Boxing
Meet the Class of 2024 entering the International Boxing Hall of Fame
Published
7 months agoon
By
J. HumzaThe International Boxing Hall of Fame inducts the Class of 2024 this weekend in Canastota, Up-to-date York, and there are some massive names on the list.
The American Boxing Writers Association and an international panel of boxing historians have voted for the latest crop of champions, both in and out of the ring, to join the greatest names in boxing history.
Boxers Ricky Hatton, Michael Moorer, Ana Maria Torres, Jane Couch, Ivan Calderon and the delayed Diego Corrales will be inducted into the Up-to-date Boxers category.
Boxing writer Wallace Matthews and sports commentator Nick Charles will compete in the Observer category. Coach Kenny Adams, publicist Fred Sternburg and publicist and manager Jackie Kallen join the Non-Participant category. Boxer Luis Angel Firpo will compete in the Aged Timer category, while Teresa Kibby will join in the Women Trailblazer category.
Here’s a look at each competitor in the Up-to-date Boxer Briefs category and what makes them so special.
Diego Corrales
“Chico” Corrales will be best remembered for the incredible round 10 of his epic first encounter with Jose Luis Castillo in May 2005. This round featured nonstop action, knockdowns, and a barely believable twist.
Two years after the ESPN Fight of the Year, Corrales died in a motorcycle accident in Las Vegas at the age of 29.
Corrales (40-5, 33 KO), of Sacramento, Calif., was at his most hazardous when injured, and at key points in his career he won fights after visiting the canvas. He had courage and fought instinctively, which made his fights thrilling.
Corrales was knocked down twice in round 10 by Castillo during their lightweight title unification fight. Castillo, a two-time WBC Mexican champion, seemed poised to win. Corrales could barely see Castillo throwing punches in front of him due to his severely swollen eyes, so he intelligently spit out his mouthguard to buy himself a few seconds to recover from the second knockdown. And then Corrales hit a challenging right shot that hurt Castillo and sealed the victory.
There were more than two fights with Castillo in Corrales. In 1999, he defeated Roberto Garcia by seventh-round TKO to win the IBF junior lightweight title. Corrales defended three times before facing Floyd Mayweather and was stopped in round 10 after being knocked to the ground five times during a 2001 fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
After losing to Mayweather, Corrales served 14 months in prison allegation of domestic abuse before resuming his career.
Corrales’ illustrious career earned him revenge for his loss to Joel Casamayor when he climbed into the ring and won the WBO title in 2004. Later that year, Corrales moved up a weight class to stop Acelino Freitas in the 10th round, one of the best wins of his career, ending Freitas’ undefeated record. Corrales won the WBO lightweight belt in that fight and put the title on the line when he faced Castillo for the first time.
The tough fight with Castillo exhausted Corrales greatly and he was never the same fighter again. Castillo knocked out Corrales in four rounds five months after their first fight (but Corrales retained the WBO and WBC belts because Castillo failed to gain weight) before Corrales suffered two more decision losses to Casamayor and Joshua Clottey.
Ana Maria Torres
“La Guerrera” Torres was a two-time WBC junior bantamweight champion who boxed twice in North Korea.
Mexico’s Torres (28-3-3, 16 KOs) dominated the women’s junior bantamweight division from her first bantamweight win in 2007 until her last fight in 2012.
In 2006, she lost a split decision to Kwang Ok Kim for the WBC bantamweight title in North Korea. Later that year, she defeated Mayela Perez to win the interim WBC junior bantamweight title, which she held until she lost a split decision on another trip to North Korea, this time to Myung Ok Ryu in 2007.
However, Torres regained the title in 2008 and defended it 11 times before retiring. In total, Torres made 12 saves over two reigns, engaging in several epic battles with Jackie Nava and Mariana Juarez.
Michael Moorer
What do Moorer, James Toney, Roy Jones Jr., Michael Spinks and Bob Fitzsimmons have in common? They are all part of a tiny club that has won featherlight heavyweight and heavyweight world titles.
Moorer, 56, is also one of three fighters (along with Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis) to win the heavyweight title three times.
Moorer (52-4-1, 40 KO) was just 21 years ancient when he won the inaugural WBO featherlight heavyweight title in his 12th professional fight, stopping Ramzi Hassan in December 1988. He made nine defenses, all won by KO, before making two jumps in the heavyweight class to heavyweight.
After last defending his WBO featherlight heavyweight title in 1990, the American returned as heavyweight. Seven fights later, Moorer recovered from two early knockdowns to defeat Bert Cooper in Round 5 to win the 1992 WBO heavyweight title. The victory was significant as Moorer became the first southern midfielder to win the world heavyweight title.
Moorer then defeated Evander Holyfield for the IBF and WBA titles at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 1994, when he recovered from a second-round knockout to win by majority decision. However, Moorer lost the titles six months later to George Foreman, who was trailing on points when he knocked out Moorer with a right hand in round 10, becoming the oldest-ever world heavyweight champion at the age of 45.
