For Whom the Bell Tolled: 2023 Boxing Obituaries PART ONE (Jan.-June)

Published

1 year ago

December 31, 2023

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Here in our annual end-of-year report, we pay homage to the boxing notables who left us in the past year in a two-part story. May they rest in peace.

January

Jan. 2 – HECTOR ROCA – A bicycle racer in his native Panama, Roca moved to New York in 1975 and became a fixture at Gleason’s Gym. He helped train more than a dozen world title holders including Arturo Gatti, Buddy McGirt and Iran Barkley plus Hillary Swank who thanked him on national TV for sculpting her into a boxer for her Oscar-winning performance in “Million Dollar Baby.” At age 82 in Brooklyn where he was dealing with multiple health issues.

Jan. 12 – GERRIE COETZEE – The third time was a charm for the three-time world heavyweight title challenger who became a national hero in his native South Africa when he KOed Michael Dokes in 1983 in one of the biggest upsets of the decade. His first stab at the belt (vs. John Tate) was witnessed by an integrated crowd of 80,000-plus in Pretoria, a watershed event in the sporting history of that country. At age 87 in Cape town five days after being diagnosed aith an aggressive form of skin canver.

Jan. 30 – DARRELL CHAMBERS – One of the original members of Kronk Gym’s fabled amateur boxing team, Chambers was 22-2 as a pro. He fought on the historic Hearns-Hagler card, losing to future 154-pound world title-holder Luis Santana in what would prove to be his final fight and then spent 26 years in the federal prison system for cocaine trafficking. At age 62 in Detroit of cardiac arrest.

February

Feb. 9 (approx.) – LEROY CALDWELL – An undersized heavyweight who was customarily taking fights on short notice, Caldwell was a gatekeeper for five men who held the world heavyweight title and six others who were world title challengers. He finished 28-31-5 in a 17-year career that began in 1979. At age 77 at a Las Vegas hospital after a lingering but unspecified illness.

Feb. 10 – KEN THOMPSON – An entrepreneur who created a building materials company that had clients as far away as China, Thompson started promoting fights as a hobby in 2000. His shows launched the careers of several world title-holders and a Hall of Famer in Timothy Bradley. Widely admired in the SoCal boxing community, he passed away in Anaheim on his 85^th birthday.

Feb. 10 – RON LEWIS – One of England’s most prominent sports journalists, Lewis concluded his newspaper career with the Times of London where he covered numerous title fights at venues across the globe. Most recently, he was the primary UK correspondent for Boxing Scene. At age 54 of a sudden heart attack at his home in London.

Feb. 13 (approx.) — TOMMY HICKS – An Ithaca College (NY) graduate, Hicks was a special education teacher on his way to becoming an elementary school principal when he challenged Bob Foster for the world light heavyweight title in 1971. TKOed in 8, he finished 18-12-3. At age 78 in Newfane, NY, five years after suffering a serious injury when he was hit by a car on his morning walk.

Feb. 14 – KENNY “BANG BANG” BODNER – A silver medalist at age 17 in the Maccabiah Games, the Trenton, NJ, lightweight developed an avid following in Atlantic City where he had 15 of his 28 pro fights. “Bang Bang” had three fights fall out with “Boom Boom” Mancini, twice when Mancini was a world title-holder. He finished 25-2-1 (16) in a career mottled with legal problems. At age 62 in Pemberton, New Jersey, for reasons never disclosed.

March

March 5 – BOBBY GOODMAN – The son of Hall of Fame publicist Murray Goodman, Bobby joined his late father in the Canastota shrine, entering the Hall with the class of 2019. He spent 25 years with Don King, serving the flamboyant promoter in many capacities, and went on the become the Vice President of Boxing at Madison Square Garden. At age 83 at a hospital in Galloway, New Jersey.

March 11 – RICHIE KATES – A light heavyweight who earned his spurs on the rugged Philadelphia boxing circuit, Kates turned pro in 1969 at age 16 and finished his career with a record of 44-6-1 (23). He had two cracks at Victor Galindez’s world title, falling short in bouts that consumed 30 rounds. In retirement, he was recognized for his years of community service by having a street named after him in his longtime home of Bridgeton, NJ. At age 69 while under hospice care in Vineland, NJ.

March 14 – BOB HINDS – A two-time NCAA finalist representing the powerhouse University of Wisconsin, Hinds, a heavyweight, had only three pro fights, winning them all, but contributed to the sport with his patented jump rope, a beaded, plastic-covered nylon rope that found favor in boxing gyms around the country.

