Jerry Izenberg
98 articles · The Star- Ledger
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Manny Pacquiao, one of the greatest fighters, wrestles with a future outside the ring
LAS VEGAS — The late Cus D’Amato was right. Fighters don’t get old in the gym, the Hall-of-Fame trainer said. They get old all at once after the bell rings for Round…
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Why I’m picking Manny Pacquiao in a decision over Yordenis Ugas
LAS VEGAS — Miguel de Cervantes wrote “Don Quixote” at 57. Shakespeare produced “The Two Noble Kinsmen” at 49. And Frank Sinatra played an iconic Madison Square Garden concert at 59. So,…
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For Manny Pacquiao, every fight is a campaign for Filipinos
LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao needs no introduction in this city. At age 42, as a sitting Filipino senator, he soon will announce his plans to run for the Presidency of the…
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Manny Pacquiao has a new opponent. Who the heck is Yordenis Ugas?
LAS VEGAS — On Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena, Yordenis Ugas steps center stage for the biggest moment of his semi-anonymous professional boxing career. OK, so who the hell is Yordenis Ugas,…
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Showtime’s boxing documentary on Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Duran is king
Muhammad Ali was gone after a senseless beating from Larry Holmes when the magic had departed, followed by an embarrassing 10 rounds in the Bahamas against Trevor Berbick. His departure left a…
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Pride a driving force for heavyweight legends in ‘Once There Were Giants’ excerpt
Excerpted from "Once There Were Giants: The Golden Age of Heavyweight Boxing" by Jerry Izenberg. Copyright © 2017. Paperback now available from Skyhorse on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. EPILOGUE “Now you…
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Judges cheated Marvin Hagler, but Newark’s ‘homeboy’ never cheated the fans or himself
Marvin Hagler died Saturday — unexpectedly his wife said — at age 66. He was a great fighter. He was also my friend. When I heard the news, my thoughts immediately flashed…
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Ali-Frazier’s Fight of the Century left ‘Smokin’ Joe’ steaming, even though he won
“You know I won. The judges know I won. So what do I got to do? Tell me, what the hell do I got to do to get out from under that…
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Leon Spinks: One glorious moment that couldn’t last a lifetime
“Monday’s child is fair of face, Tuesday’s child is full of grace, Wednesday’s child is full of woe, Thursday’s child has far to go, Friday’s child is loving and giving, Saturday’s child…
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It’s ‘Macho Time’ on Showtime: Documentary captures the wild (and tragic) life of Hector Camacho
During his golden years, he was the King of Spanish Harlem. He didn’t just walk the streets. He floated through them, his garish sequin-studded outfits sparkling in the sunlight and the neon-studded…
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Mixed blood, sweat and tears: The long, strange and untold saga of boxing champion Marvin Camel
This is a boxing story. Not the sham of Hollywood and what seems like 32 “Rocky” films but a real one with real people with real emotions. It begins in Montana on…
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Tyson Fury rode in on a throne and left as the undisputed heavyweight king
LAS VEGAS — The Gypsy King has reclaimed his throne. Tyson Fury entered the ring at the MGM Grand Saturday night wearing a gold crown and a cape, astride a golden throne…
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Who will win Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury 2? A prediction
LAS VEGAS — The last time we saw Tyson Fury and Deontay Wider inside a ring together, all hell broke loose. For most of the night, Fury’s superior boxing skills took Wilder…
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Are they really talking about Wilder-Fury 3 already? Hey, these guys aren’t Ali and Frazier
LAS VEGAS — Well, if it ever was a secret, it ain’t anymore. Here, during the final countdown hours before Wilder-Fury II on Saturday night, the real possibility of yet a third…
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Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder 2: Wilder showing some inner fury over disrespect
LAS VEGAS — Once upon a time in arenas and ballparks from California to New York, there was nothing to rival the magic moment that could grab a heavyweight fight crowd by…
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Fury vs. Wilder 2: When the heavyweight champion wanted to kill himself
LAS VEGAS – Paris Fury remembers her husband, Tyson, getting into his sports car after telling her, “I’m not coming back.” Then there was the sound of an engine accelerating almost violently…
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Canelo vs. GGG 2: It all came down to Round 12, which was too close to call
LAS VEGAS -- When it counted down the homestretch of Saturday night's middleweight title unification fight -- and rematch -- between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin's, the last three rounds boiled down…
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Triple G taunts Canelo: Stand and fight! | Canelo vs. GGG
LAS VEGAS -- In the beginning it didn't sound a single alarm bell from Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in West Hollywood all the way east to the fourth incarnation of Gleason's…
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Canelo vs. GGG: Believing he was robbed in first fight, Alvarez promises one-sided beating
LAS VEGAS -- It was a simple question, days before the biggest fight of his life. A guy asked Canelo Alvarez, "When you were a kid, could you possibly imagine yourself as…
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Canelo vs. GGG2: For Golovkin and Alvarez, this is really personal
LAS VEGAS -- This one is personal. Forget the smoke and mirrors that have become television's idea of turning the prefight rituals of a main event into the History Channel's version of…