James

West 44th Street bar fights to maintain tradition Jimmy’s Corner It happened before, when landlords raised the rent in Jack Dempsey’s restaurant in 1974, not far from Jimmy’s Corner, established in 1971. For three years, both existed, but both are victims of New York economics, or at least for Jimmy’s corner, temporarily. Jimmy’s Corner — the legendary boxing bar on West 44th Street just off Sixth Avenue in New York City — is currently fighting eviction. The situation has escalated into a very public battle between the bar’s owner, Adam Glenn, and its longtime landlord, the Durst Organization. What’s happening now • The Durst Organization is trying to evict the bar, arguing that the lease became void after founder Jimmy Glenn died in 2020. • Adam Glenn (Jimmy’s son) disputes this, saying the bar has the right to stay until 2029 and has filed suit to enforce that. • Durst says they kept the rent below market for nearly 20 years out of respect for Jimmy Glenn, but now the building is being sold, and they want the space vacated. • Patrons and legislators have rallied in Midtown — including right outside Durst’s headquarters at 44th & 6th — to support the bar and push for small‑business rent‑stabilization legislation that could help places like Jimmy’s Corner survive. Why it matters . . . Jimmy’s Corner isn’t just another bar — it’s one of the last true Times Square dive bars, famous for $3 beers, boxing memorabilia, and a loyal community that spans decades. Losing it would mean losing a piece of Midtown’s old soul. Current status As of the latest reporting (April 2026), the bar is still open, still fighting, and still drawing crowds — but the eviction threat is very real, and the legal battle is ongoing.We need everyone’s help!! Jimmy’s Corner is still open, but the fight around it has intensified. The most recent developments show three parallel fronts: public rallies, legislative pressure, and an active court battle — all centered on stopping the Durst Organization from evicting the bar. Latest developments• Large rallies outside Durst’s headquarters (44th & 6th) Around 100 supporters gathered on April 10, 2026, protesting the attempted eviction and calling out Durst for trying to void the lease after Jimmy Glenn’s death. Adam Glenn, Jimmy’s son, led the rally and emphasized that the bar is “fighting for its home.” • State legislators are now involvedMultiple lawmakers — including State Sen. Julia Salazar and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher — publicly backed the bar and used the rally to push for commercial rent‑stabilization bills (S.8319/A.5568). These bills would cap rent increases and guarantee renewal rights for small businesses. They explicitly cited Jimmy’s Corner as the kind of institution the law is meant to protect. Jimmy’s Corner is now the “test case” in Albany Advocacy groups and elected officials are using the bar’s situation to argue for statewide protections against small‑business displacement. The Durst Organization maintains it kept the rent far below market for decades and offered $250,000 to help relocate, while Adam Glenn’s lawsuit argues the lease should run through 2029. Where things stand nowJimmy’s Corner remains open and operating, but the eviction case is active. The bar has become a symbol in a much larger fight over commercial rent laws in New York, and the next major movement will likely come from the courts or from Albany’s legislative session. Please keep in touch, and if anyone has any new developments, please contact [email protected] Adam Glenn, owner, talks to the press on April 10th, 2026

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ALI-NORTON 50th; Trilogy complete at Yankee Stadium