March 19 – DAVE ZYGLEWICZ – Zyglewicz, who took up boxing in the Navy, was 28-1 when he challenged Joe Frazier in 1969 in Houston, Ziggy’s adopted hometown. He came out smokin’, but at 5’10” and 190 pounds he was no match for Smokin’ Joe who stopped him in the opening round. When he left the sport, he returned to his hometown of Watervliet, NY, and opened a bar, Ziggy’s corner. At age 79 from stomach cancer at a hospital in Albany where he was a dementia patient.

March 24 – TONY MONTANO – Montano was recognized as the first native-born Arizonan to compete for a world title when he challenged WBA/WBC 154-pound champion Sandro Mazzinghi in 1964 (he came in overweight and was stopped in the 12^th round). He fought many of the top middleweights of the era, finishing 51-34-3. At age 88 in Glendale, AZ.

April

April 1 – KEN BUCHANAN – Widely considered the greatest boxer from Scotland, Buchanan won the world lightweight title in Puerto Rico in 1970 with a 15-round decision over Ismael Laguna and made two successful defenses before losing the belt to Roberto Duran in a bout that ended after 13 rounds with the Scotsman claiming of a low blow that landed after the bell. Inducted into the IBHOF with the class of 2000, he finished 61-8 with six of those defeats coming in has last 11 bouts. At age 77 in a nursing home in Edinburgh where he was suffering from dementia.

Ken Buchanan

April 4 – IGOR VYSOTSKY – He never turned pro, but his amateur exploits made him a national hero. The only man to defeat Teofilo Stevenson twice, he TKOed the Cuban icon in their second encounter in 1976 in Minsk. He was 8-2 in U.S. rings (including a TKO of future heavyweight titlist Tony Tubbs) while touring with the Russian national team. At age 69 in his native Yagodnoye.

April 20 – KENJI YONEKURA – A 1956 Melbourne Olympian, he finished 13-10-1 (1 KO) but was far better than his record. He went 15 rounds with Pascual Perez in a failed bid for a world flyweight title and 15 rounds with Jose Becerra in a failed bid for a world bantamweight title. In retirement he ran a gym in Tokyo that produced five world title-holders. At age 86 in a sanitorium on the ourtskirts of Tokyo that was his home for the last six years of his life.

April 20 – JOSE LUIS GARCIA – The Venezuelan was 7-0 at LA’s iconic Olympic Auditorium beginning with a startling knockout of Ken Norton. Norton avenged the setback five years later by which time Garcia had become a chopping block for the likes of Ron Lyle (KO by 3) and Joe Bugner (KO by 2). He finished 30-8-1. At age 75 in Valencia, Venezuela, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

April 23 (approx.) – ARTHUR WILLIAMS – A stablemate of Roy Jones Jr when he turned pro in 1969 in his native Pensacola, Williams went on to win the IBF cruiseweight title, unseating Imanu Mayfield (TKO 9). But lost it in his first defense to Vasiliy Jirov (TKO by 7). He finished 47-13-3. “King Arthur” was 58 and seemingly in good health when he passed away in his sleep at his home in Las Vegas.

April 24 – IRVING MITCHELL – An alternate on the 1980 U.S. Olympic boxing team, Mitchell, who learned to box in the Army, turned pro in San Diego and went on to become a world title challenger at 126 and 130 pounds. “Sweet Irving” won 24 of his first 25 fights, his lone defeat coming at the hands of Azumah Nelson, and finished 35-11-2. At age 63 at a nursing home in his native Lafayette, Louisiana.

May

May 7 – JERRY ARMSTRONG – An All-Service champion before attending Idaho State University on a boxing scholarship, Armstrong competed in the 1960 Olympics as a bantamweight where he was a teammate of Muhammad Ali. The Petoskey, Michigan native never turned pro but stayed involved in the sport as a coach, referee, and chief of officials for the Idaho Athletic Commission. At age 86 in Boise after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

May 10 – KENNETH EGANO – The 22-year-old Filipino bantamweight collapsed in his corner as he awaited the decision following an 8-round contest on a card promoted by Manny Pacquiao at Imus, Cavite, Philippines. Stretchered to a hospital in a coma, he died four days later of a cerebral hemorrhage. For the record, Egano won the bout, advancing his record to 7-1.

May 21 – CLAUDE NOEL – He became the first Tobagonian to win a world title when he captured the vacant WBA title in 1981 with a 15-riund decision over Rodolfo Gonzalez. He lost the belt in his first defense and finished 31-10. The only highway on the island of Tobago is named for him. At age 74 at a nursing home in San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago, where he was totally blind and dealing with complications of diabetes.

