The Ring(often calledThe RingmagazineorRingmagazine) is an Americanbo xingmagazinethat was first published in 1922 as a bo xing and wrestling magazine. As the sporting legitimacy ofprofessional wrestlingcame more into question,The Ringshifted to becoming exclusively a bo xing -oriented publication. The magazine is currently owned by Saudi businessmanTurki Al-Sheikh.
 | |
 Cover of the first issue | |
| Editor-in-Chief | Douglass Fischer |
|---|---|
| Former editors | Nat Fleischer |
| Categories | Sports magazine |
| Publisher | Stefan Friedman |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | Los Angeles,California |
| Language | English |
| Website | Official website |
| ISSN | 0035-5410 |
Ringbegan publishing annual ratings of boxers in 1924. With its November/December 2022 issue, the magazine stopped publication of its regular monthly print issues and will remain a digital publication, offering occasional special interest print issues.[1]
History
editThe Ring,founded and published by futureInternational Bo xing Hall of FamememberNat Fleischer,has perpetrated bo xing scandals, helped make unknown fighters famous worldwide, and covered bo xing 's biggest events of all time.Dan Danielwas a co-founder and prolific contributor toThe Ringthrough most of its history.
Another founding partner wasJohn L. "Ike" Dorgan(April 15, 1879–December 27, 1960), a bookbinder, bo xing manager (for Harry Ebbets andCharles Francis "Frank" Moran,known as "The Fighting Dentist" ), press agent (for bo xing promoterGeorge L. "Tex" Rickard),[2]and publicity manager for theMadison Square Garden.He remained with this influential publication until his retirement in 1930.[3]
The Ringrefers to itself (and is referred to by others) as "The Bible of Bo xing." During the Fleischer years, the contents page or indicia of every issue carried the claim: "The Ringis a magazine which a man may take home with him. He may leave it on his library table safe in the knowledge that it does not contain one line of matter either in the text or the advertisements which would be offensive. The publisher ofThe Ringguards this reputation of his magazine jealously. It is entertaining and it is clean. "[4]
In 1972, following Fleischer's death, his son-in-law and managing editor Nat Loubet took over as publisher.[5]In 1977, Loubet launched three international editions of the magazine. TheSpanishversion,Ring En Español,was published in Venezuela and distributed to all Spanish-speaking countries and the United States (U.S.) until 1985. There was also aJapaneseversion published inTokyoand aFrenchversion published inParis.[citation needed]
In 1976, managing editor ofThe RingJohnny Ort, fabricated records of selected boxers, and elevated their rankings, securing them lucrative fights on the American ABC television network, as part of the United States Championship Tournament orchestrated by promoterDon King.[6][7]The deception was uncovered by bo xing writer Malcolm "Flash" Gordon and ABC stafferAlex Wallauand the United States Championship tournament was cancelled by ABC.[8][9][10]
In 1979, the magazine was purchased from Loubet by a group led byDave DeBusschereandBert Sugartook over as editor. In 1983 Sugar was succeeded by futureNew Yorkbo xing commissionerRandy Gordon.By 1984 the publication was reported to be over $1 million in debt and a number of top salaried employees, including Gordon, were let go.Nigel Collinsof the Ring's defunct sister magazineBo xing Illustratedtook over as editor.[11]In 1989The Ringwas purchased byStanley Weston's G.C. London Publishing (later known asKappa Publishing Group), which also publishedKO Magazineand a number of wrestling publications. KO senior writerSteve Farhoodbecame The Ring's editor.[12]Weston was a sentimentalist and 52 years after joiningThe Ringmagazine as a stock boy, Weston purchased the magazine that gave him his first job. He not only resurrected the magazine from its imminent collapse, he re-established the publication as the definitive source for bo xing news. An outstanding bo xing artist, Weston painted 57 covers forThe Ringwith his first cover, a painting ofBilly Conn,for the December 1939 issue. Weston was also a photographer who, according to his own estimate, shot over 100,000 bo xing photos—the majority of which are housed in the archives ofThe Ringmagazine.
Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC, a subsidiary ofOscar De La Hoya'sGolden Boy Enterprises,acquiredThe Ring,KO Magazine,andWorld Bo xingin 2007. The magazine's rankings are recognized as "official" by some in the U.S. media, particularlyESPN.While some may see a conflict of interest in a bo xing promoter being paymaster of what is essentially a magazine/rankings organization that awards world titles and belts, De La Hoya says that is not the case. "These magazines will be held in an editorial trust where they will be operating totally independent of any influence from me or others from the Golden Boy Companies as it relates to editorial direction or content". Also there is a 35-member ratings advisory panel, which include many of the media that cover bo xing, who would prevent Golden Boy Promotions from using the magazine for self gain.[13]
The Ringwas headquartered inBlue Bell, Pennsylvaniauntil 2011 when it was relocated toLos Angeles.[14]
The magazine had a sister publication namedThe Ring Wrestlingwhich came about due to professional wrestling writerBob Leonardcontacting the magazine and expressing that it was too focused on bo xing and not giving wrestling enough coverage. Nat Loubet served as the editor of the wrestling magazine as well.[15]
In 2024 it was sold from Golden Boy Promotions toTurki Al-Sheikh,head of Saudi Arabia'sGeneral Entertainment Authority,for US$ 10 million.[16]
Cover art
editSome of the boxers featured on the magazine covers have includedTommy Ryan,Salvador Sánchez,Jack Dempsey,Pancho Villa,Max Schmeling,Joe Louis,Sugar Ray Robinson,Jake LaMotta,Rocky Marciano,Willie Pep,Muhammad Ali,Alexis Argüello,Wilfred Benítez,Wilfredo Gómez,Roberto Durán,Larry Holmes,Marvin Hagler,Sugar Ray Leonard,Bud Taylor,Mike Tyson,Evander Holyfield,Floyd Mayweather Jr.,Thomas Hearns,Naoya Inoue,Roy Jones Jr.,Bernard Hopkins,Julio César Chávez,Félix Trinidad,Manny Pacquiao,Oscar De La Hoya,Mauro MinaandRicardo Mayorga.In 1978, boxerCathy "Cat" Davisbecame the first woman ever to be on a cover ofThe Ring,and she held the distinction of being the only woman featured on the cover of the magazine until January 2016, whenRonda Rouseyjoined her and also became the firstmixed martial artsfighter featured on its cover.[17]The Ringhas used cover artwork created by famed artists such asLeRoy NeimanandRichard T. Slone.
Controversies
editIn their bookIron Ambition: My Life WithCus D'Amato,Mike Tysonand Larry Sloman, while depicting the rise of theInternational Bo xing Club of New Yorkand D'Amato's battle with the organization, allege that the magazine and its then-owner and editor-in-chiefNat Fleischerwere under control of the IBC and the rankings were heavily favorable towards the fighters it controlled.[18]
In the 1970s, managing editor ofThe RingJohnny Ort fabricated records of selected boxers to elevate them, thereby securing them lucrative fights on the American ABC television network, as part of theUnited States Championship Tournament,[19]orchestrated by promoterDon King.[7]The scandal was uncovered by bo xing writer Malcolm "Flash" Gordon and ABC stafferAlex Wallau.After Gordon and Wallau's evidence was presented to ABC executiveRoone Arledge,the United States Championship tournament was cancelled. The scandal would lead to the eventual resignation of New York State Bo xing CommissionerJames A. Farley Jr.,who had lent his name to the Championship fights.[19]
World champions
editThe Ringhas its own championship belt in a given weight class whereThe Ringchampion holds a lineal reign to the throne, the man who beat the man.The Ringbegan awarding championship belts in 1922. The firstRingworld title belt was awarded toheavyweightchampion Jack Dempsey and the second was awarded toflyweightchampion Pancho Villa.The Ringstopped giving belts to world champions in the 1990s, then reintroduced their titles in 2002.
The Ringstated that their title was "intended to reward fighters who, by satisfying rigid criteria, can justify a claim as the true and only world champion in a givenweight class".[20]It echoed many critics' arguments that the sanctioning bodies in charge of bo xing championships had undermined the sport by pitting undeserving contenders against undeserving "champions" and forcing the bo xing public to see mismatches for so-called "world championships".The Ringattempts to be more authoritative and open than the sanctioning bodies' rankings, with a page devoted to full explanations for ranking changes. A fighter pays no sanctioning fees to defend or fight for the title at stake, contrary to practices of the sanctioning bodies.
