-
Norman Mailer: 1/31/1923 to 11/10/2007
By Stephen S. Johnson -
(INSIDE BOXING) DECEMBER 9, 2004 The announcement that DaVarryl Williamson had signed DON KING as his promoter was alarming to some.
-
What DaVarryl Williamson did was provide himself and his family with the financial security they deserve.
-
The portrayed villain, Don King, is in the business of making money.
-
DaVarryl is now in the business for the dual purpose of attaining the title Heavyweight Champion of the World and…making money. More
- ROY JONES, JR. IS STILL "THE MAN"|DE LA HOYA SUFFERS VISION IMPAIRMENT|CAMACHO OUTLASTS DURAN|TRUE CHAMPIONS|DURAN VS CAMACHO II|COLORADO COMMISSION TORPEDOED BY POLITICS|DOES LEWIS REALLY WANT RAHMAN|JESSE JAMES LEIJA RIDES AGAIN|SPADAFORA LOSS A CRUSHING DEFEAT | BOOOOOORING|PAUL SPADAFORA STILL HIDES|ARE YOU REALLY SURPRISED|ENJOY IT WHILE IT LASTS|SPADAFORA HESITANT TO MOVE UP | “GHOSTS OF MANILLA” | NOT A GOOD MONTH FOR THE BRITISH | ABC HAS NO CREDIBILITY| NO REAL SURPRISE |OSCAR IS ANNOYING | ST. PAT'S PUNCH-OUT A SUCCESS | DE LA HOYA NO MORE EXCUSES| POUND FOR POUND |JOHN RUIZ, A TRUE WARRIOR | KEEPIN' UP WITH MR. JONES| BIG FIGHTS MAY FIND NEW VENUES | GOOD COMMON SENSE | BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR | AGAIN... TYSON VS LEWIS | ALI VS FRAZIER | ZAB JUDAH NEXT FOR KOSTYA TSZYU | INGLE LEAVES HOSPITAL | HAMED, BARRERA SET TO GO | SHOW ME THE MONEY | MAYWEATHER VS CORRALES | SPADAFORA NEED NOT WAIT | RAPID WEIGHT LOSS ADDRESSED BY BRITISH | WHORE ANALYSTS DESERVE NO RESPECT | REFLECTIONS THE YEAR 2000 | CALZAGHE WANTS JONES | FREITAS NOW 28 0 WITH 28 KO | SPADAFORA OVERRATED | AYALA ARREST JEOPARDIZES CAREER | GANGSTER vs ABUSER | VARGAS DOESN'T DESERVE REMATCH | CAN VARGAS SURVIVE SUCH A DEVASTATING DEFEAT | TRINIDAD OVERWHELMS VARGAS | TRINIDAD VS VARGAS | GOOSEN NO BETTER THAN KING - Reid vs. Garcia | THE PRINCE MAKES BOLD PREDICTION | THE PRINCE CAN "MOONWALK" AFTER ALL | LEWIS DECISIONS TUA | WHERE IS GEORGE FOREMAN | POOR POOR ANDREW | TYSON MENTALLY UNSTABLE | SLOAN LAKE BOXING CLUB | JUDGES GIVETH AND JUDGES TAKETH AWAY | PAY PER VIEW AGAIN DISAPOINTS | DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE | COLORADO BOXING COMMISSION READY TO RATIFY RULES | MARQUEZ ON COLLISION COURSE WITH HAMED | THE AZTEC WARRIOR REMAINS UNDEFEATED | Prince Naseem Hamed defends title against an outmatched Augie Sanchez | REAL DEAL OR RAW DEAL | AND THE PLOT THICKENS | There is No Doubt About It | ENOUGH ALREADY | OSCAR de La Hoya NO LONGER CALLS THE SHOTS | What's left for Roy Jones| Fernando Vargas a factor to be dealt with | The truth... Finally | She's still the Princess | Boxing 2000 | IS OSCAR TOO SWEET FOR "SUGAR"? | Princess Naseem Hamed | Oscar De La Hoya or Oscar Mayer Weiner
-
By Stephen s. Johnson
’08 SHOULD
MEAN, “THE END”
By Stephen S. Johnson
2008 There seems to be an unfortunate reluctance for...
“THE MAGIC MAN” OR THE “RABBITMAN”?
By Stephen S. Johnson
Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (24-1, 5 KO’s) has many boxing talents but ...
