered a bout versus Gary Jacobs for August 27.
That following Sunday, McGirt scored a 10-round decision victory – and then fought twice more that year. In November 1991, he put on a career- best performance by riddling the hard- punching Simon Brown over 12 rounds to capture the WBC 147-pound strap. “If you look at his activity going into the Simon Brown fight, compared to [Brown] we knew we were going to win the fight,” said Moretti. “One, we thought we were the better fighter. Two, the activity got Buddy there. He took two fights at $25,000 just to stay active. He said, ‘I just want to stay sharp.’ Now, he wasn’t fighting King Kong, but it’s like the quarterback – it’s about timing and rhythm.” Facing Brown was McGirt’s fifth outing of the year. Brown had boxed just three times in 1990 and 1991 combined coming into that battle. McGirt had a mark of 54-2- 1 at the time. Alvarez has now settled into being the usual twice-a-year fighter, but as late into his 20-year career as 2021, he actually performed three times as he vanquished the trio of Avni Yildirim, Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant on his way to the undisputed super middleweight crown. He did this while being the biggest brand in boxing. Too many modern-day boxers lament their lack of popularity – or what they are getting paid – and oftentimes fail to realize that they themselves haven’t done enough on their end to justify either. There are a few reasons why Alvarez is the game’s biggest star. Yeah, being Mexican has certainly helped. But just getting out there and consistently doing the job more than his colleagues has also played a part. “Canelo stayed busy. He’s making a ton of money, but he was fighting people,” said an admiring McGirt. “You saw every two, three months, he was getting ready to fight somebody. You don’t see that today. Guys fight, take four, five months off. I mean, I understand you’re making a lot of money … but damn.”
Hall of Famer Buddy McGirt fought 80 times as a professional.
B y the time you read this, Saul Alvarez’s record will either be 64-2-2, 63-3-2 or 63-2-3, depending on the outcome of his September 13 showdown with Terence Crawford. Regardless of the result from that Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, chances are the 35-year-old Mexican veteran will fight for at least a couple more years. Which means that there is a very high probability that Canelo will finish his Hall of Fame career with around 70 fights (or more) on his ledger. Yeah, we can be critical of this recent matchmaking or quibble with some of the decisions he’s received, but we should appreciate that this is a star who has actually put in the work throughout his career and has done more than his share to carry the sport for the past decade or so. When he walks off into
Canelo kept up the activity even when he reigned supreme.
“I just came from the movies. I was just getting ready to start camp that Monday to fight Gene Hatcher in September,“ recalled McGirt. His manager, Al Certo, left a message telling McGirt that Edwin Rosario had pulled out of a bout against Jacobs. The offer was for $50,000. “I said, ‘We can’t turn down $50,000 in a week. You crazy?’” McGirt’s plan was simple: Just spar all week leading into that fight at the Felt Forum inside Madison Square Garden. Certo was a bit hesitant until his fighter laid it out to him logically. “I said, ‘Al, let me ask you a question: Would you rather get a cut of $50,000 in one week or a cut of $25,000 after four weeks?’” recalled McGirt. “He said, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, you cocksucker.’’’
the sunset, we will not see a fighter of his caliber put in nearly as many fights. He is the last of a dying breed. Ask yourself this: Which current boxer today will even break the 50-fight threshold? Some will barely get to 40. While the money for the game’s elite has risen, unfortunately the activity level for all boxers in the modern game has declined sharply. This business has changed, and not for the better. Fighters aren’t as seasoned as they fight for world titles, and then they’re not able to consistently sharpen their tools once they win world titles. It wasn’t always this way. Case in point: Hall of Famer Buddy McGirt, a two-division champ. He
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BY THE NUMBERS:
consecutive wins to start his career » Monroe was Alabama- born but grew up in Crestview, Florida, the 13th of 17 siblings. After a 43-0 amateur career, he arrived in Philadelphia in the fall of 1969, joining the stable of trainer/manager Yank Durham, whose main moneymaker was heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. Monroe started his pro career with a flourish, winning six straight at Philly’s vaunted fight club, The Blue Horizon. By March of 1972, he’d won 20 in a row with 16 knockouts.
bouts with Marvelous Marvin Hagler »
years on Earth » Monroe (1946-2019) was a family man, married to his wife, Barbara, for 51 years and working multiple jobs to put his daughter through college, including stints with Philadelphia Gas Works and driving a truck for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Monroe refereed some bouts, too, but seemed content to leave boxing in his past. Though he stood among the best, Monroe wasn’t without critics. At different times, he was accused of ducking opponents and being coddled by Durham. He eventually proved his critics wrong, taking on all comers and performing gallantly when he was up against a tough rival. Yet there was always a sense that Monroe could’ve achieved more. Peltz, who not only promoted Monroe’s bouts but was also a friend to the fighter, said at the time of Monroe’s death that The Worm was not entirely trusting of his immense talents. “At times, I believe he doubted his own skills,” Peltz wrote for BoxingScene.com. “It’s hard to tell how far he could have gone with just a little more self-confidence.” It is scary to imagine the man who whooped Hagler with a little more self-confidence. Then again, if the hallmarks of a Philly fighter are bravery, skill, toughness and grit, then Willie Monroe checked all the boxes. There wasn’t much more we could’ve expected from him, and it’s hard to envision a middleweight contender of his day being any better than The Worm.
