James - The Boxing Exchange

The Rise of “GEO” – or How AI is Transforming Search Engine Optimization

If you’ve used Google lately, you’ve probably noticed a change: instead of just getting a mix of links and snippets, you’re now seeing AI-generated responses that synthesize information from multiple sources right there in your results. This is what’s known as generative search and it’s changing how we optimize content for search engines. In this post, I’ll explain how traditional SEO differs from GEO and where the concept of GEO originated from. Then I’ll go over some best practices so you can improve your odds of getting featured in generative search results.

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“Scrappy” Ramirez preparing for Career-defining 2025

PRESS RELEASES / James

World Super Flyweight Contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez preparing for Career-defining 2025 LOS ANGELES (January 9, 2025) – Super flyweight contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez (14-1, 9 KOs) avenged his only career loss as a professional on December 14th, taking a 10-round unanimous decision from previously undefeated Ephraim Bui (10-1, 8 KOs) at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. The fast-rising, then-No. 1 ranked Ramirez was coming off a loss in Brooklyn by way of a 12-round decision to veteran Fernando David Jimenez (16-1, 5-1, 11 KOs) last April 20th for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Interim Super Flyweight Championship. In retrospect, “Scrappy” gained invaluable experience versus Jimenez to become even more of a threat in the super flyweight division, and he is taking things one fight at a time until he gets another world title fight. “It felt good to be back in the ring,” the charismatic Ramirez said. “It had been a while since I’d been in the bright lights, and I enjoyed every second of my walkout looking at the crowd. The fight went according to the game plan and I’m happy I executed it, using my jab to go to the body in the early rounds and later bringing my punches up. I didn’t stay stationary on the ropes; I was told always to use my feet on defense. “2025 is going to be a big year for me. I had a chance to showcase my skills in this fight. I think it was best for me to go 10 rounds for my experience. As I left the ring, I asked Eric Gomez (President of Golden Boy Promotions) to keep me busy in 2025 because I need a big year to keep this momentum going and capitalize on that with a world title. I did feel some ring rust, but now that’s gone. I’m taking it one fight at a time, and the opportunity will come for my world title.” Despite a limited amateur career and fighting a former 2018 USA Nationals gold medalist in Bui, “Scrappy” boxed his way to victory as all three judges scored the bout in his favor, each having a 97-93 score. “Everybody needs to keep changing,” 26-year-old Ramirez explained a change in his style. “I’m still growing as a fighter and human being, in and out of the ring. I’d like a rematch (with Jimenez) because it would feel good to avenge my only loss but, if he isn’t interested, I’d fight any of the other World Champions (WBC Jesse ‘Bam Bam’ Rodriguez, WBO Phumelele Cafu, WBA Fernando Martinez and the IBF is vacant).” “Scrappy” is world-ranked at No. 2 by the WBA, behind only future Hall of Famer Roman Gonzalez (52-4, 42 KOs) and No. 15 by the WBC. “Scrappy” Ramirez is a charter member of 3 Point Management (3 PM), which has a growing stable of gifted boxers, including WBA & WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs), WBA No. 5-rated super middleweight Darius “DFG” Fulgham (13-0, 11 KOs), former WBA Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Champion Kareem “Supreme” Hackett (12-1, 6 KOs), and German junior welterweight Simon “Saucy” Vollmer (6-0, 2 KOs).

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Rising Irish welterweight star Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan

PRESS RELEASES / James

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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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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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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