Interesting Boxing Trivia...

from http://members.tripod.com/~jeffsboxing/trivia.html

RECORDS
1. Youngest World Champion: WILFRED BENITEZ
2. Oldest World Champion/Heavyweight Champion: GEORGE FOREMAN
3. Youngest Heavyweight Champion: MIKE TYSON
4. Most Consecutive wins without loss: Hal Bagwell (180 fights, 175 wins, 2 draws, 3 no decision from 1938-1948)
5. Most consecutive KO’s: Lamark Clark (44 KO’s in a row)
6. Longest World Champion: Joe Louis (11 years 7 month)
7. Most Crowded Audience: CHAVEZ VS GREG HAUGEN

 

from http://members.tripod.com/~jeffsboxing/trivia.html

TYSON IN BLACK TRUNKS
Why Mike Tyson wears black trunks in his all fights? He wears the black trunks in the ring to show his deepest condolence for the passing away of his respected trainer, Cus d'Amato. This is a humane side of a Mike Tyson. (Sent by Joelman)

RUMBLE IN WASHINGTON
Washington 1991, the rumble between Riddick Bowe and Ellijah Carl Tillery became a street fight. Both still fought though the bell has rung. Tillery his Bowe, which raised his manager's anger. He pulled Tillery's hair and pushed him fall out of the ring. Tillery was then decided to disqualified. In the meantime, the dissapointed audience created a big riot in the ring. (Source: GO)

GOTCHA!
Johnny Dundee (born as Joseph Corrara) was the one who introduced a boxing technique called "The Scotch Woop". The technique was simple, he bounced his body to the rope, and attacked his opponent with full power plus the power of the bouncing. This technique was very dangerous either for his opponent or himself. In the fight against Willy Jackson, 1917, Dundee tried the technique he invented. Unluckily, Jackson was faster. His straight banged Dundee's open chin. He was KO'd in the first round. Gotcha Dundee!(Source: GO)


NAKED BOXER
Timmy Larkin had full confidence when he was entering the ring to fight his opponent, Tommy Cross in 1942. As usual, in the fight done in Newark both fighters were introduced by the ring announcer. At that time, Larking put off his robe that he wore in the dressing room. LOL! He forgot to wear his trunks, and he was caught naked by the audience. Everybody was laughing so loud, and Larkin covered his thingie in big embarrasment. Ha ha ha. (Source: GO)

SCARED REFEREE
Sam Russell was the referee of a featherweight match between Johnny Curley and Joe Fox in Brighton. In the first round, a wild punch blew Russell, and broke his glasses he wore. The match then was postponed for sometimes, because Russell tried the best glasses for his eyes. Then, being unpatient, the audience created a riot in the arena. Referre Russell was so scared in the incident, and he run to save himself under the ring. He then announced the night's boxing result from there. (Source: GO)

BAD LUCK EDITOR
In 1910, the editor of San Fransisco Bulletin had a very bad luck. He was too confident that James J. Jeffries, would easily KO the remaining Heavyweight Champion at that period, Jack Johnson. That was why he publish his preview edition with the big headline "JEFFRIES Knocks outs Jack Johnson". He got so panic when he received a telegraph telling Johnson KO Jeffries. The bad luck editor then asked his staff to withdraw all the newspapers with very high price!

LIFE CHANGES
Sid BURN was a good boxer before World War 1. During his golden period, he hired a young sparring partner, Ted "Kid" Lewis. Everytime they did a sparring partner training, Burn threated Lewis so bad. Years later, Lewis became the Welterweight world champion, and then he hired his old "fella" Sid Burn who was "over the hill" already. Lewis threated Burn as he did to him years before.
The story continued, there was a young fighter joined in their training, Rolland Todd. He learned all Lewis' strenght and weaknesses, until one day Todd defeated Lewis in a world title fight.
It's true life changes.