However, many bo xing journalists complained thatThe Ringignored the world championship lineage when they started awarding titles again. A controversy described by Cliff Rold ofBo xing Sceneis for example, the "world" light-heavyweight title was considered vacant from the timeMichael Spinkswent up to heavyweight in 1985 until 1996. While theCyber Bo xing Zoneand the International Bo xing Research Organization considersVirgil Hill's defeat ofHenry Maske(who were the two highest rated light-heavyweights) as the beginning of the new lineage,[21]The Ringawarded their newly reintroduced title toRoy Jones.[22]In 2002,The Ringeditor, Nigel Collins, acknowledged that if their championship policy was in place in 1997,Dariusz Michalczewski,who defeated Hill, "probably would have beenThe RingChampion. "[23]
Under the original version of the championship policy, there were only two ways that a boxer could winThe Ring's title: defeat the reigning champion; or win a box-off between the magazine's number-one and number-two rated contenders (or, sometimes, number-one and number-three rated). A vacantRingchampionship was filled when the number-one contender in a weight-division battles the number-two contender or the number-three contender (in cases whereThe Ringdetermined that the number-two and number-three contenders were close in abilities and records). The ratings are compiled by the magazine's editorial board, with the participation ofThe RingRatings Panel of bo xing journalists from around the world. A fighter could not be stripped of the title unless he lost, decided to move to another weight division, or retired.
In May 2012, citing the number of vacancies in various weight classes as primary motivation,The Ringunveiled a new championship policy. Under the new policy,The Ringtitle can be awarded when the No. 1 and No. 2 fighters face one another or when the No. 1 and 2 contenders choose not to fight one another and either of them fights No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5, the winner may be awardedThe Ringbelt. In addition, there are now seven ways for a fighter to lose his title:
- The champion loses a fight in the weight class in which he is champion.
- The champion moves to another weight class.
- The champion does not schedule a fight in any weight class for 18 months.
- The champion does not schedule a fight at his championship weight for 18 months (even if he fights at another weight).
- The champion does not schedule a fight with a top five contender from any weight class for two years.
- The champion retires.
- The champion tests positive for a banned substance.[24]
Many media outlets and members are extremely critical of the new championship policy and state that if this new policy is followedThe Ringtitle will lose the credibility it once held.[25][26][27]They then later changed the policy so vacant belts can only be awarded to the winner of No. 1 vs No. 2 or if No. 3 is deemed worthy by The Ring's editorial board.[28]
The purchase ofThe Ringmagazine by Golden Boy Promotions in 2007,[29]the dismissal of editor-in-chief Nigel Collins and several editorial staff in 2011 and a series of questionable ratings decisions by the new editors[30][31]prompted many members ofThe RingRatings Advisory Panel to resign. This led to the formation of theTransnational Bo xing Rankings Boardin 2012 headed by bo xing historians Springs Toledo, Cliff Rold and Tim Starks.[32][33]
Golden Boy has publicizedThe Ring's World Championship when the title is at stake in fights it promotes (such asJoe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones Jr.in 2008).[34]
Current champions
editMen's
editAs of November 16, 2024.