HISTORIC VENUES, HISTORICAL / James

The last leg of the Trilogy Ali-Norton 1976 Louis-Schmeling 1938. Dempsey/Sharkey 1927 YANKEE STADIUM – 50 YEARS ALI Vs NORTON The last heavyweight boxing event of the 20th Century at Yankee Stadium in 1976, when Muhammad Ali won a controversial 15 round decision over his difficult opponent in Ken Norton. Norton’s style was Ali’s kryponite, as the reigning champion had struglled in his previous two bouts in 1973. It could be debated that Norton won all three, but the only one registered for Norton was in March of ’73 when Norton shocked the boxing world with an upset 12 round decision. In the rematch that September, Ali struggled but managed to cop a 12 round decision. The following year, Norton was knocked out in a challenge to George Foreman’s heavyweight title, while Ali then stopped Foreman in 8 rounds later that year to claim the crown — which led up to the third and final fight. But before this, 1975 and early 1976 had to be conquered, and Ali did have a third spectacular bout with Joe Frazier (RTD 14), while Norton s significant bout was topping Jeryy Quarry in five rounds. Other bouts Norton won included a revenge bout against Jose Luis Garcia, Pedro Lovell, Ron Stander, Larry Middleton, amoung others. Ali was busy as well – stopping Ron Lyle in 11, Chuck Wepner, Jimmy Young, and others until only one man stood the test, and that was Ken Norton. Subway Art/Yankee Stadium SEPT 28, 2026 — 50 YEARS The Ali vs. Ken Norton III fight took place on September 28, 1976, at Yankee Stadium in New York City. It was the third and final bout between Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton, and one of the most controversial fights in boxing history. Fight Overview Event: Ali vs. Norton III Date: September 28, 1976 Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York Title at Stake: WBA/WBC Heavyweight Championship Result: Muhammad Ali won by unanimous decision (but controversially) Background First Fight (1973): Norton won by split decision, famously breaking Ali’s jaw. Second Fight (1973): Ali won by split decision in a close contest. Third Fight (1976): This was the tiebreaker and highly anticipated. The Controversy Most ringside observers and boxing analysts felt Norton had done enough to win the third fight. He outlanded Ali in punches, was more aggressive, and controlled much of the action. However, the judges awarded Ali a unanimous decision (8–7 on all three scorecards under the 15-round system). Ali himself admitted after the fight that he felt he had lost: “I honestly thought Norton won.” 🏟️ Significance One of the last big fights at Yankee Stadium before it stopped hosting boxing events. A prime example of controversial judging in boxing. Yankee Stadium’s Legendary Role in Boxing History Yankee Stadium isn’t just a cathedral of baseball—it’s also hosted some of the most iconic moments in boxing history. Here’s a look at its knockout legacy: Early Beginnings First boxing match: Held on May 12, 1923, main event between Floyd Johnson and Jess Willard. shortly after the stadium opened. Boxing surged in popularity during the 1920s, thanks to stars like Jack Dempsey, prompting promoters to seek massive venues like Yankee Stadium. Historic Fights That Captivated the World Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling II (1938): A politically charged rematch where Louis delivered a first-round KO in front of 70,000 fans. It was more than a fight—it was a symbol of resistance against Nazi ideology. Rocky Marciano vs. Archie Moore (1955): Marciano came off the canvas to win by 9th-round KO in what would be his final fight, retiring undefeated. Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Kid Gavilan (1949): A controversial decision win for Robinson in a clash of future legends. Tony Zale vs. Rocky Graziano (1946): The first of their trilogy, ending in a 6th-round KO by Zale. Other Notable Bouts Sandy Saddler vs. Willie Pep: Their third bout ended with Pep retiring due to injury, giving Saddler the featherweight crown. Carmen Basilio vs. Sugar Ray Robinson: Basilio won the middleweight title in a split decision before 38,000 fans. Ingemar Johansson vs. Floyd Patterson: Johansson shocked the crowd by flooring Patterson seven times in just three rounds. Modern Revival After a 34-year hiatus, boxing returned to Yankee Stadium in 2010 with Miguel Cotto vs. Yuri Foreman, reigniting the venue’s fighting spirit. Dempsey Sharkey Photo print Ali-Norton FULL FIGHT Daily Motion

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JOHNSON VS BURNS FILM REVISTED

