Characters of Boxing (And Beyond)

Earnie Shavers never won a heavyweight championship and he is not enshrined in the Boxing Hall of Fame, yet every boxing fan seems to know his name. Shavers had the hardest punching power that's ever been seen on tape in the history of boxing. He also fought during what many consider the most competitive time in the history of heavyweight boxing. 

Ed "Too Tall" Jones was drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1974 National Football League (NFL) Draft. After 5 years with the Cowboys, he stepped away from the NFL at the height of his athletic prime to pursue his professional boxing dreams. After six professional bouts he returned to pro football and played 10 more seasons with Dallas. With one of the most memorable nicknames in football history, he was a 3-time All-Pro at defensive end and a Super Bowl champion. 

Boxing's other Golden Boy, Donny Lalonde, is profiled on the Characters of Boxing (and Beyond) Podcast today. Lalonde was a bruising contender throughout his career. His 1987 match against Sugar Ray Leonard was one of the most important boxing moments of the 1980s, an incredible decade in pugilism.  

Michael Katsidis, also known as boxing's "last action hero" is profiled on today's new episode of the Characters of Boxing (And Beyond) Podcast. The great Australian fighter always gave fans their money's worth. Arguably, there hasn't been a boxer as exciting as Katsidis to enter the ring since his 2017 retirement. 

Legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer is covered on today's episode of the Characters of Boxing (And Beyond) Podcast. We explain why Buffer is the James Bond of boxing and how he convinced Atlantic City promoters to hire him in the early 1980s without any prior experience. 

Today's episode of the Characters of Boxing and Beyond Podcast goes "beyond boxing" to tell you the story of legendary in-ring character, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. 

The mysterious life, career and death of Sonny Liston are covered on today's episode of the Characters of Boxing (and Beyond) Podcast. Liston was the most feared heavyweight champion of his day. 

Today's episode of the Characters of Boxing (And Beyond) is about Roy Jones Jr. and the 1988 Summer Olympics. The fighting pride of Pensacola, Florida, Jones Jr., lost a controversial gold medal match in the finals of the 1988 Summer Olympics in South Korea.

We discuss one of the most bizarre nights in boxing history on today's episode of the Characters of Boxing (And Beyond) Podcast. In 1978 convicted felon and incarcerated inmate James "Superman" Scott fought Eddie Gregory at Rahway Prison in New Jersey. This was a fully sanctioned bout held in a prison auditorium as Scott was a WBA ranked contender for the Light Heavyweight Championship. Scott was not allowed to leave the grounds making for one of the controversial and memorable nights in professional boxing's illustrious history. Visit https://www.clearcontender.com/podcast for more episodes. 

We profile the fighting neighborhood of Brownsville Brooklyn and the life of Al "Bummy" Davis on today's podcast. We also discuss the life and career of Eddie Mustafa Muhammad (formerly Eddie Gregory) and the incredible history of Brownsville's penchant for producing great boxing champions. 

Boxing's first true "hype man" is covered on today's episode of the Characters of Boxing (And Beyond) Podcast, Tex Rickard. Rickard brought serious money into prizefighting while utilizing his "larger than life" personality to significantly grow boxing throughout the early 20th century. Rickard spearheaded the construction of both Madison Square Garden III and the Boston Garden. His influence on the business of combat sports lives on today. 

The life of Long Island boxer, Patrick Day (1992 - 2019), is honored on this episode of the Characters of Boxing (And Beyond) Podcast.

Learn about legendary boxing character Mitch "Blood" Green on today's episode of the Characters of Boxing (And Beyond) Podcast. Green was a "one man" public relations department throughout the 1980s cutting pro wrestling styling promotional videos to lure Mike Tyson into the ring for high profile bouts.

Former pro boxer Bobby Stewart was working at an upstate New York reform school when he discovered Mike Tyson. He discusses that journey, and how much money he was paid when Tyson won the title on today's Characters of Boxing (And Beyond) podcast episode with host Casey Callanan. To learn more, please visit https://www.clearcontender.com/podcast/

Jimmy Jacobs was Mike Tyson's first professional boxing manager in 1984. He might have been considered "The Most Interesting Man in the World" in 1986 as he was arguably the "Greatest of All-Time" at three different things by the mid-1980s. Learn about this all-time boxing character on today's episode of the Characters of Boxing (And Beyond) Podcast.