Jorge "Roña" Castro obit

RIP. Shock in the boxing world: legendary world champion dies suddenly

59-year-old Argentine boxer Jorge "Roña" Castro has passed away 

He was not on the list.

The global professional boxing community is mourning the sudden death of one of the most celebrated champions of the 20th century.

Details: Former WBA middleweight world champion Jorge Castro of Argentina has died at the age of 59. He enjoyed immense popularity under his fighting nickname, Roña. The tragic news was reported by El Argentino, citing police reports.

The former boxer suddenly felt severely unwell while at a bingo hall in the city of Morón, Buenos Aires Province. Doctors were unable to save the legendary athlete. The exact circumstances and medical cause of death are currently being investigated by specialists.

Castro was regarded as an iconic figure in South American sport thanks to his unbreakable character and devastating knockout punch, which also earned him the nickname Locomotive from fans.

His legendary 1994 championship bout against American John David Jackson went down in the annals of world boxing as one of the most dramatic knockouts of all time.

It is worth noting that Jorge Castro fought 144 bouts as a professional, winning 130, including 90 by knockout. During his reign as WBA middleweight world champion, the Argentine made four successful title defenses.

Wilfredo Gómez obit

Wilfredo Gómez, Puerto Rican Boxing Legend, Passes Away; WBC and Mauricio Sulaimán Offer Condolences

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Wilfredo Gómez, Puerto Rican Boxing Legend, Passes Away; WBC and Mauricio Sulaimán Offer Condolences

The boxing world and all of Puerto Rico are in mourning following the passing of legendary former world champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gómez, at the age of 69.

The immortal fighter from Guaynabo, affectionately known as the “Niño de las Monjas,” passed away around 9:00 p.m. after being hospitalized for the past two weeks due to respiratory complications. The somber news was confirmed by his son, Wilfredo Gómez Jr., with the family expected to share further details regarding the funeral services in the coming hours.

In light of this irreparable loss, World Boxing Council (WBC) President Mauricio Sulaimán Saldívar, on behalf of the entire Green and Gold family, extended a heartfelt message of solidarity, comfort, and deepest condolences to his children, family, friends, and the Puerto Rican fans mourning one of the greatest icons in the history of the sport.

Universally recognized as one of the greatest ring legends of all time and a ruthless brawler who holds the historic record of 17 consecutive super bantamweight title defenses—all won by knockout—Wilfredo Gómez leaves behind an indelible legacy both inside and outside the ring.

He is frequently mentioned among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time by sports journalists and analysts, along with Félix Trinidad, Miguel Cotto, Wilfred Benítez, Esteban De Jesús, Edwin Rosario, and Carlos Ortíz.

Originally from Río Piedras, Gómez is remembered not only for his devastating power and bravery in epic ring battles, but also for the indomitable spirit with which he faced every challenge in life. The WBC family and the international sports community join in prayer for the eternal rest of an immortal champion.

Ray Close obit

Belfast boxing great Ray Close dies aged 57

 

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One of Northern Ireland’s most gifted boxers, Ray Close, has died at the age of 57.

Born in Belfast in 1969, Close emerged as a highly regarded amateur before turning professional in 1988.

His amateur achievements included Irish titles and success at European level, establishing the technically gifted boxer as one of the most promising fighters to come out of the city.

As a professional, he captured the Irish super-middleweight title early in his career and, in March 1993, travelled to Italy and stopped Vincenzo Nardiello to win the European super-middleweight championship.

Close will be best remembered for his pair of fights with Chris Eubank.

In 1993, the relatively unheralded Belfast challenger travelled to Glasgow to take on the unbeaten WBO super-middleweight champion. Close produced the performance of a lifetime over 12 rounds, with the judges unable to separate the pair.

The rematch, at Belfast’s King’s Hall in May 1994, saw the champion retain his title by split decision.

On both occasions, Close was unfortunate not to be awarded the victory.

A third meeting did not materialise after a brain scan led to the British Boxing Board of Control withdrawing Close’s licence.

Close was convinced he still had plenty left to give and later obtained permission to box in the United States, where he returned to the ring and won five contests.

His professional record eventually finished at 25 wins, two defeats and that famous draw against Eubank in Glasgow.

Close spent the last three years as a resident at the Phoenix Clinic in Newtownards, the only nursing home in Northern Ireland providing specialist care for people aged 18 to 65 with physical disabilities.

Close’s son Benjamin has become a fundraiser for the clinic, running several events, including the Belfast Half Marathon, in his father’s honour.