June

June 3 – DARIO HIDALGO — One of two fighting brothers, Hidalgo lacked a big punch but was sufficiently clever to eke out a 10-round decision over future world welterweight title-holder Angel Espana in their first of two encounters and hold Elisha Obed (47-1-1 heading in) to a 10-round draw. He left the sport with cataracts in both eyes and a documented record of 25-9-2. At age 72 in his native Santo Domingo, DR, after a long, unspecified illness.

June 20 – RAY WHEATLEY – As a pro boxer, the Sydneysider had an undistinguished career. He finished 11-12-1 and was stopped nine times. But he made it into the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame for his contributions as a ring official, TV commentator and magazine publisher. The longtime international correspondent for the website Fight News, Wheatley was 74.

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For Whom the Bell Tolled: 2023 Boxing Obituaries PART TWO (July-Dec.)

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Skylar Lacy Blocked for Lamar Jackson before Making his Mark in Boxing

Published

2 days ago

January 19, 2025

Arne K. Lang

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Skylar Lacy, a six-foot-seven heavyweight, returns to the ring on Sunday, Feb. 2, opposing Brandon Moore on a card in Flint, Michigan, airing worldwide on DAZN.

As this is being written, the bookmakers hadn’t yet posted a line on the bout, but one couldn’t be accused of false coloring by calling the 10-round contest a 50/50 fight. And if his frustrating history is any guide, Lacy will have another draw appended to his record or come out on the wrong side of a split decision.

This should not be construed as a tip to wager on Moore. “Close fights just don’t seem to go my way,” says the boxer who played alongside future multi-year NFL MVP Lamar Jackson at the University of Louisville.

A 2021 National Golden Gloves champion, Skylar Lacy came up short in his final amateur bout, losing a split decision to future U.S. Olympian Joshua Edwards. His last Team Combat League assignment resulted in another loss by split decision and he was held to a draw in both instances when stepping up in class as a pro. “In my mind, I’m still undefeated,” says Lacy (8-0-2, 6 KOs). “No one has ever kicked my ass.”

Lacy was the B-side in both of those draws, the first coming in a 6-rounder against Top Rank fighter Antonio Mireles on a Top Rank show in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and the second in an 8-rounder against George Arias, a Lou DiBella fighter on a DiBella-promoted card in Philadelphia.

Lacy had the Mireles fight in hand when he faded in the homestretch. The altitude was a factor. Lake Tahoe, Nevada (officially Stateline) sits 6,225 feet above sea level. The fight with Arias took an opposite tack. Lacy came on strong after a slow start to stave off defeat.

Skylar will be the B-side once again in Michigan. The card’s promoter, former world title challenger Dmitriy Salita, inked Brandon Moore (16-1, 10 KOs) in January. “A capable American heavyweight with charisma, athleticism and skills is rare in today’s day and age. Brandon has got all these ingredients…”, said Salita in the press release announcing the signing. (Salita has an option on Skylar Lacy’s next pro fight in the event that Skylar should win, but the promoter has a larger investment in Moore who was previously signed to Top Rank, a multi-fight deal that evaporated after only one fight.)

Both Lacy and Moore excelled in other sports. The six-foot-six Moore was an outstanding basketball player in high school in Fort Lauderdale and at the NAIA level in college. Lacy was an all-state football lineman in Indiana before going on to the University of Louisville where he started as an offensive guard as a redshirt sophomore, blocking for freshman phenom Lamar Jackson. “Lamar was hard-working and humble,” says Lacy about the player who is now one of the world’s highest-paid professional athletes.

When Lacy committed to Louisville, the head coach was Charlie Strong who went on to become the head coach at the University of Texas. Lacy was never comfortable with Strong’s successor Bobby Petrino and transferred to San Jose State. Having earned his degree in only three years (a BA in communications) he was eligible immediately but never played a down because of injuries.

Returning to Indianapolis where he was raised by his truck dispatcher father, a single parent, Lacy gravitated to Pat McPherson’s IBG (Indy Boxing and Grappling) Gym on the city’s east side where he was the rare college graduate pounding the bags alongside at-risk kids from the city’s poorer neighborhoods.

Lacy built a 12-6 record across his two seasons in Team Combat League while representing the Las Vegas Hustle (2023) and the Boston Butchers (2024).

For the uninitiated, a Team Combat League (TCL) event typically consists of 24 fights, each consisting of one three-minute round. The concept finds no favor with traditionalists, but Lacy is a fan. It’s an incentive for professional boxers to keep in shape between bouts without disturbing their professional record and, notes Lacy, it’s useful in exposing a competitor to different styles.

