And we think that today we will have a great marathon, all-night fight cards! Well, here we are, saying what you want (and have said) about Turki Alalshikh and his seemingly hellish desire to “take over” boxing. Still, we had some great stacked fight cards thanks to a Saudi financier’s involvement in our great sport (let’s just hope it always remains ours for all to enjoy and respect).

But there have been great all-night parties before – many times. But one of the very special, most memorable and outstanding all-night boxing events worth the money took place on this day in 1996. Slightly older UK fight fans may remember where they were on Judgment Night – November 9, 1996.

Sky Sports was still up-to-date to the UK at the time, while pay-per-view services were even newer and cheaper than they would become. But regardless of the price, fight fans knew they could NOT miss it. This bill. Live, from the comfort of their front rooms, millions of British boxing fans made themselves comfortable, ordered pints and takeaways and watched the action:

From the Nynex Arena in Manchester:

Ronald Winky Wright Ensley Bingham Fight
Naseem Hamed vs. Remigio Molina
Danny Williams Michael Murray fight
Steve Collins Nigel Benn fight (rematch)
Herbie Hide vs. Frankie Swindell
Michael Brodie Miguel Matthews Fight.

Then from MGM in Las Vegas:

Scott Welch Daniel Eduardo Netto Fight
Christy Martin vs. Bethany Payne
Henry Akinwande vs. Alexander Zhovkin
Michael Moorer Frans Botha fight
Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield.

Phew!

And on top of a yearly subscription, it was all available to fight fans in the UK for just £10! Of course, the Tyson fight really got us all involved. So many of us, in fact almost all of us, felt that Tyson would almost kill Holyfield – the brave fighter who had recently suffered a “heart attack” and who was now being “fed” with the “better than ever” Tyson. I remember almost getting laughed at in the pub the night before the fight. This suggests that Holyfield may have a chance against Tyson!

It was depressed to see Nigel Benn end at the hands of the teak-proof Collins, while ‘Prince’ Naseem was established as a massive star in the UK. It was great to see the wonderful Winky Wright box in the UK, which was avoided by the elite as Winky was in the US, you might say, dodged. Herbie Hide has always been entertaining, while Danny Williams, like Mike Tyson, is still fighting (or trying to do so) today!

Women’s boxing was still too up-to-date for most of us to appreciate and understand, but Christy Martin proved to be a true pioneer who changed our perception when it came to watching women fight in the ring. Michael Moorer, of course best known then as now for being on the wrong side of George Foreman’s punch for the ages (or ages) in November 1994, put in a fine performance against a stubborn but ultimately held off Botha.

And then came the BIG one. Tyson vs. Tyson Holyfield – “Finally!”

It was already early morning in the UK, but none of us at my party were thinking about going to sleep. Accompanied on screen by superstars Barry McGuigan, Paul Dempsey and Emanuel Steward (who gave excellent interviews during the long broadcast), we were all wide awake when Tyson entered the ring. Quite amazingly, Tyson was met with a few boos mixed with cheers. Holyfield was a hero and plenty of fans were rooting for him to become an even bigger hero.

And it happened. Holyfield shocked, stunned, excited and moved us when he fought one of his best fights, defeating Tyson. Knocking Tyson down, punching him, beating Tyson, and then, in the 11th round, stopping the man he had always wanted to fight, “The Real Deal” was a hit, a puncher, on top of the world. It was a great moment, the culmination of a truly great, multi-hour thriller marathon or fight night.

“Judgment Night”.

Where were you and do you still clearly remember the magical glow that illuminated us that night 28 years ago?

No great ring should ever be forgotten, especially not one who is currently fighting against one of the most cruel enemies imaginable. Mexican fighter Israel Vazquez, also known as “Magnifico”, is currently battling cancer. The gloomy news was interrupted by a WBC press article in which the governing body asked us all to “unite for Israel Vazquez.”

It’s the least we can do.

Vazquez, who went to war in extremely fierce and inspiring fights with Rafael Marquez (four times, the first three fights considered contemporary classics at a lower weight, then two Mexicans fought a fourth fight and their intense rivalry ended with a score of 2-2), and Oscar Larios and Jhonny Gonzalez finished their ring careers with a good record of 44-5(32).

After retiring in 2010, Vazquez was at risk of losing one eye, which had to be removed and replaced with a prosthesis. I think – and hope – that in the end it didn’t happen and the eye was saved. But now, at the age of 46 (Israel was born on Christmas Day 1977), the former three-time king of the ring goes to war with one of his most formidable opponents.

Fundraising efforts are currently underway to facilitate this fallen but always incredibly proud warrior, and articles about Israel’s plight have appeared around the world. Vazquez, who lit up the 122-pound division and wowed millions, is too proud to ask for facilitate, so others do it for him.

If you would like to facilitate this great former champion in his time of need, you can do so here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with-israel-vasquez-against-cancer

Let us never, ever forget our great kings of the ring, especially when they are still here to receive your cheers and facilitate.

Israel Vazquez has given us some truly unique fights during his illustrious boxing career. He was and is a truly exceptional person.

Today marks the 10th anniversary of a fight in which many people were genuinely concerned about one of the combatants. Over the years, the great Bernard Hopkins managed to hold his own against Father Time, the Philadelphia ring general, who scored extremely impressive victories over much younger and more threatening fighters such as Kelly Pavlik, Jean Pascal and Tavoris Cloud. But this time, going with “The Crusher” against the all-powerful Sergei Kovalev, Hopkins, the holder of two major belts at 175 pounds at the age of 49, was taking a risk.

Hopkins, who was 55-6-2 and won a decision over Beibut Shumenov, would have exaggerated his skill and luck too much against the Russian beast.

Kovalev was 31 years elderly at the time of the fight and was undefeated with a record of 25-0-1. Disturbingly for Hopkins and his fans, Kovalev has defeated his previous nine opponents and scored a knockout in each of his fights as the WBO featherlight heavyweight champion. Kovalev had every intention of inflicting stern harm on the almost 50-year-old, so it was being considered in some circles.

The fight, dubbed “Alien Vs. Krusher” took place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Since many fans were prepared for something brutal, instead we saw a one-sided fight largely devoid of action and violence. Kovalev dropped Hopkins in the first round with a right hand to the head, and from that point on, Hopkins boxed extremely carefully, defensively, some would say scared. But Hopkins must have been shrewd or else he was, but Kovalev dominated every minute of all 12 rounds.

Hopkins threw very little, and his aging legs carried him to safety in each session. Ultimately, Kovalev was denied a knockout, but he triumphed with lopsided scores of 120-106 and 120-107, 120-107. Kovalev was now a three-lane world champion and proved to the boxing world that Hopkins was very human.

Hopkins dared to be great again, but this time he somehow failed. But it didn’t/doesn’t matter; Hopkins has long cemented his place in the history books. Hopkins could have won after a victory over Pascal, after a victory over Cloud, or after a victory over Shumenov. Ultimately, Hopkins took advantage of his luck and faced Kovalev.

However, surprisingly, B-Hop still wasn’t finished as he had one more fight, a little over two years later against Joe Smith Jr. Smith Jr managed to do what Kovalev failed to do by throwing Hopkins off the ropes, and “The Alien” was stopped in the eighth round.

Kovalev dominated the 175-pound division until November 2016, when he was defeated by Andre Ward. Kovalev lost the rematch with Ward, but he, like Hopkins, continued the fight, and “Krusher” took his turn fighting as an elderly man. Kovalev last fought in May this year at the age of 41.