James - The Boxing Exchange

Rising Irish welterweight star Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan

Rising Irish welterweight star Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan Preparing for Lewis Crocker showdown on March 1 NEW YORK (December 30, 2024) – Rising Irish boxing star Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs), the reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) Continental Welterweight Champion, had to withdraw from a planned “stay busy” fight in December due to a minor injury. Still, he’s preparing to fight his arch-rival in arguably the most anticipated Irish boxing match in history. An All-Irish showdown between Donovan, who fights out of Limerick and trains in Dublin, and Lewis “The Croc” Crocker (20-0, 11 KOs), of Belfast, Northern Ireland, is set for March 1st. “Point of Pride” will headline a Matchroom Boxing card to be streamed live on DAZN from SES Arena in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title eliminator. As soon as two fights away, Donovan could get his world title shot if he defeats Crocker as the IBF mandatory challenger. “There’s something different about a good Irish fighter, and I believe I’m the next,” Donovan proclaimed. “I think having turned pro at 19 and now 25, it took many life changes since turning pro. There’s so much that I’ve learned in the gym that counts the most, as it is the ups and downs of life – becoming a husband and father, losing loved ones – that helped me to improve. I’ve improved as a person, and that has helped me become a better fighter.” A true throwback fighter, Donovan is currently rated in three major sanctioning bodies: WBA #5, IBF #6, and World Boxing Council #14. He has dreamed of being a world champion since he was seven. “I am in an amazing position, so I thank God for that and my team, Andy Lee (head trainer/co-manager) and (NYC-based attorney) Keith Sullivan (co-manager),” Donovan noted. “It’s great to be ranked so highly at this stage of my career, but I am ranked where I am supposed to be. To be ranked so high in three major sanctioning bodies is brilliant. I know I will not stop until I’m world champion. “I am always in the gym and thinking about my next challenge. I’m saying it’s time. I love what I do. I’m very grateful to God for being in this position. I believe in God’s plan for me to become a world champion.” “It is going to be an explosive fight for sure,” commented NYC attorney Keith Sullivan, who co-manages Donovan with former world middleweight champion Andy Lee, Paddy’s head trainer. “Two tough, rugged Irishmen with much to prove to the world. We were concerned about the injury but feel confident it won’t pose an issue for the March 1st battle. Paddy is locked in and training hard under the ever-watchful guidance of trainer Andy Lee.” Donovan has dedicated his last few fights to Pieta, using his boxing platform to promote the suicide prevention charity that provides mental health services throughout Ireland. Paddy lost two relatives to suicide. The Pietra Crisis Helpline, 1-800-247-247, offers crisis intervention support, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-harm and also supports those bereaved through suicide. **************************************************** Paddy Donovan (Irish boxer) Wiki more on The Boxing Exchange

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How the Holidays Are Shaping Web Traffic Trends (and Why You Should Care)

Uncategorized / James

Happy almost-2025, everyone! While you’re finishing up your year-end to-do’s (or wishing you had started them earlier), I’ve been diving into some fresh data published by Cloudflare. This time, they’ve looked at how people around the globe have been spending their time online during the holiday season – between Christmas and the New Year. As it turns out, when the feasting starts, the web often takes a back seat.

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Best Donation Plugins for WordPress Compared and Tested (2025-Ready)

Uncategorized / James

Fundraising is hard. Accepting payments shouldn’t be. I tested popular WordPress donation plugins to determine how well they can help you meet your online fundraising goals.

