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.

Although we will never forget the tragic end of Carlos Monzon’s life – alcohol and drugs, murder, prison, his own death in a car accident – no one who saw Monzon fight could pass by and think how no man could ever hurt him in the world. ring.

A true God in Argentina before the murder of his third wife, Alicia Muniz in 1988, “Escopeta” is unfortunately best remembered today for the deadly hands he used in a disgustingly illegal manner. Monzon will spend the rest of his days behind bars.

However, as a fighter, champion and ring legend, Monzon is second to none. It was on this day in 1970 that Monzon, a seasoned 67-3-9 at the age of 28, met an Italian idol, current middleweight champion Nino Benvenuti, who at the age of 32 had achieved an astonishing 82-4-1. No one in Italy had even heard of Monzon, and no one outside Argentina wanted to give the challenger a chance.

But Monzon, whose eyes were perhaps deeper and darker than those of any player in the history of the sport this side of Roberto Duran, was vastly underrated. Monzon was full of fire, fuel, power, hate/love and lust. In miniature, the talented Benvenuti had no idea who or what he was drafted with.

To the absolute shock of all of Rome, Monzon went after the defending champion Playboy from the opening bell and never came close to giving up. With his long arms, bone-breaking strength, and very real disgust at the thought of ever losing to another man, Monzon became Benvenuti’s worst enemy. The defending champion, former 154-year-old ruler and two-time middleweight boss, was soon forced to look towards the referee, needing aid or a clue as to what he had been dragged into.

It was a dog fight, and Monzon was the Pitbull to Benvenuti’s Greyhound. Only there was nowhere to run.

Monzon won every round, and then in the 12th, the former Argentinian street urchin scored the most devastating KO of the year (perhaps apart from some of the killer work done by Bob Foster at featherlight heavyweight). A huge right hand landed squarely on the head of the tiring Benvenuti, sending the soon-to-be former champion reeling (literally). Somehow, Benvenuti got up, but he had had enough and the fight was over.

All of Italy was shocked and silenced.

It looked like Monzon, who still had a few months of his prime left, was in for a long reign. His reign was truly a reign of terror – with at least 14 championship titles.

Monzon may have to be considered the best middleweight of all time.