Jorge Kahwagi obit

Jorge Kahwagi dies at 58: The extraordinary life of Mexico's boxer-turned-politician and reality star

 

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Jorge Kahwagi Macari, the Mexican businessman who moved between politics, professional boxing and reality television in a public career unlike almost any other in the country, died Wednesday at 58.

His death was confirmed by Mexican Sen. Manuel Velasco, who served alongside Kahwagi in Mexico's Chamber of Deputies, and by actor and businessman Roberto Palazuelos. "I deeply regret the death of my friend Jorge Kahwagi Macari, with whom I served as a federal deputy in the LIX Legislature," Velasco wrote, offering condolences to his family and friends.

Palazuelos offered a more personal farewell. "Fly high, dear Jorge, just as you lived," he wrote. "God bless you always, my dear brother." Palazuelos also sent condolences to Kahwagi's mother, Sonja, and his sisters, Sonja and Layla.

Kahwagi's family has not publicly announced a cause of death. Mexican journalist Gustavo Adolfo Infante reported Wednesday on the television program "Sale el Sol" that Kahwagi died from a brain hemorrhage in Mexico City, but that account had not been independently confirmed by his relatives.

Born May 28, 1968, in Mexico City, Kahwagi was the son of businessman and media executive Jorge Kahwagi Gastine and Sonja Macari Chalhub. He studied law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and business administration at Universidad Iberoamericana.

But no degree or job title adequately explains the peculiar place Kahwagi eventually occupied in Mexican popular culture. At various points, he was a congressman, political party leader, businessman, professional boxer and reality television contestant. Sometimes those worlds collided.

Kahwagi entered the Chamber of Deputies as a member of the Green Party, or PVEM, during the LIX Legislature and became the party's parliamentary coordinator. He later left the PVEM and joined Nueva Alianza, where he held senior leadership positions. Official congressional records document his legislative work, including proposals involving government administration and citizen participation.

Then, in 2004, while serving as a federal deputy, Kahwagi walked into the house of "Big Brother VIP."

His decision became national news and generated criticism in Congress. Contemporary reports said Kahwagi entered the reality show after requesting a temporary leave that had not yet been approved by the Chamber of Deputies. He ultimately finished third in the season, behind Sergio Mayer and winner Roxana Castellanos.

And then there was boxing. Kahwagi began fighting professionally in 2001, an unusual pursuit for a wealthy businessman already moving toward a political career. In 2004, he won a WBC Latino cruiserweight title after defeating Dwayne Swift. His professional record ultimately stood at 12 victories, all by knockout, according to Mexican media accounts of his career.

His boxing career was also controversial, with critics questioning the quality of some opponents and the circumstances surrounding some bouts. The scrutiny intensified when he returned to the ring in 2015 after roughly a decade away and stopped Ramón Olivas in the Philippines in about 40 seconds.

By then, Kahwagi had become as recognizable for his celebrity persona as for any single profession. In later years, however, he largely disappeared from the public life that had once made him a fixture of Mexican television and entertainment coverage.

In 2019, Kahwagi disclosed that he had suffered a perforated gastric ulcer and bacterial infection. "My ulcer burst, but thank God He allowed me to keep bothering all of you here," he wrote at the time. His public appearances became increasingly rare afterward. There is currently no confirmed medical information connecting those previous health problems to his death.

Kahwagi's death also comes during an extraordinarily difficult year for his family.

His father, Jorge Kahwagi Gastine, the businessman who headed Grupo Crónica, died March 23 at 85, just over six months before his son. For much of his adult life, Jorge Kahwagi Macari seemed determined not to remain in any single lane.

He went from the halls of Mexico's Congress to boxing rings, from political leadership to one of the country's biggest reality shows. His boxing record generated debate. His political decisions generated headlines. His celebrity made him instantly recognizable even to Mexicans who had little interest in either politics or boxing.

That combination made him one of the more unconventional figures in Mexican public life during the 2000s.

On Wednesday, Palazuelos' goodbye captured that larger-than-life reputation in just a few words.

"Fly high, dear Jorge," he wrote, "just as you lived."

Paul Lloyd obit

Former British and European bantamweight champion Paul “Livewire” Lloyd dead at 57

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Paul “Livewire” Lloyd sadly passes away at the young age of just 57

Former British, Commonwealth and European bantamweight champion Paul “Livewire” Lloyd (20-7, 14 KOs) has died at just 57.

