Full name : Michael Gerard Kirkpatrick Tyson
Nickname : Iron Mike
Date of birth : 30th Jun, 1966
Place of birth : Catskill, New York
Height : 5ft. 91/2 inches
Turned pro : 1985
Pro record : 49W 4L 0D 2NC (42KO)


Mike Tyson is, without a doubt, the biggest name in boxing, and has been for almost 20 years - despite prison terms, boxing bans, monumental defeats, and countless personal problems! Although clearly past his best, we should not judge this man on the sordidity of his private life, or on some of the lack-lustre performances he's dragged out since losing to Buster Douglas. We should, instead, remember Tyson as the ultimate fighting machine that he most certainly was at his peak. Real, deadly knockout power in either hand, exceptionally fast hand speed, a good, well-schooled defence, a rock-solid chin, and bravery in spades make Iron Mike one of the most impressive fighters I've ever had the privilege to watch.

Born: Jan. 4, 1935
Bouts: 64
Won: 55
Lost: 8
Drew: 1
KOs: 40

TIMING, AS much as talent, played an important part in Floyd Patterson's career.

Patterson won a gold medal at the 1952 Olympics while fighting as a middleweight. When he turned pro, he began fighting as a light heavyweight. The first loss of his career was a controversial decision to former 175-pound champ Joey Maxim.

When Rocky Marciano retired in 1956, Patterson seized his opportunity. With the heavyweight title vacant, Patterson decisioned Tommy Jackson in a title elimination bout and then knocked out 42-year-old light heavyweight champion Archie Moore in the fifth round to win the vacant crown. He was 21 years and 10 months old, the youngest man to ever capture the heavyweight title. At the time, Moore was the oldest man to ever challenge for that title.

Patterson made four successful title defenses but his reign came to an end in June of 1959 when Sweden's Johansson knocked him out in the third round.

Again Patterson would find himself in the record books when he stopped Johansson in a rematch to become the first man in history to regain the heavyweight title.

Patterson's tenure as champ ended for good when Sonny Liston knocked him out in one round in 1962 and then again in a rematch 10 months later. Patterson would challenge for the crown again in 1965 but was stopped in 12 rounds by Muhammad Ali. His final change at the title came in 1968 when he lost a 15-round decision to Jimmy Ellis for the vacant WBA crown.

Patterson finally retired after a 1972 loss to Ali. In 1995, he was named Boxing Commissioner for the State of New York

23-2-0 (21 KOs)


Fernando Vargas compiled an extraordinary amateur record of 100-5. In 1992, he won the 132 lb. championships at the Junior Olympics Box-Offs, and came in second at the Junior Olympics. In 1993, he captured the triple crown of amateur boxing: the Junior Olympics Box-Offs, the Junior Olympics, and the Junior Olympics International tournament. The following year he solidified his position as one of the premier amateur fighters in the world by winning the 132 lb. gold medal at the Olympic Festival, seizing the U.S. Junior Championships at 132 lbs., and by becoming the youngest fighter ever to win the U.S. Championships. In 1995, he was selected to the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team.

Vargas lost a controversial decision in the second round of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games thanks to the much-maligned and often-ridiculed Olympic scoring system. Disappointed, but undaunted, Vargas set his sights on achieving greatness in the professional ranks.

Vargas was scheduled to turn pro on November 22, 1996, however, while training for the bout he broke his right hand. Eager to turn pro and begin his march toward a world championship, Vargas "ferociously" followed his physical therapy program, and within five months he was ready for his professional debut.

In his professional debut on March 25, 1997, Vargas crushed Jorge Morales -- a veteran of 33 bouts -- in just 56 seconds. Immediately, a star was born.

Fernando blasted his next five opponents within two rounds, eliminating four of his five challengers in one round.

After six professional bouts, Vargas had fought a total of only eight rounds.

