Storyland
1980 to 1989
A collection of links to some of the best boxing stories ever written
This page contains articles from 1980 to 1989
To read stories from other decades, click below:
2000-09 1990-99 1970-79 1960-69 1954-59
Sports Illustrated: December 18, 1989
Sugar Ray Leonard, 33, beat Roberto Duran, 38, in a fight dedicated to posterity
Sports Illustrated: December 4, 1989
Ralph Citro helps boxers survive the cut
Sports Illustrated: November 13, 1989
No. 1 heavyweight contender Evander Holyfield got mad, and then he got Alex Stewart
Sports Illustrated: October 16, 1989
Palookas, tomato cans, 'opponents.' Whatever they're called, these are the fighters who go down so that the hometown heroes can go up
Sports Illustrated: August 28, 1989
Pernell Whitaker thrashed Jose Luis Ramirez
Sports Illustrated: July 31, 1989
Mike Tyson KO'd another victim, and a battle looms for the champ's future
Sports Illustrated: July 24, 1989
Evander Holyfield sent a message to Mike Tyson with his KO of Adilson Rodrigues
Sports Illustrated: July 17, 1989
George Foreman lost he world heavyweight title 15 years ago, but now his appetite for boxing has returned, and he covets Mike Tyson as the entree
Sports Illustrated: June 5, 1989
Forty-six wins and these three losses
Sports Illustrated: June 5, 1989
North Dakota's own Virgil Hill defended his light heavy title
Sports Illustrated: May 22, 1989
Michael Nunn stopped dancing, started punching, and fought his way to the IBF middleweight title
Sports Illustrated: May 22, 1989
Julio Cesar Chavez KO'd Roger Mayweather again
Sports Illustrated: May 8, 1989
Archie Moore, who waited for 16 years to become the light heavyweight champ, remains boxing's most fervent disciple
Sports Illustrated: April 10, 1989
Lou Duva has become boxing's most ubiquitous personality
Sports Illustrated: April 3, 1989
IBF middleweight champ Michael Nunn scored a quick KO over Sumbu Kalambay
Sports Illustrated: March 20, 1989
Evander Holyfield KO'd Michael Dokes and earned a title bout with the champ
Sports Illustrated: March 20, 1989
In yet another lucrative fight for over-the-hill guys, Macho Camacho narrowly beat Boom Boom Mancini
Sports Illustrated: March 6, 1989
The amazing 37-year-old Roberto Duran beat Iran Barkley in Atlantic City to win the WBC middleweight title
Sports Illustrated: March 6, 1989
After a tumultuous layoff of eight months, Mike Tyson returned to the ring and knocked out Frank Bruno
Sports Illustrated: February 27, 1989
Pernell Whitaker followed that sound advice and won a title from Greg Haugen
Sports Illustrated: December 19, 1988
Someone took something away from Pernell Whitaker, and he wants it badly
Sports Illustrated: November 14, 1988
When the judge in Seoul robbed Olympic boxer Roy Jones of a gold medal, they also bruised his will to pursue his craft
Sports Illustrated: November 7, 1988
Ignoring commitments and logic, Mike Tyson put his fate in Don King's hands
Sports Illustrated: November 7, 1988
Julio Cesar Chavez beat pal Jose Luis Ramirez for the WBA lightweight crown
Sports Illustrated: October 31, 1988
For Donny Lalonde, who will meet Sugar Ray Leonard in Las Vegas on Nov. 7, life has been anything but sweet
Sports Illustrated: October 10, 1988
The U.S. placed six boxers in the final rounds -- then they had to take on the judges
Sports Illustrated: September 26, 1988
Anthony Hembrick missed the bus -- and bout -- and Kelcie Banks took it on the chin
Sports Illustrated: September 19, 1988
After Mike Tyson's aboreal fender bender, a story was planted that the heavyweight champ is mentally disturbed
Sports Illustrated: July 11, 1988
What's Mike Tyson to do, now that he has all but wiped out the heavyweight division?
