THE YEAR THAT WAS - 50 MOST POWERFUL
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
50 MOST POWERFUL
Ranking the most influential figures in boxing today
JANUARY 7 2021 THE WORLD’S BEST FIGHT MAGAZINE EST. 1909
WWW.BOXINGNEWSONLINE .NET
THE
YEAR THAT
WAS Crowning the best
fights and fighters of an
unforgettable 2020
£3.99 VOL. 77 NO. 01
BRITISH & WORLD RATINGS / STEVE BUNCE’S CRYSTAL BALL / FRANKIE RANDALL
SUBSCRIBE TO BOXING NEWS PRESENTS
Six brand new bi-monthly 100-page souvenir GREAT REASONS TO SUBSCRIBE
bookazines from the award-winning Boxing News
Receive all six issues straight to your door
team. We started with the Muhammad Ali vs Joe
PLUS your FREE Ali-Frazier cult t-shirt
Frazier special. The second edition brings you
worth £24.99! Pay just £40.94 by annual
27 exclusive interviews with legends including
DD – saving 15% on the cover price.
Hagler, Leonard, Foreman, Ali and Holyfield.
ORDER TODAY
Call 01959 543 747 & quote: BXPTM for size medium, BXPTL
for large or BXPTXL for x-large. Visit: shop.kelsey.co.uk/BXPTM
free
cult t-shirt worth
£24.99!
Alternatively, to only order the Ali-Frazier bookazine for £7.99, visit shop.kelsey.co.uk/BXP1
*UK Direct Debit offer only, available until September 30, 2020. No cancellations within the first 12 months. Gifts are subject to availability and if the
product goes out of stock an alternative product will be offered at a similar value. Colour of t-shirt may differ from photograph. Discounts are calculated
on the full cover price. For overseas and UK credit/debit card offers, visit our website at shop.kelsey.co.uk. For digital subscriptions, visit shop.kelsey.
co.uk/boxingnews. Calls charged at your local network rate. Order lines open 8.30am-5.30pm, Monday-Friday. Full T&Cs can be found at shop.kelsey.
co.uk/terms. Kelsey Publishing takes your privacy seriously and will only use your personal information to administer your account and to provide the
products and services you have requested from us. We will only contact you about our special offers via the preferences you will indicate when ordering
and you can update these at any time by emailing us at cs@kelsey.co.uk or by calling us on 01959 543 747.
Contents January 7, 2021
12 FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Which boxing star shone the brightest in 2020?
REVIEW OF THE YEAR HIGHLIGHTS
>> 14 FIGHT OF THE YEAR
14 >> 5 JOHN SCULLY
There were some captivating contests Sorting out the sanctioning bodies
and thrilling tussles to choose from
>> 8 STEVE BUNCE
>> 16 WOMEN’S BOXING Time to dust off the old crystal ball
Selecting the best fighters and fights
>> 10 BOXING MEDIA
>> 18 KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR Reviewing the previous 12 months
Who scored the most sensational KO?
>> 26 THE POWER LIST
>> 20 EVENT OF THE YEAR The 50 most influential figures in boxing
Standout shows and blockbuster bills
>> 34 WORLD RATINGS
>> 22 PROSPECT OF THE YEAR Ranking the top boxers on the planet
Knocking on the door of the big time
>> 36 BRITISH RATINGS
Every active fighter in Britain ranked
SAVE £££ WITH A SUBSCRIPTION >> 40 ROBERT McCRACKEN
For more details visit The impact of COVID on amateur boxing
WWW.BOXINGNEWSONLINE.NET/SUBSCRIPTIONS
>> 44 HISTORIC VENUES
The longest-established UK fight halls
>> 46 VLADIMIR SHISHKIN
The super-middle contender speaks
www.boxingnewsonline.net JANUARY 7, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 3
EDITOR’S LETTER
Photo: AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES
AMAZING: Time to
Randall stuns the
great Chavez
subscribe
l THERE are
numerous ways
to subscribe,
including
special offers.
l YOU can get a
print and online
Cover photography
AL BELLO, GETTY IMAGES, subscription
MIKEY WILLIAMS/TOP RANK, for £8.50 per
MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM &
ED MULHOLLAND/MATCHROOM
month (special
price available
until the end
of January), or
digital only for
just £4.99.
l FOR more
information
DON’T FORGET FRANKIE on all the
subscriptions
plus our special
bookazines,
The plight of Randall is all too common in the land of the ex-boxer please visit
www.shop.
kelsey.co.uk
LL around us are a tight split decision. It should have been Chavez, Juan Martin Coggi. He will be or call 01959-
boxers who used clear and unanimous. recognised for those accomplishments. 543-747.
A to be somebody.
Too often they’re
pushed to the side
because their broken
bodies do not suit
In the rematch, promoted by Don King,
Randall lost the WBC super-lightweight
title in exceptionally controversial
circumstances. The fight was stopped in
the eighth round and went to the cards
Everybody loved Frankie.
“We had fond memories in training
camp. He was a mechanic and liked to
work on cars. He loved to work with his
hands. His favorite saying was, ‘I love my
l THE next
issue will be
in shops on
January 14 and
the narrative we’re due to a cut over the Mexican’s right eye. job! I train because I love to do it.’ Even available to
trying to promote. Under absurd WBC rules, Randall lost a when he was in training camp for some of download on
We must not forget point despite the head-clash that caused his biggest fights he still wanted to work January 12.
them. the wound being confirmed as accidental. and just be around people. It’s just what he
Frankie Randall, The deduction resulted in Chavez, one of did, and he loved it.” The
the former world King’s cash cows, winning a technical split Randall, like so many, was addicted to Opening
Matt
champion who died decision. Randall would bounce back to fighting. In the end, as he passed away in Bell...
at the age of just twice win the WBA championship. But care home, there was not an ounce of fight
Christie 59 two days before several drugs like cocaine and theophylline left in him. Brain damaged and ravaged by l The Boxing
@MattCBoxingNews Christmas, was were found in his system after he beat Juan Parkinson’s, the fog thickened until there News podcast,
Editor among the sport’s Martin Coggi for the second time in three was no way out. available every
final casualties of bouts. But Randall, with his adoring family Wednesday
2020. The man who shocked the world Randall’s relationship with drugs close by, was one of the lucky ones. Too night, is
when he became the first to beat the great blighted his career. He was released from many end up alone and forgotten. As attracting
Julio Cesar Chavez in 1994 was getting prison in 1990 after serving 17 months we enter a new year, we must of course thousands of
beaten up time and again by the turn of on drug charges. Chavez himself would focus on the future. Rebuilding the sport listeners.
the century. Antonio Margarito stopped tumble into addiction as his own career after arguably the most difficult year in its l Every week
him in the year 2000 before fighters like dwindled. They would fight one last time. history remains a huge task. we tackle
Peter Manfredo and Marco Antonio In 2004, two deteriorating old men But think, too, of those fighters of the the biggest
Rubio used the old man’s name to pad with marketable names creaked their way past who still need our help and who gave subjects, ask
their records and his body to sharpen through 10 slow motion rounds in Mexico so much. Look at the long, long list of the difficult
their weapons. By the time he retired in City. Chavez, the less damaged of the two, fallen heroes in this week’s issue (pages 25 questions,
2005, aged 44, his record read 58-18-1 won the decision. Randall should not have to 27) and raise a glass to them all. preview and
(42). Thirteen of those losses occurred been anywhere near a ring by then. Old review, while
after 1999, with 10 of them coming inside and eroded boxers often need saving from l THIS week’s issue went to press on looking back
schedule. themselves. But the Morristown, Tennessee December 24. For those who do not through boxing
At his peak, “The Surgeon” was a resident loved to fight. have access to our website, we will catch history.
