THE COMMISSIONER’S CORNER: One of My GREATEST Memories

Published

10 years ago

October 22, 2014

On a day when I have had no calls from one of my many grown children, which often sound like this: “Dad, can you come over and babysit for a few hours?” and no gym requirements, I like to write. It’s relaxing. During a coffee break while working on my “Gentleman Gerry” chapter for my upcoming book, I started to think about all the fighters I have grown up with since I started watching boxing at the age of 10.

While having my coffee (black, please!) I wrote some more. I began jotting down names onto my iPad (I can still recall the days when I used a pen or pencil!). I typed in their names as fast as I could, thinking of who I enjoyed watching the most. I stopped when I got to 15. If I didn’t, I’d still be going.

Here is the list I came up with:

1. Floyd Patterson

2. Joe Frazier

3. Muhammad Ali

4. Emile Griffith

5. Alexis Arguello

6. Mark Breland

7. Howard Davis Jr.

8. Sugar Ray Leonard

9. Eddie Mustafa Muhammad

10. Larry Holmes

11. Hector Camacho

12. Alex Ramos

13. Arturo Gatti

14. Mike Tyson

15. Kostya Tszyu

It’s funny, but the first four names are my all-time favorites. I grew up watching them. Emile Griffith was my first sports hero, not just my first boxing hero. Floyd Patterson was my second. I followed their every move through Ring Magazine. I celebrated their wins by buying my friends 8-cent “egg creams” at the local candy store (egg creams and candy stores were very New York kind of things in the ’60’s). When they lost, I was best left alone.

Joe Frazier and Cassius Clay followed. When Clay told the world he wanted to be called Muhammad Ali, that was fine with me. It wasn’t fine with Ring Magazine boss Nat Fleischer, who insisted on calling him Clay and rating him as Cassius Clay. Then, when Ali refused military induction in 1967, Fleischer not only removed Cassius Clay from the ratings, he stripped him of the title as recognized by The Ring. I really disliked old Nat for doing that. I was then a high school senior. I continued to watch as New York State Boxing Commissioner Edwin Dooley then stripped Ali of New York recognition of the title. I decided then and there, that one day, I would take both their jobs and perhaps get to apologize to Mr. Ali for the wrong Fleischer and Dooley had done to him. I knew right then and there, that I wanted to be in boxing. I wanted to work in boxing. I wanted to make my life in and around these special men. It became my life’s dream.

Dreams DO come true.

Within 12 years after Nat Fleischer stripped “Cassius Clay” of the title, I was sitting in his chair at The Ring. Nine years after that, I sat in Commissioner Dooley’s chair at the New York State Athletic Commission. I was the boss.

Of the 15 men on my list, I became friends with every one except Kostya Tszyu. That’s because I only met him once, when I was announcing the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle, Washington. I had the fortune to watch and announce every one of his victories, including his gold medal performance in those games. What skill! GGG reminds me a lot of Tszyu.

In 1992, I attended a luncheon honoring Muhammad Ali. As Chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, I was seated, not just at the dais with Ali, I was seated NEXT to him. He found it funny that the Chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission–the same position as the one which stripped him of the title 25 years earlier–would be seated next to him and acting so friendly.

When it was my turn to speak, I walked to the podium, knowing I was about to realize one of my life’s major dreams. I was about to apologize to Muhammad Ali for the injustice done to him by the heads of both Ring Magazine and the New York State Athletic Commission.

After being introduced to the crowd of around 1,000, I first looked at Ali and smiled. He smiled back. I placed both hands on the podium and began speaking.

“In 1967, Muhammad Ali was stripped of his title by boxing’s regulatory bodies,” I said. “He was stripped of the title for his failure to step forward when called for induction into the United States’ military. The first of those regulatory bodies to take Ali’s title was the New York State Athletic Commission. At that time, an 18-year-old high school senior out on Long Island, who happened to be a huge boxing fan, was among those who felt it was wrong to strip Ali of the title he won in the ring, just because he was exercising his religious and political beliefs. So this high school senior wrote letters to the Chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission–Edwin Dooley–and to Nat Fleischer, the Editor-in-Chief of Ring Magazine, which also stripped Ali of the title. He told Commissioner Dooley and Mr. Fleischer just how unfair he thought it was to take Ali’s title away. He also told Mr. Fleischer that the magazine had not only lost a heavyweight champion, but a loyal reader, as well. He signed his name to both letters and included his phone number. It surprised the high school senior that he received phone calls from both Commissioner Dooley and from Mr. Fleischer. They each explained how they had a responsibility to the public to punish Ali for his illegal and anti-U.S. actions.

The teenager then said to each man, ‘But you’re not a court of law. ‘ To Commissioner Dooley he said, ‘You are there to regulate boxing.’ To Mr. Fleischer he said, ‘You are there to write about boxing, to report on boxing and to give us the ratings.’ To each he said, ‘What you are doing in unconstitutional. You can’t just take the title away from Ali. He won it in the ring. He should be allowed to lose it in the ring.’