Sports Illustrated: July 4, 1988
And Mike Tyson did, knocking out Michael Spinks in 1:31 of Round 1
Sports Illustrated: June 27, 1988
After a soap-opera prelude, Mike Tyson and Michael Spinks meet at last
Sports Illustrated: June 20, 1988
With his surprising KO of WBC middleweight champion Thomas Hearns, Iran Barkley is an underdog no more
Sports Illustrated: June 13, 1988
In the aftermath of Jimmy Jacobs's death, many are hungering for a piece of Mike Tyson
Sports Illustrated: April 25, 1988
The champ and his followers were the greatest show on earth, and then the show ended. But life went on
Sports Illustrated: April 25, 1988
Recollections of Ali when he really was the greatest
Sports Illustrated: April 18, 1988
Evander Holyfield, king of the cruiserweights, bravely plans to take on Mike Tyson
Sports Illustrated: March 28, 1988
The heavyweight champion began his world tour in Japan, where he KO'd a tubby Tony Tubbs in two
Sports Illustrated: March 21, 1988
What consumes the heavyweight champion of the world, what makes Mike Tyson as imposing as any fighter in boxing history? His own fear, perhaps
Sports Illustrated: February 22, 1988
WBA lightweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez may be the world's best fighter
Sports Illustrated: February 15, 1988
Former lightweight champ Beau Jack lives out his legend
Sports Illustrated: February 15, 1988
Unlike cheese and wine, prizefighters -- even the great champions -- do not get zestier with advancing age
Sports Illustrated: February 15, 1988
Greg Haugen won revenge and the IBF lightweight crown from Vinny Pazienza
Sports Illustrated: February 1, 1988
Youth was served as Mike Tyson knocked out Larry Holmes
Sports Illustrated: January 18, 1988
Larry Holmes is taking on Mike Tyson to regain a heavyweight title that he considers rightfully his
Sports Illustrated: December 14, 1987
Heavyweight-to-be Evander Holyfield paused in this new-wave training to defend his 190-pound title against Dwight Qawi
Sports Illustrated: November 30, 1987
In winning a lightweight title, Julio Cesar Chavez hurt his opponent -- and himself
Sports Illustrated: November 16, 1987
IBF junior middleweight champ Matthew Hilton has earned the acclaim his rough-and-tumble father never had
Sports Illustrated: November 16, 1987
David Davis is deaf, but his message in the ring comes through loud and clear
Sports Illustrated: November 9, 1987
Thomas Hearns knocked out Juan Roldan to gain a singular boxing niche
Sports Illustrated: November 2, 1987
Angelo Dundee may be fresh out of top fighters, but he's still sticking and moving and keeping himself at the top of a very tough business
Sports Illustrated: October 26, 1987
Tyrell Biggs made $1.25 million for fighting Mike Tyson, and, bloodied and dazed, earned it all the way
Sports Illustrated: October 12, 1987
Linebacker Ken Norton Jr. of UCLA is one hard hitter, as was his dad, the ex-champion
Sports Illustrated: September 28, 1987
Despite reports to the contrary, Marvin Hagler says he hasn't let his life go to pieces since losing to Sugar Ray Leonard
Sports Illustrated: September 28, 1987
Jack E. Steele column
Sports Illustrated: August 31, 1987
Marlon Starling terminated Mark Breland's brief reign as WBA welterweight champ
Sports Illustrated: August 10, 1987
Iron-fisted Mike Tyson beat Tony Tucker to stand alone at the top
Sports Illustrated: August 3, 1987
Floyd, Lloyd and Troy, the fighting Weaver siblings, can hit hard, harder and hardest
Sports Illustrated: July 27, 1987
Junior middleweight titleholder Mike McCallum knocked out Donald Curry -- now at last he may get some real attention
Sports Illustrated: July 13, 1987
Sugar Ray Robinson loved high living, but now the great fighter's health is failing, and his name has been usurped
Sports Illustrated: July 22, 1987
Michael Spinks pounded Gerry Cooney into submission and retirement
Sports Illustrated: June 15, 1987
Vinny Pazienza scrapped his way to a title in Providence
Sports Illustrated: June 8, 1987
Will Gerry Cooney ever be hungry enough? Not even he seems to know
Sports Illustrated: June 8, 1987
Pinklon Thomas had some class, but took it on the chin from Tyson
Sports Illustrated: May 25, 1987
Joe Bugner is Down Under looking for a title shot
Sports Illustrated: May 11, 1987
Hector Camacho beat Howard Davis and challenged Mancini
Sports Illustrated: May 4, 1987
Welterweight champ Lloyd Honeyghan is hungry, proud, stylish and, unlike many another British fighter, able
Sports Illustrated: April 13, 1987
Idle for almost three years, Sugar Ray Leonard made a spectacular return to the ring by beating Marvin Hagler to win the middleweight title
Sports Illustrated: March 30, 1987
After taking into account logic, history and the odds, the author punches out his selection for the Hagler vs. Leonard showdown
Sports Illustrated: March 30, 1987
Marvelous Marvin Hagler needs Sugar Ray Leonard, and vice versa. One of them is about to be fulfilled.