DIRTIEST FIGHTER AND TRAINER
Luis Resto surpisingly defeated favorite Billy Collins in an undercard fight of Duran vs Moore. But, then Resto and his trainer, Panama Lewis were then banned for life due to cheating during the fight.
After the fight, Collins complained his dad and trainer, Billy Collins, Sr., who then walked over and grabbed Resto’s gloves and finding out that Resto’s trainer, Lewis, had removed the padding out of Resto’s gloves.
Panama Lewis was before also suspected cheating when he trained Aaron Pryor. He was also involved in a controversy regarding Pryor vs Arguello first fight. Lewis was heard asking for "the drink" in Pryor’s corner. They gave him a bottle, and he said, "NOT that one, I want the one I mixed…" This created a controversy, but none knew what really happened unless Panama Lewis himself. (Informed by Elizabeth, Frisco, Dennis, Enswell, Valentino, TIP, etc. in DENNIS’ BOXING TALK FORUM)



MISSING AFTER A MEETING WITH AL CAPONE
1926. Boxer Berdmondsey Billy Wells was scheduled to fight the welterweight champion Micky Walker in Chicago. Before the duel, Wells met the legend mob Al Capone. It was unclear about what they were talking about, but Wells has never appeared until the scheduled time of the fight. The rumble then was cancelled...

14 ROUNDS FIGHT
One Saturday night in Africa, there was a rumble between Australian Max Gornick vs the hometown hero Charlie Smith. It was scheduled for 15 rounds. Until 12.00 PM, the fight has done for 14 rounds. If the fights continued, according to a lawyer who was coincidentally seeing the match in the stadium, it would break the Sunday Observance Act. The promotor then decided the fight as a draw.

 

MIKE TYSON'S MOST POWERFUL BLOWS
It was a fight of Mike Tyson's before he was KO'd by Douglas (I forget which fight) broadcast live on TV. There was a small earthquake in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, then we were smiling and one of us said, "Is it because of Mike's blows? We can feel the punches while we are thousand miles away from Las Vegas!" At that time, we belived Mike Tyson was undefeatable! (JC)

BURNS DID NOT KEEP HIS WORDS!
In 1908, Tommy Burns knew that his opponent, Jewey Smith, would never resist to fight long. Then, before the fight, both made a deal that Burns would make a long fight to satisfy the audience of Paris, where the fight was done.
Suddenly, in round 1, the flashlight belonged to a cameraman burned the decoration in the ring side (you know how it was, the camera flashlight in that year!) - seeing the fire and getting panic, Burns forgot the deal they made before the fight. He gave Smith a powerful straight on his chin, and KO'd him! After this, Burns escaped to save himself.

INJURIES OUTSIDE THE RING
MAX SCHMELLING got his Heavyweight European belt in 1939, then he retired due to his injuries he got when he became a parachute troop in Kreta. He got his injuries not inside the ring.

WALCOTT VS JOE LOUIS
Jersey Joe Walcott fought the heavyweight legend Joe Louis very-very strongly in 1947 and 1948. 10 years later, when Louis prepared for the fight vs Max Schmelling, Walcott was hired as his sparring partner. Walcott then was fired after working for 2 days only, because he knocked down Louis 3 times in a training.

THE GUINESS BOOK OF RECORDS
Most title fights owned by Jack Britton (USA), 3 times welterweight champion. In 1915-1922 he did 37 title fights, 19 wins and 18 no decision. (The Guiness Book of Records)

FIRST JUDGES IN AMERICA
Sept 28, 1915. Ted (Kid) Lewis outpointed Jack Britton for the welterweight 12 round title fight at that Atlas Athletic Club in Boston. The ref was Dan Lane and the 2 Judges were Bill Hamilton ans J.S. Sprago. This is known as the first fight in America using judges. (Dennis)

BAD LUCK TRAINER
FRANK CHURCHILL, a boxing trainer in early 20th century, recruit 3 street fighting talented boxers from Philippnes. One boxer became a workd champion, but then all of them tragically died in the ring.
1921, Featherweight Dencio Cabanella died after punished by Bert McCarthy in Australia. Four years later, Pancho Villa lost his title and life after fighting Jimmy McLarnin in California. The year after, last Churchill's boxer, Inocencio Moldes died after been punished bye Bud Taylor in the ring in Milwaukee.