| Weight class | Champion | Date won |
|---|---|---|
| Strawweight | Oscar Collazo | November 16, 2024 |
| Junior flyweight | Vacant | |
| Flyweight | Vacant | |
| Junior bantamweight | Jesse Rodriguez | June 29, 2024 |
| Bantamweight | Vacant | |
| Junior featherweight | Naoya Inoue | December 26, 2023 |
| Featherweight | Vacant | |
| Junior lightweight | Vacant | |
| Lightweight | Vacant | |
| Junior welterweight | Teofimo Lopez | June 10, 2023 |
| Welterweight | Vacant | |
| Junior middleweight | Vacant | |
| Middleweight | Vacant | |
| Super middleweight | Canelo Álvarez | December 19, 2020 |
| Light heavyweight | Artur Beterbiev | October 12, 2024 |
| Cruiserweight | Jai Opetaia | July 2, 2022 |
| Heavyweight | Oleksandr Usyk | August 20, 2022 |
Women's
editAs of 11 December 2024
| Weight class | Champion | Date won |
|---|---|---|
| Atomweight | Uninaugurated | |
| Strawweight | Vacant | |
| Junior flyweight | Uninaugurated | |
| Flyweight | Gabriela Fundora | November 2, 2024 |
| Junior bantamweight | Uninaugurated | |
| Bantamweight | Dina Thorslund | September 1, 2023 |
| Junior featherweight | Ellie Scotney | April 13, 2024 |
| Featherweight | Amanda Serrano | September 24, 2022 |
| Junior lightweight | Alycia Baumgardner | October 15, 2022 |
| Lightweight | Katie Taylor | June 1, 2019 |
| Junior welterweight | November 25, 2023 | |
| Welterweight | Lauren Price | May 11, 2024 |
| Junior middleweight | Vacant | |
| Middleweight | Claressa Shields | April 13, 2019 |
| Super middleweight | Savannah Marshall | July 1, 2023 |
Current #1 ranked fighters per weight class
editNote:The Ringchampions are also noted as No. 1 fighters
Men's
editWomen's
editList of pound for pound #1 fighters
editAs of December 11, 2024.
Keys:
- Current P4P #1
| No. | Name | Weight Division(s) as #1 | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Tyson | Heavyweight | 1989 – January 1990 |
| 2 | Julio César Chávez | Junior welterweight | January 1990 – September 1993 |
| 3 | Pernell Whitaker |
|
September 1993 – April 1997 |
| 4 | Roy Jones Jr. | Light heavyweight | April – May 1997 |
| 5 | Oscar De La Hoya | Welterweight | May 1997 – June 1999 |
| 6 | Roy Jones Jr. (2) | Light heavyweight | June 1999 – June 2000 |
| 7 | Shane Mosley | Welterweight | June 2000 – July 2002 |
| 8 | Bernard Hopkins | Middleweight | July 2002 – November 2003 |
| 9 | Roy Jones Jr. (3) |
|
November 2003 – June 8, 2004 |
| 10 | Bernard Hopkins (2) | Middleweight | June 8, 2004 – July 18, 2005 |
| 11 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. |
|
July 18, 2005 – June 9, 2008 |
| 12 | Manny Pacquiao |
|
June 9, 2008 – May 7, 2012 |
| The Ringdecided to vacate the pound-for-pound #1 rank and demoted Pacquiao to #2 that resulted in a tie with Mayweather Jr. because the members of the editorial board were unimpressed by Pacquiao's performancein his third fight with Juan Manuel Márquez,while Mayweather Jr. was not promoted to #1 because the board determined that he struggledin his fight against Miguel Cotto.[35] | |||
| 13 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. (2) |
|
December 11, 2012 – September 15, 2015 |
| 14 | Román González |
|
September 15, 2015 – March 21, 2017 |
| 15 | Andre Ward | Light heavyweight | March 21 – September 26, 2017 |
| 16 | Gennady Golovkin | Middleweight | September 26, 2017 – September 18, 2018 |
| 17 | Vasiliy Lomachenko | Lightweight | September 18, 2018 – November 7, 2019 |
| 18 | Canelo Álvarez |
|
November 7, 2019 – May 7, 2022 |
| 19 | Oleksandr Usyk |
Heavyweight |
May 7 – June 11, 2022 |
| 20 | Naoya Inoue |
Bantamweight |
June 11 – August 20, 2022 |
| 21 | Oleksandr Usyk (2) |
Heavyweight |
August 20, 2022 – July 29, 2023 |
| 22 | Terence Crawford |
Welterweight |
July 29, 2023 – May 6, 2024 |
| 23 | Naoya Inoue (2) |
Junior featherweight |
May 6 – May 18, 2024 |
| 24 | Oleksandr Usyk (3) |
Heavyweight |
May 18, 2024 – present |
See also
edit- List ofThe Ringworld champions
- List ofThe Ringpound for pound rankings
- List of fights between twoThe Ringpound for pound boxers
- The Ringmagazine Fighter of the Year
- The Ringmagazine Fight of the Year
- The Ringmagazine Knockout of the Year
- The Ringmagazine Comeback of the Year
- The Ringmagazine Round of the Year
- The Ringmagazine Upset of the Year
- The Ringmagazine Prospect of the Year(discontinued between 1989 and 2010)[36]
- The Ringmagazine Event of the Year
- The Ringmagazine Hall of Fame
- The Ringmagazine Pound for Pound
- The Ringmagazine Progress of the Year(discontinued)
- The Ring: Bo xing the 20th Century
- List of professional wrestling magazines
References
edit- ^"Press release: The Ring Magazine Embraces Digital Future, Launching Monthly Electronic Edition".November 3, 2022.
