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

Published

1 year ago

December 31, 2023

Foe-Whom-the-Bells-Tolled-2023-Boxing-Obituaries-Part-One-Jan-June

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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Ringside at the Fontainebleau where Mikaela Mayer Won her Rematch with Sandy Ryan

Published

4 days ago

March 30, 2025

Arne K. Lang

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LAS VEGAS, NV — The first meeting between Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan last September at Madison Square Garden was punctuated with drama before the first punch was thrown. When the smoke cleared, Mayer had become a world-title-holder in a second weight class, taking away Ryan’s WBO welterweight belt via a majority decision in a fan-friendly fight.

The rematch tonight at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas was another fan-friendly fight. There were furious exchanges in several rounds and the crowd awarded both gladiators a standing ovation at the finish.

Mayer dominated the first half of the fight and held on to win by a unanimous decision. But Sandy Ryan came on strong beginning in round seven, and although Mayer was the deserving winner, the scores favoring her (98-92 and 97-93 twice) fail to reflect the competitiveness of the match-up. This is the best rivalry in women’s boxing aside from Taylor-Serrano.

Mayer, 34, improved to 21-2 (5). Up next, she hopes, in a unification fight with Lauren Price who outclassed Natasha Jonas earlier this month and currently holds the other meaningful pieces of the 147-pound puzzle. Sandy Ryan, 31, the pride of Derby, England, falls to 7-3-1.

Co-Feature

In his first defense of his WBO world welterweight title (acquired with a brutal knockout of Giovani Santillan after the title was vacated by Terence Crawford), Atlanta’s Brian Norman Jr knocked out Puerto Rico’s Derrieck Cuevas in the third round. A three-punch combination climaxed by a short left hook sent Cuevas staggering into a corner post. He got to his feet before referee Thomas Taylor started the count, but Taylor looked in Cuevas’s eyes and didn’t like what he saw and brought the bout to a halt.

The stoppage, which struck some as premature, came with one second remaining in the third stanza.

A second-generation prizefighter (his father was a fringe contender at super middleweight), the 24-year-old Norman (27-0, 21 KOs) is currently boxing’s youngest male title-holder. It was only the second pro loss for Cuevas (27-2-1) whose lone previous defeat had come early in his career in a 6-rounder he lost by split decision.

Other Bouts

In a career-best performance, 27-year-old Brooklyn featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (15-0, 9 KOs) blasted out Jose Enrique Vivas (23-4) in the third round.

Carrington, who was named the Most Outstanding Boxer at the 2019 U.S. Olympic Trials despite being the lowest-seeded boxer in his weight class, decked Vivas with a right-left combination near the end of the second round. Vivas barely survived the round and was on a short leash when the third stanza began. After 53 seconds of round three, referee Raul Caiz Jr had seen enough and waived it off. Vivas hadn’t previously been stopped.

Cleveland welterweight Tiger Johnson, a Tokyo Olympian, scored a fifth-round stoppage over San Antonio’s Kendo Castaneda. Johnson assumed control in the fourth round and sent Castaneda to his knees twice with body punches in the next frame. The second knockdown terminated the match. The official time was 2:00 of round five.

Johnson advanced to 15-0 (7 KOs). Castenada declined to 21-9.

Las Vegas junior welterweight Emiliano Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs) blasted out Stockton, California’s Giovanni Gonzalez in the second round. Vargas brought the bout to a sudden conclusion with a sweeping left hook that knocked Gonzalez out cold. The end came at the 2:00 minute mark of round two.

Gonzalez brought a 20-7-2 record which was misleading as 18 of his fights were in Tijuana where fights are frequently prearranged. However, he wasn’t afraid to trade with Vargas and paid the price.

Emiliano Vargas, with his matinee idol good looks and his boxing pedigree – he is the son of former U.S. Olympian and two-weight world title-holder “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas – is highly marketable and has the potential to be a cross-over star.

Eighteen-year-old Newark bantamweight Emmanuel “Manny” Chance, one of Top Rank’s newest signees, won his pro debut with a four-round decision over So Cal’s Miguel Guzman. Chance won all four rounds on all three cards, but this was no runaway. He left a lot of room for improvement.

There was a long intermission before the co-main and again before the main event, but the tedium was assuaged by a moving video tribute to George Foreman.

