Latest news with #InternationalBoxingHallOfFame
The National
6 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Eisa Al Dah says Ricky Hatton fight will put Dubai on the boxing map
After more than six months of negotiations, Eisa Al Dah believes he has finally checked off one of his long-held objectives: putting Dubai on the boxing world map. The Emirati will take on former two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton in a middleweight contest at The Agenda in Dubai on December 2 – a red letter day in the country when it celebrates its 54th National Day. Al Dah, the first Emirati pro boxer and now promoter, has lofty ambitions to turn Dubai into the 'Las Vegas of boxing,' and he believes he's already captured the world's attention with Monday's announcement. 'I have been in this game for a long time and the announcement of Hatton returning to the ring has already created a buzz in the international media,' Al Dah told The National in an exclusive interview. Hatton, who turns 47 in October, held the light-welterweight and welterweight world titles and is returning to the ring after his last professional bout in 2012, where he suffered a ninth-round knockout to Ukraine's Vyacheslav Senchenko. His only other two defeats were against Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao, widely regarded as two of the finest boxers of all time. He has a professional record of 45 wins, 32 by way of knockout, against three losses. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024. Al Dah, 46, has a pro record of eight wins and three defeats, according to the last of which came against the Mexican Pedro Alejandro Delgado in Mexico City in July 2021. 'It was my plan to stage a big show, and I tried all the big names that I could think of, and finally it was Hatton who agreed. We are about the same age and we both are returning after being out of boxing for a while. 'Now I come back with something very big. I was working for this deal for over six months and we closed the deal with this big champion Ricky Hatton. He's a big name, he fought Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, and he was a great fighter.' The fight with Hatton, slated for eight rounds, is dubbed 'Destiny in the Desert 2" and brings Al Dah full circle – his first bout, also in Dubai, was the original 'Destiny in the Desert' against American Larry Foster in 2007. Having started his journey in the sport with the UAE national team in 2001, Al Dah turned professional six years later, winning his first three bouts before a defeat to Mexican Alfredo Valdes two years later. 'Boxing didn't get the attention it deserved back in my early days and having spent nearly 25 years in the game, I'm in a position now to achieve something more for the sport and for the UAE,' he said. 'I also want to inspire people over here that I can still become a champion at 46. This is my main goal. It's not the money, it's just for the UAE. This is what made me return to the ring,' Al Dah said. 'I want to make boxing so big over here. I want to make Dubai Las Vegas.' Al Dah regularly hosts boxing events in Dubai, promoting upcoming boxers from India, Pakistan, Egypt, Morocco and the Middle East region under his EMD Fight Nights banner. He admits luring Hatton to step out of retirement has not come cheap, but hopes the benefits will be long-lasting for Dubai. 'Of course he's a big name in boxing and he is not coming for free,' Al Dah said. 'You cannot bring a big name without money. It's a good deal for Dubai to benefit as a venue. 'It's not about the money, it's just about history, where one guy from the UAE is taking on a boxing legend.' With less than five months to go before fight night against Hatton, Al Dah says he will set aside his business interests to focus on his preparations for the fight. 'I'll leave all my business work aside and just concentrate on training for the fight. I'll train in the US, training with the best of the best. It's just me and training, that's it,' he said.
South China Morning Post
09-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Pacquiao honoured for hall of fame career, Philippine fighter says ‘best is yet to come'
Manny Pacquiao's fighting days aren't finished yet, as he's coming out of retirement at 46 for a shot at another title next month. No matter what happens in the remaining stage, it's hard to find many better résumés than the one he has already assembled in a career that landed him in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in New York on Sunday. 'And now, when I look back, eight-division world champion, world titles in four different decades, oldest welterweight world champion in history, those are not just opinions. They are facts,' Pacquiao said. The Philippine fighter was the headline name in the class of 2025 that was enshrined during a ceremony at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona. He won't be able to celebrate too long, as then it's back to training for his July 19 bout in Las Vegas against WBC champion Mario Barrios. Pacquiao didn't mention that during his speech at the end of a lengthy induction ceremony. Instead he focused on the record-setting accomplishment of winning titles in eight weight classes, a fighter who made his pro debut in the 106-pound class and rose all the way to win a title at the 154lbs limit. 'From flyweight to junior middleweight, eight divisions,' Pacquiao said. 'Every fight, every victory was a step further from poverty. It was not just for me but for my family, for the Filipino people.'
