Roland La Starza was tough, but Ezzard Charles was the toughest man I ever fought. I learned what pain was all about when I fought him.’ Rocky Marciano Ezzard Charles was born on 7 July 1921 i...
‘I would not like to be remembered as someone who amounted to do so much as an athlete, but who was good for nothing as a person. I couldn't stand that.’ Max Schmeling Maximilian Adolph Otto S...
THE AMBLING ALP - PRIMO CARNERA
When Carnera won the title, there were celebrations everywhere. It gave every Italian a sense of pride and hope.’ Rocky Marciano Primo Carnera stood a touch under 6ft 6inches, fought at around 1...
IMPECKABLE - FILMMAKER RON PECK
“Ron Peck had a lovely, natural laugh and could get in with anybody. He was so empathetic and he could sit down with anyone from any walk of life, and I can’t think of anyone who didn’t welcome h...
NEWPORT'S ROCKY - DAVID 'BOMBER' PEARCE
“David was an inspiration for me, not only as a boxer, but in life. My determination to create his legacy after he died has helped me also, because I’ve gone from being a guardsman all the way to ...
KEN BUCHANAN - THE FIGHTING CARPENTER
Born on 28 June 1945, Ken Buchanan was brought up in suburban Edinburgh, on a housing estate called Northfield. Bullied as a kid, he begged his dad to box and shortly after had his wish granted as ...
THE INVINCIBLE EAGLE - THE SALVADOR SÁNCHEZ STORY
By Paul Zanon“He’s one of the few fighters who is able to hurt his opponent and get rid of them.”Sugar Ray Leonard on SánchezSalvador Sánchez Narváez turned professional at the age 16 after only ni...
JOHNNY FAMECHON - THE ARTFUL DODGER
Jean Pierre Famechon, or ‘Fammo,’ as he was known by most of the punching population of Australia, was born to French parents Antoinette and Andre on 28 March 1945, in Paris. At the age of five hi...
NICOLINO LOCCHE - THE UNTOUCHABLE
In 136 fights, Nicolino Locche only lost four. The late, great Ray Arcel once said Locche was the best defensive boxer he’d ever seen in action. Even if we left the story right there, that would be...
‘Spaghetti and meatballs killed more Italians than all the wars.’ In 241 fights, William Guglielmo Papaleo lost 11 bouts, boxed 1,956 rounds, racked up 65 stoppages and is engrained in history as a...
‘I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalised a brick; I'm so mean ...
CASSIUS MARCELLUS CLAY JR - THE LOUISVILLE LIP
‘Never put your money against Cassius Clay, for you will never have a lucky day.’ Boxing greats, Cus D’Amato, Oleksandr Usyk and Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. all have one thing in common – they were ...
HURRICANE ALLY - THE RUBIN CARTER STORY
BVB writer Paul Zanon has been working with prisoners at HMP Thameside nurturing their writing talents. We're delighted to support his efforts by donating a prize to the winner of a competition Pau...