By GorDoom

It did this crusty ol’ scribe's heart good to see the enormous flow of tributes, from virtually all over the world, after the death of the “Old Mongoose”, Archie Moore.

Archie was the Philosopher/Warrior King of boxing. An erudite & street wise man, Moore was boxing’s Ambassador At Large to the world. A world that saw him fighting & traveling from Australia to Argentina, Rome to Tasmania, Stuttgart
to Uruguay,  Manila to Hope, Arkansas.

Wherever Archie wandered, he spread his message of good cheer, hope & his innate human decency. Archie was a world class raconteur, who over the years held millions of people spellbound with his charm & sly wit.

The man had the patience of Job. Like his contemporary, Jersey Joe Walcott, he wandered in boxing's wilderness for almost twenty years; before finally being given an obscenely overdue title shot against Joey Maxim, in 1952.

Though he won the title at 39 (with Archie, you never knew, he quite possibly was as much as 2-5 years older), he held on to it for almost 11(!) years. Mind you, Archie didn’t defend against stiffs, as among his victims were Hall Of Famers, Joey Maxim (W-15, W-15), & Harold Johnson (KO 14), as well as top contenders like Tony Anthony (KO 7), Yvon Durelle (KO 11, KO 4) & Guilio Rinaldi (W-15).

His first fight against Yvon Durelle was one of the greatest wars in boxing history, right in there with the “Thrilla In Manila”. Archie was blasted to the canvas four times, twice in the first round.

  That first knockdown was one of the most brutal the Ol’ Spit Bucket has ever seen. If it had happened today, the fight would be stopped immediately. But he somehow staggered to his feet, survived another knockdown & was battered by Durelle’s blitzkrieg for the rest of the round. He then courageously persevered for another 10 rounds, before finally knocking out Durelle in the 11th.

This my friends, is a Champion ... When the Bucket hears Roy Jones being touted as the greatest light heavyweight of all time ... It is to laugh ... At the absurdity, of these supposed “experts”.

Archie Moore defined courage & heart. He was boxing at its best, but he was much more than that ... Archie was a true humanitarian, who at president Eisenhower’s behest, established a youth foundation in 1956 that is still in operation to this day. In the subsequent 40+ years, the Ol’ Mongoose influenced thousands of disadvantaged youths in a positive way.

  The details of his career are well known: The only man to fight both Marciano & Ali, The “Aborigine” diet he picked up in Australia, his famous remark to President Eisenhower, after he was asked if he was a Re-Pug-Lick-Can or a Democrat (his answer was, “I’m a diplomat”), the innumerable appearances on TV & radio talk shows, knocking out men young enough to be his sons ...

There is almost no end to Moore’s legend. The mystique he created around himself was unique. The Old Mongoose, like Muhammad, was his own PR machine. Two matchless athletes who were giants in 20th Century sports culture that transcended sports to become icons of American culture.

  So where in the Big Picture does Archie rank in the boxing pantheon? Right up there, bub. It is of course impossible to quantify boxers from different eras, but I’m sure Archie ranks in the Top Ten of any knowledgeable fans list.

  His critics say he was knocked out a lot, but look at who he was facing & in most cases at a severe size & age disadvantage: Ezzard Charles, Rocky Marciano, Floyd Patterson & Cassius Clay. Hall Of Famers one & all ...

  You want stats? Archie’s got ‘em up the ying-yang ... But the magic # is 145, as in 145 knockouts. I don’t see any fighter in this or any future era having 145 fights. 145 KO’s? They just don’t make men like that anymore...

  The outpouring of accolades has been surprising, not because they weren't well deserved, but for the true sentiment & affection displayed for Archie, from people as diverse as Governor Pete Wilson of California, Regis Philbin, Tony Randall, Larry King & myriads of sports writers & columnists the world over.

The morning after his death I was channel surfing & happened to catch Regis Philbin waxing forth about Archie. Regis said that the very first interview of his career was with Archie. After the interview, Philbin thought to himself that this new interview gig was gonna be a breeze. “But, I quickly learned that there is only one Archie Moore.”

  He was right & Moore was a regular, favorite guest on all the major talk shows & game shows from the 50’s through the 70’s. As boxing’s “Elder Statesman”, the Ol’ Mongoose was a magnificent symbol of our sport at its best.

After all the reams of copy generated after his passing, the Old Mongoose is still the one who put his life & career best. In a 1961 article in the New Yorker, written by the late, great, sports writer, Jack Murphy, Archie was quoted as saying:

“One of these days, the law of averages, or maybe the law of gravity, will catch up with me. I can’t last forever. I’ve been thinking about how I want to go: I want to be respected. When I’m finished, I want people to say only one thing of me. I want them to say, There goes a man”.

Archie, you need not worry, respect you will always have... What a man. What a warrior. What a life well lived.

*********
 
  The Bucket ain’t exactly the type t’ go all happy horse shit over the holidays ... But, as we cool walk to the end of the penultimate year, before Y2K, brings not only the century, but life, as we so bizarrely know it, to an end.  But I digress...

Yeah, well ... What I’m so un-adroitly trying to say, is that it’s time for me to thank all the people that contribute to this lash-up, known as the Cyber Boxing Zone.

To thank everybody individually, would entail a list much longer than any reader would want to slog through - & give me carpal-tunnel syndrome, typing out the plethora of names. Suffice it to say, that the Ol’ Spit Bucket is deeply thankful & appreciative of the effort that so many people have contributed over the last five years ...

Everybody, from our contributors who are well known, to those who are less so, have altruistically volunteered their labors because of their intense love & commitment to the sweet science.

I dunno if most of you are aware of it or not, but everybody who works on the CBZ (including my own bad self),  gets paid the Big Squat...

That’s why we find it so hilarious to get letters from readers eviscerating us for being  bag men for Don “ I’m a man who spends his every breathing moment trying to enhance the welfare of his fellow human beings”,   King (I swear to God he said that!!!),  “Bottom Line”,  Bob Arum, the Ebenezer Scrooge of boxing, or the beloved brood of ol’ Pizza Face, Lou ( Do you know how to spell high blood pressure?), Duva .... Actually, I gotta apologize for that last crack about Cap’n Lou.