sublime and tenacious technician. Chavez “One thing we can remember is the up on the fights and news that occurred
was slowly slipping from his peak when great times,” his trainer Aaron Snowell told between then and now in the January 14 l Listen (& rate
Randall went to work on him. The 89-0-1 BoxingScene’s Jake Donovan. issue. Happy New Year, one and all. & subscribe) via
Mexican was dropped in the 11th, the first “He was in a lot of great fights and won Apple, Spotify
Follow us and keep up to date and all major
time he’d been put down in his career, a lot of great fights. Edwin Rosario [whom
before Frankie – a 15/1 underdog – won Randall split two bouts with], Julio Cesar @BoxingNewsED BoxingNewsOnline
4 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 7, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net
GUEST COLUMN
FIVE STEPS TO A BETTER SPORT
Photo: CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES
Each of the steps lead to one thing: Sorting out the sanctioning bodies
OR this column that needs to happen is that the four declare, “Oh boy! I’ve dreamed of outlined, my fourth wish is to ban the
my instructions major bodies, the WBC, IBF, WBA and being the interim champion ever introduction of any more sanctioning
F were quite
simple: If you
were granted
five wishes to
WBO, would have to actually follow
their own rules and guidelines to the
letter, regardless of what high-profile
promoter or boxer is trying to bend
since I was a kid!”
Furthermore, I’ve been in the
boxing game for almost 40 years and
I literally could not tell someone –
bodies. There’s no room, irrespective
of their intentions. Again, the room
for further confusion is zero.
Five: This one is also directed
at the governing bodies and
make the sport them. Better still, they all follow the even if my life depended on it – what
a better place same rules on everything, from drug these titles are and what they mean, athletic commissions: We have to
what would cheats to making the right fights. so I’m quite sure most fans don’t stop sanctioning fights like Floyd
they be and A sanctioning body can’t be a part- know either. Mayweather vs Conor McGregor.
why? time boss who sometimes looks the Three: In a similar vein, get rid of At least when Pete Rademacher
In truth, other way. There should be no grey Intercontinental, International, Youth challenged Floyd Patterson for the
you’d need that areas, only black and white. Same and USNBC titles. All too often some world heavyweight title back in his
many wishes rules for anyone and everyone in kid will win a youth title by defeating 1957 debut he was coming off a gold
John to sort out the the sport, from the lowest earning an opponent several years older than medal winning performance at the
Scully sanctioning mini-flyweight champion to the the cut off age of 23. Olympic Games the previous year.
Former world bodies. In many undefeated heavyweight champion of Intercontinental and International Although not an experienced
title challenger ways they hold the world. belts sound the same and, if you professional, he was a very capable
all the keys to Two: My second wish is that all break it down, they mean being boxer who had at least proven to
a better sport so my five steps to a spurious ‘world titles’ are abolished champion across several continents be the best amateur in the world.
better sport are all entwined to one immediately. That means no more or countries. Isn’t that the world? We Admittedly, it was far from ideal but
overriding aim: A serious overhaul of regular, super, silver, interim, gold, have too many of those titles already. Mayweather vs McGregor and the
the sanctioning bodies. franchise nonsense. There is not a People win a USNBC like are significantly worse.
One: The sanctioning bodies have young boxer anywhere on the face of championship, which I am If there was ever an instance in
generally lost control of the sport. this planet who lays awake at night understanding is some sort of the entire history of boxing that
The stronger promoters and most dreaming of becoming a champion “national title” here in America, yet clearly, positively, and embarrassingly
influential fighters have been running under any of those guises. virtually none of the guys who win illustrated that money has the power
rampant for years, getting around At no point over the next 200 years this belt then defend it in their weight to literally make rules and integrity
rules and sanctions and traditions will any boxer go on live television class. disappear it was the abhorrent
on a frequent basis. The first thing to tell the world after a title win and Four: Given all the confusion I’ve Mayweather-McGregor circus.
www.boxingnewsonline.net JANUARY 7, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 5
ON TWITTER ON FACEBOOK
@BoxingNewsED www.facebook.com/boxingnewsonline
LETTERS
LETTER OF THE WEEK
RESPECT OVER MONEY
WHEN we all look back on our rightly held. They ducked no one and He put it quite frankly, unlike a lot of the
respective careers, we won’t be whether they won or lost they are rightly other media. Worsell is just one of the
counting how much cash we loved by us boxing fans. great writers that feature in Boxing News.
have earned, but will want to look back Spence, for example, saying that he Personally, I thought that Tyson and
and say to ourselves (we hope) that doesn’t need Crawford as much as he Jones didn’t disgrace themselves, although
I was a bloody good estate agent, a great needs him will not be looked upon kindly there were clear signs that these guys
policeman etc. in years to come if the fight doesn’t aren’t the same as they used to be –
I’m pretty sure that 99 per cent of happen, as people will say, ‘Yeah, you as was to be expected.
boxers will want to look back on their were good, but you never fought him.’ There are now also rumours of Tyson
own careers and, importantly, will want Every time I think of Riddick Bowe, all carrying on and perhaps fighting Evander
the public to look back and say that they I think about is that he ducked Lewis and Holyfield. That would no doubt be hyped
fought the best of their era. That’s why threw his belt in the bin. up as a whole ‘Tyson-Holyfield III’ event.
Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence Jnr and Generally, a lot of boxers have huge Either that or Holyfield might fight Glenn
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua simply egos, and they will not want a blot on McCrory and Tyson might fight Shannon
have to happen. their copybook because they didn’t fight Briggs.
Fighters who cherry-pick their the ‘other’ best fighter in their division. This all makes me come back to the
opponents to gain an easy belt will not David Gibbs same question: Why? You guys have had
receive the same kudos as fighters who your careers – incredibly successful ones,
fight them all. You’ve only got to look TIME TO SIT BACK may I add – and now it’s time to sit back
at the esteem in which fighters like Julio I JUST wanted to say that I really enjoyed and watch the younger generation. Please ENOUGH:
Cesar Chavez, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Elliot Worsell’s article on the aftermath of stop this before someone gets seriously We should not
Lewis, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jnr ‘exhibition’. hurt. encourage
50-somethings to
Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns are I agreed with everything Worsell wrote. Calum Smith get in the ring
Photo: JOE SCARNICI/GETTY IMAGES/TRILLER
6 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 7, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net
ON INSTAGRAM EMAIL POST
boxingnewsonline bn.ed@kelsey.co.uk Boxing News Letters, Kelsey Media, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 6AL
10 COUNT
THE PANEL
NEW YEAR WISHES
Picking out 10 dream fights for 2021
WHAT WAS YOUR PERSONAL
1. TYSON FURY vs ANTHONY JOSHUA
BOXING HIGHLIGHT OF 2021? An all-British showdown for the ages. Fury and Joshua
sharing a ring, preferably at a packed-to-the-rafters
Wembley Stadium, would be a suitably fitting way to
crown an undisputed heavyweight king.
2. TERENCE CRAWFORD vs ERROL SPENCE JNR
Two of the most talented fighters on the planet,
awesome Americans Crawford and Spence between
them hold three-quarters of the welterweight crown.
Predicting the winner would be devilishly difficult.