Photos credit: Al Applerose

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William Zepeda Edges Past Tevin Farmer in Cancun; Improves to 34-0

Published

4 days ago

March 29, 2025

David A. Avila

William Zepeda Edges Past Tevin Farmer in Cancun; Improves to 34-0

No surprise, once again William Zepeda eked out a win over the clever and resilient Tevin Farmer to remain undefeated and retain a regional lightweight title on Saturday.

There were no knockdowns in this rematch.

The Mexican punching machine Zepeda (33-0, 17 KOs) once more sought to overwhelm Farmer (33-8-1, 9 KOs) with a deluge of blows. This rematch by Golden Boy Promotions took place in the famous beach resort area of Cancun, Mexico.

It was a mere four months ago that both first clashed in Saudi Arabia with their vastly difference styles. This time the tropical setting served as the background which suited Zepeda and his lawnmower assaults. The Mexican fans were pleased.

Nothing changed in their second meeting.

Zepeda revved up the body assault and Farmer moved around casually to his right while fending off the Mexican fighter’s attacks. By the fourth round Zepeda was able to cut off Farmer’s escape routes and targeted the body with punishing shots.

The blows came in bunches.

In the fifth round Zepeda blasted away at Farmer who looked frantic for an escape. The body assault continued with the Mexican fighter pouring it on and Farmer seeming to look ready to quit. When the round ended, he waved off his corner’s appeals to stop.

Zepeda continued to dominate the next few rounds and then Farmer began rallying. At first, he cleverly smothered Zepeda’s body attacks and then began moving and hitting sporadically. It forced the Mexican fighter to pause and figure out the strategy.

Farmer, a Philadelphia fighter, showed resiliency especially when it was revealed he had suffered a hand injury.

During the last three rounds Farmer dug down deep and found ways to score and not get hit. It was Boxing 101 and the Philly fighter made it work.

But too many rounds had been put in the bank by Zepeda. Despite the late rally by Farmer one judge saw it 114-114, but two others scored it 116-112 and 115-113 for Zepeda who retains his interim lightweight title and place at the top of the WBC rankings.

“I knew he was a difficult fighter. This time he was even more difficult,” said Zepeda.

Farmer was downtrodden about another loss but realistic about the outcome and starting slow.

“But I dominated the last rounds,” said Farmer.

Zepeda shrugged at the similar outcome as their first encounter.

“I’m glad we both put on a great show,” said Zepeda.

Female Flyweight Battle

Costa Rica’s Yokasta Valle edged past Texas fighter Marlen Esparza to win their showdown at flyweight by split decision after 10 rounds.

Valle moved up two weight divisions to meet Esparza who was slightly above the weight limit. Both showed off their contrasting styles and world class talent.

Esparza, a former unified flyweight world titlist, stayed in the pocket and was largely successful with well-placed jabs and left hooks. She repeatedly caught Valle in-between her flurries.

The current minimumweight world titlist changed tactics and found more success in the second half of the fight. She forced Esparza to make the first moves and that forced changes that benefited her style.

Neither fighter could take over the fight.

After 10 rounds one judge saw Esparza the winner 96-94, but two others saw Valle the winner 97-93 twice.

Will Valle move up and challenge the current undisputed flyweight world champion Gabriela Fundora? That’s the question.

Valle currently holds the WBC minimumweight world title.

Puerto Rico vs Mexico

Oscar Collazo (12-0, 9 KOs), the WBO, WBA minimumweight titlist, knocked out Mexico’s Edwin Cano (13-3-1, 4 KOs) with a flurry of body shots at 1:12 of the fifth round.

Collazo dominated with a relentless body attack the Mexican fighter could not defend. It was the Puerto Rican fighter’s fifth consecutive title defense.

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 319: Rematches in Las Vegas, Cancun and More

Published

5 days ago

March 28, 2025

David A. Avila

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Rematches are the bedrock for prizefighting.

Return battles between rival boxers always means their first encounter was riveting and successful at the box office.

Six months after their first brutal battle Mikaela Mayer (20-2, 5 KOs) and Sandy Ryan (7-2-1, 3 KOs) will slug it out again for the WBO welterweight world title this time on Saturday, March 29, at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.

ESPN will show the Top Rank card live.

“It’s important for women’s boxing to have these rivalries and this is definitely up there as one of the top ones,” Mayer told the BBC.

