Category Archive for "OTR ALL-TIME GREATS"

Sugar Ray Leonard: “If there was genuinely so much interest for the second fight with Marvin Hagler I would have done that in a heartbeat”

25 Submitted by Jenna J on Fri, 06 March 2020, 13:39

by Jenna J (transcribed by Michael Readman) There are very few fighters that fought in the ring and had an impact like former 5 division world champion Sugar Ray Leonard. He was the face of the sport and was involved in some of the biggest events the sport has seen, having fought and beat all-time greats Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns Continue Reading...

Marvin Hagler: “I will give Duran, Hearns, and Mugabi more respect because these guys came to take away my title. Not like Leonard who ran like a little girl!”

5 Submitted by Jenna J on Wed, 05 February 2020, 00:45

by Jenna J & Ruben Martinez – Sometimes the result of a fight is almost as memorable as the fight itself. On April 6th 1987, after years of anticipation, ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler and ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard finally met in the ring. Leonard was thought of by most as having very little chance going into the bout, as he fought only once in Continue Reading...

George Foreman: “Serious negotiations were going on with the Mike Tyson fight. Mike Tyson just didn’t want to fight me!”

5 Submitted by Jenna J on Fri, 10 January 2020, 00:30

George Foreman had one of the most historic and storied careers in boxing history. No one before or since has accomplished the feats that “Big George” did with what was known as “The Comeback”. Foreman had been out of the ring for ten years and launched a second career that ended with him becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in history, Continue Reading...

George Foreman: “I’ve never gone in the ring with anyone as courageous as Muhammad Ali”

8 Submitted by Jenna J on Mon, 06 January 2020, 16:25

‘Big’ George Foreman is a former boxer known more today for what he has done outside the ring than for what he did during his legendary boxing career. He has transcended the sport in popular culture and some are not aware of all the great accomplishments he achieved in the ring. During a boxing career that spanned four decades, George Continue Reading...

Thomas Hearns: “Going against Sugar Ray Leonard was like two great champions meeting and battling it all off!”

7 Submitted by Jenna J on Sat, 14 December 2019, 23:53

(Transcribed by Michael Readman) Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns is widely considered to be one of the greatest fighters of all time, and is spoken of in high regard today as the boxer most feel would have had a chance to take Floyd Mayweather’s “0”. I recently had a chance to speak with the 2012 Hall of Fame inductee, Thomas Hearns, Continue Reading...

Pernell Whitaker: “If you’re asking me whether Manny Pacquiao can beat me or not obviously I’m going to say no”

5 Submitted by Jenna J on Mon, 22 April 2019, 11:45

Former 4 division world champion Pernell Whitaker was elected into the boxing hall of fame in 2006 and is considered to be one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. He fought all-time great boxers such as Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, and Felix Trinidad. Having been a world champion at welterweight, many fans wonder Continue Reading...

Pernell Whitaker: “Fights are no tougher than what you make them. All of my fights, I thought were very easy and won them!”

10 Submitted by Jenna J on Thu, 04 April 2019, 07:35

Hall of Famer boxer Pernell Whitaker was known as “Sweet Pea” during his boxing career and amassed a professional record of 40-4-1 (17KOs). Whitaker was a former Olympic gold medalist and was a world champion in 4 weight classes, having won belts at lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight & light middleweight. He also fought all-time great fighters like Julio Caesar Chavez, Continue Reading...

Evander Holyfield: “Mike Tyson lost his cool and bit me twice. Unfortunately the fight didn’t end with him getting knocked out!”

3 Submitted by Jenna J on Fri, 02 February 2018, 00:13

Hall of Fame boxing legend and 4-time world champion Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield is most known for his warrior-like determination and tremendous heart showed in wars with Dwight Muhammad Qawi and Riddick Bowe. But beyond those bouts, Holyfield was also involved in one of the most controversial bouts in the history of the sport, one not remembered for the Continue Reading...

Evander Holyfield: “When Tyson fought me, we fought each and every round pretty hard. I won of course on a condition standpoint.”

4 Submitted by Jenna J on Fri, 26 January 2018, 22:55

Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield is one of the legends of boxing, having been in some of the greatest fights and biggest match ups in the sports history. In a career that spanned over 25 years, Holyfield won the heavyweight title four times and had wins over greats such as George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe. Holyfield Continue Reading...

Terry Norris: “If Mayweather & Pacquiao were back in my era they wouldn’t be champions. Boxing has gotten soft”

11 Submitted by Jenna J on Tue, 18 October 2016, 17:52

While boxing is called the sweet science, it can also at times be brutal. The sport has been around since before the turn of the 20th century and while some fighters leave the ring without much damage, others leave permanently reminded of their time in the sport. Former 3 time light middleweight champion and boxing Hall of Famer “Terrible” Terry Continue Reading...

Ray Mancini: “The best fighter in the world pound-for-pound bar none is Gennady Golovkin!”

14 Submitted by Jenna J on Wed, 27 May 2015, 19:04

The fight of the century that so many boxing fans waited for, also let most of those fans down. Mayweather vs. Pacquiao was a tactical fight that lacked the action and moments of drama that fans had hoped for. While the fight itself did not call for a rematch, the news that Manny Pacquiao had an injury going into the Continue Reading...

