October 3, 1933: Boxing and Georgia Lose Young Stribling

William Lawrence Stribling, Jr., aka Young Stribling, "King of the Canebreaks"

 

The collision between Young Stribling's motorcycle and Mr. R. V. Johnson's car sent "Strib" airborne, somersaulting onto his back and off the side of the highway leading to Macon, Ga. Stribling's right leg pointed toward a ditch while his left foot hung on to the rest only through the strength of a tendon and some skin. 

Usually Stribling hurtled down that highway at breakneck speeds, but not on October 1, 1933; his wife Clara gave birth to their son two weeks earlier and awaited Stribling at the hospital for a visit. While en route he slowed down to greet pal Roy Barrow, who was driving the opposite direction, and the car following his friend attempted to pass without seeing Stribling, crushing his leg at about the ankle.

"Well, kid," Stribling shakily told Barrow, "I guess it means there will be no more roadwork."

October 1, 1943: Manuel Ortiz KO4 Leonardo Lopez

Bantamweight Manuel Ortiz, South California boxing legend.

 

Archie Moore, the light heavyweight king who ruled for most of the 1950s, once said of bantamweight Manuel Ortiz, “He had his weaknesses, but don’t we all?” 

In 1943, about one year into Ortiz’s reign at bantamweight, his only weakness appeared to be a slow-warming motor. From the time he defeated Lou Salica for bantam laurels in August of 1942 to his October of 1946 loss to Carlos Chavez, Ortiz fought 38 times, winning all but one: a loss to a bigger and slicker future featherweight ruler Willie Pep. 

Throwback Thursday - Mickey Walker Evens Score With Maxie Rosenbloom on Points

Source

Most boxing fans should be familiar with the term "crossroads fight." For those who aren't familiar, a crossroads fight is defined as one where the career trajectory of both men seem to be divergent. Bouts where youngsters face veterans often fit the description. 

In those match ups, it sometimes happens that the guy supposedly fated to win and move on actually loses, suffering a setback that affects his career in one way or another. 

On May 8, 1934, Mickey Walker, weathered son-of-a-gun, avenged his most recent loss by out-pointing Maxie Rosenbloom, crafty son-of-a-gun. 

TQBR Radio 5/6: Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana Recap with Joel Stern

“Okay. Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne and Floyd Mayweather walk into a dressing room doing a three-way hug…”

Though that might seem like that’s the set up to one of the most mind- and/or gender-bending joke in the universe, it actually happened the other night. Let the reality of that sink in for a moment.

TQBR Radio 4/29: Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana Preview, With Tim Starks and Matt Swain

That image attached to the article is of Lucas Matthysse sledgehammering John Molina, courtesy of Jae C. Hong/AP, and probably depicts what happens when two men enter a boxing ring under “Loser doesn’t get to listen to TQBR Radio this coming week” rules. It gets brutal, because the show is in high demand…among bloggers.

Throwback Thursday - Tommy Loughran Narrowly Outpoints Harry Greb

Tommy Loughran; Source

Many of the greatest fighters in history had some sort of rival or antithesis that helped define their careers. Obvious examples would be Muhammad Ali having his Joe Frazier, or Tony Zale his Rocky Graziano. The list goes on. 

Why, though, are there pairs of men who faced each other numerous times without any sort of higher meaning being assigned to their interactions? 

That said, if one was unlucky enough to have to measure guts against Harry Greb in a ring multiple times, there was a good chance he would only manage one win. Tommy Gibbons, Battling Levinsky, Billy Miske, Soldier Bartfield, Gene Tunney and more had, at a minimum, a terrible time simply sticking around in the same ring as Greb. Getting a legitimate win over the man was rare enough that it could be a cause for celebration. 

Loughran's only official win against Greb in six total bouts happened on October 11, 1923. Call it a personal holiday of sorts. 

TQBR Radio 4/22 - Bernard Hopkins vs. Beibut Shumenov Recap, Much More

If Bernard Hopkins were to go parasailing, we imagine him floating about to the tune of Kansas’ “Dust in the Wind.” Because he’s old. …because that’s what everyone wants to talk about when he fights.

But thankfully us boxing fans seem to be barreling into a period of unrest for the sport, in a good way. There’s a bit of a potential groove coming up, so let’s all pretend to be Stella and get it back.