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THE FAT GUYS OF BOXING

HISTORICAL / James

“Two Ton” Galento’s moment — floors Joe Louis in 1939. “Sailor” Willie Meehan The Fat Boys of Boxing (only heavyweights and beyond) In the historic land of heavyweight glory, few fighters threw out the discipline of the weight scale to challenge the top fighters of their day — and despite their size, some made it to challenge for the heavyweight title. One such customer was Buster Mathis, a huge heavyweight who challenged “Smokin” Joe Frazier in 1968 for the NYSAC heavyweight title since heavyweight since Muhammad Ali’s being stripped of his crown in 1967. The hulking 6’3 295 lb Mathis collapsed from the brutal Frazier attack, succumbing in the 11th round at the newly minted Madison Square Garden. Another “Fat” heavyweight was a character from New Jersey named Tony “Two Ton” Galento. Talk about a bar bruiser—Galento was all slugger and little science, but he did manage to garner a crack at the heavyweight crown against Joe Louis in 1939. The smallish 5’9 “, 240 lb Galento fought some of the toughest fighters of his era, such as Max Bear, Lou Nova and Arturo Godoy. Another “Fatboy” was an obscure West Coast sailer named Willie Meehan. Meehan was known as Jack Dempsey‘s kryptonite—a tough, four-round fighter who just had Dempsey’s number. In 1917, Dempsey had two wins, two losses, and two draws against Meehan—all four-rounders. In later life, Dempsey always acknowledged that Meehan was his toughest opponent. Several heavyweight boxers have been known for their larger physiques throughout boxing history. Here are other notable ones: Andy Ruiz Jr.: In 2019, Ruiz shocked the world by defeating Anthony Joshua to become the heavyweight champion. He weighed around 297 pounds for that fight. Claude Humphrey McBride, the 6’4 “, 360-pound heavyweight, was found by Midwest promoter Pat O’Grady and was considered the Butterbean of his day. After defeating contender Terry Daniels, McBride challenged Buster Mathis but was overcome by the latter’s experience. Salvador Farnetti: Farnetti is known for his extreme weight, peaking at 342.5 pounds. He had a brief career with only 21 fights. Kevin Karusa: Karusa peaked at 346.5 pounds during his short professional career. Jarrell ” Big Baby” Miller, 6’4 “with unlimited weight” potential, has scaled past the three-hundred-pound meter a few times. Of the men on this list, Miller seems to carry the weight well for his size. Eric “Butterbean” Esch: Known for his massive size, Esch weighed close to 400 pounds at his peak. Despite his weight, he found great success in the ring, winning multiple world titles. Dustin Nichols: Nichols reached a peak weight of 450 pounds and had a record of 5-14-0. Antonio Johnson: Johnson weighed 380 pounds during his career and had a record of 7-3-1. https://youtu.be/Vndqe8ZI3BI?si=Yl3oZP6Iwjd4jPOm Buster Mathis Claude Humphrey McBride

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2024 BOXING UPSETS

CURRENT EVENTS / James

BOXING UPSETS OF 2024 2024 saw its share of upsets. Here, according to News.au.com, the top four are listed. Bruno Surace vs. Jaime Munguia: In December, French boxer Bruno Surace delivered a stunning sixth-round knockout against Jaime Munguia in Tijuana, Mexico. Munguia, previously undefeated and a top contender in the super middleweight division, was floored by a powerful overhand right from Surace, marking one of the year’s most unexpected outcomes. Daniel Dubois vs. Anthony Joshua: In September, Daniel Dubois secured a fifth-round knockout victory over former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in London. Dubois, considered the underdog, dominated the bout, knocking Joshua down multiple times before delivering the decisive blow in the fifth round. Liam Paro vs. Subriel Matías: In June, Australian boxer Liam Paro traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to face the hard-hitting Subriel Matías. Despite the odds, Paro controlled the fight with effective combinations, winning unanimously and capturing the IBF light-welterweight title. Adrian Curiel vs. Sivenathi Nontshinga: In a shocking upset, Adrian Curiel knocked out IBF flyweight champion Sivenathi Nontshinga with a single overhand right in the second round of their bout in Monaco. Nontshinga, a heavy favorite, was rendered unconscious by the punch, leading to a surprising title change.

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I Tried OpenAI’s Sora Video Generator…It’s Mostly Unusable

Uncategorized / James

If you haven’t tried Sora yet (or are in a region where it’s not currently available) and you’re curious about it, then keep reading. I will begin with an overview of Sora’s usage limits, its UI / UX, and the different ways you can make a video with it. Then I’ll share samples of the videos I made – both good and bad – and I’ll review some of Sora’s additional features that you can use to edit your videos.