The London Boxing History tweeted the following on X: "Gutted to read of the passing of former World Title challenger Paul “Livewire” Lloyd at the age of just 57.  Lloyd would win the lot domestically, claiming Area, British, Commonwealth and European Titles. It’s been a sad few weeks for boxing, gone far too soon. RIP champ."

Andrew Fairly responded: "Oh no, far too young. His poor family. God bless you Paul and sleep tight."

Amateur Career

Paul "Livewire" Lloyd was born 7 December 1968 in Bebington, Wirral.

He was an English amateur bantamweight and professional bantam/super bantamweight boxer of the 1990s and 2000s.

Lloyd, as an amateur, won the 1990 Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) bantamweight title against Michael Gibbons, Michael Alldis, Wilson Docherty, and Patrick Mullings (Harrow & District ABC).

Lloyd participated in the World Cup in Bombay, India, during November 1990, defeating Rico Maspaitela of Indonesia and losing to Enrique Carrión of Cuba. He participated in the trials for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Halle, Germany, defeating Shaun Anderson of Scotland and losing to Dieter Berg of Germany.

Lloyd won the gold medal at bantamweight at the 1992 Canada Cup in Ottawa, Canada, during May 1992, defeating Lorenzo Aragon Armenteros of Cuba, Mark Mercier of Canada, and Alexei Aztamohov of Russia.

Pro Career

Boxing out of Vauxhall Motors ABC in Ellesmere Port, as a professional he won the Central Area super-bantamweight title, British, European, and Commonwealth bantamweight title.

Lloyd challenged for the British super-bantamweight title against Richie Wenton, the IBF bantamweight title against Tim Austin, WBO super-bantamweight title against Marco Antonio Barrera, IBC bantamweight title against Johnny Bredahl, and IBO bantamweight title against Noel Wilders.

GBN would like to express their deepest condolences to all of Paul's family and friends at the this difficult time.

Jimmy Revie obit

Jimmy Revie, British Featherweight Champion of the Early 1970s, Dies at 79

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Half a point, that was the margin by which Jimmy Revie won 3 separate fights during his British featherweight championship reign, a run so narrow it once earned him boos from an unimpressed Royal Albert Hall crowd despite the victory. Revie died in September 2026, at age 79, following complications from dementia.

Born in Stockwell, London, on July 8, 1947, Revie turned professional in September 1966 with a 5th round stoppage of Brian Gullefer. He won his first 13 fights inside the distance before suffering his first defeat in February 1968, stopped in the 9th round by Jimmy Anderson in a challenge for the British junior lightweight title. Revie dropped to featherweight, won his next 6 fights, and earned a shot at the British title vacated by Howard Winstone, defeating former British Empire champion John O’Brien in March 1969 after the referee stopped the contest in the 5th round due to eye injuries.

Revie was considered a contender for Johnny Famechon’s world title, though he never got the opportunity to fight for it. He kept busy with non-title bouts before his first defence, notably defeating European champion Tommaso Galli by half a point in October 1969, then Ecuadorian champion Miguel Herrera by the same slim margin 12 days later, and Algerian fighter Ould Makloufi by another half point that November. A stoppage loss to Tunisian fighter Tahar Ben Hassen in April 1970 marked his 2nd professional defeat, but Revie rebounded to make his first British title defence that September, beating Alan Rudkin at Wembley’s Empire Pool, again by half a point.

Revie challenged José Legra for the European title in January 1971, losing a unanimous decision after the full 15 rounds. That July, defending his British title against Evan Armstrong at Grosvenor House, Revie was well ahead on points when Armstrong knocked him out in the 12th round to claim the championship. Revie won his next 7 fights and earned another British title eliminator victory over Vernon Sollas in March 1974, setting up a rematch for the vacant title in March 1975 at the Royal Albert Hall, a fight Revie lost controversially when Sollas struck him while he was down near the end of the 4th round. He fought 6 more times, winning only twice, closing out his career with back to back losses to Jim Watt and Charlie Nash in 1976.

Beyond the ring, Revie appeared in Jim Goddard’s 1980 film King Billy, playing the role of Leon Cole.

Jimmy Revie’s British featherweight championship reign, built on razor thin decisions and hard fought battles against some of the era’s toughest contenders, remains a defining chapter of early 1970s British boxing.

Colin Powers obit

Colin Powers, former British and European champ, dies aged 70

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Former British and European junior welterweight champion Colin Power died on September 16 from cancer. He was 70 years old.

Powers competed in a terrific era and had a ready-made rival in Clinton McKenzie. They would fight three times, with two of them being named as British Fight of the Year.

