A Conversation with Esteemed Boxing Writer Tris Dixon, Author of “Damage……”

Published

3 years ago

June 25, 2021

Rick Assad

A-Conversation-With-Esteemed-Boxing-Writer-Tris-Dixon-Author-of-Damage

Through the passage of a quarter century, Tris Dixon has been at various times an amateur boxer, trainer, editor and writer.

And for all this, it’s Dixon’s most-recent book, “Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing” (available at all fine bookstores and Amazon), that he has delivered his most-telling blow.

“I felt like there was always a focus on short-term damage sustained in boxing, and plenty of awareness about what might happen to a boxer on fight night and those worst-case scenarios we all dread,” said the 42-year-old Dixon, who is based in England and has penned work for Boxing Digest, Boxing Scene, The Ring Magazine and RingTV.com. “However, not only was little known about CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in boxing and its timeline links to punch drunk syndrome and there was little understanding about what might happen to a boxer down the line and how they might be healthy when they retire, only to struggle with neurological issues later in life.”

Dixon, a former editor at Boxing News, continued: “And, as well as all the usual cognitive symptoms like speech, tremors and so forth, it seemed like there was a real lack of awareness about brain trauma altering decisions people make, how it can lead to depressions, impulsivity, mood swings and other behavioral issues that simply aren’t often discussed.” he said.

What would Dixon like the book to accomplish?

“I hope it makes an uncomfortable subject something people are more open to discuss. Punch drunk has for so long been a negative term, used insultingly, and the warriors of our sport deserve more for everything they’ve put on the line,” he said. “I hope that long-term damage is no longer a taboo subject and I also hope the book raises awareness about what can happen to fighters after the final bell and allows them and those charged with looking after them to make more informed decisions about their futures.”

Every boxer who steps into the ring ought to be keenly aware of the ramifications of being hit repeatedly in the head.

Over the years there have been calls to abolish the sport. What does Dixon, who carved out a 13-7 ring record between the ages of 16 and 26, feel about this?

“I think it’s ridiculous. It’s such a big leap from having the sport and then just banning it when so much can be done to mitigate the risks fighters face, whether it’s reducing sparring and exposure to head trauma or commissions and governing bodies working together to share medical information to keep fighters safe,” he offered. “The fights are the fights, but even then, improvements can be made to the personnel assigned to look after the fighters more often than not.”

Dixon, a journalist with 16,000 Twitter followers, wants to be even-handed when it comes to covering boxing. As such, what does he see his role being?

“I’ve done long investigative pieces, I’ve written books, ghost-written autobiographies, covered thousands of fights from ringside, interviewed hundreds and hundreds of fighters and written thousands of opinion pieces,” he stated. “The job, to me, is to remain impartial and provide either my viewpoints or those of the people I interview in a fair and balanced manner.”

Dixon said that having been involved in so many aspects of the fight game has served him well as a writer.

“All experience in boxing has helped. I’ve also cleaned gyms, carried spit buckets, wrapped hands and been a round card guy at a women’s fight,” he said. “Ultimately, what helps with writing the most is practice, experience and a good amount of reading.”

What catapulted Dixon to fall in love with the manly sport? “I’d followed boxing as a kid and was inspired by the (Chris) Eubank, (Nigel) Benn, (Michael) Watson and (Steve) Collins era of the super-middleweights, but I’d never even thought about boxing,” he recalled. “It was only when a guy I played rugby with suggested we started boxing training to boost our pre-season fitness that I started going to my first amateur boxing club, Salisbury City ABC.”

Dixon said while he had a decent amateur record, he didn’t feel it would be wise to continue which led to his transition to becoming a writer.

“No way was I that good. I imagine if I made the jump to writing it would have been that much harder, but I was never very good,” he said.

The United Kingdom has always had an affinity for the gloved sport, but it’s especially true during the last three decades.

“It helps that we’ve had a huge heavyweight presence from Frank Bruno to Lennox Lewis to Tyson Fury to David Haye and Anthony Joshua for the best part of the last 30 years,” Dixon pointed out. “Then, after Audley Harrison won the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, more money ploughed into our amateur system which has allowed us to have stellar Olympic teams from 2008 onwards. Plus, we’ve had some iconic fighters, with (Joe) Calzaghe, (Ricky) Hatton, (Amir) Khan, (Tony) Bellew, (Kell) Brook and (Carl) Froch and we’ve had the flag-bearers who have attracted a lot of press throughout their careers.”