ROUND BARGAINING
Abe ATELL and Owen MORAN, both Featherweight Masters, were equally satisfied after fighting in 25 rounds in 1908. The result was a draw, so they dealed to make a re-match. Owen wanted more than 25 rounds in the rematch, but Abe asked no more than 20. The Promotor stopped the bargaining and to compromise a 23 rounds fight. Again, the result was draw, but this time they decided not to make a re-match again. (DAN from Go)

AN ADVISE FOR LANGFORD
In 1917, when Sam E, Langford was going to fight the mean Fred Bulton in Boston, he requested an advise from his fellow friend, Harry Wills, "How to defeat him?"
Wills replied, "Get a golf stick, and beat his head with the stick." He contionued, "If he ducks, try once again. If you still cannot beat him with the stick, just escape to save yourself, before you die!" (Aba)

LIQUOR AND BOXER
Before World War I, Irish Heavyweight boxer, Nutty Curan, flied to Paris to fight US' Kid McCoy, a 40 years old tricky boxer. In round 12, Curran floored McCoy. McCoy then crawled to the ring side, where audience put their brandy and soda. McCoy got a glass of the liquor, and drank it. He then stood up and continued the fight. McCoy then was decided to win by decision! (Aba)

JOE FRAZIER
When Ali's belt was revoked in 1968, WBA conducted some elimination fights to find a new world champion. Names of participants were: Joe Frazier, Jerry Quarry, Floyd Patterson, Jimmy Ellis, Karl Mildenberger, Oscar Bonavena, Ernie Terrell and Thad Spencer. Later, Frazier cancelled his participation. After some fight, finally Ellis was crowned as the new champion after he defeated Quarry in Oakland.
2 years later, Frazier challemged Ellis, and Frazier won by KO in round 5. So, Frazier didn't need to fight some opponents to become a world champion in the elimination fights.

STREET FIGHTING RECORDS
Pat time's lightweight champion Benny Leonard had a record of street fighting. One day, he was requested to represent his gang, New York Street, to fight their competitor gangster from Sixth Street (name unrecorded). The objective of the fight was classic, to get the operation area. Leonard won in a 4 rounds duel. (go)

A SAD MOMENT OF A WILLIE PEP
Willie Pep was paid only at 3 bucks per day as a sparring partner for Manuel Ortiz in 1938. Six years later, he fought Ortiz in Boston. Pep won in a 10 rounds duel, and he received US$ 20,000. (go)

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE
1998, Indonesia. There's an amateur boxer in this country namely Soldier of Fortune. His name, based on his confession, is his birth name!

SHORTEST WORLD TITLE MATCH EVER
Gerald mcCleland vs Jay Bell is noted as the shortest world title match ever in the Guiness Book of Record.

 

SHORTEST WORLD CHAMPION
Jr. Welterweight champion Tony Canzoneri (USA) is the shortest word champion titlist, 33 days only (from May 21 until June 23, 1933) - Guiness Book of World Records.

LEWIS’ VICTIM
The controversial decision of Lewis vs. Holyfield in March 1999 couldn’t be accepted by some of their fellow fans. In Philippines, on March 18, 1999, 2 workers argued and quarreled in supporting their own idols, and finally they fought using knives.
The Holyfield’s fan was killed and Lewis’ was badly injured in the incident. Does it mean Lennox Lewis really deserved to win the fight?
Some years ago, I did also hear the similar thing when 2 fellow Phillipinos fought and killed his friend when they argued about which came out first, egg or chicken. (Jeff)

HE FORGOT FIGHTING A MARINE
Sixto Soria (Cuba) was a favorite as the gold medalist in 1976 Montreal Olympic. He kayoed his three opponents before he fought Leon Spinks in the final. Soria was sure he would also kayo Spinks easily. Soria then threw as many powerful punches as possible as the first round started. Spinks was not easily punched, even when Soria was exhausted, Spinks took the turn to punch him to kayo. Spinks got the gold medal following his brother Michael in Welterweight. After the fight, Soria admitted that Spinks was really a tough marine. (Dan/Go)

