Monthly Archives: August 2013

Interview with Former Three–Division World Boxing Champion, Mike “The Body Snatcher” McCallum – 2012

Interview with Former Three–Division World Boxing Champion, Mike “The Body Snatcher” McCallum – 2012

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Mike McCallum is a retired boxer. Nicknamed “The Body Snatcher” for his fierce body punching. McCallum won world titles in three weight classes. Mike McCallum turned professional in 1981. As a professional, he fought almost exclusively in the USA. He first became a world champion in 1984 by defeating Sean Mannion to win the vacant WBA light middleweight title. McCallum would defend that title six times, winning all six fights by knock out.

His first prominent opponent was future world champion Julian Jackson, who McCallum fought in his third title defense. McCallum survived some punishment in the first round and came back to stop the undefeated Jackson in the second round.

McCallum really came to prominence when he knocked out former WBC welterweight title holder Milton McCrory and former undisputed welterweight champion Donald Curry in 1987. Curry was ahead on all three scorecards going into the fifth round when McCallum knocked him out with what some have called a “perfect” left hook.

McCallum had a professional record of 49-5-1 (36 knockouts). He was never knocked out as a professional. After McCallum retired, he moved to Las Vegas and became trainer. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.

Mark Breland, Former Two Time Boxing Champion and Great Boxing Amateur – 2012

Mark Breland, Former Two Time Boxing Champion and Great Boxing Amateur – 2012

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Mark Anthony Breland is a former world champion boxer, who won five New York Golden Gloves Titles and a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics. He is also an actor with a wide range of movie and television credits, having made his debut in The Lords of Discipline.

Breland turned professional in 1984. In 1987, Breland won the vacant WBA welterweight title. He lost it in his first defense to Marlon Starling. In 1989, Breland again won the vacant WBA Welterweight Title. He made three successful title defenses before losing it to Aaron Davis in a thrilling 9-round contest that was nearly called off twice because of injuries to Davis’ eye before Breland was knocked out in round 9.
In 1997, Breland retired with a professional record of 35–3–1 (25 KOs).

Breland is currently a boxing trainer, having trained Vernon Forrest among other notable boxers.

Jake “Raging Bull” LaMotta, Former World Middleweight Boxing Champion, Inducted to the NYS Boxing Hall of Fame 2012

Jake “Raging Bull” LaMotta, Former World Middleweight Boxing Champion, Inducted to the NYS Boxing Hall of Fame 2012

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Jake LaMotta, nicknamed “The Bronx Bull” and “The Raging Bull,” is a retired American professional boxer and former World Middleweight Champion. He was portrayed by Robert De Niro in the 1980 film Raging Bull.
LaMotta fought former Welterweight Champion Sugar Ray Robinson in Robinson’s middleweight debut at Madison Square Garden, New York. LaMotta knocked Robinson down in the first round of the fight. Robinson got up and took control over much of the fight, winning via unanimous decision.
A rematch took place months later in Detroit, Michigan. The eighth round was historic. LaMotta landed a right to Robinson’s head and a left to his body, sending him through the ropes. Robinson was saved by the bell at the count of nine. LaMotta, who was already leading on the scorecards before knocking Robinson out of the ring, pummeled and outpointed him for the rest of the fight. Robinson had trouble keeping LaMotta at bay. LaMotta won via unanimous decision, giving Robinson the first defeat of his career.

The victory was short-lived, as the two met again three weeks later, once again in Robinson’s former home of Detroit. Robinson was knocked down for a nine-count count in round seven. Robinson later stated, “He really hurt me with a left in the seventh round. I was a little dazed and decided to stay on the deck.” Robinson won the close fight by decision, utilizing a dazzling left jab and jarring uppercuts.
LaMotta is recognized as having one of the best chins in boxing. He rolled with punches, minimizing their force and damage when they landed, but he was also able to absorb many blows.

In the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, his sixth bout with Robinson, LaMotta suffered numerous severe blows to the head. Commentators could be heard saying, “No man can take this kind of punishment!” But LaMotta did not go down. The fight was stopped by the referee in the 13th round, declaring it a TKO victory for Robinson.

Jack Hirsch – Chairman of the Nominating Committee for the NYS Boxing Hall of Fame, Inducts Steve Acunto, Co-Founder of the Association For The Improvement of Boxing

Jack Hirsch – Chairman of the Nominating Committee for the NYS Boxing Hall of Fame, Inducts Steve Acunto, Co-Founder of the Association For The Improvement of Boxing

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Acunto is the head coach of boxing at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, New York, where he developed and teaches the only boxing class for college credit in existence. He has also taught pugilism at Fairfield University, Concordia College, Sarah Lawrence College, at YMCAs and the Purchase Community House.
In addition, he has traveled the country conducting hundreds of clinics and seminars on the “sweet science.”
Acunto has been a member of the New York State Athletic Commission since 1945 and is currently a Commissioner. In 1969, with Rocky Marciano, Acunto founded the American Association for the Improvement of Boxing. He is now President Emeritus and Chairman of the Board of the prestigious organization.

In 1988, Acunto was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame and recently, in 1998, he was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. To date, he has taught the fistic way to over 8,000 young men. Of these students, one became a world champion, several have been leading contenders, and many have been amateur champions.

He lives with his wife Mercedes in Mount Vernon, New York. They have one son, three daughters, four grandchildren, and a wealth of boxing memories.

Interview with Carlos Ortiz, Former Light Weight & Light Welterweight World Boxing Champion – 2012

Interview with Carlos Ortiz, Former Light Weight & Light Welterweight World Boxing Champion – 2012

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Carlos Ortiz is a Puerto Rican who was a three-time world boxing champion, twice in the lightweight division and once in the Junior Welterweights. Ortíz is mentioned among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time by sports journalists and analysts, along with Félix “Tito” Trinidad, Wilfredo Gómez, Héctor “Macho” Camacho, and Wilfred Benítez.

