by Fox Doucette Three weeks ago, controversy erupted at the Historical Fight Night Arena in San Dimas, California, as Arturo Gatti defeated Alexis Arguello by 8th-round knockout at junior welterweight. Surely, the fix had to be in. No way could Gatti beat Arguello, the fans claimed. Anyone who'd think otherwise must be mad as a hatter. The HFN promotional team took notice, … [Read more...]
Revisiting Tapia: Fallen Warriors
by Eric Duran Fans cheer, as blood flows from a cut. As a war wages on between two gladiators, spectators watch in awe, on the edge of their seats. Fighters are immortalized by how brutally they compete inside the ring; under the bright lights, in big venues, in small, smoked filled warehouses. Fighters risk their health, for pennies on the dollar, for the entertainment … [Read more...]
Warning Signs are flashing for Taylor
by Ted Sares There are telltale signs in the life of a fighter that should not go unnoticed.”—Diego Morilla “There are too many innocent victims in this case to seriously consider him one…But there are others who played key roles in the degeneration of Valero from a hungry, young prizefighter into an uncontrollable monster. They are also guilty and have blood on their … [Read more...]
Boxing’s 10 Biggest Scandals
Boxing has been called the Red Light District of sports-- and with good reason. Scandal and controversy have become synonymous with boxing and, despite attempts to "move into the light," the sport, lacking a centralized authority and truly independent, transparent regulation, continues to produce shady occurrences. With that in mind, here's a look at the worst of the worst-- … [Read more...]
Can Repeated Head Trauma Lead to Mental Illness in Boxers?
On the night of May 7, 2005, a few friends and I huddled in front of the television set, our fists clenched, hearts pumping, and voices wavering as we watched Diego “Chico” Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo fight in the proverbial phone booth. Forehead to forehead the two gladiators stood, ripping each other to the body and head, each punch thrown with malice of forethought, with … [Read more...]