Powers, 28-5-1 (20 KOs), turned professional in 1975 and would win the British 140lbs title two years later when, in his 18th outing, he would avenge his only loss to that point by beating Des Morrison in 10 rounds. Both men hit the deck along the way.

In 1978, Powers journeyed to Paris, France, to overpower Jean Baptiste Piedvache in 11 rounds. The victory crowned Powers, from London, the European junior welterweight champion.

Powers would lose the belt in Spain – to Fernando Sanchez – only to bounce back with a successful defense of his British championship against McKenzie, winning a cracking bout on points over 15 rounds, in February 1979.

In September, they would meet for the third time with McKenzie winning his first – and only – fight of the series. Again, it was over 15 rounds. Again, all in attendance stood to applaud at the final bell.

Powers would lose to Sylvester Mittee in his next bout, the effects of several hard fights slowing him slightly. He retired, aged just 27, in 1983 following a loss to Lloyd Christie.

“He fought the hardest fight of his life for the last four years,” his wife Ellen Power wrote on social media following his passing.

“A very rare form of cancer. May god bless him peacefully.”

George Chuvalo obit

Canadian boxer George Chuvalo, who faced Muhammad Ali in his prime, dead at 89

 

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George Chuvalo, the iron-chinned Canadian heavyweight who took the best punches from the giants of boxing without ever falling, has died. He was 89.

Chuvalo suffered from dementia late in life and had been residing in a long-term care facility in Toronto. He died Saturday according to multiple online posts by family and friends.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who said the boxer was a family friend, shared condolences on social media Saturday.

"My thoughts are with all of George's family and loved ones as we mourn his passing," he said.

Chuvalo went the distance with Muhammad Ali in bouts in Toronto and Vancouver, and absorbed the hardest shots sluggers Joe Frazier and George Foreman had to offer without being knocked down.

It was unfathomable family tragedy after he retired that brought him to his knees.

"If you added up every punch I took and multiplied the total by 10,000, it wouldn't begin to equal the pain of losing three sons and a wife to drugs and suicide," he said in his 2013 autobiography Chuvalo: A Fighter's Life, co-written with Murray Greig.

The son of Croatian immigrants was born Sept. 12, 1937, in Toronto's Junction neighbourhood. He became intrigued by boxing after seeing The Ring magazine at a newsstand.

Chuvalo was 10 years old the first time he stepped through the ropes, and a growth spurt combined with an interest in weightlifting saw him develop into a six-foot, 210-pound fighter.

After a brief amateur career, he turned pro in 1956, winning notice for performances at the Jack Dempsey Tournament at Maple Leaf Gardens.

But by the early 1960s, Chuvalo's career had stagnated under ineffective guidance until Toronto poultry magnate Irv Ungerman took over as his manager.

Chuvalo parlayed several wins into an attention-getting 11th-round stoppage over contender Doug Jones at Madison Square Garden in 1964. He returned to that mecca of boxing the next year, narrowly losing a decision to former champ Floyd Patterson in a bout The Ring named best of 1965.

'He just keeps coming and coming'

Chuvalo's style was inexorable without being reckless. He moved forward with thudding blows from both hands to the head and body, producing stoppages in 88 per cent of his wins.

"You can't believe his strength," Canadian fighter Bill Drover once told a writer. "There's no way to stop him. He just keeps coming and coming. The only way you can stop him is with a stick of dynamite."

Chuvalo would always insist his defence was better than advertised, but it was his durability that was remarkable. He was able to absorb the shots, he said, thanks to a 17.5-inch neck strengthened through exercises.

Chuvalo found himself fighting for the heavyweight title in 1966 as a replacement foe when Ali's affiliation with the Black Muslims and controversial anti-Vietnam-War stance made him a pariah in the U.S.

The challenger's prospects were described in a New York Times headline: Bettor's-Eye View of Chuvalo: A Big Bum With a Lot of Heart.

While Chuvalo failed to become Canada's first heavyweight champion since Tommy Burns in the early 1900s, he earned praise for a gritty performance. Ali famously called him the toughest man he had faced up to that point, but Chuvalo was ambivalent being the first to take the champ 15 rounds.

"In a crazy way, that fight is what defines me for a lot of my fellow Canadians but it took a long time before I came to appreciate how good it made me feel," he said.

Never knocked down

With wife Lynne and five children at home, Chuvalo appreciated the paydays the Ali performance begat. He would beat contenders Jerry Quarry and Manuel Ramos, losing close bouts to Oscar Bonavena and Jimmy Ellis.

