DC's Kenny Baysmore.. The nearly man..

Washington Dc's Kenny Baysmore looked like he had the potential to go all the way as a pro, he had amateur pedigree and had won the 1979 national golden gloves at bantamweight. Two years later Kenny would turn professional.
For three years Baysmore would stay unbeaten and by 1983 he would be voted Ring Magazines prospect of the year, an accolade reserved for prospective future standouts. In 1984 for his 18th fight he would beat Freddy Chumpitaz for the USBA  super featherweight title, a year later in 1985 he would win a 12 round split decision over tough Myron Taylor in defense of his title.  Kenny was now 20 / 0 with 18 knockouts, and matched into the toughest fight of his career, a USBA title defense against the former WBA super featherweight champion Roger Mayweather.  Roger had only lost 2 of his 22 fights, and it was an acid test for the promising Baysmore..  Mayweather was too much for the USBA champion, and served Baysmore his first loss, by third round knockout in Texas..  Roger would go on to fight the great Julio Cesar Chavez for the WBC title in a highly publicized affair, while Kenny had to reassess the direction of his career. The first loss, especially by knockout hurt Baysmore's confidence and it was important for him to get back on the horse as soon as he could..  A full year later he would regain his USBA title by outpointing Anthony English in Atlantic city..  After two more successful defenses of his title it was again time to step up..  This time against tough Harold Knight in his opponents back yard of Atlantic city..  Knight was unbeaten in 14 fights, but had took a couple of years out between 1985 and 87..   Kenny got off to a good start against Knight, using good lateral movement, but in round six he stood too long in front of the New Jersey man and got stunned, by round 7 Baysmore had not recovered and suffered his second defeat, again by knockout.  A year later Knight would unsuccessfully challenge Rocky Lockridge for his IBF title, in what would be his last fight. Kenny Baysmore would return three months later, but would find it tough gain momentum with his career, by 1990 after his next six fights Baysmore would win 2, lose 2 and draw 2, all to inferior opposition.  Kenny needed a break from boxing and would take a 2 year hiatus from the game. 1992 saw a refreshed Baysmore beat Floyd Favors and Cliff Hicks both by second round stoppage..  Baysmore then took on promising US based Russian Sergey Artimiev, Artimiev was 16 / 1 and held an amateur victory over Shane Mosley. The fight was a last ditch fight to propel his Baysmore's career. The Artimiev fight was ill fated, Baysmore would suffer three knockdowns en route to a 5th round TKO..   Artimiev looked destined for huge honors until he almost died following his 1993, 10th round knockout loss to Carl Griffiths..  Baysmore's final night in the spotlight was an appearance on the Bowe v Ferguson undercard in DC against Sharmba Mitchell. Mitchell 29 / 0 and a huge puncher knocked Baysmore out in one round..   Kenny would box 7 more times until 2001, losing each time by knockout..  Kenny Baysmore was better than his 28 / 13 / 2  (24 KOs) record but was never able to step up to world level as a major player..
A two time USBA champion and a national golden gloves champion, Baysmore was a highly popular DC fighter who should have achieved so much more..

Tony Tucker.. A talent that could have been great.