Mike Tris Robert Matt 3. CANELO ALVAREZ vs BILLY JOE SAUNDERS
Costello Dixon Smith Christie The pound-for-pound supremo and a Mexican icon,
Canelo recently defeated Britain’s Callum Smith in
Award-winning Journalist, author General Boxing News
impressive fashion. A super-middleweight unification
commentator & podcaster Secretary, editor
bout with Smith’s countryman Saunders would be
The Tyson Fury- It’s always great BBB of C The moment Tyson
fascinating.
Deontay Wilder when new blood Simply getting Fury came to the
fight week in Las emerges but the sport up and ring on a throne 4. GERVONTA DAVIS vs SHAKUR STEVENSON
Vegas showed the arrival of running again singing along to Regarded as a potential P4P leader of the future,
that, with the Teofimo Lopez when for a while Crazy by Patsy former featherweight champ Stevenson is now looking
right characters was a real shot in it looked like we Cline ahead of his to make his mark at super-featherweight, where his
involved, the the arm for fight wouldn’t. In the Las Vegas rematch fellow American, the explosive Davis, is currently the
heavyweight fans after what end, the sport with Deontay main man.
division is still a was beginning achieved so much Wilder, you just
big deal in the to look like an in 2020. I’d like to knew he was about 5. JOSH TAYLOR vs JOSE RAMIREZ
USA. And Fury increasingly bleak thank all of our to do something With two belts each to their name at super-lightweight,
delivered on his year. inspectors and special. Nearly 10 Scottish star Taylor and US livewire Ramirez must face
pre-fight promise, officials for their months later, Sweet off for the undisputed title. Having just one recognised
just like Teofimo patience, and Caroline being champion in a division would be a welcome rarity.
Lopez later in year. thank my head sung by 1,000
Performances office staff from fans ahead of 6. ARTUR BETERBIEV vs DMITRY BIVOL
which would hold the bottom of my Joshua-Pulev was Cold, calm and calculated, Beterbiev and Bivol are
seemingly on a collision course, with the fearsome
up in any era. heart. special for different
Russian light-heavyweights holding three of the four
reasons.
titles in their weight category.
IF YOU HAD ONE WISH FOR THE 7. TEOFIMO LOPEZ vs DEVIN HANEY
Last year, Lopez scored a sensational victory over
SPORT IN 2021 WHAT WOULD IT BE? Vasiliy Lomachenko to earn undisputed status at
lightweight. A fight against Haney, a fellow precocious
American, would light up the sport.
Mike Tris Robert Matt
Costello Dixon Smith Christie 8. OLEKSANDR USYK vs JOE JOYCE
The return of For there to The last year has It has to be that After conquering the cruiserweight class, masterful
crowds. When be one world shown everyone Fury-Joshua is Ukrainian Usyk wants to do the same at heavyweight.
1,000 fans sang heavyweight in the sport can made and ideally But would his wizardry be enough to overcome the
Sweet Caroline champion but work together. in the UK. But unrelenting British “Juggernaut” that is Joyce?
at Joshua-Pulev it there to be more There have of the top of the
seemed to have than one world course been sport will look 9. GENNADY GOLOVKIN vs JERMALL CHARLO
a deeper impact heavyweight rivalries, and we after itself. It’s Still one of the most popular and exciting boxers
than usual. Dillian championship need those. But imperative that around, Kazakh veteran Golovkin rules the roost at
Whyte was with fight by the end of the sport must the many clubs middleweight, with Canelo currently operating at
continue to unite at grassroots super-middle. Could the USA’s Charlo, a fine athletic
us on BBC 5Live the year. Oh, and
specimen, unseat him from the throne?
and he said it as long as we’re and keep this level, the small
signalled a return asking, a global going. My one hall fighters and
10. JUAN FRANCISCO ESTRADA vs ROMAN GONZALEZ II
to normality. commission to wish would be promoters and, This is one dream contest that looks like it will become
Whatever the oversee and to get small hall of course, the reality this year. Mexico’s Estrada and Nicaraguan
fight, the drama adjudicate promotions up wonderful EBAs Gonzalez are pencilled in to renew hostilities in a clash
is heightened the sport’s and running again. up and down the of super-flyweight standouts in March.
immeasurably by shenanigans. country, are not
a crowd. forgotten.
www.boxingnewsonline.net JANUARY 7, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 7
THE BUNCE DIARIES
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
VISIONS
FOR 2021
I’ve got my HERE was once
a truly sad run
crystal ball at
the ready to
look ahead to
T of clairvoyant
shop fronts on
the Atlantic City
boardwalk, each
with dirty windows,
what is already bad lights and a
a fascinating woman hovering by
the door offering to
year tell you your future.
In the days
before Lennox
Steve Lewis and Andrew
Bunce Golota fought
@BigDaddyBunce
in 1997, I paid a
Voice of boxing Russian woman
10 dollars in one
of those fortune-telling palaces for the
result of the fight.
“Lets me see, honey,“ she told me
from her seat behind a curtain, as her
hands hovered with heat over her very
own crystal ball. “I see a big nights for
the Polish mans. He is winners.” Thanks
for that, her prediction lasted longer
than the 95-second fight.
Poor Golota looked so shocked that
night that I did wonder if he went to
see the same woman. It was a look that
never left Golota’s face after that fight.
Anyway, I have 10 bucks to waste on
a bit of gazing. And not all of it will be
fun and in many ways that is the very
essence of our business – not all of it
will be fun, I like that.
In the middle of the fairy tales,
nightmares, lies, double-crosses, failings,
blood and guts there will be great fights.
Not much of a prediction, I know, but
let me explain my thinking and in no
particular order.
We will see Joshua Buatsi tested,
we will watch Joe Joyce start as an
underdog again, we will see the British
super-welterweights write some new jobs, the British women will have a hard become a regular sight in our sacred
history, if the Olympics collapse then year fighting each other early in their British rings. It is not a good look, trust
the invasion of the 30 or more GB careers and plenty will lose, but bounce me.
boxers will bloat our business. And the back better; the move is a side-effect Liam Williams will get his chance,
invasion will give us real champions of both Covid restrictions on importing Amir Khan is not finished, Hughie Fury
from early 2023 – the squads are hopeless victims and the lack of depth. will have to take another hard fight,
exceptional. It is, I admit, not fair, but it will help the more fighters will leave their trainers,
More unbeaten prospects will get women’s sport. Women crawling away loyalty will diminish and a massive
exposed by men with real jobs and just on their hands and knees after copping defection will rock the sport. There will
enough ambition to overcome the hype for a single right hand must never be talk of disloyalty, of a fighter being
8 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 7, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net
BOMBS AWAY:
Lewis makes quick
work of Golota and a
mockery of certain
predictions
My crystal ball is glowing red hot
right now, but I have more.
We will wait for Callum Smith to
mend before his inevitable move up,
for Daniel Dubois to get a doctor’s
clearance to fight again and for Anthony
Yarde to get his hunger back and agree,
with his head slightly bowed, to a
rematch with Lyndon Arthur. Is Lyndon
Arthur the most Seventies fighter we
have at the moment? I think he is, look
at his movement, his style – he looks
like a contender from 1978. I’m not sure
all of those things will happen.
Felix Cash against Denzel Bentley
would be nice for two titles. I still want
Conor Benn against Chris Jenkins for the
British title. I know that Nigel believes
Conor has gone beyond the British, but
I disagree. I like the fringe welters, really
like the fighters. And don’t even get me
started on the super-featherweights
– that’s a tournament and not just a
promotional collaboration.