Chuvalo was stopped for the first time in 1967 by Frazier, requiring a silicone implant to keep an eyeball from drooping. The loss to Foreman in the fourth round three years later was also notable, with the referee stepping in before Chuvalo's "never knocked down" streak might have been ended.

Chuvalo's loss to Ali in Vancouver in 1972 was not as compelling or as close as the first bout. He retired for good on a winning note six years later, finishing with a record of 73 wins, 18 losses and two draws, with 64 of his wins coming by knock out.

Unlike with Ali and others, the toll of concussive blows wasn't evident on the surface. Chuvalo was articulate and spoke in rapid-fire bursts, with a quip or self-deprecating joke usually at the ready.

But like many fighters, he had a tough time transitioning to the "humdrum" nature of life, as he once described it. At various points, he opened a nightclub, got his real estate licence, promoted fights, hosted a TV show and took cinema's worst ever arm-wrestling defeat in a cameo in David Cronenberg's The Fly.

Chuvalo told CBC Radio in 1968 he didn't want his four sons boxing for a living, but it was outside the ring where he couldn't protect them. The youngest, Jesse, became hooked on heroin after a prescription for pain medication ran out and was just 19 when he fatally shot himself in 1985.

Older brothers George Jr. and Steven had by then also become users of the drug and involved in petty crime to feed their habits. Steven Chuvalo described a feeling of "worthlessness" he and his two addicted brothers felt in an interview with CBC's the fifth estate in 1995.

"My dad spent quite a few years chasing us around the city, Georgie and I in particular, and dragging us out of drug houses and heroin houses and basically just trying to keep us alive," he said.

George Jr., three days sprung from jail in Kingston, Ont., overdosed on Halloween 1993.

Just four days after that, 49-year-old Lynne Chuvalo swallowed pills and left a suicide note.

"I never thought she'd do it, but I'm not surprised," Chuvalo told the New York Times a short time later, adding his wife never got over the first burial of a child.

Steven Chuvalo, who spoke on the fifth estate of wanting to make his father proud, would overdose and die eight months after that program aired.

Chuvalo would persevere, marrying again, and cherishing time spent with oldest son Mitch, daughter Vanessa, and his grandchildren. He would travel the country, speaking bluntly to students, as captured in a CBC Radio report in 1998.

"I'd like to think if you're ever tempted with the idea of doing drugs, or you ever flirt with doing drugs, I hope you think of me, George Chuvalo, and what drugs did to my family."

In 2017, reports surfaced of family drama involving Chuvalo's surviving children and the fighter's second wife, Joanne, who he was divorcing. Some of the disputes centred around the state of Chuvalo's cognitive decline and his future care.

On a podcast five years later, Mitch Chuvalo said his father no longer recognized him when he visited.

By that time, his legacy had been recognized by the City of Toronto, with the official opening in 2019 of the 7,000-square foot George Chuvalo Community Centre, located in the Junction.

Ismael Laguna obit

“Tiger of Colón,” Ismael Laguna Passes

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Panamanian and world boxing are in mourning following the passing of former WBC and WBA lightweight world champion Ismael Laguna Meneses, “Tiger of Colón,” on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the age of 83, after being hospitalized in Panama City.

Laguna was born in the province of Colón on June 28, 1943, and made his professional boxing debut in August 1960, facing opponents such as Fili Nava, Antonio Herrera, Angel Robinson Garcia, Vicente Saldivar, Carlos Ortiz, Nicolino Locche, Carlos Hernandez, Flash Elorde, Mando Ramos, Guts Ishimatsu, Ken Buchanan, and Chango Carmona, among others. He fought his last bout in July 1971 with a record of 65 wins (37 by knockout), 9 losses, and 1 draw. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, in 2001.

Laguna cemented his legendary status after defeating the Puerto Rican boxer Carlos Ortiz by unanimous decision for the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight world championships on April 10, 1965, at the iconic National Stadium. Juan Demóstenes Arosemena, and history records it as the first world championship fight held in Panama.

He was the idol who inspired Roberto “Hands of Stone” Durán to conquer the WBA lightweight world championship from the Scottish boxer Ken Buchanan, who had defeated Laguna. Durán then defeated Buchanan in June 1972 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Ismael Laguna will forever remain in the history of Panamanian sports and world boxing after an extraordinary career in the rings of Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, France, Mexico, the United States, Argentina, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Jamaica, and Ecuador.

