Entertainment

10 legendary black boxers who shaped the sport of boxing

Published

3 weeks ago

November 2, 2024

IAM

Black boxers have been entertaining people for a long time by watching them live in Vegas or paying to fight on cable television. Many people admire the physical strength of anyone who can consistently take and deal repeated blows. However, the violence of boxing goes hand in hand with extreme discipline, fitness and the ability to effect social change.

Boxing’s 10 best black boxers

These ten men stand out as some of the biggest athletes of all time.

Muhammad Ali

American boxer Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) trains with a punching bag before his fight with Briton Brian London, in London, England, August 3, 1966. (Photo by R McPhedran/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) – Source: photo: R. McPhedran / Getty Images

When it involves black athletes who have modified sports, used their political influence and have at all times been in high demand, the first name that usually involves mind is Muhammad Ali. Born Cassius Clay, his unrivaled profession record was 56-5, including 37 by knockout. At the height of Ali’s profession, his strong stance against the Vietnam War banned him from the sport for 4 years. During this time, he never wavered as a conscientious objector. Ali set out to save lots of the real fight for civil rights and regained the heavyweight title in 1974 after defeating Joe Frazier.

Joe Louis (Joseph Louis Barrow)

GI Joe Louis, theGrio.com — American boxer and world heavyweight champion Joe Louis Barrow (1914 – 1981) while serving in the US Army. (Photo: Express Newspapers/Getty Images) – Source: Photo Express / Getty Images newspapers

Boxing fans understand that Joe Louis’ legacy goes beyond winning his first 27 fights in a row. After a surprising defeat against German boxer Max Schmeling in 1936, he defeated him in a rematch considered a symbolic fight against Hitler, who was already conquering Europe. Louis further stands out not only amongst famous black boxers, but all boxers, as he maintained champion status for 12 years.

Mike Tyson

Among the heavyweight champions who got here closest to Ali’s record is Mike Tyson, who retired with a 50-6 record that included 44 knockouts. His boxing profession began at the age of 18 when he knocked out Hector Mercedes in a single round. Fast forward two years: the ear-loving Tyson becomes the youngest heavyweight titleholder at 20.

Terence Crawford

Of course, famous black boxers aren’t only in the heavyweight division. Omaha, Nebraska native Terence Crawford is the just one undisputed in two different weight classes. One particular highlight got here in 2013, following a unanimous decision victory in a 10-round restart over Breidis Prescott. Moving from 135 to 154 kilos, he has now accrued 40 wins and 11 by knockout. He also takes on vital fights outside the ring in order that boxers can receive advantages resembling pensions and insurance.

Gervonta Davis

Baltimore native Gervonta “Tank” Davis is one other outstanding figure amongst black boxers, as he’s a former three-division world champion who is mentored by Floyd Mayweather. With a profession of five world titles, a 29-0 record and earnings of $36 million, the undefeated skilled continues to secure his legacy.

Sugar Ray Robinson

You know you are a badass when Muhammad Ali proclaims you: “King, champion, my idol.” When the American welterweight boxer became the middleweight titleholder, Robinson compiled a record of 128-1-2, which included 84 knockouts. Despite over 200 matches, he has never suffered a physical knockout. Living in his adopted home of Harlem, New York, he gained popularity as one of the first sports superstars outside the ring.

George Foreman

Before he created the popular barbecue and named all five of his sons after himself, the Texas native made history as the oldest heavyweight titleholder at the age of 45. His skilled profession began after winning heavyweight gold at the 1968 Olympics, followed by 37 straight victories. After Ali’s knockout and loss to Jimmy Young, it was time to retire and located the Foreman Youth and Community Center in Houston. He also showed that famous black boxers could do greater than just throw punches with their business skills, offering barbecue, books and a clothing line of the same name.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Coming from a family of dominant black boxers, Mayweather retired with an ideal record of 50-0 and 27 knockouts. He fought another big names resembling Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao. Thanks to such skilled achievements, his image will perpetually hold a special place on the Green and Gold Belts of the World Boxing Council. He later mentored others resembling Gervonta “Tank” Davis while delving into fitness entrepreneurship.

Jack Johnson

The son of former slaves, Jack Johnson didn’t hold back when it got here to defying the social norms expected of a black American. He wore furs, married white women, and drove luxury cars, boldly displaying his wealth. At over 200 kilos and over six feet tall, Johnson quickly dominated the sport and won the World Colored Heavyweight title in 1903. His defeat against Tommy Burns in 1908 made him the first black boxer to win the world heavyweight championship. After winning the “Fight of the Century” against James J. Jeffries – which was more of a fight to guard the idea of white supremacy during the Jim Crow era – Johnson stirred much more controversy and have become a goal of the authorities. Fabricated charges of violating the Mann Act (sex trafficking) were later posthumously pardoned.