“It paid the bills and kept me from just sitting around the house,” says Lacy whose 12-6 record was forged against 13 different opponents.

As a sparring partner, Lacy has shared the ring with some of the top heavyweights of his generation, e.g., Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte. He was one of Fury’s regular sparring partners during the Gypsy King’s trilogy with Deontay Wilder. He worked with Joshua at Derrick James’ gym in Dallas and at Ben Davison’s gym in England, helping Joshua prepare for his date in Saudi Arabia with Francis Ngannou and had previously sparred with Ngannou at the UFC Performance Center in Las Vegas. Skylar names traveling to new places as one of his hobbies and he got to scratch that itch when he joined Whyte’s camp in Portugal.

As to the hardest puncher he ever faced, he has no hesitation: “Ngannou,” he says. “I negotiated a nice price to spend a week in his camp and the first time he hit me I knew I should have asked for more.”

Lacy is confident that having shared the ring with some of the sport’s elite heavyweights will get him over the hump in what will be his first 10-rounder (Brandon Moore has never had to fight beyond eight rounds, having won his three 10-rounders inside the distance). Lacy vs. Moore is the co-feature to Claressa Shields’ homecoming fight with Danielle Perkins. Shields, basking in the favorable reviews accorded the big-screen biopic based on her first Olympic journey (“The Fire Inside”) will attempt to capture a title in yet another weight class at the expense of the 42-year-old Perkins, a former professional basketball player.

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Mizuki Hiruta Dominates in her U.S. Debut and Omar Trinidad Wins Too at Commerce

Published

4 days ago

January 18, 2025

David A. Avila

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Japan’s Mizuki Hiruta smashed through Mexico’s Maribel Ramirez with ease in winning by technical decision and local hero Omar Trinidad continued his assault on the featherweight division on Friday.

Hiruta (7-0, 2 KOs), who prefers to be called “Mimi,” made her American debut with an impressive performance against Mexican veteran Maribel Ramirez (15-11-4) and retained the WBO super flyweight world title by unanimous decision at Commerce Casino in Commerce, Calif.

The pink-haired Japanese southpaw champion quickly proved to be quicker, stronger and even better than advertised. In the opening round Ramirez landed on the floor twice after throwing errant blows. On one instance, it could have been ruled a knockdown but it was not a convincing blow.

In the second round, Ramirez again attacked and again was met with a Hiruta check right hook and down went the Mexican. This time referee Ray Corona gave the eight-count and the fight resumed.

It was Hiruta’s third title defense but this time it was on American soil. She seemed nervous by the prospect of getting a favorable review from the more than 700 fans inside the casino tent.

For more than a year Hiruta has been training off and on with Manny Robles in the L.A. area. Now that she has a visa, she has spent considerable time this year learning the tricks of the trade. They proved explosively effective.

Though Mexico City’s Ramirez has considerable experience against world champions, she discovered that Hiruta was not easy to hit. Often, the Japanese champion would slip and counter with precision.

It was an impressive American debut, though the fight was stopped in the eighth round after a collision of heads. The scores were tallied and all three saw Hiruta the winner by scores of 80-71 twice and 79-72.

“I’m so happy. I could have done much more,” said Hiruta through interpreter Yuriko Miyata. “I wanted to do more things that Manny Robles taught me.”

Trinidad Wins Too

Omar Trinidad (18-0-1, 13 KOs) discovered that challenger Mike Plania (31-5, 18 KOs) has a very good chin and staying power. But over 10 rounds Trinidad proved to be too fast and too busy for the Filipino challenger.

Immediately it was evident that the East L.A. featherweight was too quick and too busy for Plania who preferred a counter-puncher attack that never worked.

“He was strong,” said Trinidad. “He took everything.”

After 10 redundant rounds all three judges scored for Trinidad 100-90 twice and 99-91. He retains the WBC Continental Americas title.

Other Bouts

Ali Akhmedov (23-1, 17 KOs) blasted out Malcolm Jones (17-5-1) in less than two rounds. A dozen punches by Akhmedov forced referee Thomas Taylor to stop the super middleweight fight.

Iyana “Roxy” Verduzco (3-0) bloodied Lindsey Ellis in the first round and continued the speedy assault in the next two rounds. Referee Ray Corona saw enough and stopped the fight in favor of Verduzco at 1:34 of the third round.

Gloria Munguilla (7-1) and Brook Sibrian (5-2) lit up the boxing ring with a nonstop clash for eight rounds in their light flyweight fight. Munguilla proved effective with a slip-and-counter attack. Sibrian adjusted and made the fight closer in the last four rounds but all three judges favored Munguilla.

