This Week in Boxing History
This Week in Boxing History
TWIBH: May 21, 1966 — Ali vs. Cooper II
Looking back, it’s easy to forget that until the early 70s and his wars with Frazier, Bonavena, Norton and Foreman, many seriously questioned the toughness of Muhammad Ali. Now rightfully included on any list of the best ...
This Week in Boxing History
TWIBH: April 23, 1977 — Zárate vs. Zamora
The two best boxers in the 118 lb. class, Carlos ‘Cañas’ Zárate and Alfonso ‘El Toro’ Zamora were both tremendous punchers, both undefeated, both champions, and both Mexican. Obviously, a showdown was inevitable. It was a match...
This Week in Boxing History
TWIBH: April 19, 1991 — Holyfield vs. Foreman, Pt. 2
“The Battle of the Ages” was not a fight that inspired people to take sides. Most understood that Evander Holyfield, undefeated, 14 years younger, and a 4 to 1 betting favourite, was likely to win. So what inspired ...
This Week in Boxing History
TWIBH: April 19, 1991 — Holyfield vs. Foreman, Pt. 1
When news came in 1987 that former heavyweight champion of the world George Foreman, who had retired almost a decade before to become an evangelical pastor, intended to embark on a wholly unexpected and unlikely return to prize...
This Week in Boxing History
TWIBH: April 12, 1964 — Pastrano vs. Peralta II
To say light-heavyweight champion Willie Pastrano was not the most enthusiastic or Spartan-like of athletes is a bit of an understatement. According to his trainer, Angelo Dundee, Pastrano’s habitual words as he headed in...
This Week in Boxing History
TWIBH: April 5, 1915 — Willard vs. Johnson
It is not for nothing that the late boxing scribe Jimmy Cannon called boxing “the red light district of sports.” At different times in its history boxing has been the victim of corruption and fixed fights and over t...
This Week in Boxing History
TWIBH: March 26, 1974 – Foreman vs. Norton, Part 2
In the opening round, Forman stalked a circling Norton. After some tentative jabbing from both fighters, Big George, effectively cutting off the ring, backed Norton to the ropes where he let loose with his heavy artillery. Watc...
This Week in Boxing History
TWIBH: March 26, 1974 – Foreman vs. Norton, Part 1
On March 31, 1973, unheralded heavyweight contender Ken Norton, a 5-to-1 underdog, outpointed Muhammad Ali to score a huge upset. Seven months later, Ali avenged the loss with a close decision victory of his own. The loss did n...
This Week in Boxing History
TWIBH: March 17, 1990 — Chávez vs. Taylor I, Part 2
Then came the finale, a finish as dramatic and controversial as any in the long history of the sport. The sequence transpiring in the bout’s dying seconds was a direct result of the pounding Taylor had absorbed, punishmen...
This Week in Boxing History
TWIBH: March 17, 1990 — Chávez vs. Taylor I, Part 1
Few high-profile boxing matches fully live up to the expectations aroused when initially announced, and even rarer are the ones that surpass them. But only a handful completely blow away all preconceived conjectures, and in doi...