Lou Duva, is a for real boxing guy ... & doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same paragraph with the aforementioned squids.

So yeah, I digressed, I guess that’s why Santa didn’t visit my bunker...

Anyway, all the people who work on this web site, do it for The Big Nada ... & mebbe it would be a good thang if some of the over 3 + million of you who have visited us over the last 5 years,  clicked on to the link at the end of each writers article & wrote him whatcha thought about what he/she had to say ...

Ya gotsta realize, a little feedback from the readers goes a long way toward keeping a writer motivated ... Since they ain’t getting paid, a little acknowledgement can go a long way...

The Bucket would be a remiss jerk-off, if I didn’t give the proper “cred”, to the man who created the CBZ, Mike DeLisa, our founder/publisher, whose life long dedication to boxing is what created & sustains this not-so-humble web site.
 
**********

I know a lot of you bookmark one section of the CBZ & may not be checking out other sections. I strongly recommend you not only read the CBZ Journal, but check out the news section, which features  reports from all over the world.

Probably the most important & informative section is the Boxing Encyclopedia, where you will find a plethora of records & information about the best boxers in the history of the sport.

  *********

This month I have the pleasure of introducing a new writer to the CBZ, Katherine Dunn.  Katherine is a veteran reporter & published novelist, who has been on the boxing beat since 1980. She has written for Ring &  KO as well as many other print magazines. Katherine is also the only regular boxing columnist on the left coast since the enforced retirement of the legendary SF Chronicle columnist, Jack Fiske.

It’s with great pleasure that I announce that Katherine will now be a regular contributor to our web site. Her first article is an excellent review of the new Muhammad Ali book.

*********

In closing, I have two items: The first is an apology for the delay in this issue, as some of the pieces may be slightly outdated. Unforeseen circumstances caused the delay, but we will be on our regular monthly schedule for the CBZ Journal from now on.

  Lastly, about Ron Borges' article in the Boston Globe, that sand bagged the CBZ’s Randy Gordon. Mr. Borges may well be the best boxing writer extant. The Bucket, has always found his writing insightful & thought provoking. For instance, Borges was the ONLY boxing writer to correctly predict the first Tyson-Holyfield fight. For that, & many other reasons, he remains the most respected writer on the boxing beat.

However, in the column he wrote regarding Randy, I feel he unfairly excoriated him. The gist of the article was a slam at Randy for working in Botha’s camp because the “White Buffalo”, is being trained by the infamous Panama   Lewis.

  I feel there was enough fuzzy logic in Borges story to knit a sweater. Randy works for Botha, as he has for Naseem Hamed & many other fighters. By Borges reckoning, Randy should have immediately quit his gig because of Lewis’ presence.

Hey Ron, a guy has gotta make a living ... Anyway, we lead off with Randy’s response to the Boston Globe story & I’ll let our readers make up their own minds ...

Enjoy the new issue!
GorDoom

Back in October, I was hired to work for Prince Naseem Hamed.   During my two weeks in Atlantic City, Francois Botha was there, along with his trainer, Panama Lewis.  I had not spoken to Lewis since 1984, when I wrote a Ring Magazine editorial about the death of Billy Collins Jr.

Shortly after, Lewis was charged with tampering and fixing the outcome of a professional prizefight.  A Grand Jury indicted him.  A jury convicted him. He was sent away for 2 1/2 years.  When Lewis was released, the Chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission was asked if he would ever give Panama Lewis his license back.  The Chairman said "No way!"  It's Chairman was me. That was 10 years ago.

Following the request, I began to read every volume, every paragraph and every word, which involved itself with the case of the State of New York vs. Carlos "Panama" Lewis.

In Atlantic City, Lewis asked if he could speak with me.  I told him I'd like that, because nobody had done more investigation on the crime than I did. While I told him I thought--and will ALWAYS think--that the crime committed
against Billy Collins was a horrendous one, I told him that there were indeed problems with the entire case and the way it was presented.  Of this much I am certain: If Panama Lewis had a legal team with as much power as say, O.J. Simpson's legal team during his murder trial, the jury would not have convicted him.  There just wasn't enough evidence. 

The gloves Luis Resto wore that night were indeed tampered with. However, there were three men working Resto's corner on June 16, 1983. Because he was the chief second that night, Lewis stood up for all three cornermen and took the hit.  He never said he did it, but never would admit who did.  Because of his silence, it was presumed he was guilty.

In Atlantic City, Lewis poured his heart out to me.  He even wept.  He showed the remorse he did not show the jury 12 years earlier.  He told me of the constant pain he is in because of what was done.  Note, I did not say because of what HE did.  I said because of what was done. 

I've done a lot of asking around and questioning people over the years: Resto...  The inspectors...The commission members who handled the gloves after the fight...  Everyone who was in that room.  Where I once thought Panama Lewis was the culprit, I began to have serious doubts as to his role the more I became involved and the deeper I investigated. 

When Panama came to me in October to talk and pour his heart out, he had no idea we would be working together two months later.  I had no idea, either. Maybe Sterling McPherson did, because he is friends with both of us, and had been trying for years to get us together.  It was a meeting I wanted no part of, and always told McPherson so.

  Panama has insisted he did not remove the padding.  He has told me a lot more.  However, he said the damage is done and it no longer matters who took the padding out.  Panama is right.  He's already done his time in prison.  It was a sentence which so upset his father that he died of a massive heart attack. Panama was not allowed to leave the jail to attend the funeral.  It matters not if it was Artie Curley who removed the padding or if it was Pedro Alvarado.   Artie Curley is gone.  Why implicate a dead man.  The fact is, Panama Lewis was part of Luis Resto's team.

I will always feel a terrible sadness about what happened that night.  As for the Collins family, I ache for them.  Billy Sr. and his wife sit in constant mourning, their lives irreparably shattered.  Their granddaughter, Alisha, now 15, never sees her grandparents.  Her mom, Billy Jr's. ex-wife, has been at odds with the Collins for years.  No, it really doesn't matter which of the three cornermen altered, not just the gloves, but so many lives. I believe Panama Lewis when he says he's sorry about what took place, and that he cries himself to sleep many nights because of the pain that was brought to so many.  I believe Panama Lewis when he says not a day goes by that he doesn't think of Billy Collins Jr.  I believe it's from his heart when he says he wants to create a trust fund for Alisha Collins. 

