http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/players/eddie_mustafa_muhammad/74020 Recent articles about Eddie Mustafa Muhammad en-us (September 8, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Andre Ward [red gloves] fights Chad Dawson [blue gloves] during the super middleweight championship at ORACLE Arena. Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) Underachievement is an emotive word in boxing, perhaps more so than in any other sport. After all, how exactly do you tell a guy he hasn’t tried hard enough when he’s just spent 48 minutes trapped in the ring opposite someone schooled since childhood in the art of punching others in the face? It is a pastime that, on many occasions, demands more of from its participants than is either reasonable, realistic, or even within the realms of possibility. There is, for example, no other sport where an athlete would be expected to soldier on with a broken hand or shattered jaw, let alone criticised for failing to do so.  Accordingly, things quite often boil down to a battle of wills when inside the ropes, with two opposing warriors almost transported outside their bodies, so entirely submerged... Thu, 06 Jun 2013 22:36:56 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/boxings_greatest_underachievers/13780118 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/boxings_greatest_underachievers/13780118 Boxing's Greatest Underachievers http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/boxings_greatest_underachievers/13780118 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/e/de6e122228485e2787ed0a24bb3392219c608ba7/mini/Mikkel_Kessler_v_df2f.jpg Chad Dawson is still the WBC Light Heavyweight Champion of the world but the last impression many fight fans have of him consist of him being floored by Andre Ward. Dawson is well aware of this doubters and he’s working hard to gain back his stature as one of the top fighters in the world by facing Adonis Stevenson on June 8th. Dawson sat down with us to discuss his upcoming fight and what went wrong in his last bout with Andre Ward. BSO: Hi Chad, thanks for taking time out to sit down with us before your big fight. Dawson: Thank you for having me. BSO: Boxing fans want to know how you’re  feeling physically heading into this fight against Adonis Stevenson? Dawson: I’m feeling great, I’m back at my weight. The thing is before going down to 158 to fight Andre (Ward) I never had any problem with weight, I pretty much ate whatever I want. Light Heavyweight is my natural weight, 175 is my natural weight. I just want to get the Andre Ward fight out of my head and continue to be the top Light heavyweight Tue, 04 Jun 2013 18:59:49 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/bso_interview_wbc_light_heavyweight_champion_chad_dawson/13762856 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/bso_interview_wbc_light_heavyweight_champion_chad_dawson/13762856 BSO Interview: WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Chad Dawson http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/bso_interview_wbc_light_heavyweight_champion_chad_dawson/13762856 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/6/a68e840f9249690d78f974bb891c402d912112be/mini/Chad_Dawson_v_8a17.jpg Greg Cohen Promotions is proud to announce the signing of Afghani-Canadian super featherweight contender Arash Usmanee (20-1, 10 KOs) to a promotional contract. 31-year-old Usmanee, rated #14 by the IBF, has already won the NABA and WBC Continental Americas Championships as a professional. As an amateur he was a five-time National Canadian Champion. Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, Usmanee and his family moved to Alberta, Canada, when he was three years old. He now resides in Montreal. Usmanee's only career defeat was a highly controversial 12-round decision to fellow contender Rances "Kid Blast" Barthelemy on January 4 of this year. Fighting in Barthelemy's adopted home of Miami, Florida, and live on ESPN Friday Night Fights, Usmanee appeared to take the fight over at the midway point and grew more dominant as the rounds wore on. However, the judges saw it another way. Cohen will serve as promoter with Paul Keefe as manager and former world champion Eddie Mustafa Muham... Mon, 20 May 2013 12:27:57 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/arash_usmanee_signs_with_greg_cohen_promotions/13655881 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/arash_usmanee_signs_with_greg_cohen_promotions/13655881 Arash Usmanee signs with Greg Cohen Promotions http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/arash_usmanee_signs_with_greg_cohen_promotions/13655881 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png More than 300 people attended this past Sunday's second annual New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF) induction dinner, sponsored