FILM / James

1908 Clash in Australia Johnson-Burns Revisted Date and Location: The fight took place on December 26, 1908, at Sydney Stadium in Rushcutters Bay, Australia.https://youtu.be/jw521TdQTQM?si=IWNrgPEkGQz3SFEa Here’s the clean, authoritative breakdown of the 1908 Jack Johnson vs. Tommy Burns fight film, based entirely on the most reliable modern sources. 🥊 Johnson vs. Burns (1908): What Actually Survives — and What Was MythThe 1908 Sydney fight was filmed as a two‑hour documentary, but only about 12 minutes survive today, and they do NOT include the beginning or the end of the fight. The surviving footage shows only middle‑round action, despite decades of false claims. 🎥 What the Original 1908 Film Was• Title: The Burns–Johnson Fight Date: 26 December 1908• Location: Sydney Stadium, Rushcutters Bay• Length: ~2 hours (original)• Producers: Cosens Spencer & Hugh D. McIntosh• Cameras: At least three, including imported European operators• Content included:• Training footage of both fighters• Crowd arrival• Stadium scenes• Full fight with between‑rounds activityThis was one of the most ambitious sports films ever attempted at the time. 🎞️ What Survives Today (and What Doesn’t)✅ Surviving• Roughly 12 minutes of middle‑round footage• Johnson dominating Burns with clinches, counters, and body control• Burns is tiring and unable to hurt Johnson• A knockdown that was long believed to be Round 1 — but is actually Round 7❌ Lost• Opening rounds• Final rounds• The police stoppage (never filmed)• Any footage of Burns actually going down at the endFor 60 years, collectors and documentaries repeated the myth that the film ended because police stopped the cameras to avoid showing a Black champion defeating a white champion. Modern analysis proves this was fabricated. 🧩 How the Myth StartedIn the 1960s–70s, fight‑film collector Jim Jacobs (later Mike Tyson’s co‑manager) circulated the surviving reel and claimed he had:• The opening round, and• The ending, supposedly cut short by the policeBoth claims were false. He never possessed those sections.Even Ken Burns’ Unforgivable Blackness mistakenly used the 7th‑round knockdown as the opening round. 🧼 The Modern RestorationFilm collector Carl Weingarten released the cleanest version to date, confirming:• All surviving footage comes from one reel• No beginning or ending exists• The famous “ending” clip is Round 7, not Round 14His restoration is the best visual record of the fight available today.

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RING 8 NY State Hall Of Fame announces Event April 19th!

CURRENT EVENTS / James

Ring 8 NY STATE HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES EVENT FOR APRIL 19th The New York State Boxing Hall of Fame has announced the class of 2026, and the event takes place on April 19, 2026, at Russo’s on the Bay. Details will be updated. The members going in are as follows: Living Boxers Larry Stanton – junior welterweight (super lightweight) boxer from Long Island, New York, active from 1969 to 1983. Stanton had a long career despite never receiving a world title shot. Louie Hubela – nicknamed “The Syrian” — was a New York lightweight contender active in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Raul Frank – Former world‑rated super welterweight and welterweight boxer, who later became a respected trainer at Gleason’s Gym. Alicia Napoleon – “The Empress” — is one of the most dynamic and influential figures in modern women’s boxing. Former WBA Female World Super Middleweight Champion Yuri Foreman: former World Champion: Captured the WBA Super Welterweight Title on November 14, 2009, defeating Daniel Santos by unanimous decision. Julio Cesar Green – Former WBA Middleweight Champion Bob Stallings – old‑school Levittown heavyweight who fought professionally from 1964 to 1980. Tunde Foster – lightweight contender, NYC Golden Gloves Champ. Living non-boxers Joe Cortez – Boxing referee for over five decades. NY Golden Glove Champion Steve Westfield — Current boxing Judge, judge of many championship fights Nirmal Lorick – Competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in the featherweight division (57 kg). Renowned trainer in New York, working with world champions like Travis Simms and Luis Collazo. Deceased non-boxers Ira Becker – co-owner of Gleason’s Gym, took over as the second owner in the 1970s and played a pivotal role in keeping the gym alive during boxing’s transitional years. Artie Aidala – Renowned ring judge for the New York State Athletic Commission, and is remembered as a significant figure in boxing history. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008 for his contributions to the sport. Aidala is best known for being one of the three judges in the legendary 1971 “Fight of the Century” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden—a bout that remains one of the most iconic matches in boxing history. Charlie Casserta – Westchester trainer who was a staple for many professional and amateur boxers. Worked with Doug DeWitt, Renaldo Snipes, Lou Savarese, and many others Mike Malitz – Boxing television Promoter and VP of Top Rank, a Company co- founded by his father. A Pioneer in Closed Circuit and Pay-Per-View. Artie Towne – a prominent middleweight from the 1950s, known for a clean fighting style and powerful punching. Retired in 1959 after 113 pro fights Johnny McCoy, a veteran New York flyweight contender who fought nine champions across 238 fights. recognized as World Flyweight Champion by the State of California from 1927 to 1928. Harry Smith – AKA “The Harlem Thunderbolt,” a hard-punching, tall middleweight who contended in the 1920’s.

