THE COMMISSIONER’S CORNER: One of My GREATEST Memories

Published

11 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.

Post Views: 0

Share The Sweet Science experience!

Randy Gordon

Jorge Garcia is the TSS Fighter of the Month for April

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Jorge-Garcia-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-April

Jorge Garcia has a lot in common with Mexican countrymen Emanuel Navarrete and Rafael Espinoza. In common with those two, both reigning world title-holders, Garcia is big for his weight class and bubbled out of obscurity with a triumph forged as a heavy underdog in a match contested on American soil.

Garcia had his “coming of age party” on April 19 in the first boxing event at the new Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California (roughly 35 miles north of San Diego), a 7,500-seat facility whose primary tenant is an indoor soccer team. It was a Golden Boy Promotions event and in the opposite corner was a Golden Boy fighter, Charles Conwell.

A former U.S. Olympian, Conwell was undefeated (21-0, 16 KOs) and had won three straight inside the distance since hooking up with Golden Boy whose PR department ballyhooed him as the most avoided fighter in the super welterweight division. At prominent betting sites, Conwell was as high as a 12/1 favorite.

The lanky Garcia was 32-4 (26 KOs) heading in, but it was easy to underestimate him as he had fought extensively in Tijuana where the boxing commission is notoriously docile and in his home state of Sinaloa. This would be only his second fight in the U.S. However, it was noteworthy in hindsight that three of his four losses were by split decision.

Garcia vs. Conwell was a robust affair. He and Conwell were credited with throwing 1451 punches combined. In terms of punches landed, there was little to choose between them but the CompuBox operator saw Garcia landing more power punches in eight of the 12 rounds. At the end, the verdict was split but there was no controversy.

An interested observer was Sebastian Fundora who was there to see his sister Gabriela defend her world flyweight titles. Sebastian owns two pieces of the 154-pound world title where the #1 contender per the WBO is Xander Zayas who keeps winning, but not with the verve of his earlier triumphs.

With his upset of Charles Conwell, Jorge Garcia has been bumped into the WBO’s #2 slot. Regardless of who he fights next, Garcia will earn the biggest payday of his career.

Honorable mention: Aaron McKenna

McKenna was favored to beat veteran campaigner Liam Smith in the co-feature to the Eubank-Benn battle this past Saturday in London, but he was stepping up in class against a former world title-holder who had competed against some of the top dogs in the middleweight division and who had famously stopped Chris Eubank Jr in the first of their two encounters. Moreover, the venue, Tottenham Hotspur, the third-largest soccer stadium in England, favored the 36-year-old Liverpudlian who was accustomed to a big fight atmosphere having fought Canelo Alvarez before 50,000-plus at Arlington Stadium in Texas.

McKenna, from the small town of Monaghan, Ireland, wasn’t overwhelmed by the occasion. With his dad Feargal in his corner and his fighting brother Stephen McKenna cheering him on from ringside, Aaron won a wide decision in his first 12-round fight, punctuating his victory by knocking Smith to his knees with a body punch in the 12^th round. In fact, if he hadn’t had a point deducted for using his elbow, the Irishman would have pitched a shutout on one of the scorecards.

“There might not be a more impressive example of a fighter moving up in class,” wrote Tris Dixon of the 25-year-old “Silencer” who improved his ledger to 20-0 (10).

Photo credits: Garcia/Conwell photo compliments of Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy; McKenna-Smith provided by Mark Robinson/Matchroom

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 0

Share The Sweet Science experience!

Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Published

3 days ago

April 27, 2025

David A. Avila

Chris-Eubank-Jr-Outlasts-Conor-Benn-at-Tottenham-Hotsour-Stadium

Feudal bragging rights belong to Chris Eubank Jr. who out-lasted Conor Benn to
emerge victorious by unanimous decision in a non-title middleweight match held in
London on Saturday.

Fighting for their family heritage Eubank (35-3, 26 KOs) and Benn (23-1, 14 KOs)
continued the battle between families started 35 years ago by their fathers at Tottenham
Hotspur Stadium.

More than 65,000 fans attended.

Though Eubank Jr. had a weight and height advantage and a record of smashing his
way to victory via knockout, he had problems hurting the quicker and more agile Benn.
And though Benn had the advantage of moving up two weight divisions and forcing
Eubank to fight under a catch weight, the move did not weaken him much.