Sports Illustrated: March 30, 1987
Like Ray Leonard, Harry Greb suffered a detached retina
Sports Illustrated: March 16, 1987
...and unfortunately, they did
Sports Illustrated: March 2, 1987
Bonecrusher Smith won the WBA title as a last-minute fill-in for Tony Tubbs. Now the 33-year-old upstart sets his sights on WBC champ Mike Tyson
Sports Illustrated: February 16, 1987
Before becoming a world champion, Bobby Czyz had to learn to deal with loss, in the ring and out
Sports Illustrated: February 2, 1987
Josephine Abercrombie has brought an unlikely new presence to boxing
Sports Illustrated: January 12, 1987
Stevie Cruz was unknown, but then he beat popular champ Barry McGuigan to win the WBA featherweight title
Sports Illustrated: December 22, 1986
Bonecrusher Smith won the fight, Don King won the money
Sports Illustrated: December 1, 1986
With a second-round TKO over Trevor Berbick, 20-year-old Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion ever
Sports Illustrated: November 24, 1986
Mike Tyson hopes to become the youngest heavyweight champion ever by defeating Trevor Berbick
Sports Illustrated: October 13, 1986
In both the ring and his African homeland
Sports Illustrated: October 6, 1986
In a Boardwalk lounge, an unknown knocked off Donald Curry's crown
Sports Illustrated: September 15, 1986
Mike Tyson kept on pace to become the youngest heavyweight champion ever
Sports Illustrated: September 8, 1986
So says Sugar Ray Leonard of his astounding decision -- for someone at once rich and renowned and ring-rusty -- to challenge Marvelous Marvin Hagler
Sports Illustrated: Date
Heavyweight sensation Mike Tyson needed just 30 seconds to knock out Marvis Frazier -- precisely the way he had planned it
Sports Illustrated: July 28, 1986
The sad saga of British heavyweight boxing bankruptcy continued when Tim Witherspoon KO'd Frank Bruno
Sports Illustrated: July 21, 1986
Has an authentic contender at last bloomed in a boxing desert? Or is Frank Bruno just another brittle Brit?
Sports Illustrated: July 21, 1986
Cruiserweight boxer Evander Holyfield gilded his bronze medal with a WBA title
Sports Illustrated: July 9, 1986
After stopping Eddie Gregg, the long-AWOL Gerry Cooney insists he's back on the right track
Sports Illustrated: May 12, 1986
After 19 straight KOs, Mike Tyson went the distance to get a decision
Sports Illustrated: April 28, 1986
Michael Spinks held onto his heavyweight crown with a split decision over Larry Holmes that came in for second-guessing
Sports Illustrated: March 31, 1986
He had the heavyweight title and the headlines, but Leon Spinks is now fighting mostly for survival
Sports Illustrated: March 24, 1986
After KO'ing John Mugabi in Vegas, Marvin Hagler has his fists set squarely on Thomas Hearns
Sports Illustrated: February 17, 1986
For three rounds against Billy Costello, 33-year-old Alexis Arguello looked ready for re-retirement. Then he exploded
Sports Illustrated: February 10, 1986
Matt Bowen
Sports Illustrated: February 3, 1986
In the face of controversy, amputee Craig Bodzianowski is now doubly determined about this boxing career
Sports Illustrated: January 13, 1986
Jeremiah Tax
Sports Illustrated: January 6, 1986
Hard-punching Mike Tyson, 19, has a lofty ambition -- to become the youngest heavyweight champ ever
Sports Illustrated: December 16, 1985
Donald Curry scored a stunning Round 2 KO of Milton McCrory to unify the welterweight title
Sports Illustrated: October 21, 1985
Alexis Arguello once considered suicide as an escape from the contradictions and ambiguities that filled a rich life with betrayal and despair
Sports Illustrated: October 7, 1985
Michael Spinks beat Larry Holmes thanks to a training camp regimen that took the light out of heavyweight
Sports Illustrated: September 30, 1985
Michael Spinks upset Larry Holmes, becoming the only light heavyweight ever to win the heavyweight crown
Sports Illustrated: September 23, 1985
By World War II, Joe Louis was a hero for all Americans, but financial troubles, illness and changing racial attitudes dimmed his image
Sports Illustrated: September 16, 1985
Black Hero In A White Land
A new book illuminates the pivotal role played by hard-hitting, gentlemanly Joe Louis in the civil rights revolution
Sports Illustrated: September 9, 1985
Unbeaten and still a champion, Aaron Pryor is angry, despondent and confused. And he's in no condition to fight, either in or out of the ring
Sports Illustrated: August 19, 1985
Hector "Macho" Camacho's attire was as flashy as his fists when he beat Jose Ramirez for the WBC lightweight championship
Sports Illustrated: July 22, 1985
