Twenty Fights That Defined Tyson

Tyson’s Twenty Most Career Defining Fights

20 1986-05-03 215 James Tillis 207¾ 31-8-0 Civic Center, Glens Falls, New York, USA W UD 10 10
19 1989-07-21 219¼ Carl Williams 218 22-2-0 Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA W TKO 1 12
18 1996-09-07 219 Bruce Seldon 229 33-3-0 MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA W TKO 1 12
17 1996-03-16 220 Frank Bruno 247 40-4-0 MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA W TKO 3 12
16 1991-06-28 216 Donovan Ruddock 238 25-2-1 Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA W UD 12 12
15 1987-08-01 221 Tony Tucker 221 34-0-0 Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA W UD 12 12
14 1987-10-16 216 Tyrell Biggs 228¾ 15-0-0 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA W TKO 7 15
13 1987-03-07 219 James Smith 233 19-5-0 Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA W UD 12 12
12 1986-07-26 217 Marvis Frazier 210½ 16-1-0 Civic Center, Glens Falls, New York, USA W TKO 1 10
11 1989-02-25 218 Frank Bruno 228 32-2-0 Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA W TKO 5 12
10 1987-05-30 218¾ Pinklon Thomas 217¾ 29-1-1 Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA W TKO 6 12

(more…)

Money Meets Legacy

Money Mayweather’s Legacy on the Line vs Guerrero 

“I got respect for Sugar Ray Robinson. I got respect for Muhammad Ali, but I’m a man just like them and put on my pants just like they put on their pants. What makes them any better than me?” Floyd Mayweather.

“It speaks to his popularity. He generates that money. Love him or hate him, they watch him. I’m very happy for him. He deserves it.” Richard Schaefer.

“Oh, definitely the southpaw side gives him trouble. If DeMarcus Corley and Zab Judah didn’t get tired, they were winning that fight and I believe that. I’m ready for this. I’ve had the right fights. I was built the right way. I’ve had the right experience. I’ve been there with a bunch of different styles. I’ve been in there with lefties, a lot of them; I’ve been in with a bunch of different power punchers, prowlers, boxers, sharp guys. But as I say, what I’ve been through, God’s prepped me up for this and here it is.” Robert Guerrero.

Floyd Mayweather was a Pay-Per-View phenomenon for HBO with his 9 PPV bouts doing $540 million in revenue on 9.6 million buys for that network. He participated in the three biggest non-heavyweight PPV events in all of boxing history. Floyd was the highest-paid athlete in the world last year with earnings of $85 million. Mayweather’s allure as a marquee attraction convinced Showtime to sign the 36-year-old to a 6 fight deal in February that is expected to pay anything up to & beyond $200 million.

Mayweather will make $32 million guaranteed for Saturday’s fight and Guerrero is set to earn $3 million. Money will make millions more based on the size of the PPV audience. Floyd will keep 90% of the profits from the entire event, so says Richard Schaefer.

Golden Boy Promotions, which is promoting the fight with Mayweather Promotions, has Corona helping promote the fight with displays in over 2,000 locations.  O’Reilly Auto Parts offered coupons for the PPV event at its 3,800 locations. NCM Fathom Events are showing the fight in around 400 movie theaters.

Money talks but on Saturday night we’ll find out if historical greatness will match the historically significant amounts of money the boxing community has spent on luring such a talent back into the ring once more.

Matt Hamilton, for ESNewsReporting!

Great Expectations: Rios-Alvarado 2 – Boxing’s Mile High Moment of 2013

Rios vs Alvarado 2: Mile High Expectations 

“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into a better shape.”
― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Brandon Rios is a solid favorite to again beat Mike Alvarado on Saturday night in Las Vegas. The two all-action fighters went toe to toe during much of the first installment and two judges had the bout even until “Bam Bam” (31(23)-0-1) overwhelmed “Mile High Mike Alvarado (33(23)-1) to handle, which resulted in a stoppage of proceedings at the 1:57 into the Round 7 in an instant all-time classic slug fest.

As is customary with a war which becomes instantly becomes a solid candidate for fight of the year any rematch takes on grandiose tones. Carson, California gives way to the bright lights of the world’s boxing mecca – Las Vegas, Nevada. When Brandon Rios & Mike Alvarado last collided  Rios was coming off of a highly controversial win over Richard Abril. Alvarado had last seen action on the under-card of that very same Rios v Abril show.

