Deontay Wilder, "The Bronze Bomber", one of the most devastating punchers in the history of boxing. One of my favorite nicknames as well. Scary puncher, he left a trail of bodies in his wake. The concussive impact from his punches was like witnessing a car crash, Wilder was the textbook definition of a knockout artist, he was an assassin, waiting for the right moment to land one of his bombs and take you out, he had the mentality and everything. This is an article written when he was in the middle of his knockout streak of 40 in a row.
Wilder's string of 28 knockouts fourth all-time in heavyweight class
Deontay Wilder knocks down Audley Harrison in the first round during their heavyweight bout at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena in England on April 27. Wilder has won all 28 of his pro fights by knockout, a streak which is fourth all-time in the heavyweight division. Wilder will fight Sergei Liakhovich on Friday at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.
NORTHPORT | He’s left a trail of battered faces, aching bodies and scrambled brains in his wake.
That big right hand leaves behind its imprint: eyes blackened, red and watering, runny noses, sore ribs, head pounding. When Deontay Wilder hits opponents, they know it, and so far each has been unable to respond, left out cold on the canvas, counted out by the referee or retired. Wilder isn’t just winning, he’s doing so at an historic rate.
Wilder’s string of 28 consecutive knockouts ranks fourth all-time by heavyweights and is tied for ninth across all weight divisions. Fifty-seven percent of those knockouts came in the first round, and on average an opponent makes it just 1.7 rounds against the Bronze Bomber. A total of 16 knockouts came in the first round, six in the second, four in the third and two in the fourth.
“To knock out 28 in a row is pretty much unheard of,” heavyweight Jameel McCline said.
McCline knows what he’s talking about. He’s been in the ring with Wladimir Klitschko, Shannon Briggs and John Ruiz, and has fought for the world title four times.
McCline was part of Wilder’s training camp as a sparring partner in preparation for Friday’s fight against Sergei Liakhovich, a former WBO heavyweight champion.
“After working with him, now I see why,” McCline said. “I’ve been in there with everybody in the world in the last 10 years, all the big names except (Evander) Holyfield and (Mike) Tyson. That includes Lennox Lewis, Shannon Briggs, some of the biggest punchers in the world, Wladimir Klitschko. (Wilder) punches just as hard as Lennox Lewis with the accuracy of Shannon Briggs. And I didn’t understand that until I got into the ring with him. Now I understand why he can knock out 28 guys. He’s got a very, very powerful punch.”
The knockout streak isn’t a priority for Wilder, although he admits it’s “pretty cool.”
“I don’t let it get too far in my head because I don’t want to get caught up in, ‘I have to go in and knock an opponent out,’” Wilder said. “That’s when you make mistakes. I’m not getting caught up in the hype of that. If it happens, it happens. As long as I get the victory I’m satisfied.
“I do think about wanting to knock my opponent out, but do I pressure myself to make it happen? No. I just let my hands go and see what happens after that.”
It began against Ethan Cox in November 2008 and continued through Wilder’s latest victory against Audley Harrison in England in April. Of course, Wilder’s skills have come a long way since his first professional fight in Nashville, Tenn. That’s part of the plan in developing him into a contender for the heavyweight championship of the world.
Everyone knows about the right hand, but his jab, left hook and uppercut are becoming staples.
“If you look at all these great knockout punchers, the ones that became champions are the ones that accentuated that with other things in their game,” Wilder co-manager Jay Deas said. “So what we want to do is make sure the other pieces of the puzzle are there because on the list of great knockout punchers, the ones that never became champions are the ones that were kind of the one-trick pony. They hurt you, they were able to knock you out, but if you were able to get through that you would beat them. That’s what we don’t want to be. We want Deontay to be a complete fighter, not a guy that does just one thing well.”
Wilder’s knockout string has him up to No. 6 in the world as ranked by the World Boxing Association and the World Boxing Organization, No. 15 by the International Boxing Federation and No. 30 by the World Boxing Council.
Knowing when to go for the knockout has become an art for Wilder. Go too early and you risk zapping your energy or leaving yourself vulnerable to a big counterpunch. Wait too late and you may miss your chance.
