Lennie Method

So I am a few days late for this Halloween post (sorry…I do have a life outside of blogging). I have a bunch of Halloween costume flics (celebrity and not so celebrity) but I don’t really feel like waiting on them to load (sorry), so here are just a few.

Beyonce was Spider Man. Fetch. <–Fetch will never work.

Good News (for most Sidekick users)! Microsoft found your data

Former Indians teammates Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia face each other in the opening game of the 2009 World Series tonight in Yankee Stadium.

You may have never heard of Epaphroditus. He is only mentioned here in Philippians chapter 2 and then again briefly in Chapter 4. But Epaphroditus gives us a great example of Christian Commitment. We will be challenged to a new level commitment.

As we face the coming days we are going to need a new level of Christian commitment. What we find in these verses of scripture is exactly that, an example of Christian commitment.

You have all heard Handell’s Messiah and you love to hear the words to the Halleluiah chorus. Did you know when Handell began to compose that chorus he said, it was as though heaven were bursting in on to his mind. And for three weeks he withdrew himself, often times not eating. He did so to put his whole attention on composing this great chorus.

We sing this chorus and we hear this chorus sung, but we rarely if ever think about the Christian commitment that is behind the composing of the Halleluiah chorus. An example of Christian Commitment is what we find in our passage today. The example is of Epaphroditus.

You may never have heard of Epaphroditus. That is because he is only mentioned here in Philippians chapter 2 and then again briefly in Chapter 4. But Epaphroditus gives us a great example of Christian Commitment.

Read Philippians 2:25-30
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

Paul has been talking of self-sacrifice for the cause of Christ through this book of Philippians. He has been giving us different examples. He spoke about Christ, the ultimate example of commitment. Christ who humbled himself to the point of death on a cross. Paul uses himself as an example. The great Apostle Paul is an example of self-sacrificing commitment to the cause of Christ. He also used Timothy as an example, Paul’s own disciple.

Now here is Epaphroditus, much less known than the other examples. It is refreshing to have someone held up as an example of Christian commitment who is not some kind of superstar. Paul has used Christ, and we acknowledge that Christ is the greatest example of all times in Christian commitment. Yet we ourselves know we can never measure up to Christ’s example. Even Paul’s example is so lofty and beyond what we could live up to.
So it is refreshing to have an example like Epaphroditus. Someone ordinary like we are.

Yet he is a great example of Christian commitment because Epaphroditus was faithful. That is the key to commitment, faithful service to Jesus. The Philippians had given Paul a great gift. They had raised a collection and sent it to the Apostle Paul at Rome. Paul is in a Roman prison. They needed someone to carry this gift to Paul. Epaphroditus is that man. He carried the gift to the Apostle Paul so he can continue his ministry there from the Roman prison. It was Epaphroditus the servant used to assist Paul in this way.

Epaphroditus through his great commitment is so concerned about the cause, that he works himself sacrificially to the point of death. He was so dedicated that exhaustion was about to take his life. Paul would send Timothy back in the future for the Philippians. At this point he is going to send back Epaphroditus. It is probably Epaphroditus who carried this letter back to the Philippian church to encourage them.

So Paul had a great message and it had to be entrusted to a faithful servant and that servant was Epaphroditus. Vs 25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. Paul had found Epaphroditus faithful and he gives him three great titles. He calls him his brother.

His brother in Christ. Jesus had made it clear that all who come into the fellowship of Christ can call themselves brothers and sisters in Christ. We use that term. We call someone a brother or sister in Christ. Unfortunately we use the term brother when we forgot their name, but brother should exhibit the way we look at a person.

The way we love a person in the fellowship of Jesus Christ. That is why Paul used the title, brother for Epaphroditus; he called him a brother, a brother in Christ. Paul called Epaphroditus a fellow worker. Paul, this great worker himself, could call Epaphroditus a fellow worker. It was likely that the reason that Epaphroditus was to the point of death was because he was serving Paul in the Roman dungeon.

It was a health risk to do the kind of exhausting work that it would require to carry the letter from Philippi to Rome and then serve Paul in prison. It would take great commitment to do this exhausting work. So Paul could call Epaphroditus his fellow worker because of the great work he had done. He could call him a title that represented an even higher level of Christian Commitment. Paul could call Epaphroditus a fellow soldier in the cause of serving Christ.

He could call Epaphroditus this because he was obedient like a soldier. Epaphroditus was trained and ready to serve. For Paul, also a great soldier of Jesus Christ, could call Epaphroditus a fellow soldier.

We are told in verse 27 how much Paul relied on this servant. If Epaphroditus would have died it would for Paul, have added sorrow upon sorrow. Paul expresses his sorrow here in the book of Philippians, the book of Joy. He had sorrow through his imprisonment and if Epaphroditus were to die it would have added more sorrow for him. That is because Epaphroditus was such a faithful servant.

Here was Epaphroditus, a man not gifted as a prophet, he did not write any books of the New Testament. There is nothing special mentioned about Epaphroditus. The only thing we know is that Epaphroditus was a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. It wasn’t his title or position that brings out his special recognition here. It was only his faithful commitment to Jesus Christ.

Are wondering, what you can do to make a difference? You are an ordinary person. You say, I do not have any special titles, any special prestige what can I do? Look to Epaphroditus. There was nothing special about him. He was just one person committed to the cause of Christ and worked sacrificially for that cause. That is the great example. Paul says in Vs 29, “and honor men like him.” We can look at Epaphroditus as an example of faithful commitment.

The work of Christ is carried on by the faithful few. The most common figure quoted is that eighty percent of the work of Christ is carried on by twenty percent of Christ’s’ followers. Those are the few who are really committed to the cause of Christ. Here was Epaphroditus one of those faithful few that stands as an example to challenge us to rise to the occasion to be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. I look at my own role as Pastor. I believe my first responsibility is to be a faithful servant.

To stand in the example of Epaphroditus. But my next responsibility is to help those who will also stand commitment to Jesus Christ. To stay faithful even when the going is difficult.

You know Jesus was the greatest teacher of all times. He was the greatest leader. But even Jesus Christ saw the masses turn away from him. Jesus focused on a small group of disciples because that was his plan to train up a few dedicated Christian workers to turn this world upside down. Christianity has carried on by the few, not because of the masses. It goes on because of the faithful few that are really committed to the cause of Christ.
This is what we need today. That is the crying need of the hour.

For more people to be faithful like that of Epaphroditus. What we don’t need the masses that turned away from Christ. What we need are more with a true Christian commitment. Then we can go out as an army of God and reach this community with the message of the Gospel. Then people will look at us and see a clear example of what it means to be faithful and committed to the cause of Christ.

Vs 26: For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him.
Paul is speaking of the reason he was sending Epaphroditus to Philippi. He had been separated from his church in Philippi on a mission to serve the Apostle Paul. Through that dedicated service he became ill to the point of death.

News of this reached Philippi that Epaphroditus was about to die. They were concerned that Epaphroditus may have already died. Epaphroditus became grieved because he knew his church was suffering over the news of his illness and that he may have died on his mission of love, which they sent him on.

So Epaphroditus wanted to return to them so that they would know things were all right with him. Then Epaphroditus wanted himself to get back to his church. He wanted to be faithful in the work he had but he missed his home church. Have you noticed that when those who are faithful in their church are the ones that miss it when they are away from it. They are actually homesick when away from their church home.

That is what was happening with Epaphroditus. He was homesick. He wanted to get back and be with his brothers and sisters in Christ. That was the reason that Paul was sending him back. Because they heard the news of his illness and because he was homesick for his home church family. The word used here distressed is the same word used in the gospel for distress when Jesus when he was praying at Gethsemane.

Epaphroditus was a dedicated servant and had become ill and when Paul sends him back it will relieve the distress. Paul wanted the people of Philippi to rejoice when they saw their faithful servant. When they see Epaphroditus it will take away their grief. For Paul, when Epaphroditus recovered from the illness it was described as mercy for him. Because if Epaphroditus had died it would have meant great sorrow for the Apostle Paul. So for Paul, the final reason for sending Epaphroditus back is that it would bring joy to the Philippians.

Paul wanted this fellowship to again experience the joy that they knew. That is the basic theme in the book of Philippians, joy. So Paul is sending back this servant so they would again have their burdens lifted and know the joy in Christ. Paul wrote the book of Philippians and he wanted no one to malign the character of Epaphroditus. He was going to send him home on this journey and he did not want anyone to think the Epaphroditus was a quitter. Paul wrote the letter to tell of the great character of Epaphroditus so that no one could say that he did not accomplish what he was commissioned to do. Epaphroditus was to be welcomed back as a hero on this return journey. He had been faithful.

We find out in verses 29-30 just how committed Epaphroditus was. It tells us he risked his own life. He laid his life on the line for service to Christ. Epaphroditus thought more about the needs of others than he did his own self-concerns. He served and performed the mission the church had sent him out to do. His service of Christ called him to risk his own life. It caused him to become ill to the point of death. It is no small matter to be attending to Paul in the needs he has in the Roman prison. You are putting your life on the line when you care for somebody that is about to be executed. We need people today who are willing to take risks. The gospel will not get to the difficult places unless people are willing to take risks.

There are some things in the Christian life that will take such commitment that we have to lay our very life on the line and trust God with that. That is what Epaphroditus did. It says he was risking his own life. The words mean he gambled with his life. He was willing to sacrifice his own life to be a dedicated servant of Jesus.
Illustration: Taking risks in Christian commitment

My wife and I have a friend named Nancy who has served as a missionary in Africa. When she was on her furlough we began to discuss with her about her plans. The mission board asked her if she would take a new assignment. This new assignment was to open up a work with a tribe of people that have never had the gospel.

