Eight Count: Marvin Hagler Disses MMA, The Story Of Top Dawg Williams
Photo by Gautham Nagesh from the National Portrait Gallery
Behold, a rundown of the stories we’re talking about at Stiff Jab headquarters here in suddenly-balmy Washington, D.C. Ladies and gents, I give you this week’s link roundup:
1) We’re starting off on a serious, alarming note– “Study: MMA Brain Injury Risk Higher Than Boxing”:
“About one-third of professional mixed martial arts matches end in knockout or technical knockout, indicating a higher incidence of brain trauma than boxing or other martial arts, according to a new study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine.” [ABC News]
2) Here’s a nice story out of Brooklyn, and our writer Sarah Deming’s old stomping grounds at Gleason’s Gym: “Paul Malignaggi strikes a blow vs. obesity”
“I was born and raised in Brooklyn,” said Malignaggi, as his pal Verteouris, and Brooklyn borough president Eric Adams listened intently. “I have the ability to give back to my community, help make a difference, and Knockout Obesity is a program I believe in. I know it can make a huge difference in the community. Boxing is an optimum, great way to exercise and with diet and nutrition added to the mix, it’s a winning program.” [ESPN New York]
3) Next up– “How HBO lost Adonis Stevenson to Showtime”. A lengthy exploration of yet another boxing-network fustercluck:
“None of this would be an issue if HBO had done its job last year and made certain not to televise an otherwise meaningless doubleheader featuring Stevenson and Sergey Kovalev without first having an agreement in place for them to meet on HBO in their next fight.” [Yahoo! Sports]
4) Here’s something different and useful: “The Big, Big List of Boxing on Twitter”. It’s exactly what it sounds like– a massive compilation of boxing-related accounts on the popular social networking service. Tweet tweet. Thanks to author Scott Christ for including us. [Bad Left Hook][[MORE]]
5) Interested in how “ESPN airing Bermane Stiverne-Chris Arreola II is a boon to boxing”? Read on:
“The global cable giant’s involvement in world-class boxing could have a far-reaching and positive impact on the sport, especially in the U.S. where elite-level boxing is usually televised on the two big subscription cable networks, HBO and Showtime.” [Ring]
6) This is something most people may not have considered. The ongoing crisis in the Ukraine may affect MMA, as the United States moves to penalize Russia for their aggression towards Crimea: “Russian MMA Talent Could Pay Price for Crimean Conflict”.
“Any political outcome that stalls bouts like Khabib Nurmagomedov-Rafael dos Anjos, and Rustam Khabilov-Benson Henderson, is plainly undesirable for MMA fans, which, of course, includes the Russian president. Putin’s government recognized MMA as a state sanctioned amateur sport in 2012, and has considered partnering with big-money professional events in the not-so-distant future.” [Bleacher Report]
7) Hate, hate, hate! Boxing legend Marvelous Marvin Hagler has some strong thoughts on America’s other favorite combat sport. “UFC Quick Quote: If you want to teach kids MMA, take them to your local bar”:
“One of the greatest middleweight boxers to ever lace up the gloves, "Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, has no love for the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), telling the folks at Yahoo! Sports that he just doesn’t understand why two guys are rolling around on the floor. And when they aren’t trying to out-muscle each other on the ground, their artless stand-up resembles a caged bar fight. Ouch.“ [MMA Mania/SB Nation]
8) And we end with this fascinating story about "the first and only American boxer to go to prison for fixing boxing matches”: Thomas “Top Dawg” Williams. Williams is the father of local light heavyweight contender Thomas Williams Jr. There’s even a video component to the story:
“He had once been a promising heavyweight with a devastating jab and a powerful frame. But he lacked the work ethic of boxing’s great contenders, and soon he was accepting easy money to lose on purpose.” [Washington Post]