A century at ringside: the Boxing Writers Association of America at 100

Boxing Writers Association of America Celebrates Centennial Anniversary and Awards Dinner

The Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) is set to commemorate a significant milestone, its centennial anniversary. The organization’s 100th annual awards dinner will be held in New York on April 30th, marking a century of honoring excellence in the sport of boxing.

Founding and Early Years of the BWAA

Initially known as the Boxing Writers Association of Greater New York, the BWAA was established by prominent figures Damon Runyan, Paul Gallico, Ed Sullivan, Nat Fleischer, Edward J Neil, and Wilbur Wood. Their stated objective was to enhance working conditions at boxing events for journalists based in New York and their visiting peers.

The inaugural dinner, held at the Hotel Astor on April 25, 1926, attracted a star-studded guest list, headlined by baseball legend Babe Ruth. Five of the eight reigning world boxing champions attended, alongside writers representing 20 cities. The New York Times highlighted New York City Mayor James J Walker’s keynote speech with the prominent headline, “Keep Boxing Clean, is Mayor’s Warning,” further elaborated by a sub-headline: “Walker Tells 1,000 at Writer’s Dinner, Police Will Aid in Driving Out Undesirables.”

Mayor Walker’s Address on Boxing Integrity

According to the article recounting the event, Mayor Walker asserted that the era of thuggery in boxing was ending. He declared that “rowdies or groups of rowdies” could no longer sway decisions through intimidation. He emphasized that outcomes of boxing matches should be determined within the ring, not through illicit means.

The Mayor further commented on the newfound collective voice for the sport, stating that boxing had “never had an organization to go to the front for it.” He expressed confidence that the writers would “take up the cudgels for the game” in the face of future criticisms.

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The report on the dinner concluded by noting the “elaborate entertainment” provided, featuring well-known Broadway performers and popular entertainers from the city’s leading nightclubs.

Subsequent Dinners and Evolving Times

The following year, boxing writers reconvened at the Hotel Astor. On this occasion, the guest of honor was newly crowned heavyweight champion Gene Tunney. Promoter Tex Rickard was among the thousand attendees, and Mayor Walker once again graced the event.

The media landscape has drastically changed over the past century. Newspapers were the primary news source a hundred years ago, with radio emerging as a significant medium. Television was still in its nascent stages. At the time, both baseball and boxing were considered America’s national sports.

Today, boxing occupies a more niche position in American sports. The era where major newspapers employed dedicated boxing writers with in-depth knowledge of the sport and its business is largely over.

However, the BWAA has endured. Its annual awards remain highly prestigious. Reflecting on this legacy, this article acknowledges some of boxing’s most significant figures from the last 100 years.

BWAA Annual Awards: Recognizing Boxing Excellence

The BWAA initiated its annual awards in 1938, first presenting the “Fighter of the Year” accolade. This was followed by the establishment of further honors, including “Manager of the Year” (1967), “Excellence in Broadcast Journalism” (1982), “Trainer of the Year” (1989), and “Fight of the Year” (2002). While other awards, including those for writers, exist, they garner less prominence.

Presented here are selections for what could be termed the BWAA “centennial awards.” It’s important to note that consideration begins from 1925, thereby excluding luminaries like Jack Johnson and the early career of Jack Dempsey.

Promoters: Shaping Modern Boxing

The BWAA has never formally recognized a “Promoter of the Year.” However, three individuals deserve acknowledgement for elevating the sport to unprecedented levels.

Tex Rickard essentially invented the role of the modern promoter, legitimizing boxing within high society and generating the sport’s first $5 million gates. Before the BWAA’s inception, Rickard promoted landmark bouts such as Jack Johnson versus James Jeffries, and Jack Dempsey’s clashes with Jess Willard, George Carpentier, and Luis Firpo. Later, he promoted the Dempsey-Tunney I and Tunney-Dempsey II rematches, drawing massive crowds.

Despite his contributions, Rickard’s character was complex. In 1922, he faced serious charges, though he was ultimately acquitted in a trial related to one case, and other cases were subsequently dropped. Upon his death in 1929, a vast outpouring of public grief saw thousands attend his funeral service.

Bob Arum began his promoting career in 1966. His company, Top Rank, has since promoted over 2,000 fight cards and 700 world championship contests. Arum has consistently adopted new technologies and was among the first to recognize and capitalize on the growing Hispanic market in the United States for boxing.