More Winners

Joshua Anton, Tayden Beltran, Adan Palma, and Alexander Gueche all won their bouts.

Photos credit: Al Applerose

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 309: 360 Promotions Opens with Trinidad, Mizuki and More

Published

5 days ago

January 16, 2025

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 309: 360 Promotions Opens with Trinidad, Mizuki and More

Best wishes to the survivors of the Los Angeles wildfires that took place last week and are still ongoing in small locales.

Most of the heavy damage took place in the western part of L.A. near the ocean due to Santa Ana winds. Another very hot spot was in Altadena just north of the Rose Bowl. It was a horrific tragedy.

Hopefully the worst is over.

Pro boxing returns with 360 Boxing Promotions spotlighting East L.A.’s Omar Trinidad (17-0-1, 13 KOs) defending a regional featherweight title against Mike Plania (31-4, 18 KOs) on Friday, Jan. 17, at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, Calif.

“I’m the king of L.A. boxing and I’ll be ready to put on a show headlining again in the main event. This is my year, I’m ready to challenge and defeat any of the featherweight world champions,” said Trinidad.

UFC Fight Pass will stream the Hollywood Night fight card that includes a female world championship fight and other intriguing match-ups.

Tom Loeffler heads 360 Promotions and once again comes full force with a hot prospect in Trinidad. If you’re not familiar with Loeffler’s history of success, he introduced America to Oleksandr Usyk, Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and the brothers Wladimir and Vitaly Kltischko.

“We’ve got a wealth of international talent and local favorites to kick off our 2025 in grand style,” said Loeffler.

He knows talent.

Trinidad hails from the Boyle Heights area of East L.A. near the Los Angeles riverbed. Several fighters from the past came from that exact area including the first Golden Boy, Art Aragon.

Aragon was a huge gate attraction during the late 1940s until 1960. He was known as a lady’s man and dated several Hollywood starlets in his time. Though he never won a world title he did fight world champions Carmen Basilio, Jimmy Carter and Lauro Salas. He was more or less the king of the Olympic Auditorium and Los Angeles boxing during his career.

Other famous boxers from the Boyle Heights area were notorious gangster Mickey Cohen and former world champion Joey Olivo.

Can Trinidad reach world title status?

Facing Trinidad will be Filipino fighter Plania who’s knocked off a couple of prospects during his career including Joshua “Don’t Blink” Greer and Giovanni Gutierrez. The fighter from General Santos in the Philippines can crack and hold his own in the boxing ring.

It’s a very strong fight card and includes WBO world titlist Mizuki Hiruta of Japan who defends the super flyweight title against Mexican veteran Maribel Ramirez. It’s a tough matchup for Hiruta who makes her American debut. You can’t miss her with that pink hair and she has all the physical tools to make a splash in this country.

Mizukii Hiruta

Two other female bouts are also planned, including light flyweight banger L.A.’s Gloria Munguilla (6-1) against Coachella’s Brook Sibrian (5-1) in a match set for six rounds. Both are talented fighters. Another female fight includes super featherweights Iyana “Right Hook Roxy” Verduzco (2-0) versus Lindsey Ellis (2-1) in another six-rounder. Ellis can crack with all her wins coming via knockout. Verduzco is a multi-national titlist as an amateur.

Others scheduled to perform are Ali Akhmedov, Joshua Anton, Adan Palma and more.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

Boxing and the Media

The sport of professional boxing is currently in flux. It’s always in flux but no matter what people may say or write, boxing will survive.

Whether you like Jake Paul or not, he proved boxing has worldwide appeal with monstrous success in his last show. He has media companies looking at the numbers and imagining what they can do with the sport.

Sure, UFC is negotiating a massive billion dollar deal with media companies, as is WWE, both are very similar in that they provide combat entertainment. You don’t need to know the champions because they really don’t matter. Its about the attractions.

Boxing is different. The good champions last and build a following that endures even beyond their careers a la Mike Tyson.

MMA can’t provide that longevity, but it does provide entertainment.

Currently, there is talk of establishing a boxing league again. It’s been done over and over but we shall see if it sticks this time.

Pro boxing is the true warrior’s path and that means a solo adventure. It’s a one-on-one sport and that appeals to people everywhere. It’s the oldest sport that can be traced to prehistoric times. You don’t need classes in Brazilian Jiujitsu, judo, kick boxing or wrestling. Just show up in a boxing gym and they can put you to work.

It’s a poor person’s path that can lead to better things and most importantly discipline.

Photos credit: Lina Baker

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