http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/players/jersey_joe_walcott/74576 Recent articles about Jersey Joe Walcott en-us "COME ON ye moving picture guys,  And listen to my tale;  Ye hurlers of the custard pies Who gather in the kale. Another moving stare we hear,  Must in the picture horn-- And his name is Georges Carpentier Greatest fighter ever born." - Francois Descamps, Omaha World Herald, 1920 *******  "Sam Langford, himself one of the greatest fighters that ever pulled on a glove, was the first we interviewed as to his greatest fighter. Sam picks Jack Johnson. He came with a natural. He didn't hesitate at all. We met him at Jack Dempsey's camp in Toledo the day before the big bout, and Sam was very strong for Johnson. He said that no man could lick Willard because Willard licked the greatest man that ever lived. 'Didn't you say that Jeffries would lick Johnson?' we asked for a kid. 'Yes. Yes, I did say that, but I was sore at Johnson then,' said Sam. 'You know he gave me a licking a long time ago in Bost... Wed, 22 May 2013 02:52:56 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/from_beyond_the_grave_the_hyperbole/13671079 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/from_beyond_the_grave_the_hyperbole/13671079 From Beyond The Grave: The Hyperbole http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/from_beyond_the_grave_the_hyperbole/13671079 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The results of the Sweet 16 of our Fantasy Heavyweight Madness Tournament are in.  The first round had several interesting matchups and some surprise outcomes.  The winners advance to round two, the Elite Eight of our March Madness for heavyweights. Take a look at how these matches played out and which fighters advanced. 1. Ali vs. 16. Jeffries The Tournament Committee gave us a gift in this coupling.  This is a rematch of the infamous 1967 computer simulation bout created by Murray Woroner. In that simulation, Jeffries beat Ali which enraged Ali to the point where Ali actually sued Worner for defamation of character. In our simulation, the outcome is a bit different. Jeffries is probably an underrated Heavyweight. He has great power and a great chin. His overall boxing skills were a bit cruder than Ali’s but his chin, power and endurance are legendary. The fight begins: The first few rounds are uneventful. Ali dancing and Jeffries crouching without many meaningful exchanges. As th... Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:22:30 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/heavyweight_march_madness_the_sweet_sixteen/13206046 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/heavyweight_march_madness_the_sweet_sixteen/13206046 Heavyweight March Madness – The Sweet Sixteen http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/heavyweight_march_madness_the_sweet_sixteen/13206046 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Previously, I compiled a list of my top 10 favorite boxer-punchers. From Sugar Ray Robinson to Joe Louis to Marvin Hagler and others, these were some of the best fighters throughout the history of the Sweet Science. Now, it's time to look at my top 10 favorite outside boxers. Outside fighters spend most of their time at a safe distance from their opponents, creating space to avoid getting hit often, while allowing the fighter to establish a jab. Using the jab as a range finder and as a defensive tactic, it helps to create the fighter's position and pacing, set up additional attacks and combinations, keep his opponent playing his rules. Lastly, in order for an outside fighter to be effective, he must have good footwork and movement. There have been many great fighters throughout boxing history which have used this style. While some would associate the style of an outside fighter or a pure boxer with the word "boring", that's certainly not the case amongst true ... Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:38:28 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/top_10_favorite_outside_boxers_in_history/13170550 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/top_10_favorite_outside_boxers_in_history/13170550 Top 10 favorite outside boxers in history http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/top_10_favorite_outside_boxers_in_history/13170550 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png In rewatching Elia Kazan's 1954 classic, On the Waterfront, I was reminded that three of Joe Louis' so-called bums -- Tony Galento, Abe Simon, and Tami Mauriello (respectively, Truck, Barney, and Tullio in the film) -- constituted Johnny Friendly's muscle.  Friendly, portrayed by Lee J. Cobb, was the gangster in charge of the docks and Terry Malloy's (Marlon Brando's) nemesis.  But while Galento, Simon, and Mauriello may have been third-tier actors, they sure as hell weren't bums.  