Heavyweight contenders Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter and James “Lights Out” Toney get it on a second time this Saturday from the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla. (Showtime).
On this day in 1909 in Canton, Ohio, future world featherweight champion Johnny Kilbane faced off against his hometown, but unrelated, rival Tommy Kilbane for the fourth and last time.
On this day in 1970, Sonny Liston is believed to have died. He would be found dead in his Las Vegas home seven days later by his wife, Geraldine. The cause of his death is still the subject of controversy.
Mike Tyson told Arizona cops he was a coke addict when they brought him in to custody on Friday. The former champion was ordered released without bond on a felony drug possession charge Friday after being arrested in Buckeye, Ariz, the AP reported on ESPN.com.
It’s been too long. Mike Tyson had been too quiet, too lawful, for too long.
On this day in 1881, Jess Willard was born in St. Clere, Kansas.
Bob Arum fended off a charge from bitter rival, the promotional neophyte Oscar De La Hoya, when he got Manny Pacquiao to sign on the dotted line in the Philippines.
On this day in 1936, two future hall-of-famers faced each other in their hometown, as Billy Conn won a 10-round split decision over Fritzie Zivic at Pittsburgh’s Duquesne Gardens.
Former light heavyweight contender Yvon Durelle, 77, who retired from boxing in 1963 with a 90-24-2, 51 KOs record, suffered a stroke earlier this week and is listed in serious condition at a hospital in Moncton, Canada, where he was transferred on Christmas Day.
I defy you to find someone with more knowledge about the day-to-day goings on in the fight game than ESPN’s Dan Rafael.