Panama Lewis is the trainer of Francois Botha.  I am Botha's Director of Public Relations.  I also am assisting Lewis in the nuances of training and in the dissecting of Mike Tyson in video tapes.  Together with Botha's father and Sterling McPherson, we intend to take Team Botha to victory over Team Tyson.

A writer asked me if I could ever forgive Panama and/or the cornerman/men who removed the padding.  It told him it's not up to me to forgive such a sin. I told him it's up to God.  All I know is, my 14-year battle with Panama is over.  I don't hate the man.  I hate nobody.  Nor am I friends with him. I am merely working with him in preparing Francois Botha for the biggest fight of his life.  I just believe that Panama is truly sorry.  I also know that, as I stated earlier, with a strong, competent legal team, he would have gotten off because of the weak case against him. 

To all my boxing friends, to the scores of fans I've met in person, to all I've written to and spoken to over television, to all I've chatted with in cyberspace, to all who love boxing, please, during this holiday season, take a moment to say a prayer and tell God you have a request.

Ask him to bring sunshine to the eyes of the Collins family and end their sadness.  Also ask him to do the same for Carlos "Panama" Lewis. 

Before I go to bed tonight, that's what I'm going to do.

I’m not going to write what would certainly be one of the dozens of obituaries you may have already read about Moore, whose actual age was always disputed. Instead, I’d like to keep it simple. While we should always remember Moore as a great ambassador of the sport, here are some mind-boggling statistics about his career to store in your hard drive:

229 career bouts over 27 years: The exact number of bouts varies depending upon what you read, but does it really matter? Mainstream boxers today fight so infrequently that we gasp when hearing that Yory Boy Campas was entering his duel with Fernando Vargas (more on the demolition below) with an "astonishing" 74 career bouts. Moore fought an average of nearly 9 times per year – for 27 years.

131-141 knockouts: Once again, varies from record book to record book. It is a crime that this unbreakable record is not mentioned in the same breath as some of the other amazing records in sports. Sports purists simply refuse to recognize boxing as mainstream. So we have a crime being committed on a criminal sport – and an amazing human being. Go figure.

Received first title shot at the age of 39: Bad management, racism, and the simple fact that Moore was too good were all factors that played into this sad situation. December 17, 1952 - Archie Moore dominates Joey Maxim and wins the light heavyweight title via unanimous decision. He would hold the title for six years.

$800: The amount of money Moore made on the above bout after the purse was divided. Maxim’s cut of the purse: $100,000.

$50,000: The amount of money Moore spent on a letter-writing and advertising campaign in trying to get heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano, who Moore felt was ducking him, to fight him. Moore floored Marciano in the second round, survived two knockdowns in the sixth and eighth rounds, but was KO’d in the ninth.

50 years old: The reported age of Moore when he was TKO’d in four rounds by a young flash of lightning named Cassius Clay in 1962.

17 hours: The amount of time spent traveling by Yvon Durelle to attend Moore’s memorial service on December 17 in San Diego. Moore defeated the Canadian in two great light heavyweight bouts. In the first one in 1958, Moore, in Durelle’s backyard at the Forum in Montreal, survived four knockdowns before scoring one of his own in the seventh and the final blows needed in the eleventh to defend his title. Eight months later, Moore KO’d Durelle in three rounds to win the rematch.

"He was the best man I ever knew," Durelle said at the service.

Enough said.

Gutless or Intelligence?

Boxing fans absolutely, positively hate to see a fighter - especially a champion - quit in the ring.

This is a touchy subject, because most of those fans, like myself, have no idea what it is like to step into the squared circle. We don’t know what it’s like to fight with a broken jaw or nose, or a gash inside of your mouth that causes you to swallow your own blood.

However, the fighters aren’t the ones paying absurd dollars for tickets or pay per view cards. When we fans dish out the dough, we simply expect the fighters to dish out the blows. And for those who say, "Well, it’s your own damn fault for paying absurd prices," remember this – without the fans, there’s no sport of boxing.

Therefore, fans want entertainment for their buck. I recently went to go see Les Miserables on Broadway. The lead in the play did not come out for the second act because he apparently fell ill. I overheard some fans saying that the reason why they spent the money on their tickets was to see him. Hence, they were disappointed. Boo on the lead guy.

And the same goes for Genaro Hernandez and Yory Boy Campas, two former champions who quit on their stool. As a matter of fact, double boos to you.

When Hernandez lost his WBC 130-pound super featherweight title to a far superior "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather Jr., he quit on his stool before the beginning of the ninth round. Hernandez had done this before in 1995, when Oscar de la Hoya shattered his nose.

When Campas lost his IBF junior middleweight title to the quicker and suprisingly stronger "Ferocious" Fernando Vargas, he tried to quit twice. After round six, Campas told his corner he wanted to quit. He came out for what would be a brutal seventh round, then walked back to his corner and quit for good. Campas had also quit before in the ring, against Jose Luis Lopez.

Listen – the health of these men is far more important than what any fan thinks. But this is boxing!!! If you know going into a fight that you will quit when being beaten, then don’t fight, plain and simple. Move on to another profession. In other words, make a humane decision before you enter the ring. Personally, you’d be a bigger man for doing so.

Don’t participate in hyping your bout, don’t let your network promote the bout and most importantly, don’t let fans buy tickets to your bout if you know that there is a chance that you will quit.

In other words, be a real man – and don’t box at all.

On The Other Hand…

Another awful occurrence in the ring is when a referee prematurely stops a fight. In the case of Hasim Rahman-David Tua, referee Tellig Assimenios clearly made an assimenios out of himself when, in an incredibly important heavyweight elimination bout, he stopped the action in the 10^th round.

"The Rock" was ahead on all three cards at the time of the stoppage and had the fight won on two of those cards (89-87, 89-82, 89-82). He had been dominating Tua with a spectacular left jab right up until the end of the ninth round, when with :02 left, Tua rocked Rahman with two strong left hooks. About one second after the bell rang, Tua landed an even more devastating left hook. A wobbled Rahman eventually found his way back to his corner, and when he came out for the 10^th round still in a daze, Tua went to work.