STILL A VICTIM OF RACE DISCRIMINATION
NORVELL LEE, USA’s 1952’s Helsinki Olympic Game team member, fought for his country in Lightheavyweight. Actually he was a heavyweight boxer, and he must decrease his weight for about 12 punds before the competition. Surprisingly, Lee got the gold medal after defeating Antonio Pacenza from Argentina.
When he returned to USA with his Olympics pride Lee realized it was all nothing. He was arrested in his own hometown Covingto, Kentucky which race discrimination law was still valid at that time. He was arrested only because he queued among the Whites at a bus stop! (Dan/Go)


NO HEART
Joe de John really a no heart boxer! When he fought Henry Kid Lee in Buffalo, 1951, John knocked down Lee twice in round 2. John again knocked down Lee in the next round. When Lee was crawling on the canvas and trying to stand up, Lee’s corner men waived their hands to give up. The referee also waived his hands to sign the fight was over. John thought the referee asked to continue the fight. John then sent punished Lee to kayo. There’s no further news the decision of this fight. (Go)

MISSING IN ACTION
Bobby Ruffin vs Johny Greco was almost cancelled. Ruffin was bored to wait the fight time, so he decided to walk outside the arena. When he returned to the arena, the announcer was announcing the match was cancelled because Ruffin was missing. Ruffin run and entered the ring to carry on the fight. This fight was declared a draw. (Go)

BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
Boxer AL COUTURE won the fastest knockout in boxing history by punching out Ralph Walton after only half a second had passed in the fight! (Jeff from Ripley's Believe It or Not!)

SINGING BOXER
JODY BERRY, 1950's pro heavyweight boxer, was the first boxer known to switch career as a professional singer in a nite club in Chicago. -Jeff-

LOST BECAUSE BEING A SOLDIER
Freddie "Red" Cochran got his welterweight title after defeating Fritzie Ivic in July 1949. Then while he should retain his title, and big money was waiting, he must join the US Army in the World War 2 – so his title was freezed.
After the war, Cochran had the chance to retain his title. Too bad, he has lost his condition after being a soldier. Cochran was KO’d by Marty Servo in round 4. (Dan/Go Magazine, from many sources)

WIFE’S SUPPORT
1895, Bob Fitzimmons was almost lost from his opponent, James J. Corbett in a world championship in Carson, Nevada. He had bruises on his face and badly injured. Seeing this, Rose, Fitzimmon’s wife, who was sitting on the ring side, cried and screamed louder than Fitzimmon’s trainer, "Hit the rib, Bo! Hit the rib!" Fitzimmon followed his beloved wife’s instructions, and started hitting Corbett’s rib. Finally Fitzimmon won by KO in round 14 in the deadly duel… "Thanks, honey!" (Dan/Go magazine)

SMOKING HABIT IS BAD
Tony Canzonery had a bad habit, he smoked cigarettes after training. His fellow sparring partner, Lou Ambers, has warned him about the bad habit but neglected by Canzonery.
In 1936 they fought for the world lightweight title. Ambers won the duel. After the fight, Ambers came to Canzonery, and said, "You know Tony, I always warned you not to smoke cigarettes. And this is the result of neglecting my advice…" (Dan/GO Magazine)

MOST KO WINS RECORD
The Heavyweight legend, Archie Moore (US) has the record of 194-26-8, 1 No Contest (141 KO) from 1936-1965, is known as boxer with most wins by KO in Guiness’ Book or World Records.