fights at the Philadelphia Spectrum » Monroe was a reliable attraction at all the Philadelphia Philadelphia Arena, the Convention Hall and The Wagner Ballroom, but the Spectrum was where Philly legends were made, and Monroe’s name on the marquee usually meant something special was happening. Even at the end of his run, Monroe went out with a serious bang, his final Spectrum bout being a 10-round slugfest with a much younger Curtis Parker. fight venues, including the Monroe lost on the scorecards, but his effort was a spirited farewell to a building that must’ve felt like home. J Russell Peltz, promoter of the Spectrum bouts, rated Monroe’s loss to Parker as an “all- Philly classic” and one of Monroe’s two greatest nights in the ring, along with beating Hagler.
It was occasionally heard among Hagler’s inner circle that Willie Monroe was the only opponent to legitimately beat the Marvelous One. Hagler’s other losses were hotly disputed, but not the loss to Monroe. Granted, the admission of defeat was usually said in a whisper, and usually with a qualifier – something about Hagler having a head cold – but there was no debating that The Worm got the best of Hagler that first time they met at the Philadelphia Spectrum. Even Hagler, who despised losing the way Hannibal despised Rome, was agreeable to the scorecards going Willie’s way. The fight, Hagler said, “was tough but honest.” Monroe put on a clinic that blustery March night in 1976, using a strong jab to burst a vessel in Hagler’s nose, causing a steady stream of crimson to pour from Hagler’s snout throughout the fight, and rocking him several times with short, sneaky rights. “I like to think I took him back to school,” Monroe said years later. Under the guidance of trainer George Benton, Monroe made Hagler back up and often outpunched him three and four blows to one. When they stood toe-to-toe, as the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, Monroe’s punches seemed as if they “were fired out of a howitzer, while Hagler’s were the popgun variety.” The official scores, to the delight of the Spectrum crowd, were 47-44, 49-41 and 48-42, all for Monroe, who had trained for another opponent and only realized he was fighting Hagler on five days’ notice. The fight, however, was a financial flop. A good Spectrum boxing show could draw between 6,000 and 11,000 customers, but only 3,459 turned out to see Monroe’s finest moment thanks to a major snowstorm. The weather, which resulted in five inches of snow on city streets and one fatality, even prevented the film crew from showing up, meaning that Monroe’s dominating performance against the soon to be mythical Hagler was not recorded for posterity. Hagler and Monroe met again in February 1977. This time before a Boston crowd, Hagler earned revenge by scoring a TKO at 1:20 of Round 12. Then, when the pair returned to the Spectrum for the rubber match later that year, Hagler put a dramatic end to their series by scoring a second- round knockout. Yet it was that first fight, won by Monroe, that seemed to change the course of middleweight history, for Hagler came out of it admitting, “I have a lot to learn.” And so he did, which led to some hard times for the middleweight class over the next decade.
controversial loss to a Frenchman » Monroe’s winning streak ended with a trip to Paris, where he lost a disputed split decision to popular French contender Nessim Max Cohen. Though he tired a bit at the end, Monroe managed to put Cohen on the canvas in Round 3 and seemed to win most of the other rounds. For two of the judges, this wasn’t enough to send Monroe home with the win. Even Cohen’s French fans jeered the verdict, feeling the American had won.
WILLIE “THE WORM” MONROE by Don Stradley • Illustration by KronkAAArt He was one of the key figures of the 1970s Philadelphia boxing scene, fighting gamely alongside such stars as Bennie Briscoe, Bobby “Boogaloo” Watts and Eugene “Cyclone” Hart. Nicknamed “The Worm” because of his silky-smooth style, Willie Monroe was a top middleweight contender at a time when the division was, to borrow lyrics from an old bubblegum hit, jammed up and jelly-tight with talent. Now, if you’ll pardon the reference to Tommy Roe, let’s get on with Willie the Worm. Here’s his story by the numbers.
title shots » Though Durham hoped to see Monroe fight for the middleweight title held by Carlos Monzon, it
wasn’t to be. According to Monroe, Durham’s death in 1973 effectively curtailed his progress. Trainer Eddie Futch, who took over the Durham stable, put his focus on Frazier. Talking to the Philadelphia Daily News in 1987, Monroe said he’d had the talent to be a champion, but when Durham died, “My chances went up in smoke.” It is also possible that the golden age of Philadelphia middleweights was simply too packed with talent. Briscoe, the most popular of the bunch, would fight for the title three times, while the rest were seemingly stranded in Philadelphia, fighting each other in what appeared to be an endless round-robin tournament with no clear winner and no discernable prize. Though he dropped a decision to Philly’s Bobby Watts, Monroe notched wins over such local favorites as Cyclone Hart and Stanley “Kitten” Hayward, plus a 10-round decision over Philly regular by way of Ohio, Billy “Dynamite” Douglas. But after his three bouts with Hagler, Monroe seemed on a bumpy downhill skid, going 3-4 before retiring in 1981. His final pro record was 40-10-1 with 26 KOs.
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