Deontay Wilder crowned WBC heavyweight champion.

Last night at the MGM in Las Vegas, heavyweight challenger Deontay Wilder took a well deserved unanimous points decision over WBC champion Bermane Stiverne to become Americas first heavyweight title claimant since 2006. It was the first heavyweight title fight to be held at the venue since 1997, when Evander Holyfield won his controversial return fight with Mike Tyson by DQ. In winning the title Wilder answered a whole questionnaire of unknowns concerning his capabilities to take a shot, go past 4 rounds (all of Deontays previous 32 wins came inside 4 rounds) ability to fight under pressure against a top rank opponent, all questions were answered in the affirmative.. Bermane took Deontays initial onslaught unmoved and even when visually hurt, the cast iron Haitian fought with the heart of a lion. Wilder built a significant points lead after 5 and it left Stiverne a huge mountain to climb, as well as trying to get past Deontays telephone pole jab. After 7 the Alabama man seemed to tire which offered the champion an opportunity to make up for lost rounds, but his inability to cut off the ring left the result without doubt as Wilder stormed into the final round still trying to engage, against his corners wishes. There was no bravado at the end from Stiverne, he knew his reign had come to an end as the 29 year old Olympian became the newest US holder of the coveted green belt. Wilder scornfully shouted at cameras, "Who can't go twelve rounds, who can't take a shot.." A highly articulate addition to the heavyweight championship picture Deontay is a likeable man, with an infectious smile..  Bermane simply had no words after the fact, "it wasn't my day, I wasn't 100%, no head movement like I wanted, no combinations! it wasn't me."  Congratulations to team Wilder, head coach and former 1984 Olympic hero Mark Breland for a successful challenge and hopefully a colourful reign.

Las Vegas Weigh in.. Heavyweights.

WBC heavyweight championship ...  6 foot 7 inch Deontay Bronze bomber Wilder weighed in at a staggeringly low 219lbs for his title shot at the MGM grand garden today, while Heavyweight Champion Bermaine Stiverne tipped in around a usual 239lbs. Wilder held court for a minute in the final presser yesterday telling Stiverne "He been walking round like he's been champ for years when he really just been here five minutes..  He just a transient champ, short term.." Stiverne held his own telling Wilder..  "you telling me I ain't seen nothing like you....   I have seen plenty .. Just like you.."   " when this fight is over, no one is gonna hear about Deontay Wilder for a very long time..  " the final stare down following the weigh in saw Wilder turn away first..  Observations : Wilder is a huge guy who usually comes in comfortable around 228..  219 is light for a guy who may purely rely on power..  Stiverne is looking unmoved at Wilders bravado..  Tomorrow is going to bring a fabulous and intriguing fight..

Purses concerning Saturdays main event.. Wilder v Stiverne.

I was just staggered to learn that Deontay Wilder, the challenger in this weekends fight, who hasn't even been pushed past the 4th round is earning more than the reigning champion Bermaine Stiverne at $1 million to $910.000. Stiverne earned his championship after two solid victories over Chris Arreola..  Many would say that Deontay hasn't earned the privilege of the high end purse split yet..     Judgement day is not far away,

Stiverne v Wilder. Burden of proof.

Bermaine Stiverne is the WBC heavyweight champion of the world, he will make his first defence on Saturday in a highly anticipated grudge match with Unbeaten puncher Deontay Wilder. Wilder is currently 32 fights unbeaten with all of his victories coming by Knockout, in fact Wilder hasn't been past 4. Stiverne has 24 wins, 21 by knockout, along with a single loss and a draw, but his path to he championship has seen a sterner level of competition in comparison to that of Wilders. Stiverne came from Haiti to Las Vegas via Canada where he had a modest amateur grounding, based now in the Mayweather boxing club with trainer Don House, Stiverne is a throwback heavyweight, his style wouldn't look out of place in amongst the heavyweights of the 1980s. Deontay is a 21st century heavyweight, 6 foot 9 and solid, really hasn't put a foot wrong in his 6 years as a pro, but the lack of rounds is a factor that may hurt him at World level, that seasoning that is most invaluable for any top level fighter is still a work in progress, he hasn't had to reach for anything much apart from his natural power. Stiverne secured his belt last May with a solid knockout win over tough Chris Arreola in LA, following a previous victory 6 months earlier to earn him the WBC silver belt..  The more proven man in this match is no doubt Stiverne, but the hype and expectation is on Wilder, if he is what his record advertises he may reign for a long time. Stiverne and Don House are thinking otherwise.. The pressure is on Deontay, he is the one with all to prove, yet the Champion is making a first defence of commendable proportions. Everyone who has stood in front of Deontay Wilder have fallen in front of him dead bodies, stiffs or patsys they still got removed inside of 4.  The victory will come down to who has the most faith in what they do, Deontay believes that with Mark Breland he is confident that if things get rough, he will be well equipped to weather the storms, and Stiverne has the knowledge that he is capable at world level of going through the gears and handling whatever Wilder can dish out..  Is Deontay the fraud Stiverne claims he is? Is Stiverne just a one trick pony who got lucky on the back of a vacated title?  Saturday evening is full of expectation..  It's a fabulous fight..

Big Art Tucker... A success story.