Instead, British fans and boxing fans across the world saw the two family rivals pummel
each other for all 12 rounds. Neither was able to gain separation.

Eubank looked physically bigger and used a ramming left jab to connect early in the
fight. Benn immediately showed off his speed advantage and surprised many with his
ability to absorb a big blow.Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Benn scrambled around with his quickness and agility and scored often with bigcounters.

It took him a few rounds to stop overextending himself while delivering power shots.

In the third round Benn staggered Eubank with a left hook but was unable to follow up
against the dangerous middleweight who roared back with flurries of blows.

Eubank was methodic in his approach always moving forward, always using his weight
advantage via the shoulder to force Benn backward. The smaller Benn rocketed
overhand rights and was partly successful but not enough to force Eubank to retreat.
In the seventh round a right uppercut snapped Benn’s head violently but he was
undeterred from firing back. Benn’s chin stood firm despite Eubank’s vaunted power and
size advantage.

“I didn’t know he had that in him,” Eubank said.

Benn opened strong in the eighth round with furious blows. And though he connected
he was unable to seriously hurt Eubank. And despite being drained by the weight loss,
the middleweight fighter remained strong all 12 rounds.

There were surprises from both fighters.

Benn was effective targeting the body. Perhaps if he had worked the body earlier he
would have found a better result.

With only two rounds remaining Eubank snapped off a right uppercut again and followed
up with body shots. In the final stanza Eubank pressed forward and exchanged with the
smaller Benn until the final bell. He simply out-landed the fighter and impressed all three
judges who scored it 116-112 for Eubank.

Eubank admitted he expected a knockout win but was satisfied with the victory.
“I under-estimated him,” Eubank said.

Benn was upset by the loss but recognized the reasons.

“He worked harder toward the end,” said Benn.

McKenna Wins

In his first test in the elite level Aaron McKenna (20-0, 10 KOs) showed his ability to fight
inside or out in soundly defeating former world champion Liam Smith (33-5-1, 20 KOs)
by unanimous decision to win a regional WBA middleweight title.

Smith has made a career out of upsetting young upstarts but discovered the Irish fighter
more than capable of mixing it up with the veteran. It was a rough fight throughout the
12 rounds but McKenna showed off his abilities to fight as a southpaw or right-hander
with nary a hiccup.

McKenna had trained in Southern California early in his career and since that time he’s
accrued a variety of ways to fight. He was smooth and relentless in using his longer
arms and agility against Smith on the outside or in close.

In the 12 th round, McKenna landed a perfectly timed left hook to the ribs and down went
Smith. The former champion got up and attempted to knock out the tall
Irish fighter but could not.

All three judges scored in favor of McKenna 119-108, 117-109, 118-108.

Other Bouts
Anthony Yarde (27-3) defeated Lyndon Arthur (24-3) by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. in a light heavyweight match. It was the third time they met. Yarde won the last two fights.

Chris Billam-Smith (21-2) defeated Brandon Glanton (20-3) by decision. It was his first
fight since losing the WBO cruiserweight world title to Gilberto Ramirez last November.

Viddal Riley (13-0) out-worked Cheavon Clarke (10-2) in a 12-round back-and-forth-contest to win a unanimous decision.

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 0

Share The Sweet Science experience!

Avila Perspective, Chap. 323: Benn vs Eubank Family Feud and More

Published

5 days ago

April 24, 2025

David A. Avila

Avila-Perspective,-Chap.-323:-Benn-vs-Eubank-Family-Feud-and-More.jpg

Next generation rivals Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. carry on the family legacy of feudal warring in the prize ring on Saturday.

This is huge in British boxing.

Eubank (34-3, 25 KOs) holds the fringe IBO middleweight title but won’t be defending it against the smaller welterweight Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) on Saturday, April 26, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.

This is about family pride.

The parents of Eubank and Benn actually began the feud in the 1990s.

Papa Nigel Benn fought Papa Chris Eubank twice. Losing as a middleweight in November 1990 at Birmingham, England, then fighting to a draw as a super middleweight in October 1993 in Manchester. Both were world title fights.