There had been a foreign missionary there, but he died of disease. She was asked to take his place and to go into the difficult place. As she prayed about it she knew the risks involved. But she has gone there and served faithfully knowing that she is laying her life on the line. She was aware that she was gambling with her own life to serve Christ.
This is the example of Epaphroditus. He laid his life on the line. And you know our Lord was willing to lay his life on the line. This is the commitment, the call to sacrificial commitment in service to Jesus Christ. We need to serve in such a way that we, like Epaphroditus, would be willing to lay our lives on the line.

I have heard of a faithful servant who often said, it is better to burn out than to rust out. In other words he was willing to take a risk with his life to serve Christ. Some harm may come to his life when he serves Christ but this is better than sitting, doing nothing to serve Christ and rusting out.

How Christians need that message. The call to faithful service. So many Christians just sit and rust when they could be serving sacrificially. Yes it is costly. Yes, you risk your life. But we need those who will really serve Christ. Paul says hold such as these in high esteem. We need to thank God for those who really serve Christ in our midst. We have so many faithful. We need to call others to be faithful.

Epaphroditus stands before us as a great challenge. A challenge to a deeper commitment to Christ.

The most important commitment you can make is the commitment to serve Jesus Christ faithfully. We have our example in Epaphroditus. Won’t you commit to faithfully serve Jesus Christ?

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The Top 10 Heavyweights in History –

This is a long debated subject, it always carries the argument of who would beat who. In reality we will never know, however modern day fighters have a massive advantage in regards to diet, training regime and time taken perfecting the art. So if you took that into consideration even a top 20 fighter of today’s boxing world would hold a massive advantage over fighters even 30 years ago. Modern day fighters train all day most days when say 50 years ago they had to carry out their day jobs and fighting wasn’t taken as seriously as it is now also the training facilities and knowledge were not as good. Bearing all this in my and by just going on the talent at the time, who they fought, the standard of the era and who in their time they didn’t fight I have compiled my list of what I believe to be the top 10 heavyweights in history.

10. Vitali Klitschko
9. George Foreman
8. Riddick Bowe
7. Larry Holmes
6. Joe Louis
5. Evander Holfield
4. Lennox Lewis
3. Muhammad Ali
2. Rocky Marciano
1. Mike Tyson

Below is my justifications of why they are in that order and details of each fighters career.

Number 10 – Vitali Klischko

The perfect combination for a heavyweight, tall, fast, strong, a great chin and a ruthless knockout punch. Would have beaten any heavyweight ever on his day. Will come back and rule the Heavyweight division again. Barring injuries could have been the greatest, hopefully he will reach some of his potential when he makes his return.

Number 9 – George Foreman

Strong as a bull and a fearsome punch, never got his re-match with Ali which he would have had a great chance of winning. One of the most awesome men to grace the squared circle, reputation and confidence knocked only by the great Ali. Returned to the ring and won the Heavyweight title at 45 years old, the oldest ever to lift the prestigious crown.

Number 8 – Riddick Bowe

Fantasic jab and awesome speed for such a big man, suffered mentally and refused to seal his destiny by turning down the fight with Lennox Lewis. Was involved in some of the greatest Heavyweight fights ever, suffering his only lost to Evander Holyfield to which he avenged twice.

Number 7 – Larry Holmes

Holmes never got the recognition he deserved due to the standard of the division at the time. Was always regarded as a non puncher but still managed to clock up 44 knockouts in his 75 fights. Also came within one fight of beating Rocky Marciano’s long standing record of 49 straight wins. More famous for having the best Jab but was so much better than that.

Number 6 – Joe Louis

The brown bomber was regarded as one of the hardest punchers the heavyweight division has ever had, defended the heavyweight crown an amazing 25 times. Knocking out the likes of James J Braddock, Max Baer and Max Schmeling. One of the first real super champions and took boxing to the next level for his era.

Number 5 – Evander Holyfield

One of the greatest warriors to step in the ring, he ruled the world at cruiserweight and probably would have set all kind of records if he had stayed there, he moved up to take on the giants at Heavyweight and was never out of his depth, the only person to every beat man mountain Riddick Bowe. Still challenging to become a five time world champion at the tender age of 45.

Number 4 – Lennox Lewis

Another man who has not had the recognition he deserved, he only lost twice in a career where he took on all comers and returned to revenge both defeats. Very methodical in his boxing which didn’t always make him the fans favourite, and tended to be a little lazy from time to time, but will always go down as one of the greatest.

Number 3 – Muhammad Ali

Self proclaimed best ever but for me Ali just didn’t do enough. He revenged defeats from both Norton and Frazier and in his prime and mixed with some of the greatest fighters in Heavyweights golden times. Will always be remembered for his lightning quick hands and cast iron jaw, and his greatest strength his mind.

Number 2 – Rocky Marciano

The only heavyweight champion to go through his entire career without a loss or even a draw. Still holding the record today of 49 straight wins. He fought with his heart on his sleeve and although his style was a little sloppy and defence was almost none existent it worked for him and he retired the champion he deserved to be.

Number 1 – Mike Tyson

If gifted with the mind of Muhammad Ali, Tyson would have gone on to be the greatest Heavyweight Champion ever on everyone’s list. He had the most awesome power, speed and ability of any other Heavyweight of all time. While under the guidance of Cus D’Amato he perfected his skills and although Cus didn’t get to see it went on to be the youngest Heavyweight World Champion ever, and destroyed the worlds best. Unfortunately due to his state of mind he never went on to reach his full potential.

Heavyweights not included that could have been –

Gene Tunney - Campaigned mainly at Light Heavyweight and only actually stepped up to heavyweight for his last 3 fights beating the great Jack Dempsey twice.

Harry Wills – Fantastic record of 79 wins from 103 fights however boxing wasn’t taken as seriously back then and fighters didn’t stand out, however very tough man

Jack Johnson - He nearly made it into the top ten, his physical attributes for the time were incredible and he brought a whole new skill to boxing, however many of his bouts and wins came against journeymen or fighters with only a couple of bouts under there belts.

Floyd Patterson - Great boxer just didn’t possess the physical size to make a real impact on the gretest ever list and this became apparent after his fights with Sonny Liston

Sonny Liston - The retirement on his stool and dive he took in the fights against Muhammad Ali proved he didn’t have the heart of a champion. Was fine when he was bulling other lesser boxers, but when it mattered he lost it.

Joe Frazier - With only 37 fights and 32 wins just didn’t do enough to get into the top ten, a true warrior in the ring that put it all on the line.

A Full History of the top 10 Heavyweights ever

Number 10 – Vitali Klitschko

Some may be surprised to see Vitali in the top 10 Heavyweights ever, but I think it is justified and when he goes on to win the Title again in June it will be fully justified.

Originally Klitshko started his professional fighting career as a kick boxer, Vitali was also a keen amateur boxer and won the Super Heavyweight Championship at the first World Military Games in Italy in 1995. In the same year he won a silver medal at the1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Berlin. Before changing his profession to Professional Boxing in 1996.

Klitshcko also known as “Dr. Iron Fist”, due to the fact he is an actual doctor. In 2005 he retired due to a severe knee injury, but in January 2007 he announced his comeback and will be facing current WBC champion Oleg Maskaev, fighting for his old belt.

He is a towering 6′ 7½” and around 250 pounds or ripped muscle and on appearance is the perfect Heavyweight boxer. Vitali has the highest knock out percentage (92%) of any heavyweight champion ever. Out of 35 wins, 34 of those came by the way of KO or TKO. He matches his power with great technique and lightning speed for his size.

The two losses that he has on his record were not due to being knocked out or stopped, one was a 9th Round retirement against Chris Byrd due to an injured shoulder, and the other against Lennox Lewis when he was stopped on severe cuts, both fights he was ahead on the cards at the time the fight was stopped.

In 1998 Klitschko had his first real tests against journeymen Julius Francis and also tough Journeyman Jose Ribalta who refused to lay down during a hurtful bout against Iron Mike Tyson. Klitschko knocked out both opponents in the 2nd round proving that he would be a force to measured with.

Through Klitschko’s first 10 fights he dispatched all of the opponents within only 17 rounds, with 3 first round knockouts and 7 in the 2nd round. In 1998 by the time he fought for the European Title he had an outstanding record of 21 fights and 21 knockouts. He took on tough German based Mario Schiesser who had only ever been stopped once in 40 bouts and had 36 wins. Klitschko knocked out Schiesser after only 2 minutes of the second round.

After two defence of the European title Klitschko felt he was ready to step up to the world level. He took on English WBO Champion Herbie Hide who’s only defeat had come to the man mountain Riddick Bowe and was regarded as one of the biggest punchers in the division. It was power v power and any betting man believed this bout would be over very quickly, but who would emerge as the winner. Klitschko towered over Hide and was first to land the big shots sending Hide tumbling in only the 2nd round, 4 rounds quicker than Bowe had managed.

Klitschko successfully defended the WBO title twice before meeting awkward southpaw Chris Byrd, Byrd was a surprise package on the Heavyweight scene he didn’t look the part at only 6’ and 210 pounds but he had a cast iron jaw and had only 1 defeat on his record to the unbeaten Ike Ibeabuchi in 31 fights. Klitschko out boxed the smaller man for nearly every round, until the 9th round when after complaining of intense shoulder pain, Vitali and his corner decided not to continue the fight. Vitali was ahead on all 3 judges’ scorecards (89-82, and 88-83 twice), but the way he ended this match brought international criticism, plus a reputation as a quitter. Some gave him the nickname “Quitschko” and others called him “Shitaly”. Which was very harsh as he had to have surgery to repair his rotator cuff immediately after the bout.

After 7 months out of the ring to recover from injury Klitschko returned to face unbeaten German Timo Hoffmann for his old European title. Klitschko had to make use of the full use of the 12 rounds for the first time, Hoffmann strong and brave but lost every round on all but one of the judges cards. Klitschko then knocked out former Cruiserweight World Champion Orlin Norris in the first round.