Unlike the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League, boxing doesn’t have a commissioner overseeing its sport. If Dixon was made boxing’s commissioner, what would he do to make the sport safer?

“One of the things suggested by a top neurologist in the book is a centralized database of brain scans that can be used worldwide by governing bodies to keep boxers safe,” he said. “They can track changes over time and it means if a fighter can’t get licensed somewhere because he is no longer fit to fight, he can’t stumble through any of boxing’s many loopholes to fight somewhere else, running the risk of sustaining more damage – acute or chronic – that could be life-changing.”

Boxing is a beautiful and artistic sport with a long and illustrious history that can literally change a person’s life for the good or sometimes the bad.

For every Sugar Ray Leonard, who fought his way to glory, earned multi-millions of dollars and left the ring with all of his faculties intact, there is a Bobby Chacon, a champion who left this earth at age 64 due to dementia which was linked to brain injuries caused by being involved in too many slugfests.

Here’s hoping Dixon’s book is a clarion call to everyone involved in the sport which translates into more boxers ending up like Leonard and not like Chacon.

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Rick Assad

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Ramirez Outpoints Barthelemy and Vergil Ortiz Scores Another Fast KO in Fresno

Published

1 hour ago

April 27, 2024

David A. Avila

Ramirez-Outpoints-Barthelemy-and-Vergil-Ortiz-Scores-Another-Fast-KO-in-Fresno

Northern California favorite Jose Ramirez avoided an upset and knockout artist Vergil Ortiz destroyed his opponent on Saturday to set up a showdown with Australia’s power-punching Tim Tszyu.

After a 13-month layoff Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs) shook off ring rust and avoided an upset by Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy (30-3-1, 15 KOs) in a battle between former world champions at Save Mart Center in Fresno.

It was Ramirez’s first bout under Golden Boy Promotions and he was nearly derailed by the slick counter-punching southpaw in the third and six rounds with laser left counters that connected every time. Though he was floored in the third round it was ruled a push down by referee Jack Reiss.

Fans gasped.

“He throws that left hand and I got hit with it in one round,” Ramirez said. “It motivated him.”

Once Ramirez figured out the remedy, he kept the fight inside and attacked the body and head. Barthelemy was unable to uncork one of his long lefts at close distance.

From the seventh round on the former super lightweight champion took control and kept the Cuban fighter against the ropes and unloaded shots to the body and head. He nearly forced a stoppage in the 11^th round.

Barthelemy survived but all three judges scored it big for Ramirez after 12 rounds: 119-109 twice and 118-110.

Vergil KOs Number 21

Knowing a win sets up a massive showdown against Aussie slugger Tim Tszyu, the Texas slugger Vergil Ortiz (21-0, 21 KOs) wasted no time in blasting out Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (26-7-1, 17 KOs) with a perfectly placed left hook to the body. Dulorme collapsed to the ground in agony.

Referee Tom Taylor stopped counting at 2:39 of the first round.

“It was a very calculated punch,” Ortiz said.

It was a commanding one round performance that sets up the showdown against the equally powerful Tszyu who despite losing a split decision to Sebastian Fundora last month by split decision, retains his reputation as a dangerous puncher.

Ortiz, who has 21 knockouts in 21 fights, will probably be fighting Tszyu in Los Angeles on June 1 if all negotiations go smoothly.

“Tim (Tszyu) I know you are watching the fight,” said Ortiz. “I’m ready. Let’s put on a great performance.”

Other Bouts

Oscar Duarte (27-2-1, 22 KOs) proved his knockout loss against Ryan Garcia would not stop him from improving as he defeated Jojo Diaz (33-6-1) by knockout at 2:32 of the ninth round in a super lightweight match. Referee Michael Margado wisely stopped the bludgeoning as a towel came flying in almost simultaneously.

It was the first time Diaz was ever defeated by knockout, though he never touched the canvas. It was also the first time Duarte trained with Robert Garcia and the difference was notable as he repeatedly walked through incoming fire and attacked the smaller fighter continuously.

“I want to fight the best in the world,” Duarte said.

Female Title Fight

A rematch battle for the flyweight championship saw Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) defeat Marlen Esparza (14-2) this time with a two-fisted attack to win by split decision after 10 rounds.