“It’s just like how animals smell fear. It’s the same way in the fight game,” Wilder said. “You can look into your opponent’s eyes and he’ll give you a signal that this guy is scared. But sometimes you have to be careful of the ones who are scared because ... it’s like when a rabbit is scared. It can be the nicest and fluffiest white bunny all it wants, but if it gets put in the corner it will put up a fight. For me, it’s like when I hit an opponent or when I feel their bones on my hand, I know it’s over. I smell it’s over and take my opportunity to get them out of there.”
No matter how much longer the streak lasts, all agree that what’s already been accomplished is impressive.
“It’s definitely different. It’s definitely special,” McCline said. “You have to be very careful with a guy like Deontay. You have to be very, very careful or you can get hurt in there. What’s it like getting hit? It feels like ... it doesn’t feel like you’re being hit by another human being. That’s what it feels like.”
Scary thing is, Wilder didn't even need to load up on his punches to knock you out, the shot he hit Robert Helenius with, he barely put anything into it, and Helenius was stretched out.
"Boxing is not just a sport. It's a sentence. You sign up for pain, for solitude, for sacrifice. You fight alone. You suffer alone. But if you endure....you become more than a fighter. You become a mentor. A pillar. A legend." - Chris Eubank
This is one of my favorite boxing photos, Eric Esch, aka "Butterbean" holding a bundle of cash in his hand after a knockout. Butterbean was intimidating as hell, 370 pounds, could hit like a mule kicks.
One of the most brutal and shocking knockouts you'll ever see. The night Ray Mercer Shook the Heavyweight Division.
On January 11, 1991, Tommy “The Duke” Morrison stepped into the ring undefeated, with a fearsome reputation and the power to end fights early. Across from him stood Ray “Merciless” Mercer, an Olympic gold medalist with granite in his chin and dynamite in his fists.
The fight was competitive at first, with Morrison using his speed and combinations to edge the early rounds. But Mercer kept walking forward, absorbing shots and waiting for his moment.
That moment came in the 5th round. Mercer unleashed one of the most brutal and relentless barrages ever seen in a heavyweight ring. A crushing right hand snapped Morrison’s head back, followed by a series of devastating hooks and uppercuts that left him defenseless against the ropes. The referee didn’t have time to step in, Mercer’s fists had already ended it.
This KO was so violent that it’s still replayed in highlight reels today. It was more than just a win, it was a statement. That night, Ray Mercer announced to the entire heavyweight division:
The great Barney Ross, playing a game of solitaire before a fight with the great Tony Canzoneri. You're looking at a pound-for-pound all-time great right here, he was also a war hero in WW2, single handedly held off the attacking Japs in a mosquito infested foxhole on Guadalcanal, with his dying buddies all around him. Ross had a chin made of Tungsten, never knocked out in his entire career. Ross was damn near unbeatable in his prime, the only two defeats suffered during his prime were to the bigger all-time great Jimmy McLarnin, who Ross beat twice, and the top 4 pound-for-pound all time great, Henry Armstrong, in Ross's final fight.
The bloodiest boxing match in South African history. Victor “The Animal” Galindez and American Richie Kates fought in Johannesburg in 1976. Galindez’s eye socket was cut open in the third round after Kates headbutted him. The referee, Stan Christodoulou, wanted to stop the fight. Galindez however repeatedly wiped his blood off on the referee’s shirt and said he can fight on. He knocked out Kates in the 15th round (a second before the last bell rang). The bloodied shirt worn by Christodolou is still kept in the South African boxing archive.
Florentino "The Ox" Fernandez (left), hard punching middleweight of the 60s, scores a 6th round TKO of Johnny Featherman (right) on December 30, 1964 at the Miami Beach Auditorium. Featherman would never recover, career-wise, from this loss as he'd lose 20 of his next 29 bouts to finish 22-33-1 (19 KO wins). Legendary trainer Angelo Dundee was once quoted as saying that Fernandez was the hardest puncher he'd ever seen, said his left hook was murder. Fernandez was indeed a murderous puncher, he broke Gene Fullmer's arm with a left hook in their 1961 bout.
