BoxRec

Ali-Mildenberger in 1967. The German was a brave bastard and made Ali, fighting his first southpaw, really work. From then on I read all the magazines and just kept on reading.

I recall seeing my Uncle watch a few fights when I was a kid, but I was never really into it then. One of the names kinda coming back into my field of awareness got me back into Boxing though.

I remembered watching Lennox Lewis knock out Tommy Morrison when I was a kid. That stands out to me because I remember my Unc saying "That's the guy from Rocky 5" and all that, and then of course he got his ass kicked, and knocked out

The only Boxing match I recall watching between then, and the day that Boxing hooked me again was Mike Tyson vs Julius Francis which is nothing to get too excited about.

Then in 2001 when I was sitting at my Grandparents house, and I was bored. I was thumbing through the sports section of the paper, and I saw that Lennox Lewis had regained the Heavyweight Championship of the World from Hasim Rahman. I found it interesting that this Lennox Lewis guy that I'd seen years earlier was still on top in Boxing, and it raised my curiosity enough to watch the replay of the fight the next weekend when fortuitously for me. It happened to be a free preview for HBO.

After replaying the fight, they showed their Upcoming Boxing Schedule, and Holyfield (another familiar name from my youth) was gonna be fighting in a few weeks.

I asked my Mom to trade Starz for HBO, which thankfully she did without any fuss, and I've been hooked on Boxing ever since.

As a kid my first experience of boxing was probably Rocky! I didn't really grow up around a boxing mad family or setting, it's all football, which I've become weary of lately.

But anyway my first real boxing experience is probably hearing of Muhammad Ali and watching as much as I could about him, me dad got a couple of boxing magazines dedicated to Duran, Marciano & Ali, so I sat and watched the DVD's that came with it; Duran vs Buchanan, Marciano vs Walcott, and Ali vs Frazier I. I read the mags that talked about the style of fighters and their foot stance & defensive style, so I become a bit more knowledgeable. First fight I remember watching was probably a few years before, Mayweather vs Hatton, and I remember being pissed off that Joe Cortez was protecting Floyd.

Fast forward I remember seeing Canelo vs Mosley, Khan vs Maidana and Haye's fights with Valuev & Chisora, but it's only the last few years where I've really gotten into boxing. It's hard to keep track of everything but I love that there's something always going on, the interest in the UK now is immense, and I think that has pushed me into the sport, I love it.

So from casual to "not your average casual".
Do casuals stay up for Ramirez vs Hart? I dunno, but we should welcome these fans who don't know much about the sport because they help it grow, props to Eddie Hearn for the evolution of boxing and it's hype machine. He's pushing more from Frank too.

Anyone remember the boxing magazines that came out in the early 90s ? They were dedicated to heavyweights I think, and each issue detailed the career of 1 heavyweight.

The first issue was definitely about Ali, and it came with Rumble in the Jungle and the first Liston fight on VHS. I must have watched that video a hundred times.

Was it called ' boxing outlook ' ?

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 13:46 Anyone remember the boxing magazines that came out in the early 90s ? They were dedicated to heavyweights I think, and each issue detailed the career of 1 heavyweight.

The first issue was definitely about Ali, and it came with Rumble in the Jungle and the first Liston fight on VHS. I must have watched that video a hundred times.

Yeh mate its called Boxers and ive got every issue, I remembered them when they come out as well, my cousin had the 1st few issues, their not all Heavyweights though, Ali was 1st then Tyson and Duran was 3rd, you got a VHS with every issue

A few years ago my mrs was in a charity shop and picked me up a few issues for about a fiver and I instantly recognised them when I seen them because i'd wondered myself about them and couldn't remember what they were called, anyway the guy in the shop told her he had some more in the back and he'd dig them out for her to get another time, when she went back the guy had dug out a bit pile of them and sold them for £30 , she soon realised that it was every single issue, think there's about 78 all in pristine condition, I just finished reading them recently

I might do a wee competition on here to see who wants them, my mrs thinks I should sell them because i'd probably get a few bob for them but I wouldn't mind if they went to a fellow Boxreccer

handsofstone wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 14:42

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 13:46 Anyone remember the boxing magazines that came out in the early 90s ? They were dedicated to heavyweights I think, and each issue detailed the career of 1 heavyweight.

The first issue was definitely about Ali, and it came with Rumble in the Jungle and the first Liston fight on VHS. I must have watched that video a hundred times.

