FNF: Hilmer Kenty versus Ernesto Espana

[youtube=http://youtu.be/c2H2inaAQyk]

It was a tough choice this week for our Friday Night Fights selection. We knew it had to be a fight that involved Emanuel Steward in some manner, as he's was intrinsically linked with the sport for the better part of three decades. But how do you pick a fight from a career like his, with all the greats he trained? It turned out to be a bit easy. Hilmer Kenty, far removed from the pantheon of superstars which Emanuel Steward is normally associated with was Steward's first World Champion. Steward had already been a trainer of some renown through Kronk Gym's dominant displays on the amateur stage but this would be the start of him gaining national attention as a trainer. Ernesto Espana was considered the heavy puncher here, with a world class chin. Howard Cossell makes the point at the start of the fight that Kenty will have to move around to stay out of Espana's range. But Manny knew best and instead advised Kenty to go at Espana. As you could probably guess, Steward was correct. 5 months later Tommy Hearns would become Steward's second world champion. And the rest, as they say, is history.

FNF: Salvador Sanchez versus Azumah Nelson

[youtube=http://youtu.be/BllfooQQcZM]

What prevails: poise or aggression, composure or bravado? It's a question you'll be asking yourself if you've never before witnessed this legendary battle between Azumah Nelson, future Hall of Famer, and Salvador Sanchez, one of the most tragic figures in boxing history.

Erik Morales versus Daniel Zaragoza

[youtube=http://youtu.be/Z2leKMRYILw]

Erik Morales versus Daniel Zaragoza. The fight that put "El Terrible" on the map. This is the whole thing, so get comfy.

FNF: Marco Antonio Barrera versus Erik Morales I

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjBexyCXh9Q?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=300]

Figured with Garcia/Morales II being officially announced this week, part of a card to welcome boxing back to Brooklyn, what better way to celebrate than making this weeks Friday Night Fight the 2000 Fight of the Year Barrera/Morales I. When you talk most exciting fighters in the last decade you will hear the same names repeated again. Marquez, Pacquaio, Barrera, Morales, Gatti, Ward, Vazquez. Really in the lower weight classes we witnessed some of the best fights of all time. Barrera/Morales I might be the one which kick started all the others. It made each mans career, became a signature fight for them one which people will always look back on when reviewing the careers of both men. You want to know how Marco Antonio Barrera fought, how Erik Morales fought? Watch this fight. It’s hard to believe 12 years later we still have Erik Morales in the ring. The man has an undying will to fight, to prove his mettle in the center of the ring. In October he’ll get yet another chance to prove the game hasn’t moved past him.

FNF: Livingstone Bramble versus Ray Mancini II

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5--wijUO1Ko?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=300]

We know we’ve been slacking on Friday Night Fights as of late. We’re done slacking. We want to get you set up for the weekend in style so between Friday Night Fights and First Cut Fridays we should be able to do that. Let’s get to it. Livingstone Bramble was a, shall we say, interesting character. Boxing’s full of ‘em but Bramble might take the cake. Hailing from Saint Croix but born in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Bramble was hounded by accusations of practicing witchcraft throughout his career. Accusations he never denied. Various rumors circulated, as they do, about cutting off the ears of dogs and rabbits for good luck or decapitating birds to offer their blood to prevent himself from shedding blood in the ring. He also had a fascination with snakes and pitbulls, often entering the ring with a snake draped across his shoulders. Ray Mancini was just about as opposite as you can get. The son of a World War II veteran, Ray’s story was an easy one for the public to get behind. His father Lenny Mancini had been a promising prospect in the Lightweight division prior to the outbreak of WWII. Injured in action he was never able to return to his pre-war heights. Ray fought for him, in the very same weight class, and took on his nickname: Boom Boom. Mancini’s style also endeared him to fans. Those type of cats who never take a step back and throw punches in bunches are always easy to like. So when Bramble and Mancini met for the second time some bad blood had brewed between the two camps. The fighters trainers, Lou Duva and Murphy Griffith respectively, nearly went at it at the press conference. The first fight had been a war and many expected the same for the second. It lived up to the expectations.

Bazooka Limon versus Bobby Chacon IV

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2yegmQ2fGs?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=300]

We’re in the process of writing a profile of Bazooka Limon, one of the most exciting fighters of all time. While you’re waiting for that watch his epic fourth fight with Bobby Chacon (we did a profile on Bobby earlier in the year). For us it is, hands down, the greatest fight of all time. You will never see two men attack each other with such force and keep it up for the duration that Chacon and Limon do. It’s a superhuman performance from both men. At times you might think the camera is in fast forward. And they keep that pace up for the entire fight. Everyone who watches this fight will hit a point where you have to ask yourself how they are still standing and battering each other with such ferocity. Numerous points in the fight would have resulted in a stoppage nowadays. Watch this fight.

Salvador Sanchez versus Danny Lopez

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhpCn3zjtUg?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=300]

It’s been 30 years to the day since one of, if not the, greatest boxer to ever come out of Mexico meteoric rise to the top of the boxing world was tragically cut short. Salvador Sanchez died in a car crash, only 23 years old, with many exciting prospects awaiting him. In his young life he had already managed to reach some of the biggest heights in the sport boasting a 44-1-1 record with 32 kayos and the Featherweight title in his possession. This is the fight which won him the first, and only, title he’d hold before his death. It put him on the map and made him one of the biggest names in the game and may have been his finest moment in the ring. Rest in peace, champ.