Arthur Tucker, more commonly known as Big Art Tucker, was born in Newark New Jersey. Art would often find himself taking the wrong paths as a youth, this lifestyle would land him in Rahway Prison, now known as East New Jersey state prison. During his stay, he and other inmates organized the Lifer’s Group Juvenile Awareness Program, a program which would air on national tv as Scared Straight. This program was formed to help juveniles progress through the system by using tough love methods, tactics that would seem harsh, a raw, direct approach, this program was acclaimed for its success.
Arthur was turning his life around, he earned an Associates Degree in Business from Mercer County College whilst in Rahway, and later he would find his other calling. Art found boxing. Within a few months he was competing against and demolishing anyone who dared try to compete with him. Towering over the majority of his opponents at the height of 6’6”, Rahway is where he got his start as a professional Boxer on the undercard of famed Rahway inmate James Scott.
After serving 12 years, two in solitary confinement, Arthur was released by the Governor of New Jersey on Executive Clemency. Tucker continued his boxing career outside of prison and on August 4th 1987 Art would score his first victory as a free man, he would remain unbeaten through 1988 beating John Big Red Morton and Mark young. 1989 would see him knock out the huge Lucious Kirkley at the felt forum and decision Andrew Stokes, compiling a record of 16 and 0 with 12 KOs . Next was a fight at Caesars AC, on the Meldrick Taylor v Courtney Hooper undercard against tough journeyman Kimmuel Odum. Odum had never been stopped and had been in against quality opposition, losing by a majority decision on his debut to Oliver McCall and losing only once more to Jamaican Melton Bowen. As the fight unfolded Art looked uneasy, Odum was catching Tucker too often, and looked unmoved by anything Art threw in return, in round 6 Tucker was dropped more from exhaustion than anything, but Odum saw the breakthrough. Art Tucker had met someone who could match him for the first time since jail, a further knockdown in round 8, spelt curtains as Odum would knock Tucker out in the penultimate round..  This was the toughest moment for a man who sought solace in boxing as a way out of a dark place.. Could Art bounce back from such a hard knock? Tucker would answer that 10 months later disposing of 7 footer Marseilles Brown in a single round..  Tucker was ranked as high as 9 in the WBA, but what happened next was a badly calculated risk..  Art would be matched with 1988 Olympic silver medalist Riddick Bowe in Bowe's 18th outing, he was currently 17 and 0..  The result was ominous...  Bowe knocked Tucker out in the third round of a mismatch. It had only been two fights since the Odum debacle, Bowe was a horrible match.
Art would return to winning ways until 1991, when in a challenge for the USBA title he would be knocked out by former Champion Tim Witherspoon in the 3rd, followed by a knockout loss to another future champion Tommy Morrison in a 2 round stoppage..  Art Tucker had come a long way in boxing for a late starter, his story is a success. On the 7th April 1993, 5 years after first beating him, Tucker would win a points decision over Mark Young, it would be Art Tucker's last fight. In ten years Arthur Tucker had done a complete 180 with his life, he would amass a respectable record of 21wins, 5 losses and a single draw. 15 wins by knockout.
Still an avid fan of the sport, Big Art enthusiastically seeks to use his experiences inside and out of the ring as a problem solving facilitator where he enables people to make informed choices about their lifestyle. He is a licensed bail bondsman with Octavia Bail Bond and the Co-Founder of Cops, Cons, and Kids, a voluntary non-profit organization designed and established to address issues and situations concerning at-risk youths and ex-convicts making the transition back into society in an effort to build self-esteem and life skills. He is also the National of Islam’s F.O.I. Captain of Muhammad Mosque #25 in the City of Newark, under the guidance of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, where he trains God fearing men to be humble, tolerant, courteous, honest, and dependable.
Art has also done Executive Security for many professionals and artists in the entertainment business. However, one of his biggest post-boxing achievements was his assistance in the historical gathering of “Bloods” and “Crips” gang members of six different sects in one room, without incident, to sign a cease-fire peace treaty. He is constantly working to help make this peace treaty a reality.
Art takes his work with Cops, Cons, and Kids very personal and has entered the homes of many families armed with that tough love style.
Art has been honored by the City of Newark as an “Unsung Hero.” He is a firm believer that “building strong communities starts with building strong individuals.” Whether fighting in the ring or fighting for a human cause, Arthur Tucker.. Is a success story.
Art resides in East Orange, New Jersey with his wife of 12 years, Toya, and is the parent of 4 sons (1 sadly deceased) and 6 daughters.

Back to business.. Tyson takes on The Black Rhino.

Back to business..
On February 22nd 2003, Mike Tyson was scheduled to fight rugged ex- convict, Louisiana native, Clifford Etienne in Memphis Tennessee, at the site of Mikes damaging defeat to Lennox Lewis, The Pyramid. The fight was tentatively scheduled, cancelled, then rescheduled for various reasons, in which time Tyson was to acquire a large tribal tattoo on his face, this would become an issue, money would become an issue and when Etienne himself threatened to pull out his wife literally ordered him to fight, telling Clifford not to bother coming home without the purse ($900.000.) There were so many sub plots surrounding this event, Mike had tried desperately to get Buddy Mcgirt to work with him in preparation for Etienne, but Buddy was morally obliged to decline the offer due to his agreement to work with Clifford in this fight..  Freddie Roach was hired. Etienne was a game fighter, he had only tasted defeat once, at the hands of Fres Oquendo a couple years earlier, but solid wins over Lawrence Clay Bey and The Tysonesque Clifford Couser got him a ranking and an NABF title. In his last fight Etienne would climb off the floor twice to salvage a draw against former IBF champion Francois Botha, a man Mike demolished after a slow start five years earlier. Mike was coming back to the site of the catastrophic Lewis fight to try and exorcise a few demons, his weight was right, and he looked physically rejuvenated, but Mikes mind is an enigma, anything can happen.. Mike had interestingly called Roach from his hotel room in the middle of the night and requested that freddie wrap his hands, so that it would "remind him of how it felt," in Mike Tyson's world, expect anything.
On fight night Clifford looked relaxed, pretty unmoved, unlike your Bruce Seldons who's ring walk would resemble an execution walk..  Etienne was focused.  Mike and Roach knew that if they gave Cliff a foothold in the fight he would gather momentum from it.. he could fight, but wasn't the best boxer going backwards. Mike had to jump on him..  Clifford would crowd Mike from the bell, trying to trade but also suffocate Tyson's work, in doing so, Etienne would push Tyson back into the corner where both fighters would fall, Etienne on top, for which he would get a warning..  What followed was completely out of the text book, Etienne missed Tyson with a left jab–right hand combination, Tyson then missed with a left hook, but rebounded with a strong right hand that sent Etienne down, Clifford was paralyzed removed his mouthpiece but look unable to even move, 49 seconds into round 1.
Mike praised Clifford on his willingness to fight, the pair exchanged compliments of which Mike would reveal, "Cliff told me to stop bullshitting, " a reference to Mike not fulfilling his potential as a fighter..  Mike wasn't the force he once was, but was still a handful fir most of the heavyweights in the top ten.  Mike did later reveal that he had in fact broke his back, or at least injured it weeks before the fight, but wanted to fulfill the obligation to Etienne to earn the payday.  Clifford Etienne would box on for three more years, losing to Olympian Calvin Brock and future world champion, Nikolay Valuev..