Florentino Fernandez (left) and Rocky Rivero (right). Now, Rocky Rivero was one of the toughest sons of bitches ever born, super aggressive and always looking to make it a shootout with his opponents although he could box fairly well if he set his mind to it. He was a hard puncher with both hands and could take a wicked punch too, he withstood some absolute bombs from the thunderous left hooking Florentino Fernandez that would have felled a tree, and Rivero came storming right back each time, their first fight is one of the most violent and entertaining brawls you will ever see bar none. Funny thing though is that he had this awful garbage can build which was really deceptive as it made you think this guy wasn't that strong but Rocky Rivero was as tough as they come, would have been a serious contender in any era.
Carl "Bobo" Olson, middleweight and light heavyweight in the 1940s-60s, from Honolulu, Hawaii. He got the nickname "Bobo" because that's how his little sister used to mispronounce "big brother" when they were young. Olson was a marvel of an infighter, liked to work his way to the inside of an opponent and just maul the hell out of them, grind them down through sheer work rate and toughness. Absolutely fearless fighter. His fight with the great Randy Turpin is one of my favorites. Olson was the World Middleweight champion between October 1953 and December 1955, the longest reign of any champion in that division during the 1950's. I love watching him on film, the way he gets on the inside and just nibbles away at an opponent, slowly and methodically grinding them down. Nice list of scalps as well, he beat Randy Turpin, Joey Giambra, Lloyd Marshall, Rocky Castellani, Joey Maxim, Robert Villemain. Tiger Jones, and Kid Gavilan.
Olson was just a master infighter, he seemed really at-home down in the trenches. This is Olson vs Randy Turpin, great fight, Olson at his best, he really wore Turpin out on the inside. The fight took place on October 21, 1953, at Madison Square Garden. Turpin dominated the first four rounds, he almost scored a knockdown in the first round, before Olson got a grip on the fight. As the fight progressed Olson took the initiative, he scored knockdowns in the 10th and 11th rounds on the way to a unanimous decision and the Middleweight crown.
"Bobo Olson, last night, hacked and harassed a left handed punching Kid Gavilan, whose right eye was spurting blood from the 9th round on, for a majority 15 round decision before 18,562 roaring fans at the Chicago Stadium. Gavilan repeatedly flashed vicious left hooks to the body and head which seemed to stun Olson. But Bobo seldom took a backward step and was willing to match punching power whenever the Kid elected. Gavilan coasted through the 11th, 12th and 13th rounds, trying unsuccessfully to salvage each of those rounds with his patented flurries. In the final analysis, it was Bobo's persistency and crisp hacking combinations to the body and head which repulsed Gavilan's bid to emulate Ray Robinson's climb from the 147 to 160 pound championship."
I love this top photo of Olson, with the snarl on his face, down in the trenches with Gavilan, it really signifies what kind of fighter Olson was, just a meat grinder of an infighter.
Rick "Rocky" Lockridge, super featherweight, jr. lightweight, fought in the 80s and early 90s, dangerous dangerous fighter, nobody looked forward to facing Lockridge. He was an iron-chinned warrior, with brutal knockout power. A swarmer, Lockridge was all over you like a rash, banging away with brutal power shots, you couldn't get him off of you. His brawling style made for a lot of exciting fights, he was a fan favorite for sure.
Lockridge was the first guy to hand Roger Mayweather "The Black Mamba", Floyd's uncle, a loss, he took Mayweather out with a vicious overhand right to win the WBA Jr. Lightweight title. Roger was one hell of a fighter himself, a great technician with good power, but Rocky Lockridge was just a damn dangerous opponent, always in great shape, strong, tough as hell, in your chest banging away at you with power shots. If you fought Lockridge, you were going to have your hands full all night.
@galaxy27 said:
great boxing pics & vids, double d
how are you bro?
Thanks buddy, I'm doing great brother, having a blast on this thread, I'm in my element with this stuff! 👍👍
any John "The Beast" Mugabi pics?
i remember him being just that -- a beast -- in the middleweight ranks in the 80's, but then he came up against this guy named Marvelous Marvin Hagler and was taught a lesson on how to box lol
@galaxy27 said:
great boxing pics & vids, double d
how are you bro?
Thanks buddy, I'm doing great brother, having a blast on this thread, I'm in my element with this stuff! 👍👍
any John "The Beast" Mugabi pics?
i remember him being just that -- a beast -- in the middleweight ranks in the 80's, but then he came up against this guy named Marvelous Marvin Hagler and was taught a lesson on how to box lol
I posted a pic and a highlight video of him earlier in the thread, can't remember what page it was, I'm losing track, the pages are piling up fast!