Most of Tua’s punches during the flurry were either blocked or did not land. There is absolutely no doubt that Rahman was still reeling from the end of the previous round, but he deserved an opportunity to survive a bout that until then, had been all his. There was too much on the line (an IBF title bout against the Holyfield-Lewis winner) for a referee to make a pathetic stoppage such as this.

As a result, the IBF should immediately schedule a rematch within 90 days, and Assimenios shouldn’t have the opportunity to referee a title bout for at least one year.

Hopefully, Assimenios stuck around after his debacle to watch referee Frank Santone make what was a justifiable stoppage. The next bout of the evening was the highly anticipated Angel Manfredy-Mayweather bout. From the opening bell, Manfredy’s nightmares turned into reality – Mayweather was simply too quick for him. With :13 left in round two, Mayweather, just like Tua had done in round ten of his bout, launched an array of punches. The big difference here was that hard punches clearly landed. And unlike Rahman, Manfredy hadn’t shown any signs of success against his opponent – even in the short window of opportunity he was given.

You Gatti Get Some Common Sense!

Dear Arturo Gatti:

Thank you so much for providing boxing fans with another incredible fight in your rematch with Ivan Robinson. I can’t explain the excitement you gave me when I watched you get your head battered in for 10 rounds – just like you did in the first fight!!! How kind of you!!! I’m just sorry that you’ve now lost three fights in a row. But hey – you’re like the Buffalo Bills, except people still love you!

Anyway, as much as I appreciate your gloves-down-head-stuck-out-no-defense style, I am quite concerned for you. You are only 26 years old. You’re a good looking fella. Please, please, please! Either take a year off to study Willie Pep tapes, or retire!

Is it true that you may be fighting Julio Caesar Chavez at 140 pounds in the near future? Hmmmm. Arturo, he may be old, but he went toe to toe with Oscar de la Hoya before quitting. By the way, I hate quitters, which is something you are not. But do you think it would be a good idea to move up in weight just to get battered some more?

I don’t.

Sincerely,

Concerned Boxing Fan

Botha vs. Tyson

This bout may not be the easy bout some people think it will be when Francois Botha, he of South Africa, takes on Mike Tyson, he of Excuses, on January 16 in Vegas.

Botha is no Peter McNeeley or Bruce "Pathetic Boxer and Human Being" Seldon. He is simply Francois "I Can’t Box But I Love To Brawl" Botha.

Which makes me question why Tyson would chose Botha in his return bout. At a time in his career when he needs to re-define his boxing skills again (a.k.a. head movement, balance), why is Tyson fighting a guy who is both physically and mentally capable of distracting him from doing so?

Botha’s only chance of winning is to take Tyson out of whatever game plan he will have. He must engage Tyson into a flat out brawl. Obviously, Tyson’s plan is simply to win. But another part of it, maybe even more important than winning, is for Tyson to control his temper in the ring. Remember, if Tyson loses, like Gatti, he will still be marketable. If Tyson goes mental in the ring, he’s not only no longer marketable – he’s jail-bound too.

My advice to Botha: rough up Tyson. Use your head, punch and hold him behind the head, maybe even take a warning for a low blow if need be. Get Tyson razzled. Get him disqualified. Make him lose the bout by Golatacision (i.e., any boxer, like Andrew Golota, who loses a bout due to being a moron). You’re a brawler. Make it a bar room brawl.

I don’t think this will happen, but it’s the only chance Botha has. Otherwise, the later the fight goes, the more of a punching bag Botha becomes for Tyson. Prediciton: Tyson by TKO in 6.

Questions, comments, hate mail or column topic suggestions? Write me at leebubba@aol.com.

Until next time.

By Thomas Gerbasi

In a world of pretenders, Jerry Quarry was a contender.

In a world of reluctant fighters, Jerry Quarry was a warrior.

Jerry Quarry, maybe the best heavyweight to never win a world title, died January 2, at the age of 53.

An uninformed observer would surmise that Quarry died young. This is true, but it doesn't begin to tell of the years of abuse which were laid on his body by life within the squared circle. Whether in battles with the likes of Ali, Frazier, Shavers, Ellis, Patterson, and Norton, or in gym wars with his own brother, Mike, Jerry Quarry paid the ultimate price for bringing enjoyment to others.

And fight fans always got their money's worth with a Quarry fight. If the cliche reads that a fighter gives 100 percent, then Quarry gave 200%. He came to fight. Not to dance or prance, not to showboat or demean his opponent. To fight. He even challenged for the heavyweight title with a broken bone in his back.

And it is not far fetched to conclude that Jerry Quarry probably would have been a champion today.

But while we all remember Jerry as the tough heavyweight contender, the rare fan friendly athlete, or the Miller Lite pitchman, he was also a husband, a father, a brother, and a son.

The Jerry Quarry story would be incomplete without a mention of his family. When his money was gone, when the wives had left, it was his brother who took him in. It was his sisters and nieces who cared for him. And it was his mother who took her baby back home.

It wasn't easy. Jerry's life in the ring left him with Dementia Puglistica. The layman's term is punch drunk. And while the punch drunk fighter is an easy mark for the ignorant to ridicule, it is no laughing matter. The Quarry family knows this first hand. Yet for the love of a brother and son, they battled through the rough times.

But finally, with the New Year celebrations still fresh in our minds, Jerry Quarry's final fight was stopped. With broken bones, Jerry Quarry continued to fight; with unscrupulous promoters and managers throwing him to the dogs, Jerry Quarry continued to fight; only a family's love could end this fight.

"There is no quit in a Quarry"

Look at the old tapes, and remember the good things about Jerry Quarry: the determination, the guts, the will to win. Remember the Golden Boy looks and charm which made him the idol of millions. And take solace in the fact that God is a fight fan. Why else would he take Archie Moore and Jerry Quarry within a month of each other? I can see those sparring sessions now...