Throwback Thursday - Battling Siki Dusts Georges Carpentier, Becomes Champ

Battling Siki, hoisted on the shoulders of his corner and supports after defeating Georges Carpentier; Source

A repetitive, yet ever important theme in the world of boxing is how fights unfold parallel to the history of the times. Boxing fed off the momentum of social movements and vice versa, and it still does, with race being perhaps the easiest of fuels to ignite.

One of the more obvious examples covered here on TQBR was the Mike Weaver vs. Gerrie Coetzee showdown, which included racial tensions that were ridden and manipulated in order to generate more buzz, and more money. But not to be forgotten, Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney was a monster story in its day, around the same time. 

Sometimes the obvious and unexpected meet, though. For instance, France is still in the midst of racial and ethnic issues that have carried on for decades. Where once were the front lines of one of the globe's most shocking and bloody conflicts in World War I, now the current population face similar yet separate choices of color, religion and ethnicity. 

The September 24, 1922 bout between Amadou M'Barick Fall and Georges Carpentier figures has its own connection there, believe it or not. 

TQBR Radio 4/8: Tim Bradley vs. Manny Pacquiao II Preview, with Scott Christ

Kathy Willens/AP

What does it say about boxing, as a whole, that the first really big, meaningful fight of 2014 is happening about a quarter of the way through the calendar year? Really. That’s not a rhetorical question, and the answer probably won’t be in this post.

Whatever quasi-philosophical approach you take to figuring out how this year’s barren schedule relates to the broader ills in boxing, we have previewing to do. More specifically, James Foley of Bad Left Hook and TQBR’s Patrick Connor take a look at the rematch between Tim Bradley and Manny Pacquiao scheduled for this weekend. We wish there were more about the Pay-Per-View worth mentioning, but unfortunately, there’s… really not. The good news: joining the pair of screwballs this week is Bad Left Hook founder and editor Scott Christ.

Click this link to tune in live at 12:30 p.m. Pacific/3:30 p.m. Eastern, or download the episode later via iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

Throwback Thursday - Pancho Villa Irons Out Jimmy Wilde, Makes History

Pancho Villa, left, shakes hands with Jimmy Wilde before their bout; Source

The 1920s spirit flowed freely in 1923. The "roar" of the decade was being protected by low unemployment rates, jazz and dance clubs crawled with frantic activity, and New York -- a city that embodied the decadence of the decade -- was graced with ambiguous Prohibition laws that lubricated the mind and spirit.

And boxing breathed fire.

When Al Smith became the governor of New York, threats to ban boxing seemed to dissipate. Nathan Miller, notoriously cardiolithic anti-boxing advocate, could no longer force promoters to seek out venues in neighboring states, and the adoption of the Walker Law all but ensured boxing's survival. More importantly, Miller's exit paved the way for the business of boxing to flourish in New York City and surrounding locales. 

On June 18, 1923, the door was opened, and history was shoved through the threshold by the grating gloves of Filipino legend Pancho Villa. 

TQBR 4/1: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew Recap, Adonis Stevenson vs. Kovalev Fallout

Satisfaction: what boxing has been largely unable to provide lately; Source

What exactly do we get when a predatory butcher like Sergey Kovalev is granted a major pay cable network time slot to pulverize a virtually unknown opponent, and have it mean…nothing at all? Well, boxing, that’s what. While Adonis Stevenson’s departure to Showtime and the subsequent implosion of a likely matchup against Kovalev isn’t quite on the level of everyone failing miserably to make Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, it’s a solid middle finger to boxing fans, regardless of the weight added to Stevenson’s wallet.

Though Kovalev’s hatchet job of Cedric Agnew was comprehensive, enough questions were raised that it actually made a showdown against light heavyweight champion Stevenson even more attractive. Needless to say, James Foley of Bad Left Hook and TQBR’s Patrick Connor should have plenty complain about on this one. Also on the dart board? Thomas Dulorme’s win over Karim Mayfield on the HBO undercard, ESPN’s Boxcino tournament, and more.