In an intense and furious fight, Arturo Gatti and Philadelphia's Ivan Robinson slugged it out over the full 10 rounds at the Atlantic City Convention Center on this day in 1998.
In the end, Robinson walked away with a split decision over Gatti in 98's Fight of the Year.
In true Gatti style, he absorbed punches, dished out punishment and looked on the verge of being knocked out, only to rally at the end of each grueling round.
"Gatti is like a stick of dynamite," Robinson said. "You light that fuse and you don't know when he's going off."
Gatti scored the only knockdown of the fight when he caught Robinson off-balance in the fourth round.
"I'm a warrior," Robinson added. "I don't take nothing from any fighter. I was hurt, but I had to keep coming."
Roberto Duran looks down on "Lightning" Ray Lampkin after scoring a ruthless 14th round KO to defend the WBA lightweight title in Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, 1975. Afterward, Duran coldly said, "Today I sent him to the hospital. Next time I’ll put him in the morgue." In his prime, Roberto Duran "Manos De Piedra" or "Hands of Stone" was a scary mofo, he had a mean streak in him, a ruthlessness rarely seen in this sport, Joe Frazier once said Duran reminded him of Charles Manson. That mentality carried Duran a long way, it made him the greatest lightweight in history, and one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in history.
Harold Johnson, then the future light heavyweight champion, blasts Paul Andrews in their 1955 rematch at Madison Square Garden. Johnson had been floored by Andrews in their first fight and barely won a decision. Johnson left zero doubt in the rematch. Harold Johnson was one of the greatest technical boxers this sport has ever seen, watching him on film is like studying from a "how to" book on boxing. His jab, his footwork, his combination punching, all a thing of beauty.
Comments
Eugene Criqui stylin' and profilin'.
Criqui fight pose.
Deontay Wilder, "The Bronze Bomber", one of the most devastating punchers in the history of boxing. One of my favorite nicknames as well. Scary puncher, he left a trail of bodies in his wake. The concussive impact from his punches was like witnessing a car crash, Wilder was the textbook definition of a knockout artist, he was an assassin, waiting for the right moment to land one of his bombs and take you out, he had the mentality and everything. This is an article written when he was in the middle of his knockout streak of 40 in a row.
Wilder's string of 28 knockouts fourth all-time in heavyweight class
Deontay Wilder knocks down Audley Harrison in the first round during their heavyweight bout at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena in England on April 27. Wilder has won all 28 of his pro fights by knockout, a streak which is fourth all-time in the heavyweight division. Wilder will fight Sergei Liakhovich on Friday at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.
NORTHPORT | He’s left a trail of battered faces, aching bodies and scrambled brains in his wake.
That big right hand leaves behind its imprint: eyes blackened, red and watering, runny noses, sore ribs, head pounding. When Deontay Wilder hits opponents, they know it, and so far each has been unable to respond, left out cold on the canvas, counted out by the referee or retired. Wilder isn’t just winning, he’s doing so at an historic rate.
Wilder’s string of 28 consecutive knockouts ranks fourth all-time by heavyweights and is tied for ninth across all weight divisions. Fifty-seven percent of those knockouts came in the first round, and on average an opponent makes it just 1.7 rounds against the Bronze Bomber. A total of 16 knockouts came in the first round, six in the second, four in the third and two in the fourth.
“To knock out 28 in a row is pretty much unheard of,” heavyweight Jameel McCline said.
McCline knows what he’s talking about. He’s been in the ring with Wladimir Klitschko, Shannon Briggs and John Ruiz, and has fought for the world title four times.
McCline was part of Wilder’s training camp as a sparring partner in preparation for Friday’s fight against Sergei Liakhovich, a former WBO heavyweight champion.
“After working with him, now I see why,” McCline said. “I’ve been in there with everybody in the world in the last 10 years, all the big names except (Evander) Holyfield and (Mike) Tyson. That includes Lennox Lewis, Shannon Briggs, some of the biggest punchers in the world, Wladimir Klitschko. (Wilder) punches just as hard as Lennox Lewis with the accuracy of Shannon Briggs. And I didn’t understand that until I got into the ring with him. Now I understand why he can knock out 28 guys. He’s got a very, very powerful punch.”