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Ramirez returning to Corpus Christi…as a promoter!

DIGITAL / James

Unified World Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez returning to Corpus Christi…as a promoter! ‘Gulf Coast Glory’ to feature hometown fighters Julian Delgado & Jerry Belmontes in Co-main events on January 31 in Texas LOS ANGELES (January 5, 2026) – Zurdo Promotions has announced it will co-promote the January 31st “Gulf Coast Glory” card along with Knuckle Up Promotions, in association with Heil Law, just west of Corpus Christi at Richard Borchard Fairgrounds in Robstown, Texas. Zurdo Promotions is led by three-time,two-division World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs), the unified, reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Cruiserweight World titleholder. “Gulf Coast Glory” will mark the third event that Zurdo Promotions and promoted, including its inaugural event on December 18, 2020, in Galveston, TX, which Ramirez headlined, plus another pro show in his hometown of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico. “Promotion is something I’ve always wanted to be involved in,” Ramirez explained. “Growing up on the streets of Mazatlán, I’ve always believed in being a bridge between my hometown and the United States. There’s no better place to start than Corpus Christi—a city where I defended my world title twice.” Middleweight prospect “King” Julian Delgado (7-1, 3 KOs), fighting out of Corpus Christi, is in the co-main event on the “Gulf Coast Glory” card. As an amateur, Delgado captured top honors at the 2023 National Junior Olympics and Summer Festival Championship. Another hometown favorite, Jerry “The Corpus Christi Kid” Belmontes (21-10, 6 KOs), a former world lightweight title challenger, returns to the ring for the first time since November 18, 2016, in the other co-main event. “Corpus Christi is a true fight town, and I hope to continue building this venture here for a long time,” Ramirez added. “I’m excited to showcase rising talent like hometown favorite Julian Delgado, along with the return of the ‘Corpus Christi Kid,’ Jerry Belmontes.” Former WBA Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion Kareem “Supreme” Hackett (12-1, 6 KOs), of Toronto, will make his cruiserweight debut, while undefeated Mongolian featherweight prospect Enkhamadakh Kharkhuu (7-0, 3 KOs) fights for the first time in Texas. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by scanning the barcode on the event poster or by visiting www.zurdopromotions.com.

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Rozicki returning to ring March 7th