Klitschko’s next test came against tough Larry Donald who had never been stopped and taken the likes of Riddick Bowe and Tim Witherspoon the distance beating the latter. Klitscko took 10 rounds but eventually got his man out of there reconfirming that he was the man to beat in the division. The world was calling out for a match to be set with the current WBC and IBO Champion and number 1 heavyweight Lennox Lewis. Many Boxing writers and fans believed Klitschko was the man to beat Lewis.

In June 2003 the match was set in Los Angeles Vitali started strong and for the first two rounds Vitali had the upper hand and many feared that Lewis was over the hill. In Round three, Lewis landed a punch that left a gruesome cut over Klitschko’s left eye. Klitschko lost his way a little and the next two rounds were hard to score. After round six, all 3 judges’ scorecards read 58-56 in favour of Klitschko. Before round seven, the ringside doctor inspected the cut and thought it severe enough to threaten eye damage if hit again. He stopped the fight, despite Klitschko’s pleas to continue the fight. Because the cuts around Vitali’s eye had been a result of the punches from Lewis, and not an accidental headbutt, the rules stated that Lewis would win by a technical knockout. Though he had lost by TKO, Klitschko gained international respect for fighting on even terms with the consensus World Heavyweight Champion for the first 6 rounds. Afterward, it was revealed that Vitali had kept fighting despite sustaining an internal injury, as well. This redeemed him in most fans’ eyes, and many no longer considered him a quitter. Lewis retired after this bout.

Klitschko returned to the ring just 6 months later to face Canadian puncher Kirk Johnson, his only defeat was by disqualification against John Ruiz, he also has had a win by Knockout of Klitschko’s future opponent Oleg Maskaev. Klitschko knocked out Johnson in only 2 rounds redeeming himself back to the top of the Heavyweight ranking and with Lennox Lewis gone there wasn’t much about to challenge him for supremacy in the division.

He then claimed a revenge victory over South African Corrie Sanders who in his previous fight had destroyed Vitali’s brother Wladimir knocking him down 4 times in a brutal 2 rounds. Vitali beat Sanders in 8 rounds taking back his brothers WBC title, before taking on depleted Iron Mike Tyson conqueror British heavyweight hope Danny Williams, Klitschko knocked Williams from pillar to post knocking down the brave Britain 5 times before the referee stepped in to put a merciful end to the challenge.

Klitschko was then lined up to fight Hasim Rahman however due to a number of injuries the fight was delayed and then Klitschko sustained what he believed to be a career ending injury in training a week before the bout was due to take place. He had major surgery in L.A. for the right knee injuries (a torn meniscus, a bone bruise, plus an undiagnosed MCL tear). Now he is back and ready to re-claim the number one heavyweight status and plans to rule the division with his brother Wladimir who is currently IBF and IBO Champion.

Number 9 – George Foreman

To be honest it was difficult where to put Big George, he had to be in the top ten. In the end I settled for him at number 10. Foreman went through his first 37 fights with 34 knockouts without fighting for a world title. In his 37th fight he faced the mighty Joe Frazier for the WBC and WBA World Heavyweight title.

Foreman was deemed a formidable opponent and his record backed that up, but there were no real names on his record, and although had gone the distance in 2 ten round and 1 eight round fights it was unsure whether he would have the stamina to go through the 15 gruelling rounds that Frazier was expected to give him.

Frazier had never been stopped at the time and also held an unbeaten record of 29-0 with 25 Knockouts, and held the advantage of completing the full 15 rounds twice before against Bonavena and of course his famous victory over the previous unbeaten Champion Muhammad Ali. It was lined up to be one of the fights of the century.

It did turn out that way but for different reasons than what was expected. Foreman came out like a bull knocking Frazier down 3 times in the first round and then 3 times in the 2nd Stopping Frazier in the 2nd Round. The world had found a new champion, big, strong as an ox and with a punch resembling a kick from a mule.

Then came Foreman’s biggest test, Muhammad Ali, and this is the Reason Foreman slipped down the list of the Greatest ever Heavyweight boxers. He was outsmarted by Ali as many have been done in the past. Three years after Ali had been beaten by Frazier and who also had a defeat to Ken Norton and was regarded by many as past his best.

The Fight had to be postponed due to a cut that Foreman had received in sparring only a week before the fight and this allowed Ali to bombard Foreman with torrents of Verbal abuse that in the end eventually got to Foreman as when the fight started you could see by Foreman’s motions and the look in his eyes the only thing he wanted to do was to put Ali through the canvas.

Ali sat back and absorbed an incredible onslaught which lasted about 8 and a half rounds, then Ali took the moment and exploded back landing some devastating punches on the chin of an exhausted Foreman knocking him out with only 2 seconds to spare of the 8th Round marking Foreman’s first ever defeat in the ring.

This defeat badly affect Foreman and he didn’t return to the ring for over a year after it, the confidence of being able to blow anyone away had gone and would take time to return. The 2nd knockout of Joe Frazier in the 5th Round would have helped this but Foreman for whatever reason never got a chance to have a chance at revenge on the great Muhammad Ali.

Then came the points loss to journeyman Jimmy Young which signalled the end of Foreman, or so everyone thought, then 10 years later in 1987 over 40 pounds heavier supporting a new big bald head Foreman returned to the ring, against the wishes of many.

After 24 victories with 23 knockouts, mainly against journeymen but with bigger names like Qawi, Bert Cooper and Gerry Cooney on the way, after 17 years of him first becoming World Champion, he faced unbeaten future great Evander Holyfield who was nearly 50 pounds lighter than Foreman, some expected a shock of a Foreman win and history to be made but it wasn’t to be this time. Foreman lost to wide points margin.

Rather than deflate Foreman it spurred him on and after the lost was back in the ring within 8 months and in 1993 he took on Tommy Morrison for the vacant WBO belt. Morrison had a great record of 36 wins with only 1 defeat, but it was the one defeat that Foreman must have been looking at, a 5th Round stoppage to Ray Mercer. There was a chance if Foreman landed one of his big shots Morrison would go, like he had gone before. Again it wasn’t to be Foreman never managed to land that shot and was beaten well on Points.

Still Foreman would not give up and over a year later in his very next fight he took on the unbeaten Michael Moorer, a man who had defeated the great Evander Holyfield in his previous fight and was probably looking for an easy defence of his new World Titles.

Things didn’t start well for Foreman and Moorer was out boxing him and was ahead on all the cards walking into the tenth round, then Moorer walked onto something else, rather than see the rest of the fight out boxing and moving, he walked onto a massive right hand to the temple, Moorer was stunned he stepped back with his dropped, Foreman following in with a left and then another straight right hand which landed flush on Moorers chin sending him crashing to the canvas for the count of 10. At the age of 45 Foreman was the World Champion again.

Foreman won his next 3 fights and then in his final farewell took on top prospect Shannon Briggs the current WBO Heavyweight Champion today, Foreman lost in a close points decision and at last in 1997 at the tender age of 48 years and 10 months old Big George hung up the gloves. Retiring for the final time with an impressive record of 81 fights 76 wins 68 by way of knockout with only 5 defeats, only 2 of which before his 40th Birthday.

Number 8 – Riddick Bowe

If Riddick Bowe had fought Lennox Lewis he could and probably should have been a lot higher up the ratings, win or lose. They had fought previously in the Olympic final in Seoul in 1988 Lewis has stopped Bowe in the 2nd Round, but now with both men in there professional prime Bowe was offered a chance of revenge. The fight could have been one of the greats, unfortunately Bowe decided to walk away from the fight and throw his championship belt in a bin rather than face Lewis.

Bowe also tended to be a little lazy allowing himself to sit behind his formidable jab when things got too easy, to his credit he only ever lost once in the ring in his second fight against Evander Holyfield, a defeat that he avenged.

He was a big Heavyweight at 6’5 with great power knocking out greats like Evander Holyfield, Pinklon Thomas and Herbie Hide and was very quick for such a big man. He has been involved in some of the greatest heavyweight fights of the era, especially the trilogy with Evander Holyfield.

After the Holyfield victory in 1995, Riddick Bowe’s manager Rock Newman filed a lawsuit against HBO, who had the exclusive television contract with Riddick Bowe. While the suit was pending, Bowe was not in training camp, and he sat idle for many months. This business dispute may have cost him dearly, as the long layoff left the former champion far from top form, he gained 12 pounds and a once solid muscular frame now looked a little soft and flabby. After the business side had been settled Bowe resigned with HBO and signed a contract to fight little known but highly regarded undefeated Andrew Golota.

The first Golota fight was a wake up call for Bowe, he started the fight looking sluggish and slow, Golota on the other hand took advantage and punished Bowe with quick jabs and precise combinations. Hitting and hurting Bowe like he had never had before. Golota was well known for being a wild man and had previously resorted to dirty tactics, this fight proved this again as after a number of Low blows and point deductions Golota was eventually disqualified in the 7th Round.

The rematch was made within five months possibly too quick for Bowe as he hadn’t mentally recovered from the savage beating he had taken over the 7 rounds of the first fight. Bowe had returned to his usual fighting weight of 235 Pounds for the re-match, though there is rumours in his training camp that this was thanks to a crash diet, which had left him sluggish and weak. The beating that Bowe took in this fight was as bad if not worse than there first encounter, Bowe being knocked down twice although he did knock Golota down in between knockdowns. Once again the fight didn’t finish in a satisfactory conclusion Golota was again disqualified for constant low blows, Bowe just didn’t look like the fighter he once was and after the fight he decided to retire from boxing.

Like most fighters Bowe life seemed to take a dramatic turn for the worse once the boxing equation had been removed. He enrolled into the marines but dropped out after bearly a week. In 1999, he kidnapped his separated wife Judy and their children, later explaining that it was an attempt to get their family back together. Bowe abducted them in his car and led police on an interstate chase, but eventually let them go without incident. He was convicted of kidnapping, and served 18 months in prison for the crime. After being released, he announced his intention to make a comeback.