Esparza failed to make weight and walked in three pounds overweight and Alaniz took advantage to win the WBA, WBC, and WBO flyweight titles in the rematch. Once again the scores were puzzling but this time in favor of Alaniz 97-93, 96-94, and 92-98.

Alaniz now holds the WBO, WBA, WBC flyweight world titles.

Welterweights

Mexico’s Raul Curiel (15-0, 13 KOs) busted body shots on Jorge Marron Jr. (20-5-2) and floored him twice in the first round. The second body blow left Marron paralyzed and unable to continue at 1:31 of the first round as referee Thomas Taylor counted him out.

Curiel, who is managed by Frank Espinoza and son, proved he’s ready for the upper levels of the welterweight division.

“I think I’m ready for the bigger names,” Curiel said. “You see the results.”

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryan’s Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More

Published

1 day ago

April 26, 2024

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryan’s Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More

Don’t call it an upset.

Days after Ryan Garcia proved the experts wrong, those same experts are re-tooling their evaluation processes.

It’s mind-boggling to me that 95 percent thought Garcia had no chance. Hear me out.

First, Garcia and Haney fought six times as amateurs with each winning three. But this time with no head gear and smaller gloves, Garcia had to have at least a 50/50 chance of winning. He is faster and a more powerful puncher.

Facts.

Haney is a wonderful boxer with smooth, almost artistic movements. But history has taught us power and speed like Garcia’s can’t be discounted. Think way back to legendary fighters like Willie Pep and Sandy Sadler. All that excellent defensive skill could not prevent Sadler from beating Pep in three of their four meetings.

Power has always been an equalizer against boxing skill.

Ben Lira, one of the wisest and most experienced trainers in Southern California, always professed knockout power was the greatest equalizer in a fight. “You can be behind for nine rounds and one punch can change the outcome,” he said.

Another weird theory spreading before the fight was that Garcia would quit in the fight. That was a puzzling one. Getting stopped by a perfect body shot is not quitting. And that punch came from Gervonta “Tank” Davis who can really crack.

So how did Garcia do it?

In the opening round Ryan Garcia timed Devin Haney’s jab and countered with a snapping left hook that rattled and wobbled the super lightweight champion. After that, Garcia forced Haney to find another game plan.

Garcia and trainer Derrick James must have worked hours on that move.

I must confess that I first saw Garcia’s ability many years ago when he was around 11 or 12. So I do have an advantage regarding his talent. A few things I noticed even back then were his speed and power. Also, that others resented his talent but respected him. He was the guy with everything: talent and looks.

And that brings resentment.

Recently I saw him and his crew rapping a song on social media. Now he’s got a song. Next thing you know Hollywood will be calling and he’ll be in the movies. It’s happened before with fighters such as Art Aragon, the first Golden Boy in the 50s. He was dating movie stars and getting involved with starlets all over Hollywood.

Is history repeating itself or is Garcia creating a new era for boxing?

Since 2016 people claimed he was just a social media creation. Now, after his win over Devin Haney a former undisputed lightweight champion and the WBC super lightweight titleholder, the boxer from the high desert area of Victorville has become one of the highest paid fighters in the world.

Ryan Garcia has entered a new dimension.

Golden Boy Season

After several down years the Los Angeles-based company Golden Boy Promotions suddenly is cracking the whip in 2024.

Avila

Vergil Ortiz Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) returns to the ring and faces Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1, 17 KOs) a welterweight gatekeeper who lost to Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis. They meet as super welterweights in the co-main event at Save Mart Arena in Fresno, Calif. on Saturday, April 27. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card live.

It’s a quick return to action for Ortiz who is still adjusting to the new weight division. His last fight three months ago ended in less than one round in Las Vegas. It was cut short by an antsy referee and left Ortiz wanting more after more than a year of inactivity in the prize ring.

Ortiz has all the weapons.

Also, Northern California’s Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs) meets Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1, 15 KOs) in a welterweight affair set for 12 rounds.

It’s difficult to believe that former super lightweight titlist Ramirez has been written off by fans after only one loss. That was several years ago against Scotland’s Josh Taylor. One loss does not mean the end of a career.

“My goal is to get back on top and to get all those belts back. I still feel like I am one of the best 140-pounders in the division,” said Ramirez who lives in nearby Avenal, Calif.