Joey Oliver, a lofty 5'8", is the first American junior flyweight champion
Sports Illustrated: July 1, 1985
Time for a quiz
Sports Illustrated: June 24, 1985
WBC champ Pinklon Thomas KO'd Mike Weaver with a wicked right
Sports Illustrated: June 17, 1985
This is the story of Billy Conn, who won the girl he loved, but lost the best fight ever
Sports Illustrated: June 17, 1985
Barry McGuigan relied on his right hand to take Eusebio Pendroza's crown
Sports Illustrated: May 20, 1985
Eusebio Pedroza is lord of two rings: He's WBA featherweight king and a member of Panama's senate
Sports Illustrated: April 22, 1985
Marvin Hagler unleashed an all-out assault against Thomas Hearns to retain the middleweight crown
Sports Illustrated: April 8, 1985
Middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler and challenger Thomas Hearns both insist that their April 15 fight will not go beyond the third round. Don't bet on that
Sports Illustrated: March 25, 1985
Larry Holmes pummeled an outmatched David Bey to score a 10th-round TKO and improve his record to 47-0
Sports Illustrated: March 11, 1985
Heavyweight champ Larry Holmes will be in deep water if David Bey can biff like his comic-book idol
Sports Illustrated: March 4, 1985
After decisioning Juan LaPorte, Barry McGuigan wants a title shot
Sports Illustrated: February 25, 1985
Though the judges said it was close, WBA lightweight champ Livingstone Bramble routed a courageous Boom Boom Mancini
Sports Illustrated: February 18, 1985
In Northern Ireland, Catholics and Protestants are united whenever Barry McGuigan goes into the ring
Sports Illustrated: January 28, 1985
Donald Curry cut down a gutsy Colin Jones to retain his crown
Sports Illustrated: January 14, 1985
Donald Curry, the WBA welterweight champ, missed out on the fame and fortune that comes with an Olympic gold, but his time may be coming
Sports Illustrated: December 3, 1984
Dick Gordon Column
Sports Illustrated: November 26, 1984
Five boxers who won medals in L.A. made their profitable professional debuts at Madison Square Garden
Sports Illustrated: November 19, 1984
To Larry Holmes, Marciano's mark is gravy. He keeps fighting for bread
Sports Illustrated: November 12, 1984
Champion Bill Costello pleased his hometown by foiling Saoul Mamby
Sports Illustrated: October 29, 1984
Marvelous Marvin Hagler was a big hit against Mustafa Hamsho in the Big Apple. Now he wants the Motor City Hit Man
Sports Illustrated: October 8, 1984
Ten years go this month George Foreman and Muhammad Ali met in the ring in Zaire. While Ali won the war, it's Foreman who has found lasting peace
Sports Illustrated: October 8, 1984
After 28 months away from the ring, Gerry Cooney made a triumphant return with a TKO of Phillip Brown
Sports Illustrated: September 10, 1984
Pinklon Thomas beat Tim Witherspoon for the WBC heavyweight title
Sports Illustrated: Date
August 30, 1984
Sports Illustrated: June 23, 1984
Ex-champ Davey Moore stopped ex-champ Wilfred Benitez in Monte Carlo
Sports Illustrated: July 18, 1984
No Canadian has won an Olympic boxing gold medal since '32, but Toronto's Shawn O'Sullivan and Willie deWit should alter that
Sports Illustrated: July 16, 1984
It's on to the Games for 12 U.S. boxers, including three who atoned for losses in the trials
Sports Illustrated: July 9, 1984
That Mark Breland, a five-time Golden Gloves champion, will win an Olympic gold medal is as plain as the graffiti on the buildings in Bed-Stuy
Sports Illustrated: July 2, 1984
Howard Davis lost a close one to WBC lightweight champion Edwin Rosario
Sports Illustrated: June 25, 1984
By stopping Roberto Duran in two rounds, Thomas Hearns retained his crown and regained his nickname
Sports Illustrated: June 18, 1984
Gerrie Coetzee is driven by a need to succeed and, as WBA heavyweight champion, haunted by his homeland of South Africa
Sports Illustrated: June 18, 1984
CBS's Mort Sharnik gave early boosts to Ray Mancini and Hector Camacho
Sports Illustrated: June 11, 1984
Ray Mancini lost his zip and then his title to Livingstone Bramble
Sports Illustrated: June 11, 1984
Armen Keteyian column
Sports Illustrated: May 28, 1984
Gambler Billy Baxter, who won big when Miami toppled Nebraska, is also a fight manager who does road work -- in his car
Sports Illustrated: May 21, 1984
Though Sugar Ray got up and won his comeback, he called it quits
Sports Illustrated: April 23, 1984
The U.S. won a half dozen world titles in the last pre-Olympic fights
Sports Illustrated: April 9, 1984
Marvelous Marvin Hagler retained a title, Wilfredo Gomez won one
Sports Illustrated: March 26, 1984