On October 4, 1997, in his first performance on a pay-per-view broadcast, Vargas dismantled bruising veteran Alex Quiroga (TKO 6). Vargas bounced devastating overhand rights off Quiroga's granite jaw, and mauled him with bone-crunching left hooks to the ribcage, forcing referee Eddie Cotton to stop the bout in round six.

After starching his next six opponents-all within five rounds-Vargas received his first opportunity to headline an HBO fight card.

On August 22, 1998, Vargas battled rugged New Jersey native Darren Maciunski in the co-feature bout to the Arturo Gatti-Ivan Robinson 10 round war. Both bouts were broadcast live on HBO's "Boxing After Dark" program. Fernando hammered Maciunski from the opening bell, twice dropping the relentless Maciunski on his way to earning a sixth round stoppage (TKO 6).

Vargas followed his victory over Maciunski by defeating "Yory Boy" Campas on December 12, 1998, to capture the IBF Junior Middleweight Championship.

On March 13, 1999, on the undercard of the Lennox Lewis-Evander Holyfield world heavyweight championship unification bout, Vargas successfully defended his newly-earned crown, flooring Howard Clarke four times in round four to force a stoppage (TKO 4).

Four months later on July 17, 1999, Vargas battered former IBF Jr. Middleweight Champion Raul Marquez for 11 rounds to retain his IBF crown for the second time (TKO 11). Marquez, who displayed a granite chin and a champion's heart, was unable to nullify Vargas' superior hand and foot speed. Vargas stung Marquez with 2-3 punch combinations while performing a boxing clinic that stunned ringside observers with its precision and effectiveness. The knockout victory, Vargas' 17th, tied the record set by undisputed light heavyweight champion Roy Jones, Jr. for the "Most Consecutive Knockout Wins to Begin a Champion's Career."

On October 16, the World Boxing Hall of Fame named Vargas their 1999 "Fighter of the Year."

On December 4, 1999, Vargas successfully defended his crown for the third time, capturing a majority decision over the IBF's #1 mandatory challenger Ronald "Winky" Wright (W 12). In a give-and-take brawl from the opening bell, the two fighters traded bombs for the majority of the bout, until Vargas stormed ahead in the championship rounds (rounds 10-12) winning two of the last three rounds on two judges' scorecards and all three final rounds on the third judge's scorecard.

In February 2000, Washington Redskins Strength & Conditioning Consultant John Philbin joined Team Vargas. Philbin has worked with the Redskins for seven seasons and has worked with numerous world-class athletes, such as, Herschel Walker, Edwin Moses, Willie Gault, Renaldo Nehemiah and Darrell Green.

On April 15, 2000, Vargas launched himself into boxing stardom by dominating former WBA welterweight champion Ike Quartey to capture a unanimous decision by the scores of 116-111, 116-111 and 114-113 (W 12). Vargas outjabbed, outpunched and outgutted Quartey, closing the right eye of the Accra, Ghana native with a blistering two-fisted attack to successfully defend his crown for the fourth time. Las Vegas Review Journal boxing writer Kevin Iole summarized the view of ringside observers as they exited the arena that evening: "Fernando Vargas underwent a metamorphosis Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. He entered the ring as a young champion and exited as a great champion."

On August 26, 2000, Vargas pummeled IBF #1 contender Ross Thompson to successfully defend his crown for the fifth time (TKO 4). Vargas punished Thompson, flooring the Buffalo, NY native three times with devastating overhand rights. Thompson entered the bout weighing 173 lbs-10 pounds more than Vargas entered the ring weighing. The victory set up a December 2000 unification showdown between Vargas and WBA Jr. Middleweight Champion Felix "Tito" Trinidad.

On December 2, 2000, Vargas surrendered his IBF crown to WBA Jr. Middleweight Champion Felix "Tito" Trinidad (TKOby 12). Despite being floored five times, Vargas fought back relentlessly, displaying his champion's heart time-and-time again throughout the bout. The former champion even dropped Trinidad in round four with a stinging left hook, however, by round 12, Vargas was exhausted and was unable to repel Trinidad's blistering attacks.

