Buzz
Often referred to as the 'Sweet Science,' professional boxing has been marred by corruption, the absence of a unified governing body, and the growing influence of MMA, all of which have endangered the sport's legacy. While high-profile fights continue to draw massive revenues, they are increasingly rare. Here, we revisit 10 key incidents that have significantly impacted the sport's decline.
10. James Butler
James Butler, a highly promising young boxer from New York City, was famously known as the 'Harlem Hammer.' In November 2001, he faced Richard 'The Alien' Grant in a charity match aimed at supporting survivors of the September 11 attacks. After losing by unanimous decision, Butler approached Grant in the ring, seemingly to offer congratulations. As Grant extended his hand for a handshake, Butler, who had already removed his gloves, delivered a brutal punch to Grant's face. The attack left Grant with severe facial injuries, including a broken jaw, a lacerated tongue, and multiple stitches. Butler was subsequently arrested, convicted of assault, and served time in prison for the incident.
Sadly, the story doesn’t conclude there. James Butler attempted to revive his boxing career after the incident but never managed to recapture his former glory. In October 2004, he was arrested and charged with the murder of Sam Kellerman, the brother of HBO Boxing analyst Max Kellerman, using a hammer—an ironic twist—and setting his body on fire following an argument. Butler admitted guilt in 2006 and received a 29-year prison sentence.
9. Riot at Madison Square Garden
Andrew Golota, a Polish boxer, stepped into the ring on July 11, 1996, boasting an impressive 27-0 record and standing on the brink of boxing stardom. His challenge was to defeat the 38-1 former Undisputed Heavyweight champion, Riddick Bowe. Golota delivered a masterful performance, dominating the ex-champ round after round and nearly securing a knockout. He was leading on points and appeared poised for victory.
However, the fight took a bizarre turn in the 7th round. Golota, for reasons unknown, began repeatedly striking Bowe below the belt. Despite multiple warnings and point deductions, Golota persisted. After several more blatant low blows, the referee had no choice but to disqualify him. In response, Bowe’s corner stormed the ring, launching a brutal attack on Golota and his team. This ignited a full-scale, racially charged riot that spread into the audience. Madison Square Garden security was unprepared for such chaos and had to wait for New York riot police to intervene. By the time reinforcements arrived, numerous fans, boxing staff, and police officers had been injured in this shocking and disgraceful event.
8. Only in America
Owning a professional football or baseball franchise is a privilege reserved for a select few. However, promoting a boxing match is a different story—even a convicted killer and numbers operator from Cleveland can do it. In 1974, Don King cleverly promoted his first professional fight, which turned out to be the legendary Ali vs. Foreman 'Rumble in the Jungle' in Zaire. This colossal event catapulted King into the spotlight, establishing him as a dominant figure in boxing for the next three decades.
However, King’s rise to prominence was marred by his notorious reputation for unethical practices. He repeatedly exploited promising young boxers who joined his stable, engaging in fraud, bribery, theft, bookmaking, contract breaches, and even mafia-backed racketeering. Larry Holmes once famously remarked, 'Don King wears his hair like that so he can hide his horns.'
7. Sonny Liston and the Mob
Sonny Liston’s early life was marked by hardship and adversity. Growing up in extreme poverty and enduring physical abuse, he left home at a young age and became involved in a series of violent crimes. During his time in prison, his boxing talent was discovered, and upon his release, he quickly rose through the ranks, defeating numerous opponents on his path to claiming the Heavyweight title. His remarkable skills attracted the attention of mafia figures, including Frankie Carbo and 'Blinky' Palermo.
When Sonny Liston faced a young Cassius Clay on May 25, 1965, many in the media suspected Liston was under mob influence. The fight became one of the most blatant fixes in sports history. In the first round, Liston appeared to take a dive, allowing himself to be counted out after Clay landed his infamous 'Phantom Punch.' Slow-motion replays reveal that Clay’s punches either missed or barely grazed Liston. Their first fight had also ended controversially, with Liston refusing to leave his corner for the 7th round, citing a shoulder injury. Liston’s life came to a mysterious end five years later under highly suspicious circumstances.
6. Corrupt Richard Steele
A rare and historic event took place on March 17, 1990. Two undefeated champions, both in their prime and competing in the same weight class, faced off in the ring. Julio Cesar Chavez, boasting a flawless 68-0 record and promoted by Don King, squared off against Meldrick Taylor, an undefeated Olympic gold medalist and welterweight champion. While Chavez was the favorite, Taylor dominated the fight from the very beginning.