He was two-time Undisputed Lightweight Champion. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001.

Known as "El Tigre Colonense", Laguna was the World Lightweight Champion in 1965 and later regained the belt in 1970, but he was stripped of his WBC title prior to losing the WBA Title to Ken Buchanan.

Laguna also lost 15 round decisions in two other bids to regain his lightweight title, in 1967 against Carlos Ortiz, and in 1971 to Ken Buchanan. He retired after the loss to Buchanan in 1971.

 

ickname           El Tigre Colonense

Born    Ismael Laguna Meneses

June 28, 1943

Colón, Panama

Died    September 8, 2026 (aged 83)

Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)

Weight Lightweight

Boxing career

Reach  68 in (173 cm)

Stance  Orthodox

Boxing record

Total fights      75

Wins    65

Win by KO     37

Losses 9

Draws  1

Jimmy Batten obit

Jimmy Batten, who went 10 rounds with Roberto Duran, dies at the age of 70

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Jimmy Batten, the former British junior middleweight champion who once went the distance with Roberto Duran, has died at the age of 70.

Batten, one of the sport’s great characters, had been battling Parkinson’s disease and the effects of brain damage for many years. Yet, until his poor health became too much to bear in recent months, he did so with good humor.

Batten, who started boxing at the age of six, was a member of Terry Lawless’ famous London gym that could also boast talent like John H. Stracey, Maurice Hope, Charlie Magri, Kirkland Laing, Jim Watt, and Mark Kaylor.

"So sad to hear about my dear friend Jimmy Batten passing away," Stracey said on social media. "My great stablemate and sparring partner of many, many years... God bless you, my friend."

An outstanding amateur – in the vest, Batten enjoyed an unbeaten spell that stretched five-and-a-half years – he went on to claim the Lonsdale Belt outright as a fine British professional, beating Albert Hillman, Larry Paul, and Tony Poole along the way.

That thrilling scrap with Poole was gruelling in the extreme as Batten survived some hellacious blows to outlast his man and win in the 13th. The three-round loss to France’s Gilbert Cohen in a bid for the European title came just 10 weeks later. Batten would always claim it came far too soon and he entered the ring against Cohen with a broken nose.

Though past his best by the time he based himself in America in the early 1980s, it is the final bout he had there for which he is best known. Thrown in with Roberto Duran in November 1982 – only six months after being stopped in the opening round by Mario Maldonado – there was genuine concern for Batten’s well-being heading in.

That Batten lasted the full 10 rounds, eventually losing via unanimous decision after giving it everything he had, perhaps created the illusion that it was a job well done. And it was if courage is the lone barometer. He came out of the contest with broken ribs after sustaining prolonged punishment.

His last fight came 12 months later, stopped in six by Prince Rodney, in a bid for his old 154lbs title. Already there were concerns that boxing had taken too much from him.

His record will forever read 40-9 (20 KOs).

In retirement he had some success as an actor but by the turn of the century, it was clear that a hangover from his long boxing career had set in.

He would, however, only speak about the sport in glowing terms, insisting he would not change a thing about the career that led to him struggling for so long, and so bravely, later in life.

“Why would I change anything?” he told me. “I loved every minute of it. I’m just sad that I can’t do it anymore.

“There’s not many people who can say they were British champion and went the distance with Duran, is there?”

Indeed there isn’t.

A keen supporter of Ringside Charitable Trust, and wonderful company at Ex-Boxers’ meetings, Batten – an old-school fighting man – will be sorely missed.

Anthony Mundine obit

‘Broken’: Anthony Mundine reacts to father and boxing great Tony Mundine’s death

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Australian boxing great Tony Mundine has died, aged 75.

The boxer, who is also the father of professional boxer and rugby league player Anthony Mundine, died at the weekend, sources close to the family have confirmed.

Mundine was the only Australian boxer to compete professionally across four weight divisions and held four different Australian titles.

On Sunday night, Anthony Mundine said he was “broken” in an Instagram post.

“Dad I love you man my Allah bless your soul. I’m on my way home to say goodbye one last time til we meet again... there’s only one Tony Mundine.”

In 2024, Anthony Mundine described his father as his “biggest inspiration” in and out of the ring.

“You’ve shown me what it means to be a man of strength and integrity, and for that, I’m forever grateful. I wouldn’t be who I am without your sacrifices, your wisdom, and your unwavering support,” he wrote at the time.