In 2005 Clifford Etienne would be sentenced to 105 years in prison following an armed hold up of a check cashing business where he would take $2000 and attempt to shoot three people, two of which
were police officers, the gun jammed and Etienne would hijack the car of one of the men, driving away with two young children still inside the car..  It's a terrible ending to a man who looked to have turned his life around through boxing, in jail.  Etienne will never see freedom.

Oba Motor City Carr.. Titles eluded him.

Detroit's Oba Carr turned pro in December of 1989 with a first round knockout of Marcus Reed in Auburn hills, Carr was on a fast track from the off. In 1990 Oba boxed a staggering 14 times, 1991 would again see an enthusiastic Carr box 7 times, one of which was a Split decision victory over former world champion Livingston Bramble where he would have to climb off the floor to secure the win, Carrs record was now 22 and 0.
By the September of 1994 Oba Carr would be 32 and 0 with 20 knockouts, and ranked number 1 by the IBF and looking at a shot at IBF Welterweight champion Felix Trinidad. In December 1994 the fight would happen in Mexico, Trinidad was 24 and 0, and a terrific puncher, a factor that lost Oba the fight, the action was competitive but after a couple of demoralizing knockdowns he would soon appear in above his head, the champion had Carr on the floor 3 times in all and won by TKO in round 8. Losing to Trinidad was no disgrace, and Oba got back on the winning trail, scoring 7 straight victories and capturing the NABF belt from the then undefeated Derrell Coley in Las Vegas..  This would set up another title opportunity in New York and on October 4th 1996 Carr would face WBA Champion, Ghanaian Ike Quartey, who was 32 / 0 at the time. This would be one of Obas career best performances losing a very close Majority decision to a capable champion in Madison Sq Garden.
The two tough losses served Oba Carr well, he returned a much more competent fighter and for the next three years, apart from a draw with Anthony Jones, Carr would go unbeaten in ten fights, with victories over tough campaigners Jaime Balboa, Ross Thompson and former world champion Frankie Randell. This winning streak earned Oba his last throw of the dice at world level, in his 52nd pro fight Carr would face the hottest welterweight around, 1992 Olympic star, Oscar Dela Hoya. Having lost in both attempts previously for the IBF and WBA titles, this would be for the coveted World boxing council title. On 22nd May 1999 ten years after turning pro Carr would put up a struggle for ten rounds at the Mandalay bay in Las Vegas, but going into the penultimate round Oscar rallied  and managed to stop a game Oba Carr to retain his title.. Oba would continue to chase his dreams in the ring again 9 more times until finally hanging up his gloves in 2002, with a record of 54 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw (31 KOs)  an amazing record for a fighter who never actually acquired a world championship. Carr would become real close to Mike Tyson and his team in the 90's, for a time Carr would have Tyson confident Steve crocodile Fitch on board as part of his team. I met Oba in Las Vegas a few times in the 1990s and found him an extremely humble, personable man who's dress sense was impeccable..   Unfortunately I did hear recently that Oba had been suffering from some health issues, of which I am unclear unclear about the nature of.  Oba was a class act, he deserves the best.

Panama Lewis.. A black eye for boxing.

Carlos Panama Lewis was a disciple of trainer Chickie Ferrara. In the early 1980s, he was considered one of the best trainers around, mentioned in the same breath as Manny Steward and Angie Dundee for a time, most notably for his work with light-welterweight champion Aaron Pryor.  In 1982, Pryor fought Alexis Argüello. Before the fourteenth round of the fight a cornerman held up a plastic water bottle as HBO tv cameras would catch Lewis yelling the infamous "Not that bottle, the one I mixed." Line. Pryor would knock Alexis out, but Lewis' comments would fuel rumors that the bottle contained stimulants. Lewis said later that the mix was only Perrier and tap water. Lewis was never formally sanctioned, the incident tarnished his reputation, which was confirmed by his cheating discovered in subsequent fights. It was later alleged in an interview with former Lewis-trained boxer Luis Resto in the HBO documentary film Assault in the Ring, that Lewis would (allegedly) break apart pills used to treat asthma and pour the medicine into the water, giving Resto greater lung capacity in the later rounds of a fight. Resto would feature heavily in Lewis's most despicable chapter.

