Since 1995, the CBZ has been devoted to bringing the best of boxing to the Web. So that means this year we reach puberty! In addition to our daily news and historical sections, we publish WAIL!, a freewheeling organ devoted to the Sweet Science, written by a welter of well-known boxing writers and historians. So take your time, explore, and have fun!

Boxing News The CBZ Message Board
July 2007 WAIL! The Tracy Callis Archive
Current Lineal Champions The Mike Casey Archive
  The CBZ Interview Archive


THE BOXING ENCYCLOPEDIA

The CBZ is huge, so to find a particular boxer or article, try our search engine. Enter a name or a search phrase in the box at left, and then click "search."

Former Lineal Champions
Title Claimants

Former Contenders

'70s Heavyweights

White Hopes

Black Dynamite
High Art & Lowbrow Culture

Olympic Champions

Journeymen and Tomato Cans

Cornermen & Goodfellas

Laws, Rules & Regulations

English Bareknuckle Champs

American Bareknuckle Champs

Old Timers

The Bawli Archive Intl. Boxing Research Org. (IBRO)


Boxing in the
 Los Angeles Area
1880-2005

By Tracy Callis and Chuck Johnston

417 photographs
162 pages
Softcover (8.5 x 11)

Los Angeles has been regarded as one of the greatest boxing cities in the world for over a century. With a large fan base, Los Angeles also has been the home of many of the best and most exciting boxers.

Boxing in the Los Angeles Area 1880-2005 is a pictorial history of the sport in Los Angeles County and speaks about Los Angeles area boxers such as Jim Jeffries, Solomon “Solly” Smith, “Mexican” Joe Rivers, Fidel La Barba, Jimmy McLarnin, Henry Armstrong, Enrique Bolanos, Art Aragon, Armando “Mando” Ramos, Bobby Chacon, Danny “Little Red” Lopez, Armando Muniz, Oscar De La Hoya, “Sugar” Shane Mosley and others.

In addition, there were many boxers who were not residents of the Los Angeles area who became popular among local fans. They included Tommy Burns, George Godfrey, Alberto “Baby” Arizmendi, Ricardo “Pajarito” Moreno, Jose Becerra, Raymundo “Battling” Torres, Ruben Olivares, Jose Napoles, Carlos Zarate, Jose “Pipino” Cuevas and Julio Cesar Chavez.

The Los Angeles area has been the site for a number of notable bouts such as the 1906 Tommy Burns-Marvin Hart Heavyweight Championship fight, the controversial 1912 Ad Wolgast-“Mexican” Joe Rivers bout and the 2000 contest between "Sugar" Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya.


 

Who Lies There? A Compendium of Boxer's Obituaries
By Mike DeLisa & Johnny Bos

Over 100 pages of obituaries of boxers, fighters, managers, and promoters. The gamut runs from the most famous to the most obscure. Complete obituaries are reprinted, and serve as an immense guide to furhter research for the boxing fan -- or as a bet-settler for the true stat geek. Learn of the sad end of Gene Tunney opponent Wolf Larson, who once stole a milk wagon (horse and all) and tried to pawn it for a bottle of hootch. You probably never heard of Jack LaFontise, who dies while attended by his brothers, pro boxers themselves, but you won't forget his stoy. Some of the nation's besst sportswriters describe the end of many of our boxing heroes and villains -- Gene Tunney, Sugar Ray Robinson, Kid Chocolate, Jack Johnson, Benny Leonard, Harry Greb, Jem Ward, Bob Fitzsimmons, Joe Jennette (Jeanette), Al Palzer, Benny Bass and hundreds of others. Which boxer died after drinking carbolic acid? Who died while making moonshine whisky when his still exploded? Who drowned? This book answers all of these questions. Size 8 1/2 x 11 inches, spiral bound.

 


 

"In the Ring with Bob Fitzsimmons,"                     by Adam Pollack

This is the third book in Adam Pollack’s series on the heavyweight champions of the gloved era. Bob Fitzsimmons was boxing’s first pound for pound great, winning the world middleweight title before becoming the world heavyweight champion (and later lightheavyweight champ). Combining both crafty skill and crushing power, Fitzsimmons was able to knock out heavyweights when he only weighed 158 pounds!

 

 

"In the Ring with James J. Corbett,"                     by Adam Pollack

It is the most thoroughly researched boxing-detailed biography on James J. Corbett’s career ever written. It reveals new dates, bouts, and facts, shedding fresh light on his experience, skills, and ability.

Buy the book from Lulu.com
Read Tracy Callis' Review.
 


"Cradle of Champions: 80 Years Of New York Daily News Golden Gloves,"   by Bill Farrell                   An account of the exciting Golden Gloves boxing tournament from its inception in 1927 up through 2006. 185 pages and numerous photographs of celebrities, boxers and action shots from bouts.

Buy the book from Sports Publishing L.L.C.
View some pages.
Read Tracy Callis' Review.

 

"Boxing in the Shadows," by Tom Donelson

The story of many great black fighters and their times from the pre-1900 years up to the present. A discussion of critical periods of history along with important and meaningful bouts over the years. A very interesting read.

Buy the book from Amazon.com
Read Tracy Callis' Review

 


"The Sundowners: The History of the Black Prizefighter 1870-1930," by Kevin R. Smith

A biographical encyclopedia of the black prizefighter from 1870-1930. 650 pages of information on the lives and careers of over 150 black boxers, from the famous to the unknown.

Buy the book from Lulu Enterprises.
View some pages.
Read Tracy Callis' Review.



"John L. Sullivan: The Career of the First Gloved Heavyweight Champion," by Adam Pollack

Essentially the last of the bare-knuckle heavyweight champions, John L. Sullivan was instrumental in the acceptance of gloved fighting. Sullivan became boxing’s first superstar and arguably the first of any sport.

Buy the book from McFarland Press.
View the Table of Contents and the preface.
Read Tracy Callis' Review.



Philadelphia's Boxing
Heritage



 

© 2007 CBZ MEDIA INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

SPIRITUAL ADVISOR ON ALL MATTERS FISTIC: Hank Kaplan

FOUNDER/CO-PUBLISHER/ENCYCLOPEDIA EDITOR: Michael DeLisa

CO-PUBLISHER/
MANAGING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

Stephen Gordon

NEWS EDITOR/STAFF WRITER:
Juan C. Allyon

ASSOCIATE EDITOR/MEDIA RELATIONS:
JD Vena

ASSOCIATE EDITORS:
Katherine Dunn, Lucius Shepard

HISTORY & RESEARCH:
Director of Research: Tracy Callis
CBZ Staff Historians: Dan Cuoco, Hank Kaplan, Matt Tegen, Kevin Smith, Harry Otty, Ron Lipton, Barry Deskins, Matt Donnellon, Joe Grantham

STAFF WRITERS:
Chris Bushnell, DscribeDC, Katherine Dunn, Dan Hanley, Eric Jorgensen, Adam Pollack, JD Vena, Lucius Shepard, Ron Lipton, Dean Vios

 

SPECIAL FEATURES WRITER:
Mike Casey


CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Matt Boyd, Steve Coughlin, Monte Cox, Brian Donegan, Enrique Encinosa, Pete Ehrmann, Pedro Fernandez, Eldon Frost, Karl Hegman, Dave Iamele, Eric Jorgensen, Joe Koizumi, Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, Tom Smario (CBZ Poet Emeritus), Jim Trunzo, Fabian Weber, Randy Gordon, Greg Beyer

 

WEBMASTER:

Dean Vios