In 2004 Bowe filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Rock Newman. As Bowe later described it, an advisor had convinced him that Newman mishandled and misappropriated money during his days as Bowe’s manager. However, Newman quickly produced full documentation that showed that this was not the case, prompting Bowe to withdraw the lawsuit and give Newman a personal apology. Riddick Bowe was declared bankrupt in 2005.

His comeback was short and uneventful, beating journeyman Marcus Rhode in 2 rounds and then being dragged the full 12 by Billy Zumbrun and only just taking a split decision in which one judge had Zumbrun 2 rounds up at the end of the 12. Riddick Bowe is one of the big under achievers for the talent he possessed however unfortunately his metal state just didn’t match that talent. Even though he did finish his career with an excellent record of 42 wins and only one loss.

Number 7 – Larry Holmes

Larry Holmes started his boxing career as a sparring partner for the great Muhammad Ali, In his first 48 fights as a professional he went undefeated just 1 win short of Rocky Marciano’s record for a heavyweight of 49 straight victories from the start of a boxing career, which still stands today. Holmes should have possibly been higher in this list also but the problem for Holmes was that in the era he was world champion, there was just not enough great fighters to test him.

Also Holmes was never great to watch, don’t get me wrong he was brilliant at what he did but most of his fight would leak into the later rounds and he would work a lot with his best weapon the jab. He really made his mark in the boxing world with a fantastic victory over Ernie Shavers where he out boxed the highly regarded title challenger who had in his last fight took Muhammad Ali the full 15 rounds.

Holmes then took on WBC World Champion Ken Norton and in a 15 round slug fest the challenger Holmes took a split descision with all three judges scoring the fight within 1 round 143-142 x2 both for Holmes and 143-142 for Norton. He then went on to defend the title in 20 fights over the next 7 years.

He was also part of one the saddest heavyweight fights I have ever seen in October 1980, Muhammad Ali came out of retirement to face Holmes, who had by this time defended his title 7 times. Ali was a shadow of his former self, dosed up on medication and suffering from Parkinson’s disease, all be it in the early stages, Holmes completely dominated the fight from the opening bell. Towards he get glancing at the referee to step in. Until eventually Ali’s trainer of the time, Angelo Dundee, with tears in his eyes stopped the fight after the tenth round. Almost having to fight against the rest of the corner to do it, but it was a decision which had to be taken Ali spent most of the fight lying on the ropes taking a terrible beating from Holmes and he could barely lift his hands up to defend himself, a sad sight.

Holmes then took on undefeated Light Heavyweight Champion Michael Spinks, this at the age of 36 was the end of the great unbeaten run and Homes was out pointed by a courteous but determined Spinks and then again in a re-match 7 months later was again out pointed over 15 rounds. He was determined never to life the Heavyweight Title again, not through lack of trying though.

It took Holmes nearly two years to return to the ring and at the age of 38 he signed to fight the then invincible Mike Tyson for the WBC,WBA and IBF belts, Holmes was hammered and then spitefully knocked out cold in 4 rounds.

It was another 3 years until 41 year old Holmes ventured into the ring again having 5 fights with 5 wins in 1991, before in 1992 taking on and beating the undefeated 1988 Olympic heavyweight champion Ray Mercer convincingly over 12 rounds.

Later that year, he got what he had been looking for another shot at the world title, he took on Evander Holyfield who was making his 3rd defence of the titles he took from the conqueror of Mike Tyson, James Buster Douglas. Holmes put on a respectable performance considering he was edging towards 43 years old but was out boxed over the 12 rounds and lost on points.

Seven months later he was back in the ring again, again he managed to put together a decent string of wins, most notably over Jesse Ferguson, that kept the aging fighter lingering in and around the top 10 of the world rankings, and on the verge of yet another title shot.

Holmes’ last title shot was in April 1995. At the age of 45, Holmes came within one point on two cards of winning the WBC title from Oliver McCall. He performed admirably, confusing McCall with his jab, however after 12 rounds he was bruised and severely cut, and lost unanimously.

Still the former Champion was not finished and was still convinced he had what it took to win another Heavyweight title. Within 5 months of the bruising encounter with Oliver McCall Holmes was back in the ring again and with four fights in the following year at the age of 47 he had his final title shot.

This time it was undefeated Danish IBO champion Brian Neilson a future Tyson victim, Holmes was a little unlucky losing in a Split Decision verdict. Another close fight but Neilson was just a little bit busier especially in the last few rounds when the old war horses age crept up on him.

His last fight was an easy decision victory against Eric Esch AKA “Butterbean” in 2002 only three months before his 53rd birthday. Holmes’ eventually finally retired after his fight finishing with a total career record was 69 wins and 6 losses, with 44 of his 69 wins coming by way of knockouts which isn’t bad for a supposed non puncher.

Number 6 – Joe Louis

Born Joseph Louis Barrow but better known in the boxing world as Joe Louis and nicknamed The Brown Bomber, is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxing champions. He held the title over 11 years and made a record 25 successful heavyweight title defences. In a 2003 edition of Ring Magazine rated Joe Louis No. 1 on the list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

Fighters were a lot busier in the days of Joe Louis than they are today, he made his debut in July 1934 and had 12 fights before the end of the year, winning all but one by way of knockout. In 1935 he had an incredible 14 fights, two of which against former world champions, the first against man mountain of the time Primo Carnera who at nearly 6’6 and 65 pounds heavier than Louis looked a formidable opponent. Louis knocked the giant down 3 times before the bout was stopped in the 6th Round with Carnera out on his feet only the top rope holding him up.

Louis then moved onto the iron chinned Max Baer, who before facing Louis had only every been down once in 48 fights and had never been stopped. In front of a packed crowd of nearly 90,000 Louis destroyed the former champion in 4 brutal rounds.

Louis after being a professional just 2 years had promoted himself to one of the top contenders and was feared by many due to his mule kick punch, then in 1936 he came up against the great Max Schmeling for the first time. This time things did not go to plan for Louis, he was knocked down in the 4th Round and then knocked down again in the 12th before being stopped signalling his first defeat and proved he wasn’t as invincible as first thought.

After 7 further wins Louis after being a professional for 3 years and having had an incredible 35 fights took on the Cinderella Man James J Braddock for the World Title he had surprisingly won from Max Baer, Braddock had never been knocked out or stopped other than on one occasion when a bad cut made him unable to continue. Louis although down in the 1st Round came back to be the first person ever to stop Braddock after a bruising fight in the 8th Round. Louis was back.

In 1938 he got the match he was waiting for a chance to avenge his only defeat against Max Schmeling, this time there were no mistakes and the two didn’t look like the same fighters whom had fought only 2 years previously. Louis knocked Schmeling down twice in the first round before the referee called a halt to the action just over two minutes into the fight.

From December 1940 to March 1942, when his career was interrupted by World War II, Louis defended his title ten times, a frequency unmatched by any heavyweight champion since the end of the bare-knuckle era.

In 1947 Louis took on the great Jersey Joe Walcott twice in a six month period, the first was a brutal encounter seeing Louis hit the canvas twice in the first and fourth, but battled back to claim a split decision victory over the full 15 rounds. In the return Louis became only the 3rd Person ever to stop Walcott after the fight Louis announced his retirement still the World Champion with only 1 avenged defeat on his record.

However like most greats Louis was tempted back into the ring 2 years later to face Ezzard Charles in 1950. In his last bout against Walcott, Louis had looked the fighter he had once been and the return underlined this losing most rounds of the 15 round battle, going down to a bad points loss.

He had eight further bout in which he won against mediocre opponents, before facing the undefeated Rocky Marciano who was building up to a world title fight. Marciano destroyed Louis eventually knocking him through the ropes in the 8th round signalling the end of the fight and then end of Louis’s boxing career, that to be fair should have ended after beating Jersey Joe Walcott, his legend was slightly tainted but he still remains one of the best Heavyweights ever to grace the ring. He finished his career with a record of 72 fights 69 wins (55 by way of Knockout) and only 3 defeats.

Number 5 – Evander Holyfield

Evander Holyfield actually started his professional boxing career at Light Heavyweight after winning a Bronze Medal at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games but after only a handful of fights he moved up to Cruiserweight. In only his twelve professional outing without really being tested by mid standard opponents in 1986 he took on Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the WBA Cruiserweight Title. In a close fight in which Holyfield still looked a little raw he got the verdict on a split decision.

In 1987 he took on his previous Olympic team mate and Gold Medallist Henry Tillman, knocking him down in the 2nd Round and then 3 times in the 7th and the bout was stopped on the three knockdown rule, proving that successful amateurs don’t always make it on the professional scene.

Holyfield then unified the WBA and IBF titles in his next fight knocking out Ricky Parkey in 3 rounds. His rematch with Qawi came in his next fight and Holfield now a seasoned professional knocked out Qawi in 4 rounds, stamping his authority on the division. Then in his very next fight added the WBC title to his collection with a demolition of Carlos De Leon in eight rounds.

With just a three month lay off in which he gained 12 pounds of solid Muscle Holyfield stepped up to Heavyweight and wasted no time in taking on James Quick Tillis despatching him in only 5 rounds, he then added yet another 8 pounds and defeated Pinklon Thomas the former World Champion in 7 rounds. There were rumours that Holfield had been using steroids as he increased his size substantially (20 pounds in 8 months) and there wasn’t a scrap of fat on his ripped muscular frame. Allegations that Holyfield furiously denied.

In 1990 Holyfield took on James Buster Douglas the man who had shocked the world by knocking out Mike Tyson in his previous fight. Douglas who suffered family trauma prior to the Tyson fight seemed to use this to carry him to victory. The story was different this time around he looked a beaten fighter from the opening bell, like he had achieved what he had set out to do and this didn’t really matter anymore. Holyfield took advantage of this and the man who had taken iron Mike’s best shots withered within 3 rounds, and handed his belts to Holyfield.

