The Boxing History Blog

Roberto Duran Roberto Duran was born in Chorillo, a slum on the east side of Panama on 16th June 1951. He was raised in great poverty, which would reflect years later in his fighting style. He was known as a 'Cholo' as he had part Indian, part Spanish blood. His absent father, an itinerant American soldier from Arizona who carried the Indian/Mexican heritage, left Duran's mother before he was born. There are many stories about the escapades of Duran's youth. He learnt to fight on the waterfront and it was said that as a twelve-year-old he struck down grown men with his bare hands. He would make daily raids of the mango plantations, swimming two miles across the Panama Canal with a knife held between his teeth. He would sell the mangoes to help his abandoned mother raise him and his eight siblings. Duran would also busk on the streets, singing and dancing for change, shoe shining, the list is endless. It is also said that when fully grown he knocked a horse senseles...

Tony Bellew Tony Bellew was born in Liverpool on 30th November 1982. In 2002 and 2003 he took the ABA novice titles by knocking out every opponent he faced, bar Rob Hough. He stepped up to the seniors as a heavyweight, winning three consecutive ABA titles (2004 to 2006) and finished with an amateur record of 40-7 (32 KO's). He turned pro on 06th October 2007 beating Jamie Ambler in the second round. He went 12-0 and in his thirteenth paid contest challenged Ghana's Atoli Moore for the vacant light-heavyweight Commonwealth title, winning by a first round TKO. He defeneded it against Bob Ajisafe and Ovill McKenzie. He faced McKenzie again, this time with the vacant British light-heavyweight title on the line as well as Bellew's Commonwealth championship. After a twelve round unanimous decision Bellew was a double domestic title holder. Bellew's fist defeat against Nathan Cleverly On 15th October 2011 Tony Bellew challenged Welshman...

Jeff Fenech Jeff Fenech was born on 28th May 1964 in St Peters, New South Wales, Australia, and was the sixth child of Maltese immigrants. He was a delinquent tearaway but channelled his aggression into boxing. A zest for learning and hard work were his keys to success, plus trainer Johnny Lewis, polished his boxing style and channelled all that determination. Fenech represented his country in the 1984 LA Olympics. After getting robbed in the quarter-finals he turned professional on 12th October 1984. He stopped Bobby Williams in the second round in his hometown of Marrickville, New South Wales, and the rise of the 'Marrickville Mauler' was launched. In his third bout, he knocked out Junior Thompson to win the vacant super-flyweight Australian title, at the end of November 1984. Two contests later he took on Wayne Mulholland for the New South Wales State and the vacant South Pacific & South Seas bantamweight championships. Mulholland's corner threw in the t...

Evander Holyfield On 19th September 1998, a month shy of his thirty-sixth birthday, Evander Holyfield defended his IBF and WBA heavyweight titles. He faced top International Boxing Federation contender Vaughn Bean, who was outpointed by then IBF champion Michael Moorer by majority decision in March 1997. Holyfield, fighting in front of his hometown fans in Atlanta, looked to be an old fighter at times. Many believed that Bean wouldn't give too many problems, as the man had only fought eight fighters with a winning record. Holyfield had to draw on all his experience to overcome Bean, who he knocked down in the tenth round as he ran out a unanimous decision 117-110 (twice) and 116-111 winner. Seven days later, Lennox Lewis, the WBC heavyweight champion negated twelve rounds against his mandatory contender Zeliko Mavrovic, winning by scores of 119-109, 117-112 and 117-111. The victory over the Croatian set up a unification battle against Evander Holyfield at the Mecca of...