By Paul ZanonI never stole nuttin unless it began with an ‘A.’ A truck, a car, a payroll, a bicycle, a watch. Anything.’Thomas Rocco Barbella. Sound familiar? You probably know him as Rocky Grazian...
By Paul Zanon “Prizefighting ain’t the noblest of arts and I ain’t the noblest artist.”Harry GrebFrom welterweight to heavyweight, the 5ft 8inch orthodox Pennsylvanian was a ferociously fearless fi...
ALL STARS GYM - THE SPIRITUAL HOME OF BOXING
By Paul Zanon / Interview with Jamal Akay“All Stars is not like a gym that you just come in, train and walk out. There’s a lot of structure using African discipline where you have to have respect f...
By Paul Zanon“As a West Side kid fooling around with boxing gloves, I had been, for some reason of temperament, more interested in dodging a blow than in striking one.”Gene Tunney James Joseph Euge...
HENRY COOPER Blog Competition Co-Winner - Ewan Breeze
Authored by Ewan Breeze It would be easy to walk past “Elias and Co” estate agents on the corner of Ealing Road and Wembley High Road without giving it a second look. It’s an ordinary estate agent ...
HENRY COOPER Blog Competition Co-Winner - David Payne
Authored by David PayneTwo minutes into the opening round of Henry Cooper's first fight with Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, the proud Englishman snorts hard and draws deeply, he is beyond Clay's ...
By Paul Zanon“Joe Louis is a credit to his race – the human race.”Jimmy Cannon, JournalistTwenty six consecutive heavyweight world title defences. Let that sink in. The record set by Joseph Louis B...
THE TYLORSTOWN TERROR - The Jimmy Wilde Story
By Paul Zanon “Wilde’s strength and his hitting power, considering his size and weight, were simply amazing. He was a highly skilled boxer and the power of his punches was almost magical,” The Rin...
THE GIFTED ONE - THE KIRKLAND LAING STORY
Contributed by Paul Zanon“Laing’s flashy hands down style can get him into trouble. It can also get him out of trouble, but it’s been good enough to see him through 20 years of boxing.”Harry Carpen...
RUBY ROBERT - THE BOB FITZSIMMONS STORY
Contributed by Paul ZanonBald, knobbly kneed, pale and often called ‘chicken legs’ due to the lack of muscle in his lower body, Bob Fitzsimmons hit like a mule’s kick and intimidated the most fears...
NO GUTS, NO GLORY - THE REPTON BOXING CLUB
Contributed by Paul Zanon PART 1Paul Zanon speaks to Darren Barker, former IBF middleweight champion and Repton boy.“There’s not many people you could talk to, when it comes to Repton who would hav...
JOE BUGNER - A LIFE OF FISTIC TRAVELSContributed by Paul Zanon “I remember leaving our village Szőreg when I was six. The Russians moved in and my mum, Margaret, moved us out. She was a single pare...
JOHN HENRY LEWIS - SENSATIONALLY HUMBLE
Contributed by Paul Zanon “My uncle is actually the first black Light-Heavyweight Champion in America, period: John Henry Lewis—the first ever lineal Heavyweight Champion, not just a belt-holder,...