The knockout streak isn’t a priority for Wilder, although he admits it’s “pretty cool.”
“I don’t let it get too far in my head because I don’t want to get caught up in, ‘I have to go in and knock an opponent out,’” Wilder said. “That’s when you make mistakes. I’m not getting caught up in the hype of that. If it happens, it happens. As long as I get the victory I’m satisfied.
“I do think about wanting to knock my opponent out, but do I pressure myself to make it happen? No. I just let my hands go and see what happens after that.”
It began against Ethan Cox in November 2008 and continued through Wilder’s latest victory against Audley Harrison in England in April. Of course, Wilder’s skills have come a long way since his first professional fight in Nashville, Tenn. That’s part of the plan in developing him into a contender for the heavyweight championship of the world.
Everyone knows about the right hand, but his jab, left hook and uppercut are becoming staples.
“If you look at all these great knockout punchers, the ones that became champions are the ones that accentuated that with other things in their game,” Wilder co-manager Jay Deas said. “So what we want to do is make sure the other pieces of the puzzle are there because on the list of great knockout punchers, the ones that never became champions are the ones that were kind of the one-trick pony. They hurt you, they were able to knock you out, but if you were able to get through that you would beat them. That’s what we don’t want to be. We want Deontay to be a complete fighter, not a guy that does just one thing well.”
Wilder’s knockout string has him up to No. 6 in the world as ranked by the World Boxing Association and the World Boxing Organization, No. 15 by the International Boxing Federation and No. 30 by the World Boxing Council.
Knowing when to go for the knockout has become an art for Wilder. Go too early and you risk zapping your energy or leaving yourself vulnerable to a big counterpunch. Wait too late and you may miss your chance.
“It’s just like how animals smell fear. It’s the same way in the fight game,” Wilder said. “You can look into your opponent’s eyes and he’ll give you a signal that this guy is scared. But sometimes you have to be careful of the ones who are scared because ... it’s like when a rabbit is scared. It can be the nicest and fluffiest white bunny all it wants, but if it gets put in the corner it will put up a fight. For me, it’s like when I hit an opponent or when I feel their bones on my hand, I know it’s over. I smell it’s over and take my opportunity to get them out of there.”
No matter how much longer the streak lasts, all agree that what’s already been accomplished is impressive.
“It’s definitely different. It’s definitely special,” McCline said. “You have to be very careful with a guy like Deontay. You have to be very, very careful or you can get hurt in there. What’s it like getting hit? It feels like ... it doesn’t feel like you’re being hit by another human being. That’s what it feels like.”
The devastating power of "The Bronze Bomber."
Scary thing is, Wilder didn't even need to load up on his punches to knock you out, the shot he hit Robert Helenius with, he barely put anything into it, and Helenius was stretched out.
Sick video of Deontay Wilder early in his career, great background music from the maestro that runs this YouTube channel.
"Boxing is not just a sport. It's a sentence. You sign up for pain, for solitude, for sacrifice. You fight alone. You suffer alone. But if you endure....you become more than a fighter. You become a mentor. A pillar. A legend." - Chris Eubank
This is one of my favorite boxing photos, Eric Esch, aka "Butterbean" holding a bundle of cash in his hand after a knockout. Butterbean was intimidating as hell, 370 pounds, could hit like a mule kicks.
One of the most brutal and shocking knockouts you'll ever see. The night Ray Mercer Shook the Heavyweight Division.
On January 11, 1991, Tommy “The Duke” Morrison stepped into the ring undefeated, with a fearsome reputation and the power to end fights early. Across from him stood Ray “Merciless” Mercer, an Olympic gold medalist with granite in his chin and dynamite in his fists.
The fight was competitive at first, with Morrison using his speed and combinations to edge the early rounds. But Mercer kept walking forward, absorbing shots and waiting for his moment.
That moment came in the 5th round. Mercer unleashed one of the most brutal and relentless barrages ever seen in a heavyweight ring. A crushing right hand snapped Morrison’s head back, followed by a series of devastating hooks and uppercuts that left him defenseless against the ropes. The referee didn’t have time to step in, Mercer’s fists had already ended it.