Vargas returned to the ring on May 5, 2001, stopping Wilfredo Rivera in six rounds (TKO 6). Vargas shook off a second round knockdown and stormed back in rounds five and six with vicious body punches and stinging left hooks to force Rivera's manager to intervene and demand a stoppage.

On September 22, 2001, Vargas captured the vacant WBA jr. middleweight crown, dismantling WBA #1 ranked contender Jose "Shibata" Flores in seven rounds (KO 7). A torrent of crippling body punches and a series of combinations to the head dropped Flores to the canvas at the 2:55 mark of round seven. Unable to climb to his feet, the tough, durable Navajoa, Mexican was counted out by referee Joe Cortez. Vargas' punishing victory over his friend and former sparring partner also earned him the vacant IBA jr. middleweight title.

On September 14, 2002, Vargas surrendered his WBA and IBA titles to Oscar De La Hoya in an historical Jr. Middleweight championship unification showdown that filled the Mandalay Bay Events Center to capacity and sold approximately one million pay-per-view buys. In the early rounds Vargas used his natural strength to bully de la Hoya against the ropes and land right hands to the head and body; however, in the middle and late rounds Vargas tired and de la Hoya's hand speed took over. After hurting Vargas at the end of round 10, De La Hoya dropped the gritty Oxnard, CA native in round 11 with a left hook to the head, and stopped him moments later with a flurry at the 1:48 mark of the round (LTKO 11).

Record: Unknown.

John L. Sullivan
The first Irish American Boxing Champion,
and ‘The hand that shook the world’.

John L. Sullivan was a boxing legend. He is credited as being the first heavyweight-boxing champion of the world and is still ranked highly in that division. Sullivan was the link between old style bare knuckle fighting and modern glove fighting under the Queensberry rules. He was the first great American sports celebrity and in his long and controversial career he met and sparred for Princes, Presidents and paupers.

Sullivan soon manoeuvred himself into a bare-knuckle title fight with the Thurles born titleholder, Paddy Ryan. Ryan was yet another Irish-American champion from the town of Troy, New York, where the celebrated Templemore born boxer John Morrissey had also grown up. However, Ryan was a mediocre and reluctant champion. The heavily gambled upon and much anticipated Sullivan v Ryan fight took place on 7 February 1882 in Mississippi City. The fight was somewhat disappointing and lasted roughly ten minutes with Sullivan easily defeating Ryan in nine rounds, as governed by the London Prize Ring Rules. In fact, the most interesting thing about the fight was the audience, in which the James brothers, Frank and Jesse, were spotted.

For the next decade or so Sullivan, despite chronic alcoholism, easily held on to his title, defending it nearly thirty times. These fights were predominately arranged around Sullivan’s great tours of the United States in 1883-4 and 1886-7, whereupon at each stop John L. made his standard offer of one thousand dollars to any man who could last four rounds. He rarely had to pay out for he could “lick any man alive”. Interestingly, and unlike the original title fight against Ryan, all of these bouts were fought with gloves and took place under the Queensberry rules. There is no great mystery as to why Sullivan preferred gloves: they were safer, they prolonged his career; thus enabling him to make more money. Indeed, Sullivan was a commercial phenomenon; using one commentator’s figures, it is estimated that Sullivan cleared between eighty to one hundred thousand dollars during the 1883-4 tour of the United States. Later, Sullivan’s commercialisation of the ring would open unprecedented opportunities for other boxers, though Sullivan drank most of his own earnings.

Full name : Marvin Hagler
Nickname : Marvelous
Date of birth : 23th May, 1954
Place of birth : Newark, NJ
Height : 5ft. 9 inches
Turned pro : 1973
Pro record : 62W 3L 2D 0NC (52KO)


Hagler started off his professional career in less than emphatic style, suffering 2 losses & a title-fight draw. All of this, however was soon to change...