Errol Spence Jr.

Errol lost just one of his 29 matches. The Texas native is the welterweight world champion of the World Boxing Association, the International Boxing Federation and the World Boxing Council. Known for his endurance and excellent footwork, he’s praised for his technique.

Boxing isn’t any longer a sport or a form of entertainment. It provided a path out of poverty by serving as a platform to focus on social issues resembling civil rights and poor pension advantages for boxers, while letting the world know that being black didn’t mean being inferior. Some, like Jack Johnson and Joe Louis, broke racial barriers during the era of Jim Crow and legal lynchings. Black champions inspired other black youth with their success, confidence, discipline and exercise plans. Even athletes who have passed away proceed to influence other boxers and their fans.

The lasting legacy of black boxers

Black skilled boxers have a permanent legacy of admirable athletic and social achievements. Louis became a national hero when he defeated Schmeling, and Ali became a civil rights icon who devoted years of his profession to his beliefs. Today, Crawford fights on behalf of the health and safety of all boxers. When Imane Khelif’s gender was questioned at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she persevered on her path to the gold medal. As you possibly can see, these athletes exhibit great physical and mental strength and heart throughout their careers and beyond.

Lifestyle

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

Related Topics:Black Athletes Boxers Boxing Professional Boxing

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Jussie Smollett’s 2019 Self-Attack Conviction Overturned – Andscape

Published

3 hours ago

November 21, 2024

IAM

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday overturned the choice to fireside an actor Jussie Smollett conviction on charges of organizing a racist and anti-gay attack on himself in downtown Chicago in 2019 and lying to police.

The the state’s highest court ruled that the special prosecutor shouldn’t have been allowed to intervene after the Cook County state’s attorney initially dropped charges against Smollett in exchange for waiving $10,000 bail and performing community service. The ruling and appeal didn’t address Smollett’s continued claim of innocence.

Smollett, who’s black and gay, claims two men attacked him, hurled racist and anti-gay slurs and placed a noose around his neck, resulting in an enormous seek for suspects by Chicago police and sparking a world uproar. Smollett was starring in a television drama that was filmed in Chicago, and prosecutors alleged that he organized the attack because he was unhappy with the studio’s response to hate mail he received.

“We are aware that this case has generated significant public interest and that many people were dissatisfied with the resolution of the original case and considered it unfair,” Justice Elizabeth Rochford wrote in a 5-0 decision. “Nevertheless, more unfair than the resolution of any single criminal case would be for this court to find that the state is not obliged to honor agreements on which people have relied to their detriment.”

Smollett’s attorneys argued that the case ended with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office dropped initially 16 counts of disorderly conduct. A grand jury reinstated the fees after a special prosecutor took over the case. The jury convicted Smollett of five counts of disorderly conduct in 2021

Emails searching for comment were sent Thursday to Foxx’s office and Smollett’s attorney, who argued that Smollett was the victim of a racist and politicized justice system.

Testimony at trial showed that Smollett paid $3,500 to 2 men he knew to perform the attack. Prosecutors said he told them what insults to shout and shout that Smollett was in “MAGA country,” an apparent reference to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign slogan.

Smollett testified that “there was no fraud” and that he was the victim of a hate crime in his downtown Chicago neighborhood.

He was sentenced to 150 days in prison, six of which he had already served released pending further notice — 30 months probation and ordered to pay roughly $130,000 in restitution.

The state appeals court’s ruling upheld Smollett’s conviction, declaring that nobody promised Smollett that he would not face a brand new charge after accepting the unique deal.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis and Justice Joy Cunningham didn’t take part in Thursday’s decision.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com

Entertainment

Lil Baby didn’t just rap about change – he went to Harvard to achieve it – Essence

Published

3 hours ago

November 21, 2024

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 27: Songwriter of the Year Award winner Lil Baby speaks on stage on the ASCAP R&S Music Celebration on the London Hotel on June 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)

Lil Baby will not be only considered one of the most important names in hip-hop – he can also be an aspiring entrepreneur who’s serious about taking his business knowledge to the subsequent level.

The GRAMMY Award-winning rapper recently participated in Harvard Business School’s “Launching New Ventures” program, a prestigious short course designed to help entrepreneurs grow their ventures through modern strategies. The program, which will not be a level-granting initiative, focuses on key entrepreneurial tools, including opportunity assessment, competitive evaluation and developing sustainable business models, – we read on this system’s website.

For Lil Baby, born Dominique Armani Jones, the move was greater than just earning bragging rights. Known for hits like and , the Atlanta native has all the time been open about his desire to construct a legacy beyond music. As head of his record label 4PF (Four Pockets Full), he is committed to creating opportunities for artists and running a business that will not be only profitable, but in addition influential. However, he realized that running a successful label required honing his skills, and Harvard was the right place for this.