Ray Mancini: “I’m not paying to see Floyd Mayweather. Manny Pacquiao was the draw, everyone knows that!”

88 Submitted by Jenna J on Mon, 25 May 2015, 10:47

The 2015 Boxing Hall of Fame class gets inducted June 14th, in Canastota, NY. This years’ class includes Prince Naazim Hamad, Riddick Bowe and Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini. Mancini amassed a career record of 29-5 with 23 KOs and was often featured in prime time television due to his exciting fan friendly style. Ray Mancini’s career had it’s ups and Continue Reading...

Angelo Dundee: “If Mayweather and Pacquaio have any kind of sense of humanity about it, either fighter, they should fight!”

38 Submitted by Jenna J on Sat, 31 May 2014, 13:46

Sometimes the words of the greats live on long past when they are gone. Angelo Dundee was regarded as one of the greatest trainers in boxing history, having worked with Carmen Basilio, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman and countless other champions. In this “On The Ropes” classics interview with Angelo Dundee, he talked about some of his more Continue Reading...

Thomas Hearns: “I think my reach and my ability would shine very well against Floyd Mayweather Jr”

13 Submitted by Jenna J on Tue, 22 April 2014, 23:12

The one thing fans of boxing think of on a regular basis is how the stars of today would do against the legends of the past. One of the most intriguing match ups discussed is a fantasy match up between current p4p #1, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and former 5 division world champion, Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns. Many people believe the Continue Reading...

Tommy Hearns: “I knew my legs were tired and they weren’t gonna let me go the distance, so I was trying to stop Hagler!”

11 Submitted by Jenna J on Fri, 18 April 2014, 10:41

This week in boxing marked one of the greatest fights in boxing history. It was 29 years ago that middleweight champion, Marvin Hagler, and Thomas Hearns met in a fight that only lasted 3 rounds, but it left its mark on boxing fans and it is still talked about today. When I spoke to Tommy Hearns on the 212th edition Continue Reading...

Marvin Hagler: “Pacquiao would be a little nervous about being stopped or knocked out again if he fought Mayweather”

29 Submitted by Jenna J on Fri, 13 December 2013, 01:20

(transcribed by Michael Readman) Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. It is a fight that has been talked about for over 5 years now, but with both sides failing to come to terms in the past, and Pacquiao meeting defeat twice, talk of the fight seemed all but dead. Now with Manny Pacquiao’s recent return to dominance against Brandon Rios, and also getting Continue Reading...

Marvin Hagler: “I don’t feel anything bad because inside my heart I know that I won the fight with Leonard”

23 Submitted by Jenna J on Thu, 12 December 2013, 01:11

(transcribed by Michael Readman) The mega event, it is something often talked about in boxing, but rarely do these match ups ever happen. The fight between Marvin Hagler and “Sugar” Ray Leonard is the rare exception, and it was an event that even today is still talked about. In part 2 of my exclusive interview with Marvelous Marvin Hagler, I Continue Reading...

Marvin Hagler: “The best way to keep my anger inside me was to keep knocking these guys out until I got what I wanted”

7 Submitted by Jenna J on Mon, 09 December 2013, 22:42

(transcribed by Michael Readman) Boxing legend and former undisputed Middleweight champion of the world Marvelous Marvin Hagler recently made a return appearance to “On The Ropes” to discuss his boxing career and also give his thoughts on the current landscape of the sport. Marvin talked about what led him to get into boxing and what his expectations were from the Continue Reading...

Mike Tyson: “I’m gonna treat you like I’m the bully and you’re the prey. That’s just how I looked at life!”

10 Submitted by Jenna J on Thu, 22 August 2013, 03:42

(transcribed by Michael Readman) Mike Tyson is now only a day away from entering a boxing arena for the first time as a promoter. “Iron” Mike, a boxer once known for the excitement he brought inside the ring is now hoping he can bring fans the same type of enjoyment with a debut which will be a nationally televised card Continue Reading...

Mike Tyson: “I never will forget Cus D’Amato, he gave me confidence, I’ll always remember him for that.”

39 Submitted by Jenna J on Tue, 20 August 2013, 01:46

(Transcribed by Michael Readman) In the sport of boxing most fighter’s careers end when they step out of the ring for the final time, with only a small amount finding the same success out of the ring as they have had in it. “Iron” Mike Tyson is trying to join that group. He has already found success with acting and Continue Reading...

Emanuel Steward: “Wladimir can’t fight the future, so all he can do is be the best of his own time and his era and that’s what he’s doing”

4 Submitted by Jenna J on Sun, 07 July 2013, 11:58

Emanuel Steward, one of the greatest and most respected trainers we have seen in boxing history passed away last October the 25th, from complications due to colon cancer and on that day boxing lost one of it’s greatest ambassadors. Today’s date, July the 7th would have marked his 69th birthday, and in celebration of Emanuel’s impact not just on boxing, Continue Reading...

George Foreman: “If I had to do it all over again, I would of never faced Muhammad Ali”

0 Submitted by Jenna J on Fri, 12 April 2013, 03:23

Big George Foreman is set to make his return to HBO broadcasting this Saturday night to commentate an event in Macau, China. It has been over 8 years since George has called an HBO event and joining him in this comeback will be a familiar face, as he will again be teamed up with Larry Merchant. I was recently afforded Continue Reading...