by Ring 8, at Russo's On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York, as 20 inductees from the Class of 2013 were honored. Photo captions: (L-R) Standing: NYSBOF & Ring 8 president Bob Duffy, Tony Graziano, James "Buddy" McGirt, Mark Breland, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad: seated: Junior Jones, Shelly Finkel, U.S. Congressman Peter King, Bobby Cassidy and Iran Barkley. Jones (L-R) NYSBHOF Nominating Committee member Henry Haschup, Junior Jones and Bob Duffy Barkley (L-R) John Reetz, Iran Barkley and Bob Duffy Graziano (L-R) NYSBHOF Nominating Committee member Don Majeski, Tony Graziano and Bob Duffy Cassidy (L-R) U.S. Congressman Peter King, Bobby Cassidy, Chris Cassidy, Bobby Cassidy, Jr. and his two children. Breland (L-R) Master of Ceremonies David Diamante, Brian Adams, Mark Breland, Bob Duffy and Breland's son. Finkel (L-R) N... Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:40:57 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/new_york_boxing_hall_of_fame_induction_photos_quotes_notes/13520114 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/new_york_boxing_hall_of_fame_induction_photos_quotes_notes/13520114 New York Boxing Hall of Fame induction photos, quotes & notes http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/new_york_boxing_hall_of_fame_induction_photos_quotes_notes/13520114 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Golden-era heavyweight champion of the world, Jack Dempsey, and legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum lead a star-studded cast of 20 inductees into the second-year New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF). The huge list of fighters includes the likes of Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Sandy Saddler, and many other greats. The second annual NYSBHOF induction dinner will be held Sunday afternoon (12:30-5:30 p.n. ET), April 2O, at Russo's On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York. "This is an exceptional group of inductees," NYSBHOF and Ring 8 president Bob Duffy said. "We are inducting legitimate New Yorkers in the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame. All of these inductees have a significant impact on New York State boxing during their respective times. There are many other potential inductees but this is only our second year. We're confident that any deserving people who haven't been inducted yet will be inducted in due time. There's a process we'r... Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:18:33 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/new_york_state_boxing_hof_to_induct_huge_class_with_jack_dempsey_bob_arum_holyfield_whitaker/13075123 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/new_york_state_boxing_hof_to_induct_huge_class_with_jack_dempsey_bob_arum_holyfield_whitaker/13075123 New York State boxing HOF to induct huge class with Jack Dempsey, Bob Arum, Holyfield, Whitaker http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/new_york_state_boxing_hof_to_induct_huge_class_with_jack_dempsey_bob_arum_holyfield_whitaker/13075123 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions is proud to announce the signing of undefeated Adam "A-Bomb" Trupish (11-0, 8 KOs) to a promotional contract. Trupish, from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, is a two-time Olympian and was ranked fifth in the world after the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships. He represented Canada at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, and was the only Canadian boxer (in any weight class) to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. As a professional, Trupish has already enjoyed impressive success. In just 11 fights, he has taken the Canadian middleweight and super middleweight championships and also won and successfully defended the NABA Light Middleweight title. Along the way, Trupish has scored stoppages over long-time Canadian Middleweight Champion Larry Sharpe (25-8), Brazil's dangerous Rogerio Pereira (16-1) and useful Detroit veteran Darryl Cunningham (25-3). Trupish recently relocated to Las Vegas, where he trains... Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:26:01 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/undefeated_canadian_prospect_adam_trupish_signs_with_greg_cohen/12475210 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/undefeated_canadian_prospect_adam_trupish_signs_with_greg_cohen/12475210 Undefeated Canadian prospect Adam Trupish signs with Greg Cohen http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/undefeated_canadian_prospect_adam_trupish_signs_with_greg_cohen/12475210 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png When world championship boxing returns to Brooklyn, New York for the first time since 1931 at the brand new Barclays Center on Saturday, October 20, it will do so with one of its own.  