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.