Moorer traveled to Germany in 1996 and defeated Axel Schulz by split decision to become a four-time world heavyweight champion. He made two defenses before Holyfield defeated him in a title unification rematch at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas in 1997. Moorer visited the canvas five times before his corner stopped the fight in round 8.
Moorer, born in Brooklyn, Up-to-date York and raised in Monessen, Pennsylvania, ended his 20-year boxing career in 2008.
Ricky Hatton
Hatton, a two-division world champion, is one of the most popular British boxers of the last 30 years.
Hatton (45-3, 32 KO), of Manchester, England, won the junior welterweight and welterweight world titles, unified the junior welterweight world titles and fought (and lost) against the best of his era in Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
However, his greatest achievement is perhaps the popularity and support he has generated. It was reported that Hatton attracted 20,000 spectators from UK shores to Las Vegas following his 10th round KO loss to Mayweather in 2007, and his fan base extended beyond just the UK hardcore boxing scene
Hatton’s career was transformed when he won the IBF junior welterweight title from Kostya Tszyu in Manchester in June 2005, after his pressure prompted the Australian Russian to withdraw from Tszyu at the end of the 11th round. Tszyu was ranked 3rd in the pound weight. -for-pound and No. 1 in the division at the time, and Hatton’s victory (the best of his career) confirmed his status as a truly elite boxer.
After this breakthrough victory, Hatton campaigned mainly in the US. After a stunning victory over Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas in June 2007, Hatton faced the sport’s biggest star in Mayweather in December 2007. It was a huge event, but it ended in a knockout in the 10th round.
Pacquiao knocked out Hatton in two rounds in May 2009, and Hatton did not return to the ring until three years later against Vyacheslav Senchenko, amid depression and drug and alcohol addiction. At the age of 34, Hatton announced he was retiring following his loss to Senchenko and has not fought since.
Jane Couch
Perhaps Couch’s greatest achievement was the fight she won outside the ring. The Englishwoman sued the British boxing authorities for the right to fight professionally. She won by forcing the British Boxing Board of Control to grant her a boxing license in 1998, ending the ban on women fighting professionally in the UK
Couch (55), of Fleetwood, England, was a pioneer of the sport and opened the door to current champions Savannah Marshall, Natasha Jonas, Terri Harper and many other U.K. fighters Couch (28-11, 9 KOs), whose last fight was in 2007 after winning the junior welterweight and lightweight world titles.
Ivan Calderon
“Iron Boy” Calderon was the strawweight (2003-2007) and junior flyweight (2007-2010) world champion, making a total of a staggering 17 world title defenses. The Puerto Rican had a great fight against Giovani Segura in 2010, which he lost by KO in the eighth round, ending his undefeated record.
Calderon (35-3-1, 6 KO), whose last fight was in 2012, was so good that he faced bigger fighters like Oscar De La Hoya and “Sugar” Shane Mosley due to his technique and elusiveness . He dominated the lightest divisions with outstanding wins over Alex Sanchez, Edgar Cardenas, Roberto Leyva, Daniel Reyes and Isaac Bustos.
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Manny Pacquiao remains the favorite to win the title against Mario Barrios
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January 6, 2025WBN understands that despite alternative options emerging, it is more likely that Manny Pacquiao will face Mario Barrios next.
Bob Santos, coach of WBC welterweight champion Barrios, told World Boxing News that he is currently in contact with Pacquiao’s team. Asked by WBN if he had spoken to Pacquiao or representatives of any other challenger, Santos replied: “Yes, Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons.” Pressed on whether Barrios vs Pacquiao might happen next, he added: “It’s challenging to say. We’ll have to see how this plays out.”
WBN contacted Santos after Conor Benn emerged as a potential alternative to Barrios. The British fighter, who recently returned from a suspension following two positive drug tests, is keen to return to competition.
Benn showed favor with the World Boxing Council at the recent WBC Convention, the WBC Evaluation Committee and during an interview with the sanctioning body over the weekend. “The Destroyer” is ranked second in the rankings at 147 pounds, despite less than solid opponents during his time in exile, during which Benn competed twice in the United States while his career in the United Kingdom was in doubt.
As he battled to clear his name and with the British Anti-Doping Authority finding no evidence that Benn had intentionally taken ostarine, the 28-year-old’s career took a pointed nosedive. Despite this, he remains highly rated and at least one step away from fighting for an eliminator or one of the remaining championship titles.
However, Pacquiao remains Barrios’ favorite. Now it’s up to the boxing legend and Hall of Famer who got the first votes to secure his shot. WBN believes a July date – most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – is the most realistic date for a Nevada swan song.
Pacquiao could extend his record as the oldest welterweight champion by six years if he can secure a huge victory over the 29-year-old world champion. At 46 years antique, such a scenario remains unlikely, but he can never be compared to one of the greatest players of this generation.