“Ring Magazine’s boss told the youngster it wasn’t unconstitutional. Commissioner Dooley said, ‘Stop listening to Howard Cosell. Ali broke the law and now must pay for his actions.'”

I looked out at the crowd. I had everyone’s attention. Each of them knew the story of Ali and his three-and-a-half-year exile from boxing. I watched them as they watched me. Their eyes were either transfixed on me or Ali, who sat there, staring at one person: Me!

I then turned to Ali, who was sitting there tall and majestically. I said to him, “Muhammad, that high school senior from Long Island now stands before you as the former Editor-in-Chief of Ring Magazine, the same magazine which stripped him of the title, and stands before you as the Chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, the same regulatory body which was the first boxing commission to take your license away. I cannot undo what they have already done, but for what it’s worth, I want you to know that if I had been in either position when that situation came up, I would have honored you for standing up for your rights and not vilified you. You are, and always will be, the ‘People’s Champion.'”

The moment I said that, the entire room not only applauded, but stood as they applauded. Then Ali stood and walked over to me. He embraced me and said in a low voice, “I love you, Commissioner.”

“I love you, too, Muhammad,” I said.

He stood behind me and took my hands, lifting my arms into the air. It was a very special moment.

So, Ali joins 14 other of my favorite fighters to watch as I moved on in my dream-come-true career.

Alexis Arguello, Joe Frazier and Emile Griffith became three of my best friends, guys I spoke to at least once a week. I’m sure we’d still be speaking that much if they still were here to grace us with their presence.

The other living names on my list are all still men I cherish as friends, not just as favorite fighters to have watched. The only one I never became friends with–and that’s only because the opportunity never presented itself–was Konstantin “Kostya” Tszyu. I still dream of meeting this incredible Hall-of-Famer one day.

I’ll continue to dream.

As I well know, dreams most certainly do come true.

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Randy Gordon

The IBHOF Unveils its Newest Inductees: Manny Pacquiao is the Icing on the Cake

Published

18 hours ago

December 5, 2024

TSS Press

The IBHOF Unveils its Newest Inductees: Manny Pacquiao is the Icing on the Cake

PRESS RELEASE — CANASTOTA, NY – DECEMBER 5, 2024 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum is thrilled to announce the newest class of inductees to be honored during the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend June 5-8, 2025 in “Boxing’s Hometown” Canastota, NY.

The Class of 2025 includes Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao, “The Pazmanian Devil” Vinny Paz and Michael “Second To” Nunn in the Men’s Modern category; Yessica “Kika” Chavez, Anne Sophie Mathis and Mary Jo Sanders in the Women’s Modern category; Cathy “Cat” Davis in the Women’s Trailblazer category; referee Kenny Bayless, cut man Al Gavin (posthumous) and referee Harry Gibbs (posthumous) in the Non-Participant category; broadcaster / journalist Randy Gordon and television producer Ross Greenburg in the Observer category; Rodrigo Valdez (posthumous) in the Old Timer category and Owen Swift (posthumous) in the Pioneer category.

Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and a panel of international boxing historians.

“We’re extremely excited about the Class of 2025 and are very much looking forward to honoring the newest class of inductees to earn boxing’s highest honor,” said Executive Director Edward Brophy.

The 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend is scheduled for June 5-8th in “Boxing’s Hometown.” Many events will take place in Canastota and nearby Turning Stone Resort Casino throughout the four-day celebration including ringside talks, fist casting, fight night, 5K race / fun run, boxing autograph card show, banquet, parade and induction ceremony.

For more information on the 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, please call (315) 697-7095.

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Navarrete-Valdez and Espinoza-Ramirez Rematches Headline Phoenix Fight Fiesta

Published

23 hours ago

December 5, 2024

Phil Woolever

Navarrete-Valdez-and-Espinoza-Ramirez-Rematches-Headline-Phoenix-Fight-Fiesta

The annals of boxing abound with iconic rematches, and there’s a good chance that list will get longer after this Saturday in Phoenix’s Footprint Center with Top Rank’s ESPN card featuring Emanuel Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) versus Oscar Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) and Rafael Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs, against Robeisy Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs).

Valdez’s ties to the local area and multiple Arizona appearances give his bout against Navarrete top billing, but WBO featherweight titlist Espinoza’s initial encounter with Ramirez was the better bout the first time around, deemed Fight and Upset of the Year by many observers.

That’s not to say Navarrete-Valdez 1 didn’t hold plenty of drama as Navarrete captured the WBO junior lightweight belt with a relatively widespread unanimous decision. Valdez got himself into an immediate bind in the first fight by walking into Navarrete’s jab, enabling Navarrete to score early with looping right leads from his six-inch reach advantage. Valdez’s corner implored him to stay patient but it seemed there was no avoiding a firefight that played into Navarette’s always busy hands.

By round 3 Valdez’s face was heavily marked and often on the defensive, waiting to establish an offense that never fully arrived. Though he scored with some big shots down the stretch, his swollen right eye closed by the 9^th frame and the eventual outcome seemed obvious.

“I know there’s a lot of pride at stake in a Mexico versus Mexico battle,” said Navarrete. “I believe this will be an even better fight than before because we’re familiar with each other. I know I have to push Valdez to his limits.”