Tony Tucker looked like he had everything, he used his height, had a tremendous jab, had respectable power and a solid chin..  Tony enjoyed a very good amateur career. Capturing the 1979 National AAU light-heavyweight title, as well as winning a light-heavyweight gold medal at the 1979 Pan-Am games and winning the 1979 light-heavyweight World Cup, Tucker looked ahead to the 1980 Olympics. Tucker had a lot of tools that could have defeated Teofilo Stevenson, the Cuban favorite but Tucker was denied the opportunity due to the USA’s boycott of the Moscow games. However Tucker like most of the Olympic representatives took the opportunity to fly to Poland and compete, independently..  In Poland Tony won his bout, and in waiting around in the airport for his father he missed the scheduled flight home, taking the next flight out..   On arrival back to Grand Rapids the Tucker family were said to have thought they'd seen a ghost..  Unbeknown to Tucker, the plane carrying most of the remaining squad home had crashed killing all onboard..
Tony is a deeply religious man and always held the belief that God had spared his life for a purpose..
Tony turned pro in 1980 under the guidance of Kronks Emmanuel Steward, beating an overmatched Chuck Gardner in 3 rounds..
Over the next three years Tucker was matched strategically as to move him quickly through the ranks..  By 1984, he had beaten ranked Walter Santemore, got past durable Jimmy Young and after a solid win over the very dangerous James Broad in 1986, Tucker was 35/0, staring at a title shot...
Tony's title fight would come on the Tyson v Pinklon Thomas card in Las Vegas in 1987..  Michael Spinks had been stripped for not defending against the IBF number 1 contender who happened to be Tucker himself..    Tony Tucker would face James Douglas, a decent heavyweight who was notorious for blowing hot and cold throughout his career..   Tony would get off to a bad start, allowing James, who was more relaxed to get into a rhythm. It took until the eighth round until Tucker got a foothold, gaining Douglass respect with his jab..  Going into the tenth round it was still close, but Tucker looked the fresher, he backed James into the ropes and started to mount an assault, Douglas wasn't firing back, Tucker pouted it on and Mills Lane jumped in to save Douglas. Tony Tucker was 28 years old and the undefeated IBF heavyweight champion..    This victory was only the prelude to a huge Glory Hallelujah unification bout with WBA and WBC champion Mike Tyson..  Tony was a huge underdog in this fight and no-one gave him a hope.  Mike Tyson was the mechanical champion that everyone thought was invincible..  On this night, Tucker proved a lot of people wrong in defeat..  In round 1 Tony caught Tyson walking straight in with an uppercut, from that moment Tyson knew he had his hands full, Tucker however boxed conservatively, trying to nullify Mikes attacks only once standing toe to toe in the final seconds of a fight where he proved his true value, losing a unanimous decision to the best heavyweight around was no disgrace..
Following the Tyson loss,  problems found Tucker..
Most of Tony's problems was his father Robert. Tony's father signed a lot of paper with a lot of people , shares for up-front money and Tony was getting virtually nothing from his purses, all kinds of people had pieces of Tony Tucker..  Tucker had no choice but to tell his father Robert that he could no longer handle his career, he had almost broke his son..
1988 Tony Tucker went through a deep depression, he had no money, the Tyson purse was still ongoing and a lot of court hearings were getting him down..  He acquired a drug habit which he kept private and wouldn't box for three years..
Tony would return in 1989 under the watchful eye of Jack Cohen, a real estate investor who had seen Tucker's demise at the hands of Cocaine, lots of cocaine and deep depression...  Tucker was 30 pounds heavier, thick set, a sterner look on his face and the trademark Jeri curls had gone... Tony would rack up 14 straight wins in the next four years, beating respectable names, Orlin Norris, Lionel Washington, Oliver McCall, Frankie Swindell until in 1993, three years completely clean following numerous rehabs, he would be presented with a chance of a competed clean start..  WBC Champion Lennox Lewis offered to defend his new crown against Tucker, now heavily backed by Don King..     Tucker's $1.005,000 purse would be enough to square up all of the financial mess his father had made and enough to make him comfortable again..    Tucker would box very competently against Lewis, he had come a long way..  He got off the floor twice to go the full 12 against a man who would prove over the next 10 years as one of the best of the era...
In the next four years Tony would only lose to future world champions..    Orlin Norris the former cruiserweight champion, Bruce Seldon in a WBA championship fight on the Holmes v McCall card in Las Vegas, Henry Akinwande in Philadelphia, Herbie Hide, the WBO champion in Great Britain, then finally in an Nabf Championship fight to John Ruiz in 1998, the year he would fight his last bout, a one round knockout of Billy Wright..  Tony's record stands 57 / 7 with 47 knockouts..
Tucker now lives in Florida, has been clean of drugs since 1989 and coaches the next generation of young prospects in a local gym..  Tony still attends the major boxing events, I was lucky enough to speak with him in April of this year at the  Mayweather v Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas..    Tony Tucker is at peace with himself..     He only ever lost to world champions.