Unlike heavier boxers and his training regiment, Pacquiao looks in great shape despite his advanced age. Everything is set for a massive return to the boxing capital of the world, provided Pacquiao and his team can manage his political ambitions, which are expected to run from this month until May. After that time, Pacquiao could find himself in the summer finals and become the all-time champion, regardless of the result.
Barrios is based in the city, where he trained with Santos, and would be the perfect opponent to see out the career of one of the greatest fighters in history.
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A report about Deontay Wilder retiring at the age of 39 has been confirmed as false
Published
1 week agoon
January 2, 2025Deontay Wilder has not retired from boxing at the age of 39, and the former WBC heavyweight champion has not issued any official statement.
World Boxing News can confirm that reports circulating on social media are false and originated from a imitation account on Up-to-date Year’s Day. As of January 2, 2025, WBN has had no word from Wilder that he plans to hang up his gloves.
As usual, WBN also asked Shelly Finkel for comment. However, Finkel has repeatedly said in the past that Wilder is not retiring. This case seems to be no different.
The last time Wilder spoke publicly was while promoting a mental health app, the Brown Bomber was unveiling plans to return to the sport.
He said: “The push-up protocol has been disabled. Strengthen your body and train your mind; no paid subscription required! It’s not about money. It’s about a mission to strengthen mindsets and improve mental health for all.
To everyone: operate your services and achieve greatness.
“There will be people who tell you, ‘No, you can’t.’ [No] People trying to stop you or putting up stop signs. [No] People who want to bring you down and keep you down. But you can’t give up.
“No matter how many times you fall, no matter how many times you get knocked down, it’s a resilient mind, a confident mind, a powerful mind that gets back up and keeps moving forward to achieve your greatness.
“Apply your service. Achieve your greatness,” he added.
Deontay Wilder could announce his retirement tomorrow if he changed his mind, but at the time of the report, there was no truth to it.
When Zhilei Zhang knocked him out on June 1 in Saudi Arabia, the formidable top-flight contender needed time to assess his situation. WBN understands that Wilder has received offers, including contact from Francis Ngannou, regarding a possible boxing match with the MMA star.
The Wilder vs. Ngannou fight only makes sense for an American his age. Many voluntary positions [of which Wilder is WBC number 13] are occupied by threatening opponents who would start each clash as favorites.
Meanwhile, the Ngannou fight is winnable with less risk and more rewards, meaning Wilder can still earn a significant payday before hanging up his gloves for good.
Boxing
Paddy Donovan is looking forward to his clash with Lewis Crocker on March 1
Published
2 weeks agoon
December 30, 2024Rising Irish boxing star Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-0, 11 KO), the current World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight continental champion, had to withdraw from his scheduled December “stay busy” fight due to a minor injury but now is preparing to fight his biggest rival in what may be the most anticipated Irish boxing match in history.
The All-Ireland fight between Donovan, who fights in Limerick and trains in Dublin, and Lewis “The Croc” Crocker (20-0, 11 KO) of Belfast, Northern Ireland, is scheduled for March 1. “Point of Pride” will headline the Matchroom Boxing card, which will be broadcast live on DAZN from the SES Arena as part of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title eliminator. Just two fights away, Donovan could win a world title if he defeats Crocker as the IBF mandatory challenger.
“There is something different about a good Irish fighter and I believe I will be next,” Donovan declared. “I think turning pro at 19 and now 25 has required a lot of life changes since I turned pro. What matters most is what I learned in the gym, because it was the ups and downs in life – being a husband and father, losing loved ones – that helped me improve. I improved as a person, which helped me become a better fighter.”
A true fighter from the past, Donovan is currently rated by three of the four major sanctioning bodies: WBA No. 5, IBF No. 6 and World Boxing Council No. 14. He has dreamed of being a world champion since he was seven years senior.
“I’m in an amazing position, so I thank God for that and my team, Andy Lee (head coach/co-manager) and (Up-to-date York lawyer) Keith Sullivan (co-manager),” Donovan noted. “It’s great to be ranked so highly at this stage of my career, but I’m where I need to be. To be ranked so high on three major sanctioning bodies is great. I know I won’t stop until I become world champion.
“I’m always at the gym thinking about the next challenge. I say it’s time. I love what I do. I am very grateful to God for being in this situation. I believe in God’s plan for me to become world champion.”
“It’s definitely going to be an explosive fight,” commented Up-to-date York attorney Keith Sullivan, who co-manages Donovan with former world middleweight champion Andy Lee, who is also Paddy’s head trainer. “Two tough, resilient Irishmen who have a lot to prove to the world. We were worried about the injury, but we are sure it will not be a problem during the March 1 battle. Paddy is locked down and training difficult under the watchful eye of coach Andy Lee.
Donovan has dedicated several of his recent fights to Pieta, using his boxing platform to promote the suicide prevention charity, which provides mental health services across Ireland. Paddy lost two relatives to suicide. The Pietra Crisis Helpline, at 1-800-247-247, offers crisis intervention support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or self-harm, as well as support for those grieving as a result of suicide.
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