Reigning WBA World Welterweight Champion Paulie "Magic Man" Malignaggi, fresh off of a masterful championship capturing upset of undefeated Ukrainian Vyacheslav Senchenko in Senchenko's hometown of Donetsk, will attempt to defend his title for the first time in his home borough against rugged Mexican Pablo Cesar Cano.Malignaggi, sure to be the hometown favorite, is part of a long legacy in the squared circle.  Brooklyn has been the birthplace of some of the biggest and most storied names in the history of boxing.  As Malignaggi prepares for Cano, a reflection on the shadows hovering over his homecoming reminds us just how much glory there is in the Brooklyn boxing tradition.  No shadow extends farther than that of Brooklyn's most famous fistic son.Kid Dynamite . . . Ir... Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:24:19 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/look_back_at_top_boxing_champions_from_brooklyn_as_rich_history_in_borough_is_restored/11927206 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/look_back_at_top_boxing_champions_from_brooklyn_as_rich_history_in_borough_is_restored/11927206 Look back at top boxing champions from Brooklyn as rich history in borough is restored http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/look_back_at_top_boxing_champions_from_brooklyn_as_rich_history_in_borough_is_restored/11927206 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Undefeateds Badou Jack & Alexander Brand Meet on Shobox Undefeated super middleweight Badou Jack "The Ripper" (10-0, 8 KOs) of Sweden says he's planning on having a great time when he makes his ShoBox: The New Generation debut on Friday, May 11against Colombia's also undefeated Alexander Brand (17-0, 15 KOs). Credit: Warriors Boxing The pair will meet as part of a live doubleheader telecast (11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®, delayed on the West Coast) entitled "Shootout at Texas Station", presented by Warriors Boxing live from the Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel in Las Vegas, headlined by Cuba's Yudel Jhonson (12-0, 8 KOs) taking on Cleveland's Willie "The Great" Nelson (17-1-1, 11 KOs) in the 10-round light middleweight main event. "He seems like a wild puncher who doesn't have the best defense," said Jack of opponent Brand. "I'm gonna beat him up and have fun. I like guys like this that throw ... Thu, 03 May 2012 10:32:30 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/badou_jack_the_ripper_im_gonna_beat_him_up_and_have_fun/10710974 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/badou_jack_the_ripper_im_gonna_beat_him_up_and_have_fun/10710974 Badou Jack the Ripper: I’m gonna beat him up and have fun http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/badou_jack_the_ripper_im_gonna_beat_him_up_and_have_fun/10710974 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png At 35 years of age, former WBO heavyweight champion Sergei Liakhovich, 25-4, 16 KOs, has been around the boxing block a few times. However, the mileage he has logged in the ring figures to be his biggest advantage in his next fight. Liakhovich will take on the younger and perhaps hungrier Bryant Jennings, 27, in a 10-round heavyweight contest on the latest edition of the nationally televised "Fight Night" boxing series on the NBC Sports Network, March 24th from Brooklyn, NY. The broadcast begins at 10PM ET. "The biggest problem for him will be my experience," said Liakhovich.   Credit: Richard Powell - FIGHTSAGA.COM And that experience is formidable. He had an all-star amateur career with a 145-15 record and numerous titles, trophies and medals to his credit. As a professional, Sergei has met top heavies like Lamon Brewster, Shannon Briggs, Nikolay Valuev, Dominick Guinn and Maurice Harris. Liakhovich did not beat them all, but he learned valuable... Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:08:01 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/liakhovich_my_experience_will_be_too_much_for_jennings/10290301 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/liakhovich_my_experience_will_be_too_much_for_jennings/10290301 Liakhovich: My experience will be too much for Jennings http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/liakhovich_my_experience_will_be_too_much_for_jennings/10290301 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png WOODLAND, Calif. -- Saturday night, from the Woodland Community Senior Center, 2004 U.S. Olympian Vicente Escobedo fought in his hometown for the first time in his 28-bout career, as he met Lonnie Smith of Las Vegas in the ten-round main event of TeleFutura's Solo Boxeo. Escobedo made it a successful homecoming, dismantling Smith in the 1st round, dropping him three times before the fight was waved off. Escobedo (24-3, 14 KOs) came into the fight at 129 