Yeh mate its called Boxers and ive got every issue, I remembered them when they come out as well, my cousin had the 1st few issues, their not all Heavyweights though, Ali was 1st then Tyson and Duran was 3rd, you got a VHS with every issue

A few years ago my mrs was in a charity shop and picked me up a few issues for about a fiver and I instantly recognised them when I seen them because i'd wondered myself about them and couldn't remember what they were called, anyway the guy in the shop told her he had some more in the back and he'd dig them out for her to get another time, when she went back the guy had dug out a bit pile of them and sold them for £30 , she soon realised that it was every single issue, think there's about 78 all in pristine condition, I just finished reading them recently

I might do a wee competition on here to see who wants them, my mrs thinks I should sell them because i'd probably get a few bob for them but I wouldn't mind if they went to a fellow Boxreccer

That’s the one. I only remember having the first 2 which were Ali and Tyson, so assumed it was just heavyweights. My dad must have decided they were too expensive to keep buying after 2 issues

Watching the early Rocky films then BAM!!!! Tyson comes along been hooked since

You could start boxing at the local boxing club at 8 and everyone wanted to be able to go as there was little else to do but play football all the time in those days.

So that was 78. Relatively short lived boxing career but a local rite of passage.

TV wise, being from Scotland, we had Buchanan and later Jim Watt who we all watched on tv. Then it was McGuigan, the 4 kings from the Americas, Tyson, Benn, Watson, Eubank and so on.

Rocky films growing up in the
The first time I remember being aware of a fight was seeing old Davy Marshall cutting about in his Tyson vs Bruno t-shirt.

I got into watching Lewis and Naz in the mid 90s, but only really watched them at that point
then following Calzaghe and Hatton after that and watching basically anything. Morales, Barrera, Paquiao and Marques probably stick out for getting me into the sport outwith the UK scene

Great thread !

I remember from my youth the likes of Honeyghan , Mcguigan , Bruno etc and used to love watching sportsnight on the beeb on a Wednesday night on a black and white portable telly .

They were great days , but I reckon we are spoilt nowadays with the amount we get to see.

davie wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 16:11 Rocky films growing up in the
The first time I remember being aware of a fight was seeing old Davy Marshall cutting about in his Tyson vs Bruno t-shirt.

I got into watching Lewis and Naz in the mid 90s, but only really watched them at that point
then following Calzaghe and Hatton after that and watching basically anything. Morales, Barrera, Paquiao and Marques probably stick out for getting me into the sport outwith the UK scene

The Barrera Morales fights were epic !

My dad coming in from the pub at all hours and making me get up to watch Mike Tyson fight

rd350lc wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 16:20

davie wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 16:11 Rocky films growing up in the
The first time I remember being aware of a fight was seeing old Davy Marshall cutting about in his Tyson vs Bruno t-shirt.

I got into watching Lewis and Naz in the mid 90s, but only really watched them at that point
then following Calzaghe and Hatton after that and watching basically anything. Morales, Barrera, Paquiao and Marques probably stick out for getting me into the sport outwith the UK scene

The Barrera Morales fights were epic !

Those fights played a big part in me and my mates love affair with the sport. Those and Gatti vs Ward

Us and Adam Smith

davie wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 16:38

rd350lc wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 16:20

davie wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 16:11 Rocky films growing up in the
The first time I remember being aware of a fight was seeing old Davy Marshall cutting about in his Tyson vs Bruno t-shirt.

I got into watching Lewis and Naz in the mid 90s, but only really watched them at that point
then following Calzaghe and Hatton after that and watching basically anything. Morales, Barrera, Paquiao and Marques probably stick out for getting me into the sport outwith the UK scene

The Barrera Morales fights were epic !

Those fights played a big part in me and my mates love affair with the sport. Those and Gatti vs Ward

Us and Adam Smith

The first PPV I ever bought was Barrera vs Morales 2

Think Ian Darker did the commentary on one of them and described it as a " barn-burner "

And it was that !

One minute it was all martial arts and Bruce Lee for me, then as a 16 year old I watched Benn v Watson and that was it, I was in ! The hours I spent reading about boxing, buying books, magazines and wandering around libraries, not to mention the hours I spent at the amateur gym I joined, you actually become a scholar without realising it and you actually enjoy it !

Whilst still at school and doing a paper round to get some cash for a new bike one customer (and just the one) used to order “Boxing News” - which at that time was a newsprint production and cost about 9d. Bruce Woodcock was all the rage in the daily’s sports pages then so one time I delayed delivery by a day, took it home and read from cover to cover. I was hooked from that day on and continued to delay delivery to catch up with the exploits of the then boxing heroes - this went on for some time until the customer complained! Totally hooked as I was by then I shelled out for my own copy - my boss was a good bloke though and after a while gave me a rise to cover the cost! Dates are a bit hazy but I do remember Bruce Woodcock got hammered and lost to Joe Baksi (cut eye I think) - and who can forget the shock ŵhen Blackpool’s Ronnie Clayton lost his British Empire featherweight title to Roy Ankrah?! I could go on but better not as have to take my meds’ and get tucked up in bed - so goodnight all.i