Holyfield then took on 2 former great world champions in the form of George Foreman and Larry Holmes, both of whom were way past their best and Holyfiled took two reasonably easy points victories. Then Riddock Bowe stepped up to the plate a man in the prime of his career unbeaten in 34 fights, although Holyfield had fought 4 previous Heavyweight World Champions none of them were considered to be in their prime.

Bowe inflicted Holyfield’s first loss in the ring as a professional after a titanic battle that will go down as one of the best Heavyweight fights ever. The scores were wide but that didn’t really reflect the fight. Bowe using his 30 pound and 3 inch height advantage to the maximum. A year later and another 12 Pounds heavier Holyfield revenged the defeat in yet another classic, before being stopped for the first time in their third meeting, creating one of the best Heavyweight trilogies in history.

Holyfield had one of the greatest attitudes of any fighter wanting to fight the best as often as possible, He took on Michael Moorer who at the time was unbeaten and although he put Moorer down in the 2nd Round, he fell to a majority decision. A defeat that he would later avenge. Holyfield bounced straight back with a win over Ray Mercer, but then came the third fight with Bowe, even that stoppage wasn’t enough to dampen Holyfields hunger for the fight.

He took on Iron Mike Tyson following his release from prison and beat the fallen star twice, the first by knocking Tyson out for the second time of his career, the second fight went down in history after Tyson was disqualified for twice biting Holyfields ear, the second time he was seen on TV footage to spit the piece of ear onto the canvas.

Then after a controversial draw and a loss to Lennox Lewis word spread that an excellent career was coming to an end, but this wasn’t how Holyfield saw it. He returned to have an excellent trilogy with John Ruiz, winning back his belt in the first fight, then losing the second and drawing the third. Holyfield was determined to become the Heavyweight Champion for a fifth time. He beat Hasim Raham in an eliminator and then took on awkward southpaw Chris Byrd for the vacant IBF title which he lost on points.

Then following 2 further defeats to James Toney and Larry Donald, Holyfield called it a day at the age of 42. But no it wasn’t the end Holyfield is now 3 fights into his latest comeback and with 3 wins although the great man isn’t a patch on his former self with the current depleted Heavyweight division would you bet against him winning the title for a 5th time, I know I wouldn’t.

Number 4 – Lennox Lewis

Lewis was born in London but moved to Canada in 1977 at the age of 12. He was very sporty as a child and excelled in many different sports finally settling on boxing he became a dominant force in the amateur ranks and won the world amateur junior title in 1983.

Two years later, Lewis represented Canada as a super-heavyweight in the 1984 Olympics held in Los Angeles. He advanced to the quarterfinals, where he lost a controversial decision to Tyrell Biggs.

Rather than follow the crowd at the time surprisingly, Lewis chose not to turn professional after the Olympics, and instead fought four more years as an amateur, hoping for a second chance to win a gold medal. After winning several more amateur titles over those years, he eventually got his wish when stopping future world champion Riddick Bowe in the 2nd round of the Olympic Final in Seoul 1988.

Having looked at the offers of many fight promoters after the Olympics to sign a professional contract Lewis finally sided with English based Frank Maloney, turning down an offer from Frank Warren in the process. Maloney reached back to Lewis’s roots and introduced him as the next English Heavyweight Champion of the World. The fans weren’t convinced immediately the Canadian Accent didn’t help, but he soon won them over

In his 14th Professional bout he took on Frenchman Jean Chanet, the man that although wasn’t rated highly had beaten England’s Derek Williams twice to capture the European Belt. Lewis in a lacklustre display eventually stopped the smaller weaker man in 6 rounds due to a nasty gash.

Lewis then put himself in the path of British Champion and undefeated in 35 fights Gary Mason. Lewis was in a different class to anyone that Mason had fought before and was stopped in only 7 rounds, this victory put Lewis on the English map, and had boosted him up the rankings on the world scene.

In 1991 Lewis had the opportunity to get revenge on the man that had beaten him in the 1984 Olympics and gone on to win the Gold Medal Tyrell Biggs, Biggs hadn’t adjusted to the professional ranks as well as he had in the amateurs losing 4 times, 2 of those losses had come to Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe. Biggs had also been knocked out by Lewis victim Gary Mason so Lewis went in with full confidence and tried to knock out Biggs faster than any of them which he did. The fight lasted only 3 rounds with Biggs being knocked down 3 times in the third calling a halt to the action.

Lewis then knocked out British favourite Derek Williams in 3 rounds before taking on his former countryman the big punching Donavan Razor Ruddock of whom he dispatched in only 2 rounds. After this fight he gained the WBC title as Riddick Bowe had defeated Evander Holyfield and dumped the belt in a bin rather than face Lewis. He became the first English fighter to win the Heavyweight title in the 20th Century. In his second defence of the title he faced British Hero and favourite Frank Bruno, the crowd were off there chairs as Bruno hurt Lewis early on and looked about to stop the Champion. Lewis being the champion that he is fired back and stopped Bruno with a vicious assault in the 7th Round.

Just as the British public had started to love having a world champion it was all taken away, Oliver McCall was considered a bit of a journeyman with 5 losses in his 29 fights and had already lost to Lewis victim Tony Tucker. McCall was seen as a warm up fight for the likes of Holyfield and Tyson. McCall turned into a nightmare catching Lewis on the top of the head with a heavy right hand, sending him to the canvas and on the way to his first professional defeat. It took Lewis nearly 3 years to get the return fight, another fight that will go down in history as McCall had a nervous breakdown in the ring and was eventually stopped by the referee with tears streaming down his face in the 5th Round for refusing to defend himself walking round the ring with his hands by his sides and challenging Lewis to knock him out.

In his second defence of the title after beating McCall he faced the dirty pole who had given Riddick Bowe so much trouble Andrew Golota. His only two defeats were the two disqualifications against Bowe both of which he was up on the cards. Lewis wouldn’t be in the mood to take any of Golotas’ dirty tactics and started quickly with the jab beating Golota to the punch, he then caught him with a good straight right hand send Golota staggering back. Lewis charged in and threw a barrage of left and right combinations sending Golota to the canvas, he got up but was nearly out on his feet staggering across the ring during the count. He was allowed to continue but Lewis didn’t allow him to recover and charged in once again with huge rights and lefts, Golota sank to the canvas once again and the referee waived it off. Sealing a fantastic first round win.

He went on to face highly ranked Shannon Briggs and again stopped him within 5 rounds. In 1991 Lewis went over to America to challenge Evander Holyfield in order to unify the title belts, after boxing his way to victory he was robbed by the judges and left with only a draw. He returned nearly 8 months later and finished the job beating Holyfield on points.

In April 2000 Lewis signed to fight the feared American giant Michael Grant who at the time was tipped to take Lewis’s titles back to America. Grant at a massive 6’7 seemed to tower over Lewis, he was a fearsome puncher with 8 first round Knockouts and unbeaten in 31 fights. Again Lewis was not in any mood to give Grant any chance he tried to detach Grants head from his shoulders with some vicious uppercuts, knocking Grant down a number of times before stopping him in the 2nd Round.

In April 2001 Lewis had his most dismal display in the ring ever when faced by huge underdog Hasim Rahman, Lewis was lazy and his hands rested almost on his hips for most of the fight, until the 5th Round that is and that’s when there job changed and they were used to try and push a semi conscious Lewis off the canvas. Rahman landed a huge swinging overhand right flush on the jaw of Lewis and the fight was over. In the rematch Lewis didn’t allow Rahman the same space and showed him a little respect and then punished him for nearly four rounds before knocking him out cold in the 4th Round.

Lennox Lewis had fought and beaten the best there were only 3 names left to fight were Riddick Bowe who had disappeared by this time and wouldn’t fight Lewis anyway. The other 2 were Mike Tyson and Vitali Klitschko. Lewis took on an over the hill Tyson first out boxing him for 8 rounds before landing the killer blow. Then it was the turn of the giant Russian Klitschko, Lewis wasn’t looking at his best he was a good twenty pounds heavier than in his prime and he had lost the majority of his speed. When the fight was stopped due to horrendous cuts on Klitschko’s left eye he was slightly behind on the cards but had landed some cracking shots that had split open Klitschko’s face.

Lewis retired as World Heavyweight Champion, anyone who had ever beaten him in the ring he had taken revenge by beating them in the rematch. He retired with a record of 44 fights, 41 wins, 2 loses and a draw. There has been rumours that he may get in the ring again but for me he has nothing to prove and should stay where he is and enjoy life, like I think he will.

Number 3 – Muhammad Ali

Telling everyone you were the best didn’t mean you actually were, but Ali was close. In many peoples eyes he is the best Heavyweight ever to step into the squared circle, in my eyes there was better. At only 6’3 and weighing in around 205 pounds Ali wasn’t the biggest of Heavyweights but he balanced this out with lightning speed, good punch power and a cast iron jaw.

Muhammad Ali started his boxing career by the name of Cassius Clay after winning the Olympic gold medal for America in the Light Heavyweight Division. He sailed through his first five bouts taking on journeymen before his first real test against the big punching Lamar Clark who had an amazing 29 first round knockouts in his 47 fight career suffering only 2 losses. The young Ali or Clay as he was known took only 2 rounds to stop Clark and passed his first test with flying colours.

The next test was in his 14th fight when he took on undefeated and up and coming fighter Billy Daniels who had, had 2 more fights than Ali. Daniels sustained a bad cut in the second round which by the seventh round had worsened enough to put an end to the fight. Ali had met Daniels at the cross roads of their careers and been the one to walk across. He then defeated the Old Mongoose Archie Moore the former Light Heavyweight champion and veteran of over 200 fights. With a fourth round victory Ali shot up in the ranking and started to make a name of himself with his voice as well.

In 1963 Ali was part of the fight of the year when Doug Jones push Ali to the limits over 10 gruelling rounds, Ali got the nod and was now aiming himself towards the then Champion the feared Sonny Liston.

