Avila Perspective, Chap. 341: The 100 Greatest Boxers in History and More

Master scribe Thomas Gerbasi has compiled a list of the best boxers in the history of the sport called “Boxing: The 100 Greatest Fighters” which is now available for purchase on Amazon.

It will be available wherever books are sold beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Gerbasi has long been involved in combat sports. Currently the New York City-based writer is the editorial director for UFC.com and also writes a column for The Ring magazine. He has been around for decades.

I first met Gerbasi while contributing to Maxboxing.com in the early 2000s. The team of writers emanating from that pool of journalists is a Who’s Who of boxing journalism of which he was a major contributor.

That’s why I call him a master scribe. One of the best.

Gerbasi’s book is not the first to provide a list of the best prizefighters and like all those that preceded it, one can take exception with some of the choices. Selecting the 100 best prizefighters in history is a daunting task. Narrowing it down to a mere 100 is very difficult.

One major difference in this book is that includes many female boxers such as Laila Ali, Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor. I have never read any other published book that includes women with men and I have to applaud that.

Women risk their lives in the prize ring too. Serrano and Taylor have also proven that they can attract fans of all genders and nationalities. If you were lucky enough to witness in person any of their collaborations, you know I am not exaggerating about their sensational battles. The electricity in the air of Madison Square Garden for two of their meetings and the epic showing at A.T.&T Stadium last year were historic for various reasons.

Gerbasi includes many fighters both male and female in his book that contributed both inside and outside of the boxing ring. Fighters that were good and brought attention to the sport like Prince Nassem Hamed and Arturo Gatti.

Anyone who watched boxing in the late 1990s and early 2000s can attest that the flamboyant Hamed and gutsy Gatti brought something special when they fought.

Among the other fighters included in his book are the standard giants Jack Johnson, John L. Sullivan, Joe Louis, and Sugar Ray Robinson. The book also cites master craftsmen like Sam Langford, Charley Burley and my favorite James Toney. If you don’t know who they are, here is your chance to read about them.

Some of the newer fighters included in this book are Shane Mosley, Roy Jones Jr., Lennox Lewis, Johnny Tapia and Oscar De La Hoya. Decades from now boxing fans will need to know about these outstanding fighters who carried the sport in the 90s and early 2000s.

It’s a very stylish book that has illustrations, descriptions and is a perfect gift for someone who loves boxing.

I come from a boxing-loving family so I am already compiling a list of who will receive this outstanding book as a gift.

Sept. Fights

LA’s Anthony Olascuaga (9-1, 6 KOs) vs Puerto Rico’s Juan Camacho-Rivera (19-1, 8 KOs) on Sept. 11 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas in Las Vegas for WBO flyweight title.

Olascuaga beat Riku Kano for the vacant title a year ago by third round knockout then knocked out Puerto Rico’s Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez several months later. Back in March, he defeated Hiroto Kyoguchi by decision. All three fights took place in Japan. Now he returns home to face another Puerto Rican challenger.

Two days later on Sept. 13, the main card at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas featuring Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford has loaded support. Christian Mbilli versus Lester Martinez pits two super middleweight monsters that not many fans know, but people in the fight business are well aware. Then you also have Ireland’s Callum Walsh and Las Vegas’ Fernando Vargas in a super welterweight collision that can’t be overlooked. And finally, there is Serhii Bohachuk and Brandon Adams in a rematch. Their first encounter was a doozy.

Netflix will be streaming the big boxing event from Las Vegas. Mark it down on your calendars.

Two champs at Fantasy Springs Casino

Gabriela Fundora and Oscar Collazo are set to defend their respective world titles on Saturday, Sept. 20 on the Golden Boy Promotions show that will be streamed on DAZN.

Fundora (16-0, 8 KOs) defends the undisputed flyweight world championship against Ayelen Granadino (12-2-4) at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, Calif. Also, WBO and WBA minimumweight world titlist Oscar Collazo (12-0, 9 KOs) meets Jayson Vayson (14-1-1, 8 KOs).

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