pounds, which marks the lightest he had ever weighed for a fight in his run as a professional. It marked his second fight in a row in the junior lightweight division, where Escobedo hoped to bring new life to his career after previous failed attempts at breaking through at the world level in the lightweight division. “Better late than never,” said an elated Escobedo following the win. “I didn't have any problems getting down to 130 and there's a new Escobedo at this weight.” Smith found a home for his jab to b... Sun, 04 Mar 2012 15:56:23 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/vicente_escobedo_makes_quick_work_of_lonnie_smith/10229959 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/vicente_escobedo_makes_quick_work_of_lonnie_smith/10229959 Vicente Escobedo Makes Quick Work Of Lonnie Smith http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/vicente_escobedo_makes_quick_work_of_lonnie_smith/10229959 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/8/b8cf1d1019f8498b923fad2b86aff7e966a92010/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f51196467.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193B07CCDF00DC06F5722A92A823F43C996329DF394FE942516.jpg On a weekend devoid of a marquee matchup, Lonnie Smith has an opportunity to steal the spotlight as he meets fellow junior lightweight and former U.S. Olympian Vicente Escobedo in a 10-round crossroads bout in the latter’s hometown of Woodland, Calif. The fight, scheduled for Saturday, (Smith's 25th birthday), will be aired on TeleFutura's Solo Boxeo. Though Wladimir Klitschko is slated to defend his two alphabet straps earlier that day against former cruiserweight champion Jean Marc Mormeck, the preservation of his titles seems predetermined; Mormeck, pushing 40, is five years senior to and nearly a foot shorter than the reigning heavyweight king. That the weekend's most competitive card – on paper, anyway – will air on Solo Boxeo is surprising. Since Golden Boy Promotions and Telefutura announced their partnership in April 2010, the matchmaking has been lukewarm at best. Escobedo’s resume boasts a number of high profile fights, though victory has often, if ba... Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:02:52 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/lonnie_smith_see_you_at_the_crossroads/10216174 http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/lonnie_smith_see_you_at_the_crossroads/10216174 Lonnie Smith: See You At The Crossroads http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/lonnie_smith_see_you_at_the_crossroads/10216174 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/b/6b32a28683565d53141a18ab922423ff51e6d8d8/mini/mccoy.jpg http://www.fightsaga.com/news/item/1826-Famed-Trainer-Supports-Floyd-Mayweather-Jr-vs-Robert-Guerrero Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:33:43 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/blog/guerrero/article/famed_trainer_supports_floyd_mayweather_jr_vs_robert_guerrero/9368081 http://www.yardbarker.com/blog/guerrero/article/famed_trainer_supports_floyd_mayweather_jr_vs_robert_guerrero/9368081 Famed Trainer Supports Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Robert Guerrero http://www.yardbarker.com/blog/guerrero/article/famed_trainer_supports_floyd_mayweather_jr_vs_robert_guerrero/9368081 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The Ten Greatest Light Heavyweights in Boxing History For many reasons, ranking light heavyweights is a tricky endeavor. Many of the greatest to ever do it at this weight were never officially champion. The issue of racism rears its head in this weight class, with many of the division’s top practitioners from the first half of the century being denied their rightful place. Many old-time greats fought in many divisions and it can be difficult to isolate their prime into one division. Without many of them having won titles at 175, it’s not always clear. Almost half of this top-ten is occupied by fighters who were never officially champions at this weight. In other words, coming up with a list takes a little more work in this division than some others. Here are the ten greatest light heavyweights who ever lived. 1. Archie Moore (1935-1963): Credit: Bettmann/ CORBIS Sure, it’s become en vogue to call Ezzard Charles the greatest light heavyweight of all time. While I won’t argue with ... Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:45:53 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/top_10_best_light_heavyweight_boxers_of_all_time/9293252 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/top_10_best_light_heavyweight_boxers_of_all_time/9293252 Top 10 Best Light Heavyweight Boxers of All-Time http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/top_10_best_light_heavyweight_boxers_of_all_time/9293252 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png