Quillin v Jacobs.. Dibella says it's the biggest fight ever at The Barclays Centre.

Come December 5th, the bout between middleweights Peter Quillin (32-0-1, 23 KO’s) and Danny Jacobs (30-1, 27 KO’s) will be one of the biggest bout to ever take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Both Jacobs and Quillin call New York home so it's got a turf war flavour to help promote the huge event..
Lou Dibella is convincing in selling the show, "This is the biggest fight in Barclays history and certainly the biggest fight I will have promoted in Brooklyn and it's going to have the biggest crowd, I think we’ve been doing great crowds with Garcia-Peterson, Garcia Malignaggi. Khan-Algieri did a good crowd. This is going to be a great fight.”
If Dibellas mathematical recipe is correct, of put on a 50/50 fight in the right area, watch the magic happen..
As far as the matchup, it's a natural, both Brooklyn natives, both champions in the same division, both big characters and both former NY golden gloves winners.
Its a matchup that’s been a long time coming. Both guys in their primes , Jacobs overcoming huge adversity in his life has built a huge following, Quillin has Cuban heritage bringing a hispanic element into play..  It's a mouthwatering fight, and there's no (Pacquiao v Mayweather) 18 months of messing around, the fights was easy to make and it's a classic.

Finally.. Frampton v Quigg is On.. Feb 27th.

It looks like finally the Carl Frampton v Scott Quigg all British world title unification fight is finally on..  Northern Ireland's Frampton holds the IBF super-bantamweight belt while England's Quigg, is the current WBA title holder.
The long-awaited bout between the undefeated pair will unify both belts. Frampton is adamant that he is going into Scott Quiggs back yard to take the titles because he says "I'm the legitimate champion and It's what Champions do."
Frampton and Quigg have baited each other for a while now and only financial issues have caused previous negotiations to break down. Both respected champions are evenly matched, Frampton being the older by a year at 28..
Frampton claimed the IBF crown from Kiko Martinez in September 2014 and has defended his title twice, stopping Chris Avalos in Belfast in February before retaining his belt on points against Alejandro Gonzalez Jr after a shaky start on his debut in America.
Quigg has made five successful defences of his title since claiming the WBA belt in October 2013.
"I've finally got the fight I've wanted for so long," said Quigg.
"I've dedicated my life to this sport and I have never been more confident going into a fight. I know I will beat him in every department."
The much awaited bout is scheduled for February 27th at The Manchester Arena..

Sinan Samil Sam Passes aged 41.

Former heavyweight Sinan Samil Sam died Friday morning in his native Turkey from liver failure at the age of 41.
6-foot-3inch Sam was an outstanding amateur, winning the super heavyweight title at the 1999 World Championships in Houston, Texas before turning pro the following year.
Sam signed with Turkish promoter Ahmet Oner of Arena boxing and boxed out of Germany, winning his first 18 fights, including knockouts of fringe contenders Przemyslaw Saleta and Danny Williams. He suffered his first loss in 2003, dropping a decision to Juan Carlos Gomez on HBO’s “Night of the Young Heavyweights” in Buffalo, N.Y.
Sam was a highly respected durable fringe contender for the next few years, defeating Decent opposition, Lawrence Clay Bey and Denis Bakhtov while losing to Luan Krasniqi, Oleg Maskaev and Oliver McCall.
Sam retired in 2008 with a record of 31-4, 16 knockouts, after winning the European heavyweight title for a second time.
Sam was hospitalized in intensive care in 2010 with liver failure after vomiting blood due to excessive alcohol consumption, Sam was rushed to hospital last week with suspected liver failure..  41 is far too young to go, he was a folk hero in his native Turkey and was affectionately known as The bull of the Bosporus..