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The night Patterson met “The Ol’ Mongoose”

HISTORICAL / James

The night Patterson met the Ol’ Mongoose 1956 Chicago 30th of November – Archie Moore gets another crack at the heavyweight crown — but this time, it is for the vacated title left by the retirement of Rocky Marciano, whose last defense was against none other than the Ol’ Mongoose, Archie Moore. Floyd Patterson won the heavyweight title in 1956 by defeating Archie Moore on November 30th. Patterson knocked out Moore in the fifth round to capture the title, which the retired Rocky Marciano had vacated. At 21, Patterson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history. Patterson’s victory was notable not only because of his age but also because of his unique peekaboo style of boxing, which involved holding his gloves close to his face to protect against punches. This style, fostered by trainer Cus D’ Amato, combined with Patterson’s speed and agility, helped him outmaneuver and ultimately defeat Moore. Moore, whose quest for the title was thwarted by Rocky Marciano the year before, got a second chance, and the veteran fighter with a record of 160-20-8 was installed as a slight 7-5 favorite. D’Amato, who had guided Patterson and his peek-a-boo style, was confident that his protege had enough experience to take on his senior opponent. Fight November 30, 1956/ as described by former heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano . . . https://youtu.be/lg2dopDFUHM?si=5MIOR9gKaFr743yOhttps://youtu.be/2eARidj04aE?si=NupF9en2N5ngTMae The Harder They Fall (1956) Available at Amazon

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Male Bantam and Intermediate divisions crowned

PRESS RELEASES / James

Two Divisions Finalized During Thursday’s Action at 2024 USA Boxing National Championships RICHMOND,VA (December 20, 2024) – Male Bantam and Intermediate divisions crowned a combined 23 champions during Thursday’s competition at the 2024 USA Boxing National Championships inside the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Va. Thursday’s action included two sessions to tie a bow on day four of the event. Day four consisted of 148 bouts across its two sessions, with 23 of those serving as championship showdowns. Of those title bouts, 10 were contested within the male Bantam division, while the remaining 13 were Intermediate showdowns. A complete list of Thursday’s champions can be found below. Day five of the competition begins at noon ET on Friday, Dec. 20, with the lone session being the lone bout. Thursday’s complete results, Friday’s bout schedules, and all other event information are on the 2024 USA Boxing National Championships event page, available HERE. Tickets for the remaining two days of action are available at will call. Daily passes are $10, while weekly passes are $50. Fans can also purchase passes for Saturday’s championship bouts for $25. Each remaining bout of the 2024 USA Boxing National Championships will be streamed live on USABoxing.org, courtesy of Parkway Productions. 2024 USA Boxing Male Bantam Champions: 55 lbs: Joshua Ortega – Dale, Texas 60 lbs: Derek Zempoaltecatl – Brooklyn, N.Y. 65 lbs: Brayzen Tadaki-Kapuwai – Kailua, Hawai’i 70 lbs: Caleb Avila – Austin, Texas 75 lbs: Rae’sean Houston – Chicago, Ill. 80 lbs: Antonio Bell – Redford, Mich. 85 lbs: Jai’air Peterson – Cleveland, Ohio 90 lbs: Austin Sanchez – Las Cruces, N.M. 95 lbs: Hasan Ibn Myers – Hampton, Ga. 101 lbs: Isaiah Rodriguez – Richmond, Va. 2024 USA Boxing Male Intermediate Champions: 65 lbs: Jayvyn Sofa-Vergara – Waianae, Hawai’i 70 lbs: Edgar Zempoaltecatl – Brooklyn, N.Y. 75 lbs: Jayden Aparicio-Denton – El Monte, Calif. 80 lbs: Micah Diaz – Kihei, Hawai’i 85 lbs: Victor Castillo – Houston, Texas 90 lbs: Ahlon Lewis – Stockbridge, Ga. 95 lbs: Armando Cruz – Houston, Texas 101 lbs: Maclin Whiting – Atlanta, Ga. 106 lbs: Juan Estrada – Delhi, Calif. 110 lbs: Giovanni Serrato – Elverta, Calif. 114 lbs: Damien Cook – Baltimore, Md. 125 lbs: Terriel Cooke – Hillcrest Heights, Md. 132 lbs: Juan Garcia – Grand Prairie, Texas About USA Boxing USA Boxing was established to promote and grow Olympic-style boxing in the United States and to inspire the tireless pursuit of Olympic gold and enable athletes and coaches to achieve sustained competitive excellence. Additionally, USA Boxing endeavors to teach all participants the character, confidence and focus they need to become resilient and diverse champions, both in and out of the ring. USA Boxing is one team, one nation, going for gold! -30-