“I must be taken as I have been made. The success is not mine, the failure is not mine, but the two together make me.”
― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

The working hypothesis in prize fighting is to let two boxers strengthen their respective brands independently as opposed to rematch right away. Neither Rios nor Alvarado buy that though.

“No. It’s never too soon to do it again. If you’re a warrior like me, then you can’t wait to do it again. Why wait?” Brandon Rios.

“I agree with Brandon. I wouldn’t want to wait any longer. People want to see this again and we’re ready to do it again.” Mike Alvarado

Neither Rios nor Alvarado is the type of fighter to suffer from analysis paralysis – they go in there & get to work – often times with dramatic consequences that are invariably fan friendly in nature. All they ask for is a dance partner willing to stand in front of them & exchange. Once again – they both have one & boxing has reason to lick its collective lips in anticipation.

“No varnish can hide the grain of the wood; and that the more varnish you put on, the more the grain will express itself.”
― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

There wasn’t much not to like when Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado met in October. If the second stanza is anything like as good the first classic clash, it won’t have come a moment too soon for the sport of boxing.

“I am what you designed me to be.I am your blade. You cannot now complain if you also feel the hurt.”
― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Weigh In

Brandon Rios 140 – Mike Alvarado 140
Breidis Prescott 140 – Terence Crawford 139.5
Jose Ramirez 139.5 – Charle Dubray 138.5

Miguel Berchelt 131 – Carlos Claudio 131.5
Michael Finney 152.5 – Osvaldo Rojas 152
Juan Guajardo 210 – Brett Rather 240
Roberto Lopez 144 – Juan Heraldez 146
Manuel Lopez 142.5 – Jason Tresvan 143.5
Tremaine Williams 123 – John Herrera 122.5

“Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better rule.”
― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Matt Hamilton, for ESNewsReporting!

Hamilton’s Hit Em Up: Mike Tyson’s Right Hand Man Mr. Steve Lott

Conversations with Matt Hamilton on Boxing

Matt Hamilton caught up with former assistant manager to Jimmy Jacobs & Bill Clayton during the fabled prime of Iron Mike Tyson, Mr. Steve Lott. Steve is currently involved with the Las Vegas Boxing Hall of Fame & spent 30 years as an executive producer with the ESPN Fight Film & Tape Library in New York City.

Steve was camp coordinator for legends of the ring Edwin Rosario and Wilfred Benitez. He managed their training schedules, media, medicals, sparring, travel, and public appearances. His role grew with other boxing stars including Mike Tyson, Tommy Morrison, Jeremy Williams, Michael Grant, and Vinny Pazienza.

Matt Hamilton: You’re perhaps best remembered by boxing fan’s as Mike Tyson’s personal assistant (?) – are you still friends/friendly with Mike? What do you make of his move into film & stand up comedy? (more…)

Hamilton’s Believe It Or Not of Boxing

Hamilton’s Believe It Or Not

When Floyd Patterson lost the title to Sonny Liston in 1962, he left Comiskey Park in Chicago wearing a pair of dark sunglasses and a fake beard for his drive back to New York City.

Most first round KO’s of any heavyweight champion during career: Jack Dempsey at 25.

Mike Tyson is credited as having the Most Flash Knockouts in his Career, knocking out 9 fighters in less than one minute.

Marvis Frazier 0:30,

Robert Colay 0:37,

Lou Savarese 0:38,

Mike Johnson 0:39,

Ricardo Spain 0:39,

Clifford Etienne 0:49,

Mark Young 0:50,

Trent Singleton 0:52,

Sterling Benjamin 0:54

Australian Max Gornick vs Africa’s own Charlie Smith. The bout was scheduled for 15 rounds. By 12.00 PM, the fight had gone 14 rounds. If the fight had of continued it would have broken the Sunday Observance Act. It was decided to call the fight a draw.

Only fighter to campaign over 5 decades
A 16-year old Roberto Duran turned professional way back in 1968 & then competed through five decades; fighting his last professional bout aged 50 in 2001. Duran’s retirement actually came as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident – so who knows how long he might have carried on fighting! (more…)

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