Joe Louis - Public Domain Photo From early 1939 to early 1942, as well as following his discharge from the Army, Louis took on in rapid succession the best the heavyweight division had to offer. While none of the opponents proved a match for the one-of-a-kind Brown Bomber, and henceforth became known as his Bum of the Month Club, they can hardly be considered two-bit club fighters -- they were rivet-tough and pros through and through. Truck 'Two Ton' Tony Gal... Sat, 06 Oct 2012 14:24:57 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/truck_barney_tullio_in_on_the_waterfront_3_men_who_took_on_joe_louis/11896078 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/truck_barney_tullio_in_on_the_waterfront_3_men_who_took_on_joe_louis/11896078 Truck, Barney & Tullio in On the Waterfront: 3 men who took on Joe Louis http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/truck_barney_tullio_in_on_the_waterfront_3_men_who_took_on_joe_louis/11896078 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Fifty-seven years ago today -- September 21, 1955 -- Heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano successfully defended his title for the sixth and final time by stopping Archie Moore in the ninth round. The only heavyweight champ to retire undefeated (49-0), the Brockton Blockbuster gained the coveted title at age 29 by defeating Jersey Joe Walcott on September 23, 1952, which coincidentally, occurred 60 years ago this coming Sunday. Credit: Estate of Rocky Marciano - c/o CMG Worldwide Marciano took the crown in the 13th round by delivering an up close and personal right (deemed one of the hardest hits in the history of the sport) to the hapless Walcott.  In the immortal words of boxing writer A.J. Liebling, Walcott "flowed down like flour out of a chute." The new champ first defended his title in 1953 by knocking out Jersey Joe in the first round of a rematch.  A few months later, Marciano defeated Roland LaStarza by technical knockout in the 11th.  The bones of LaSta... Fri, 21 Sep 2012 08:18:17 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/celebrating_the_60th_anniversary_of_rocky_marcianos_championship_win/11772403 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/celebrating_the_60th_anniversary_of_rocky_marcianos_championship_win/11772403 Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Rocky Marciano’s championship win http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/celebrating_the_60th_anniversary_of_rocky_marcianos_championship_win/11772403 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/3/93a71ac7067db457b0296b828a26a3074c816f3a/mini/Heavyweights_7f8e.jpg Boxing is known for its brutality, and many fans pay to see knockouts. Some knockouts are renowned strictly for their violent nature. However, other knockouts are remembered for their historical significance. Marciano vs. Walcott Rocky Marciano defeated Jersey Joe Walcott … Continue reading → Fri, 17 Aug 2012 01:07:44 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/the_ten_greatest_knockouts_in_the_history_of_prizefighting/11478448 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/the_ten_greatest_knockouts_in_the_history_of_prizefighting/11478448 The ten greatest knockouts in the history of prizefighting http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/the_ten_greatest_knockouts_in_the_history_of_prizefighting/11478448 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/3/93a71ac7067db457b0296b828a26a3074c816f3a/mini/Heavyweights_7f8e.jpg Heavyweight champion WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO (56-3, 49 KOs), of Kiev, Ukraine, his Hall of Fame trainer EMANUEL STEWARD, hosted an international media conference call on Wednesday discussing Klitschko’s March 3rd world title defense against two-time cruiserweight champion Jean-Marc Mormeck (36-4, 22 KOs), of Pantin, France.  Right here, you can take a look at the entire transcript to see what Klitschko and Steward have to say abotu the upcoming fight against Mormeck, and more. Tom Loeffler:       After Vitali's fight and all the fireworks that happened with Chisora, both in the ring and outside the ring, there was about 5,000 tickets left for this fight with Wladimir against Mormeck, and in the last two weeks, those have all been pretty much sold.  We have some single tickets left, but it'll be a complete sellout by Saturday night, at 50,000 people in the Esprit Arena here in Düsseldorf.  It's a soccer stadium, and it's one of the nicest stadiums out here in Europe.  An... Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:30:20 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/klitschko_steward_conference_call_transcript/10204429 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/klitschko_steward_conference_call_transcript/10204429 Klitschko & Steward conference call transcript http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/klitschko_steward_conference_call_transcript/10204429 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/1/012bab003288416d5d944aba43b3b8c8a4087a2c/mini/Boxen_WBA_internationale_a2bb.jpg I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with the late, great Guerino “Goody” Petronelli for the first time a few years ago when I lived one town over from Brockton, Massachusetts and wanted to make a boxing comeback after about 10 years away from the sport. Walking up the 44 steps leading to Petronelli’s gym at 28 Petronelli Way for the very first time, I could hear the telltale thwack of a speed bag being worked and the jarring beeps of the round timer going off. Upon entering the facility, I felt like I just stepped into a museum highlighting the storied boxing history of Brockton. There were faded news clippings and old fight posters covering almost every inch of the wall space.   