(INSIDE BOXING) March 13, 2004 Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas - Vassiliy Jirov (33-2) was the (hand picked) next victim of the odds on favorite to be the next Heavyweight Champion of the World. Instead, it was Jirov who gave “Baby” Joe Mesi (29-0) a good solid beating. The problem was that the beating came in the 1st, 9th and 10th rounds of a scheduled 10 round fight. More
INSIDE BOXING (December 18, 2003) -“The Golden Boy” will be a
2004 Olympic boxing analyst for Telemundo, the Spanish language station.
Oscar de la Hoya is articulate and brings a fresh new face to the boxing
analyst group that will provide Telemundo viewers with an excellent boxers
perspective.
What WON’T need to be done during the 2004 Olympic Games is for de la Hoya
to push his own agenda of what he terms, “bad decisions” in the sport.
During the press conference held October 29, 2003 in New York announcing
Telemundo (owned by NBC) had secured the services of de la Hoya, the “Golden
Boy” wasted no time in setting the record straight.
More
Roy Jones, Jr. becoming heavyweight champ, Vernon Forrest defeating “Sugar” Shane Moseley, Ricardo Mayorga destroying Vernon Forrrest and “Sugar” Shane Moseley surprising Oscar de la Hoya were just a few of the bouts that injected enthusiasm and excitement into the topsy-turvy world of the sport called “professional boxing”. More
INSIDE BOXING (October 29,2003) - This coming Saturday night, November 1st, the featherweight division should have a unified champion.
Derrick “Smoke” Gainer (39-5, 24KO’s), the WBA version of the featherweight king, takes on Juan Manuel Marquez (41-2, 32 KO’s), the IBF version of same division.
The fight is being billed as the opportunity for “Smoke” Gainer to show that he is the best in the featherweight division.
If you truly believe this prior statement, I have some prime swamp land in Florida you’ll be very interested in! More
INSIDE BOXING (October 1, 2003) - This past Saturday night Denver’s own DaVarryl Williamson was knocked out in the first round by hometown favorite “Baby Joe” Mesi.
The fight was the main-event on a card featuring 3 bouts purportedly showcasing the future of the heavyweight division.
None of the fights lived up to the pre-fight billing.
Sure, Dominick Dunn, Juan Carlos Gomez and “Baby Joe” Mesi were victorious, but are they legitimate heavyweight contenders? More
INSIDE BOXING (March 17, 2003) - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has once again proven to be a safe haven for hometown hero Paul Spadafora (36-0-1, 14 KO’s).
Leonard Dorin (21-0-1, 7 KO’s) of Romania learned that there is no such thing as a victory over Paul Spadafora when he is in the friendly confines of Pittsburgh.
The final scorecards read: 115-113 Dorin, 115-114 Spadafora and 114-114 making the fight a draw.
Isn’t this only supposed to happen in a DON KING PRODUCTION? Did DON KING PROMOTIONS have anything to do with this fight? More
DENVER, COLORADO (IB- April 10, 2003) - Promoters Barry Fey and Murad Muhammad
joined
Denver mayor Wellington Webb and local matchmaker Aurelio Martinez in
announcing plans to bring championship boxing to the Denver Coliseum 6 times per
year for the next 3 years.
In a press conference held today at the downtown Denver ADAM’S MARK HOTEL, the
announcement was made that the inaugural event will be held on Friday, May 16,
2003 in the Denver Coliseum.
Headlining this fight card will be Former Two-Time World Champion Keith Holmes
versus a yet to be determined opponent.
More
(IB March 24, 2003) - Over the years these two words have been responsible for as much controversy as religion and politics.
There is no reason to see any man pummel another into submission…is there?
Proponents believe the ability of one man to withstand both the physical and mental strength of another is both exciting and entertaining.
Opponents suggest that condoning such activity is barbaric and counter productive to man moving on in the scheme of evolution. More
(IB
- March 1, 2003) - Saturday night Roy Jones, Jr. added the title
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION to his already impressive boxing resume.
John Ruiz became the latest victim of the man who must now be recognized as the best “pound-for-pound” fighter in the world.
The “nay-sayers” that belittle and harass Roy Jones, Jr. must now give him his due props.
The first fighter to ever hold the middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight titles during his career, Roy Jones, Jr. has further enshrined himself in the BOXING HALL OF FAME. More
INSIDE BOXING (January 28, 2003) - Roy Jones, Jr. is the most talented boxer in the professional ranks.
