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Boxing Obituaries 2018 PART TWO: (H-W)

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In 2018, the “10 count” was tolled for an unusually high number of notable boxing personalities – so many that we here at TSS elected to publish our annual year-end obits story in two parts. Here is PART TWO.

Joergen Hansen – A 1968 Olympian, Hansen was 78-14 in a 13-year career. He was 9-2 in European welterweight title fights but his lone trip to the United States ended in disaster when he was knocked out in the opening round by Pipino Cuevas on the undercard of a big show at the Houston Astrodome. In 2010 he was diagnosed with pugilistic dementia. On March 15 at age 74 in Aalborg, Denmark.

Brendan Ingle – Born in Dublin, one of 15 children, Ingle made little headway as a pro boxer, finishing 19-14, but became one of the most revered trainers of his generation. His grubby little gym in the hardscrabble east end of Sheffield, England, produced five world champions, most notably Naseem Hamed. On May 25 at age 77 in Sheffield from a brain hemorrhage.

Dave Jacobs – Jacobs and his assistant Janks Morton built an amateur boxing dynasty at a rec center in Palmer Park, Maryland. He guided his most prominent student, Sugar Ray Leonard, to an Olympic gold medal and was an assistant to Angelo Dundee during much of Leonard’s pro career. He was also associated with Mike Tyson when Tyson returned from prison. On March 23 at age 84 in Washington, DC, from congestive heart failure.

Alonzo Johnson – Before assuming the role of a trial horse, he split two fights with future light heavyweight champion Willie Pastrano, outpointed a faded Nino Valdes and troubled a young Cassius Clay while losing a 10-round decision in a nationally televised fight. The former New York Golden Gloves champion was 84 when he passed away on Nov. 22 in Braddock, Pennsylvania.

Alvin Blue Lewis – From the meanest streets of Detroit and the meaner confines of Michigan’s Jackson State Prison, Lewis, a heavyweight, was 30-6 in a career that began in 1966. In his most famous fight he was stopped in the 11th round by former sparring partner Muhammad Ali at Dublin’s Croke Park. He was suffering from dementia when he died on Jan. 21 at age 75 in Flint.

John McCain – A passionate boxing fan, the former POW served six terms in the U.S. Senate and was the 2008 Republican nominee for President. An advocate of federal oversight of professional boxing, he designed the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act intended to free boxers from the stranglehold of long-term promotional contracts. On Aug. 25 in Cornville, AZ, at age 81 of brain cancer.

Martin McGarry – An immigrant from County Mayo, Ireland, McGarry founded a boxing club on Chicago’s South Side and became a legend in Chicagoland amateur boxing circles. On Jan. 24 at age 66 in Chicago from a rare hereditary disease that had claimed other members of his family.

Rafael Mendoza – The Merida, Mexico native was involved in boxing for more than 50 years, serving the sport as a journalist, booking agent, matchmaker, and manager. He advised 26 world title-holders and was the original manager of Canelo Alvarez. Fluent in many languages, Mendoza was an authority on the life of Frank Sinatra. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2015. On March 8 in Guadalajara at age 80 of lung cancer.

Karl Mildenberger – Germany’s biggest boxing star since Max Schmeling, Mildenberger was the European heavyweight champion and had a 49-2-3 record when he became the first southpaw to challenge for the world heavyweight title, opposing Muhammad Ali before 45,000 in Frankfurt. He had his moments in the early rounds but the 24-year-old Ali, at the height of his powers, gradually assumed control and the fight was stopped in the 12th. On Oct. 5 at age 80 in his birthplace of Kaiserlautern where in retirement he worked as a lifeguard.

Elisha Obed – The only fighter from the Bahamas to win a world title, Obed, born Everette Ferguson, accomplished the feat in 1975 when he stopped Brazil’s Miguel de Oliveira in the 11th round in Paris for the WBC 154-pound diadem. Obed, who turned pro at age 14, compiled a 91-22-4 record with 60 knockouts. Most of his losses came very late in his 21-year career. On June 28 at age 66 in Nassau. He had been suffering from dementia.

