Latest news with #JimLampley
Reuters
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Pacquiao latest boxer to risk legacy for lure of the ring
July 21 (Reuters) - Manny Pacquiao's return to the ring at the weekend after a four-year hiatus marked the latest example of a boxer well past his prime who could not resist the temptation of the squared circle and a chance to add to his competitive legacy. The 46-year-old Filipino came out of retirement on Saturday to fight Mario Barrios in Las Vegas but fell short of breaking his own record as the oldest-ever welterweight champion as the American boxer escaped with a majority draw. Fights involving boxers like Pacquiao, who is one of the sport's all-time greats, used to dominate headlines and attract a who's-who of celebrities ringside but there was considerably less buzz around his latest foray into the ring. "He's a tremendously meaningful fighter, but is this a meaningful fight? Not really," International Boxing Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley told Reuters ahead of the fight. "He's 46 years old. He's been away from the ring for four years. Do I need to say more?" Despite returning to the ring at an advanced age against a boxer 16 years younger than him, Pacquiao put up a valiant effort and even looked to have had the upper hand until late in the bout when Barrios turned up the aggression. Pacquiao, a Filipino senator from 2016 to 2022 and who last month was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, not only silenced some of his critics with his performance but also made clear his comeback is not over. "Don't worry, the PacMan is back, and the journey will continue," Pacquiao told reporters after the fight. Pacquiao is hardly the first middle-aged boxer who returned to the ring hoping to roll back the years. Last November, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson came out of retirement at 58 to face Jake Paul in a fight that did not match the hype. Lampley said it's not surprising to see fighters miss the thrill of the spotlight, even if they are far from their peak, and recounted a time he once asked Sugar Ray Leonard, who made two ill-fated comebacks, why it was so hard to stay away. "He said 'I have surveyed every thrill a man of my level of privilege can experience. Nothing matches the thrill of stepping out of that corner ... another man facing me from 15 feet away, and trying to prove I am more man than him'," Lampley said. "He knew why he couldn't quit. He could not give up the thrill of that identity and that experience. It is absolutely an addiction." Like any sport, competing at the highest level presents many challenges as an athlete ages. But in a sport like boxing, which involves repeated blows to the head, it also comes with specific health concerns. Robert Cantu, medical director of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, said the cumulative effect of repeated blows over a career can take a toll and one should be wary of subjecting an aging brain to more injury. "The reason we don't (want people boxing in their 40s) is that the brain is already starting to lose neural cells after the age of 20, and by the age of 40 you've lost a fair number," said Cantu. "And if you keep losing more than you would have otherwise lost because you are having your head rattled around taking blows you are increasing your risk for dementia." For some aging boxers who still possess name recognition and the ability to land lucrative paydays, that risk appears worth it for them to step back into the ring though one is left to wonder if their fights are doing the sport more harm than good.
South China Morning Post
21-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Manny Pacquiao only the latest boxing great to risk his legacy for lure of the ring
Manny Pacquiao's return to the ring last weekend after a four-year hiatus marked the latest example of a boxer well past his prime who could not resist the temptation of the squared circle and a chance to add to his competitive legacy. The 46-year-old Filipino came out of retirement on Saturday to fight Mario Barrios in Las Vegas but fell short of breaking his own record as the oldest-ever welterweight champion, as the American boxer escaped with a majority draw. Fights involving boxers such as Pacquiao, who is one of the sport's all-time greats, used to dominate headlines and attract a who's-who of celebrities ringside, but there was considerably less buzz around his latest foray into the ring. 'He's a tremendously meaningful fighter, but is this a meaningful fight? Not really,' said International Boxing Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley before the fight. 'He's 46 years old. He's been away from the ring for four years. Do I need to say more?' Despite returning to the ring at an advanced age against a boxer 16 years younger, Pacquiao put up a valiant effort and even looked to have had the upper hand until late in the bout when Barrios turned up the aggression. Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios (right) hug after their fight, which ended in a draw. Photo: AFP Pacquiao, a Filipino senator from 2016 to 2022 and who last month was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, not only silenced some of his critics with his performance but also made clear his comeback was not over.
