Richard E. Baker
14 articles · BoxingNoir
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Toughest Man in the World
The Foorprint Center crowd was equally emphatic for David Benavidez and for Kayone Davis in their recent Showtime fight in Arizona. The winner was never in doubt. Davis is not yet at…
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Merciless—Jose Benavidez Jr.
Jose Benavidez Jr. is mean and nasty and he wants to hurt you. He loves to hurt you. He lives to hurt you. He will do anything he can to hurt you.…
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Canelo vs. The Fans
Saul Alvarez’s biggest fight might be with his fans. He constantly makes excuses not to fight former two-time champion David Benavidez. Does he believe the excuses? Not according to many boxing fans,…
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Mike Gavronski—Once More into the Breach
When Mike Gavronski (26-3-1) steps into the ring December 26th at the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles he will attempt to win the vacant WBA Super Middleweight Title from David Morrell,…
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Monster Mash
It was fight night and we came in from the fields to the kitchen where the boxers would appear on the ten-inch screen as miniature black and white bits of fury. We…
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The Basement Banger
“I was almost a three-to-one underdog in my last fight against Olympian Luis Aaron,” said Abraham Martinez. “I thought people must think he is going to kill me.” Martinez breaks into a…
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Benavidez Back on Track
David Benavidez returned to the gym this week to prepare to take back the WBC super middleweight title he lost on the scales in a fight against Roamer Angulo. David dominated the…
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Boxing in the Time of Covid
In the 1950’s boxing took a slump. Television had taken over the live venues. Live fights became fewer and fewer. As trainer Whitey Bimstein said, “Ain’t no one going to pay for…
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A Championship Family
No man wants a home more for his boys than a man who has not had one for himself. He wants his boys to be raised correctly, in a safe environment, to…
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Hope and Despair
Tuesday, June 9th, boxing returned to ESPN television. Sure, the fights were not much, a few young scrappers getting a bit of paid exercise, but something is usually better than nothing. Seeing…
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Beantown Boxing 1896
The big city. The early days. Towering skyscrapers, smoking vehicles, trolleys, open markets, and boxing, the national sport. Boston has a long history of boxing and a long history of boxers, especially…
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Bump City Blues
“He was a champion around here. I seen him on the street a few times, pretty beat down.” Sometimes a boxer runs up against an opponent he cannot beat—himself. So it was…
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The Grinch Can Fight
When I was young a boxer of 31 was ready, after 100 to 300+ bouts, to retire. He generally fought several times a month, almost like holding a regular factory job. At…
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Jermell Charlo Wants to Make History
Jermell Charlo, dressed like a box of crayons, entered the ring for his fight against Harrison with havoc on his mind. Revenge is what he wanted, revenge for Tony Harrison taking his…