Boxing Blog – TSS Tidbits

Sonia Katchian’s Ali photos on exhibit in upstate New York

In March of 2006, The Sweet Science covered the career of photographer Sonia Katchian and her work with Muhammad Ali. Katchian, who had also photographed Princess Di and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, said that Ali has a stronger charisma and a bigger aura than anyone she had ever met. Her photographs of Ali, which vividly capture his humanness, emphasize that.

This month an exhibit of 44 of her photographs will be on display at the State University of New York at Fredonia, in an exhibition titled, “Muhammad Ali – The Photographs of Sonia Katchian.�

“This is a photo collector’s and an Ali fan’s dream come true,â€? said Katchian. “It is the essence of Muhammad Ali.â€?

The exhibit will run at the Fredonia campus’ Reed Library from February 1 to February 28, 2007. The exhibit will be open to the public during the Reed Library’s regular hours of Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Katchian is currently working on exhibiting her photographs in other venues as well. The showpiece of her work, The Ali Folio™, consists of fourteen 24� x 30� prints, most of which were taken in 1974 in Zaire. The Ali Folio™ is available at AliFolio.com.

Today in Boxing History: Floyd Patterson decisions George Chuvalo

On this day in 1965, Floyd Patterson won a 12-round unanimous decision over George Chuvalo at Madison Square Garden. The bout was one of the most thrilling non-title fights in boxing history.

After losing his heavyweight title and suffering back-to-back first-round knockouts to Sonny Liston in 1962 and 1963, Patterson bounced back with three straight wins. Chuvalo had also put together a string of victories, including an 11th-round knockout of Doug Jones.

The bout with the former two-time champion was, at the time, the most significant of Chuvalo’s career, and carried large implications. The winner would likely get a shot at champion Muhammad Ali.

Chuvalo swarmed Patterson from the opening bell and relentlessly attacked him for 12 straight rounds. However, Patterson destroyed any notions of heartlessness that were created by his losses to Liston. He stood toe-to-toe with Chuvalo and used his hand speed to win a decision. The final scorecards read 6-5-1, 8-4, and 7-5, in favor of Patterson. The bout produced enough excitement to be named The Ring’s “Fight of the Year.�

In November of 1965, Patterson faced Ali for the title. The champion continually embarrassed him before the fight was finally stopped in the 12th round. Chuvalo also faced Ali for the heavyweight belt in March of 1966. He lost a lopsided decision but is remembered by boxing aficionados for one of the gutsiest performances in history.

Today in Boxing History: Jersey Joe Walcott born in New Jersey

On this day in 1914, Arnold Raymond Cream was born in Merchantville, New Jersey. In 1930, he turned professional, honoring his idol and his home state, and became Jersey Joe Walcott.

It would take 17 years for Walcott to receive a shot at a world title. Finally, in 1947, he was picked to be Joe Louis’ 24th title defense. Walcott made the most of his long-awaited opportunity, knocking Louis down twice, but losing a hotly-contested split decision. When the two met again six months later, Louis knocked Walcott out in the 11th round.

The champion retired following the bout and Walcott faced Ezzard Charles for the vacant title in 1949, losing a 15-round decision. Walcott challenged Charles for the belt again in March of 1951, and lost another decision. They met again four months later, and the fifth title shot proved to be the charm for Walcott. In the seventh round, Walcott approached Charles with his trademark shuffle before flooring him for the full ten-count with a left hook. At 37 years of age, he became the oldest heavyweight champion in history.

Walcott won his first defense, a 15-round decision over Charles, in 1952. He then defended his title against Rocky Marciano. Walcott dominated most of the bout and entered the 13th-round with a comfortable lead. However, early in the round, Marciano threw the most famous right in boxing history, sending the champion crumpling to the canvas. Walcott was counted out at 43 seconds into the 13th round.

After being knocked out in the first round of his rematch with Marciano in 1953, Walcott retired. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Following his career in the ring, Walcott served as a boxing referee, a sheriff, and as the chairman of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission. He died of complications from diabetes in February of 1994.

Nine months later, a 45-year-old George Foreman broke Walcott’s record by winning the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles with a 10th-round knockout of Michael Moorer.

Today in Boxing History: Miguel Canto born in Mexico

On this day in 1948, Miguel Canto was born in Merida, Mexico. The slick fighter is one of the most successful flyweight champions in history.

Canto turned professional in 1969, losing his first bout via a third round TKO. Following an 8-3-2 start, he found his stride and remained perfect for more than two years.

His next loss was a majority decision to Betulio Gonzalez for the vacant WBC flyweight title in 1973. Canto persevered by winning his next six fights. In then meantime, Gonzalez lost his belt to Shoji Oguma by split decision. Canto then faced Oguma for the title in 1975, and won it by majority decision.

Canto’s run as champion lasted for more than four years. During his reign, he twice avenged his loss to Gonzalez and defended his title 14 times.

In 1979, Canto lost his belt to Chan Hee Park by a 15-round unanimous decision. Their rematch resulted in a draw and Canto never received another title shot. He retired in 1982, after losing four of his last five bouts.

Canto was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998.

Today in Boxing History: Frankie Randall decisions J.C. Chavez

On this day in 1994, Frankie Randall won the WBC light welterweight title with a split decision over Julio Cesar Chavez in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the first time Chavez had been beaten in 91 fights.