A Good Teacher
US’ WILLIE LEWIS, a Welterweight world champion, before the World War 1 was so popular in France. Knowing his fame, he often exhibited his skill. He often sparred with some young local French boxers, when he trained himself in a gym in Paris. Lewis played with these kids by throwing his famous jabs and straights only.
Years after, in 1912, Lewis fought a young opponent from French George Charpentier in Paris Hall. Lewis was so embarrassed being defetead by Charpentier on decision. The young champion practiced his jabs and straight he learned from Lewis more effectively that Lewis did. (Dan of Go Magazine)

The Best Psy War
Hartford, Connecticut, 1901. Terry "Terrible" McGovern (Featherweight Champion) fought his opponent Young Corbett. At that time McGovern was really a terrible fighter for his opponents. His punches are really terrible, and he often ko’d his opponents in early rounds.
Before the fight, Corbett made a psy war by slamming McGovern’s dressing room and shout, "Come out, you chicken *******! Go to hell with your loss!" The angry McGovern was lost by KO in round 2. (Dan from Go)

One Hand Show
1927. Jack Delaney, the light heavyweight world champion, got a broken arm in a street fight when he got drunk one night before his chanpionship fight. He kept his injury as a big secret, until he fought in the ring. He fought his opponent Jim Maloney with only one hand. And of course Delaney was lost his title. (Dan from Go)

Longest Career
Bob Fitzimmons fought in 1883-1914, has the longest career, recorded in Guiness' Book of World Records. (Dan from Go)

 

FIGHTING MANIAC
Battling Levinsky, US Light Heavyweight, was know as the maniac boxer with big passion to fight in the ring. One night, he took his girlfriend to attend an opera. Suddenly his manager contacted him to fight replacing a boxer who was supposed to fight in New York.
He was in rush to get a cab. Arriving at the arena, he grabbed someone else's gloves, stepped in the ring, and fighting. Levinsky won at the 2nd round against his opponent (unknown). Then, he returned to the opera house, and enjoying the show with his girlsfriend til the end. Really a fighting maniac!

BOXERS' QUOTES
Joe Frazier: "Kill the body and the head will die.", Joe Louis: "Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.", Willie Pep: "First your legs go. Then you lose your reflexes. Then you lose your friends.", Don King: "I never cease to amaze myself. And I say this humbly.", Sugar Ray Robinson: ""Hurting people is my business.", Randall "Tex" Cobb: ": "People always ask me if success is going to change me, and I tell them I sure hope so." (By Contenda)

BAD LUCK BOXER
In 1982, Ali Lukusa from Zaire was lost by KO in round 2 by Frank Bruno (UK) in West Berlin Sportshalle. After the match, Lukusa was hanging around the city for a sightseeing. Suddenly 4 people beat and robbed him. He was then left on the street. What a bad night! (ABA)

BOXING AND POLITIC
A young guy once asked the introvert heavyweight legend, John L. Sullivan how to face life. Sullivan replied, "Stay away from politic and learn boxing."

NEVER EVER UNDERESTIMATE EVEN AN UNDERESTIMATED OPPONENT!
That title is a perfect advise for 1947's heavyweight world rank Joe Baksi. After defeating English champion,Bruce Woodcock, Baksi was scheduled to fight Joe Louis for a Heavyweight world title. After the duel, Baksi was hanging around in Europe and spent a lot of money there. When he should return to US, he almost run out of money, so he signed contract for a fight against local Sweden champion, Olle Tandberg in Stocholm. Baksi was lost on points due to his bad endurance. Then his promotor Mike Jacobs cancelled the schedule, and Joe Walcott replaced his position to fight Louis. Then, in the next fight vs Ezzard Charles, Baksi was again defeated.

SKIN ALLERGY KOS BOXER
LONDON (AFP), February 10, 199 - Britain’s Herbie Hide has withdrawn from his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Heavyweight title defense against American Orlin Norris in Newcastle on Saturday.

Promoter Frank Warren’s Sports Network Organization said on Monday that Norwhich fighter Hide was suffering from a skin allergy that has been plaguing him for several weeks.

It is a second time the fight has fallen through, with Norris pulling outof scheduled bouts last year due to knee injuries.

Hide’s withdrawal is the second blow for the bill, with Britton Kevin Lueshing’s WBO light-middleweight title challenge to Namibian Harry Simon called off last week. Jeff.