josco wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 18:53 Whilst still at school and doing a paper round to get some cash for a new bike one customer (and just the one) used to order “Boxing News” - which at that time was a newsprint production and cost about 9d. Bruce Woodcock was all the rage in the daily’s sports pages then so one time I delayed delivery by a day, took it home and read from cover to cover. I was hooked from that day on and continued to delay delivery to catch up with the exploits of the then boxing heroes - this went on for some time until the customer complained! Totally hooked as I was by then I shelled out for my own copy - my boss was a good bloke though and after a while gave me a rise to cover the cost! Dates are a bit hazy but I do remember Bruce Woodcock got hammered and lost to Joe Baksi (cut eye I think) - and who can forget the shock ŵhen Blackpool’s Ronnie Clayton lost his British Empire featherweight title to Roy Ankrah?! I could go on but better not as have to take my meds’ and get tucked up in bed - so goodnight all.i

littlepug wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 17:25 One minute it was all martial arts and Bruce Lee for me, then as a 16 year old I watched Benn v Watson and that was it, I was in ! The hours I spent reading about boxing, buying books, magazines and wandering around libraries, not to mention the hours I spent at the amateur gym I joined, you actually become a scholar without realising it and you actually enjoy it !

whether I agree with you or not I always like your style fella

rd350lc wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 16:19 Great thread !

I remember from my youth the likes of Honeyghan , Mcguigan , Bruno etc and used to love watching sportsnight on the beeb on a Wednesday night on a black and white portable telly .

They were great days , but I reckon we are spoilt nowadays with the amount we get to see.

When i first got really interested in boxing we had Sportsnight,mid week sports special,big fight live on ITV and also live fights on Saturday evenings on the BBC,fight night,and in wales we had seconds out,also world of sport and all free.There were many occasions where rival promoters would put shows on the same night so i had to watch one and record the other,great days.

I have a single photograph taken on Christmas Day of me throwing a straight jab at a punchball when I was 5 years old. My brother put a pin in it the next day! My dad had a couple of 'friendly' bouts in the merchant navy but never actively encouraged me at first. I remember the first Clay v Liston fight was talk of the playground but it wasn't until I was 15 some 4 or 5 years later that a few louts at school mentioned the local boxing club and not wanting to mix with them I went to take up Karate. Not knowing the protocol when entering the Dojo I walked straight into a class and having been shouted at left immediately and walked round the corner to the boxing club where the head coach was welcoming and took time to tell me what everybody was doing. A lesson I took into my own coaching days.

I went to the library every few weeks and read every book available and asked Santa for 'Know the Game - Boxing' and David James, the then England Coaches Boxing manual.

I remember the excitement of going to Lonsdale in Beak Street to buy a proper skipping rope, the disappointment when the ring didn't turn up for my first scheduled bout and the somewhat dubious joy of being bashed up by an experienced kid (9 stoppages out of 10) in early sparring who I then schooled just as soon as I learnt some footwork. That first picture, that first punch never let me down..........

Counter-puncher wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 19:31

littlepug wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 17:25 One minute it was all martial arts and Bruce Lee for me, then as a 16 year old I watched Benn v Watson and that was it, I was in ! The hours I spent reading about boxing, buying books, magazines and wandering around libraries, not to mention the hours I spent at the amateur gym I joined, you actually become a scholar without realising it and you actually enjoy it !

whether I agree with you or not I always like your style fella

That's enough for me dude

father was a violent man, saw him knock out my mum once, throw cups of tea in her face, slaps, punches at various times. me and my brother got regular hidings. i was terrified of him, he was a big bloke. my mum left him when i was 10 and she remarried a bloke with a rep (he'd been inside for gbh, assaults on police). he was a sound guy, tough but a gentleman and well respected. one day my dad followed us all home in the car. when we got there my stepdad got out and leathered my dad in front of us all. it was like the giant had been slayed. i got into lots of fights at school, i guess i had issues but i had no idea at that time, was just acting out. started going to the football and got involved in that. looking back i can draw a line connecting all this but back then i was lost.

an older lad i looked up to had been a decent amateur boxer so decided to go to the local club. really enjoyed it, it sorted me out (although i can remember feeling sick in my stomach climbing the stairs to get in, because there were some big pros training there and you could hear them hitting the bag). when we used to go round the older lads house he had tapes from america of fights and we all used to watch them. that's when i started really following boxing. i started reading boxing monthly - i heard of boxing news but i couldnt believe someone would want to read about boxing every week! that soon changed, i read everything i could find, started collecting tapes of my own.

although my primary interest was stoked by the violence of the whole thing - that wish to see who was the hardest person at the school/pub/match - it became much more than that. now i watch fights with my own sons, though they'll never need to deal with the same feelings as i did as promised myself as a young boy that i would raise kids in a loving environment without violence in the home. boxing helped fix my problems, it helped get those feelings out so they didnt end in self-destruction.

Well said, Veriton, you should be proud of yourself. A lot of other people would have imploded after what you've been through.