PRESS RELEASES / James

Canadian World Cruiserweight Contender Canadian World Cruiserweight Contender Ryan Rozicki returning to ring March 7th HAMILTON, Ontario, Canada (December 31, 2025) – World cruiserweight contender Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki’s long-awaited ring return is officially scheduled for March 7th against Gerardo Mellado in the 10-round main event on a card presented by Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, at Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. “We are looking to start off 2026 with a bang in Canada with our first show on March 7th on the East Coast of Canada in Nova Scotia,” Three Lions Promotions Managing Director Daniel Otter said. “Rozicki will be the main event and although he had a slow 2025 due to injury, we are confident 2026 will be an active one and before the end of 2026, Ryan will be cruiserweight champion of the world. He looks great in training and is dialed in. “We will also be doing a series of cards throughout 2026 across the country from coast to coast to showcase Canadian and International talent to the world. We have some big news to share in the coming months, so stay tuned!” A native of Sydney, the 30-year-old Rozicki (20-1-1, 19 KOs) hasn’t fought since December 7, 2024, when he fought to a 12-round draw against Yamil Alberto Peralto (17-1), for a myriad of reasons. Prior to the aforementioned fight, Rozicki only fought once in 2023, registering a sensational knockout of Nigerian knockout artist Olanrewaju Durodola (43-9, 39 KOs) at the 1:47 mark of the opening round. Both of these fights were at Centre 200, where “The Bruiser” is unbeaten in 7 fights with 1 draw and 6 knockouts. Rozicki’s period of inactivity was attributable to two main factors. Firstly, after securing the position as the number one mandatory challenger for the World Boxing Council (WBC), he awaited his scheduled world title bout against the reigning WBC World Cruiserweight Champion, Noel Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs). Mikaelian declined to face Rozicki on four separate occasions, citing a promotional contract dispute and injuries as primary reasons for him not fighting Rozicki as ordered by the WBC. The WBC subsequently designated Mikaelian as Champion in Recess, while elevating the prior Champion in Recess, Badou Jack, to world champion status and requiring him to face Rozicki and their fight was scheduled for last May. However, Rozicki was forced to withdraw from the scheduled world title bout against Jack due to a right bicep injury sustained in April during training camp. Rozicki, sporting a phenomenal 95% knockout ratio, was scheduled to fight Akani “Prime” Phuzi for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Cruiserweight title on October 25 in Sydney. However, the bout was cancelled after Rozicki reinjured his right bicep. “I have been sidelined for more than a year now due to this injury and I haven’t knocked anybody out in nearly 2 years,” the determined Rozicki explained. “It’s frustrating but I can now say I’m 100-percent and ready for what’s to come. I need to get this fight to get me back in the swing of things and then I’m coming for those world title belts. I’m not overlooking my opponent, either. He can crack. He’s also tough and has been much more active than me. I am focused on my next job at hand in the ring on March 7th.” The 33-year-old Mellado is an orthodox fighter who lost a 10-round decision to current IBO Cruiserweight World Champion Juergen Uldedaj in his last action on April 5th, marking Mellado’s first fight outside of his native Chile. “Coming into hostile territory isn’t new to me,” Mellado explained, “My last fight was in Manchester, England, and I took it on less than two weeks’ notice. I will be coming to Canada for a knockout, not leaving it to the scorecards like my last fight. And, of course, I want to take Rozicki’s rating with me back to Chile. Lots of people duck Ryan, but not me; I’m a fighter coming to ruin his night in his country.” Rozicki, currently ranked No. 2 by the WBC and No. 5 by Ring Magazine, is targeting Mikaelian, or IBF and Ring Magazine Cruiserweight World Champion Jai Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs), as Ryan pursues his goal of becoming the first Canadian-born Cruiserweight Champion of the World. Other announced fights for March 7 include an All-Nova Scotia showdown between a pair of popular local boxers, Brett Beaton (6-4, 4 KOs) and David Logue (4-1, 4 KOs), in a 10-round match for the vacant National Championships of Canada (NCC) Super Middleweight Championship. Undefeated super bantamweight prospect Meilyn Sanchez Martinez (3-0, 1 KO), fighting out of Hamilton, Canada, by way of Mexico, faces Silvia Duran (4-3), of Costa Rica, in a 6-round match

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USA Boxing Announces Partnership with Xempower USA

