For the first decade of commercial television, it was boxing - not NFL Football - that was the top sport on the tube. The Gillette Friday Night Fights were a staple of the small tube on NBC, as were the Pabst Blue Ribbon Wednesday Night Fights on CBS. THe Dumont Network ran regular cards from the St. Nicholas Arena and even the upstart ABC had the Muriel Cigar Fights on Saturday Nights.
Then came the deaths of Benny Kid Paret and Bobby Moore on TV and the outcry saw boxing reduced to an afterthought on television while profootball saw the NFL, then the AFL, rise dramatically in popularity. Todayu we have Fox, CBS, and NBC dividing the broadcast network pie with ESPN and the NFL Network complmenting with cable coverage. Boxing? Forget about it.
Now comes the brutality charges for the NFL, heightened by the Junior Seau suicide. The NFL is facing the same crossroads that boxing faced....will they do a better job of managing the outcome? Students of history are taking keen notice!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
BOXING REVIVAL IN LAS VEGAS TO INCLUDE NEW CLUB VENUE
Ever since the 1960's, Las Vegas has been considered the capital of boxing in the USA. From the great pro championships at the old Convention Center, and then the outdoor arena at Caesars Palace to the legendary club fights at the Silver Slipper to the outstanding amateur programs that gravitated to Vegas, the sports was ubiquitous in Sin City.
Now, of course, the unconscionable conflict of letting the Barry Boxing group be both promoter and regulator has all but killed off amateur boxing here while the costs of running a club fight have seen the regular pro boxing card literaly disappear. There are hundreds of quality boxers still in Las Vegas, but nowadays they spend their time punching bags and hoping for SOMETHING good to happen for the sport.
Now that seems to be taking shape. Right on the shadows of the Las Vegas strip, plans are being finalized for a small Silver Slipper style boxing club. The building is up, and the finishing touches begin shortly. By the fall, Las Vegas again will have an intimate club boxing venue here the fine fighters trainintg here can again be showcased.
Now, of course, the unconscionable conflict of letting the Barry Boxing group be both promoter and regulator has all but killed off amateur boxing here while the costs of running a club fight have seen the regular pro boxing card literaly disappear. There are hundreds of quality boxers still in Las Vegas, but nowadays they spend their time punching bags and hoping for SOMETHING good to happen for the sport.
Now that seems to be taking shape. Right on the shadows of the Las Vegas strip, plans are being finalized for a small Silver Slipper style boxing club. The building is up, and the finishing touches begin shortly. By the fall, Las Vegas again will have an intimate club boxing venue here the fine fighters trainintg here can again be showcased.
Monday, March 26, 2012
FORMER BOXING ILLUSTRATED OWNER AND EDITOR BERT SUGAR HAS DIED
Legendary boxing personaliy and historian Bert Sugar has passed away from lung cancer and a heart attack. He was 74 years old.
Bert Sugar was perhaps the best known boxing personality in the sport other than Muhammad Ali and maybe Mike Tyson. His signature fedora graced many a championship fight and many movies.
Bert once owned Boxing Illustrated from 1969-73. He later owned Ring Magazine. After his Ring Magazine stint, he returned to Boxing Illusrated as it's editor.
We are proud and honored to have had Bert Sugar as a part of this history of Boxing Illustrated.
The squared circle is a better place for his timeless contributions.
Legendary boxing personaliy and historian Bert Sugar has passed away from lung cancer and a heart attack. He was 74 years old.
Bert Sugar was perhaps the best known boxing personality in the sport other than Muhammad Ali and maybe Mike Tyson. His signature fedora graced many a championship fight and many movies.
Bert once owned Boxing Illustrated from 1969-73. He later owned Ring Magazine. After his Ring Magazine stint, he returned to Boxing Illusrated as it's editor.
We are proud and honored to have had Bert Sugar as a part of this history of Boxing Illustrated.
The squared circle is a better place for his timeless contributions.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
LOOK OUT....HERE COMES THE NEW MIKE TYSON.....AND IT'S A WOMAN!
Only once in a generation comes a boxer who can change the face of the sport. Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, and Mike Tyson all share that distinction. Each came along with an aura and a talent that transcended boxing and made the sport socially relevant.
Now comes the first woman to try to crash this exclusive club. Her name is Maricela Cornejo, a 5'10" , 165 lb. super middleweight. Discovered in the Hall of Famers (Freddie Roach) boxing gym Wild Card was where she fell in love with that boxing "stank". She then ran into Gil Martinez while training in Vegas and made the move from Hollywood to the boxing capital Las Vegas. She says it's been the best decision and has learned SO much from the famous Gil Martinez. He knows his craft and can explain the reason behind every punch u throw.
She has been so impressive in her first two amateur fights, both first round demolitions, that there isn't a 165 lb women in USA Boxing now willing to fight her.
Did I mention that she is also a movie star, TV star, and appears in TV ads for Chili Beer? This is a woman that looks like Ava Gardner and hits like Earnie Shavers!
Get ready, world, for Maricela Cornejo. Martinez is currently scouring the country for amateur opponents so she can work on her skills, but if not she may need to just turn pro and get the party started!
Only once in a generation comes a boxer who can change the face of the sport. Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, and Mike Tyson all share that distinction. Each came along with an aura and a talent that transcended boxing and made the sport socially relevant.
Now comes the first woman to try to crash this exclusive club. Her name is Maricela Cornejo, a 5'10" , 165 lb. super middleweight. Discovered in the Hall of Famers (Freddie Roach) boxing gym Wild Card was where she fell in love with that boxing "stank". She then ran into Gil Martinez while training in Vegas and made the move from Hollywood to the boxing capital Las Vegas. She says it's been the best decision and has learned SO much from the famous Gil Martinez. He knows his craft and can explain the reason behind every punch u throw.
She has been so impressive in her first two amateur fights, both first round demolitions, that there isn't a 165 lb women in USA Boxing now willing to fight her.
Did I mention that she is also a movie star, TV star, and appears in TV ads for Chili Beer? This is a woman that looks like Ava Gardner and hits like Earnie Shavers!
Get ready, world, for Maricela Cornejo. Martinez is currently scouring the country for amateur opponents so she can work on her skills, but if not she may need to just turn pro and get the party started!
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