By Chris Bushnell

Like most years, 1998 had it's ups and downs.  The glory of Lopez-Alvarez II was balanced out by the atrocity of Joppy-Duran.  The Gatti-Robinson rematch soared while the Kelley-Gainer rematch snored.  We ridded ourselves of Sean
O'Grady and his cliches and picked up Max Kellerman and his stuttering inaccuracies.   The demise of Don King yielded to the return of Don King.  Flip a coin:   this was either one of boxing's best years or one of it's worst.

The first half of 1998 started off with Gatti-Manfredy, and then didn't offer a single fight worthy of mention for half the year.  Over the long spring and barren summer, many called this "the worst year in boxing history".  And while many recent years have bourne that mark, the inactivity of boxing's bright stars and the lack of competitive matchups brought a certain truth to the
cliche.

But out of nowhere, the second half of 1998 was an all-night buffet for boxing fans.   The lower weight divisions came alive with pick 'em fights.  There were so many good fights in the last half of 1998 that DelaHoya-Quartey was cancelled, and hardly anyone noticed.  You could hardly turn on the television in late 1998 without seeing a pick 'em bout.

Well, make that "turn on HBO".  In 1998, as USA cancelled it's weekly boxing show, and ESPN took Al Bernstein off the air, only Time-Warner's Home Box Office kept the sport alive.  Certainly Showtime didn't help.  Showtime aired the convuluted draws of MAGO-Chavez and Lopez-Alvarez, the mismatch of Joppy-Duran, and not one but two robberies of Guilermo Jones.  Meanwhile, HBO was putting together card after card of great fights.  And that doesn't look to change.  HBO already has a full first quarter of 1998 booked, while Showtime is hoping Mike Tyson doesn't end up back in the pokey.

The story of 1998, however, was the emergence of the new stars of the game. While the established names took the year off to fight mandatories, a new breed of prospects made the jump to "star" status.  Shane Mosley, previously one of the west coast's little secrets, defended his title five times and is inching his way to the top 5 on nearly everyone's pound for pound list.  Floyd
Mayweather used his unique style and blinding speed to clear out the #1 and #2 guys in his division and become a world champion at the age of 21. Fernando Vargas backed up some his boasting by become a champion himself by defeating a
rugged veteran with 5 times as many fights as him.  Eric Morales wasted no time in retiring yet another fighter and rising atop the talent-rich junior featherweight division.  And a 6'7" giant named Michael Grant, with no amateur boxing experience to speak of, had Evander Holyfield's trainer and nearly everyone else calling him "the future of the heavyweight division".

The new stars were a welcome addition to the sport, because the old stars were either taking a break or getting beaten.  Oscar DelaHoya, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield faced three of the worst mandatory challengers in history. Pete Whitaker was suspended, Felix Trinidad had contract disputes, Ike Quartey had three multi-million dollar cancellations.  Meanwhile, superstars like Too Sharp Johnson, Tim Austin, Gerry Penalosa and Bernard Hopkins fight on in anonimity....and no one quite knows why.   Vaughn Bean was paid $1,000,000 for an expectedly ugly loss while Ricardo Lopez was paid $25,000 for one of the most stirring victories in recent memory.

And now, my unoffical awards for 1998:

Fighter of the Year:  Shane Mosley  Honorable mention:   Floyd Mayweather
Fight of the Year:  Gatti-Robinson I  Honorable mention:   Lopez-Alvarez II
Round of the Year:  Tszyu-Hurtado Round 1  Honorbable mention:   Gatti-Robinson I round 10
Robbery of the Year:  Jones-Boudiani I  Honorable Mention:   Jones-Boudiani II
KO of the Year:  Johnson KO5 Guthrie  Honorable mention:   M. Johnson KO1 A.Johnson, Jones KO4  Hill
Shot Fighter of the Year: Terry Norris  Honorable mention:   Junior Jones
Exposure of the year:  Purrity KO11 Klitschko  Honorable mention:  Ottke W12 Brewer
Retired:  Junior Jones, Azumah Nelson, Genaro Hernandez, Christy Martin, The Ruelas Brothers, Roberto Duran, Terry Norris, Wilfredo Vasquez, Buster Douglas, Tracy Harris Patterson
Should Retire:  Arturo Gatti, Julio Cesar Chavez, Tom Johnson, Troy Dorsey,
James Toney, Tommy Hearns, John Mugabi, Chris Eubank
Comeback of the Year:  Ivan Robinson  Honorable mention: Manuel Medina
Failed Comeback of the Year:  Danny Romero  Honorable mention: Arturo Gatti
The Lou Duva Award (for working most corners in one year):  Miguel Diaz
Cut of the year:  Arturo Gatti's left eye vs. Angel Manfredy
Swollen eye of the year:  Chris Eubank's right eye vs. Carl Thompson
Worst Rematch of the Year: Kelley-Gainer II  Honorbale mention:   Nave-Haugen II
Most embarrasing loss: Jimmy Thunder W12 Tim Witherspoon