Graciano Rocchigiani – A world title holder at 168 and 175 pounds, Rocchigiani finished his career with a record of 41-6-1. The four fighters that beat him (he fought Henry Maske and Dariusz Michaelzewski twice) were collectively 183-1-2 when he fought them. Born and raised in Germany, he died on Oct. 2 at age 54 in Belpasso, Italy, when he was hit by a car while taking a walk.

Luis Rosa Jr. – A 26-year-old featherweight with a 23-1 record, Rosa died on Jan. 14 from injuries suffered in a car crash near his New Haven, Connecticut home.

Maria Elena Rosa – Active from 1999 to 2005, Risa compiled a 19-1 record while competing mostly as a flyweight. She retired after losing a split decision to 47-1-1 Regina Halmich in Halmich’s hometown in Germany. On Dec. 18 at age 44 from cancer in her native Madrid.

Farid Salim – The “Rudolph Valentino of the Pampas” was recognized as the middleweight champion of Argentina when he invaded the U.S. where he had six TV fights, defeating Ted Wright and Joey Giambra, but losing to Wilbert McClure, Yama Bahama, Joey Archer, and Hurricane Carter. He finished 46-5-3 and was never stopped. In Salta, Argentina, on July 17 at age 81.

James Scott – A light heavyweight, Scott had 22 pro fights, the first 11 in Miami Beach and the last 11, seven of which were televised, inside the walls of New Jersey’s Rahway  State Prison where he was serving a 30-40 year sentence as a multiple offender. At Rahway, he outpointed future light heavyweight champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, then known as Eddie Gregory, and lost a 10-round decision to future cruiserweight champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi, then known as Dwight Braxton. Paroled in 2005, he died on May 8 at age 70 (or thereabouts) in a New Jersey nursing home.

Jay Searcy – He spent most of his 43-year career as a sports journalist with the Philadelphia Inquirer. After a 10-year stint as the paper’s sports editor, he returned to writing, his first love, specializing in boxing and horseracing. In 2000 he received the Nat Fleischer Award from the BWAA for excellence in sports journalism. On Dec. 29 at age 84 in Tellico Village, a suburb of Knoxville, TN, his home for the last 18 years.

Don Smith – A freelance journalist, Smith covered the Arizona boxing scene, amateur and professional, with a fine tooth comb. His “Arizona Boxing News and Notes,” which had various homes over the years, was a must-read for anyone with ties to boxing in Arizona. Smith was 75 when he was killed on May 15 by an apparent drunken driver while walking near his Phoenix home.

Grace Sseruwagi – As an amateur he knocked out Idi Amin and sparred with Cassius Clay and went on to become the most celebrated boxing coach in Uganda. On Feb. 6 at 87 in Kampala from complications of diabetes.

Bunny Sterling – Born in Jamaica, raised in London, Sterling was the first fighter born in the West Indies to win a British title. His signature win was an 8th round stoppage of future WBC 154-pound champion Maurice Hope. Matched tough throughout his career, he finished with a record of 35-18-4. On Nov. 16 in London at age 70 after a four-year battle with dementia.

Langton Tinago – A legend in Zimbabwe, Tinago was a three-time British Empire lightweight champion who finished his career 86-20-3. On July 17 in Gweru, Zimbabwe after a long illness.

Jerry Turner – A teammate of ill-fated Charlie Mohr at the University of Wisconsin, Turner won the 1960 NCAA tournament in the 156-pound weight class. He was 6-0 as a pro before becoming a probation officer and then, after earning a law degree, a litigator in Milwaukee. In Mequon, Wisconsin at age 78.

Scott Wagner – He promoted dozens of shows at his family’s banquet hall, Michael’s Eighth Avenue in the Baltimore suburb of Glen Burnie. For a time, Wagner’s “Ballroom Boxing” series aired on various cable networks around the country. At age 49 of liver cancer.