“I made mistakes the first time, the biggest one was trying to knock him out,” reflected Valdez. “I still have a few fights left in me, not everyone gets a second chance. I know what I needed to train for (this time) and I’ll make the most of it.”

Offense was never a problem for either Espinoza or Ramirez, who traded knockdowns in a give-and-take affair that might have gone either way. It was the gloved-up version of mongoose versus cobra as two time Olympic gold medalist Ramirez charged in behind blurring punches up the middle while the much taller Espinoza fired shoulder level combinations. In this case, it was the underdog cobra who triumphed.

Three days from first bell an unofficial consensus of online odds listed the previous winners as favorites, Espinoza by a hair and Navarrete by a solid margin. While the initial winners may still have an edge, that all disappears after the bell, and previous action indicates a pair of pick-em contests isn’t unlikely.

Boxing history is also full of tie-breaking trilogies, too. It wouldn’t be a big surprise if that’s what we’re looking at again in both these cases.

Adding to the electric atmosphere in Phoenix are a solid batch of undercard extras featuring multiple first-rate performers that should get the audience more than ready for the night’s headliners.

Top Rank junior welterweight prospect Lindolfo Delgado, 21-0 (15) from Nuevo Leon, meets skilled Dominican Jackson Marinez, 22-3 (10) in a contest that could qualify as main event worthy in many locales.

Undefeated southpaw heavyweight Richard Torrez, Jr, who earned the silver medal in that division for the USA at the 2020 Olympics faces off against Mexican big boy Issac Munoz Gutierrez, 18-1-1 (15) who reportedly packs a respectable wallop. None of Torrez’s pro opponents have made it to the final bell.

San Diego’s highly ranked welterweight title challenger Giovani Santillan, 31-1 (17) faces Fredrick Lawson of Ghana, 30-5 (22). Lawson has dropped his last two outings but that was against good opposition and he won’t be an easy test.

21 year-old DJ Zamora, a hot prospect at 13-0 (9) from Las Vegas meets experienced Roman Reynoso, 22-5-2 (10), from Argentina and emerging new stablemate Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez, 11-0 (7), who recently signed a long term Top Rank contract faces Gerardo Antonio Perez, 12-6-1 (3).

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R.I.P Israel Vazquez who has Passed Away at age 46

Published

3 days ago

December 3, 2024

TSS Press

RIP-Israel-Vazquez-who-has-Passed-Away-at-age-46

Israel Vazquez, a three-time world champion at 122 pounds and one of the most crowd-pleasing prizefighters of any era, has passed away at the age of 46. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman revealed the bad news today (Dec. 3) on his social media platform.

Born on Christmas Day 1977, Vazquez began his pro career in his native Mexico City at age 17. He was 16 fights into his pro career when he made his U.S. debut in El Cajon, California, under the management of Frank Espinoza.

Vazquez is most remembered for his four-fight rivalry with fellow Mexico City native Rafael Marquez.

The first two meetings were contested before small crowds in Carson, California, and Hidalgo, Texas.

Marquez won the first meeting thanks to a left hook that broke Vazquez’s nose in the opening round. The nose swelled to the point that Vazquez, who was making the fourth defense of his WBC super bantamweight title, could no longer breathe and he was all done after seven rounds.

Vazquez won the rematch (TKO 6), setting the stage for a rubber match that would be a fight for the ages. The bout, contested on March 1, 2008 at the soccer stadium in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, was a shoo-in for Fight of the Year, earning that accolade from the BWAA, The Ring magazine and others.

Vazquez pulled that fight out of the fire in the final round, knocking Marquez to the canvas to win a split decision. Ron Borges, writing for this publication, wrote, “they knocked pieces off each other that could never be fully reattached.”

That was true of the detached retina in Vazquez’s right eye. It would require multiple surgeries before Vazquez, nicknamed “El Magnifico,” fought again and the eye would eventually be replaced by a prosthetic.

Their fourth meeting, contested before a celebrity-studded crowd at LA’s Staples Center, was anticlimactic. Vazquez, damaged goods, was stopped in the third round and never fought again.

All four meetings were televised on Showtime which celebrated the rivalry in 2015, airing highlights from all four fights on March 7 of that year. TSS West Coast Bureau Chief David A. Avila, looking back at the series, wrote, “[It was] 28 rounds of the most scientifically brutal and awe-inspiring prizefighting at an elite level.” Avila would also call Israel Vazquez one of the sport’s greatest gentlemen, a class act, as evinced in his energetic handshake whenever meeting a new fan.

Vazquez used his ring earnings to open a boxing gym in the Greater Los Angeles City of South Gate.

Vazquez’s passing wasn’t unexpected. Mauricio Sulaiman announced last month that Vazquez had been diagnosed with Stage IV Sarcoma, a particularly virulent strain of cancer and along with Oscar Valdez and Top Rank, established a GoFundMe account to defray his medical expenses. Today, Sulaiman wrote, “Israel Vazquez is finally resting in peace. May God give strength and support to his wife Laura, their children, family and friends during these difficult times.”

We here at TSS share that sentiment and send our condolences.

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