Don King became an iconic figure, transcending boxing itself. He dominated the sport, particularly the heavyweight division, for many years and achieved global recognition. King possessed the vision to transform fights into culturally significant events, most notably bringing Muhammad Ali versus George Foreman to Zaire.

Other promoters such as Mike Jacobs and regional figures like George Parnassus and Herman Taylor made notable contributions. However, Rickard, Arum, and King stand out as the preeminent “big three” promoters in boxing history.

Ultimately, Tex Rickard’s impact is profound: he elevated boxing from a largely illegal activity into a sport of immense scale and societal acceptance, leaving it significantly improved.

Managers in Boxing History

The perception of boxing managers has often been cynical, as reflected in Jimmy Cannon’s critical observation. However, in 1967, the BWAA began to challenge this stereotype by introducing the “Manager of the Year” award.

Effective managers play a crucial role in nurturing fighters, helping them develop from novice to champion, or refining the skills of established athletes.

Jack Kearns epitomized the boxing manager of his era. While controversial, he possessed undeniable business acumen and fighter-building skills. He guided the careers of Jack Dempsey, Mickey Walker, and Joey Maxim, and later Archie Moore.

Al Weil, another polarizing figure, managed notable fighters such as Rocky Marciano, Marty Servo, Lou Ambers, and Joey Archibald.

Contemporary managers like Al Haymon are also noteworthy. However, Bill Cayton, with Jim Jacobs’ initial assistance, warrants particular recognition for his exceptional work with Mike Tyson, Edwin Rosario, and Wilfred Benitez, and later with Michael Grant and Tommy Morrison.

Cayton’s ability to develop fighters from the ground up, particularly Tyson, was unparalleled. Though his personality sometimes caused friction and fighters eventually departed, they often found themselves less successful after leaving his guidance.

Excellence in Broadcast Journalism: Pioneers of Boxing Commentary

Sam Taub, a journalist and radio commentator who covered boxing extensively from the 1920s to the 1960s, is commemorated through the “Excellence in Broadcast Journalism” award named in his honor, the Sam Taub Award. Established by the BWAA in 1982, this award recognizes the vital role of broadcasting, initially radio, in popularizing boxing.

Graham McNamee is widely acknowledged as a pioneer of play-by-play sports broadcasting. He provided commentary for both Dempsey-Tunney contests, as well as numerous World Series and Rose Bowl games.

Joe Louis’s dramatic first-round knockout of Max Schmeling in 1938 represented a zenith for boxing on radio. NBC broadcast the fight across 146 stations nationwide, with Clem McCarthy’s blow-by-blow description considered a landmark moment in sports broadcasting history.

Gillette’s sponsorship of Friday night fights on radio began in 1939. Don Dunphy’s first title fight commentary was Joe Louis versus Billy Conn in 1941. He became a fixture of Gillette’s radio broadcasts for 19 years before transitioning to ABC television in 1960.

Dunphy preferred solo broadcasts on TV, believing that multiple commentators often became redundant. When questioned about his silences during rounds, he famously replied, “Son, this is television. People can see what they’re doing.”

Howard Cosell emerged as a prominent figure in the 1960s, becoming a staunch advocate for Muhammad Ali. For nearly two decades, he was synonymous with televised boxing, elevating the perceived importance of fights through his presence. Cosell’s iconic call, “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!” remains instantly recognizable.

Jim Lampley served as HBO’s blow-by-blow commentator for 30 years, demonstrating exceptional qualities: deep boxing knowledge, concise and timely summaries of the action, and a captivating voice.

While Dunphy was the innovator and Cosell had the broadest impact, Lampley is arguably the most accomplished of these broadcast legends.

Trainers: The Architects of Boxing Skill

The colorful trainer George Gainford famously quipped, “I’m the greatest trainer who ever lived. I trained Sugar Ray Robinson.” The common rejoinder was, “George, you’ve had hundreds of fighters. Why weren’t they all as good as Sugar Ray?”

Most esteemed trainers understand that the fighter’s talent is paramount. However, a skilled trainer provides invaluable guidance and expertise.

Throughout boxing history, numerous legendary trainers have emerged. Ray Arcel, Jack Blackburn, Charlie Goldman, Cus D’Amato, George Benton, and Emanuel Steward are prime examples. The BWAA’s “Eddie Futch Trainer of the Year Award” aptly honors this crucial role.