This KO was so violent that it’s still replayed in highlight reels today. It was more than just a win, it was a statement. That night, Ray Mercer announced to the entire heavyweight division:
“I’m here, and I’m not afraid of anyone.”
The great Barney Ross, playing a game of solitaire before a fight with the great Tony Canzoneri. You're looking at a pound-for-pound all-time great right here, he was also a war hero in WW2, single handedly held off the attacking Japs in a mosquito infested foxhole on Guadalcanal, with his dying buddies all around him. Ross had a chin made of Tungsten, never knocked out in his entire career. Ross was damn near unbeatable in his prime, the only two defeats suffered during his prime were to the bigger all-time great Jimmy McLarnin, who Ross beat twice, and the top 4 pound-for-pound all time great, Henry Armstrong, in Ross's final fight.
The bloodiest boxing match in South African history. Victor “The Animal” Galindez and American Richie Kates fought in Johannesburg in 1976. Galindez’s eye socket was cut open in the third round after Kates headbutted him. The referee, Stan Christodoulou, wanted to stop the fight. Galindez however repeatedly wiped his blood off on the referee’s shirt and said he can fight on. He knocked out Kates in the 15th round (a second before the last bell rang). The bloodied shirt worn by Christodolou is still kept in the South African boxing archive.
Florentino "The Ox" Fernandez (left), hard punching middleweight of the 60s, scores a 6th round TKO of Johnny Featherman (right) on December 30, 1964 at the Miami Beach Auditorium. Featherman would never recover, career-wise, from this loss as he'd lose 20 of his next 29 bouts to finish 22-33-1 (19 KO wins). Legendary trainer Angelo Dundee was once quoted as saying that Fernandez was the hardest puncher he'd ever seen, said his left hook was murder. Fernandez was indeed a murderous puncher, he broke Gene Fullmer's arm with a left hook in their 1961 bout.
That's Florentino Fernandez (left) in Havana Cuba in the 60s, Fernandez was from Cuba.
Fernandez vs Fullmer, look at the impact from that left hook.
Florentino Fernandez (left) and Rocky Rivero (right). Now, Rocky Rivero was one of the toughest sons of bitches ever born, super aggressive and always looking to make it a shootout with his opponents although he could box fairly well if he set his mind to it. He was a hard puncher with both hands and could take a wicked punch too, he withstood some absolute bombs from the thunderous left hooking Florentino Fernandez that would have felled a tree, and Rivero came storming right back each time, their first fight is one of the most violent and entertaining brawls you will ever see bar none. Funny thing though is that he had this awful garbage can build which was really deceptive as it made you think this guy wasn't that strong but Rocky Rivero was as tough as they come, would have been a serious contender in any era.
Florentino Fernandez (left) and Rocky Rivero (right).
Carl "Bobo" Olson, middleweight and light heavyweight in the 1940s-60s, from Honolulu, Hawaii. He got the nickname "Bobo" because that's how his little sister used to mispronounce "big brother" when they were young. Olson was a marvel of an infighter, liked to work his way to the inside of an opponent and just maul the hell out of them, grind them down through sheer work rate and toughness. Absolutely fearless fighter. His fight with the great Randy Turpin is one of my favorites. Olson was the World Middleweight champion between October 1953 and December 1955, the longest reign of any champion in that division during the 1950's. I love watching him on film, the way he gets on the inside and just nibbles away at an opponent, slowly and methodically grinding them down. Nice list of scalps as well, he beat Randy Turpin, Joey Giambra, Lloyd Marshall, Rocky Castellani, Joey Maxim, Robert Villemain. Tiger Jones, and Kid Gavilan.
Olson was just a master infighter, he seemed really at-home down in the trenches. This is Olson vs Randy Turpin, great fight, Olson at his best, he really wore Turpin out on the inside. The fight took place on October 21, 1953, at Madison Square Garden. Turpin dominated the first four rounds, he almost scored a knockdown in the first round, before Olson got a grip on the fight. As the fight progressed Olson took the initiative, he scored knockdowns in the 10th and 11th rounds on the way to a unanimous decision and the Middleweight crown.
Turpin after his fight with Olson.