Click this link to tune in live at 12:30 p.m. Pacific/3:30 p.m. Eastern, or download the episode later via iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

Throwback Thursday - Gunboat Smith Outpoints Sam Langford

The names Sam Langford and Ed "Gunboat" Smith are two that would be enough to pen an entire shelf-full of books. While one is often considered one of the greatest fighters to ever smash his mitts into a pair of gloves, the other is largely lost to the wake and smoke trails of history. 


They fought twice, though, highlighting massive social issues of the time, and underlining what exactly it might take to craft a truly great fighter.


Smith and Langford had already been scheduled to meet in New York, but the city's ban on "mixed race" bouts snuffed out the idea. In early October, when it became apparent that the fight would be rescheduled for November 17 or thereabouts, Sheriff Julius Harburger issued the following statement: "From the days when Abraham Lincoln issued his pronunciamento and proposition making colored men free and equal, which was ratified by the Fourteenth Amendment and received and lived up to in fourty-eight states and territories, no board in the city, known as a boxing commission, can adopt rules in violation of the principles of our constitution and governmental affairs."  

In essence, a white sheriff stuck his neck out to not only support the rights of a black fighter to prove his worth against a white counterpart, but to thumb his nose at a hypocritical and misguided system that wouldn't come crashing down until decades later. 

Gloves helped build the system, and over time, gloves would tear that system to pieces. 

TQBR Radio 3/18: Danny Garcia vs. Mauricio Herrera Recap

Pictured above: boxing, for the most part; Source

Oh, boxing. The jabs, the constant conflicts and drama, the back and forth action -- and that's just the media side of things!

It's easy to feel let down by the sport lately, and especially in comparison to the whirlwind that was 2013. Danny Garcia got a majority decision few seemed to think he deserved, Deontay Wilder scored an odd-looking knockout over Malik Scott, and even Juan Manuel Lopez's thrilling stoppage over Daniel Ponce de Leon was tainted by what looked to be an early yank from the stage. It could have been worse, sure. But it also could have been a lot better.

This week on Queensberry Rules Radio, James Foley of Bad Left Hook and TQBR's Patrick Connor trudge face-down through the muck of pugilism to bring their veritable army of listeners another week of questionable jokes and analysis. And since internet and Daylight Savings Time-related gaffes prevented an episode from happening last week, they'll also do some talking about the Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Alfredo Angulo Pay-Per-View.

Click this link to tune in live at 12:30 p.m. Pacific/3:30 p.m. Eastern, or download the episode later via iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

Throwback Thursday - Benny Leonard Snags Freddie Welsh's Title

Jack Dempsey, left, pretends to punch Harry Houdini, with Benny Leonard's help

There exists an adage in boxing: "As the heavyweights go, so goes boxing." It's a fancy way of saying that most people extract more pleasure out of the sport the larger the fighters are, and the harder they're hitting each other. It also means that the smaller a fighter is, the more difficult it will be to swat a path into public consciousness.
 
Times have changed, needless to say, but though the popularity of heavyweights has waned in recent years, the little scrappers still find it difficult to earn top billing. 

Many boxing fans are either too young to remember but for eras on end  the heavyweight champion was not only the proverbial "baddest man on the planet," but he was often among the most famous or easily identified. It was rare indeed that a smaller fighter could step into that world of celebrity. 

On May 28, 1917, "The Ghetto Wizard" Benny Leonard took a huge step toward achieving exactly that.

TQBR Radio - Julio Cesar Chavez Jr vs Brian Vera II Recap, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs Alfedo Angulo Preview

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., left, rekindled the above magic last Saturday on HBO; Source

 
Sometimes Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. asserts himself in the ring, using his size and brute strength to muscle around opponents en route to slowly beating them down. Other times he just gets high and eats cereal in his hot pink bikini briefs, which both co-hosts of Queensberry Rules Radio can possibly relate to.

Last weekend, Chavez scored a unanimous decision over Brian Vera, redeeming himself in the eyes of many, and extinguishing the torches that accompanied the pitch fork-wielding mob calling for his head. In the co-feature, Orlando Salido served Vasyl Lomachenko a 12 round reminder of the differences between the amateur and professional game.

This week on TQBR Radio, James Foley of Bad Left Hook and TQBR's Patrick Connor recap all of that stuff, and preview the upcoming Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Alfredo Angulo card. Even better, this coming weekend seems to signal the end of a dry spell in the sport, as action should get better from here. So let's see how negative and sarcastic we can get about it.