As the fight progressed, Taylor’s signature speed began to fade, but he maintained a significant lead on all scorecards heading into the final round. Just moments before the match concluded, Chavez managed to knock Taylor down. Taylor quickly got back on his feet, and had the fight continued, he would have secured a unanimous decision victory. However, referee Richard Steele controversially stopped the fight with only 2 seconds remaining, declaring Chavez the winner. Taylor’s team immediately protested, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission, whose credibility has often been questioned, upheld the decision. This ruling devastated Taylor’s career and health, while Steele’s bias toward Don King fighters further damaged the sport’s reputation.
5. International Boxing Federation Scandal
The IBF, a major sanctioning body headquartered in New Jersey, plays a significant role in boxing. Each sanctioning body crowns its own champion, and champions are only permitted to fight opponents ranked within the top 15. Ranking committees, led by chairmen with considerable influence, determine these rankings. Unfortunately, these chairmen are often susceptible to corruption, undermining the integrity of the sport.
In November 1999, IBF president Bob Lee Sr. faced indictment and was convicted on multiple racketeering charges. Lee, along with rankings chairman C. Douglass Beavers, conspired to manipulate the rankings system, favoring boxers whose promoters and managers paid them bribes. The pair accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from figures like Don King and Cedric Kushner in exchange for artificially boosting their fighters’ rankings. Promoters who refused to pay were excluded from title fights, creating a wholly corrupt system devoid of merit. This scandal further tarnished boxing’s reputation.
4. Boxing’s Not So Golden Age
James D. Norris was a wealthy and influential figure in the mid-20th century, with extensive business interests and deep ties to the sports world. He owned a National Hockey League franchise, held a significant stake in Madison Square Garden, and bred champion racehorses. However, Norris was also notorious for his shady dealings and associations with criminals. As president of the International Boxing Club, he wielded near-total control over championship fights, thanks to a lucrative contract that secured national television broadcasts for IBC events.
Norris was directly involved in fixing numerous fights, including Harry Thomas vs. Max Schmeling in 1937 and Jake LaMotta vs. Billy Fox in 1946. His corruption extended beyond match-fixing; he unofficially managed many boxers, often against their will, and pressured them to hire his associates as advisors. Norris’s actions turned what should have been competitive matches into farces, deceiving the public and further damaging boxing’s credibility.
3. The Tragic End of Duk Koo Kim
A celebrated figure in South Korea, Kim had climbed to the top as the leading lightweight contender, securing a world title match against the renowned Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini on November 13, 1982. The fight was intensely fierce, particularly for Kim, who started to falter in the later rounds after enduring significant damage from Mancini. Early in the 14th round, Mancini delivered a powerful right hand that sent Kim reeling into the ropes, causing his head to strike the canvas.
Kim managed to get back on his feet, but the referee halted the fight. Shortly after, he collapsed into a coma and was rushed to the hospital. Sadly, the South Korean star succumbed to severe brain trauma four days later. Among the numerous recorded boxing fatalities, Kim’s death stands out as one of the most heartbreaking. Ray Mancini, his opponent, was deeply affected and reportedly held himself responsible for the tragedy. Kim’s mother took her own life three months later by ingesting pesticide, and the fight’s referee, Richard Green, also ended his life, overwhelmed by guilt.
2. The Controversial Actions of Panama Lewis
Carlos “Panama” Lewis was once a top-tier trainer, but his integrity was far from commendable. Already under scrutiny for allegedly doping his fighters’ water with illegal substances and betting on matches he was part of, Lewis devised a sinister scheme for his boxer, Luis Resto. Resto, a journeyman fighter often used as a stepping stone for others, faced the undefeated rising star Billy Collins Jr. on June 16, 1983.
Aware of Resto’s limitations, Lewis and another trainer tampered with his gloves, removing padding and applying an illegal hardening agent to his hand wraps. Resto then delivered a brutal 10-round assault on Collins. After winning, Resto approached Collins’ corner, where Collins’ father, suspicious of Resto’s sudden power, inspected his gloves and alerted officials. The evidence led to charges against both Lewis and Resto, resulting in permanent license revocations and prison sentences. Tragically, Collins Jr.’s career was ruined, and he died less than a year later, believed to have taken his own life.
1. Seoul, Korea – 1988 Olympics
While many recall Roy Jones Jr. being denied a gold medal due to biased Olympic judges, fewer remember an even more shocking event that occurred earlier. During a bantamweight match between South Korea’s Byun Jong Il and Bulgaria’s Alexander Hristov, referee Keith Walker from New Zealand faced a chaotic scene. The bout was marred by constant fouls, and Walker repeatedly penalized Jong for headbutting.
When Hristov was declared the winner, it sparked outrage among Jong’s supporters. South Korean officials and coaches rushed into the ring, violently assaulting Walker with punches, kicks, bottles, and even chairs. Walker narrowly escaped severe harm and fled to the airport, catching the first flight back to New Zealand. The incident led to the resignation of both the Korean Boxing Federation president and the Korean Olympic Committee president, leaving a stain on the nation’s reputation.