The electrifying Edwin Rosario made short work of Roberto Elizondo
Sports Illustrated: March 19, 1984
Princeton grad Henry Milligan, the amateur heavyweight champ of the U.S., has Olympic homes
Sports Illustrated: March 19, 1984
Tim Witherspoon beat Greg Page, a heavyweight in more ways than one, for the vacant WBC championship
Sports Illustrated: February 13, 1984
Donald Curry hopes, perhaps vainly, that his win over Marlon Starling will lead to a bout with Ray Leonard
Sports Illustrated: January 23, 1984
WBA lightweight champion Ray Mancini made quick work of Bobby Chacon by bloodying him in the first round and stopping him in the third
Sports Illustrated: December 26, 1983
With moves worthy of a cartoon character, bantamweight champion Jeff Chandler beat Oscar Muniz
Sports Illustrated: December 12, 1983
Jeff Chandler, noted Groucho Marx look-alike, is the first bantamweight champion from the U.S. since 1950
Sports Illustrated: December 5, 1983
By wading in like his slugging dad, Marvis Frazier fell to Larry Holmes
Sports Illustrated: November 21, 1983
Marvelous Marvin Hagler retained the middleweight title but tarnished his image in beating Roberto Duran
Sports Illustrated: November 7, 1983
So says Roberto Duran, who three years after "No Mas" is challenging Marvin Hagler for his fourth world title
Sports Illustrated: October 3, 1983
Gerrie Coetzee of South Africa depended on his left as well as his right to take away Michael Dokes' heavyweight crown
Sports Illustrated: September 26, 1983
Boom Boom Mancini took his lumps before keeping his title with a KO
Sports Illustrated: September 19, 1983
After 15 glorious years, Alexis Arguello is hanging up his gloves because Aaron Pryor again KO'd his bid for a fourth title
Sports Illustrated: August 22, 1983
Mild-mannered Milton McCrory finally earned the WBC title
Sports Illustrated: August 15, 1983
Macho Camacho went home to Puerto Rico and knocked out Bazooka Limon to win the WBC super featherweight title
Sports Illustrated: August 8, 1983
Colin Jones of Wales takes his countrymen's hopes and a powerful left into his welterweight title rematch with Milton McCrory
Sports Illustrated: August 8, 1983
Allen Barra column
Sports Illustrated: August 1, 1983
Hector "Macho" Camacho used to steal cars for fun, but now he's seriously riding his streetwise style to fame and fortune in the ring
Sports Illustrated: July 25, 1983
The unanimous decisions: Mustafa Hamsho was the easy winner and Wilfred Benitez is no middleweight
Sports Illustrated: July 11, 1983
Bobby Chacon's wife took her life, and his title was taken away, but he remains wedded to boxing
Sports Illustrated: June 27, 1983
By beating the WBA middleweight champion, Davey Moore, Roberto Duran won his third title and recaptured his good name
Sports Illustrated: June 6, 1983
Neither Wilford Scypion nor the game's pooh-bahs could lift Marvin Hagler's title
Sports Illustrated: May 30, 1983
Larry Holmes is talking about hanging 'em up after unheralded Tim Witherspoon just missed taking away his WBC heavyweight championship
Sports Illustrated: May 9, 1983
Edwin Rosario barely beat Jose Luis Ramirez for the WBC lightweight title
Sports Illustrated: May 2, 1983
Even in a deep pool of lightweight talent, 20-year-old Edwin Rosario may be the toughest boxer to catch
Sports Illustrated: April 18, 1983
As a kid, Lucille fletcher beat up on boys. Now she's a fight judge who also guides the careers of her three boxing sons
Sports Illustrated: April 11, 1983
With boxing's ills under fresh public scrutiny, new research on brain damage in experienced fighters suggests a road to medical reform
Sports Illustrated: April 11, 1983
Boxers Benjamin Davis, 22, and Louis Wade, 16, knew each other for only 2 minutes, 57 seconds, but for both of them, that was far too long
Sports Illustrated: March 28, 1983
Consumed with shame at losing to Larry Holmes, Gerry Cooney dropped out. Now he's boxing again
Sports Illustrated: March 28, 1983
Michael Spinks reigns over all the light heavies after defeating Dwight Braxton
Sports Illustrated: March 14, 1983
His wife dead, Michael Spinks faces his biggest fight, with tiny Michelle as the special someone in his corner
Sports Illustrated: February 21, 1983
Marvelous Marvin Hagler squashed Tony Sibson and showed why he's one of history's best middleweights
Sports Illustrated: December 20, 1982
Michael Dokes snatched Mike Weaver's heavyweight title in 63 seconds
Sports Illustrated: December 13, 1983
A renowned slugger turned boer, Thomas Hearns separated Wilfred Benitez from his WBC super welterweight title
Sports Illustrated: December 6, 1982
