The Boxing History Blog

Hello! Please read the opening chapter of The Real Deal: Boxing's Ultimate Warrior, out on 03rd October 2021 and let me know your thoughts in the comments section. All the best Lea  linktr.ee/leroy_fight_writer   Chubby   Evander Holyfield was born in Atmore, Alabama on 19 th October 1962. The southern Alabama mill town, about two miles from the Florida border, was pleasant and industrious and far removed from nearby Montgomery which endured riots in the stormy 1960s.           Holyfield was the youngest of nine siblings, eight of them living as his older brother, Jimmy, died after childbirth of pneumonia. Bernard Holyfield was a year older than Evander and the two became inseparable, growing up together and getting into countless mishaps throughout their childhood.           Raised in the deep south by their mother, Annie Laura Riggen, who was born in Atlanta in July 1928. Aged fift...

Sunday morning, 14th March 2021, I’m lying in bed and click open the Sky Sports App on my phone , going straight to the boxing page to look for news on Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury. I see Marvin Hagler’s face at the top of the feed and I’m wondering why he’s there! Then I read the headline, ‘Marvin Hagler dies aged 66.’  I can’t believe it! I only tweeted about Hagler the other day on the anniversary of his fight with John ‘The Beast’ Mugabi. His death was announced on The Marvelous Marvin Hagler FAN CLUB Facebook page by his wife, Kay: “I am sorry to make a very sad announcement.  Today unfortunately my beloved husband Marvelous Marvin passed away unexpectedly at his home here in New Hampshire. Our family requests that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.  With love Kay G. Hagler” Many of boxing’s stars also took to Twitter to offer their tributes and condolences: “Marvelous Marvin Hagler was among the greatest athletes that Top Rank ever promoted. He was...