By Thomas Gerbasi

First Round

Muhammad Ali TKO8 Jess Willard

Joe Louis KO1 Mike Weaver

Jack Dempsey KO7 Nino Valdez

Larry Holmes TKO7 Ernie Terrell

Rocky Marciano KO10 John Tate

George Foreman TKO3 Leon Spinks

Joe Frazier TKO8 Jack Sharkey

Jack Johnson W15(U) Jerry Quarry

Sam Langford TKO4 Marvin Hart

Gene Tunney TKO1(cuts) Tony Galento

Mike Tyson TKO4 Luis Angel Firpo

Peter Jackson TKO4 Henry Cooper

Joe Jeannette TKO13 Gerry Cooney

Sonny Liston TKO8 Gerrie Coetzee

Harry Wills TKO8 Jim Braddock

Michael Spinks TKO8 Jimmy Young

Ezzard Charles KO9 Ingemar Johannsson

James Corbett KO2 Bob Foster

Jim Jeffries W15(U) Zora Folley

John L. Sullivan KO1 Primo Carnera

Evander Holyfield W15(U) Eddie Machen

Ron Lyle W15(U) Riddick Bowe

Ken Norton W15(U) Tommy Farr

Sam McVey W15(U) Michael Dokes

Floyd Patterson TKO8 Trevor Berbick

Max Schmeling TKO7(cuts) Oscar Bonavena

Young Stribling TKO9 Cleveland Williams

Jersey Joe Walcott W15(U) Earnie Shavers

Roland LaStarza W15(U) Max Baer

Jimmy Ellis W15(S) Tommy Burns

Bob Fitzsimmons TKO7 George Chuvalo

Joe Bugner KO2 Lennox Lewis

SECOND ROUND

Muhammad Ali W15(M) Bob Fitzsimmons

Joe Louis TKO3 Jimmy Ellis

Jack Dempsey KO3 Roland LaStarza

Larry Holmes TKO15 Jersey Joe Walcott

Rocky Marciano TKO5 Young Stribling

George Foreman TKO5 Max Schmeling

Joe Frazier W15(U) Floyd Patterson

Jack Johnson KO14 Sam McVey

Sam Langford W15(U) Joe Bugner

Ken Norton W15(U) Gene Tunney

Jim Jeffries TKO13 Mike Tyson

Peter Jackson W15(U) James Corbett

Ezzard Charles W15(U) Joe Jeannette

Sonny Liston KO2 Ron Lyle

John L. Sullivan KO11 Evander Holyfield

Harry Wills KO12 Michael Spinks

THIRD ROUND

Muhammad Ali W15(U) Harry Wills

Joe Louis TKO12 John L. Sullivan

Sonny Liston KO1 Jack Dempsey

Larry Holmes KO13 Ezzard Charles

Rocky Marciano TKO7 Peter Jackson

George Foreman TKO6 Jim Jeffries

Joe Frazier KO6 Ken Norton

Jack Johnson W15(M) Sam Langford

QUARTERFINALS

Muhammad Ali vs. Jack Johnson

Two of boxing's most contoversial and outspoken greats stepped into a ring deemed too small for their egos. Ali came out fast, and peppered Johnson with repeated combos. Johnson finally responded toward the end of the round with a big left cross. Rounds two and three were slow, but Johnson's body punching was setting up some big scoring blows. In the fourth, Ali hurt Johnson, and had him in trouble for the better part of the round. Ali got overconfident and wound up losing the next two rounds, as he concentrated more on talking than punching. JJ continued to come on, building up points with body punches and a quick jab. An accidental butt opened a gash over Johnson's left eye in the tenth, and Ali took advantage, scoring with overhand rights. As the championship rounds got underway, Ali scored with more frequency, and Jack looked tired. By the 14th, Johnson was hanging on, and Ali was finishing strong. The decision was close (145-142, 145-141, 144-142) but unanimous, for...Muhammad Ali.

Joe Louis vs. Joe Frazier

No one expected this "Battle of the Joes" to be a tactical match, and no one was disappointed. As expected, Joe came out "Smokin", winging left hooks at a calm Louis, who took the first two rounds with his piston-like jab. Frazier took the third stanza, as he landed some good hooks and uppercuts on the inside. Louis regained control in the fourth, dominating Frazier. But a straight right to the jaw stunned the Brown Bomber at the bell. Frazier came out confidently for the fifth, but paid for it, as Louis almost ended the fight with a succession of quick lefts and powerful overhand rights. There was more of the same in Round Six, and Mills Lane came thisclose to stopping the contest. Louis looked to end it himself in the seventh, but a desperation left uppercut found Louis' chin just before the bell sounded, dropping Joe on his face. Both men were cautious in the eighth, but Frazier picked up the pace again in the ninth. Midway through the round, Frazier put Louis on the canvas again, this time for a seven count. Louis survived the round, but didn't look good as he staggered out for the tenth. One right to the jaw changed that. Frazier rose quickly from the canvas, but was obviously hurt. 30 seconds later, Mills Lane wisely stopped the fight, svaing Frazier from further damage. Your winner, by 10th round TKO, Joe Louis.

George Foreman vs. Sonny Liston

The "Brawl of the Bullies" was quick and explosive. Too quick. Foreman's first punch, a clubbing left jab, hurt Liston. Soon Sonny was backed into a corner, and the end seemed imminent. A big left hook opened a cut on Sonny's nose and sent him reeling out of the corner and into the ropes. In the next 45 seconds, Liston didn't throw a punch, as Big George teed off on his helpless opponent. Referee Arthur Donovan mercifully stopped this mismatch at the 2:05 mark. Winner-Big George Foreman.

Rocky Marciano vs. Larry Holmes

Despite the comments made about Marciano by Holmes years ago, Rocky refused to get into a war of words with the Easton Assassin before the bout. This fight was a typical bull/matador match early on, as Rocky chase, and Larry was content to move behind his jab. In the second, a rapier-like jab by Holmes opened up a cut over Rocky's left eye. But a Marciano cross stunned Holmes, who staggered back to his corner. In the third and fourth rounds, Holmes' combinations started to land, frequently stopping Marciano in his tracks. Holmes got brave and started to trade with the Rock in the fifth. Bad move. Holmes started to slow down considerably, and Rocky's bombs were penetrating Larry's suddenly porous defense. By the seventh, Holmes was in deep trouble, and unable to stop Marciano's onslaught. At the 2:24 mark, the fight was stopped. Rocky Marciano is the winner by 7th round TKO.

SEMIFINALS

Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman

Ali was his usual self before the fight, saying that if he beat Foreman as an old man in 74, the 66 Ali would knock him out in one round. Foreman just brooded, knowing that he wouldn't fall for the rope-a-dope again. This fight was one for the ages. In the first, both men came out fast, trading big shots, with neither taking a backward step. The action continued in the second, with Foreman landing brutal bombs, and Ali answering with lighning fast combinations. The third round saw Foreman go uppercut crazy, with many landing, slowing Ali down considerably. Ali stood with Foreman in the fourth, and after hurting Big George with a quick double jab, inflicted a ton of punishment on his bigger opponent. Rounds five and six were slower paced, but highlighted by some furious exchanges in the final minute of the sixth. Ali finally used his excellent footwork in the seventh, and thus had his best round of the fight, dancing and peppering a befuddled Foreman. This continued in rounds eight and nine, and Ali seemed on the verge of a kayo victory. Foreman was getting another beating in the tenth, but he fought back, landing some hard shots late in the round. Fatigue set in on both men over the next few rounds, with little action to speak of. By the end of the 15th round, there was little doubt who the winner was: Ali.