So, back to Atlantic City and the
morning after Lewis beat Golota I
was having breakfast with ringside
photographer Mick Brennan (Mick’s
new book of boxing photographs, They
Must Fall, is quite brilliant). The waitress
shuffled over. She looked familiar; she
was my personal mystic. I told Brennan
and he shook his head. “You paid her
10 bucks?” She arrived and asked what
we wanted? And with perfect timing
Brennan said: “You tell me, you’re
the clairvoyant!” It was not the best
breakfast.
The memory of that Atlantic City
fortune teller reminds me of the great
Romark’s role in the fall of Richard
Dunn against Muhammad Ali in 1976.
Brennan has a beautiful picture of Dunn
outside the boxer’s hotel in Scarborough
in the book.
Big Richard needed a bit of help to
beat Ali and Romark, a man adored
at the time by the tabloids in Britain,
was sent to Munich with his wizardry.
Romark had dubious magic powers and
put a spell on Ali and anointed Dunn’s
fists. “I have seen Richard’s victory,” he
told the press before the fight. When it
was over, a distraught Romark went to
ungrateful, but somewhere, somehow the experienced ones, remain convinced comfort Dunn.
the voice of Mickey Duff will settle the they can train themselves. That is tricky “Richard, I let you down,” Romark
argument: “If you want loyalty, get a and not true. There will be some conflict said. “I made your fists turn into iron –
dog.” That axiom lives in any year. in the growing debate about just what but I forgot about your chin.” Dunn had
And there will be more strength and qualifies a man or woman to be able been down five times. They were the
conditioning coaches elevated from to take control of a training camp and last knockdowns of Ali’s career and the
delivering date shakes and timing the the corner on the night of a big fight. last time Romark helped a boxer.
interval sprints, to taking control of It seems that money is a factor, which I never got an apology from my
seasoned boxers in important fights. It even by our crazy standards seems both egg-serving fortune-teller and I made
is accepted now and fighters, especially dumb and dangerous. Brennan leave a big tip.
www.boxingnewsonline.net JANUARY 7, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 9
BOXING MEDIA REVIEW Examining the best and worst
of the sport’s weekly coverage
George Gigney’s
EVER-CHANGING
review of the boxing
media in 2020
impressive schedules despite the had no live sport to show and reports
BROADCASTS circumstances, with fights like Gervonta emerged that they were on the hunt for
Davis vs Leo Santa Cruz and Jermall funding to keep themselves afloat, while
TWENTY-TWENTY hasn’t been much Charlo vs Sergey Derevyanchenko also notifying organisations they held
fun, but it has been revealing. We began standing out. rights to that they would be paying less.
the year strong, with Tyson Fury and It was also a tumultuous year for Things looked bleak.
Deontay Wilder squaring off for a second DAZN. At the beginning of the year the Those problems began to worsen
time in February and Fury turning in a streaming service released impressive when it emerged Canelo Alvarez,
career-best performance. It earned solid figures for 2019, reaching tens of millions boxing’s brightest star, was seeking to
pay-per-view numbers in the US and of viewers. Early in 2020, they announced end his record-breaking contract with
saw BT Sport move into the PPV sphere plans to launch globally – including in the streaming service. An ugly court
in the UK as a legitimate operator and the UK. Then the pandemic hit. DAZN battle seemed inevitable, and while this
competitor to Sky Sports. Photo: MIKEY WILLIAMS/TOP RANK
Of course, a month later, everything
changed. Lockdowns were announced
worldwide in response to the Covid-19
pandemic and boxing, along with all
other sports, was put on hold. Major
fight cards were scrapped or postponed,
including Daniel Dubois vs Joe Joyce,
Canelo Alvarez’ next fight, Vasyl
Lomachenko vs Teofimo Lopez and a
third Fury-Wilder fight. At the time, no
one knew how things would pan out.
Then, in late April, an otherwise
nondescript show in Nicaragua was held
with relevant safety measures in place.
The UFC had made plans to stage fight
cards on ‘Fight Island.’ Suddenly, there
was hope.
What followed in boxing, as in other
sports, was a display of perseverance,
adaptability and courage. Top Rank led
the charge, holding a couple of events
in June in the US, airing on ESPN. Frank
Warren followed suit in the UK with a
lengthy series of weekly cards on BT
Sport, while Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom
also kicked off their outdoors ‘Fight
Camp’ series of shows on Sky Sports.
There were, of course, teething
problems - no crowds meant a
diminished atmosphere and broadcasters
piped in canned audience noise, which
was just weird and quickly scrapped.
Gaps in between fights were longer to
allow for the ring to be properly cleaned.
There were, by virtue of government
rules, less fights on each card. Yet still,
boxing was back, and we were treated to
some excellent fights.
Boxing had shown an uncharacteristic
ability to roll with the punches and
adapt to the times. However, there have
obviously been casualties over the past
year. Smaller promoters have struggled,
and still are. While some have found
success streaming on YouTube, countless
others have not been able to stage shows
without crowds.
In the US, Showtime and FOX unveiled
10 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 7, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.netWORLD would have been equally damaging for Ultimately, boxing can be proud
the flame-haired Mexican, DAZN were of how it responded to a hellish year. PODCASTS
clearly not shaking up the game the way Broadcasters, promoters, fighters,
they had intended. Before the year was managers, trainers and more all worked Naturally, most boxing podcasts
out, however, the dispute was settled as hard as they could to keep the predominantly focus on weekly news and
outside of court and Canelo ended up sport alive and kicking under torrid action, meaning for significant chunks of
fighting on DAZN in December, when the circumstances. The work, of course, 2020 they’ve had to switch things up. The
service finally rolled out globally. continues but there is now a clear Five Live with Costello and Bunce pod did
WHAT A As we move into 2021 they seem blueprint on how to operate with these this particularly well, with their ‘Greatest
PERFORMANCE: to be on sturdier footing, but in these restrictions in place. Fights’ series looking back on historic
Lopez outboxes
and outsmarts
unpredictable times there’s no telling clashes with prominent names on the
Lomachenko how long that ground will hold. show like Sugar Ray Leonard, Ricky Hatton,
Evander Holyfield and David Haye.
When it comes to looking back on
past fights, Costello and Bunce are two of
the best around and the content they’ve
produced this year has been excellent.
Similarly, Tris Dixon’s Boxing Life
Stories has also been a potent tonic to
everything that’s going on around us.
Lengthy interviews with prominent - and
some lesser known - names in boxing,
looking back on their careers and
experiences, makes for gripping listening.
Standout episodes are those with Duke
McKenzie, Mikkel Kessler and Nicky
Piper.
There’s obviously been plenty of action
to respond to as well, and pods like The
Fight Disciples and Morning Kombat
with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell
have been entertaining to follow -
both include plenty of personality and
humour. And, of course, there was a
welcome return for The Opening Bell –
the Boxing News podcast.
YOUTUBE
What has been noticeable this year
is how some prominent fighters - such
as Oleksandr Usyk, Vasyl Lomachenko
and Anthony Joshua - are pivoting to
their own YouTube channels to release
interviews. Sitting down with a member
of their team, or sometimes just to
camera, they’re controlling their own
narrative and speaking on what they
want to speak on. It’s by no means a sea
change in how content is created, but
it’s worth keeping an eye on, especially if
more fighters follow suit.