With the utter destruction of Alan Minter in London, the Marvin Hagler reign of terror had begun. Over the next 6 years Hagler defended the title successfully on 13 occasions, taking on the very best boxing had to offer in the process. A 15 round superfight against boxing legend Roberto Duran, & the most explosive three rounds of boxing ever against Thomas Hearns solidified Hagler's reputation as one of the greatest fighters ever to grace a ring.

Never one to duck a fight, Hagler accepted another superfight challenge, this time from Sugar Ray Leonard, fresh out of retirement. A bitterly contested fight ensued, with neither man willing o give ground. After 12 rounds of superlative boxing, Leonard was awarded a close points decision, much to Hagler's disgust. Hagler promptly retired in protest, never to step back in the ring.

A fierce competitor, with a solid southpaw style & possibly the finest chin in living memory, Hagler is commonly remembered (along with Sugar Ray Robinson) as one of the two best middleweights of all time.

Full name : Ray Charles Leonard
Nickname : Sugar
Date of birth : 17th May, 1956
Place of birth : Wilmington, NC
Height : 5ft. 10 inches
Turned pro : 1977
Pro record : 36W 3L 1D 0NC (25KO)


Believed by many to be the outstanding boxer of the rich 1980's (above the likes of Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, & Mike Tyson!), Leonard was America's golden boy of boxing from the second he won light-welterweight Olympic gold at the 1976 Montreal games.

A shock defeat to Roberto Duran in their 1st contest, Leonard boxed beautifully in the return to nulify Duran's marauding, bullying tactics. Duran finally quit, uttering the immortal words "no mas, no mas", & a true legend was born. Twice the better of Thomas Hearns, & the eventual toppler of Marvin Hagler's middleweight crown, Leonard staged a number of retirement comebacks to ensure a very decent life upon final retirement.

With charisma, speed, guts, a decent chin, respectable power in either hand, & skills, skills, skills, Leonard must surely be one of the most impressive fighters of the modern era.

Full name : George Foreman
Nickname : Big George
Date of birth : 10th Jan, 1949
Place of birth : Marshall, Texas
Height : 6ft. 3 inches
Turned pro : 1969
Pro record : 76W 5L 0D 0NC (68KO)

This man's career is one of the most fascinating in boxing history! A street thug until joining the Job Corps, George Foreman turned to boxing & soon found he could punch. This punch led him, in 1968, to an Olympic Gold medal. It then lead him through 37 straight pro wins (35 KO's) to a shot at the world champ, Joe Frazier. Although a massive underdog, since Frazier was the unbeaten conquerour of Muhammad Ali, Foreman tore his opponent apart - knocking him down no less than 6 times in 4 minutes!

The bubble soon burst, however, in Kinshasa, Zaire, when Foreman defended his title against the ageing Ali - & the rope-a-dope technique. Ali absorbed Foreman's thunderous punches, & tired out the champion before dropping him in the 8th. Foreman took the loss badly &, despite a number of good wins, retired after losing a close points decision to Jimmy Young. He collapsed in the dressing room after the fight, & had a hallucination. Big George saw this as a revelation, & decided to turn his back on boxing in favour of the church.

Almost a decade later, however, Foreman's money had run dry, so he made a comeback! No-one gave him a second thought, the general concensus being that he was past it & just looking for some paydays. So Michael Moorer must still be in shock after taking a seemingly easy defence of his WBA & IBF crowns against him. Easily ahead on points, Moorer was tagged by Big George's biggest weapon, & crashed to the canvas. At 46, George Forman was the oldest world heavyweight champ of all time, some 21 years after he first held the crown!

George has opened yet another chapter in his life with retirement, selling a grilling machine! George Foreman's Mean, Lean, Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine has, thus far, earned Big George an estimated 6 times the amount he earned from his career as a boxer!!!

Full name : Muhammad Ali
Nickname : The Greatest
Date of birth : 17th Jan, 1942
Place of birth : Louisville, KY
Height : 6ft. 3 inches
Turned pro : 1960
Pro record : 56W 5L 0D 0NC (37KO)


To accurately & comprehensively cover the influential periods of this man's life would take an entire website, let alone 1 page, so I won't even try!

Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay, knew he'd become a legend the second he won Olympic light-heavyweight gold. A monumental upset against the universally feared Sonny Liston gave Ali his dream world title, & he announced his faith (& new name) to the world shortly after. Disgracefully racist attitudes, spurred on by Ali's constant refusal to be an "Uncle Tom", resulted in Ali being stripped of his title for refusing to join the Vietnamese war ("I ain't got no quarrel with them Vietcong").

After 31/2 years in professional exile, Ali returned to the ring to face Joe Frazier, but the speed & reflexes of old were waining, & he lost a close decision. A rematch, however, saw him avenge his only defeat thus far. A subsequent knockout stoppage over the seemingly indestructable George Foreman placed Ali's name firmly in boxing legend, & a 14th round win in his 3rd fight with Frazier (in which both men were surely close to death), saw the legacy that is Muhammad Ali transcend boxing.

Despite retiring far too late, Ali's career is still regarded as one of the most impressive of all time, with massive wins in a number of superfights. A sufferer of Parkinson's Syndrome, Ali continues to enjoy worldwide popularity of epic proportions, & is now an international figure of peace & bravery, remembered as much for his influence outside of the ring as for his magical performances inside it. I personally have never seen a more impressive fighter than Ali during his 3 round 1966 bout with Cleveland Williams, in which he punched with unbelievable levels of power, speed, & accuracy -&, of course, danced beautifully too!

Full name : Oscar De La Hoya
Nickname : The Golden Boy
Date of birth : 4th Feb, 1973
Place of birth : California
Height : 5ft. 101/2 inches
Turned pro : 1992
Pro record : 35W 2L 0D 0NC (28KO)


De La Hoya is one of boxing's biggest superstars, and certainly the largest box-office draw outside of the heavyweight division. His outstanding amateur career (only 5 losses from 228 bouts!) is testiment to his skills, which have certainly not deminished during his pro-career.

A five weight world champion with only 2 close points defeats (1 very contravertial), De La Hoya is the current WBC and WBA super welterweight champ, and is yet to duck any worthwhile opponent.

Born: September 1, 1923
Died: August 31, 1969
Total Bouts: 49
Won: 49
Lost: 0
Drew: 0
KOs: 43

TO DEFINE Rocky Marciano's career, one only needs to know: 49-0. That is it. Forty-nine fights, forty-nine wins. Marciano is the only world champion to complete his career undefeated.

Marciano had a 12-fight amateur career during which he won the New England Golden Gloves title before losing to Coley Wallace in the Eastern Championships. It would be his last defeat inside a boxing ring.

Marciano turned pro with a third-round knockout over Lee Epperson on March 17, 1947 in Massachusetts. A 5-10 and 185 pounds, Marciano was smaller and slower than most heavyweights. But he had power, desire and a solid chin.

Marciano first made an impact on boxing in 1950 when he decisioned Roland LaStarza, also an unbeaten heavyweight prospect. LaStarza is just one of three men to have gone the distance with The Rock. (Don Mogard and Ted Lowry are the other two.) A year later, Rocky knocked out comebacking former heavyweight champion Joe Louis, who was 37.

That bout led to a title fight atainst 38-year-old champion Jersey Joe Walcott. Marciano overcame a first-round knockdown to win the title on a 13th-round knockout in 1952. The rematch lasted one round, as Marciano scored the 11th first-round stoppage of his career.

Rocky defended the title successfully against LaStarza and Don Cockell and also posted a pair of exciting victories over former champion Ezzard Charles. In the final fight of his career, Marciano recovered from an early knockdown and dropped light heavyweight champion Archie Moore three times en route to a ninth-round knockout. Back pain forced Marciano into retiremtn.

One day before his 46th birthday, on August 31, 1969, Marciano died tragically in a plane crash near Newton, Iowa. He was en route to a birthday party.