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NYPD officer Nisa Rodriguez remained unbeaten with first KO

PRESS RELEASES / James

DOMINGUEZ GETS OFF CANVAS TO DEFEAT ANGEL GEOVANNY MEZA MORALES NYPD officer Nisa Rodriguez remained unbeaten with first KO “Holiday Fight Night 3” Official Results NEW YORK CITY (December 18, 2024) – Last night’s “Holiday Fight Night 3” card, presented by Boxing Insider Promotions, showcased some of the best Big Apple prospects in Sony Hall’s intimate surroundings, streamed live on DAZN from historic Times Square. “There is no place like New York City for boxing,” said promoter Larry Goldberg, the 2024 New York State Promoter of the Year (NYSBHOF). “It has the greatest vibe of anywhere in the world with great fans, as tough as nails, and the strongest regulations in the sport. Promoting our 10th professional boxing event in Times Square since 2022 and our third fight in a row on DAZN has been a real privilege. We are returning to New York City on Thursday night, February 20th, and will announce details shortly.” The main event between Mexican flyweight Andy Dominguez, a three-time New York Golden Gloves Champion fighting out of the South Bronx, and his Mexican opponent, Angel “Geovanny “Rayito” Meza Morales (8-3-3, 6 KOs), was an old-fashioned barnburner in which Dominguez overcame a knockdown in the third round to win the fight. (L) Andy Dominguez won an eight-round split decision over Angel Geovanny Meza Morales (Pictures courtesy of Stephanie Trapp / TrappFotos) Dominguez clearly won the first two rounds, but the knockdown evened the fight going into the fourth, in which a confident Morales picked up the pace. Dominguez established command in sixth round and kept control through the remainder of the bout for an eight-round unanimous decision. NYPD officer Nisa Rodriguez (3-0, 1 KO), ranked No. 9 in the world by the World Boxing Council (WBC), registered the knockout of her relatively young pro career with a second-round stoppage of middleweight Melody Popravak (2-2-1, 1 KO). Rodriguez rocked Popravak with 30 seconds remaining in the opening round, continuing with a barrage of punches until the bell. Popravak never recovered and Rodriguez, who fights out of Manhattan, battered her with crisp combinations until the fight was halted at the 52-second mark. (L) Nisa Rodriguez registered her first knockout as a pro Popular Manhattan middleweight Jacob Solis (5-0-1, 5 KOs) fought a four-round split draw with late replacement Daniel Jefferson (5-3-1, 0 KOs). Unlike his original opponent, Solis fought a southpaw, and he never found his rhythm. Solis unsuccessfully went for the knockout in the final round, firing overhand rights that never round their mark. Promoter Goldberg announced after the fight that the Solis and Jefferson would fight in a rematch, only in a six-rounder, on February 20. Blue-chip super middleweight prospect Donte Layne (6-0, 6 KOs), 21, kept cruising as he stopped Pachino Hill (8-8-2, 6 KOs) in the fourth round. Fighting out of Long Island, celebrated U.S. amateur boxer Layne made it a perfect 6-for-6 (6 KOs in 6 pro fights), dropping Hill with a damaging body shot in the third, followed in the fourth with a right hook that sent Hill to the canvas once again. Layne jumped on his woozy opponent, throwing an assortment of unanswered punches that forced Hill to take a knee, and the referee immediately waved off the fight. Lightweight Terell Bostic (14-2, 2 KOs), despite injuring his right hand during the fight, nearly pitched a “shutout” enroute to a one-sided eight-round unanimous decision over upset-minded Carlos Marrero (8-10-3, 1 KO). Bostic won all eight rounds on two of the three judges’ scorecards, displaying great conditioning and punching from the pocket. In the opening bout of the evening, Brooklyn lightweight Koby Khalil Williams (4-0, 3 KOs) only needed less than half of the first round to finish off Deonta Williamson (0-3), connecting with hooks from various angles to floor an overwhelmed Williamson for a technical knockout. Official results are below: _______________________________________________________________________ OFFICIAL RESULTS MAIN EVENT – FLYWEIGHTS Andy Dominguez (12-1, 6 KOs), South Bronx, NY by way of Mexico WDEC8 (77-74, 76-75, 75-76) Angel Geovanny Meza Morales (8-3-3, 6 KOs). Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico CO-FEATURE – FEMALE MIDDLEWEIGHTS Nisa Rodriguez (3-0, 1 KO), Manhattan, NY WTKO2 (0:532 Melody Popravak (2-2-1, 1 KO), Snellville, GA SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS Donte Layne (6-0, 6 KOs), Elmont, Long Island, NY WTKO4 (1:02) Pachino Hill (8-8-2, 6 KOs), Davenport, IA 170.1 lbs. MIDDLEWEIGHTS Jacob Solis (5-0-1, 5 KOs), Manhattan, NY D4 (39-37, 36-40, 38-38) Daniel Jefferson, (5-3-1, 0 KOs), Florissant, MO LIGHTWEIGHTS Terell Bostic (14-2, 2 KOs), Wyandanch, NY WDEC8 (80-72, 80-72, 78-74) Carlos Marrero (8-10-3, 1 KO), Bridgeport, CT Koby Khalil Williams (3-0, 2 KOs), Brooklyn, NY WTKO1 (1:22) Deonta Williamson (0-3), Saint Louis, MO