This the most notorious incident in Lewis's career took place on June 16, 1983. Panamas fighter Luis Resto, was fighting undefeated prospect Billy Collins, Jr. in a bout televised by ABC's Wide World of Sports. The fight was the undercard for a fight between Roberto Durán and Davey Moore.
Resto would win the 10-round bout by unanimous decision over a broken looking Collins. After the fight, Resto came to Collins' corner to shake hands with Collins' father and trainer, Billy Sr. When Billy Sr. grabbed Resto's hand, he noticed that Resto's gloves were thinner than normal, keen to attract attention Sr shouted his concerns about the gloves to the officials present. Collins Sr. demanded that the New York State Boxing Commission impound the gloves. An investigation found that each glove was missing a whole ounce of padding. There was also a 0.75-inch hole in the palm of each glove. In the bout, Collins suffered a torn iris and permanently blurred vision, devastatingly ending his boxing career.
After an investigation, the New York State Boxing Commission determined Lewis had tampered with the gloves. On July 1, 1983, it permanently revoked Lewis' state boxing license. Since most state boxing commissions honor sanctions imposed by other states, this action had the effect of banning Lewis from ever having another official role in an American bout. Resto's win was subsequently changed to a no contest.
In October 1986, Lewis and Resto were both put on trial and found guilty of assault, criminal possession of a weapon (Resto's hands) and conspiracy. Lewis was also found guilty of tampering with a sports contest. Prosecutors charged that since Lewis had deliberately removed the padding from Resto's gloves, the bout with Collins amounted to an illegal assault. Lewis was sentenced to six years in prison, Resto to three years. Lewis was released from prison in 1990.

Sadly Collins died on March 6, 1984, when he crashed his car into a culvert near his home in Antioch, Tennessee. Many think he may have committed suicide because he was unable to continue boxing as a result of the actions of Lewis and Resto.
Years later, during the filming of the documentary Assault in the Ring, Resto admitted that he knew Lewis had not only tampered with the gloves, but had also dipped his hand wraps in plaster of Paris, dramatically—and illegally—increasing his punching power. He also said that Lewis had taken the padding out of his gloves on at least two other occasions. It was also alleged by Resto that the plot centered around a large amount of money bet on Resto, the underdog, by a third party who had met with Lewis prior to the fight.
Lewis maintains his innocence to this day, and many of his defenders allege that someone removed the padding from Resto's gloves after the bout, saying an official with the New York State Boxing Commission had left the gloves in his car after receiving them from the state boxing commission. However pictures of Collins' face after the bout suggested otherwise it was horrific and many felt it was improbable a light puncher like Resto could have inflicted such damage on his own.
When confronted by Resto and Assault in the Ring director and producer Eric Drath, Lewis again denied any wrongdoing and said that it was cornerman Artie Curley who had wrapped Resto's hands. An agitated Lewis said that if Curley were alive today, "none of this would have happened to him."
I came across Lewis in 1993, he appeared to be working with Don King heavyweight Tony Tucker, he was everything I expected him to be, a self absorbed, remorseless parasite looking for a payday off the back of a heavyweight title challenger. Thirteen years later I would run across him again, in Atlanta working with heavyweight contender Sultan Ibragimov. I was with Friday Ahunanya for the bout against Sultan at the Gwinnett Centre in Duluth Ga, I recognized Lewis at the weigh in and alerted Georgia State officials to who he was, and why he had no business working a fight in the US. Lewis had been chief coach for Ibragimov for most of his career, largely unchallenged because Ibragimov had been boxing mostly overseas around his Russian homeland or in States where he could go undetected. The Georgia commission weren't much interested at first but later that evening we were informed that Lewis had been briefed by officials that he could not appear ringside on fight night..  Defiant, Lewis made a desperate attempt to have his voice heard by his corner by way of two way radio... Sultan won the heavyweight fight on a cut eye stoppage but I considered it a moral victory to have such a low life character removed from his part in a sport he has no business in..  
Carlos Panama Lewis remains high on my list of filthy stains on our sport. His actions were unforgivable.

The Technician.. Jerry Ballard.

Jerry Ballard was a street kid, he found boxing in his home town of Baltimore and following a short amateur career would turn pro in 1991. Despite losing his 6th fight to Robert Hawkins in 1995. By 1997 Jerry had amassed an impressive record of 21wins with only a single loss, amongst the victories he would acquire the WBOs NABO title and the lightly regarded IBC belt beating fellow DC native Corey Sanders. He would go on to get a draw with former WBA heavyweight champion Greg Page before tackling tough John Ruiz in his 23rd fight. On the Holyfield v Bean undercard in Atlanta.. I had met Jerry in Las Vegas in  1997 when he beat Tiwon Taylor on another Holyfield undercard v Michael Moorer. Jerry took the time to talk with me in the lobby of the Mirage hotel and I found him extremely amusing, a joker who loved to privately poke fun a folks in the casino, people watching.. We ate a couple of times and had a rapport, however I did see another side to Jerry the evening following the fight.. Jerry complained of a headache ever since the event and was extremely moody, we walked through the forum shops at Caesars and he got into an altercation with a man in the Guess store, Jerry almost got physical over a tiny issue about the guys attitude as we entered the store. Jerry had a temper, his good mood was great, but he could turn on the flip of a coin. 

I travelled to Georgia for the Ruiz fight which was for the NABF title, Jerry was confident. To look at Ballard was an imposing figure, muscular, and surly come fight time, he strutted into the Georgia dome ring and stomped around marking territory, Ruiz looked ordinary in comparison but in boxing this means very little. Jerry started slow, looking to land wide telegraphed shots, Ruiz would jab and move using the ring, this pattern continued. By round three Jerry had not got near Ruiz who was starting to move through the gears, Jerry was tiring. Round four looked ominous for Ballard, his heavy muscles were exhausting him and John knew it, pouring on the pressure with combinations he began to push Jerry backwards, ruthlessly punishing his man at will until a last left hook forced Ballard to quit as he slumped into the ropes, the first and only stoppage loss on his record. This was to be the highlight of Ballards career and it ended shockingly..  I spoke to Jerry that evening, very few words.. he didn't see it coming, it crushed him! 