Troy Waters – One of three boxing brothers who each won a national title, the Aussie was a three-time world title challenger at 154 pounds and finished his career 28-5. On May 18 at age 53 in Sydney from leukemia.

Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel

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Najee Lopez Steps up in Class and Wins Impressively at Plant City

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Garry Jonas’ ProBox series returned to its regular home in Plant City, Florida, tonight with a card topped by a 10-round light heavyweight match between fast-rising Najee Lopez and former world title challenger Lenin Castillo. This was considered a step-up fight for the 25-year-old Lopez, an Atlanta-born-fighter of Puerto Rican heritage. Although the 36-year-old Castillo had lost two of his least three heading in, he had gone the distance with Dimitry Bivol and Marcus Browne and been stopped only once (by Callum Smith).

Lopez landed the cleaner punches throughout. Although Castillo seemed unfazed during the first half of the fight, he returned to his corner at the end of round five exhibiting signs of a fractured jaw.

In the next round, Lopez cornered him against the ropes and knocked him through the ropes with a left-right combination. Referee Emil Lombardo could have stopped the fight right there, but he allowed the courageous Castillo to carry on for a bit longer, finally stopping the fight as Castillo’s corner and a Florida commissioner were signaling that it was over.

The official time was 2:36 of round six. Bigger fights await the talented Lopez who improved to 13-0 with his tenth win inside the distance. Castillo declined to 25-7-1.

Co-Feature

In a stinker of a heavyweight fight, Stanley Wright, a paunchy, 34-year-old North Carolina journeyman, scored a big upset with a 10-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Jeremiah Milton.

Wright carried 280 pounds, 100 pounds more than in his pro debut 11 years ago. Although he was undefeated (13-0, 11 KOs), he had never defeated an opponent with a winning record and his last four opponents were a miserable 19-48-2. Moreover, he took the fight on short notice.

What Wright had going for him was fast hands and, in the opening round, he put Milton on the canvas with a straight right hand. From that point, Milton fought tentatively and Wright, looking fatigued as early as the fourth round, fought only in spurts. It seemed doubtful that he could last the distance, but Milton, the subject of a 2021 profile in these pages, was wary of Wright’s power and unable to capitalize. “It’s almost as if Milton is afraid to win,” said ringside commentator Chris Algieri during the ninth stanza when the bout had devolved into a hugfest.

The judges had it 96-93 and 97-92 twice for the victorious Wright who boosted his record to 14-0 without improving his stature.

Also

In the TV opener, a 10-round contest in the junior middleweight division, Najee Lopez stablemate Darrelle Valsaint (12-0, 10 KOs) scored his career-best win with a second-round knockout of 35-year-old Dutch globetrotter Stephen Danyo (23-7-3).

A native Floridian of Haitian descent, the 22-year-old Valsaint was making his eighth start in Plant City. He rocked Danyo with a chopping right hand high on the temple and then, as Danyo slumped forward, delivered the coup-de-gras, a short left uppercut. The official time was 2:17 of round two.

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Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue is Headed to Vegas after KOing Ye Joon Kim

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Japan’s magnificent Naoya Inoue, appearing in his twenty-fourth title fight, scored his 11th straight stoppage tonight while successfully defending his unified super bantamweight title, advancing his record to 29-0 (26 KOs) at the expense of Ye Joon Kim. The match at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena came to an end at the 2:25 mark of round four when U.S. referee Mark Nelson tolled “10” over the brave but overmatched Korean.

Kim, raised in a Seoul orphanage, had a few good moments, but the “Monster” found his rhythm in the third round, leaving Kim with a purplish welt under his left eye. In the next frame, he brought the match to a conclusion, staggering the Korean with a left and then finishing matters with an overhand right that put Kim on the seat of his pants, dazed and wincing in pain.