Chavez began his career in 1980, always emerging victorious over every opponent he ever faced. Along the way, he won titles at super featherweight, lightweight, and light welterweight. From the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, Chavez was recognized as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

However, his unbeaten streak was not without controversy. Among the disputes were a disqualification loss to Miguel Ruiz that was later changed to a knockout victory, a controversial 12th-round TKO victory over Meldrick Taylor, and a draw with Pernell Whitaker so questionable that Sports Illustrated’s coverage of the fight was simply titled, “Robbed.�

With Randall, most boxing experts predicted that Chavez would win without controversy, but the challenger was full of surprises. He took the fight to the champion and built a large lead on the judges’ scorecards. Chavez also had two points deducted for low blows. In the 11th round, Randall sent Chavez to the canvas for the first time in his career. The final scorecards read 114-113 for Chavez and 114-113 and 116-111 in favor of Randall.

A rematch took place four months later and Chavez won his title back with a technical decision. The two then met for a rubber match in 2004, with Chavez winning a 10-round unanimous decision.

Today in Boxing History: Alexis Arguello TKOs Alfredo Escalera

On this day in 1978, Alexis Arguello won the WBC super featherweight title with a 13th-round stoppage of Alfredo Escalera in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. It was the second championship of Arguello’s career.

Arguello won his first title, the WBA featherweight belt, in 1974, with a 13th-round knockout of Ruben Olivares. He then defended it four times before moving up in weight to challenge in the super featherweight division. Escalera had won the title in 1975 when he knocked out then-champion Kuniaki Shibata in the second round. Arguello would be his 11th title defense.

The fight earned the nickname, “The Bloody Battle of Bayamon,� because of the brutal punches traded between its two participants. Escalera, however, suffered the most damage from the exchanges. By the tenth round, his nose was broken, and his ears and mouth were cut. Yet he continued to stand toe-to-toe with Arguello, occasionally rocking him with one of his bombs. But in the 13th round, Arguello caught Escalera with a flurry of shots, and referee Arthur Mercante stopped the bout.

The two met for a rematch with similar results in April of 1979. This bout also ended with a knockout of Escalera, minus the technicality, in the 13th round.

Arguello defended the super featherweight belt eight times before capturing the WBC lightweight title in 1981. Escalera continued fighting until 1983 but never again challenged for another world title.

Today in Boxing History: Owen Moran/Jim Driscoll draw

On this day in 1913, two of Britain’s all-time greatest, Owen Moran and Jim Driscoll, battled to a draw in London, England.

The two had met once before in a bout that resulted in a no-contest in January of 1906. Later that year, Driscoll won the British featherweight title with a 17th-round knockout of Joe Bowker. He still held the belt when he met Moran for the second time in 1913.

Like most of Moran’s fights, the bout was an all-out war and was ruled a draw in the end. Driscoll announced his retirement shortly after the fight. However, he returned to the ring following his service in World War I. His final fight was a 16th-round knockout at the hands of European bantamweight champion Charles Ledoux in 1919. Moran continued to fight until 1916.

Today in Boxing History: Salvador Sanchez born in Mexico

On this day in 1959, the late Salvador Sanchez was born in Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico.

Sanchez turned professional at the age of 16. He suffered his first loss at 18, a split decision to Antonio Becerra for the vacant Mexican bantamweight title. That and a draw with Juan Escobar in 1978 were the only blemishes to Sanchez’s career.

In 1980, Sanchez won the WBC welterweight title with a 13th-round stoppage of Danny Lopez. He successfully defended the belt nine times. His most memorable bout was with WBC super bantamweight champion Wilfredo Gomez, who was then undefeated with 32 straight knockouts. Sanchez dropped Gomez in the first round and consistently dominated the fight before it was stopped in the eighth round.

On July 21, 1982, Sanchez defended his title for the final time; stopping future featherweight and super featherweight champion Azumah Nelson in the 15th round. He was killed in an auto accident less than a month later. His tragic death at the age of 23 has left boxing fans with countless “what ifs.�

Sanchez was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.

Today in Boxing History: Ricardo Mayorga stops Vernon Forrest

On this day in 2003, Ricardo Mayorga retained his WBA welterweight belt and won the WBC portion of that title with a third-round stoppage of Vernon Forrest in Temecula, California.

Forrest was 35-0 going into the bout and coming off of back-to-back decision victories over Sugar Shane Mosley. He was a 6-1 favorite against the wide-open Mayorga, who had won the WBA title with a fifth-round knockout of Andrew Lewis in March of 2002.

In the first round, Mayorga, throwing nothing but bombs, sent an off-balanced Forrest to the canvas. An action-packed second round followed. Forrest then came out for round three dictating the fight’s pace with his jab. Midway through the round, Mayorga nailed Forrest with a right hand that sent him into the ropes. He then put Forrest on the floor with a left hook to the chin. Forrest beat the ten-count, but referee Marty Denkin determined that he was in no condition to continue and stopped the bout.

Mayorga, always colorful, celebrated his victory by smoking a cigarette.

The two met for a rematch in July of 2003, with Mayorga winning a controversial majority decision. In his next bout, he faced IBF welterweight champion Cory Spinks and lost a close majority decision.

Following his rematch loss to Mayorga, Forrest took three years off from boxing. Since his return to the ring in 2006, he has won three straight bouts.

Today in Boxing History: Joey Maxim KOs Freddie Mills

On this day in 1950, Joey Maxim won the world light heavyweight title with a 10th-round knockout of Freddie Mills in London, England.

Maxim had been fighting as a professional for nine years and had faced some of the best of his era, including Ezzard Charles and Jimmy Bivins, when he signed to fight Mills. The British Mills had won the title with a decision over Gus Lesnevich in 1948. Maxim was his first defense of the belt.

The bout was an exercise in facial damage, and Mills’ handlers had to fish loose teeth out of his mouth following the seventh and eighth rounds. Midway through the tenth, Maxim nailed Mills with a left to the solar plexus and followed it with a short, smashing one-two. The champion went to the canvas for good.

Mills retired after the bout, while Maxim held the title for more than two years before losing it to Archie Moore in 1952.