The year later he would fight twice more both victories, the latter a stoppage of tough Garing Lane in DC..  This would be his last fight.. Sadly six months later on August 3rd 1999 I got a phone call from a friend in Maryland, who knew I was friends with Jerry, it wasn't good news..  Jerry had got involved in a confrontation with a guy in a club in Baltimore, it spilled onto the street in the early hours of the morning... According to witnesses Jerry would pursue his antagonist towards his vehicle and appeared to have been struck...  Jerry would never back down and took off after the man into the darkness.. Jerry Ballard had been fatally stabbed in the neck, but unknowingly made chase and collapsed with his obvious injuries. Jerry probably would have lived if he would have tended to his neck wound immediately but bled to death in an alley over a mile from where he was last seen. Some people live by a certain code, Jerry Ballard was one of those people, he wore his heart on his sleeve but was nobody's fool..  Sadly it cost him his life..  

Jerry's boxing record was 21 wins, 2 losses and a single draw..  All wins were by knockout.

1980s The ever changing titles.

The 1960s and 70s was dominated by names like Ali, Frazier, Foreman and Norton.. The mid 1990's was ruled by Lewis, Holyfield, Bowe and Tyson.. But going into the 1980s we had a whole bunch of very decent hungry fighters who climbed over each other to get a shot of even just a ranking. Don King was the organ grinder during the post Ali years and most all of the top twenty active heavyweights were contracted to him in one way or another..  King was unavoidable said Larry Holmes, he was like taxes, you had to go through him if you wanted you cut. Larry was the first champion of note in this decade, he earned it the hard way boxing on Ali undercards in the 70s until he got a chance to box the new court appointed champion Kenny Norton in 1978. Holmes dismissed good challengers often getting up off the floor in dramatic defenses, but regardless of bravado Larry put away a lot of contenders, who would later become champion in their own right, Trevor Berbick, Tim Witherspoon and Mike Weaver. Even the fringe contenders were tough cookies... Philadelphia's David Bey, beat future champion Buster Douglas, ex champion Greg Page and gave a tough challenge to Larry in 1985, although past his best in 1987 almost hijacked Tyrell Biggs coming out party on the Tyson v Smith undercard in Las Vegas. The title would change hands frequently.. John Tate would beat Coetzee for the WBA , Weaver would upset Tate, Mike Dokes would dethrone Weaver, Michael Dokes would lose to Coetzee, who would lose to Greg Page.. To Tubbs.. To Witherspoon.. To Bonecrusher Smith..   While the WBC saw Tim Witherspoon pass on to Pinklon Thomas who looked capable, until Trevor Berbick mugged him in Las Vegas as part of the unification series..  Which would soon see Mike a Tyson sweep the board.. Last piece was the IBF.. Michael Spinks relieved Larry Holmes in a controversial fight..  Only to later be stripped for failure to comply to Unification series rules and face number 1 contender Tony Tucker.. Tucker Would box James Buster Douglas for the vacant crown, winning by TKO on the Tyson v Thomas undercard..  The last chapter of the 1980s heavyweight scene saw Mike unify by beating a game Tucker and defend against 1984 Olympic champion and WBA #1 Tyrell Biggs.  Looking back at the 1980s the level of competition was so great no single  champion could relax and rest on his laurels because there was a Renaldo Snipes or a Mitch Green looking for your spot. Since the late 90s it's all been about size.. But you couldn't measure the desire of those warriors before them..
We always have the memories..

Stiverne v Wilder MGM Grand. Jan 17th 2015

The big one..  The best heavyweight fight in 10 years.
Don't Blink.

Bold threat to Joshua... Chambers.

Former world heavyweight title challenger Eddie Chambers (41-4, 22 KOs) says he’s confident that he’d beat the 6’6” British heavyweight Anthony Joshua (10-0, 10 KOs) if he agreed to fight him. Chambers, who has previously fought heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, says he’d wrap one of his arms behind his back and still beat the British heavyweight. While the 6’1” Chambers would be giving up a considerable amount of size and reach against the 6’6” Joshua, you can’t rule out a knockout win for Chambers because he’s got a little pop in his punches. Chambers has arguably been beaten only once since his loss to Wladimir, and that was when he made an ill-advised move down to cruiserweight to face the defensive artist Thabiso Mchunu in 2013. Chambers looked too weight drained for him to compete against the Mayweather-like Mchunu. In his fight before that, Chambers was beaten by Tomasz Adamek by a controversial 12 round decision in 2012. Chambers fought one-handed for much of the fight, and yet he still dominated Adamek.
”If I fight @anthonyfjoshua I would wrap 1 arm behind my back & still beat him. That’s how confident I am!.. #Skills,” Chambers said on his twitter on Sunday.
Joshua is really easy to hit due to his slow, flat-footed fighting style. He pushes his punches, and doesn’t have the snap on his shots the way that more explosive heavyweights like Deontay Wilder. In the amateur ranks, Dillian Whyte dropped Anthony with a left-right combination in the process of beating him by a decision.
 Whyte trapped Joshua into a war, and got him arm weary from all the muscles he has in his arms. It was the perfect strategy because Joshua wore out quickly and didn’t have much on his shots by the 2nd round. That fight is obviously the blue print in how to beat Joshua. You make him fight a war to wear him down, and then take over the fight when he gasses out. The only thing with Chambers is whether he has the chin to fight in a brief 4-round wore with Joshua to get him tired enough so that he can take over the fight after the 4th? If Chambers can handle some of Joshua’s best punches in the first three rounds, he’d have an excellent chance of beating him by a knockout. Joshua carries around a lot of muscle on his frame. It’s unclear if he’s lifting too much weights, or if this is simply how his body is. Whatever the case, all the muscles on his upper body make him slow and force him to throw arm punches instead of being limber enough to put his whole body into each shot like the best heavyweights do. I don’t know that Joshua can strip down the muscles get faster. It just looks like he’ll always be built like Frank Bruno with the huge muscles that don’t seem to help him.
Hearn wants to match Anthony Joshua against Haye in 2015 in stadium fight.

Fridays Story.. One fight from greatness.