Kim, who brought a 21-2-2 record, took the fight on 10 days’ notice, replacing Australia’s Sam Goodman who suffered an eye injury in sparring that never healed properly, forcing him to withdraw twice.

Co-promoter Bob Arum, who was in the building, announced that Inoue’s next fight would happen in Las Vegas in the Spring. Speculation centers on Mexico City’s Alan Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) who is ranked #1 by the WBC. However, there’s also speculation that the 31-year-old Inoue may move up to featherweight and seek to win a title in a fifth weight class, in which case a potential opponent is the winner of the Feb. 2 match between Brandon Figueroa and Stephen Fulton. In “olden days,” this notion would have been dismissed as the Japanese superstar and Figueroa/Fulton have different promoters, but the arrival of Turki Alalshikh, the sport’s Daddy Warbucks, has changed the dynamic. Tonight, Naoya Inoue made his first start as a brand ambassador for Riyadh Season.

Simmering on the backburner is a megafight with countryman Junto Nakatani, an easy fight to make as Arum has ties to both. However, the powers-that-be would prefer more “marination.”

Inoue has appeared twice in Las Vegas, scoring a seventh-round stoppage of Jason Moloney in October of 2020 at the MGM Bubble and a third-round stoppage of Michael Dasmarinas at the Virgin Hotels in June of 2021.

Semi-wind-up

In a 12-round bout for a regional welterweight title, Jin Sasaki improved to 19-1-1 (17) with a unanimous decision over Shoki Sakai (29-15-3). The scores were 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.

Also

In a bout in which both contestants were on the canvas, Toshiki Shimomachi (20-1-3) edged out Misaki Hirano (11-2), winning a majority decision. A 28-year-old Osaka southpaw with a fan-friendly style, the lanky Shimomachi, unbeaten in his last 22 starts, competes as a super bantamweight. A match with Inoue may be in his future.

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Eric Priest Wins Handily on Thursday’s Golden Boy card at the Commerce Casino

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Model turned fighter Eric Priest jabbed and jolted his way into the super middleweight rankings with a shutout decision win over veteran Tyler Howard on Thursday.

In his first main event Priest (15-0, 8 KOs) proved ready for contender status by defusing every attack Tennessee’s Howard (20-3, 11 KOs) could muster at Commerce Casino, the second fight in six days at the LA County venue.

All ticket monies collected on the Folden Boy Promotions card were contributed to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation as they battle wildfires sprouting all over Los Angeles County due to high winds.

Priest, 26, had never fought anyone near Howard’s caliber but used a ramrod jab to keep the veteran off-balance and unable to muster a forceful counter-attack. Round after round the Korean-American fighter pumped left jabs while circling his opposition.

Though hit with power shots, none seemed to faze Howard but his own blows were unable to put a dent in Priest. After 10 rounds of the same repetitive action all three judges scored the fight 100-90 for Priest who now wins a regional super middleweight title.

Priest also joins the top 15 rankings of the WBA organization.

In a fight between evenly matched middleweights, Jordan Panthen (11-0, 9 KOs) remained undefeated after 10 rounds versus DeAundre Pettus (12-4, 7 KOs). Though equally skilled, Panthen simply out-worked the South Caroliina fighter to win by unanimous decision. No knockdowns were scored.

Other Bouts

Grant Flores (8-0, 6 KOs) knocked out Costa Rica’s David Lobo Ramirez (17-4, 12 KOs) with two successive right uppercuts at 2:59 of the second round of the super welterweight fight.

Cayden Griffith (3-0, 3 KOs) used a left hook to the body to stop Mark Misiura at 1:43 of the second round in a super welterweight bout.

Jordan Fuentes (3-0) floored Brandon Badillo (0-3-1) in the third round and proceeded to win by decision after four rounds in a super bantamweight fight.

A super featherweight match saw Leonardo Sanchez (8-0) win by decision over Joseph Cruz Brown (10-12) after six rounds.

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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