Chicago Boxing History

FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ PASSES AWAY

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

PHILADELPHIA, PA (November 22, 2009) Chicago based bantamweight Francisco Rodriguez passed away on Sunday night, two days after his bout with against Philadelphia’s Teon Kennedy at the Blue Horizon.
The 25 year old Rodriguez collapsed after being stopped in the tenth round and was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital where emergency brain surgery was performed.
Said promoter [...]

WHAT IF ? HEAVYWEIGHTS ; MICHAEL MOORER -vs- JAMES TONEY.

Thursday, August 7th, 2008

WHAT IF ? HEAVYWEIGHTS ; MICHAEL MOORER -vs- JAMES TONEY.
This is a fight that would have made sense if it was put together. Each boxer has ties to the state of Michigan. It probably didn’t happen because by the time Toney became a heavyweight, Moorer’s star had diminished due to his one round kayo loss [...]

Do you know this Boxer?

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

Can you help me identify who the boxers in the picture are? Or the event?

It was probably taken in Chicago in the 1930’s.
My grandfather is third from the right.
Thank you for your help.
Peggy

CHICAGO’S PRIDE, JULY 25TH AT THE ARAGON—TICKET ALERT

Tuesday, July 1st, 2008

CHICAGO’S PRIDE, JULY 25TH AT THE ARAGON—TICKET ALERT Font Size
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Tickets are now on sale for an evening of world class professional boxing as Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, presents CHICAGO’S PRIDE on Friday, July 25th at the Aragon Ballroom headlined by local fan favorite Francisco “EL [...]

PAC KO’s DIAZ IN NINE !

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

Manny Pacquaio of the Philippines is the new WBC lightweight champion. Manny outspeeded and overpowered defending titlist David Diaz of Chicago. The bout ended at 2:24 of the ninth round after the dead game Diaz was floored.

TIMBER : THE FALL OF BIG JOHN TATE

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

TIMBER : THE FALL OF BIG JOHN TATE
He was to be the heir apparent to the retired Muhammad Ali. He was a big strong heavyweight who could box. Yes Larry Holmes was the holder of the World Boxing Council’s version of the heavyweight title. Larry had been embarrassed though in the amateurs by Duane Bobick. [...]

FORMER MIDDLEWEIGHT CONTENDER TONY LICATA PASSES AWAY.

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

One of the better middleweights of the 1970’s died recently. Tony Licata was a victim of a heart attack at the age of 56. The smooth boxing Licata turned professional in 1969 and was undefeated in his first 52 fights. ( 49-0-3 ). During that streak he defeated the likes of Mike Pusateri, Luis [...]

ERNIE TERRELL ; A GIANT IN THE SHADOW OF ALI

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

Who was the second best heavyweight around during the first title reign of Muhammad Ali ? A strong argument could be made for Chicago’s Ernie Terrell. Why ? Because he earned it. He was even good enough to hold the WBA version of the heavyweight title but everyone knew who the ” real ” champ [...]

Book Review: MY VIEW FROM THE CORNER ” BY ANGELO DUNDEE WITH BERT RANDOLPH SUGAR.

Saturday, May 17th, 2008

BOOK REVIEW ; ” MY VIEW FROM THE CORNER ” BY ANGELO DUNDEE WITH BERT RANDOLPH SUGAR. ( FOREWARD BY MUHAMMAD ALI ).
I started following boxing with the emergence of Cassius Clay in the early 1960’s. Whether you liked Clay or not he must be given credit for revamping the business of boxing. He was [...]

Notes on Chicago Boxing by Sean Curtin III

Thursday, November 22nd, 2007

I recently attended the IABA WORLD BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS at the University of Illinois Pavilion on Racine & Harrison streets with about 1,500 paid attendance.
I thought of all of the great bouts that took place in the neighborhood through the years since Boxing became legal in 1925.
Chicago’s first title fight took place at Comiskey Park on [...]