Friday Ahunanya appeared to have a promising future ahead of him after turning pro in 1998 according to Johnny Tocco, I spoke to johnny often in his small gym off Charleston and Main in North Las Vegas , if anyone in this gym has potential it's the young Nigerian kid...  I met Friday that year, he was to become my friend..  In the next three years he would advance to 16 / 0 with the scalp of unbeaten US Olympian Nate Jones under his belt..  Friday hadn't made the 96 Olympics in Atlanta and set his sights on following his dream to America in pursuit of success in the paid ranks. Still unbeaten by 2001 Friday was matched in the biggest fight of his life on the undercard of the Rahman v Lewis rematch. Friday would tackle Belarus' Unbeaten Olympian Sergei Liakhovich in a championship eliminator. Friday would struggle with  Liakhovich's Height and jab and with eye damage had to concede for his first professional loss. It didn't deter Friday, who only months later slowed the unbeaten Roll of French Knockout artist Josue Blocus in Atlantic City..  Through 2003 Ahunanya would remain unbeaten. 2004 would bring a fight for the NABO and NABA titles against Lance Whitaker in Florida, Friday was leading comfortably for three rounds before running onto a short uppercut in the fourth, a replay showed the thumb of the glove stabbing Friday in his eye and he dropped to his knees and was counted out in what still remains the only stoppage blemish on his impressive record..  Until 2007 Friday wouldn't win a fight , mostly due to the level of competition... A loss on cuts to future champion Sultan Ibragimov in a fight where the Russian had been on the floor, followed by a draw with highly ranked Dominick Guinn in Las Vegas. Next was a foolish trip to Germany to box Olympic star and future world champion Alex Povetin in a fight first scheduled for 8 rounds then dubiously changed to 6 rounds on the day of the fight (and for less money.) Friday would be at a totally unfair disadvantage against the German based Prospect who ran out of the blocks  and never gave seasoned 12 round fighter Ahunanya any hope of landing in such a short bout. Friday had served as chief sparring partner for Mike Tyson on his comeback and for Lennox Lewis after his loss to Rahman, in fact Friday made headlines after knocking Tyson over in one particular sparring session, an incident Friday always played down until Mike publicly testified to. After such a bad run of luck, 2007 would bring a new chapter which would start with wins over Ramon Hayes and James Walton, followed by a very entertaining draw against Franklyn Lawrence and the chance to box another unbeaten prospect in New Zealand, Shane Cameron. Cameron was 19 and 0, and to fight in his own back yard brought shades of Germany to mind but with the PABA/WBO Asia Pacific/WBA NABA Heavyweight Titles on the line it was a chance we couldn't refuse. Friday was finding his mark with meaningful punches but falling behind on points, the telling shots however were taking their toll on Cameron's face, he had a history of cuts and as rounds went on Optimism for victory was high, the 12th and final round saw Friday rally and drop the sorry looking New Zealander and upon rising the writing was on the wall, Ahunanya would score his finest Win on foreign soil against all the odds as the referee stopped it at 2.14 of the 12th.
2008 brought a new challenge, Banner promotions heavyweight Alonzo Butler, another undefeated fighter posed the threat, Banner (Art Pelullo) promoted the event in Las Vegas on ESPN and according to the promoter, Friday wasn't deemed good enough to feature as Alonzo's Opponent, despite of his win over Cameron..  ESPN finally agreed to give a Ahunanya the green light to fight and in an upset Butler was dropped and out boxed over 10 giving Friday another unbeaten scalp.. This would be Fridays last victory.
In 2010 after a two year absence Friday would travel once more to New Zealand to box former world title challenger and national hero David Tua, losing on points in a tough fight, the following year Friday would lose on points to another former World title Challenger Chris Arreola in Atlantic City. Fridays final bout was at the Morongo Resort in California where he would lose a wide decision to Cuban prospect Mike Perez. During his career Friday was promoted by Don King, Warriors Boxing, Crown Boxing and Banner Promotions.. Managed and trained by Luis Tapia, Friday lost to 3 future world champions and faced 10 unbeaten fighters handing six of them their first loss..  Currently retired Friday lives in Las Vegas where he is married with children and occasionally spars with young prospects like Andy Ruiz and Joseph Parker..   Friday Ahunanya was an accomplished Amateur, Nigerian national champion at heavyweight, winning a bronze medal at the all Africa games in Harare.. Losing in the semi finals to Omar Ahmed of Kenya.  As a profesional his record stands ..
24 wins 8 losses 3 draws 13 wins by knockout.

Styles make fights.

Moments after beating Adrian Stone at Caesars in Las Vegas, Sugar Shane Mosley was trying to hype a more significant fight in the after fight presser in the garden behind Caesars...  Cedric Kushner produced an oversized cheque of $10 Million that he offered to Dela Hoya to make a huge fight happen after such an easy defence...  As this was taking place an unassuming onlooker grabbed to microphone.. Vernon Forrest asked .. Why not me??  Mosley laughed it off telling Vernon that the wouldn't be much interest in a Forrest v Mosley event...   Six months later Vernon Forrest schooled Shane and handed him his first loss.
Six months later the Viper proved that it wasn't a fluke by repeating the favour. Sometimes certain fighters have another guys number, styles make fights. Marco Antonio Barrera had met his match with Poison Junior Jones. Mike Tyson was outgunned in every department by Evander Holyfield.. Julio Cesar Chavez, on old version was no match for Oscar Dela Hoya.. Or Frankie Randall..

Nigel Benn and co.. G-Mex Manchester..