Before Ali got his title shot he travelled to England where fighting outside the United States for the first time took on war horse Henry Cooper in his own backyard. The fight nearly proved a costly one for Ali when after toying with Cooper for almost four rounds he was knocked cold at the end of the 4th round with the trusty Enry’s Hammer Coopers famous left hook, the bell saved Ali as when he staggered back to his corner he was out on his feet. Then stepped in Ali’s famous trainer Angelo Dundee, many rumours have been spread about this incident but miraculously Ali’s glove was ripped and had to be replaced giving the corner extra time to rouse the semi conscious Ali, suspicious? Maybe, anyway Ali did recover and stopped Cooper in the very next round due to Coopers major floor in his entire boxing career, the susceptibility to horrendous cuts.

After this scare Ali brushed it off and carried on the way he had left off, he did get his shot a Liston and he played every mind game in the book to get into Listons head. Previously Liston had been feared by all he had faced backing this fear up with 25 knockouts in his 36 fights, and destroying former champion Floyd Patterson twice inside a round. Ali gave Liston none of the respect he was used to and used every opportunity to promote that fact.

When they met Liston charged like a bull at a red rag and Ali played him like a matador. He punished Liston picking him off with speedy combinations and you could tell by Listons bloody face after the 3rd round it wasn’t going to be his night. It all seemed to change in the fourth round as Clay was blinded by a foreign substance. It is unconfirmed whether this was something used to close Liston’s cuts, or applied to Liston’s gloves for a nefarious purpose; however, author, boxing historian and insider Bert Sugar has recalled at least two other Liston fights in which a similar situation occurred, suggesting the possibility that the Liston corner deliberately attempted to cheat. With the mob backing Liston they would want him to win whatever the cost. Whatever the case, Liston came into the fourth round aggressively looking to put away the fight. As Clay struggled to recover his vision, he sought to escape Liston’s offensive. He was able to keep out of range until his sweat and tears cleaned the foreign substance from his eyes, responding with a flurry of combinations near the end of the fifth round. By the sixth, he was looking for a finish and dominated Liston. Then Liston shocked the world when he did not come out for the seventh round to continue the fight; he later claimed to have injured his shoulder. Most have other ideas especially after what happened in the second fight nearly a year on, when Liston appeared to take a dive in the very first round.

Following his ascension to champion, he famously revealed that he was a member of the Nation of Islam and Malcom X provided Clay with the name Cassius X, discarding his surname as a symbol of his ancestors’ enslavement, as had been done by other Nation members. Malcolm X took Clay on a guided tour of the United Nations building (for a second time). Malcolm X announced that Clay would be granted his “X.” That same night, Elijah Muhammad recorded a statement over the phone to be played over the radio that Clay would be renamed Muhammad Ali. Only a few journalists accepted it at that time.

Not going to deeply into it but Ali lost most of 1964-66 due to refusing to go to war in Vietnam, and was banned from fighting in the US and most other countries. In November 1965 he faced former champion Floyd Patterson whom he beat convincingly eventually stopping him in the eleventh round. After 2 further defences he went back to London for a re-match with Henry Cooper, unfortunately for Cooper there was no repeat performance and he was out boxed before being stopped in the 6th again from cuts.

Near the end of 1967, Ali was stripped of his title by the professional boxing commission and would not be allowed to fight professionally for more than three years. He was also convicted for refusing induction into the army and sentenced to five years in prison. Over the course of those years in exile, Ali fought to appeal his conviction. He stayed in the public spotlight and supported himself by giving speeches, primarily at rallies on college campuses that opposed the Vietnam War.

In 1970, Ali was allowed to fight again, and in late 1971 the Supreme reversed his conviction. In October 1970 Ali fought Jerry Quarry in his return bout and proved that he had lost none of his ability stopping Quarry in the 3rd round. His next bout against Bonavena proved a little bit more tasking and Ali had to fight 15 rounds for just the 3rd time in his career, however stopping Bonavena after 3 knockdowns in the 15th Round with only seconds of the fight remaining.

Joe Frazier was the Heavyweight Champion at the time but many people felt that until he beat Ali in the ring he wouldn’t be reconised as the true champion. So it was made Frazier gave Ali a chance to re claim his title and Ali gave Frazier the opportunity to be reconised as the true Champion, to what build up to be one of the Fights of the Century, winning the prestigious Ring magazine 1971 fight of the year. In a close battle where Frazier poured everything into the fight he was paid off with victory, leaving Ali tasting defeat for the first time.

Ali went on to win his next 10 fights against some notable opponents including Quarry and Patterson both for the second time. Ali then lost again to Ken Norton in a close Split Decision, then 6 months later fought again this time the split descision going in the favour of Ali. During this time Frazier had lost his title to the mighty powerful George Foreman.

Frazier then took on Ali for a second time this time Ali out boxed Frazier and won comfortably on points. Then Ali was matched with Foreman, a man who had beaten both men who had defeated Ali within 2 rounds. Ali was on the downhill slope of his career and was considered to have very little chance of regaining his title. Foreman was 40-0 with an incredible 37 by way of knockout.

The Fight dubbed the Rumble in the Jungle due to it taking place in Africa had to be postponed due to a cut that Foreman had received in sparring only a week before the fight. This allowed Ali to bombard Foreman with torrents of Verbal abuse that in the end eventually got to Foreman as when the fight started you could see by Foreman’s motions and the look in his eyes the only thing he wanted to do was to put Ali through the canvas.

Ali sat back and absorbed an incredible onslaught which lasted about 8 and a half rounds, then Ali took the moment and exploded back landing some devastating punches on the chin of an exhausted Foreman knocking him out with only 2 seconds to spare of the 8th Round marking Foreman’s first ever defeat in the ring. Ali was the champion once again.

Ali went on to defend the title a further 10 times, notably to Frazier and Norton and although had great fight they were unable to take Ali’s title from him again. Then came Leon Spinks with only 7 fights under his belt one of them a draw against Scott Ledoux, Spinks was a massive underdog, he had yet to even fight in a 15 round contest never mind gone the distance. Anyway as it turns out he did go the distance and took a points descision win over the Champion. Seven months later in the re-match Ali got his revenge and won back the heavyweight crown and then promptly retired.

Ali was tempted back into the ring 2 years later and the was short-lived, and he challenged Larry Holmes for the WBC World Heavyweight title. Looking to set another record, as the first boxer to win the Heavyweight title four times, Ali lost by technical knockout in round eleven, when Dundee would not let him come out for the round. The Holmes fight, promoted as “The Last Hurrah”, was a fight many fans and experts view with disdain, because it was a fight that saw a “deteriorated version” of Ali.

Holmes was Ali’s sparring partner when Holmes was a budding fighter; thus, some viewed the result of the fight as a symbolic “passing of the torch.” Holmes even admitted later that, although he dominated the fight, he held his punches back a bit out of sheer respect for his idol, and former employer. It was revealed after the fight that Ali had been examined at the Mayo Clinic, and the results were shocking. He had admitted to tingling in his hands, and slurring of his speech. The exam revealed he actually had a hole in the membrane of his brain. However, Don King withheld this report, and allowed the fight to go on.

Despite the apparent finality of his loss to Holmes and his increasingly suspect medical condition, Ali would fight one more time. He fought rising contender and future world champion Trevor Berbick, in what was billed as “The Drama in the Bahamas.” Because Ali was widely viewed as a damaged fighter, few American venues expressed much interest in hosting the bout, and few fans expressed much interest in attending or watching it.

Compared to the mega-fights Ali fought in widely known venues earlier in his career, the match took place in virtual obscurity, in Nassau. Although Ali performed marginally better against Berbick than he had against Holmes fourteen months earlier, he still lost a 10-round unanimous decision to Berbick, who at 27 was twelve years younger.
Following this loss, Ali retired permanently in 1981, with a career record of 56 wins (37 by knockout) and 5 losses, and as a three-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion.

Number 2 – Rocky Marciano

While awaiting discharge from the army Marciano entered the amateur armed forces boxing tournament and won, he briefly turned professional for 1 solitary fight in which he beat Lee Epperson in three rounds before turning his attention back to the amateur ranks.

He fought in the Golden Gloves All-East Championship Tournament in March 1948. He was beaten by Colley Wallace during the tournament, however. He continued to fight as an amateur throughout that spring and competed in the AAU Olympic tryouts in the Boston Garden. There he knocked out George McGinnis, but hurt his hands during the bout and was forced to withdraw from the tournament. The McGinnis fight was his last amateur bout. His amateur years, with an 11-3 record, would be the last time Marciano experienced a loss.

Going back to the professional ranks he won all his first sixteen bouts by knockout, all before the fourth round, and nine before the first round was over. Don Mongard was the first person to test Marciano and stand up to his power taking Marciano the full 10 rounds. The after 3 more easy wins he took on experienced journeyman Ted Lowry who also took Marciano the full 10.

Now with a record of 20-0 18 inside the limit Marciano was starting to make a name for himself but at only 5’10 and around 190 pounds it was wondered whether he would be big enough to take on the worlds best. In December 1949 Marciano took on top prospect Carmine Vingo who although wasn’t regarded as a big puncher, he had won all of his 17 fights bar one points defeat early in his career. Unfortunaly for Vingo it turned out to be his last fight, he was down for a 9 count in the 1st and 2nd rounds and then for the full count in the 6th. He collapsed with a brain haemorrhage shortly after the fight and admitted to hospital in critical condition and never fully recovered. Marciano later described the battle as his hardest ever fight.

In 1950 Marciano took on unbeaten contender Roland LaStarza who held a record of 37 fights with 37 wins. In a close bout Marciano knocked down LaStarza in the fourth only to be deducted a point in the eighth for a low blow. The fight went the full 10 rounds and Marciano scraped the win by Split Decision. The closest Marciano ever came to defeat in his whole career. In no time Marciano was a ranked heavyweight. Marciano then took on the Brown Bomber himself Joe Louis, unfortunately Louis was well over the hill by this stage and was callously knocked out in the 8th Round. After four more wins, including victories over Lee Savold and Harry Matthews, at last Marciano was ready for a shot at the title.