INDONESIAN LADIES' SUPPORT FOR HOLYFIELD
March 99. Before the unification bout of Evander Holyfield vs Lennox Lewis, an Indonesian TV station interviewed some people to predict the results of the fights. Here are 2 funny comments from 2 ladiesI found:

1. "I think Holyfield will win because he resembles to my husband".
2. "Holyfield rules! Because his bald is very sexy!"
JEFF

NEW YORK MSG AND HEAVYWEIGHT MYTHS


First heavyweight bout in Madison Square Garden, NY: Jess Willard retaining his title against Frank Morran on March 15, 1916.
Joe Frazier defeated Muhammad Ali by decision in a stunning 15 rounds fight. 20,455 audience flooded the arena on March 8, 1971. This is the first ticket sold out in NY MSG.

Ali defeated Frazier in a non 12 rounds non-title bout. It's another ticket sold out in MSG.

Before the Lennox-Evander bout, there was 19 heavyweight title bouts, including 13 unification bouts.

Jack Dempsey retained his title twice here, and Joe Louis was undefeated in his 8 fights in NY MSG.

Riddick Bowe unified WBA/IBF titles after beating Michael Dokes at round 1 on February 7, 1993. This was the last heavyweight title bout before Lennox vs Evander.

Holyfield-Akinwande was scheduled to fight in MSG, but it was cancelled.

Many heavyweight legends Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, Larry Holmes, Ezzard Charles have fought here. Who's next?

 

LOVE STORY
One day in 1885, Ned Donnelly, a boxing trainer and promotor and also an ex boxer, left his gym with his girlfriend. Suddenly a robber attacked him, but as an ex boxer he easily ko’d the robber. When he took a rest after the duel, the robber woke up and tried to attack again. This time, Donnelly’s girlfriend smashed the robber with the heel of her shoes. Being impressed with his girlfriend's fighting skills, Donnely then married her. What a love story!

THE MOST HORRIBLE NICKNAME
Oscar de la Hoya is known as "The Golden Boy", Mike Tyson is "The Iron" and Evander Holyfield is "Real Deal". Stephen Oliver has a horrible nickname "The Death"; not because he always kills his opponents in the ring, but because his skin which is very pale, like a dead man!

BOXING DOESN’T MEAN A BUSINESS ABILITY
John CONTEH, the former light heavyweight champion of the world opened a restaurant called "JC" which could stand for either his name or Julius Caesar the Roman Emperor. But the restaurant had only a few customers. Even 1n 1981 Conteh was fined 100 poundsterling after he threw one of his waiters to the tables. A year later, he went bancrupt.

BOXING SOMETIMES MEANS MILITARY CAREER
John Ebenezer Samuel de Graft-Hayward, being successful both in the ring and his military career. In 1935, he became a welterweight amateur boxing champion in West Africa. Six years later he became the champion of middleweight. In his professional career he was ring named Chocolate Kid. After he retired from the ring, he joined the air force. When Ghana proclaimed as a country in 1957, he was a lieutenant colonel. Not long afterwards, he was a wing commodore. A good carrer!

BOXING SOMETIMES MEANS STUDY
Kid Wedge fought in 70 pro bouts. In the age of 40, he retired and studied in a university. Then he was appointed as a Religion Ministry and a Professor of biology in University of Pasadena. Very nice one, right?

MOST KNOCKDOWNS
Vic Toweel (South Africa) made a record as the most knockdown in one bout. Danny Sullivan (UK) was knocked down 14 (fourteen) times in a 10 round bantamweight bout in Johannesburg, South Africa, December 2, 1950. (The Guiness Book of World Records).

HIT BY THE HEAT
In 1952, Charlie Hopkins quit in the duel against Fred Guerro in Miami, US in round 2. The rumble was done in an open stadium. Hopkins didn’t quit because of Guerro’s punches, but he felt the sunshine in the open stadium was too hot for him!

BOXING GHOST
In 1923, George Cook (Australian heavyweight fighter) was hit badly by Frank Goodard in the ring, though he finally won the fight. With blood over Cook’s face, his friend took Cook to home, and knocking the door for him. Somebody, not his parents, opened the door and escaped. He thought Cook was a ghost with the blood over his face!

