THANKSGIVING

THANKSGIVING

All the darkened arenas where fighters bled and poured their sweat to pay the rent. All the punches they dealt and received to buy food for their families. This was how they made their living. A human body that wasn't prepared for that kind of life despite all the road work and sit ups and sparring partners that readied them to step into the ring to fight another like him.

Now he's old beyond his age and doesn't remember the fights he had in all those arenas that don't exist anymore. Like the old fighter,those smoky coliseums have been broken down so the new faces can never tell what they once were or who the battlers were that made the crowds roar.

Explain to the youth who the Golden Boy was ,or The Olympic where he made his living ,and you'll get a puzzled smile. But we can put it together ,if only from memory. We're thankfull that we lived there once,and now we can see it in a dream that can never be lost.

ROGER ESTY

Referee Toby Gibson Dies

It was reported today that boxing referee Toby Gibson died either this morning or last night, as a result of suicide. Gibson was a competent and successful referee. It's hard to imagine what demons drove him to this. R.I.P. Tony

Toby Gibson at Boxrec.com

2008 World Boxing Hall of Fame

This video is a compilation of photos taken by Rick Farris, Roger Esty, Dan Hanley Jr and me, and was taken at the 2008 World Boxing Hall of Fame's 29th Annual Hall of Fame at the LAX Marriott, Saturday, November 15, 2008.

Chris Arreola

Special From Bill O'Neill

I have visited heavyweight contender Chris Arreola's training camp in the piney woods outside the mountain community of Big Bear (elevation:  about 5,500 feet) three times in the past three weeks.  I'm happy to report that Chris is working very hard, looking strong, in preparation for his Nov. 29 HBO bout with Travis Walker.  There are unconfirmed reports that if Chris passes this test impressively, his next bout will be against one of the giant Klitschko brothers of the Ukraine, holders of two of the four or five splintered versions of the world heavyweight boxing title.

 

Yes, it's a bleedin' shame that the title is so fragmented.  But that isn't Chris's fault.  He will fight whoever they put in front of him--and, in my humble, slightly biased Southern Opinion--knock 'em all out.   Right now, he is still a comparative Unknown, even here in his home town.  But if he racks up just a couple or three more wins, he COULD become one of the most famous, most acclaimed sports stars in the world. 

 

I am privileged to have been the only "outsider" in the Arreola training camp.  And, of course, I am there strictly as a low-profile observer and "friend of the family."  My good friend "Indian Willie" Schunke, Arreola's assistant trainer, cut man, and hand-wrapping specialist, has allowed me to tag along with him on visits to the secluded camp.  They want no cameras, no microphones, no media people--and probably, most of all, none of Chris's beer-drinking buddies.  Right now, it's all business.  There will be plenty of time for partying, once that business is completed.

 

For the uninitiated:  Chris is Mexican-American, born in East L.A. and raised primarily in Riverside.  He is six-four, 240, heavily muscled, heavily tattooed, mean-looking, but very much a "gentle giant"--until the bell rings.  He is extremely intelligent and quite articulate, and welcomes the opportunity to become a role model.  My friend Jackie Hayden has dubbed him the "Mexican Rocky Marciano"--and I will second that endorsement.  

 

Of course, a professional boxer is always "only as good as his last fight."  And Travis Walker, every bit as big and confident as Arreola and with a record of 28 wins against one loss and one draw, could send us back to Square One in a hell of a hurry.  But I don't think so.  Chris has no intention of losing to him--or to anyone else, ever.

 

So tune in to HBO on the night of Saturday, Nov. 29, and decide for yourself whether Chris Arreola is, indeed, the Next Great Heavyweight.  If he ends up on his backside--you are free to question my credentials as a judge of fistic talent.

 

bon 

2008 Fighter and Fight of the Year

Highlights of Israel Vasquez vs Rafael Marquez III
2008 World Boxing Hall of Fame's Fight of the Year

Antonio Margarito
2008 World Boxing Hall of Fame's Fighter of the Year

Genero Hernandez Fighting Cancer

Former junior featherweight champ Genero Hernandez(38-2-1) is fighting a rare form of cancer.

Your tax deductible donations can be sent to :World Boxing Cares

36 W. 22 Street

New York,NY 10010 (mark contributions 'Genero')tax id:26 2665978.Also on January 17,there will be a dinner at the WBC LEgends of Boxing Museum in San Bernardino with proceeds going to Genero as well as a card by Thompson Productions).Email:mouthpiecedoctor@yahoo.com

2008 World Boxing Hall of Fame

Congratulations to the World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductees Class of 2008

Saturday,  Novemeber 15, 2008

LAX Marriott

Los Angeles, California

2008 Boxers Catagory

Lennox "The Lion" Lewis

42-1-2 (32 KO's)

Pernell "Sweetpea" Whitaker

40-4-1 (17 KO's)

Marvin Johnson

43-6 (35 KO's)

Greg "The Mutt" Haugen

43-10-3 (19 KO's)

2008 Expanded Catagory

Miguel Diaz

Akihiko Honda

Gilberto Mendoza

Alberto Reyes

2008 Posthumous Catagory

Guido Bardelli

Fighter of the Year

Antonio Margarito

Fight of the Year

Israel Vasquez vs Rafael Marquez III

View the complete list here

Young Firpo

Congratulations to the Entire Bardelli Family on the Induction of Guido Bardelli (Young Firpo) to the 2008 World Boxing Hall of Fame at the 

29th Annual Banquet of Champions at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott

Young Firpo - Guido Bardelli - The Uncrowned Light Heavyweight Champion 

and 2008 World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee

Click on the photo for a larger view

John Bardelli and sister (My apologies for forgetting her name) and World Boxing Hall of Fame Board of Directors member and friend of the Bardelli family, Rick Farris

John Bardelli and Rick Farris

John Bardelli remembering his father

John Bardelli and Emcee Tom Kelly

John Bardelli and sister

Click here to read more about Young Firpo's life and career on this website

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Photo

Click on the photo for a larger view

My daughter Meranda (right) and her friend Jesse were in Las Vegas recently and ran into Floyd Mayweather Jr. According to her he was a pretty nice guy and a perfect gentleman. Score one for Mayweather for being nice to my daughter.

Veteran's Day 2008

Joe Calzaghe vs Roy Jones Jr: They never see it coming.

This is what an aging fighter looks like that has not yet had one fight too many.......

.........This is what an aging fighter looks like that has.

They never see it coming.