An added major attraction features Marlen Esparza in a unification rematch against Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz for the WBA, WBC, WBO flyweight titles. Their first fight was

a controversial win by Esparza that saw one judge give her nine of 10 rounds in a very close fight. Those Texas judges.

In a match that could steal the show, Oscar Duarte (26-2-1, 21 KOs) faces former world champion Jojo Diaz (33-5-1, 15 KOs) in a lightweight match.

Munguia and Canelo

Don’t sleep on this match.

Its current Golden Boy fighter Jaime Munguia facing former Golden Boy fighter Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a battle between Mexico’s greatest sluggers next week at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 4.

“I think Jaime Munguia is going to do something special in the ring,” said Oscar De La Hoya, the CEO for Golden Boy.

Tijuana’s Munguia showed up at the Wild Card Boxing gym in Hollywood where a throng of media from Mexico and the US met him.

Munguia looked confident and happy about his opportunity to fight great Canelo.

“It’s a hard fight,” said Munguia. “Truth is, its big for Mexico and not only for Mexicans but for boxing.”

Fights to Watch

Fri. DAZN 6 p.m. Yoeniz Tellez (7-0) vs Joseph Jackson (19-0).

Sat. DAZN 9:30 a.m. Peter McGrail (8-1) vs Marc Leach (18-3-1); Beatriz Ferreira (4-0) vs Yanina Del Carmen 14-3).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Vergil Ortiz (20-0) vs Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1); Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1) vs Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1); Marlen Esparza (14-1) vs Gabriela Alaniz (14-1).

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy Promotions

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Ramon Cardenas Channels Micky Ward and KOs Eduardo Ramirez on ProBox

Published

3 days ago

April 24, 2024

Arne K. Lang

Ramon-Cardenas-Channels-Micky-Ward-and-KOs-Eduardo-Ramirez-on-ProBox

The Wednesday night bi-monthly series of fights on the ProBox TV platform is the best deal in boxing; the livestream is free with no strings attached! Tonight’s episode was headlined by a super bantamweight match between San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas and Eduardo Ramirez who brought a caravan of rooters from his hometown in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico.

Cardenas, coached by Joel Diaz, entered the contest ranked #4 by the WBA. He was expected to handle Ramirez with little difficulty, but this was a close, tactical fight through eight frames when lightning struck in the form of a left hook to the liver from Cardenas. Ramirez went down on one knee and wasn’t able to beat the count. It was as if Cardenas summoned the ghost of Micky Ward who had a penchant for terminating fights with the same punch that arrived out of the blue.

The official time was 1:37 of round nine. Cardenas improved to 25-1 with his14th win inside the distance. Ramirez, who was stopped in the opening round by Nick “Wrecking” Ball in London in his lone previous fight outside Mexico, falls to 23-3-3.

Co-Feature

In an upset, Tijuana super welterweight Damian Sosa won a split decision over previously undefeated Marques Valle, a local area fighter who was stepping up in class in his first 10-round go. Sosa was the aggressor, repeatedly backing his taller opponent into the ropes where Valle was unable to get good leverage behind his punches.

The 25-year-old Valle, managed by the influential David McWater, was the house fighter. This was his 10^th appearance in this building. He brought a 10-0 (7) record and was hoping to emulate the success of his younger brother Dominic Valle who scored a second-round stoppage of his opponent in this ring two weeks ago, improving to 9-0. But Sosa, who brought a 24-2 record, proved to be a bridge too high.

The judges had it 97-93 and 96-94 for the Tijuana invader and a disgraceful 98-92 for the house fighter.

Also

In a fight whose abrupt ending would be echoed by the main event, 34-year-old SoCal featherweight Ronny Rios, now training in Las Vegas, returned to the ring after a 22-month hiatus and scored a fifth-round stoppage over Nicolas Polanco of the Dominican Republic.

A three-punch combo climaxed by a left hook to the liver took the breath out of Polanco who slumped to his knees and was counted out. A two-time world title challenger, Rios advanced to 34-4 (17 KOs). Polanco, 34, declined to 21-6-1. The official time was 0:54 of round five.

—

The next ProBox show (Wednesday, May 8) will have an international cast with fighters from Kazakhstan, Japan, Mongolia, and the United Kingdom. In the main event, Liverpool’s Robbie Davies Jr will make his U.S. debut against the California-based Kazakh Sergey Lipinets.

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