Eddie Futch, revered as “Mr. Futch,” shaped the careers of numerous world champions, including Joe Frazier, Riddick Bowe, Michael Spinks, Ken Norton, and Alexis Arguello. Freddie Roach holds the record for most Futch awards, with seven, but readily acknowledges Futch as his mentor and the ultimate master.

Fights of the Century: Defining Boxing History

It’s important to distinguish between fights of historical significance and purely great fights.

The rematch between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling carried immense historical weight, though it wasn’t a closely contested bout. Conversely, the third Ali-Frazier fight was an epic contest, arguably unmatched in intensity, but lacked the broader social impact of their first fight.

Which of these seminal clashes deserves recognition as the BWAA’s “centennial fight“?

At the outset of Joe Louis’s career, African Americans were largely excluded from positions of influence in American society. As Arthur Ashe later observed, Louis was “the first black American of any discipline or endeavor to enjoy the overwhelming good feeling… of all Americans regardless of color.”

Race was an underlying theme in all of Louis’s fights. Louis-Schmeling II transcended even this, becoming symbolic of the struggle between democracy and decency against Nazi ideology and totalitarianism. While Ali-Frazier I mirrored a deeply divided nation, America largely united in hoping for a Louis victory over Schmeling. It marked a rare instance of many white Americans, particularly in the South, openly supporting a Black athlete against a white opponent.

Louis-Schmeling II was a swift and decisive victory rather than a protracted battle. However, decisive victories can acquire greater meaning with historical perspective. On that night, America sought a definitive triumph.

While Ali-Frazier I captivated global audiences, its outcome didn’t fundamentally alter society. Even had Ali lost that night (which he didn’t, winning their subsequent encounters), the societal landscape would have remained largely unchanged.

Louis-Schmeling II encapsulates boxing’s significance at its apex. This is why it should be considered the BWAA “centennial fight.”

Fighters: Crowning the Centennial Champion

This brings us to the most prestigious honor: the BWAA Centennial Fighter.

Among the contenders, listed alphabetically, are Muhammad Ali, Henry Armstrong, Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Louis, and Sugar Ray Robinson.

Focusing on pure skill rather than social impact, Joe Louis, while legendary, gives way to Ali in this assessment.

Considering the three smaller weight-class fighters:

Henry Armstrong’s achievements are remarkable. In 1937 alone, he fought 27 times, winning all, with 26 knockouts. He secured the featherweight title that year, followed by the welterweight and lightweight crowns within nine months. He simultaneously held three world championships during an era with only eight weight divisions, each with a single champion.

Sugar Ray Leonard was a complete fighter, possessing exceptional boxing skills, power, speed, resilience, and ring intelligence. Trainer Don Turner described him as “Bill Russell smart,” highlighting his strategic approach to winning.

Leonard earned his first world title in 1979 against Wilfred Benitez, a legitimate champion with an impressive undefeated record. He then faced Roberto Duran in back-to-back contests, avenging his first career loss in an immediate rematch by forcing Duran to quit.

Against the undefeated and formidable puncher Thomas Hearns in 1981, Leonard demonstrated immense fortitude and skill, overcoming adversity to stop Hearns in the 14th round, solidifying his place among boxing greats. Six years later, he further cemented his legacy by defeating Marvin Hagler, who had reigned as middleweight champion for 11 title defenses and remained undefeated for 11 years.

Many boxing experts consider Sugar Ray Leonard the finest fighter since Sugar Ray Robinson.

“Subsequent to Robinson” is the key distinction. Sugar Ray Robinson sets the benchmark for all fighters.

Eddie Futch stated, “He had everything: boxing skills, punching power, a great chin, mental strength. There was nothing he couldn’t do… When Ray was in his prime, he owned the ring like no fighter before or since.”

Robinson, naturally a welterweight, routinely knocked out middleweights. In his first 131 professional fights, he suffered only one defeat. Across a 25-year career spanning 201 fights, he experienced only one knockout loss, due to heat exhaustion in a light heavyweight title challenge against Joey Maxim, despite leading for 13 rounds. Even decades after his debut, Robinson remains regarded as the greatest fighter of all time.

While Muhammad Ali achieved unparalleled greatness, Sugar Ray Robinson stands as “The Centennial Fighter.”

• The 100th annual BWAA Dinner featuring “Fighter of the Year” Oleksandr Usyk will be held on 30 April at the Edison Ballroom in Manhattan. Tickets for the event may be purchased through www.bwaa.org or Gina Andriolo at [email protected].