Clifford Etienne.. Breaking the habit of a lifetime..

Clifford Etienne took up boxing while serving a 40-year prison sentence for armed robbery in his home state of Louisiana. A hard puncher with torrid determination, Etienne won the state prison boxing championship in his first year. Etienne became a affiliated member of the notorious "Gunslingers" prison boxing team in Louisiana and reportedly had a 30–0 prison record. He was released on good behavior after serving 10 years.
Clifford had his sights on turning to professional boxing now as a means to going straight. He turned pro in 1998 with a one round knockout in Mississippi. By 2000 Etienne had racked up 19 straight wins and was named 2000's "Most Exciting Fighter to Watch" in the heavyweight division by Ring Magazine, largely the result of his unanimous decision over then-undefeated Lawrence Clay Bey. The fight was widely considered to be one of the best heavyweight matches of that year. He had also beaten Relentless Lamon Brewster, the future WBO heavyweight champion, on points after ten rounds in the May of that year. Clifford then landed a contract with Showtime, this elevated Clifford's profile and his stock was set to rise, but it would quickly fall after an upset first pro loss to Puerto Rican Fres Oquendo, who stopped Etienne in the eighth round of their fight in March 2001.
Clifford now had to try rebuild and by 2002 he had racked up five solid wins in a row plus a gutsy draw with highly ranked former IBF champion Franz Botha..  Etiennes fight with Botha caught the eye of the Tyson people who were on the lookout for a comeback opponent for the former champion...  In 2003 , in Memphis, Tyson v Etienne was made and Clifford was catapulted to the world's stage for an unlikely chance to pull off a huge upset.. Unfortunately Tyson showed up on this occasion and overwealmed Etienne who was prepared to exchange in the early seconds, but it wasn't for long, Etienne suffered a first-round knock-out only 49 seconds after being caught with a right hand.
After the loss to Tyson, Etienne's future seemed to be that of a journeyman opponent.  Former Olympian Calvin Brock stopped Etienne in the third round in January 2005.
The same year Etienne's last fight would be against Nikolai Valuev, who would go on to become the WBA champion. Valuev knocked Etienne out in the third round of their fight in Germany.
2006 saw Clifford Etienne find trouble again..
News Story..
Clifford Etienne was arrested Wednesday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on charges of armed robbery, kidnapping and the attempted murder of a police officer. Etienne allegedly robbed a local business, car-jacked a vehicle containing a woman and her children, then pulled a gun on police officers. He is being held in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison with a $70,000 bond.
On June 22, 2006, following his trial in Baton Rouge, Etienne was found guilty and sentenced to 150 years in prison without parole for an allegedly cocaine fueled crime spree that included robbing a check cashing business, Carjacking, kidnapping a family, and attempting to shoot two policemen. In April 2013 his sentence was reduced from 150 years to 105 years due to a technicality. Regardless..  Clifford Etienne won't be likely to see freedom in his lifetime..

Unbeaten Charlo destroys Alcine in six.

Unbeaten IBF number 2 super welterweight Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (27-0, 12 KOs) scored a sixth round TKO over former world title holder Joachim Alcine (35-8-2, 21 KOs) on Saturday night at the NRG Arena in Houston, Texas. Charlo dropped Alcine in round six and got the stoppage with his follow up barrage. Time was 1:21.  Alcine boxing out of Canada by way of Haiti has seen better days, coming off a split draw to Delvin Rodriguez in May, he had lost 5 of his last 8 outings..  Charlo however is racking up a virtual who's who of victims, and seems headed towards a very bright future...  Jermell has 12 knockouts in his 27 victories, but every single one of his points victories have been relative shutouts,  unanimous ..