PRESS RELEASES / James

USA Boxing Announces Partnership with Xempower USA USA Boxing and Xempower USA Partner Through 2028, Advancing AI Technology for Olympic-Style Boxing in the United States COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (December 1, 2025) – USA Boxing has announced a partnership with Xempower USA, officially designating Xempower USA as the exclusive information technology services provider for USA Boxing national events through 2028. “We’re extremely excited about this partnership between USA Boxing and Xempower,” USA Boxing Board of Directors Chairman Tyson Lee stated. “As the sport continues to evolve, integrating advanced technology to support scoring accuracy and efficiency has never been more important. This collaboration positions USA Boxing at the forefront of innovation and strengthens our commitment to fairness in the field of play. Together with Xempower, we’re helping usher in a new era for our sport.” Xempower USA’s revolutionary work in the boxing space has been instrumental in Olympic-style boxing, allowing USA Boxing to monitor and capture bout analytics at national events and within the USA Boxing High Performance department. The partnership aids USA Boxing in training officials, referees, and judges to grow the sport in the United States. Xempower USA is led by Thomas Cai, who founded Xempower in 2015 to combine his passion for competitive athletics with his knowledge of technology services. As a former boxer and judge within the sport, Mr. Cai is driven by the belief that innovation can transform the sporting experience for competitors and administrators alike. “Our partnership with USA Boxing reinforces our shared commitment to fairness,” Mr. Cai stated. “Xempower’s AI technology is designed to support boxing with clear, data-driven insights, helping ensure every boxer competes on a truly level playing field.” Driven by the philosophy of “Elevating Sports Excellence,” Mr. Cai has created AI-powered solutions for boxing that enhance fairness, transparency, and overall efficiency across all competitions. His commitment to empowering athletes, referees & judges, and event organizers to transform competitions into data-driven analytics is paramount in bridging the gap between event hosts and fans of Olympic-style boxing. Additionally, the partnership will enable USA Boxing to leverage Xempower USA’s AI technology to provide data-driven metrics and statistical analysis of select bouts at USA Boxing events. Xempower USA’s technology will further allow USA Boxing to track bout statistics among national event competitions. As the official timing and scoring partner, Xempower is deploying its full Event Operation & Management System (EOMS) – a fully integrated platform that supports every operational and technical aspect of the competition, including event setup, registration, Technical Official (TO) management, boxer and official draws, automated bout scheduling and publishing, scoring, R&J evaluation, and more. Its proven performance was demonstrated at the 2025 USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival, a landmark tournament featuring more than 1,400 athletes competing across five rings. Further, through the partnership, USA Boxing will incorporate Xempower USA’s technology for detailed boxing analytics during High Performance team training at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. “The analytics provided by Xempower USA’s AI technology will make a significant impact on our ability to identify strengths and weaknesses of our High-Performance boxers,” USA Boxing Director of High-Performance Matt Johnson noted of the partnership. “Incorporating this technology into our national training center will provide data-driven insight to highlight opportunities for improvement on a daily basis throughout the year, while enhancing our preparation for international competition.” **********************************************

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Benavidez Excited About History-Making Cinco De Mayo Showdown