Tony Mundine retired from professional boxing in 1984 and became a member of the Order of Australia in 1986 for services to sport, particularly boxing and Aboriginal youth.

A Bundjalung man from Baryulgil, just north of the NSW town of Grafton, Mundine moved to Sydney in the mid-1960s with the hope of becoming a first grade footballer.

He played with the Redfern All Blacks and it was while doing some off-season training at a local boxing gym his talent was discovered.

Mundine had his first fight in Sydney in 1969 - competing in 96 bouts in a career that spanned till 1984 that also saw him travel the world and challenge unsuccessfully once for the World Middleweight belt in 1974.

Upon his retirement from boxing, Mundine was heavily involved in a gym in the neighbourhood known as The Block in Redfern, on the corner of Eveleigh and Vine Streets.

The gym had been set up inside an old shoe factory that had been acquired by the Aboriginal Housing Company and Mundine’s work had a positive impact on young Aboriginal people as the venue became a popular place for the community to spend time.

Zolani Tete obit

Boxing champ Zolani Tete shot dead in Mdantsane

 

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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) — Former world champion boxer Zolani Tete has been shot and killed at his home in South Africa, government officials said Friday.

Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s sports, arts and culture minister, said the 38-year-old Tete was killed in his car and that a 27-year-old woman who was in the vehicle with him was shot multiple times and is in hospital.

Tete held world title belts in the WBF flyweight category from 2007-2008 and the WBO bantamweight title in 2017 and 2019.

Police said the shooting took place at Mdantsane, Eastern Cape and that Tete was arriving at his residence and waiting for the gate to open when he was ambushed by two armed suspects wearing balaclavas.

He held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-bantamweight title from 2014 to 2015 and the World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title from 2017 to 2019.

Tete held the Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in a title fight in boxing history, knocking out Siboniso Gonya in eleven seconds of the opening round.

Tete grew up in the Mdantsane township. He had a rough childhood. His father was a pastor. He and his brother, Makazole, took up boxing when Zolani was eight. Tete looked up to South African former world champions Vuyani Bungu and Welcome Ncita while in the unpaid ranks. Tete would later be trained by Bungu. He claimed to have had over 400 amateur bouts, only three of which were losses, as an amateur he fought Hekkie Budler former WBA world minifly and WBA and IBF World junior flyweight champion and The Ring champ two times in the South African national games Tete won one and lost one to Hekkie.

ete made his professional debut in May 2006., where he won his first 8 fights by stoppage. In his eighth bout he won the WBF flyweight title, which he defended twice. Tete earned a shot at a major world title for the first time, beating Richard Garcia in a title eliminator by unanimous decision (118–108, 118–108, 118–110). Tete went on to face Moruti Mthalane for the IBF flyweight title, suffering his first loss with a round 5 technical knockout (TKO).

fter the loss to Mthalane, Tete moved up to junior-bantamweight. He received another opportunity to fight in an IBF eliminator, but lost a majority decision (112–115, 112–115, 113–113) to Juan Alberto Rosas. After a bounce-back win, Tete fought in yet another eliminator but lost by split decision (113–115, 114–115, 115–114) to Roberto Sosa. Tete seemed to befuddle Sosa with his length early on, but as the fight went on Sosa surged and earned the nod. Sosa received a warning due to low blows but there were not any point deductions made.

In November 2013, Tete fought in a third IBF junior-bantamweight eliminator against former champion Juan Carlos Sánchez Jr. Sánchez had lost the IBF title due to coming in overweight against Sosa, thus leaving the title vacant after beating Sosa. The winner would be the IBF's mandatory challenger to the winner of the Liborio Solís-Daiki Kameda unification bout. Tete knocked down Sánchez in round five before being dropped himself in round six. After being knocked down, Tete resorted to excessive holding, losing points in rounds eight and nine. However, he was able to put Sánchez away in round ten.

Tete vs. Kinoshita

Solís beat Kameda, but he also lost his title on the scales, leaving the IBF title vacant. Tete faced Teiru Kinoshita in July 2014 for the vacant title, winning a comfortable unanimous decision (119–109, 119–109, 118–110). After one successful defence, he chose to vacate the title rather than fight mandatory challenger McJoe Arroyo. Tete went on to sign with British promoter Frank Warren in December 2015

Prichard Colón obit

Former Puerto Rican Contender Prichard Colón Passes Away at 33

 

He was not on the list.