CNA
21-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Pacquiao latest boxer to risk legacy for lure of the ring
Manny Pacquiao's return to the ring at the weekend after a four-year hiatus marked the latest example of a boxer well past his prime who could not resist the temptation of the squared circle and a chance to add to his competitive legacy. The 46-year-old Filipino came out of retirement on Saturday to fight Mario Barrios in Las Vegas but fell short of breaking his own record as the oldest-ever welterweight champion as the American boxer escaped with a majority draw. Fights involving boxers like Pacquiao, who is one of the sport's all-time greats, used to dominate headlines and attract a who's-who of celebrities ringside but there was considerably less buzz around his latest foray into the ring. "He's a tremendously meaningful fighter, but is this a meaningful fight? Not really," International Boxing Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley told Reuters ahead of the fight. "He's 46 years old. He's been away from the ring for four years. Do I need to say more?" Despite returning to the ring at an advanced age against a boxer 16 years younger than him, Pacquiao put up a valiant effort and even looked to have had the upper hand until late in the bout when Barrios turned up the aggression. Pacquiao, a Filipino senator from 2016 to 2022 and who last month was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, not only silenced some of his critics with his performance but also made clear his comeback is not over. "Don't worry, the PacMan is back, and the journey will continue," Pacquiao told reporters after the fight. Pacquiao is hardly the first middle-aged boxer who returned to the ring hoping to roll back the years. Last November, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson came out of retirement at 58 to face Jake Paul in a fight that did not match the hype. Lampley said it's not surprising to see fighters miss the thrill of the spotlight, even if they are far from their peak, and recounted a time he once asked Sugar Ray Leonard, who made two ill-fated comebacks, why it was so hard to stay away. "He said 'I have surveyed every thrill a man of my level of privilege can experience. Nothing matches the thrill of stepping out of that corner ... another man facing me from 15 feet away, and trying to prove I am more man than him'," Lampley said. "He knew why he couldn't quit. He could not give up the thrill of that identity and that experience. It is absolutely an addiction." HEALTH CONCERNS Like any sport, competing at the highest level presents many challenges as an athlete ages. But in a sport like boxing, which involves repeated blows to the head, it also comes with specific health concerns. Robert Cantu, medical director of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, said the cumulative effect of repeated blows over a career can take a toll and one should be wary of subjecting an aging brain to more injury. "The reason we don't (want people boxing in their 40s) is that the brain is already starting to lose neural cells after the age of 20, and by the age of 40 you've lost a fair number," said Cantu. "And if you keep losing more than you would have otherwise lost because you are having your head rattled around taking blows you are increasing your risk for dementia." For some aging boxers who still possess name recognition and the ability to land lucrative paydays, that risk appears worth it for them to step back into the ring though one is left to wonder if their fights are doing the sport more harm than good.
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Making the case for Shakur Stevenson as a crowd-pleaser ahead of William Zepeda clash
Shakur Stevenson will defend his WBC lightweight title against William Zepeda on 12 July, and will enter the ring with the added weight of cynicism from the boxing world over his style. The three-weight world champion has long endured criticism for not being a fan-friendly boxer - too boring, too safe... or is he just too good? Legendary boxing commentator Jim Lampley said of Stevenson: 'Shakur Stevenson is choosing to win, and so far in choosing to win, he's getting less entertaining... I think a fight against [Gervonta] 'Tank' Davis would be a great attraction, but nobody wants to see Shakur Stevenson go in and play chess." World champion trainer Robert Garcia said: 'Nobody is happy to challenge him. Nobody is out there like, 'Oh, s***, I want to fight Shakur,' because he brings no excitement to the fight.' Watching Stevenson is less like watching fireworks than it is admiring the intricacies and minutia of a watch's movements. To that effect, labelling a fighter as 'boring' is a mischaracterisation of concepts that an onlooker perhaps cannot comprehend. Stevenson has become a victim of his own success and skill. It therefore seems appropriate to set the record straight and explain why the WBC lightweight champion is one of the most exciting talents that boxing has to offer. Watch The Ring 3 live from New York exclusively on DAZN PPV, Saturday 12 July. Buy the PPV now here. Distance control Something that often gets eclipsed by flashy combinations and knockout punches is the ability of a boxer to make micro adjustments to their feet to put themselves inside or outside of range. Using their feet as bait or as an escape. This is a crucial element of Stevenson's game. Time and time again, we see his opponents fall short by the barest of margins and find themselves on the end of a vicious counter-shot or combination. Some mistake this for not wanting to fight - but when you're levels are significantly above your opponents, the only chance they have of snatching a win is drawing you into a firefight at close range. Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime. See Schedule ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Stevenson has become the master of avoiding unnecessary exchanges. He takes half a step on his rear leg or simply leans back, coiling himself like a cobra ready to strike in a split second if his opponent reveals a gap in his defence or comes an inch too close. You will rarely see Stevenson take more than two steps in the same direction, making his range impossible to locate and his attacks extremely difficult to predict. An understanding of this skill unlocks a deeper appreciation for how difficult it is for a fighter to make another professional fighter fall forward and miss completely. Making it even more impressive that Stevenson makes it look easy. Counter punching Counter punching is an alchemy of boxing, mixing anticipation, reactions and hand speed to exploit the gaps in an opponent's attacks. It is in these fine margins that the difference between a good fighter and a great fighter is found. Some of the best counter punches in boxing history include Floyd Mayweather, Muhammad Ali and Roy Jones Jr. Who are, unsurprisingly, also some of the best boxers of all time. In the modern game, Stevenson is one of the best examples of someone who employs the use of counterpunching to great effect. Granted, pure counterpunchers can breed stagnation in bouts as they rarely take the initiative, but Stevenson is not as one-dimensional as that and perfectly utilises it to muzzle his aggressive opponents and draw out those who are content to remain inert. A perfect demonstration of this comes from Stevenson's last fight against Josh Padley. In the opening stanzas, the WBC champ doesn't wait for Padley to throw first. He flicks out sharp jabs to force Padley into action and lure him into range, hoping to find a counter to Stevenson's jab. This is exactly what Stevenson wants. To draw out a counterpunch to land one of his own. As Padley steps in with a counter jab or right hand, he gets caught with a right hook or left hand from Stevenson. After nine rounds of countering every weapon Padley had to offer, the Englishman lost confidence in his arsenal and resorted to desperate attempts to score a knockout. This opened the door for the much more composed Stevenson to go to work and unleash lightning-fast combinations, on the front foot, which would eventually end the fight. The Newark native's counterpunching ability not only creates moments of almost artistic brilliance in the ring, where he can look prescient at times, but it builds anticipation. When Stevenson and his opponent posture in front of each other, there is a feeling of palpable anxiety as he is poised to strike - building excitement into a fight that volume punchers or brawlers cannot. Combinations Combination punching should be the – putting shots together with good variety and speed is one of the most efficient ways to score points and break through an opponent's defence. When Stevenson lets his hands go, his combinations are a joy to watch. They flow like water and evolve into a torrent to drown his opposition. You will often see him measuring the distance to his opponent before mounting an attack – he will place his lead hand onto the guard of his opponent so he can gauge exactly where they are. This allows him to land with pinpoint accuracy and obscure their vision to any incoming fire. Because of this, he often begins his combinations with a rear left hand, either as a straight or a hook around the guard. But what is most eye-catching about Stevenson's combinations is the variety with which he throws. Stevenson flows so instinctively between head and body. Throwing hooks followed up by straights or uppercuts that split the guard before switching down to the body and getting himself back out at range. The New Jersey native does not throw wild combinations. They are considered and only thrown at the opportune moment, which is why they are so effective – he is not wasteful. A mistake many fighters make is getting too close to their opponents when in combination, crowding their work. Stevenson, such is his pugilistic wizardry, throws three or four shots and re-establishes his range with the lead hand before unloading another barrage if the opportunity is there. Boxing is a sport of many different styles, and sometimes you may see a style that's not for you, that's your right as a fan. But to cast the dye of boredom on a three-weight world champion and one of the most talented boxers in any weight class seems like you haven't taken the time to truly understand the type of fighter that he is. You are missing out.