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MAJOR UPSETS IN BOXING HISTORY

Uncategorized / James

MAJOR UPSETS IN BOXING HISTORY Buster Douglas vs Mike Tyson, Tokyo, Japan (1990) Tyson, the destruction machine gets KO’d by lightly regarded Douglas in one of the biggest upsets in the 20th Century. Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua (2019) New York: Ruiz Jr. knocked down Joshua four times en route to a seventh-round TKO, becoming the unified world heavyweight champion. James Braddock vs. Max Bear (1935) Braddock, a contender with a modest ledger pulls out a 15 round unanimous decision to upset Bear at the Madison Square Bowl in Long Island City – a venue where not one champion ever defended his belt successfully. Antonio Tarver vs. Roy Jones Jr. (2004): Tarver ended Jones’ impressive run with a second-round TKO. Tarver had previously lost a disputed 12 round decision and was not going to be denied again. Lamon Brewster vs. Wladimir Klitschko (2004): Brewster knocked out Klitschko in the fifth round to claim the WBA heavyweight title. Corrie Sanders vs. Wladimir Klitschko (2003): Sanders knocked down Klitschko four times in the second round for a TKO victory. Frankie Randall vs. Julio César Chávez (1994): Randall ended Chávez’s 89-fight winning streak with a split decision victory. Randolph Turpin vs. Sugar Ray Robinson (1951): Turpin defeated Robinson, one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers, by decision. Max Schmeling vs. Joe Louis (1936): Schmeling’s victory over Louis had significant socio-political implications. Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman (1974): Ali’s knockout of Foreman in the eighth round is one of the most famous upsets in boxing history. Kirkland Laing vs. Roberto Durán (1982): Laing scored a decision victory over the lackluster Durán, who at the time was starting to lose fights he would have never when he was lightweight champ. Fritzie Zivic vs. Henry Armstrong (1940): Zivic defeated Armstrong, who had reeled off eighteen straight defenses of his world welterweight championship. Honorable mention Cassius Clay Vs Sonny Liston (1964) Mike Rossman TKO Victor Galindez (1978) and Rocky Marciano KO 13 Jersey Joe Walcott (1951)

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