There are no fighters at 175 pounds or under in the world that can beat him.
But does that make him deserving of leap-frogging other viable members of the heavyweight division to challenge a current heavyweight champion?
There seems to be little spoken regarding Jones’ opponent, John Ruiz. More
DENVER, CO (IB-December 7, 2002) On a Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. when
most people are planning their weekend activities, a group of professional
boxers decided to instead entertain youngsters at the 2002 FUNDAMENTAL FUN, INC.
free boxing clinic.
This was no ordinary group of boxers. These are fighters that have the title WORLD CHAMPION associated with their names.
The current WBC and IBF World Champion in the welterweight division, VERNON FORREST, came up from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Vernon is training for a title bout on January 25, 2003 against the WBA welterweight titleholder, Ricardo Mayorga. Vernon will then be the Undisputed Champion of the World in the welterweight division.
(INSIDE BOXING, October 29, 2002) - March 1, 2003. Thomas and Mack Center. Las Vegas, Nevada. This is the scheduled date and venue for what could be a history-making event. On this date and in this arena the Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion of the World, Roy Jones, Jr. (47-1, 38 KO's) vs. WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World, John Ruiz (38-4-1, 27 KO's) for Ruiz' heavyweight title belt. More
(INSIDE BOXING) I'll bet all of you thought I'd disappeared into the sunset. All bets are off! I took a little time off to observe what seemed to be a truckload of upcoming championship battles. As usual we are left somewhat disappointed. In the span of a few short months: Bernard Hopkins destroyed Felix Trinidad, Jose Luis Castillo was robbed in a match with Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Vernon Forrest has stopped Shane Moseley not once but twice, Lennox Lewis knocked out the once invincible Mike Tyson and finally Oscar de la Hoya took apart his arch enemy Fernando Vargas. More
DENVER, Colorado (INSIDE BOXING, August 17, 2002). T's KO Promotions and Arroyo Entertainment has taken the inside track when it comes to outdoor summer boxing in Colorado. The second collaboration of these two promoters produced another solid and entertaining afternoon of professional boxing. The number one goal of the "Saturday Afternoon Fights" is to be recognized as being both competitive and entertaining. So far, they are achieving that goal. More
Denver, Colorado (INSIDE BOXING, July 13, 2002) - T's KO Promotions and Arroyo Entertainment combined efforts to provide Denver area boxing fans with a fantastic afternoon of professional boxing. The parking lot of Don Carlos Mexican Grill, 3800 Walnut Street in Denver, was cleared to provide the necessary space for both boxers and fight fans to enjoy the most comfortable setting possible. Ringside reserved tickets were $30, reserved tickets were $20 and general admission tickets were priced at a mere $10 making the afternoon fights more than affordable for the true fight fan. More
INSIDE BOXING (June 15, 2002) - Professional boxing offers much in the way of pugilistic entertainment. What it can offer in the way of God and family is what heavyweight contender DaVarryl Williamson, or as he is commonly referred to "Touch of Sleep", hopes to inject as well.
The 6 foot 4 and 212 pound Williamson (16-1, 15 KO's) has made a somewhat dramatic charge into the heavyweight division after a stellar amateur career that began at age 25. Most boxers are ready for retirement at the age when DaVarryl was just getting started.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (INSIDE BOXING, 06/08/02) "Iron" Mike Tyson was KO'd by Lennox Lewis tonight. The outcome should not have been unexpected.Lewis enjoyed a 6 inches height as well as reach advantage. Lewis has been active over the last year while Tyson has been dormant. Lewis has been the epitome of class in a sport that is all too often classless. So why would the whole world heavily anticipate the Lewis vs. Tyson heavyweight title fight?.. More
Denver, Colorado (INSIDE BOXING) . Friday night May 24, 2002 there were no losers. Although there was a fight card featuring 10 Colorado Firefighters/Police vs. 10 New York Firefighters/Police, everyone in attendance was a winner. The Colorado Convention Center was the chosen venue for a fundraising effort that was organized to help charities of both the New York and Denver Police and Firefighting Associations...(More)
According to the WBA’s #1 ranked contender in the
welterweight division there’s a “new sheriff” in town.
Ricardo Mayorga said just that in a national conference call promoting this Saturday night’s title fight against current WBA welterweight champion Andrew “Six-Heads” Lewis.