Channels like IFL, Boxing Social and
Seconds Out have continued to produce
mountains of interviews, many of which
have had to take place over video calls
this year. Plenty of these exclusives have
broken important news, and YouTube
continues to be one of the key avenues
of boxing figures getting the word out.
www.boxingnewsonline.net JANUARY 7, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 11REVIEW YEAR 2020
14 FIGHT OF THE YEAR 16 FEMALE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR 18-23 KO, UPSET, EVENT, PROSPECT AND COMEBACK
Despite 2020 being a truncated year, these boxers certainly made their mark
ALEXANDER PETCHMANEE JERMELL
10 POVETKIN
Like the majority on this list,
the Russian only had one fight
9 CP FRESHMART
Petchmanee scored three wins
before upsetting the long-
8 CHARLO
Jermell needed a big showing
against live underdog Jeison
in 2020 but what an impact he, and that left unbeaten Wanheng Meenayothin for the WBC Rosario and he got it, winning in eight rounds
uppercut of his, made on Dillian Whyte. strawweight title via 12-round decision. to unify the WBC, WBA and IBF 154lb titles.
1. TYSON FURY
2. JOE JOYCE
3. LYNDON ARTHUR
4. MAXI HUGHES
5. JAZZA DICKENS
6. ANTHONY JOSHUA
7. GAMAL YAFAI
8. BRAD FOSTER ERROL MAIRIS
9. TED CHEESEMAN
10. CONOR BENN
7 SPENCE JNR
A triumphant return to dominate
Danny Garcia over 12 rounds.
6 BRIEDIS
Defeated Yuniel Dorticos to
prove he was the best at crusier.
12 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 7, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.netGERVONTA DAVIS ROMAN GONZALEZ CANELO ALVAREZ
5 Goodness gracious, what a finish
to his excellent matchup with Leo 4 A return to form in 2020 for one
of the best fighters of the century. 3 For so long it looked like the
sport’s premier fighter would not
Santa Cruz. The manner in which He stopped Kal Yafai in nine compete in 2020. But he returned
“Tank” detonated the final left hand bomb was rounds to win the WBA super-flyweight belt in December with one of the best showings of
boxing at it’s most skilful - and devastating. before beating Israel Gonzalez over 12 rounds. his career to dominate brave Callum Smith.
1
TEOFIMO
LOPEZ
Hard to look
past Lopez
when it comes
to number one.
He shocked
almost everyone
by cruising
through the first
eight rounds
against Vasiliy
Lomachenko,
boxing
beautifully
and brilliantly,
before winning
a deserved
TYSON FURY decision to unify
2 Before Coronavirus took hold
of the world, Fury obliterated
Deontay Wilder in a stunning Las
the lightweight
division. Bravo,
Teofimo, just
Vegas exhibition. The manner of his victory was bravo.
an ominous sign for the rest of the division.
www.boxingnewsonline.net JANUARY 7, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 132020 REVIEW
There were not as many bouts as usual this year, but there were still some crackers
JERMALL CHARLO SAMIR ZIANI w rsf 12 ADAM LOPEZ
10 w pts 12 SERGIY
DEREVYANCHENKO
Exciting stuff at Mohegan Sun
9 ALEX DILMAGHANI
With the EBU super-featherweight
title on the line, Ziani and
8 w pts 10 LUIS CORIA
Back in June, inside The Bubble
at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas,
Casino in Uncasville as Charlo took the best Dilmaghani went hell-for-leather. Something Lopez finished his thriller with Coria nursing
Derevyanchenko could muster en route to had to give and in the end it was the Brit, who damage to both eyes but he was a worthy
winning a 12-round decision. should have been rescued sooner. winner after 10 give-and-take rounds.
1. POVETKIN-WHYTE
2. CHEESEMAN-EGGINGTON
3. ZIANI-DILMAGHANI
4. TAYLOR-TETLEY
5. JOYCE-DUBOIS
6. BENTLEY-HEFFRON
7. JUMAH-HYDE
TED CHEESEMAN w pts 12 ALEXANDER POVETKIN
8. MAXWELL-HUGHES
9. McKENNA-MIMOUNE 7 SAM EGGINGTON
It was great to watch Ted
Cheeseman and Sam Eggington
6 w rsf 5 DILLIAN WHYTE
Oh, the drama! Whyte looked
to be on his way to a stoppage
10. DIGNUM-MELI as they engaged in furious warfare at the start victory over an old Povetkin, dropping him
of Matchroom Fight Camp. It was a scrap that twice in the fourth, until the veteran suddenly
reminded everyone how special boxing is. knocked the favourite cold in the fifth.
14 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 7, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.netMURODJON AKHMADALIEV GERVONTA DAVIS
5 W PTS 12 DANIEL ROMAN
In a delightfully-matched battle for the WBA & IBF super-
bantamweight titles, Akhmadaliev got the better of Roman.
4 W KO 6 LEO SANTA CRUZ
The final blow will rightly define this bout but there was
quality aplenty from both before Davis put the lights out.
3. MASAYOSHI NAKATANI JUAN FRANCISCO ESTRADA
3 w rsf 9 FELIX VERDEJO
A late entry into the reckoning but what a battle as Nakatani 2 w rsf 11 CARLOS CUADRAS
So much quality, so much excitement, as WBC super-
overcame the favoured Verdejo in scintilating humdinger. flyweight champion Estrada defeated Cuadras in Mexico.
1
1. JOSE ZEPEDA
w ko 5 IVAN
BARANCHYK
What else could it
be? Knockdowns
galore in the
kind of fight that
deserves to go
down in history as
one of the best,
pandemic or no
pandemic. The
finish, which saw
Zepeda iron out
Baranchyk, will live
long in the memory
too.
www.boxingnewsonline.net JANUARY 7, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 152020 REVIEW
These boxers excelled during a groundbreaking year for women’s boxing
5 4
CLARESSA SHIELDS MIKAELA MAYER
Shields hinted at the Maker was due to be
end of the year that one of the first leading
she might be done with fighters to compete
boxing. That would be after the worldwide
a shame, particularly lockdown but a positive
with Savannah Marshall Covid test ruled her out
looming. While defeating in June. Subsequent
Ivana Habazin, “T-Rex” 10-round points wins
oozed quality as she won over Helen Joseph
world belts in her third and Ewa Brodnicka
weight class, picking up (to win the WBO
the vacant WBC and super-featherweight
WBO super-welterweight championship)
titles via a lopsided and highlighted the 2016
unanimous 10-round Olympian’s class.
decision.
3 2
TERRI HARPER JESSICA McCASKILL
A breakout year for the In one of the biggest
inspirational Harper. shocks of the year, in
She claimed the WBC both male and female
super-featherweight boxing, McCaskill ended
title with a dominant the long and decorated
win over the solid Eva unbeaten run of Cecilia
Wahlstrom in February Braekhus to capture the
and was favoured to WBC, WBA, IBF and
beat Natasha Jonas in WBO welterweight titles.
her first defence. Perhaps McCaskill had previously
fortunate to get the been juggling a day job
draw in that one, though with being a fighter but
it was unquestionably this victory could set up
close, she bounced back a lucrative rematch with
magnificently to halt Katie Taylor in 2021.
Katharina Thanderz in
nine rounds.
16 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 7, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net1
KATIE TAYLOR
The supreme Taylor came
through another gruelling
10-rounder with the
dogged Delfine Persoon,
in an August rematch
she didn’t have to take,
before dominating Miriam
Gutierrez in a bout that
attracted 2m viewers.