Click this link to tune in live at 12:30 p.m. Pacific/3:30 p.m. Eastern, or download the episode later via iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

Throwback Thursday - Young Peter Jackson and Dixie Kid Fight to a Stalemate

Young Peter Jackson; Source

Even the most rabid of boxing fans would have to scrape the look of perplexity off their faces if asked about that time Sim Thompkins and Aaron Lister Brown met in a ring. But tell them Young Peter Jackson and Dixie Kid squared off, and that might be speaking their language. 
Around the time of their meeting on December 26, 1904, nicknames and clever monikers were often ways to simply pay tribute to hometowns, ethnicity and even fighters of yesteryear who paved dangerous roads.

In this case, Young Peter Jackson's nickname was an homage to former "colored" heavyweight champion Peter Jackson, who waded through the heavyweight ranks, skin pigment unimportant, to have a respected boxing career. And that meant something to many, whether he realized it or not.

Jack Johnson, giant of both Galveston, Texas and black history, visited the grave of Jackson -- who had died of tuberculosis in 1901 -- in Brisbane, Australia shortly after seizing the heavyweight championship in 1908, as a nod of respect to one of his predecessors. 

On Jackson's grave marker reads simply, "This was a man."

Dixie Kid and Young Peter Jackson were among those who followed in the wake of such culture-bending and stereotype-destroying figures, merely trying to be men themselves. 

Throwback Thursday - Sam McVey Gets Revenge Decision Over Joe Jeannette

Sam McVey; Source

Around the dawn of the twentieth century, it wasn't at all uncommon for top black fighters to have fought each other a dozen or more times. Having been shut out of the title picture in various divisions time and again. Gimmicks were sometimes necessary to sell the fights, and when it came down to simply making a living as a fighter, any opponent would do just fine. 

 

Sam McVey and Joe Jeannette fought only five times -- a relatively short order compared to McVey's 15 times against Sam Langford and six against Harry Wills, or Jeannette's seven against Jack Johnson and 14 with Langford. 

 

These men essentially fought the best upper echelon fighters available, multiple times, and that is nearly unheard of in the current era of boxing.

TQBR Radio 2/18: The Return of Brian Campbell

Lack of substantial action in boxing has left a crater in our lives; via

A dearth of high end boxing is like a full moon to fans, in that in brings out some sort of weird instinctual drama detector. We'll find other ways to entertain ourselves, and sometimes it's just not pretty.

Luckily, Benjamin Franklin and Al Gore (probably) helped invent podcasts, and a few of us will have stuff to do. For instance, this week on Queensberry Rules Radio, ESPN's Brian Campbell joins James Foley of Bad Left Hook and TQBR's Patrick Connor in just...talking about boxing. Likely on the agenda, however, will be the middling type of boxing cards from the last week or so, Zou Shiming's return on another Macau card, Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora's co-headlining show, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Alfredo Angulo, and so forth.

Click this link to tune in live at 12:30 p.m. Pacific/3:30 p.m. Eastern, or download the episode later via iTunes or Stitcher Radio.

Destiny - The Story of Jimmy McLarnin vs Barney Ross (Video)

Throwback Thursday - Sam Langford Dispatches Fireman Jim Flynn

 

Source: San Diego Union

The state of California enjoyed a passionate, on again, off again love affair with prizefighting, having been declared illegal, banned, re-allowed and compromised upon various times in every major Golden State city -- and all that since only 1900. 

When boxing's popularity would peak, many fights were contested over only a few rounds, and in some jurisdictions, decision verdicts weren't even legal. In others, it hinged on what the local police force felt like that day. Needless to say, it wasn't that often that 20 round fights were signed and allowed in a large, seemingly lawless city like San Francisco. 

It was prime geography for a brisk winter match up, though. 

By December of 1908, Sam Langford had ended a months-long fight tour of New York and Boston, during which he stayed undefeated. Fireman Jim Flynn couldn't exactly be described as "fresh," and he was about four months removed from getting stretched by Al Kaufman, but Langford sought big fights and none of the fish were biting. That's where Flynn came in.