Bent but unbroken, Tex Cobb stood up to Larry Holmes's hardest shots
Sports Illustrated: Nevember 22, 1982
It was a glorious day in Vegas for Ray Mancini until he found what it had cost challenger Duk-Koo Kim
Sports Illustrated: November 22, 1982
Aaron Pryor made sure there would be no more crowns for Alexis Arguello
Sports Illustrated: November 8, 1982
WBA junior welterweight titleholder Aaron Pryor has everything in order in the ring, but out side of it, his life is a mess
Sports Illustrated: November 8, 1982
Middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler dispatched Fulgencio Obelmejias and then verbally sparred with his next big foe (he hopes), welterweight champ Sugar Ray Leonard
Sports Illustrated: October 18, 1982
When middleweight champ Marvin Hagler added Marvelous to his name, he wasn't on an ego trip, only confirming what hard work has wrought
Sports Illustrated: September 27, 1982
In the duke-out over ratings, boxing has proved that it packs a big punch
Sports Illustrated: September 6, 1982
Hector Camacho, a street fighter and car thief, has cleaned up his act
Sports Illustrated: August 16, 1982
Dwight Braxton battered Matthew Saad Muhammad at will in their WBC light heavyweight rematch
Sports Illustrated: August 9, 1982
Alexis Arguello KO'd Kevin Rooney and now has a date with Aaron Pryor
Sports Illustrated: August 2, 1982
Long years in the ghetto and prison have taught WBC light heavyweight champion Dwight Braxton to reject "negativity"
Sports Illustrated: August 2, 1982
In Ohio's depressed Mahoning Valley, the return of WBC lightweight champ Boob Boom Mancini was a joy, as he beat Ernesto Espana
Sports Illustrated: July 26, 1982
The lure of one last payday keeps 37-year-old Earnie Shavers in the ring
Sports Illustrated: July 12, 1982
Los Angeles' Olympic Auditorium has been a haven for fighters and their fans for going on 57 years
Sports Illustrated: July 12, 1982
Richard Sassaman column
Sports Illustrated: June 21, 1982
Heavyweight champion Larry Holmes laid claim to greatness by beating Gerry Cooney
Sports Illustrated: June 7, 1982
Whether it be boxing or baccarat, wheeling or dealing, Las Vegas' palatial emporium of please is dedicated to the proposition that the play is the thing
Sports Illustrated: June 7, 1982
It's boxer against slugger, experience against youth, as undefeated heavyweight champ Larry Holmes takes on undefeated Gerry Cooney in Las Vegas
Sports Illustrated: May 31, 1982
WBC lightweight king Alexis Arguello got off the deck to KO Andy Ganigan
Sports Illustrated: May 17, 1982
Ralph Wiley column
Sports Illustrated: May 17, 1982
Boom Boom Mancini separated Arturo Frias from his senses and his WBA lightweight championship in a furious first round
Sports Illustrated: April 26, 1982
Champion, loving father and gentleman in and ring, Alexis Arguello is a hero world over, but a stranger in his own land
Sports Illustrated: May 17, 1982
The contender's shoulder has healed, so he and champion Larry Holmes can get it on for the heavyweight title on June 11
Sports Illustrated: March 1, 1982
Ray Leonard awoke to time to send Bruce Finch straight to dreamland
Sports Illustrated: February 8, 1982
Though Wilfred Benitez beat him, Roberto Duran exhibited no mas in what surely was his finale
Sports Illustrated: January 25, 1982
Even if you catch three-time champ Wilfred Benitez, you probably won't hit him often
Sports Illustrated: December 28, 1981
Ray Leonard was the hit of '81, beating Ayub Kalule and then Thomas Hearns to win a pair of titles
Sports Illustrated: December 28, 1981
The redemption of Dwight Braxton continued as he wore the WBC light heavyweight title
Sports Illustrated: December 21, 1981
After losing to Trevor Berbick, a subdued Muhammad Ali softly admitted that his illustrious career had come to an end
Sports Illustrated: November 16, 1981
Vonzell Johnson discovered how unforgiving of error the bittersweet science can be
Sports Illustrated: November 16, 1981
Larry Holmes's WBC title and his big payday with Gerry Cooney are still safe, but Renaldo Snipes nearly knocked both for a loop
Sports Illustrated: November 9, 1981
Davis Lee column
Sports Illustrated: November 2, 1981
Sean O'Grady held the lightweight championship and did as his father wanted -- and that cost him his title
Sports Illustrated: October 19, 1981
The Ayala family has had its up and downs, but Tony Jr., 18, is undaunted and undefeated
Sports Illustrated: October 12, 1981
One of Saturday's title fights resembled bayonet practice at Parris Island. The other, in effect, was a 15-round footrace that went to the slowest.