1. TERRI HARPER
2. SAVANNAH MARSHALL
3. CHANTELLE CAMERON
4. NATASHA JONAS
5. RACHEL BALL
Competition continues to grow in
women’s boxing. Here we list the
standout scraps from 2020
3. ELIN CEDERROOS w pts 10
ALICIA NAPOLEON-ESPINOSA
WBA & IBF female super-middleweight titles –
Ocean Resort Casino, Atlantic City, NJ
2. KATIE TAYLOR w pts 10
DELFINE PERSOON
WBC & WBA & IBF & WBO female lightweight
titles – Matchroom Fight Camp, Brentwood
1. TERRI HARPER d pts 10
NATASHA JONAS
WBC female super-featherweight title –
Matchroom Fight Camp, Brentwood
BRITISH FEMALE FIGHT OF THE YEAR
1. Terri Harper d pts 10 Natasha Jonas
2. Katie Taylor w pts 10 Delfine Persoon
3. Rachel Ball w pts 8 Shannon Courtenay
www.boxingnewsonline.net JANUARY 7, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 172020 REVIEW
Photo: SEAN MICHAEL HAM/MAYWEATHER PROMOTIONS
Gervonta Davis’ inch-perfect left uppercut that
drove through the point of Leo Santa Cruz’s chin and
caused him to collapse on his back in San Antonio,
Texas.
Claressa Shields becoming a three-weight world champion in just 10 fights – quicker than any other male or female
fighter in history; Various figures raising money towards the Ringside Rest and Care Home for ex-boxers;
18 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 7, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.netHONOURABLE MENTIONS that poleaxed Eric Donovan in Brentwood;
ALEXANDER POVETKIN’S ruinous left The massive right cross from Joe Smith
uppercut that turned out Dillian Whyte’s Jnr, followed up by a stiff short left, that
lights in Brentwood; Jose Zepeda’s sent Eleider Alvarez sprawling through
shuddering left hand that brutally KO’d Ivan the ropes in Las Vegas; Filip Hrgovic’s right
Baranchyk in Las Vegas; The cannoning hand over the top that completely clattered
Photo: MIKEY WILLIAMS/TOP RANK
right cross from Anthony Joshua that Alexandre Kartozia in Struer, Denmark;
sent Kubrat Pulev down for the count The thumping overhand right from Robin
in Wembley [below]; Eleider Alvarez’s Krasniqi that left Dominic Boesel flat
right hand that connected full force on on the floor in Magdeburg, Germany;
Michael Seals in Verona, New York; Ryan Tommy Fury’s tremendous right uppercut,
Garcia’s short left hook that sent Francisco supplemented by a rapid three-shot burst,
Fonseca crashing on his back in Anaheim, that deposited Genadij Krajevskij onto
California; Damian Chambers’ right hand, the canvas in Stratford; The clattering
bang on the button, that wiped out James left hook-right hook combo from Fabio
Farrell in Liverpool; Felix Verdejo’s right Wardley that wrecked Richard Lartey
hook-left uppercut-right hook combination in Wembley; Shannon Courtenay’s
that dropped Will Madera to the mat, spectacular right cross that twisted Dorota
with his right leg folded awkwardly beneath Norek off her feet and flung her into the
him; The perfectly timed right hand from ropes in Wembley; Roman Gonzalez’s
Dalton Smith that felled Nathan Bennett booming right hand upstairs that caused
in Brentwood; Joe George’s cracking left Kal Yafai to crash hard on his back in
uppercut that decked Marcos Escudero in Frisco, Texas; The powerful right from River
dramatic fashion in Uncasville, Connecticut; Wilson-Bent that short-circuited Troy
The hellacious left hook from Zelfa Barrett Coleman in Redditch.
Photo: DAVE THOMPSON/MATCHROOM
TEOFIMO LOPEZ w pts 12
VASILIY LOMACHENKO
LOPEZ told everyone what was going to
happen, but there were not many out
there who believed him. Nevertheless, he
proved the doubters wrong by solving the
Lomachenko conundrum – and in style.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Jessica McCaskill w pts 10 Cecilia Braekhus;
Jeison Rosario w rsf 5 Julian Williams;
Alexander Povetkin w rsf 5 Dillian
Whyte; Petchmanee CP Freshmart w
pts 12 Wanheng Meenayothin; Roamer
Alexis Angulo w pts 10 Anthony Sims Jnr;
Petros Ananyan w pts 10 Subriel Matias;
Jono Carroll w rsf 11 Scott Quigg; Robert
Helenius w rsf 4 Adam Kownacki; Mike
Plania w pts 10 Joshua Greer Jnr; Joshua
Franco w pts 12 Andrew Moloney; Maxi
Hughes w pts 10 Jono Carroll; Mario
Abel Cazares w td 6 Julio Cesar Chavez
Jnr; Robin Krasniqi w ko 3 Dominic
Boesel; Marc Leach w pts 10 Qais Ashfaq;
Rylan Charlton w ko 3 Joe Laws; Damian
Bonelli w pts 6 Derrieck Cuevas; Rosendo
Hugo Guarneros w rtd 8 Tommy Frank;
Masayoshi Nakatani w rsf 9 Felix Verdejo;
Ionut Baluta w pts 8 TJ Doheny; Lourdes
Juarez w pts 10 Guadalupe Martinez
Guzman; Tomoko Okuda w td 6 Miyo
Yoshida; Antonio Louis Hernandez w rsf
4 Destyne Butler; Carlos Gongora w ko 12
Ali Akhmedov.
Boxing paramedic Ged Carroll being on the frontline during the coronavirus pandemic; Joseph Parker providing some much-needed comic relief during
the COVID-19-enforced lockdown with his humorous social media videos; Viddal Riley engaging in impressive work with the Teenage Cancer Trust;
www.boxingnewsonline.net JANUARY 7, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 192020 REVIEW
Photo: AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES
RETIREMENTS IN 2020
Scott Cardle; Frankie Gavin; Thomas
Stalker; Tommy Coyle; William
Warburton; Lee Haskins; Scott Quigg;
Johnny Garton; Oleksandr Gvozdyk;
Danny Williams; Jeff Thomas; Juan
Manuel Lopez; Dave Allen; Tom Little;
Francisco Santana; Ashley Theophane.
Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury II
Before the coronavirus pandemic caused a sporting
shutdown, Wilder and Fury renewed hostilities in a hugely
anticipated Las Vegas rematch. Wilder entered the ring as
the WBC heavyweight champion, but it was Fury who left
with the belt after an emphatic victory.
Joe Smith Jnr; Maxi Hughes [below]; Ionut HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Baluta; Petros Ananyan; Vladimir Hernandez; Callum Smith-Canelo Alvarez; Vasiliy Lomachenko-Teofimo Lopez; Jermall Charlo-
Robeisy Ramirez; Brad Foster; Joseph Diaz; Sergiy Derevyanchenko & Jeison Rosario-Jermell Charlo (Charlo doubleheader); Leo
Joshua Franco; Robin Krasniqi; Conor Benn; Santa Cruz-Gervonta Davis; Sam Eggington-Ted Cheeseman (Matchroom Fight Camp
Umar Sadiq; Isaac Avelar; Germaine Brown; I); Dillian Whyte-Alexander Povetkin (Matchroom Fight Camp IV); Daniel Dubois-Joe
Rylan Charlton; Craig Richards; Jordan Gill; Sam Joyce; Anthony Joshua-Kubrat Pulev; Tommy Frank-Rosendo Hugo Guarneros (Dennis
Maxwell; Lewis Crocker; Katelynn Phelan; Isaac Hobson’s drive-in boxing show).
Cruz Gonzalez; Arslan Magomedov; Rachel Ball;
Denzel Bentley; Fabio Wardley; Liam Davies;
Petchmanee CP Freshmart; Lourdes Juarez;
Gamal Yafai; Chris Bourke; Sebastian Fundora;
Tomoko Okuda; Damian Bonelli.