Some of the area’s best fighters in just about every weight class were known for frequenting Goody Petronelli’s place of business at some point in their careers. Many of them were on those walls, frozen in time and staring perpetually at prospects and seasoned pros who kept the Brocktonboxing tradition alive.    P Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/goody_petronelli_he_lived_for_the_sweet_science/9726094 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/goody_petronelli_he_lived_for_the_sweet_science/9726094 GOODY PETRONELLI: HE LIVED FOR THE SWEET SCIENCE http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/goody_petronelli_he_lived_for_the_sweet_science/9726094 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/3/f3fd70e312c62d0b0a44099e9fecc0b7f34ba611/mini/2007_Laureus_World_f580.jpg It has been said for a decade now that the heavyweight division is complete and utter garbage. A bunch of foreigners and journeyman Yanks with an occasionally great natural Super Middleweight/Light Heavyweight American like Roy Jones or James Toney mixed in.  What irks us Americans the most is the fact that for the last 10+ years with the exception of former Linear Champion Hasim Rahman and Lamon Brewster who held an alphabet title for an hour and a half, the division has been ruled by a European. Those hiccups aside, subsequent to the great Lennox Lewis (another European) for the past several years the division has been ruled by something even worse than a European: two Europeans!   WBC Heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (43-2 with 40 KO’s) and his younger brother WBO/IBF/IBO/Ring Magazine Wladimir Klitschko (56-3 with 49 KO’s) have ruled the heavyweight division with an iron fist. Vitali has arguably never lost a round as champion, prior and subsequent to regaining the WBC title at the age of 37 f Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:47:53 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/if_the_klitschkos_were_american_they_would_be_gods/9710803 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/if_the_klitschkos_were_american_they_would_be_gods/9710803 IF THE KLITSCHKOS WERE AMERICAN THEY WOULD BE GODS http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/if_the_klitschkos_were_american_they_would_be_gods/9710803 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/d/adb47484e1e4601442a710c65c933407603014ad/mini/Vitali_Klitschko_v_f944.jpg By Rich Mancuso To many he was “The Greatest Fighter of All-Time.” Muhammad Ali would say it that way, and we all believed because it was the truth. On his 70th birthday Tuesday, boxing once again received some deserved acclaim and a lot of that has to be attributed to Ali. There was the unpredictability, the punch, and of course the foot- work, that “Floated like a Butterfly.” And while it can be open for debate, there is enough fact and evidence that Muhammad Ali was indeed and perhaps “The Greatest Fighter of All-Time.” So when Ali reached a milestone, boxing was again in the spotlight. The sport always was in the headlines when the three-time heavyweight champion ruled a division that epitomized greatness. It was boxing, old school as we knew it, the sport of kings that had one legitimate heavyweight champion. No alphabet soup champions. It was Muhammad Ali, a spokesperson for the sport when one champion was recognized as the best. Years later, it is a different and slower Ali. ... Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:39:39 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/celebrating_the_greatest_on_his_70th_birthday/9442634 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/celebrating_the_greatest_on_his_70th_birthday/9442634 Celebrating “The Greatest” on His 70th Birthday http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/celebrating_the_greatest_on_his_70th_birthday/9442634 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Ten Greatest Heavyweights in Boxing History While one of the easiest lists to compile, with so many many hallmark names at the top, it is one of the more sticky rankings in the sport. The number one and two spots are easy enough, with an even argument on Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis. After that, it is an absolute free-for-all with some of the giants from the past. This division, more than any other, requires one to ignore the head-to-head fantasy component. Let’s face it, what a heavyweight really is has changed drastically over the years. Up to 4 of the people on this top-ten might not even be a heavyweight in today’s era of 250-pound cyborgs. This division really forces one to be mindful of the fact that a fighter can only really be judged against his era. There are so many different factors and who’s to say which ones should carry more weight? One can go off any number of things, like accomplishments, won-loss record, quality of opposition, or a ton of other factors. Not to mentio... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:44:06 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/top_10_best_heavyweight_boxers_of_all_time/9270806 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/top_10_best_heavyweight_boxers_of_all_time/9270806 Top 10 Best Heavyweight Boxers of All-Time http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/top_10_best_heavyweight_boxers_of_all_time/9270806 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png