Sports Illustrated: October 12, 1981
Lightweight champ Alexis Arguello was too classy, too cunning and too much for 20-year-old Ray Mancini, who may have learned a valuable boxing lesson
Sports Illustrated: September 28, 1981
On a hot, summer desert night, Sugar Ray Leonard punched Thomas Hearns's lights out and became the undisputed welterweight champion
Sports Illustrated: September 14, 1981
Emanuel Steward has been a laborer, a die setter, an auto worker and a trainer of young boxers. Now he has put his life on hold for Thomas Hearns
Sports Illustrated: September 14, 1981
Thomas Hearns is an imposing physical presence, but in the showdown fight for the welterweight title, he'll find Sugar Ray Leonard too quick and too good
Sports Illustrated: August 31, 1981
Wilfredo Gomez got an eye-opening, and closing, beating from top featherweight Salvador Sanchez
Sports Illustrated: August 17, 1981
Returning to the ring for the first time since disgracing himself in New Orleans, Roberto Duran narrowly defeated young Nino Gonzalez
Sports Illustrated: August 3, 1981
Joltin' Jeff Chandler had that -- plus a powerful follow-up right cross -- in knocking out challenger Julian Solis and retaining the WBA bantamweight championship
Sports Illustrated: July 27, 1981
The "other" Spinks, Michael, fulfilled the promise of his Montreal gold by winning the WBA light heavyweight crown
Sports Illustrated: July 20, 1981
All you may need to know about Quick Tillis as he prepares for his WBA heavyweight title fight is that as a boxer he's a great calf roper
Sports Illustrated: July 13, 1981
July 13, 1981
Sports Illustrated: July 6, 1981
Against a background of lurid dealing, Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns won their Houston semis and advanced to the welter finals
Sports Illustrated: June 29, 1981
In a bout in which Jim Watt lost his WBC lightweight title to Alexis Arguello, neither man felt compelled -- before, during or after -- to behave like an idiot. Amazing!
