Does anyone have Trevor Berbick vs Mitch Blood Green? I so want to see that fight. A Majority decision win by Berbick on the Hector Camacho vs Jose Luis Ramirez undercard.
I was disappointed, but my friend arranged another meet up. I was to help with a private signing. A month before the date of this meeting, Carlos got sick. He would then go into hospice care, and eventually pass away.
Today I received a signed pic from that friend. 🥊❤️
R.I.P.
In 2021 a friend arranged a meeting with Ortiz in his home in the Bronx. I couldn’t make it because of work. The pics they took were legendary. They were in his apartment, wearing his belts, he was raising their hands as if they won the title by KO!
I left the next morning to drive back to NYC to attend the GGG fight at MSG. My friends texted me saying that Ortiz was great that Saturday. Hanging out, talking, signing and taking pics.
The following year Covid shut the world down.
My first time attending Canastota was in 2019. While at the Judah fight, I met Undisputed Lightweight Champion Carlos Ortiz. It was late, and he wasn’t in the greatest condition at that point. But I was able to shake his hand, and talk to him briefly.
Happy Birthday to former boxer and trainer Errol Christie. A standout amateur, that had several fun professional fights. Sadly he passed away in 2017 at the age of 53. 🏴🥊
Happy Birthday to former Heavyweight prospect Sonny Banks. He’s also known for being the first boxer to knock Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) down. Sadly he passed away in 1965 at the age of 24 from injuries sustained in a fight against Leotis Martin. 🙏🏼🥊
Xander Zayas and Boots Ennis waged a brutal war of attrition, where machismo took precedence over everything else. It was a thrilling bout and the crowd loved it. But with more maturity, will both realize that there could have been another way?
My column:
saturdaynightboxing.com/2026…
It’s amazing how much more enjoyable boxing discussion are in person, than online on social media.
Shoutout to JJ from the Spit Bucket Pod, BOXING and BBQ, Naji, Dan Canobbio, Algieri, Bruce Trampler, Russ Anber, etc. This weekend was a blast.
Happy Birthday to just a personal fave HW of mine, Alex Stewart. He won some, he lost some, but mostly all of those were by stoppage. Still love his fight vs Big George Foreman. Sadly he passed away in 2016 at the age of 52. 🏴🇯🇲🥊