BOXER RECORDS FASTEST KO
LONDON (Reuters): A boxer has knocked his opponent out in 13 seconds, including the referee's count of 10, to record the fastest knock-out victory in British history.

Daniel James, a 23-year-old stable lad connected with a perfect left hook on and floored Steve Tuckett on Saturday to extend his record to 10 professional wins.

The light-welterweight told Tuesday's Racing Post: "I got off my stool and... just threw the punch. It hit Steve flush on the chin, he went down flat on his back and I knew at once that it was a good one."

In 1989, the referee of a British fight between Eugene Brown and Ian Bockers stopped the contest after 10 seconds.

Bockers had been knocked down but got up after a six count before the referee decided he was unable to continue. (Jeff)

THE LONGEST FIGHT
The longest fight in history was recorded in the fight between James Kelly and Jack Smith in Fierry Creek, Dalesford, Victoria, Australia on December 3, 1855. The bareknucle fight ended in 6 hours and 15 minutes. The winner is unknown. (Source: The Guiness Book of Records 1998)

 

NON US HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONS
Bob Fitzimmons (England, 1896, 1897-1899 - World Champion)
Georges Charpentier (France, 1914 - World Champion)
Max Schmelling (Germany, 1930-1932, World Champion)
Primo Carnera (Italy, 1933-1934, World Champion)
Ingemar Johansson (Sweden, 1959-1960, World Champion)
Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa, 1983-1984, WBA)
Trevor Berbick (Canada, 1986, WBC)
Frank Bruno (England, 1995-1996, WBC)
Frans Botha (South Africa, 1995-1996, IBF)
Lennox Lewis (England, 1992-1994, 1999, WBC/WBA/IBF)
John Ruiz (Puerto Rico, WBA - The first Puerto Rican for the heavweight world titlist)

SAVED BY THE MOTHER
In Southhampton, England on September 9, 1989, Tony Wilson fought Steve McCarthy. On the third round Wilson was knocked down and he was able to get up before the 8th count. He was then bombarded by McCarthy on the rope. The referee seemed to stop the fight by TKO, but wait... a lady, later known as Milna Wilson, Tony Wilson's mother, entered the ring and smashed his son's opponent's head twice with her high heeled shoes.

The referee suspended the fight for awhile to let the security guard Mina Wilson get out from the ring, then asked both fighters to continue the fight. Shocked and confused, McCarthy refused to continue the fight which made the referee decide Tony Wilson's victory by TKO in round 3.

"Thanks, Mom...," said Wilson.


Jeff from many sources.

Southpaw
Southpaw has its origins in 1880s' baseball slang. Baseball diamonds were often arranged so the batters would face east, to avoid looking into the afternoon sun. The pitcher's left hand, or paw, would therefore be on the southern side. (www.worldorigins.org) – (Jeff)

WELTERWEIGHT
This is about the origin of the word "Welterweight" associated with the division in boxing:
welter - early 14c., from M.Du. or M.L.G. welteren "to roll," from P.Gmc. *waltijanan, from base *wal-, *wel- "roll." The noun meaning "confused mass" is first recorded 1851.
welterweight - 1832, "heavyweight horseman," later "boxer or wrestler of a certain weight" (1896), from earlier welter "heavyweight horseman or boxer" (1804), possibly from welt (v.) "beat severely." (http://www.geocities.com/etymonline/) – (Jeff)

BANTAMWEIGHT
We all know the word “Bantam” refers to a small fowl (like mini chicken) which is associated to small people in English language, which then became one of the lightest weights in boxing. However, not many people know that the word “bantam” comes after "Bantam", former Dutch residency in Java, from which the small domestic fowl were said to have been first imported (1740’s). (http://www.geocities.com/etymonline/). The former Bantam residency is now called "Banten" Province belongs to Indonesia after its independence in 1945 from the Dutch colony – (Jeff)