Despite the impressive 19 KO’s in 22 bouts Lewis brings, Mayorga is more than confident what will happen Saturday night.
The pretender to the throne of heavyweight champion (Lennox Lewis) has
finally admitted what everyone in the boxing community already knew. He is
afraid of “Iron” Mike Tyson.
The Heavyweight Champion of the World is supposed to be “the baddest man on earth”. Lennox Lewis officially acknowledged Mike Tyson as that man on Tuesday, March 19, 2002.
There is no longer any doubt that Paul “The Pittsburgh Kid” Spadafora cannot compete with the elite fighters in the lightweight division. Saturday night Spadafora improved his unbeaten record (35-0, 14 KO’s) following his defeat of Angel Manfredy (39-6-1, 29 KO’s).
The carefully selected Manfredy was supposed to be the first legitimate test for the unbeaten IBF Lightweight Champion Spadafora. There would be no test as the plodding Manfredy offered no semblance of intention to dethrone the suspect IBF Champion Spadafora...(More)
Roy Jones, Jr., the undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion of the World, won again. Bernard Hopkins, the undisputed Middleweight Champion of the World, won again.
What more could one expect from either World Champion?
According to the “powers that be” (they know they are) the light heavyweight champion (175 pounds limit) should fight the middleweight champion (160 pounds limit)...(More)
The decision by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to deny heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson a license to fight in their State was a major surprise.
On the surface the decision seemed an easy one. In reality there was heated debate on both sides.
To deny their State the infusion of the millions of dollars that would surely have accompanied a heavyweight championship bout between Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis was and will be a point of debate for years to come...(More)
Brazilian knockout artist Acelino Freitas (31-0, 29 KO's) proved he has both the arm and leg strength to handle anyone in the super featherweight (130 pound) division with his victory over the previously unbeaten Cuban defector Joel Casamayor (26-1, 13 KO's)...(More)
The IBF Lightweight Champion, Paul Spadafora, will retain that title for quite some time. He carefully selects opponents that pose no threat to his IBF title. He is on record as saying that any bout against either Floyd Mayweather, Jr. or Arturo Gatti would be a non-title match...(More)
Super middleweight contender James "The Harlem Hammer" Butler (18-3), with a national television audience in clear view, disgraced himself and the sport of boxing this past Friday night... (More)
The proclamation of "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather, Jr. that he is now moving up to the lightweight division was music to the ears of one Paul "The Pittsburgh Kid" Spadafora as well as every other lightweight fighter in the world... (More)
Past Stories:
- Past Articles:
March 7, 1999
Before we get to the next boxing match, a scheduled heavyweight title fight between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, we must first address the issue of the abhorrent scoring that has been done on several of the latest telecasts. The ridiculous commentary, specifically by George Forman, has only further tainted the picture.
The Stevie Johnston vs. Cesar Bazan fight was a fantastic fight that the challenger Johnston thoroughly dominated. But not everyone saw it that way. The Mexican judge actually had Bazan winning convincingly!!
The Oscar De LaHoya vs. Ike Quartey fight had De LaHoya providing a fantastic finish to another great fight. Once again the scoring left you scratching your head. Not one but two of the judges actually had De LaHoya not even needing the last round to win the fight. Listening to the audio before the last round, even the De LaHoya corner was convinced he needed the last round... and big!!
Both of these championship fights eventually had the correct outcome but why should we as fans be asked to wait on pins and needles on the outcome of an otherwise easy fight to judge?
I'm really suspect that in the sometime near future we will be subjected to a controversial decision that will leave a bad taste in our mouths concerning the "Who is on the take" issue that is still in the back of many of our minds.
George Forman has reduced himself to a joke as an analyst. Poor Jim Lampley is stuck with the task of trying to help George from sounding like an ass with statements so numerous and ridiculous I cannot even go into them in my limited space.
I am seriously considering turning off the audio whenever George Forman attempts to analyze a fight!
Just when we get Larry Merchant to stop hitting the sauce during the telecasts George Forman decides to invibe!!
Stay tuned...
Is He or Isn't He?
This Saturday, February 12, 1999, we will take one
huge step in determining
the true place that one, Oscar de la Hoya, holds in
the pound for pound
hierarchy. Taking on the likes of Ike Quartey will
establish one fact that I
have been harping on for more than 2 years . . .