Movie shared on X On Wednesday, we got to see Lil Baby participating within the show. The clip ended on a touching note as he was presented together with his certificate of completion, followed by a surprise ceremony organized by his family.

While critics were quick to indicate that he didn’t “graduate” from Harvard – despite misleading headlines – his decision to commit to this system is critical in itself. Shows like “Launching New Ventures” offer insights that may transform corporations and help entrepreneurs overcome challenges, and Lil Baby’s presence signals his commitment to constructing a legacy that goes far beyond music. For Lil Baby, the move is an element of a broader commitment to securing his position not only as a rapper, but in addition as a mogul. His commitment to self-improvement reflects the values he promotes through his music: perseverance, resilience and development.

It’s also value noting that Lil Baby’s decision to attend Harvard sends a powerful message to his community, especially Black entrepreneurs. In a world where barriers to business education still exist, his decision to pursue higher education shows that it’s never too late – or too unconventional – to take what you are promoting seriously.

As Lil Baby grows, one thing is obvious: his diligence knows no limits. Whether he’s behind the microphone or within the classroom, he proves that the important thing to success is to continually strive for more.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com

Entertainment

More proof that you’re old: Mary J. Blige’s “My Life” album debuted 30 years ago

Published

6 hours ago

November 21, 2024

IAM

mary j blige, mary j blige my life, 90s music,

I actually remember November 1994. I used to be a sophomore in highschool and was still very clumsy and goofy. I hadn’t yet experienced what anyone would call a growth spurt, as evidenced by the very fact that my younger sister (three years younger) was taller than me. At this point in my life, I assumed I used to be destined to be certain I had a terrific personality that would give me a romantic future. I used to be told about one young student who was in love with me, but being 15 and never big, I didn’t really trust in my ability to pursue a dating life. In 1994, I saw myself because the Steve Urkel with no unreachable neighbor.

In 1994, I had a real love: music. I kept buying cassettes and compact discs; there was at all times music around me. Listening to the newest music from anyone and everybody was my hobby. Mary J. Blige was one in every of those artists that I used to be an enormous fan of. I mean, everyone really was. Her album “What’s the 411?” was released in July 1992, so when school began in August, it was one in every of those albums that everyone was talking about. “True Love” and him one other hip-hop remix the most popular songs were on fire and you can start an impromptu jam session in my middle school dining room by simply saying “true love” out loud.

(*30*)

To say that the anticipation for Mary’s second album was enormous can be the understatement of the yr. I still remember being blown away by the music video for the primary single “Be Happy” on MTV and BET’s “Video Soul”. I remember this mainly because I used to be so frightened about Mary’s life standing on those rocks. Of course she survived the video session, but I used to be very concerned for her safety. I could not imagine life without Mary. I purchased this single and mainly burned a hole in it.

Then got here the monster single “I’m Goin’ Down.” The remake of Rose Royce’s single from the movie “Car Wash” (titled “I’m Going Down”) had all of the black girls in my highschool able to break up with their boyfriends so that they too could sing about it lost love – teenage hormones cause strange problems. Let me just say this for the record: Mary’s version of this song is totally amazing. Her performance on the album is known; you can hear all the experience through her vocals.

(*30*)

If Mary stopped making music at this point, she would already be a legend, I actually consider that. But this whole album is a radiator from start to complete. Even today, once I hearken to “My Life”, my search ends in failure; “My Life” is largely a consolation at this point in my life. From “You Bring Me Joy” to the title track to the ultimate minute of “I Never Wanna Live Without You,” this album is a portal back in time to a version of me that was interested by what life had to supply. I used to be given the vocal type of Mary J. Blige to soundtrack this journey.

It’s also crazy to think about it this manner: “My Life” got here out at a time in my life once I was already driving a automotive. Sure, I used to be 15, but my father also let me drive himself, my siblings, and my friends wherever we would have liked to go because he got bored with running errands. We just agreed that if I got pulled over, he would not know I used to be taking the automotive. Coincidentally, although I used to be in a position to use the automotive at no cost for a solid yr before I could even apply for a driving license, I failed my driving test the primary time I took it on my sixteenth birthday. You’ve never seen a father more lost and upset in his son than my father was that day. We now call my father’s facial expressions “core memory.”

If you’re reading this because you’ve got seen the words of Mary J. Blige and “My Life,” you then, like me, are in a phase of life where you’re continually reminded that you’re not only getting old, but you might actually be old. I will not be old as hell, but I’m too old to be within the club, you realize?

Fortunately, nonetheless, my journey so far in my life includes a number of the best works of musical art in existence, similar to Mary J. Blige’s 1994 album “My Life.” This album – just like the profession of its lead voice, Mary J. Blige – brings me joy.