Sports Illustrated: June 22, 1981
When middleweight champion Marvin Hagler and Vito Antuofermo put their heads together, the loser in every way was the bloody challenger
Sports Illustrated: June22, 1981
Larry Holmes' stature as a champion is endlessly denigrated, but his effortless handling of Leon Spinks was the McCoy
Sports Illustrated: June 1, 1981
Smokin' Joe Frazier's by, Marvis, burns to make a name for himself in the ring -- while his dad fans the flame
Sports Illustrated: June 1, 1981
It cost Wilfred Benitez $575,000 to move up in class, but he earned a big reward in any case: Maurice Hope's super welterweight title
Sports Illustrated: May 4, 1981
Cooney, who fights Ken Norton on May 11, has dominated everyone he has faced in the ring, but on his frequent trips back to his old school he meets his match in two-fisted Geraldine Gorman
Sports Illustrated: May 4, 1981
A little learning can go a long way -- 12 rounds, as Thomas Hearns found out
Sports Illustrated: April 20, 1981
Adulation has come at last to Detroit's Thomas Hearns, and if his grandest visions of glory become reality, that will be bad news for Ray Leonard
Sports Illustrated: April 6, 1981
"There's a correlation between pulling 'em out and knocking 'em out," says Herb Odom, a dentist and, at 48, a reborn boxer
Sports Illustrated: April 6, 1981
Though Ray Leonard took some lumps from a challenging garbage man, he retained his title and strengthened his future bargaining position
Sports Illustrated: March 23, 1981
More brazenly even than the WBC, its counterpart, the World Boxing Association has spun a web of dubious practices from its base in Panama
Sports Illustrated: March 23, 1981
Pat Putnam column
Sports Illustrated: March 16, 1981
Two nickle-and-dime outfits, the WBA and the WBC, now run the fights -- to their own aggrandizement and to the detriment of the sport. First of two parts
Sports Illustrated: March 16, 1981
Pat Putnam sidebar
Sports Illustrated: March 16, 1981
Pat Putnam sidebar
Sports Illustrated: March 16, 1981
Pat Putnam sidebar
Sports Illustrated: February 9, 1981
A promoter and big bucks are missing. Gone, too, are boxing's big purses
Sports Illustrated: January 26, 1981
Middleweight champ Hagler's obscure No. 1 challenger was sent into oblivion
Sports Illustrated: December 8, 1980
In a stunning fall from glory, Roberto Duran, the apostle of machismo, blamed stomach cramps as he surrendered his welterweight title to Sugar Ray Leonard
Sports Illustrated: November 24, 1980
Fighting is a way of life in Palenque, Colombia, a village of 3,000 whose heritage now includes three world champions
Sports Illustrated: November 3, 1980
A phony South Africna republic was the setting for the first title defense of WBA heavyweight champ Mike Weaver, who withstood Gerre Coetzee's hardest shots before landing a humongous right
Sports Illustrated: October 13, 1980
The ravages of age and his training regimen left Muhammad Ali helpless before the swift fists of Larry Holmes
Sports Illustrated: October 13, 1980
William Nack column
Sports Illustrated: October 13, 1980
Frank Deford column
Sports Illustrated: October 6, 1980
Marvin Hagler's defeat of Alan Minter set off a barrage of bottles in London
Sports Illustrated: October 6, 1980
So says one of Nick Haywood's People, a coterie of blacks and whites, of rich and poor, but who all but idolize the tiny man whose success as a trainer of youthful boxers is partly attributable to his inability to read
Sports Illustrated: September 29, 1980
The Holmes-Ali title bout once figured to be a grotesque mismatch. It'll be anything but
Sports Illustrated: September 22, 1980
Michael Brennan column
Sports Illustrated: September 22, 1980
Confused with Ernie Holmes, introduced as the next heavyweight champion of he world, WBC champ Larry Holmes wants his due -- while realizing he won't get it no matter how he fares with Ali
Sports Illustrated: August 11, 1980
Thomas Hearns was burning bright in Motown, stopping Pipino Cuevas to win the WBA welterweight championship
Sports Illustrated: July 28, 1980
Detroit fans can't get enough of unbeaten welterweight Thomas Hearns, but his 28 foes beg to differ
Sports Illustrated: July 7, 1980
Alan Minter so firmly established himself as middleweight champ with his win over Vito Antuofermo that it was time for a Cockney fest
Sports Illustrated: June 30, 1980
Implacable and totally relentless in pursuit of Sugar Ray Leonard, Duran bludgeoned and bruised his way to the welterweight title
Sports Illustrated: June 16, 1980
The hands that cradle Pedro the bunny on a patio in Panama will rock welterweight champ Sugar Ray Leonard -- says Roberto Duran
Sports Illustrated: June 2, 1980
Gerry Cooney found a right to go with his strong left hand and beat Jimmy Young in Atlantic City, where he finally passed GO en route to a heavyweight title shot
Sports Illustrated: April 21, 1980
WBC featherweight champion Salvador Sanchez stamped out Ruben Castillo
Sports Illustrated: April 14, 1980
He may be way out of shape and 38, but an $8 million purse beckons, and so Muhammad Ali has gone to the mountain
Sports Illustrated: March 24, 1980
There is blame and censure all around for the death of middleweight Willie Classen: a classic case for reform
Sports Illustrated: March 24, 1980
Obedient to the code of his corner for 'clever boxing' and 'controlled aggression,' England's Alan Minter beat Vito Antuofermo for the middleweight championship
Sports Illustrated: March 13, 1980
SI column
Sports Illustrated: Date
With Muhammad Ali overweight as well as overage, the heavyweight division is the pits -- but some young boxers could pull it out of the hole
Sports Illustrated: January 21, 1980
Inscrutable Leon got his act together -- for now -- and KO'd Alfredo Evangelista
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