Eubank was undefeated and won the WBO middleweight world title in 1990 against Nigel Benn by knockout. He defended it three times before moving up and winning the vacant WBO super middleweight title in September 1991. He defended the super middleweight title 14 times before suffering his first pro defeat in March 1995 against Steve Collins.

Benn won the WBO middleweight title in April 1990 against Doug DeWitt and defended it once before losing to Eubank in November 1990. He moved up in weight and took the WBC super middleweight title from Mauro Galvano in Italy by technical knockout in October 1992. He defended the title nine times until losing in March 1996. His last fight was in November 1996, a loss to Steve Collins.

Animosity between the two families continues this weekend in the boxing ring.

Conor Benn, the son of Nigel, has fought mostly as a welterweight but lately has participated in the super welterweight division. He is several inches shorter in height than Eubank but has power and speed. Kind of a British version of Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

“It’s always personal, every opponent I fight is personal. People want to say it’s strictly business, but it’s never business. If someone is trying to put their hands on me, trying to render me unconscious, it’s never business,” said Benn.

This fight was scheduled twice before and cut short twice due to failed PED tests by Benn. The weight limit agreed upon is 160 pounds.

Eubank, a natural middleweight, has exchanged taunts with Benn for years. He recently avenged a loss to Liam Smith with a knockout victory in September 2023.

“This fight isn’t about size or weight. It’s about skill. It’s about dedication. It’s about expertise and all those areas in which I excel in,” said Eubank. “I have many, many more years of experience over Conor Benn, and that will be the deciding factor of the night.”

Because this fight was postponed twice, the animosity between the two feuding fighters has increased the attention of their fans. Both fighters are anxious to flatten each other.

“He’s another opponent in my way trying to crush my dreams. trying to take food off my plate and trying to render me unconscious. That’s how I look at him,” said Benn.

Eubank smiles.

“Whether it’s boxing, whether it’s a gun fight. Defense, offense, foot movement, speed, power. I am the superior boxer in each of those departments and so many more – which is why I’m so confident,” he said.

Supporting Bout

Former world champion Liam Smith (33-4-1, 20 KOs) tangles with Ireland’s Aaron McKenna (19-0, 10 KOs) in a middleweight fight set for 12 rounds on the Benn-Eubank undercard in London.

“Beefy” Smith has long been known as one of the fighting Smith brothers and recently lost to Eubank a year and a half ago. It was only the second time in 38 bouts he had been stopped. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez did it several years ago.

McKenna is a familiar name in Southern California. The Irish fighter fought numerous times on Golden Boy Promotion cards between 2017 and 2019 before returning to the United Kingdom and his assault on continuing the middleweight division. This is a big step for the tall Irish fighter.

It’s youth versus experience.

“I’ve been calling for big fights like this for the last two or three years, and it’s a fight I’m really excited for. I plan to make the most of it and make a statement win on Saturday night,” said McKenna, one of two fighting brothers.

Monster in L.A.

Japan’s super star Naoya “Monster” Inoue arrived in Los Angeles for last day workouts before his Las Vegas showdown against Ramon Cardenas on Sunday May 4, at T-Mobile Arena. ESPN will televise and stream the Top Rank card.

It’s been four years since the super bantamweight world champion performed in the US and during that time Naoya (29-0, 26 KOs) gathered world titles in different weight divisions. The Japanese slugger has also gained fame as perhaps the best fighter on the planet. Cardenas is 26-1 with 14 KOs.

Pomona Fights

Super featherweights Mathias Radcliffe (9-0-1) and Ezequiel Flores (6-4) lead a boxing card called “DMG Night of Champions” on Saturday April 26, at the historic Fox Theater in downtown Pomona, Calif.

Michaela Bracamontes (11-2-1) and Jesus Torres Beltran (8-4-1) will be fighting for a regional WBC super featherweight title. More than eight bouts are scheduled.

Doors open at 6 p.m. For ticket information go to: www.tix.com/dmgnightofchampions

Fights to Watch

Sat. DAZN 9 a.m. Conor Benn (23-0) vs Chris Eubank Jr. (34-3); Liam Smith (33-4-1) vs Aaron McKenna (19-0).

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 0

Share The Sweet Science experience!