Former Puerto Rican super welterweight contender Prichard Colón passed away this morning, according to a social media post by his father, Richard Colón. The following was posted on Facebook:

“Good morning my people. I regret to inform you of the passing of my son Prichard from this earthly world, NOW HE IS in a better world. I did everything possible to fulfill HIS WISH, HIS DREAM of bringing him ON VACATION to Puerto Rico as much as he desired but COULDN’T. Thank you for so many years of love and prayers. As much as you can, please keep us in your prayers.”

Colón, whose promising boxing career was cut short following a catastrophic brain injury during an October 2015 bout, spent over a decade inspiring fans worldwide through his battle in rehabilitation.

A Short But Lasting Legacy

Before the tragic events of October 17, 2015, “Digget” Colón was widely regarded as one of Puerto Rico’s brightest rising stars. Tall, gifted, and charismatic, he compiled a 16-1 record with 13 knockouts after a stellar amateur career highlighted by a gold medal at the 2010 Pan American Youth Championship.

Though his professional ring career spanned just over two years, Colón’s impact on combat sports remains enduring. The severe subdural hematoma he sustained in his final bout against Terrel Williams—a fight marked by illegal blows to the back of his head—directly catalyzed fight safety reform. His tragedy inspired the World Boxing Council’s “Prichard Colón Rule,” which enforces strict zero-tolerance penalties for rabbit punches and has revolutionized ringside medical protocols worldwide.

Survived By

Throughout his years of care and rehabilitation, Colón was sustained by the unyielding devotion of his family. He is survived by:

Nieves Meléndez, his mother, whose round-the-clock care and updates made her a global symbol of maternal devotion.

Richard Colón, his father and former trainer, who guided his rise through the amateur and professional ranks.

Melany Colón, his sister, along with his extended family and millions of supporters worldwide.

Hannah Rapp obit

Rapp, 26, dies after being hit by car while cycling

 

She was not on the list.

American boxer Hannah Rapp died on Saturday after being hit by a car while cycling in Texas.

Rapp, 26, was passed by a car which suddenly came to a stop then reversed into her, according to the Brazos County sheriff's office.

The driver has been arrested and charged with manslaughter.

Rapp challenged for the WBC women's featherweight championship in June, losing to Tiara Brown in Orlando, which left her with an 8-1-1 record.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said in a statement: "She was an exceptional boxer, but above all, an invaluable member of our boxing family."

Brown called Rapp the "best dance partner I have ever faced as a pro" and said Rapp asked for her autograph in the lead-up to the fight.

"It filled my heart because we were getting ready for war, yet she was still asking for my autograph," said Brown. "We fought a great fight. It was my honor to share the ring with her."

Rapp, from Indiana, competed in athletics before transitioning to boxing. She turned professional in 2024 while maintaining a full-time job as a fire and life safety inspector.

Her promoter, Most Valuable Promotions, said in a statement: "Hannah made a lasting impression on everyone who had the opportunity to meet her.

"She was a gifted athlete, a valued member of the boxing community, and someone who was deeply respected by those around her.

"We are grateful to have shared a part of her journey and will honour her memory in the weeks ahead."

José Legrá obit

LEGEND GONE 

Jose Legra dead at 83: Former two-time WBC featherweight world boxing champion passes away as tributes pour in

 

He was not on the list.

LEGENDARY Spanish boxing champion Jose Legra has passed away at the age of 83 on Wednesday in Madrid.

The Cuban-born fighter, nicknamed ‘The Puma of Baracoa’, held the WBC World Featherweight title in 1968 and 1972.

The World Boxing Council has paid tribute to the icon who leaves behind a massive legacy in the ring.

Legra claimed the vacant European Featherweight title – his first belt – in 1967 with a stunning third-round knockout win over France’s Yves Desmarets.

But his boxing career began seven years prior, after he turned pro in Cuba, where he claimed a victory with a points decision over four rounds.

He departed for Spain at 20 years old with 27 wins from 34.

The youngster burst onto the scene with a blockbuster KO as he began a tremendous 60-win run in the 60s.

Legra only lost ONCE betwen 1963 and 1967 against Welshman Howard Winstone at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The history books came calling after he was crowned as WBC Featherweight World Champion TWICE.

It was not until the summer of July 1968 that he challenged Winstone again in his first opportunity to fight for a recognised world title belt.

But Legra FLOORED him twice in the first round.

The fight was soon stopped with Winstone’s left eye too swollen to continue.

The champ hung up his gloves with 129-11 record and fans have rushed to offer their sincere condolences to his loved ones.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman passed his best wishes to the family and friends of Legra, saying “Rest in Peace, Champion.”