Art Garfunkel made a surprise appearance at Madison Square Garden on May 29, joining Charlie Puth on stage for a duet of “The Boxer.” Garfunkel told the audience that Puth was “my student,” crediting the younger singer with a debt to the catalog he created with Paul Simon, as reported by Billboard.

The moment was a reminder that boxing has long held a place in popular songwriting, far beyond the entrance music that plays before a title fight. Folk, reggae, soul, rock and hip-hop songwriters have used the ring as a backdrop for stories about ambition, violence, race and survival. The following ten songs focus on boxing or a specific fighter.

1. “The Boxer”, Simon and Garfunkel (1969)

Paul Simon wrote “The Boxer” and released it as a Simon and Garfunkel single in March 1969, before it appeared on the 1970 album. The lyrics move between a first-person description of poverty in Modern York and a third-person portrait of a warrior who bears the marks of every blow. Simon said the song was largely autobiographical and written when he felt he was being unfairly criticized. It reached the top ten of the Billboard Heated 100 and remains one of the duo’s signature recordings.

2. “Black Superman (Muhammad Ali)”, Johnny Wakelin and the Kinshasa Band (1974)

English songwriter Johnny Wakelin built this reggae-style tribute around Muhammad Ali’s victory over George Foreman in Kinshasa in 1974, a fight known as the Rumble in the Jungle. The single reached number 7 on the UK Singles Chart and number 21 on the Billboard Heated 100. Wakelin returned to Ali two years later with “In Zaire”, another tale of the same struggle, which became a top five UK hit.

3. “Hurricane”, Bob Dylan (1976)

Co-written by Bob Dylan and Jacques Levy and released on the 1976 album, “Hurricane” is about the case of middleweight contender Rubén Carter, who was convicted of murdering three people in a Modern Jersey bar in 1966. Dylan’s lyrics argue that Carter was framed and denied a fair trial. Carter’s conviction was overturned by a federal judge in 1985.

4. “Gonna Fly Now” (Theme from “Rocky”), Bill Conti (1976)

Composed for the original by Bill Conti, “Gonna Fly Now” became a hit in its own right, reaching number one on the Billboard Heated 100 in 1977. The brass instrumental, associated with the image of Sylvester Stallone training to run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, is one of the most recognizable pieces of music associated with sports.

5. “The Greatest Love of All”, George Benson (1977)

Written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed, “The Greatest Love of All” was the subject of a 1977 biopic in which Muhammad Ali played himself. George Benson’s original reached No. 2 on the R&B chart and No. 24 on the Billboard Heated 100. Whitney Houston’s 1986 version later made it a standard.

6. “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar (1980)

Written by Eddie Schwartz and recorded by Pat Benatar in 1980, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” is a song about relationships built entirely around boxing imagery, from fighting to exchanging punches. It reached number 9 on the Billboard Heated 100, her first top ten single in the United States, and remains a staple of her catalog. It’s more about the boxing metaphor than the sport itself.

7. “Eye of the Tiger”, Survivor (1982)

Sylvester Stallone ordered “Eye of the Tiger” after he was unable to license Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust.” The 1982 recording of Survivor topped the Billboard Heated 100 charts for six weeks and won a Grammy Award. It remains shorthand for training montages and underdog comebacks far beyond boxing.

8. “Boom Boom Mancini”, Warren Zevon (1987)

Warren Zevon, whose father worked as a boxer, wrote “Boom Boom Mancini” for his 1987 album. The song traces the career of lightweight champion Ray Mancini, including his first-round knockout of Arturo Frias and his 1982 title defense against Duk Koo Kim, who died from injuries sustained in the fight. Zevon’s text sharply criticizes those who blamed Mancini for the tragedy.

9. “Mama Said She’d Knock You Out”, LL Frigid J (1990)

LL Frigid J said the title came from his grandmother, who urged him to respond to criticism. The title track from his 1990 album marks a return to his career in the language of the ring, and the music video, shot in stark black and white, takes place in a boxing gym. He won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.

10. “Killer”, Bruce Springsteen (2005)

One of the darkest entries in Bruce Springsteen’s catalog, “The Hitter” appears on his 2005 acoustic album and dates back to the mid-1990s Ghost of Tom Joad period. Sung in the first person, it tells the story of an aging warrior who returns to his mother’s house delayed at night and recounts a brutal life spent hurting other men. There is no redemption in the story, only exhaustion.

Peter Fury believes that Tyson Fury should face a significant test if he decides to fight one more time before his planned clash with Anthony Joshua.

Fury returned to the ring earlier this year after spending all of 2025 in retirement. He outpointed Arslanbek Makhmudov over 12 rounds in April, and a long-awaited clash with Joshua is expected later this year.

As some fans questioned whether Fury should fight another fight before facing Joshua, Peter Fury said there would be little value in a gentle touch.

“Well, definitely someone who is hard-wearing and can hit back, because a walk in the park won’t get you anywhere,” Peter Fury said in an interview with SPORT Boxing, discussing Tyson’s potential fleeting opponent.

“The only thing that’s going to come out of this is me walking around the ring and saying well, I’ve got to get in the ring again, that’s all.”

Peter didn’t mention any specific names, but he made it clear that he believes any opponent should be able to hold their own and force Fury to be on his guard for the fight with Joshua.

The former heavyweight champion is coming off a unanimous decision win over Makhmudov in his comeback fight and could return one more time before facing Joshua.

Joshua is also preparing to return to the ring. The two-time heavyweight champion is scheduled to face Kristian Prenga on July 25 as he looks to build momentum towards a potential clash with Fury.

If Fury decides to fight early, Peter Fury’s view is elementary: there is no point in fighting an opponent who poses no challenge.

“A walk in the park gets you nowhere,” said Peter Fury. “Definitely someone who is hard-wearing and can hit back.”

Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.

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Last updated: 6/06/2026 at 2:19 am

Anthony Joshua will return to action next month as he looks to revive his highly anticipated clash with Tyson Fury by knocking out Albania’s Kristian Prenga. If he is successful in both of these fights, Joshua has five opponents in mind for 2027.

Since his failed attempt to dethrone Daniel Dubois to become a three-time world heavyweight champion in September 2024, Joshua has only made one appearance; winning six rounds in a gimmick fight against YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul.

Now, “AJ” returns to the chase ranks and looks to remind fight fans of his pedigree and strength, starting with a July “tune-up” against Prengi, who is expected to pose a minor threat before his November showdown with “The Gypsy King.”

I’m talking to Ring MagazineJoshua mentioned the five “gigantic fights” he is looking forward to after his feud with Fury ends.

“For me and Fury, he can’t be the one [left]because I know if I stay here long enough there will be a rematch with [Daniel] Dubois, there is a potential Fabio [Wardley] to fight is Agit [Kabayel] to fight there as long as he becomes champion, I like how gigantic that would be.

“Exists [Moses] Itauma’s fight as he nears the rankings is still there [Deontay] Wilder fight there. There will be massive fights.

“Fury is just another number and what I’m trying to say is that I don’t put him on a pedestal, he’s not above anyone, everyone stands in my way, everyone is on the same level. I don’t put him above anyone.”

The Joshua-Prenga event will take place on Saturday, July 25, with the novel fight location being Jeddah since the event date has been confirmed. despite earlier announcements that the gala would take place in Riyad.