FNF: Jake LaMotta versus Sugar Ray Robinson VI

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w328DbEX33g?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=299]

It’s been a bit since we’ve posted a Friday Night Fight, what with our computer being broken and all. Well to make up for it we’re doing it big tonight: Jake “Raging Bull” LaMotta and “Sugar” Ray Robinson step into the ring with each other for the sixth (sixth!) time here in 1951 and many consider this to be the best of all there fights. A true piece of history, not simply in boxing terms but also pop culture terms. You’re gonna like this.

Arturo Gatti versus Gabriel Ruelas

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d_qq_FTIeE?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=300]

One did not go to war with Arturo Gatti. Not if you valued your health, and in a lot of cases, your consciousness. It has been 3 years since Gatti’s death and there ain’t a fight fan alive that doesn’t know his name. The man was one of, if not the, pre-eminent warriors in recent boxing memory. A cat like Gatti was the human embodiment of the world perseverance. No matter of pain and hardship could stop the dude. This fight, from ‘97, was the one which cemented Gatti’s status as one of the baddest dudes around and was also the first of four Fight of the Year honors. Things start getting tasty near the end of the third and kick into high gear for the rest of the fight. Battles like this are what Gatti should be remembered for.

FNF: John Mugabe versus Marvelous Marvin Hagler

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_elwPqCa2w8?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=300]

Friday Night Fights time again. We figured with out preview on Pacquaio/Bradley centering around it’s similarities to the showdown between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns, why not feature a Hagler fight? There isn’t ever a bad time for a Hagler fight, cause the cat was a scrapper through and through. Not that he was some no talent, skill lacking bum that was willing to put his body on the line. As you’ll see in his fight with John “The Beast” Mugabi, Marvin had a way to still have a scrap whilst exhibiting his world class boxing ability. Round 6 of this is particularly thrilling. We think you’ll enjoy.

FNF: Sugar Ray Leonard versus Tommy Hearns

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhX72YHFGFs?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=300]

We’re starting a new feature: Friday Night Fights. Not exactly a new concept in the boxing world, but hey, what better way to get the weekend stared than watching some of the best fights of all time? We decided to do this right, so the first one we’re bringing you is the 1981 showdown between “Sugar” Ray Leonard and our main cat Tommy “Hitman” Hearns. Something that we rarely see nowadays is two of the best in their weight class go face to face and mix it up. That was just a regular occurrence back in the 80’s when Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, “Sugar” Ray and Marvin Hagler proved they were willing to put fears of records aside and let the action inside be the ultimate decider. So let’s get this kicked off right, enjoy.

Matthew Saad Muhammad versus Marvin Johnson II

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxtkvjslW2A?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=300]

To truly understand the kind of warrior Matthew Saad Muhammad really was, you have to watch his second showdown with Marvin Johnson. Contested for the WBC Light Heavyweight title, these two simply brutalize each other. But the fight is not simply a brawl, there is also a lot of great technical boxing on display with both men exhibiting an understanding of basic boxing fundamentals that seem lost on some fighters today. We think you’ll enjoy.

Nigel Benn versus Chris Eubank

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjXWjBAMr2c?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=300]

There has seldom been such an electric crowd as the one present at Birmingham’s NEC for the middleweight showdown between Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank on November 18th, 1990. Benn was the toast of the British sporting world, coming off an explosive upset of Iran Barkley. Eubank was a much maligned boxer, possessingincredible skill and the arrogance to accompany it. It’s an oft heard expression in boxing circles that styles make fights and this showdown was another example. Benn’s explosive KO power was matched against Eubank’s sublime counter and combination punching. After the fight both men give emotional interviews and showcase the kind of respect two enemies gain for each other after they’ve gone into battle with one another. This is just the remedy to the embarassment which David Haye and Dereck Chisora have brought upon British boxing.

Tommy Hearns versus "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mILPqwesNE?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=300]

Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns are two of the names that make up that legendary quartet of 80’s fighters. The other two of course are Roberto Duran and “Sugar” Ray Leonard. But that’s another time, let’s focus on what is in front of us right now. Hagler versus Hearns, the fight that went on to be known simply as “The War” and after watching all two and a half rounds of this fight you’ll understand. Hearns exhibits his beautifully fluid movement throughout the first round while Hagler says “ya, you can dance, but I’ll knock your goddamned head off”. And that’s precisely how the fight plays out, with the “Motor City Cobra” showcasing his infamous boxing technique while Hagler just continues to come through everything. At the end of the first round there’s a stat regarding Hagler’s last loss: it was almost ten years before. Enjoy.

Alexis Arguello versus Aaron Pryor I

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O39psaFgk_U?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=300]

Pretty happy we found this. Alexis Arguello versus Aaron Pryor. Watch Pryor put on an absolute clinic, exhibiting his technical proficiency to an extent not normally seen in a bout at this level. His lateral movement and combination punching are a sight to behold. But it ain’t like Arguello doesn’t stand a chance. He fights like a true Latin warrior, never taking a step back. Head down, always coming forward, throwing some great combinations of his own and exhibiting a scary power. The only thing scarier? Aaron Pryor’s chin. There’s one shot he absorbs in particular in the 13th round that we’re pretty sure would kill a normal man. The Sweet Science at it’s absolute sweetest.

Arturo Gatti versus Mickey Ward I

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM0bpk6pSBw?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=300]

I couldn’t really think of a better Boxing Day present then the highlights from one of the all-time greatest wars in the sport: Ward-Gatti I. Enjoy.