Joe Louis vs. Rocky Marciano

Another rematch, but this one with vastly different results. This was the Joe Louis of 1938, not 1951, and this would prove to be an exciting and explosive war. Marciano roared out of his corner in round one, surprising Louis, who gets hit with some big haymakers. Louis has trouble getting punching room, but finally lands a shot under the ribcage, which drops Marciano just before the bell sounds. Marciano rushes out again in the second, and lands a left to the body and right to the jaw, putting Louis down for a 2 count. Louis reels around the ring, and the fight is close to being stopped. Louis finally gets his legs back, and lands a combination which cuts Rocky over his right eye. The crowd stands and roars as the second ends. Same old story in the third. Rocky rushes Louis and gets caught with a devastating overhand right. Rocky, hurt, and unable to clinch, gets pummeled by the methodical Louis. Finally, late in the round, a straight right sends Rocky crashing to the canvas. He tries to get up, but he can't beat the count. Winner, by third round knockout...Joe Louis.

FINAL: Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Louis

Ali started the bout the way he did against Foreman, standing flat footed and trading. Unfortunately, Louis was more accurate than Big George, and Joe took the first round easily. In the second, Ali started to dance, and Louis cut off the ring expertly, scoring with jabs and crosses on the quicker Ali. Louis continued to press the action over the next three rounds, and Ali seemed to be giving the early rounds away, not a wise decision against a well conditioned fighter like Joe. Ali won his first round in the sixth, when Louis took a breather and didn't press the action as he had earlier. Joe got back on track in the seventh, and the crowd started booing due to the lack of action from Ali. In the eighth, Ali continued his strange strategy, and slowed down a bit, allowing Louis to unleash some bombs. They landed, but Ali just smiled at Joe, unhurt. After a tongue lashing from trainer Angelo Dundee, Ali fought the ninth furiously, taunting the Brown Bomber while nailing him with lightning fast combinations. Louis' mouthpiece got knocked out, and Ali finally looked like he was ready to fight. "The Greatest" looked like a new man in the 10th, dancing and scoring, and making a late charge to take control of the fight. The 11th was the best action round of the fight, with both men taking and giving crisp power shots. In the 12th, a fast left almost put Louis down on one knee, but Joe weathered a furious onslaught from Ali, who notched himself a 10-8 round on all three scorecards. Louis was visibly tired in the 13th, clinching a lot, while Ali landed some good combinations. The pace slowed in the 14th, but Louis managed to land some good shots. Louis, buoyed by his strong round 14, continued in the 15th, doing enough to take the round, and ultimately, the fight. The decision...unanimous...for your winner...and All-Time Heavyweight Champion...The Brown Bomber...Joe Louis.

By Tracy Callis

Jack Dempsey, born John Edward Kelly, was an extremely popular fighter in America during the 1880s. Only the great John L. Sullivan, heavyweight champion, was more famous.

Jack began his athletic career as a collar-and-elbow wrestler along with his brother, Martin. Soon, he gave it up and switched to boxing exclusively. Most of his contests were fought with bare-knuckles or skin-tight gloves under London Prize Ring rules.

He was one of the "Three Jacks" trio of prominent fighters at the time along with Jack McAuliffe and Jack Skelly. Dempsey was by far the most famous of the three with McAuliffe second.

Jack started fighting as a lightweight and eventually won the Middleweight Championship of the World even though he never weighed more than a welterweight during his entire career.

Dempsey had his first fight in 1883 and was unbeaten until 1889 – when he lost for the first time on an "illegal" punch – a backhand (or elbow) delivered by George LaBlanche while fighting at close quarters. In all, Dempsey fought for thirteen years and lost only three times – the other two losses coming against ring greats Bob Fitzsimmons and Tommy Ryan when Dempsey was well past his peak and in a dissipated physical condition (due to a losing battle against tuberculosis).

Grombach (1977, p 108) wrote that he "… fought both with bare and gloved fists. For almost ten years, from 1881 to 1891, the original Dempsey was unbeatable. In many ways, he is considered the most extraordinary boxer in the epic of the ring. He actually was a welterweight in many of his battles. "

There are a number of explanations as to how Jack obtained the moniker "Nonpariel". Bromberg (1962, p. 7) wrote that he took his last name from his mother and borrowed "Nonpariel" from the great English pugilist, Jack Randall. Luckett Davis, eminent boxing historian, points out that "He outclassed his rivals so decisively …".

Some boxing historians suggest Dempsey looked so good because his opposition was weak. This writer contends his opposition looked weak because Dempsey was so good. Gilbert Odd (1976, p. 45) wrote that Dempsey " … was regarded as invincible in American estimation".

Physically, Jack was slender, muscular, quick and agile. He had fast hands and a stiff right hand punch. He was crafty and elusive and utilized feints accompanied by a sharp, accurate left jab . Fight after fight, his opponents were battered, bruised, and cut up while he scarcely had any marks at all.

Richard Fox (1889, p. 8) wrote "… his agility and quickness on his legs and his thorough knowledge of pedal motion - handicaps any boxer he faces in the roped arena".

John McCallum (1974, p 125) says "Dempsey brought polished boxing skill … and an appreciation of the finer points of ringmanship to the modern ring".

Richard Fox (1889, p. 7) says "His style and method of boxing has a neatness about it … He stops blows aimed at him by his adversaries with so much skill, and hits his antagonist with such terrific force and comparative ease, that he astonishes and terrifies his opponents beyond measure … those ambitious to win the title of the middleweight champion are soon convinced of his superior knowledge and athletic prowess".

Luckett Davis says " … he used his intelligence and agility to defeat his opponents, making good use of feints and a quick left jab". He adds "… he was an excellent boxer-puncher and ring general".

Marshall Stillman (1920, p. 87) wrote that Dempsey "retained the middleweight championship for many years and was exceedingly scientific, securing his victories more through science than through rough tactics."