Marciano;s shot came in his 42nd professional fight and that was against Jersey Joe Walcott in 1952. After being dropped in round one, for the first time in his career. Marciano got up and knocked out Champion Walcott out in the thirteenth round, becoming the new World Heavyweight Champion. The punch that knocked out Walcott has been referred to as one of the hardest punches ever thrown in a boxing ring, Marciano was behind on the cards at the time. A rematch was fought one year later, and this time Marciano crushed Walcott within a round the earliest the former champion had ever lost in his 71 previous bouts.

Marciano defended his title against old foe LaStarza the only man ever to come close to beating him this time around it was a different story, Marciano knocked LaStarza through the ropes for a knockout in the 11th round, the fight was later voted as 1953 fight of the year by Ring Magazine.

Then came former two time World Heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles, Marciano won by a decision in their first bout making Ezzard Charles the only man to ever last fifteen rounds against Marciano, and the champ later praised him as one of the toughest men he ever fought in his life. They met again just 3 months later and after a terrific fight which again won the fight of the year award. Marciano was in danger of being stopped when his nose was severely cut. Charles was down for “two” in the second round and again for “two” in the eighth, before the knockout, Marciano retained the title with an eighth-round knockout win.

Then Marciano met British and European Champion Don Cockell and after another tough slug feast beat him in nine rounds by knockout. Marcianos last fight came against the great Archie Moore, a previous Champion and veteran with 148 wins, and had claimed the opportunity for a shot a the title once again by winning 21 bouts in a row. Moore floored Marciano in the 2nd round for a “2″ count for only the second time he had been down in his career, but was knocked down five times himself and then knockout in the 9th Round.

That called an end to Marcianos fighting career even though he was almost tempted back into the ring when he considered a comeback in 1959 when Ingemar Johnsson won the heavyweight championship from Patterson in June 1959. After almost a month of training, Marciano decided against it and never considered a comeback again.

Unfortunately his life was ended early in 1969, on the eve of his 46th birthday, Marciano was a passenger in a small private plane, headed to Iowa. It was at night, and bad weather set in. The pilot tried to set the plane down but hit a tree two miles short of the runway. The plane had also run out of fuel. Rocky, the young pilot, and another passenger (alleged Iowa mob boss Louis Fratto’s son) were killed on impact.

Marciano was on his way to give a speech to support a friend’s son and there was a surprise birthday celebration waiting for him. He had hoped to return early morning for his 46th birthday celebration with his wife. His fighting career ended with a supurb record breaking 49 fights 49 wins with 43 knockouts. A record which still stands today.

Number 1 – Mike Tyson

Many will argue that Tyson doesn’t deseve to be number 1 as he never really fully reached his potential, but I believe for everyone one of those there will be someone who does think he should be there. Mike Tyson is the most awesome fighting machine that has ever lived to this day. He had it all technique, skill, power, speed and a great chin.

Although Tyson was considered unbeatable during his prime, he lacked discipline and self control in and out of the ring, leading to personal problems and extended periods of imprisonment. After being released from his first prison sentence, Tyson’s heavily anticipated comeback failed to reclaim his previous dominance. Tyson’s greatest impact upon the boxing world was as a fighter during the 1980s, as the latter part of his career was overshadowed by controversy even though he eventually regained a World title be;t.

Born and raised in the notorious Brownsville section of Brooklyn, Tyson’s early childhood was marked by strife and unhappiness forcing his mother, Lorna Smith Tyson, to provide for her family following the departure of their father, when Tyson was only 2 years old. Tyson started out as a quite reserved shy boy, was ruthlessly bullied because of his high pitched lisping voice, he kept pigeons and kept himself to himself, until one day a bully over stepped the mark and ripped the head of one of Tyson’s pet pigeons, causing the animal inside him to be released, he knocked out the boy with a single shot. Tyson’s personality took a rapid change and he became the bully.

Tyson passed through juvenile detention centres, yet remained in perpetual trouble with the state for petty crime and violence. Tyson’s raw boxing ability and incredible potential in the ring was discovered by a juvenile detention center counselor and former boxer named Bobby Stewart while Tyson was in a in New York detention center. As Tyson was an outstanding physical specimen, Stewart trained him for a few months and then introduced him to the legendary Cus D’Amato.

Tyson was later removed from reform school by D’Amato, a well-known boxing trainer whose protégés included former champions Floyd Patterson. He saw the young boxer’s potential and took him off Stewart’s hands to train him; he later became Tyson’s legal guardian and the closest thing he had ever had to a father figure. Unfortunately for Tyson D’Amato died in 1985, early in Tyson’s professional career; some speculate that his death was the genesis of many of the troubles Tyson was to experience as his life and career progressed. Teddy Atlas was another trainer who worked with Tyson in his early career with D’Amato. But the level of respect Tyson had for Atlas never matched D’Amato and although he was left with all the skills Tyson would never be the same again.

Tyson went on to win his first 17 professional fights by knockout, 12 in the first round. Before facing his so called first real challenge future World Title challenger Jesse Ferguson who had won 14 of 15 bouts at the time, after being knocked down in the 5th Round Ferguson didn’t want any more of Tysons power and was disqualified in the very next round for holding on for dear life as the knockout was there for the taking. In his next fight Tyson had another easy knockout against Steve Zouski in the 3rd found before taking on former world title challenger but now joutneyman James Quick Tillis. Tillis was the first man to take Tyson the distance, fighting scared with hus jab and not allowing himself anywhere near Tysons power. He was the first to take Tyson the full 10 rounds. Tyson also did the full ten rounds in his next bout against Mitch Green sparking questions of did he carry he power up to the next step. He quickly answered that question in his next 4 bouts, winning all by knockout 3 in the first round and 1 in the 2nd.

By this time talks of a shot at the World title were spoken of and after a superb display against tough Jose Ribalta and a easy knockout of Alfonso Ratcliff shot arrived. The current champion was Trevor Berbick who had beaten Pinklon Thomas in his previous fight, little did he know his first defence would be over so quickly. Berbick already had wins over the likes of Muhammed Ali and had taken former champion Larry Holmes the full 15 rounds, and although Tyson was regarded as one of the most powerful men in the division he was only 20 years old. Tyson destroyed Berbick in only 2 rounds taking the WBC title and becoming the youngest man to ever win a Heavyweight World title, a record that still stands today.

He then fought James Bonecrusher Smith for his WBA title, taking victory unanimously over 12 rounds. Smith had learned a lesson from the way Tillis had fought Tyson and didn’t let him get into any sort of rythum. Tyson then took on former champion Pinklon Thomas who he took apart in 6 rounds. Then came IBF champion Tony Tucker who again took Tyson the distance. Tyson now held the WBC, WBA and IBF belts. Then came undefeated 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist Tyrell Biggs who he knocked out in 7, Larry Holmes the former champion came and went in only four rounds with a vicious knockout the first time Holmes had ever been stopped. Tony Tubbs lasted a whole two rounds. Then Tyson faced who the public believed was a real threat to his titles, the man who had stopped Larry Holmes reaching the most wins record and undefeated in 31 fights Michael Spinks. Spinks had been out of the ring almost a year to the day after retiring the undefeated Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion. Tyson blew Spinks away inside a round knocking him down heavily and then when Spink rose knocked him out cold. Tyson was the man.

Tyson’s personal life was in tatters but he was managing to hold it together in the ring, he knocked out Britians hero Frank Bruno and Carl the Truth Williams in his next to fights. The fight that came after went down in History. Tyson had been having some real problems and had reportedly been knocked down in training for the first time and a week before the fight been involved in a vehicle collison with his car running into a tree. Tyson fought James Buster Douglas in Japan and his world eventually fell apart. Tyson did knock down Douglas but Douglas arose and in the performance of his career after suffering personal family loss summed the strength in the 10th Round to do the impossible knockout Tyson.

At 37-0 at the time Tyson was never the same again, he came back with 4 impressive wins but it wasn’t the same Tyson. A match with Evander Holyfield was made the man now in possesion of his World Title Belts. However, the Holyfield fight was not to be. Tyson was arrested later in July 1991 for the rape of Desiree Washington, in an Indianapolis hotel room. Tyson was convicted on the charge of rape and was given a sentence of six years but was released in May1995 after serving three years.

Tyson did not fight again until later in 1995. He had two comeback bouts against Peter McNeeley and Buster Mathis Jr, which he won easily.

He regained one belt by easily winning the WBC title from Frank Bruno (their second fight) in March 1996 by knocking him out in the third round. Tyson would add the WBA belt to his collection by pummelling champion Bruce Seldon in one round in September that year. However, he would be stripped of the WBC belt for refusing to fight Lennox Lewis, who he spared with as a child, the organization’s #1 contender.

Tyson’s next defense of his title came against Evander Holyfield, who was in the fourth fight of his comeback to boxing after retiring in 1994 following the loss of his championship. It was said that Don King and others saw Holyfield, the former champion, who was 34 at the time of the fight and a huge underdog, as a washed up fighter.

The fight, which was billed as “Finally”, took place on November 9th in Las Vegas. As usual, Tyson came out fast, and when he sent Holyfield reeling with his first solid punch, it seemed the fight would end quickly. Holyfield kept his composure, though, and lasted the round without taking another heavy punch. In the second, Holyfield drove Tyson into the ropes and stung him with a hard combination, and his strategy for the match began to become clear. As Tyson mainly threw one punch at a time, Holyfield blocked the first attack, then used his strength to clinch, and shove Tyson backwards. Keeping Tyson on the back foot minimised his power and affected his balance, and gave Holyfield the opportunity to come forward and score with combinations to the head.

