Will the COVID-19 Pandemic Hobble Boxing? There’s a Precedent for It

Published

5 years ago

March 2, 2020

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Will the COVID-19 Pandemic Hobble Boxing? There’s a Precedent for It

“Influenza Halts Boxing Activity” read the headline above an Oct. 13, 1918 story in the New York Times. “Promoters in Philadelphia, Boston, and New Jersey, in compliance with their different Health Departments, have agreed to close up shop,” read the story. “How long the sport will be idle remains to be seen, but it is positive that no matches of any importance will be undertaken while the (Spanish flu) epidemic continues.”

The epidemic was misnamed. It may have actually originated at Fort Riley, a U.S. military reservation in northwest Kansas. This wasn’t merely an epidemic but a pandemic, and ultimately the most awful pandemic afflicting mankind the 20^th century, killing many more people than in the conterminous war raging in Europe, an estimated 675,000 deaths in the United States alone.

I wouldn’t want to compare the current situation regarding COVID-19, the coronavirus, with the great pandemic that struck with particular vehemence in the final months of World War I. That would be akin to crying fire in a crowded theater. Workers in the various health professions have more advanced tools at their disposal nowadays. Moreover, back then there was a shortage of nurses and doctors in the U.S. because so many were in the military.

But nonetheless, reports are troubling.

According to an Associated Press article published on March 2, the coronavirus has spread to more than 60 countries, infecting more than 88,000, of whom more than 3,000 have died. Ground Zero is the Hubei Province in China, home to the flashpoint city of Wuhan, which accounts for more than 90 percent of the deaths and more than 95 percent of the recorded infections. The economic effects have been devastating, particularly in countries like Italy where the economy is so heavily dependent on tourism.

What hasn’t changed in over 100 years are the recommended precautions that people are advised to take to diminish their risk of exposure. In 1918, Royal S. Copeland, the New York City Health Commissioner, came out with a list of do’s and don’ts. The first two entries were “Keep away from the cougher, sneezer, and spitter who does not use a handkerchief” and “Keep out of crowds whenever possible.” If one resided close to one’s workplace, it was recommended that one walk to work rather than use public transportation.

The cessation of boxing in Philadelphia came on the heels of an edict by the Pennsylvania Health Department that closed every place of amusement in the Keystone State to prevent large crowds from forming. As I write this, both Disney amusement parks in Tokyo are closed until further notice as is the Louvre in Paris, which has 2300 employees.

At the time of the embargo, the fight attracting the most buzz was the match between Salt Lake City knockout artist Jack Dempsey and veteran campaigner Battling Levinsky. It was originally scheduled for Oct. 9, 1918 at Shibe Park, the home of the Philadelphia Athletics baseball team. With Philadelphians encouraged to avoid non-essential travel, the promoters quickly realized that this venue was too large and shifted the fight to an indoor arena before they had to postpone it.

Here’s the good news. In Philadelphia, the order prohibiting boxing matches was quickly rescinded. Dempsey and Levinsky fought on Nov. 6. Dempsey knocked Levinsky out in the third round with a roundhouse right to the jaw and had two more fights in Philadelphia before the year was out. The following year he annihilated Jess Willard to win the world heavyweight title in a match that would set records for attendance and gate receipts – records that would soon be shattered. And so, the fallow in boxing resulting from the twin burdens of war and disease gave way to the sport’s most glorious era.

Boxing, of course, wasn’t the only major sport impacted by the spread of the so-called Spanish flu. College football was especially hurt with only a handful of teams playing a full schedule. The decision to cancel games was made easier by the fact that so many coaches and players had enlisted or been drafted into the Army.

The stock market roared back today (Monday, March 2) after a dismal week in which the Dow Jones plunged 14 percent from a recent high, the worst weekly decline since 2008. Hopefully that’s a sign that the COVID-19 scourge is abating. In the meantime, boxing promoters around the world — indeed, sports promoters of all stripes — are keeping a wary eye on the situation.

Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel

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Arne K. Lang

Related Topics:Arne K. Lang Battling Levinsky Boxing COVID-19 Jack Dempsey Royal S. Copeland Spanish flu The Sweet Science TSS

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

Published

1 day ago

January 24, 2025

Arne K. Lang

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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 last 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, applied the exclamation point, 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

Published

2 days ago

January 24, 2025

Arne K. Lang

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Japan’s magnificent Naoya Inoue, appearing in his twenty-fourth title fight, scored his 11^th 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 Brandon Figueroa should he defeat former Inoue foe Stephen Fulton next weekend. In “olden days,” this notion would have been dismissed as the Japanese superstar and Figueroa 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

Published

2 days ago

January 24, 2025

David A. Avila

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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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