This great shot was from the front of the G-Mex centre in Manchester a couple of days before Nigel Benn's fight with Hector lescano.. Featured on here are Nigel Benn, heavyweight Michael Murray ,Tony Ekubia and Liverpools Sugar Gibilru.. Benn beat Lescano in 3, while Gibilru lost to Paul Harvey on points.. Heavyweight Murray knocked out Steve Gee in 7 rounds..  Ekubia however didn't even box on this night..  Michael Murray was a dark horse, he boxed Herbie Hide twice once for the British heavyweight title , beat highly ranked Markus Bott in his own back yard in Germany, lost in the fastest stoppage in British history when he got a dislocated shoulder in 9 seconds of the first round...  Michael fought John Fury twice, John is the father of Heavyweight prospect Tyson Fury..   Sadly Michael died in 2011.

Who's Who..? Heavyweight roll call.

This photo I took from the 1990s is of a training camp in California..  Featured in this are former world heavyweight title challenger to Larry Holmes, Scott Ledoux ..  Heavyweight contender and brother of former WBA heavyweight champion Tony, Nate Tubbs.. Contender Elijah Tillery, top rated heavyweight Mark Wills..  Featuring at the very back Olympic Superheavyweight Gold medalist from 1984, former Heavyweight title challenger to Mike Tyson, Tyrell Biggs..  Scott is sadly passed now, Elijah boxed two notorious fights with a young Riddick Bowe, Nate Tubbs was serving sparring partner to Mike Tyson and also handed future heavyweight champion Corrie Sanders his first loss by KO. Mark Wills was a dangerous heavyweight throughout the 80's boxing everyone, beating a peak Greg Page on national Tv. Who's son Damien Bolo Wills carries the Wills name into the ring today as a promising heavyweight. Tyrell Biggs fought a whole list of top heavyweights after turning pro.. James Tillis, Renaldo Snipes, David Bey, Lennox Lewis, Gary Mason, Francisco Damiani, Riddick Bowe and Jeff Simms...  Lennox is rarely seen in public but a documentary is being filmed called whatever happened to Tyrell Biggs featuring Biggs and his commitment to young aspiring fighters in his neighbourhood in Philly..   This photo has a bit of history attached..

New faces... Dorsett Barnwell. Heavyweight.

Dorsett the Bullet Barnwell is a new face on the block, this colourful New Yorker is 12/0 with (5 ko's) as a pro but was a hugely successful amateur winning the bronze medal in the world junior Championships in Morocco 2006.. Barnwell wasn't looking for boxing when he walked into Norfolk's Barraud Park Recreation Center, home of the city's amateur boxing program, he was a 265 pound guy built for football, but after enjoying new found success in the gym he never turned back, his next plans were to fight in the national Police Athletic League championships, the first of several qualifiers for the 2008 Olympic Trials. The Olympics is really something Dorsett dreamed of ever since lacing on gloves, being able to call yourself the best in the country at your game..  Boxing later at heavyweight rather than Super heavyweight served him well, being a more accessible division for opponents at amateur level.
 Barnwell has had his encounters with trouble outside of the ring almost losing his arm in a shooting incident involving a female.. Amateur trainer Gary Russell said Inside the ring Dorsett is ruthless he was 18 years old and with just 30 amateur bouts he was far advanced for his years, in his 4 year 12 fight winning streak he has been hardly tested, but in his more recent fights he is showing signs of improvment, taking his time, boxing more looking for openings and not looking for knockouts.. Dorsett would admit that he was more out for fighting in the early days, but now several years polished he is a capable boxer. Dorsett resides in Norfolk Virginia but these days he is broadening his horizons spending weeks away from home learning, in the Alps in camp with Wladimir Klitschko alongside another young gun Anthony Joshua, and most recently in Alabama helping prepare Deontay Wilder for his Jan 17th WBC date with Bermaine Stiverne in Las Vegas..  From what I hear from Joshua and people in the game in Vegas is that Barnwell is headed for a bright future...  He is only 27 and has time on his hands..  12 and 0 now..    Who knows what the next two years can bring..

Albert Williams.. We will never know..

Big Albert Williams 18/1 with a single draw (14 ko's) Albert was born in Newport News Virginia and served in the gulf for the US marine corps..  Al was chief sparring partner for Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis through most of his career. During that time Lennox class started to rub off on Al, he would rack up 11 straight wins before a single loss to Darren Hayden in Reno.. From 1994 through to 1998 Williams wouldn't lose a fight, only 2 draws to tough Jameel McCline on the Briggs v Wilson, night of the young heavyweights card in Atlantic City and a controversial draw with Ed Mahone in Las Vegas following a huge melee at the weigh in. Al was without direction at the beginning of his career but in Mike Tyson's absence in 93/4, team Tyson members Stacey McKinley and Steve Fitch would steer him towards a bright future along with father figure Gerald Landry as advisor Williams looked destined for Titles.. He was looking at a deal with powerpunch promotions and Cedric Kushner going into 1998. Alberts last victory came in May 1999 against Lorenzo Boyd.. One month later Albert Williams passed away from a heart defect at home..
On this particular day Al and his trainer Kenny Croom would leave Nevada Partners gym after a tough days sparring with David Defiagbon..  The pair would leave and head for a favourite casino for a catfish dinner.. Al wasn't  himself and went home to relax with his stepson and fiancée Lisa.. Al would sit on the bedroom floor watching cartoons with his boy.. Soon after the little man went to call his mom and said that daddy was cold..  Albert had passed peacefully..  Ironically Alberts father died of the same issue at the same age ..   We will never know how good he could have been.  NB..  Mike Tyson paid for Alberts funeral in Newport News Va.

Freddie Pendleton.. If at first you don't succeed..