In addition to being an extremely clever boxer, he was quite valuable to have as a trainer or second during a contest. He seconded Joe Choynski against Jim Corbett and Choynski lasted 27 rounds. He seconded Jack McAuliffe against Jimmy Carroll and McAuliffe won the Lightweight title. He worked as trainer and second on many other occasions and even advised Bob Fitzsimmons later in his career.

Dempsey was not the typical pugilist type. He was handsome, well-spoken and mannerly. Also, he was personable and made friends easily. On most occasions, after trouncing an opponent in the ring, he was calm and rather indifferent towards the praise being heaped upon him.

With his ring savvy and exceptional skills, Dempsey usually made a fight go his way. But, when the going got tough, he was quite game.

On December 13, 1887, Dempsey fought Johnny Reagan at Manhasset on Long Island Sound, NY. The match lasted 1 hour and 8 minutes. Dempsey slogged through water and mud and won in 45 rounds to retain his Middleweight Championship. The contest was fought in two rings due to the heavy rain and flooding conditions. Reagan put a four-inch gash in Dempsey's shin with his sharp spikes during an early round but Jack fought on.

When Dempsey fought Bob Fitzsimmons, he met a man of similar weight in pounds but an entirely different physical structure. Fitz had the lower body structure of a welterweight but the upper torso of a light-heavyweight or heavyweight.

While Dempsey was, in the opinion of this writer, one of the finest welterweight fighters of all-time, Fitzsimmons was the greatest middleweight of all-time as well as the best "pound-for-pound" man ever. Wilfrid Diamond (1954, p. 45) wrote "Jack Dempsey, the ‘Nonpareil’, was a great champion, but he had to give place to a greater one."

Fitz dominated Jack, whose health had deteriorated from tuberculosis for the past two or three years. He was well past his peak. Bob knocked the Nonpareil down numerous times. Bob pleaded for Dempsey to stay down but Jack yelled out that Fitz would have to knock him out. Reports vary but Bob floored Dempsey anywhere from nine to fourteen times because Jack was so game and would not quit.

Marshall Stillman (1920, p. 36) wrote about the Dempsey-Fitzsimmons fight "… Fitzsimmons was more than a match for his man … Dempsey took a terrible beating, and Fitzsimmons begged the referee to stop the fight, not wanting to punish (any further) such a game man as Dempsey proved himself to be. But, Dempsey refused to quit …".

Dempsey's last fight was against the great Tommy Ryan. Jack, at this time was almost a dead man, having been "done in" by tuberculosis. But, he still wanted a go at Ryan. It was clear that he was outclassed from the first bell but he fought on. The referee had to stop the contest after three rounds. Dempsey would not quit.

Size of the opposition never bothered Dempsey. He fought Dominick McCaffrey at a weight disadvantage of 152-175 and clearly outboxed the clever McCaffrey. He baffled and butchered LaBlanche in the famous "pivot" punch contest although outweighed 151-161. He defeated Billy Keough in four rounds, weighing only 148 pounds to 180 for Keough.

Nat Fleischer (1944, p. 75) tells the story of a private fight Jack had with a six-footer who was much larger and heavier than Jack. Fleischer says Jack was "…cat quick" and danced around the man "…poking him every once in a while with that wonderful left" until he wore him out.

Perhaps his greatest weakness as a fighter was his inclination to consume too much alcohol and to underestimate his opposition. The result was that sometimes he did not train well. However, his great skills usually overcame these problems.

The former great middleweight champion, Mike Donovan, came out of retirement to fight Dempsey in 1888 and, according to many accounts of the bout, probably beat the "out of shape" Dempsey, who most likely did not take Donovan seriously.

M.J. McMahon (of Portland) wrote a poem dedicated to the memory of Dempsey. Part of it reads as follows:

  Far out in the  wilds of Oregon,
  On a lonely mountainside,
  Where Columbia’s mighty waters
  Roll down to the ocean side;
  Where the giant fir and cedar
  Are imaged in the wave,
  O’ergrown with firs and lichens,
  I found Jack Dempsey’s grave.
  O Fame, why sleeps thy favored son
  In wilds, in woods, in weeds,
  And shall he ever thus sleep on,
  Interred his valiant deeds.
  ‘Tis strange New York should thus forget
  Its "bravest of the brave"
  And in the fields of Oregon,
  Unmarked leave Dempsey’s grave.

Grombach (1977, p. 109) wrote that Dempsey was "… probably the greatest pound-for-pound boxer in modern history."

It is the opinion of this writer that the Nonpareil was the second greatest welterweight fighter of all-time, behind Sugar Ray Robinson. It is also my opinion that he is the third greatest pound-for-pound fighter in boxing history behind Bob Fitzsimmons and Robinson.

References:

JANUARY RATINGS (as of 19 Jan)

**Some notes: I penalize inactivity. When a guy is idle for too long, he
begins to drop, and eventually falling out altogether. This explains the
positions of guys like Frank Liles and Graciano Rocchigiani, and why you
can't find Michael Moorer, Ray Mercer or Pernell Whitaker in here...

As to the Heavyweights, I reinstalled Byrd at #10 (w/Mercer's departure).
I didn;t think Tyson deserved to be elevated after that performance last
week, but do expect he'll make his way in after another win or 2. Byrd's
acid test comes if the 20 Mar fight against Ike Ibeabuchi comes off. If he
wins, he soars (sorry) and if he loses, he probally disappears...

There are 3 criteria I use to rate fighters: Quality of Opposition,
Performance and Activity. I am ranking the best from 1 to 10; this is to
see who deserves a title shot. I rate all 18 divisions, a time-consuming
activity to say the least. Therefore, commentary only appears every 3rd
month.

Some mistakingly think the Champion in each division is the guy who I
think is the best. This is not the case. There are 2 criteria by which I
determine Champions: the 1st is lineage (Oscar de la Hoya beat Pernell
Whitaker who beat Buddy McGirt who beat Simon Brown); and the 2nd is
defeating another fighter also ranked in the top 3 in the division ‹ this
is how Evander Holyfield is the Champ. There is an exception: Bernard
Hopkins is that rare titlist who has reigned a long time and defeated many
contenders. Hopkins is the dominant fighter in his weight class and has
won, mostly via KO, against a number of different contenders. You could
say I¹m rewarding him for long and meritorious service.