CURRENT EVENTS / James

WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David ‘The Mexican Monster’ Benavidez. Excited About a History-Making Cinco De Mayo Showdown with Gilberto Ramirez, Looking for the Bivol/Beterbiev Winner Next (December 1, 2025) – WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David “The Mexican Monster” Benavidez says he’s excited about taking over next Cinco de Mayo weekend to face WBA and WBO Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, not only because he’ll be vying for world championships in a third division, but also for the history-making aspect of two proud Mexican warriors competing for the cruiserweight world championship for the first time in history. Fresh off his seventh-round TKO victory over Anthony Yarde in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) is next scheduled to meet Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) on May 2, 2026, at T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. With some fans wanting Benavidez to unify the titles against IBF, WBA and WBO World Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitrii Bivol or face former IBF Champ Artur Beterbiev next, rather than Ramirez, Benavidez’s longtime promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing wishes to remind fans of some facts concerning the choice to face Zurdo instead. “After waiting so long for Canelo Alvarez, only to have him avoid us at all costs, David will wait for no one ever again,” said Lewkowicz. “We offered Bivol $8 million to face David last year, and he chose to vacate the WBC title a day before a scheduled purse bid rather than face him. Beterbiev is coming off a loss, so aside from money, he brings nothing to the table. Besides, David wanted the winner of the rematch, not the loser. David would stop Beterbiev. No doubt in my mind, and he has already dropped Bivol with headgear and big gloves. David is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, but he won’t talk about it. He will show it, fight after fight.” Lewkowicz also wants fans to know their wish will be granted in the near future. “The WBA has guaranteed us that David is the mandatory for the Bivol/Beterbiev winner,” he added. “Bivol will have to act like a ‘Russian Canelo’ and vacate another title to avoid facing David. He doesn’t want to fight because he knows that when they sparred, David put a beating on him and dropped him. He has zero chance of beating David. That I promise you. He has no power to keep David off him, and he will take a brutal beating!” Benavidez has already held world championships in two weight classes: the WBA Light Heavyweight Title since February 2025 and the WBC Light Heavyweight Title since April 2025. Previously, he held the WBC Super Middleweight Title twice between 2017 and 2020. And by claiming his first world title at 20 years and 8 months old, Benavidez holds the record as the youngest super middleweight world champion in history.

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The 1970s Heavyweight scene

HISTORICAL / James

Fighters coming into their own 1970’s Heavyweights — Fighters coming into their own The 1970s are widely regarded as the golden era of the heavyweight division, featuring Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Ken Norton, with Larry Holmes emerging at the decade’s end. Key Champions of the Decade• Joe Frazier (1970–1973)• Won the undisputed title in 1970 by defeating Jimmy Ellis.• Defended against Muhammad Ali in the legendary Fight of the Century (1971), handing Ali his first professional loss.• George Foreman (1973–1974)• Destroyed Frazier in Kingston, Jamaica (1973) to become champion.• Known for his raw power, he knocked out Ken Norton and José Roman before losing to Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle (1974).• Muhammad Ali (1974–1978)• Regained the title against Foreman in Zaire.• Fought epic trilogies with Frazier (Thrilla in Manila, 1975) and Norton.• Defended against challengers like Ron Lyle, Earnie Shavers, and Jimmy Young.• Leon Spinks (1978)• Shocked the world by defeating Ali in only his eighth professional fight.• Lost the rematch to Ali later that year, giving Ali his third reign as heavyweight champion.• Larry Holmes (1978–1979)• Emerged as the new force, defeating Ken Norton in 1978 for the WBC title.• Closed the decade as champion, setting the stage for his dominant run in the 1980s. 🥊 Notable Contenders• Ken Norton – Famous for breaking Ali’s jaw in 1973 and pushing him to three close fights.• Ron Lyle – A dangerous puncher who battled Foreman in a brutal slugfest (1976).• Earnie Shavers – Considered one of the hardest punchers in boxing history.• Jerry Quarry, Jimmy Young, Joe Bugner, Chuck Wepner – Durable contenders who tested the champions. Why the 1970s Heavyweights Stand Out• Historic rivalries: Ali vs. Frazier trilogy, Ali vs. Norton trilogy, Foreman vs. Frazier.• Global spectacles: Fight of the Century (1971), Rumble in the Jungle (1974), Thrilla in Manila (1975).• Depth of talent: Unlike many eras, the division had multiple elite fighters simultaneously. In short, 1970–1979 was the most competitive and star-studded decade in heavyweight history, with Ali reclaiming his throne, Foreman’s rise and fall, Frazier’s grit, Norton’s toughness, and Holmes’ emergence as the next great champion. VIDEOS OF 1970s Heavyweights 1970s VIDEOS

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Canastota ready for Induction Weekend

Boxing, Times Square, and Jimmy’s Corner