Forbes
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
HBO Boxing Icon Jim Lampley Drops Blistering Trump-Mayweather Take
Floyd Mayweather and Donald Trump, HBO Boxing Icon says, "No Mayweather, No Trump" 'No Mayweather, no Trump.' That's the heavy-duty take HBO Boxing icon Jim Lampley dropped on me during our conversation on Friday afternoon. It's one of the most polarizing, but plausible things anyone has said to me in a while. In case you're a relatively young sports fan or someone who didn't pay much attention to HBO Boxing during the 1990s and early 2000s, you may not know Lampley. Without listing every accolade and distinction, I'll say this: there are people in every industry who have a combination of experience and wherewithal that enables them to captivate a room with the stories and takes they've accumulated during their journey through levels of their craft and the years of their life. Lampley is one of those people. CANASTOTA, NY - JUNE 14: Boxing commentator Jim Lampley poses with his new ring and photo on the ... More wall after the induction ceremony at the International Boxing Hall of Fame induction Weekend of Champions events on June 14, 2015 in Canastota, New York. (Photo by) During our interview, we discussed his book, It Happened, his autobiography that tells the story of his 50-year career in sports broadcasting and tons of boxing stories and concepts. I asked him about the infamous post-fight moment with his longtime broadcast partner Larry Merchant—you know the one, where Mayweather snapped, 'you don't know s### about boxing,' and Merchant fired back, 'if I was 50 years younger, I'd kick your a##.' It's classic. I wanted to know from Lampley, who was there, what the deal was with Mayweather and Merchant, but I got so much more. Lampley explained, 'Well, obviously it was something that built up over a long period of time. I think that Larry gave him proper credit for being a great fighter. In particular, he didn't like that Larry would sometimes say something to the effect of, well, he's great and you can't beat him, but he isn't gonna sell a single ticket with this style, that kind of thing.' Clearly, Merchant was wrong about Mayweather's ability to sell tickets. No fighter has made more in pay-per-view revenue, and Mayweather can still command a crowd and a payday by participating in boxing exhibitions. Also, if you watch the history of post-fight interviews between Mayweather and Merchant, the latter is particularly abrupt and a little antagonistic toward the fighter. Even during the aforementioned interview, the conversation starts off with Mayweather having his arm around Merchant. However, Merchant's tone and verbiage was off-putting to Mayweather as it came just moments after the controversial ending to his fight with Victor Ortiz, but I digress. That aspect of Lampley's answer was mostly what I expected to hear. The broadcast journalism legend delivered a punchier concept as he delved deeper into Mayweather's dynamic and his overall influence on American culture. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 26: Floyd Mayweather Jr. visits "Making Money With Charles Payne" at ... More Fox Business Network Studios on February 26, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by) The concept is wild, but not completely unfathomable. I used to say this about Mayweather, 'it takes a special kind of person to be at peace with being the most hated person in a room.' In that sense, it's easy to see tons of people in every industry who have adopted that approach–whether they got it from Mayweather or someone else. DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 18: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, ... More brings boxing legend Thomas Hearns to the stage during a campaign rally on October 18, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. There are 17 days remaining until the U.S. presidential election, which will take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. (Photo by) Donald Trump's involvement with boxing dates back to the late 1980s and early 1990s, when Trump Plaza in Atlantic City became a key venue for major fights. At its peak, the hotel and casino played host to several heavyweight title bouts, including, Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks in 1988 and Evander Holyfield vs. George Foreman in 1991. Trump didn't just rent out space for the fights—he appeared to actively positioned himself as a central figure in these events, often appearing ringside, hosting press conferences, and getting photographed with the fighters. ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - JANUARY 22: Businessman Donald Trump in ring with boxer Mike Tyson after ... More knocking out opponent Larry Holmes at Tyson vs Holmes Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey January 22 1988. (Photo by Jeffrey Asher/ Getty Images) Some may argue Trump used these moments to build prestige, associate himself with dominance and success, and to thrust himself into the spotlight. Needless to say, it seems to have worked. ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - JANUARY 22: Businessman Donald Trump and Champion Boxer Evander Holyfield at ... More Tyson vs Holmes Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey January 22 1988. (Photo by Jeffrey Asher/ Getty Images) Putting a bow on the Mayweather-Merchant beef: Mayweather's rise to global prominence began in the mid-2000s. Specifically, his bet-on-myself fight against Oscar De La Hoya in 2007. The fight marked Mayweather's triumphant separation from Top Rank Boxing and it also was the cornerstone moment of his shift from 'Pretty Boy' to 'Money.' Mayweather and Trump's paths would more publicly cross years later. In 2017, Trump publicly praised Mayweather after his win over Conor McGregor, calling him a "great guy" and 'an unbelievable fighter.' Mayweather also endorsed Trump for President earlier. Mayweather may have used social media to push negative concepts in the past. However, to his credit, I interviewed him earlier this year, and he formally apologized for every time he used social media to be toxic. That admission actually adds some credence to Lampley's concept. I've never had an opportunity to speak to President Trump, but I can promise you, if I do, I will ask him if he learned anything from his encounters with Mayweather. Whether Trump truly studied Mayweather's moves or simply mirrored them instinctively, the similarities are clear—and Lampley might be one of the only people to call it out this directly.