Photo: SCOTT RAWSTHORNE
Ed Harrison; Stu Greener; Nathan Hardy;
Alexander Zeledon; Chris Jenkinson.
Vince McNally being awarded an MBE for services to the community in Hereford; Colin Jones being awarded an MBE for services to boxing in Wales;
20 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 7, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.netDRUG CONTROVERSIES
Alexander Besputin; Yves Ngabu;
Alejandra Jimenez; Jarrell Miller.
Jay Harris, face bloodied and swollen, putting
in a valiant effort on foreign soil against
Julio Cesar Martinez in his first step up to
world class; The marked-up Dec Spelman,
gutsy in the extreme, plundering forward
against Lyndon Arthur, despite having his
head regularly clumped backwards; Katie
Taylor and Delfine Persoon going to war
once again in their rematch and once again
suffering significant facial damage; Samir
Ziani and Alex Dilmaghani participating in
a gruelling encounter brimming with courage,
determination and non-stop action; Jose
Zepeda and Ivan Baranchyk sharing eight
knockdowns (four apiece) in their five-round
barnburner; Juan Francisco Estrada and
Carlos Cuadras putting it all on the line in
a bruising, back-and-forth thriller; Miriam
Gutierrez bravely soaking up sustained
punishment from Katie Taylor to make it through
the full 10 rounds [below].
Photo: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM
Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club and Empire Fighting Chance carrying out valuable community work.
www.boxingnewsonline.net JANUARY 7, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 212020 REVIEW
Photo: TOM HOGAN/GOLDEN BOY
Another worryingly long list, just like last year
Photo: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM
Vergil Ortiz Jnr – The 22-year-old
Texan extended his perfect record by James Kinney ludicrously scoring Lederman scoring Teofimo Lopez
knocking out Samuel Vargas in seven Jesse Hart as a 95-94 victor over
Joe Smith Jnr; Rudy Barragan (100-
an overly wide 119-109 victor
against Vasiliy Lomachenko; Lewis
rounds. All 16 of the exciting 89), Max DeLuca (99-90) and Chris Ritson being gifted a split verdict
Migliore (97-92) making Alexis Rocha win over Miguel Vazquez, with
welterweight’s victories have come a far-too-wide winner over Brad Michael Alexander tallying 115-113
Solomon; Dave Moretti marking the and Terry O’Connor handing in an
inside the distance. Joshua Greer Jnr-Mike Plania bout as inexplicable 117-111 card [above];
a 94-94 draw, when Plania seemed Fernando Villarreal adjudging Elwin
HONOURABLE MENTIONS to win clearly; Giovani Santillan Soto as an excessively wide 119-
Daniyar Yeleussinov; Chris Colbert; Edgar Berlanga; looking fortunate to pip Antonio 109 winner against Carlos Buitrago;
Tim Tszyu; Filip Hrgovic; Israil Madrimov; Michel Rivera; DeMarco to a majority decision Marlen Esparza being awarded a
Tony Yoka; Conor Benn; Ali Izmailov; Sebastian Fundora; thanks to two scores of 96-94 from pair of too-generous 80-72 scores
Richardson Hitchins; Charles Conwell; Carlos Gongora. Tim Cheatham and Steve Weisfeld; from Rudy Barragan and Lou Moret
Zak Chelli, despite seeming to be a in her fight with Sulem Urbina; Ian
comfortable victor over Jack Cullen, John-Lewis inexplicably notching
having to settle for a split draw due a shambolic 117-111 scorecard in
to the cards of Victor Loughlin (96- favour of Anthony Yarde against
95 to Cullen) and Ian John-Lewis (95- Lyndon Arthur; Florian Marku having
95); Jack Culcay appearing lucky to to make do with a 76-76 draw
get the split nod over Abass Baraou (from Marcus McDonnell) against
owing to the tallies of Iko Bebic Jamie Stewart, despite knocking
(115-114) and Peter Milord (115- his opponent down and looking
113); Lou Moret’s consternation- like the winner; Don Ackerman
ERROL SPENCE JNR causing 117-111 scorecard in strangely scoring the Richardson
Spence returned from a horrific car favour of Abel Ramos over Yordenis Hitchins-Argenis Mendez fight for
accident in October 2019 – which Ugas; Don Trella somehow having Mendez by 97-93; John Rupert
initially left him in intensive care Cobia Breedy a 115-111 winner marking John Ryder a too-close
– to successfully defend his WBC against Tugstsogt Nyambayar; 96-94 victor over Mike Guy; Don
and IBF welterweight titles with a John Hedges receiving a fortunate Trella (116-112) and John McKaie
thoroughly deserved unanimous 39-37 victory from Ian John-Lewis (115-113) posting baffling cards in
decision over former two-weight over Jan Ardon; Rudy Barragan favour of Reymart Gaballo against
world champion Danny Garcia. posting a much-too-wide 100-90 Emmanuel Rodriguez, resulting in a
tab in favour of Mark Magsayo controversial split decision win for
against Rigoberto Hermosillo; Julie Gaballo.
22 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 7, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.netOBITUARIES
REST IN PEACE
Paying tribute to the members of the boxing fraternity who
passed away in 2020. Apologies for those we may have missed
Johnny Lewis ( Jan 1, 1932 – 2020 – Trainer); Danny Enifer (1938 – Area heavyweight title challenger); Tina Davis (Feb 7, 2020 – Essex
2020 – Amateur boxer); Freddie McCarthy (2020 – Navy County Secretary); Sammy McCarthy (Nov 5, 1931 – Feb 10, 2020
featherweight champion); Eric Seccombe (2020 – Trainer); Fred – British featherweight champion); Jimmy Thunder (Feb 3, 1966 –
Cummings (2020 – Midlands County Head Ringside Official); Al Feb 12, 2020 – Two-time Commonwealth heavyweight title
White ( Jan 1, 1945 – Jan 2020 – Pro lightweight); Carlos De Leon challenger); Conrad Lugo (Feb 16, 1969 – Feb 16, 2020 – Pro super-
(May 3, 1959 – Jan 1, 2020 – Four-time WBC cruiserweight featherweight); Danny Savala ( Jan 22, 1963 – Feb 18, 2020 – Pro
champion); Juan Botta ( Jan 16, 1941 – Jan 1, 2020 – New England lightweight); Art Oubre (Oct 19, 1931 – Feb 19, 2020 – Pro
middleweight title challenger); Harvey Reti (Sep 14, 1937 – Jan 3, lightweight); Frank Reiche (Dec 1, 1949 – Mar 2020 – European
2020 – 1964 light-welterweight Olympian); Tony Foster ( Jul 9, 1964 middleweight title challenger); DeAndrey Abron ( Jul 31, 1972 –