Freddie Pendleton never got off to the best start as a pro fighter losing 5 of his first 12 outings, most notably to Hilmer Kenty and Anthony Fletcher..  In 1985 Pendleton would lose 3 fights in a row, first to world class Joe Manley, then later to tough Frankie Randall, whom he would later fight to a draw,  before picking up the USBA lightweight championship ...    In 1990 with 14 losses on his record Frankie would drop a unanimous points dec to Pernell Whitaker for the WBC and IBF lightweight titles, yet remain unbeaten for 2 more years, earning himself another shot at that IBF title only to have the fight with Tracy Spann declared a technical draw after 2 rounds,.  Finally in 1993 Freddie rematched Spann, again to challenge for the IBF belt, winning a hard fought, yet deserved Unanimous verdict in Atlantic City..  Pendleton made a sole defence of his title against the colourful Jorge Paez before losing the belt to Rafael Rueles.   Freddie would further lose to Felix Trinidad, Ricky Hatton, Vince Phillips, Terron Millett, Ben Tackie and James Page before hanging up his gloves with an extensive record of 47 wins, 26 losses and 5 draws in a career spanning 19 years...  Its safe to say, Freddie Pendleton came up the hard way..

Mercury Mike.. Hot property in 1986.

Mercury Mike Williams looked every inch the part as the next big thing in the heavyweight division in the 80's..  Boxing out of Houston Texas Mike would run up an impressive stack of victories over your usual record builders, James Tillis, Lorenzo Boyd and mike Tyson sparring partner Rufus hurricane Hadley before coming unstuck in his 14th outing losing a Split decision to Tim Witherspoon in 1987..  Unfortunately Mike would lose to every world class performer he would ever face... On the Tyson v Spinks undercard he faced Buster Douglas and was heavily favoured to emerge victorious.. Buster would knock mike down 3 times with jabs before knocking him out in his last significant fight..  Mike also spent time in camp with Mike Tyson giving the champ a black eye in a heated session that signalled his exit from camp..   Ironically Mike starred in Rocky 5 opposite Tommy Morrison..  But when the pair were due to fight for real in 1993 in Kansas Williams did a no show resulting in Morrison facing Tim Tomasheck from the audience in a farcical WBO title fight...  Mike retired in 2000 with a record of  22 wins and 6 losses with 14 knockouts..

Spinks Holmes revisited..

For many years now I have studied the two highly controversial fights between Michael Spinks and Larry Holmes and came to the same conclusion each time... I am satisfied that Spinks did a lot of very clever work in their first fight, out working the naturally bigger Holmes in spurts and finessing Larry who appeared subdued at times. Ring generalship earned Spinks that monumental verdict in 1985. However, in their rematch a year later Larry second guessed Michael and upped his game, closing down the distance to nullify Spinks' momentum, doing what he should have in the first fight. Spinks got the nod once again, but I feel deep down that Larry regained his IBF belt that night...  Mike was gallant, but fell short second time around..  Nevertheless ..    Great fights..

Never say never.. Bruce Seldon against the odds..

Whenever I see a young prospect I am never quick to make a solid prediction as to how good they...  In 1992 Bruce Seldon boxed a very lacklustre points win against trail horse Mike Dixon, the ESPN commentator boldly proclaimed that Seldon would never amount to anything more than a run of the mill heavyweight, and never get near a championship fight..    Three years later Bruce would beat Tony TNT Tucker in Las Vegas to arrest the Vacant WBA belt..  He would go on to defend it against Joe Hipp before losing it to a hungry Mike Tyson...      Never say never..

Looking back.. Toney v Holyfield..

James Toney on the scales for the Evander Holyfield fight..  I was completely convinced that Holyfield would have no trouble beating James in 2003. At the time he had never beaten a heavyweight before let alone a future Hall of famer..  In his previous fight he struggled in spells to beat Vassily jirov at Cruiserweight. I was staggered to witness James slick his way past Evander to a 9th round retirement win..

Thell Torrence, learning from past masters.

I love to sit and watch a great trainer at work..  Former fighter, trainer and now promoter Thell Torrence comes from a long line of boxing royalty. Disciplinarian Jack Blackburn trained the great Joe Louis, who would share the ring and spar with Detroit lightweight golden gloves champion Eddie Futch..  Eddie would never turn pro for health reasons but would carry his knowledge into training fighters..  Eddie trained numerous world champions an would pass his teachings onto his disciples, he would work at the helm of Joe Frazier along with Yancey Durham and George Benton... Turning out heavyweight champions one after the other..  Larry Holmes, Kenny Norton, Michael Spinks and more.. Top trainers Freddie Roach, Hedgemon Lewis would work under Futch but Thell Torrence would work as immediate apprentice to Eddie with several fighters Riddick Bowe and Montell Griffin notably..  Thell knows boxing, he learned it from the very best..
 Thell is now a promoter at Platinum Promotions..

Evander Holyfield... Size meant nothing..

Undisputed Cruiserweight champion Evander Holyfield made it public that he would move up into the heavyweight division in 1988..  Bulking up to 200 pounds was something that many boxing connoisseurs frowned upon.. Slowly but surely over 18 months Diet regime, weight training and balance coaching turned Evander into a heavyweight on paper..  Still the jury was out on how the new bulked Holyfield would fare with the bigger heavyweights...   Lou Duva didn't cherry pick opponents for Evander, over the next year he would face durable on form contenders..  Most notably the former WBA champion Mike Dokes..  It was one of the best heavyweight brawls of the 80's..   Evander would succeed as World Champion over the Huge Buster Douglas...   Size meant nothing..

Evander beats former WBA champion Michael Dokes.

Leroy Caldwell a heavyweight from a golden era..

New Orleans heavyweight Leroy Caldwell boxed a whole list of champions and top contenders through the 1970s and 80s..  From the likes of Gregorio Peralta to Ernie Shavers..  Leroy boxed champions Pinklon Thomas and Gerrie Coetzee and earned a draw with future champion Trevor Berbick.. Leroy was a jabber, a solid jab and a physique carved from rock made for a tough crafty contender who travelled the globe to fight or spar the best in the business.. Leroy lives in Las Vegas and was trained by Johnny Tocco for most of his career..  Leroy is now a trainer in the city and has a son Caleb who is a decent fighter himself.

Leroy Caldwell v Joe Bugner in London.