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hollywood star and boxing legends in Canastota for Parade of Champions
CANASTOTA, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)— For one weekend every year, the small village of Canastota becomes the center of the boxing universe — and this year, it brought a little bit of Hollywood with it. On June 8, 2025, Fans lined the streets on Sunday for the International Boxing Hall of Fame parade, waving and cheering, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite fighters. But it was Euphoria and Anyone But You actress Sydney Sweeney who got some of the biggest cheers of the day. 'This weekend is great I love the history boxing hall of the fame sydney sweeney is quite an attraction, said Jordan Goldberger, a fan driving from New Jersey for the a parade sayign when he sees Sydney, 'I don't know if I'm gonna fall if shes going to wave to me…as long as she can acknowledge me it's gonna be a great day.' Travel advisory: Lane closures for interstate 81 S Sweeney rode through the route, waving to fans from a float, drawing a mix of boxing buffs and starstruck spectators. It marked her first appearance at the event, which has a decades-long tradition of blending sports history with small-town charm. Of course, the parade's proper spotlight stayed on the athletes who built their legacies in the ring. Among them: five-time world champion Vinny Paz, who made the trip from his home in New Jersey to be part of the celebration. 'It brings me back to the 50 wins, and some of those fights were tough. I fought nothing but champions, said Pez, reminding fans, 'I've got the 10 losses–50 in 10– 30 knockouts–the ten losses were also world champions!' Between Hollywood glitz and footwork, this year's parade packed a punch, reminding everyone why Canastota still holds a special place in boxing history. The Hall of Fame's induction weekend wraps up Sunday with the official ceremony honoring the Class of 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jamaican boxing legend Mike McCallum dies aged 68
Mike McCallum has passed away at the age of 68 (Getty) Jamaicanboxing legend Mike McCallum, who was a three-weight world champion during the 1980s and 1990s, has died at the age of 68. McCallum died suddenly near his home in Las Vegas on Saturday (31 May), with the Jamaica Observer reporting that he was on his way to the gym when he fell ill and pulled his car off the road. He was later found unresponsive and later pronounced dead. Advertisement Known 'The Bodysnatcher' due to his vicious punching ability, especially to the body, McCallum was the first Jamaican to become a boxing world champion – eventually winning titles at junior middleweight, middleweight and light heavyweight between 1984 and 1995. After retiring in 1997 with 49 wins, five losses and one draw from 55 fights, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003. Jamaica's sport minister Olivia Grange wrote on Instagram: "It is with utter and complete sadness that I learned of the death of Jamaica's three-time World Boxing Champion Michael McKenzie McCallum. "I express my personal condolences to his mother, siblings and his children. On behalf of the Ministry of Sport, I take this opportunity to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of this legendary Jamaican. Advertisement "We hope they find strength in this time of bereavement." Mike McCallum (left) was known as 'The Bodysnatcher' due to his punching power (Getty) His most famous fights came against the likes of Michael Watson, Steve Collins, James Toney and Roy Jones Jr, having turned professional in 1981 after winning welterweight gold for Jamaica at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. McCallum became world champion when he beat Ireland's Sean Mannion at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1984, claiming the WBA junior middleweight crown, and won his first 32 fights in the paid ranks, including successful title defences against Milton McCrory and Don Curry. His first defeat came in Italy against Sumbu Kalambay in 1988 when trying to add the WBA middleweight title to his collection but he did claim that belt a year later by earning a split-decision win over Herol Graham in the Royal Albert Hall in London. Advertisement Successful defences came against Collins in Boston and Watson back at the Royal Albert Hall before avenging his Kalambay defeat in Monaco. December 1991 saw the first of a trilogy of fights against Toney over the course of his remaining career – with a split-decision draw and majority-decision loss in the space of nine months twice denying him the IBF middleweight belt. McCallum won titles at junior middleweight, middleweight and light heavyweight during his professional career (Getty) He did win a world title in a third weight division as a 38-year-old in 1994 when Jeff Harding was defeated for the WBC light heavyweight title but lost it to Fabrice Tiozzo a year later. His career then ended with losses to Jones Jr and Toney, the latter at cruiserweight. McCallum was hugely technically gifted as fighter and is undoubtedly the greatest Jamaican boxer of all time, as well as one of the best of his era, who leaves a huge legacy behind. 'Rest in Peace to the legendary Mike 'The Body Snatcher' McCallum,' read a tribute from the WBA. 'Former WBA world champion and one of the most technically gifted fighters of his era. Thank you for the fights, the lessons, and the greatness."
The Independent
02-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Jamaican boxing legend Mike McCallum dies aged 68
Jamaican boxing legend Mike McCallum, who was a three-weight world champion during the 1980s and 1990s, has died at the age of 68. McCallum died suddenly near his home in Las Vegas on Saturday (31 May), with the Jamaica Observer reporting that he was on his way to the gym when he fell ill and pulled his car off the road. He was later found unresponsive and later pronounced dead. Known 'The Bodysnatcher' due to his vicious punching ability, especially to the body, McCallum was the first Jamaican to become a boxing world champion – eventually winning titles at junior middleweight, middleweight and light heavyweight between 1984 and 1995. After retiring in 1997 with 49 wins, five losses and one draw from 55 fights, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003. Jamaica's sport minister Olivia Grange wrote on Instagram: "It is with utter and complete sadness that I learned of the death of Jamaica's three-time World Boxing Champion Michael McKenzie McCallum. "I express my personal condolences to his mother, siblings and his children. On behalf of the Ministry of Sport, I take this opportunity to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of this legendary Jamaican. "We hope they find strength in this time of bereavement." His most famous fights came against the likes of Michael Watson, Steve Collins, James Toney and Roy Jones Jr, having turned professional in 1981 after winning welterweight gold for Jamaica at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. McCallum became world champion when he beat Ireland's Sean Mannion at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1984, claiming the WBA junior middleweight crown, and won his first 32 fights in the paid ranks, including successful title defences against Milton McCrory and Don Curry. His first defeat came in Italy against Sumbu Kalambay in 1988 when trying to add the WBA middleweight title to his collection but he did claim that belt a year later by earning a split-decision win over Herol Graham in the Royal Albert Hall in London. Successful defences came against Collins in Boston and Watson back at the Royal Albert Hall before avenging his Kalambay defeat in Monaco. December 1991 saw the first of a trilogy of fights against Toney over the course of his remaining career – with a split-decision draw and majority-decision loss in the space of nine months twice denying him the IBF middleweight belt. He did win a world title in a third weight division as a 38-year-old in 1994 when Jeff Harding was defeated for the WBC light heavyweight title but lost it to Fabrice Tiozzo a year later. His career then ended with losses to Jones Jr and Toney, the latter at cruiserweight. McCallum was hugely technically gifted as fighter and is undoubtedly the greatest Jamaican boxer of all time, as well as one of the best of his era, who leaves a huge legacy behind. 'Rest in Peace to the legendary Mike 'The Body Snatcher' McCallum,' read a tribute from the WBA. 'Former WBA world champion and one of the most technically gifted fighters of his era. Thank you for the fights, the lessons, and the greatness."