As the rounds passed, Tyson was unable to adjust, and found himself being thoroughly outboxed. In the fifth round, Tyson landed a fierce combination, his best of the match, and Holyfield was not even made to stagger. In the sixth, a head butt from Holyfield (judged as accidental) opened a cut over Tyson’s left eye, and Tyson also suffered a knockdown, as Holyfield caught him off balance coming in. Tyson was being slowly broken down and demoralised, and he had no answer to Holyfield’s dominance. At the end of the tenth round, a punch from Holyfield sent Tyson staggering across the ring. Holyfield chased him into the ropes and landed a series of devastating blows. By the sound of the bell, Tyson was out on his feet and defenceless, but his corner allowed him out for the eleventh. Holyfield quickly landed another brutal extended combination, sending Tyson back into the ropes.
The referee Halpern had seen enough, and he stopped the fight, giving Holyfield one of the most famous upset victories in the history of boxing. Holyfield also became the first person since Muhammad Ali to win a heavyweight championship belt three times, although, unlike Ali, Holyfield’s third championship win had not been for the “linear” heavyweight title, which was at that time held by George Foreman.

Tyson and Holyfield would fight again on June 28th 1997. The fight itself would eventually end in a massive debacle. In one of the most controversial events in modern sports, it was stopped at the end of the third round, and Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield twice on the ears. Several people were injured in the near riot that followed the ending of the bout and announcement of the decision.

Two days after the fight, Tyson issued a statement, apologising directly to Holyfield for his actions and asked not to be banned for life over the incident. On July 9th 1997, Tyson’s boxing license was revoked in a unanimous voice vote; he was also fined USD $3 million and ordered to pay the legal costs of the hearing.
The revocation of his boxing license was not permanent, as little more than a year later on October 1998, the Nevada Athletic Commission voted 4-1 to restore Tyson’s boxing license.

In January 1999 Tyson returned to the ring to fight the White Buffalo South African Francois Botha, and while Botha initially controlled the fight, Tyson allegedly attempted to break Botha’s arms during a tie-up. Nonetheless, Tyson landed a straight right-hand in the fifth round that knocked Botha out.

In February 1999, Tyson was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment, fined $5,000, and ordered to serve 2 years Probation and perform 200 hours of Community Service for assaulting two motorists after a traffic accident. He served nine months of that sentence.

After his release he fought Orlin Norris, Tyson knocked Norris down with a left hook he threw after the bell sounded ending the first round. Norris injured his knee from the off-the-clinch-punch when he went down and said he was unable to continue the fight. Consequently, the bout was ruled a no contest.

In 2000 Tyson had three fights. The first against Julius Francis. Following controversy as to whether Tyson should be allowed into the country, he took just 4 minutes to knock out Francis in the second round. He also fought Lou Savarese in June 2000, winning in the first round. The entire fight only lasted 38 seconds. Tyson continued punching after the referee had stopped the fight, knocking him to the floor as he tried to separate the boxers.

In October Tyson fought the similarly controversial pole Andrew Golota winning in round three after Golota refused to carry on. The result was later changed to no contest after Tyson refused to take a pre-fight drug test and then tested positive for Marijuana in a post-fight urine test. Tyson fought only once in 2001, beating tough Dane Brian Neilson who had 61 wins in 62 fights with a seventh round TKO.

The Lewis-Tyson fight that took place on June 8, 2002, was one of the most anticipated heavyweight fights in years, but by this time Tyson was over the hill and quickly skiing down the other side.

Lewis dominated the fight and knocked out Tyson in the eighth round. Tyson stated that the loss was due to not being allowed enough warm up fights leading up to the fight, due to Lewis insisting on the date. However, Tyson was magnanimous after the fight and praised Lewis on his victory.

In February 2003, Tyson beat fringe contender Clifford the black rhino Etienne in only 49 seconds into round one. The pre-fight was marred by rumours of Tyson’s lack of fitness and that he took time out from training to party and get a new facial tattoo. This would be Tyson’s final professional victory in the ring.

In August 2003, after years of financial struggles, Tyson finally filed for bankruptcy. Tyson is said to have squandered nearly $300m in ring earnings through lavish spending and bad advice.

In July 2004, Tyson faced the British boxer Danny Williams in another comeback fight. Tyson dominated the opening two rounds. The third round was more even, with Williams getting in some clean blows and also a few illegal ones, for which he was penalized. In the fourth round Tyson was surprisingly knocked out. It transpired that Tyson was trying to fight on one leg, having torn a ligament in his other knee in the first round. This was Tyson’s fifth career defeat. He underwent surgery for the ligament four days after the fight. His manager Shelly Finkel claimed that Tyson was unable to throw meaningful right-hand punches after the knee injury.

In June 2005, Tyson stunned the boxing world by quitting before the start of the seventh round in a close bout against journeyman Kevin McBride. After losing the third of his last four fights, Tyson said he would quit boxing because he hasn’t “got the fighting guts or the heart anymore.” He finished his career with still an outstanding record considering of 58 fights 50 victories with a crushing 44 knockouts. In his prime he was the most outstanding Heavyweight boxer in History and if gifted with the Mind of the likes of Muhammad Ali would have broken ever record there was to break.

The Arizona Republic reports

The distinctive, effort-laden play that has made Dudley a popular reserve with Suns fans is modeled after Bowen, the retired San Antonio enemy.

“For me to play a long career, I have to defend like that and shoot the ball,” Dudley said. “I’m not someone who will take you off the dribble. For me to play 10-12 years, I have to do that and knock down 3s. I can come off the bench and stretch the floor. Defensively, I get after you. At the end of the game, you never know, if I’m doing good on LeBron (James), Coach will say, ‘Hey, keep him in.’ That’s my strategy.”

Dudley is doing a great job creating turnovers in pre-season

He entered Friday leading the NBA preseason in steals and increased his average to 3.4 with five steals. He even swiped an inbound pass.”My thing is not even to steal,” Dudley said. “My thing is if I can deflect it or mess up their offense.”

It’s good to hear that Dudley is focusing on his defense and perimeter shot. That’s going to be his niche in the NBA … and when you combine that with his rebounding ability … you potentially have a very good to excellent role player down the road.

Amare Stoudemire + Earl Clark

Two interesting notes in another article based on the Suns defense

Stoudemire blocked three shots but Gentry was excited that he was in position to take six charges in the past two games.

“It’s phenomenal where he is now,” Gentry said. “He’s so engaged in trying to do the right thing defensively and trying to help a teammate and do the right rotation. When he does get in shape, he’s going to be pretty good defensively.”

And

The best defense, as expected, came from the bench, where Louis Amundson has become the team’s best rebounder (a board every 3 1/2 minutes this preseason). Amundson combines with rookie Earl Clark and swingman Jared Dudley to give Phoenix a defensive lineup that effectively switches and rotates. An all-reserve unit will struggle to score at times, but Leandro Barbosa scored 25 points, including five 3-pointers.

In a key second-half stretch, Clark blocked two Travis Outlaw shots, Dudley and Clark stripped Outlaw, Amundson defended LaMarcus Aldridge into a turnover, and Clark had a weak-side block on Martell Webster.

“(Clark) is going to struggle with rotations some but he plays with so much energy that he makes it up,” Gentry said. “He’ll keep getting better.”

Notes on the Suns bench, Earl Clark, and Amare Stoudemire.

I haven’t seen a Suns game yet this preseason so I can’t comment on Amare’s reportedly improved defense, but if it’s true, it’ll be of great benefit to both the Suns and Amare’s career. Likewise, I haven’t been able to see Dudley play to judge how much progress he’s made this offseason either.

Update: Another Article

Good article on Paul Coro’s blog on the Suns defensively … Jason Richardson is trying to get his defense back on track

Jason Richardson was defending Andre Iguodala, Jrue Holiday and Willie Green like the player he and the Suns had been talking about for a month.

“That’s the way I envision myself,” Richardson said. “I’ve been working hard all training camp on the defensive end, denying and doing the right things. I’ve got to get used to doing all the things I’m capable of doing defensively and still try to be an offensive player. I’m glad we’ve got eight preseason games so I can get used to doing both.”

Jason Richardson was a capable defender when he was in Golden State. Hopefully he can get back to that.

By Domenica Goduto

Michael Jackson was a huge fan of Scottish poet icon Robert Burns.

Friend of the deceased King of Pop David Gest said that the two of them had even made a musical based on the Bard’s life – to be directed by Gene Kelly.

Michael Jackson, who died on Thursday night from a heart attack, only ever played one solo show in Scotland, although he was a fan of the country and especially of national poet Robert Burns.

Last year David Gest, a television personality and concert promoter, revealed that he collaborated with the star on an album of Burns’ poems and songs, although this album has yet to be released.

Gest, 56, said: “Our favourite poet in the world is Robbie Burns.

“Michael and I were originally going to do a musical on his life with Gene Kelly directing and Anthony Perkins as executive producer but they both died.

“So Michael and I put all the poems to contemporary music in his studio.

“We did Ae Fond Kiss, Tam O’Shanter and all that, we turned his work into show tunes – it is beautiful and I still have the recordings.”

Jackson also professed a desire to escape California to live in Scotland, despite having been asked not to return by council chiefs faced with a barrage of noise complaints after his massive concert in Glasgow Green in August 1992.

Undaunted, Jackson arrived in Scotland in January 1997 to view properties along with his sizeable entourage, including pregnant wife Debbie Rowe.

Among the properties under consideration were Invertrossachs House near Callander and Glenmayne House in Galashiels, but no deal was ever made.

During his stay the singer was based at Cameron House Hotel on Loch Lomond, where at the time Peter Fleming was head chef.

Fleming said: “He asked for a bowl of chicken soup, so I made him his chicken soup and he phoned me to say how great it was.

“Then I got a call at home at 6am the next day asking if I could make this soup again.

“I ended up having to explain to the breakfast chef over the phone how to make it!”

Questions still surround the reasons for Jackson’s death, and the family have asked for a second autopsy to confirm the cause.

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