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...
THE HAMMER OF THOR - INGEMAR JOHANSSON
By Paul Zanon PATTERSON PULVERISED. JOHANSSON WINS WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE Boxing News, July 1959 Sweden’s world heavyweight champion was born in Gothenburg on 22 September 1932. Son to Je...
'THE NIGHT TRAIN' SONNY LISTON
By Paul Zanon‘A boxing match is like a cowboy movie. There’s got to be good guys and there’s got to be bad guys. And that’s what people pay for – to see the bad guys get beat.’The ‘Phantom Punch,’ ...
THE UPSTATE ONION FARMER - CARMEN BASILIO
By Paul Zanon‘I can’t concentrate on golf or bowling. Those bowling pins aren’t going to hurt me. I can concentrate in the ring because someone is trying to kill me.’Carmen BasilioRecords tell you ...
THE TIBBS LEGACY PART 2 - MARK TIBBS
By Paul Zanon“Training has changed a bit and we’ve all moved on as athletes. I was lucky to have been brought up with my dad and his style of boxing training at The Royal Oak, but now, with my own ...
THE TIBBS LEGACY PART 1 - JIMMY TIBBS
By Paul ZanonJimmy Tibbs - Photo courtesy of Nicola Collins“I was helping my dad’s mate out to put a fence up in Stratford. All of a sudden one of my best mates pulled up in his car and said, ‘Jim,...
"So we leave this game which was hard and cruel. And down at the show on a ringside stool. We’ll watch the next man, just one more fool." Randolph Turpin When you mention Randy Turpin in conversati...
By Paul Zanon “He fought like a Tiger. He just tore into anyone. People loved that.” Harry CarpenterMurder or suicide? These are often the first questions people mention when Freddie Mills comes up...
By Paul ZanonHe turned professional at 14 years of age, was world champion by 20 and lived a furious life inside and out of the ring. Ladies and gentlemen, I present you Judah Bergman. You perhaps ...
MARCEL CERDAN - 'LE BOMBARDIER MAROCAIN'
By Paul Zanon“48 DIE IN BLAZING FRENCH AIR-LINERMOUNTAIN CRASH IN THE AZORESGINETTE NEVEU AND MARCEL CERDAN AMONG THE VICTIMS”The Guardian, London, 29 October 1949People spend far too much time tal...
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...