June 29, 1968 proved to be Ortiz’s last day as a world champion, as he lost his world lightweight title to Dominican Carlos Cruz on a 15 round decision in the Dominican Republic. Ortiz kept on fighting, but he never got another chance at a world title. He retired after losing at the Madison Square Garden by a knockout in 6 rounds to Ken Buchanan. It was the only time he was stopped in his career. His final record was of 61 wins, 7 losses and 1 draw, with one bout declared a no-contest and 30 knockout wins.

Ortiz is also a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame. He always enjoys taking photos with his fans and signing autographs for them.

Debut of NY State Boxing Hall of Fame at Gallagher’s – New York, 2012

Debut of NY State Boxing Hall of Fame at Gallagher’s – New York, 2012

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Tony Mazzarella, a board-member of the Ring 8 Club, a New York group formed in 1954 to help and honor former boxers, has been trying to get a HOF for years. He’s offered space at his restaurant, the Waterfront Crabhouse in Long Island City, for plaques and memorabilia. A physical location is being hunted down.

Here’s the first class of honorees to be inducted. It includes 12 boxers and eight non-boxers:

“Sugar” Ray Robinson; “Iron” Mike Tyson; Jake “Bronx Bull” LaMotta; Carmen “Upstate Onion Farmer” Basilio; Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe; Carlos Ortiz; Mike “Bodysnatcher” McCallum; Gene “The Fighting Marine” Tunney; Benny “The Ghetto Wizard” Leonard; and Tony Canzoneri.

Also included are: judge/HBO analyst Harold Lederman; coach/instructor Steve Acunto; trainer/cut-man Jimmy Glenn; posthumously, trainers Gil Clancy and Ray Arcel; Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer; New York Daily News boxing reporter/cartoonist Bill Gallo; and referee Arthur Mercante Sr.

Ring 8 president Bob Duffy announced plans for the kickoff dinner. “We plan to do this every year,” Duffy said. “Our first introduction dinner will be at Russo’s on The Bay in March of 2012. We have a wall at Waterfront Crabhouse, which will list our Class of 2012 and another at the New York State Athletic Commission. We started this to honor New York fight people.”

The inductees were selected by a six-member NYSBHOF nominating committee made up of Boxing Writers Association president Jack Hirsch, Steve Farhood, Henry Hascup, Bobby Cassidy Jr., Ron McNair and Neil Terens.

Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson, World Light Heavyweight Boxing Championship New York Press Conference 2012

Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson, World Light Heavyweight Boxing Championship New York Press Conference 2012

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The oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world title, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins and former World Champion “Bad” Chad Dawson will meet again to settle their heated feud following their October 2011 bout, which was originally scored as a TKO win for Dawson, but later ruled a no decision by the California State Athletic Commission. The two are ready to resume their high-stakes rivalry on Saturday, April 28 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The 12 round bout for Hopkins’ WBC and Ring Magazine light heavyweight world championships.

“Whenever Bernard Hopkins fights, I get the chills because he is a living legend,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Bernard has an amazing history, having fought and defeated so many world champions. I truly believe that he and Dawson facing off in Atlantic City on HBO World Championship Boxing is a recipe for an unforgettable night.”

“Hopkins vs. Dawson: Once And For All,” a 12 round bout for Hopkins’ WBC and Ring Magazine light heavyweight world championships, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions and sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City.

Interview with Boxing’s Elite Trainer Pro Nazim Richardson – New York, 2012

Interview with Boxing’s Elite Trainer Pro Nazim Richardson – New York, 2012

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Nazim Richardson is an American boxing trainer, most notable for training “Sugar” Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins, and for catching Antonio Margarito with a plaster-like substance in his hand wraps prior to Margarito’s fight with Mosley, leading to Margarito’s eventual suspension from the sport of boxing.

Richardson is a devout Muslim.

In 2007, Richardson suffered a stroke that nearly caused loss of the entire left side of Richardson’s body.

Soon after returning to boxing, Richardson became “Sugar” Shane Mosley’s trainer for three of the biggest fights of the boxer’s career – his win over Margarito and his loss to both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.

Richardson is currently Bernard Hopkins’ head trainer.

Interview with Timothy Bradley, Two Time World Junior Welterweight Boxing Champion – New York, 2012

Interview with Timothy Bradley, Two Time World Junior Welterweight Boxing Champion – New York, 2012

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Timothy Ray “Tim” Bradley Jr. is an undefeated American professional boxer. Born in Cathedral City, California and training out of Indio, California, Bradley is the current WBO welterweight champion and former WBO and two-time WBC junior welterweight champion. Bradley is trained by former title contender Joel Díaz.

Timothy Bradley Jr. was born in Cathedral City, California on August 29, 1983 and grew up in Palm Springs, California. Prior to becoming a professional boxer, Bradley worked as a dishwasher and as a waiter. He married his high school friend, Monica Manzo, in 2006 and became an adoptive father to Manzo’s two children. Bradley, before fights, adheres to a strict diet and goes vegan.

Bradley fought Manny Pacquiao on June 9, 2012 for Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title. Bradley scored a controversial victory over Pacquiao by way of split decision, with two of the judges scoring it 115–113 to Bradley and the other 115–113 to Pacquiao. The decision ended Pacquiao’s 7-year undefeated streak and gave Bradley the title.

Bradley’s next bout is scheduled for October 12, 2013, defending his WBO welterweight title against Ring #3 ranked pound for pound, Ring #5 ranked junior lightweight and former WBO junior welterweight champion Juan Manuel Márquez.

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