Oscar de la Hoya has to fight
the best if he wants to be mentioned in the
same breath as the truly great
ones are. No longer can he duck the Quarteys
or the Trinidads. As I have
said numerous times before, it's time to either
put up or shut up.
I can give you an honest prediction for this
Saturday's bout, but you must
remember that I have always contended that once
Oscar made the statement that
he intends to hold 7 world titles, we he put
himself in line to not only deal
with Ike Quartey and Felix Trinidad, but the
unbeatable Roy Jones, Jr.
If Oscar were to beat all 3 of these
champions, I will acknowledged him as the
greatest fighter of all time! I
will, no doubt, never have to worry about
giving this acknowledgment. Oscar
is good, but now that he is dealing with
equal caliber opponents he will come
back to the pact as an also-ran.
Boy Wonder (Steve Johnson)
10/28/98
Just one week ago Mike Tyson's license to box professionally was reinstated in the state of Nevada. What transpired was the total humiliation of a man who once had the world in the palm of his hand.
"Iron" Mike Tyson was forced to sit and let a panel of 4 white and one black men decide his future. This would not be so bad if it were not for the fact that we all know in Las Vegas, boxing is king. There was no real doubt that Tyson would have his license re-instated but under what conditions.
Well, once again we saw the Tyson pie will be cut into several pieces. Every pschyo therapist or analyst who had an opportunity to suggest to the panel that they could help monitor Mike Tyson for the next several years was invited to get a piece of the mega-pie that will soon be baked.
So no longer will we have to deal with Don King but Dr. Spiegel, Dr. Goldfein, Dr. Ruth and a host of others charging tremendous hourly rates to monitor "Iron" Mike Tyson.
To watch this man be humiliated in front of the whole world was disgusting. I know, Mike Tyson has not been a role model of sorts to anyone. But what I did was put myself in his position. All his life Mike Tyson has fended for himself.
All his life he has taken the good with the bad, the bitter with the sweet. Always being comfortable with the knowledge that in the ring he was king. Never realizing the world, being fickle as it is, being king of the ring and king of the world are 2 entirely different things.
Several times during the hearings I myself said "screw these extortionists". Without Mike Tyson boxing in Las Vegas, Las Vegas boxing is nothing. So, whom were they kidding?
"Iron" Mike Tyson was to be humbled before the world. For everyone to see he could and would be brought to his knees. I, for one, am saddened. "Iron" Mike Tyson has been used...once again.
Boy Wonder
Oscar De La Hoya...All talk, little action.
Last Saturday night in El Paso, Texas "The Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya, tookon another club fighter named Patrick Charpentier. This character was another
hand-picked punching bag designated to further the De La Hoya image. Just as
comical is the fact this guy was the WBC #1 contender! Instead of proving
himself a take on all comer champion he solidified himself as one of the best
at ducking the competition we have in the professional boxing arena today.
Oscar even had the audacity to call out several of the other champions.
"Correct all your problems you have with your managers and let's make
the
fight" is what the great pretender said to a packed house. This rediculous
insinuation was that he is and has been willing to take on all
comers.
Those of us waiting to hear of a fight against either Felix Trinidad,
Ike
Quartey or Jose Lopez were quite amused at this silly statement and
look
forward to "The Golden Boy" to either put up or shut up.
To continue to fight on the senior tour ( Julio Cesar Chavez and Hector
Camacho) only verifies my stance that not only is Oscar De La Hoya
steering
clear of the competition but he is actually afraid of any stiff competition!
Bob Arum goes to great lengths to make sure Oscar's dad will never give
him
the ax, as he did with previous trainer Emmanuel Steward, all because
he
arranged a fight where the "Golden Boy" might get his cute little ass
whupped!
Billing De La Hoya as a smiling good-looking media production has been
okay
the last few years. But the time has now come to either "shit or get
off the
pott". This cannot be accomplished any other way than in the
ring. Is this
too much to ask?
Apparently, Bob Arum has a plan to keep the "Golden Boy" with an un-blemished
record. This can only be accomplished by continuing on the senior tour
with
the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez. Next will be Hector Camacho and a
host of
other fighters deemed to be eligible for rematches.
"Pound for pound"?...No way, Jose! You have to fight and beat the best
to have
that title. Oscar DeLa Hoya will not fight the best so we'll never
know if he
can beat the best.
Recommendation: Take all the money you've earned Oscar and buy a ticket
to
visit
the Wizard of Oz...you need a heart, a brain and courage!