– Jan 4, 2020 – Central Area lightweight champion); Dick Turner Mar 7, 2020 – WBO light-heavyweight title challenger); Barney
( Jan 14, 1937 – Jan 5, 2020 – Pro welterweight); Ronnie Rowe ( Jan Eastwood (Mar 26, 1932 – Mar 9, 2020 – Promoter & manager);
6, 2020 – Trainer & manager); Bernard Hart (Mar 19, 1937 – Jan 8, Roger Mayweather (Apr 24, 1961 – Mar 17, 2020 – Two-weight
2020 – Pro welterweight); Jackie Brown (Mar 2, 1935 – Jan 12, 2020 world champion); Ray Jones (Mar 17, 2020 – Kingswood Boxing
– British & Commonwealth flyweight champion); Hank Cisco (Nov Club founder); Frank Young (Oct 6, 1946 – Mar 19, 2020 – Pro
9, 1923 – Jan 14, 2020 – Referee); Brian Nickels (Aug 17, 1965 – Jan welterweight); Ron Ross (Mar 23, 2020 – Journalist); Barry Sponagle
16, 2020 – Southern Area super-lightweight title challenger); Peter ( Jan 19, 1947 – Mar 25, 2020 – Canadian lightweight champion);
Mathebula ( Jul 3, 1952 – Jan 18, 2020 – WBA flyweight champion); Tony Hopper (Mar 18, 1973 – Mar 25, 2020 – Judge & inspector);
Perry Evans (Nov 16, 1958 – Jan 21, 2020 – Western Canadian Nelson Cuevas (Sep 17, 1939 – Mar 27, 2020 – Cutman/trainer/
welterweight title challenger); Garbis Zakaryan ( Jun 2, 1930 – Jan manager); Vic Bowyer (Mar 27, 2020 – Two-time ABA flyweight
25, 2020 – Turkish welterweight champion); Andy Gill (Feb 2020 finalist); Angelo Rottoli (Dec 14, 1958 – Mar 28, 2020 – WBC
– Amateur boxer); Don Bartlett (Feb 2020 – BBBofC inspector); Eric cruiserweight title challenger); Colin Webster (Mar 29, 2020 –
Pudney (Feb 2020 – EBA stalwart); Johnny Bumphus (Aug 17, 1960 Amateur boxing stalwart); Hedgemon Lewis (Feb 25, 1946 –
– Feb 3, 2020 – WBA super-lightweight champion); David Taranto Mar 31, 2020 – Three-time world welterweight title challenger);
(1952 – Feb 3, 2020 – Judge); Hernan Rosas (Feb 3, 2020 – Pro Gary Chippendale (Sep 15, 1939 – Apr 2020 – Pro middleweight);
flyweight); Dave Roden ( Jan 30, 1950 – Feb 5, 2020 – Midlands Ron Bebbington (Aug 26, 1929 – Apr 2020 – Pro middleweight);
QUALITY:
Hedgemon Lewis
was a three-time
world welterweight
title challenger
www.boxingnewsonline.net JANUARY 7, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 23OBITUARIES
Dennis Flynn (Apr 9, 1947 – Apr 2020 – Pro super-featherweight); welterweight); Pedro Alvarez ( Jul 7, 1930 – May 5, 2020 – Pro
Richard Williams (Apr 2020 – Double Jab ABC chairman); Roy welterweight); Evaristo Perez (1950 – May 6, 2020 – Mexican
Barbor (Apr 2020 – Solihull Boxing Club founder); Abraham bantamweight title challenger); Jimmy Glenn (Aug 18, 1930 – May
Chavarria (1925 – Apr 1, 2020 – Referee & judge); Nelson de 7, 2020 – Trainer/cutman/manager); Daren Zenner (May 30, 1971
Oliveira (Oct 1, 1929 – Apr 5, 2020 – Brazilian lightweight title – May 13, 2020 – WBO light-heavyweight title challenger); Franco
challenger); Alex Trottier ( Jan 24, 1952 – Apr 5, 2020 – Promoter/ Nenci ( Jan 25, 1935 – May 15, 2020 – 1956 Olympic light-
matchmaker); Carmen Williamson (May 5, 1925 – Apr 5, 2020 – welterweight silver medallist); Hector Thompson ( Jun 24, 1949 –
Amateur referee); Skënder Kurti (Apr 5, 2020 – Trainer); Bill Fleming May 20, 2020 – Two-weight WBA title challenger); Pat Brogan (May
(Apr 6, 2020 – Amateur boxer); Leonard “Nipper” Read (Mar 31, 20, 2020 – Promoter/manager/trainer); Bobby Garcia Jnr (Apr 3,
1925 – Apr 7, 2020 – BBBofC chairman); Mohammed Jeéracks (Apr 1925 – May 24, 2020 – Pro welterweight); Jimmie Sykes (May 30,
7, 2020 – Amateur boxer); Mick Haughton (Apr 11, 2020 – Amateur 1952 – May 28, 2020 – Pennsylvania State middleweight champion);
referee & judge); Rudolph Vaughan (Oct 13, 1939 – Apr 12, 2020 Curtis Cokes ( Jun 15, 1937 – May 29, 2020 – World welterweight
– Pro heavyweight); Gerry Tessier (Feb 15, 1936 – Apr 12, 2020 – champion); Dave Brandon (May 2, 1931 – Jun 2020 – Pro
New England light-heavyweight title challenger); Billy Graydon welterweight); Laurits Jensen ( Jul 25, 1946 – Jun 1, 2020 – Pro
( Jan 14, 1934 – Apr 13, 2020 – Pro featherweight); Nate Brooks super-welterweight); Donald “Biff” Cline ( Jul 3, 1947 – Jun 2, 2020
(Aug 4, 1933 – Apr 14, 2020 – North American bantamweight – Pro light-heavyweight); Jim Strickland (Feb 24, 1930 – Jun 3, 2020
champion); Ian Cahill (Apr 14, 2020 – Amateur referee & trainer); – Trainer & cutman); Pete Rademacher (Nov 20, 1928 – June 4,
Dick DiVeronica ( Jan 26, 1938 – Apr 16, 2020 – Pro welterweight); 2020 – World heavyweight title challenger); Blackie Zamora ( Jan 5,
Tom Shaughnessy ( Jun 6, 1943 – Apr 16, 2020 – Pro welterweight); 1940 – Jun 6, 2020 – Texas State lightweight champion); Vince
Eddie Cotton (Apr 17, 2020 – Referee); Billy Walker (Feb 25, 1938 Shomo ( Jul 30, 1940 – Jun 9, 2020 – Pro welterweight); Doug
– Apr 18, 2020 – Pro bantamweight); Ali Salaam (Apr 19, 2020 – Harper (Dec 5, 1929 – Jun 10, 2020 – Canadian light-heavyweight
Trainer); Pat Gutteridge (Dec 23, 1932 – April 22, 2020 – Pro champion); Emiel Sarens ( Jul 1, 1937 – Jun 14, 2020 – 1960
welterweight); Miguel Calderin (Aug 2, 1936 – Apr 24, 2020 – middleweight Olympian); Juan Diaz ( Jun 24, 1935 – Jun 15, 2020 –
Spanish featherweight champion); Les Stevens (Mar 1951 – Apr 25, 1960 featherweight Olympian); Fermin Soto ( Jun 15, 2020 – Three-
2020 – Southern Area heavyweight champion & amateur trainer); time Mexican lightweight title challenger); Andre Mauguin (Mar 15,
John Pollock (Apr 25, 2020 – Amateur trainer); Jo-Jo Jackson (Feb 1928 – Jun 16, 2020 – Pro welterweight); Mario Olmedo ( Jun 16,
10, 1945 – Apr 29, 2020 – Four-time Canadian title challenger); 2020 – Pro welterweight); Geoff Hopcraft (Apr 1945 – Jun 18, 2020
Renaldo Victoria ( Jun 20, 1944 – Apr 29, 2020 – Two-weight New – Crawley Boxing Club chairman); Boston Blackie ( Jul 20, 1937 –
England champion); Alex McMillan (Sep 28, 1936 – May 2020 – Pro Jun 21, 2020 – Bahamas & West Indies heavyweight champion);
LEADER:
Alan Minter ruled the
world at middleweight
24 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 7, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.netYou can also read