Olson vs Kid Gavilan.
From the Associated Press:
"Bobo Olson, last night, hacked and harassed a left handed punching Kid Gavilan, whose right eye was spurting blood from the 9th round on, for a majority 15 round decision before 18,562 roaring fans at the Chicago Stadium. Gavilan repeatedly flashed vicious left hooks to the body and head which seemed to stun Olson. But Bobo seldom took a backward step and was willing to match punching power whenever the Kid elected. Gavilan coasted through the 11th, 12th and 13th rounds, trying unsuccessfully to salvage each of those rounds with his patented flurries. In the final analysis, it was Bobo's persistency and crisp hacking combinations to the body and head which repulsed Gavilan's bid to emulate Ray Robinson's climb from the 147 to 160 pound championship."
I love this top photo of Olson, with the snarl on his face, down in the trenches with Gavilan, it really signifies what kind of fighter Olson was, just a meat grinder of an infighter.
Olson on the cover of Ring magazine.
Good shot of Joe Louis raising Olson's arm after a fight.
Olson shooting a game of pool.
Rick "Rocky" Lockridge, super featherweight, jr. lightweight, fought in the 80s and early 90s, dangerous dangerous fighter, nobody looked forward to facing Lockridge. He was an iron-chinned warrior, with brutal knockout power. A swarmer, Lockridge was all over you like a rash, banging away with brutal power shots, you couldn't get him off of you. His brawling style made for a lot of exciting fights, he was a fan favorite for sure.
Lockridge was the first guy to hand Roger Mayweather "The Black Mamba", Floyd's uncle, a loss, he took Mayweather out with a vicious overhand right to win the WBA Jr. Lightweight title. Roger was one hell of a fighter himself, a great technician with good power, but Rocky Lockridge was just a damn dangerous opponent, always in great shape, strong, tough as hell, in your chest banging away at you with power shots. If you fought Lockridge, you were going to have your hands full all night.
The brutality of Rocky Lockridge.
great boxing pics & vids, double d
how are you bro?
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
Thanks buddy, I'm doing great brother, having a blast on this thread, I'm in my element with this stuff! 👍👍
any John "The Beast" Mugabi pics?
i remember him being just that -- a beast -- in the middleweight ranks in the 80's, but then he came up against this guy named Marvelous Marvin Hagler and was taught a lesson on how to box lol
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
I posted a pic and a highlight video of him earlier in the thread, can't remember what page it was, I'm losing track, the pages are piling up fast!
it's all fun and games until you went up against the Marvelous one
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
No doubt about it, Hagler tamed the beast!
In an intense and furious fight, Arturo Gatti and Philadelphia's Ivan Robinson slugged it out over the full 10 rounds at the Atlantic City Convention Center on this day in 1998.
In the end, Robinson walked away with a split decision over Gatti in 98's Fight of the Year.
In true Gatti style, he absorbed punches, dished out punishment and looked on the verge of being knocked out, only to rally at the end of each grueling round.
"Gatti is like a stick of dynamite," Robinson said. "You light that fuse and you don't know when he's going off."
Gatti scored the only knockdown of the fight when he caught Robinson off-balance in the fourth round.
"I'm a warrior," Robinson added. "I don't take nothing from any fighter. I was hurt, but I had to keep coming."
Roberto Duran looks down on "Lightning" Ray Lampkin after scoring a ruthless 14th round KO to defend the WBA lightweight title in Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, 1975. Afterward, Duran coldly said, "Today I sent him to the hospital. Next time I’ll put him in the morgue." In his prime, Roberto Duran "Manos De Piedra" or "Hands of Stone" was a scary mofo, he had a mean streak in him, a ruthlessness rarely seen in this sport, Joe Frazier once said Duran reminded him of Charles Manson. That mentality carried Duran a long way, it made him the greatest lightweight in history, and one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in history.
Harold Johnson, then the future light heavyweight champion, blasts Paul Andrews in their 1955 rematch at Madison Square Garden. Johnson had been floored by Andrews in their first fight and barely won a decision. Johnson left zero doubt in the rematch. Harold Johnson was one of the greatest technical boxers this sport has ever seen, watching him on film is like studying from a "how to" book on boxing. His jab, his footwork, his combination punching, all a thing of beauty.