If you follow Mayer’s career you know that somehow drama follows. Whether its back-and-forth beefs with fellow American fighters or controversial judging due to nationalism in countries abroad. The Southern California native who now trains in Las Vegas knows how to create the drama.

For female fighters self-promotion is a necessity.

Most boxing promoters refuse to step out of the usual process set for male boxers, not for female boxers. Things remain the same and have been for the last 70 years. Social media has brought changes but that has made promoters do even less.

No longer are there press conferences, instead announcements are made on social media to be drowned among the billions of other posts. It is not killing but diluting interest in the sport.

Women innately present a different advantage that few if any promoters are recognizing. So far in the past 25 years I have only seen two or three promoters actually ignite interest in female fighters. They saw the advantages and properly boosted interest in the women.

The fight breakdown

Mayer has won world titles in the super featherweight and now the welterweight division. Those are two vastly different weight classes and prove her fighting abilities are based on skill not power or size.

Coaching Mayer since amateurs remains Al Mitchell and now Kofi Jantuah who replaced Kay Koroma the current trainer for Sandy Ryan.

That was the reason drama ignited during their first battle. Then came someone tossing paint at Ryan the day of their first fight.

More drama.

During their first fight both battled to control the initiative with Mayer out-punching the British fighter by a slender margin. It was a back-and-forth struggle with each absorbing blows and retaliating immediately.

New York City got its money’s worth.

Ryan had risen to the elite level rapidly since losing to Erica Farias three years ago. Though she was physically bigger and younger, she was out-maneuvered and defeated by the wily veteran from Argentina. In the rematch, however, Ryan made adjustments and won convincingly.

Can she make adjustments from her defeat to Mayer?

“I wanted the rematch straight away,” said Ryan on social media. “I’ve come to America again.”

Both fighters have size and reach. In their first clash it was evident that conditioning was not a concern as blows were fired nonstop in bunches. Mayer had the number of punches landed advantage and it unfolded with the judges giving her a majority decision win.

That was six months ago. Can she repeat the outcome?

Mayer has always had boiler-oven intensity. It’s not fake. Since her amateur days the slender Southern California blonde changes disposition all the way to red when lacing up the gloves. It’s something that can’t be taught.

Can she draw enough of that fire out again?

“I didn’t have to give her this rematch. I could have just sat it out, waited for Lauren Price to unify and fought for undisputed or faced someone else,” said Mayer to BBC. “That’s not the fighter I am though.”

Co-Main in Las Vegas

The co-main event pits Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs) facing Puerto Rico’s Derrieck Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs) in a contest for the WBO welterweight title.

Norman, 24, was last seen a year ago dissecting a very good welterweight in Giovani Santillan for a knockout win in San Diego. He showed speed, skill and power in defeating Santillan in his hometown.

Cuevas has beaten some solid veteran talent but this will be his big test against Norman and his first attempt at winning a world title.

Also on the Top Rank card will be Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington and Emiliano Vargas, the son of Fernando Vargas, in separate bouts.

Golden Boy in Cancun

A rematch between undefeated William “Camaron” Zepeda (32-0, 27 KOs) and ex-champ Tevin Farmer (33-7-1, 8 KOs) headlines the lightweight match on Saturday March 29, at Cancun, Mexico.

In their first encounter Zepeda was knocked down in the fourth round but rallied to win a split-decision over Farmer. It showed the flaws in Zepeda’s tornado style.

DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card that also includes a clash between Yokasta Valle the WBC minimumweight world titlist who is moving up to flyweight to face former flyweight champion Marlen Esparza.

Both Valle and Esparza have fast hands.

Valle is excellent darting in and out while Esparza has learned how to fight inside. It’s a toss-up fight.

Fights to Watch

Fri. DAZN 12 p.m. Cameron Vuong (7-0) vs Jordan Flynn (11-0-1); Pat Brown (0-0) vs Federico Grandone (7-4-2).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. William Zepeda (32-0) vs Tevin Farmer (33-7-1); Yokasta Valle (32-3) vs Marlen Esparza (15-2).

Sat. ESPN 7 p.m. Mikaela Mayer (20-2) vs Sandy Ryan (7-2-1); Brian Norman Jr. (26-0) vs Derrieck Cuevas (27-1-1).

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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