- ^Roberts, Randy.Jack Dempsey: The Manassa Mauler.Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press, 2003, p. 140.ISBN978-0-252-07148-5
- ^ "Ike Dorgan"ArchivedOctober 9, 2012, at theWayback Machinein BoxRec (Bo xing Records Archive) Bo xing Encyclopaedia
- ^Sports Illustrated,August 6, 1962.
- ^Gordon, Randy"REMEMBERING THE ROCK & MR. BOXING", 'The Sweet Science ", SEPT 6, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
- ^"A King-Size Scandal in The Ring".Time.May 2, 1977. Archived fromthe originalon October 22, 2010.RetrievedMay 25,2010.
- ^abNewfield, JackOnly in America: The Life and Crimes of Don King,Harbor Electronic Publishing, New York, 2003, page 115. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^Cady, Steve (April 22, 1977)."ABC Backs Arledge Amid Bo xing Inquiry - The New York Times".The New York Times.RetrievedNovember 23,2021.
- ^"ABC Sports Names Ring Inquiry Head".The New York Times.April 20, 1977.
- ^Boyle, Robert (May 2, 1977)."SOME VERY WRONG NUMBERS".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedJanuary 24,2022.
- ^"Ring on Ropes".The New York Times.November 3, 1984.
- ^Matthews, Wallace (August 31, 1989). "King-Cayton Bout Belongs in Court".Newsday.
- ^"Golden Boy Promotions".Archived fromthe originalon October 24, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 3,2016.
- ^Tim Starks (September 9, 2011)."The Ring Magazine Shakes Up Its Leadership".The Queensberry Rules.RetrievedMarch 20,2016.
- ^Kreiser, Jamie."Who is Bob Leonard?".canoe.Archived fromthe originalon January 17, 2018.RetrievedMay 19,2020.
- ^Brian Mazique (November 24, 2024)."Oscar De La Hoya Confirms Sale Of Ring Magazine To Turki Alalshikh".Forbes.
- ^Rousey becomes first MMA fighter to landRingMagazine coverFox Sports.Retrieved March 20, 2016.
- ^Tyson, Mike;Sloman, Larry(2017). "Chapter 6".Iron Ambition: My Life With Cus D'Amato.Blue Rider Press.
- ^ab"A King-Size Scandal in The Ring".Time.May 2, 1977. Archived fromthe originalon April 6, 2013.RetrievedMay 25,2010.
- ^"AboutThe Ring".The Ring.June 26, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon February 21, 2006.RetrievedJune 6,2006.
- ^"The Cyber Bo xing Zone".cyberbo xing zone.
- ^Rold, Cliff."Bo xing 's Lineal Mathematics: Champion Versus Champion II".Wail!.CBZ.RetrievedJanuary 29,2010.
- ^"Bo xing News: The Disputed Light Heavyweight Champion of the World".maxbo xing.Archived fromthe originalon October 15, 2004.
- ^"The Ringupdates championship policy ".Ring TV.May 3, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2012.
- ^"Chat with Dan Rafael".ESPN.Archived fromthe originalon May 6, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 3,2016.
- ^Starks, Tim (May 4, 2012)."The Horrible New Ring Magazine Championship Policy".Queensberry Rules.Archivedfrom the original on May 7, 2012.
- ^Magno, Paul (May 4, 2012)."Ring Magazine's pretend rankings upgrade 'championship' policy".The Bo xing Tribune.RetrievedJanuary 3,2016.
- ^"The Ringcurrent championship policy ".
- ^"Golden Boy Enterprises' Subsidiary, Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC, Acquires The Ring Magazine, KO, World Bo xing and Pro Wrestling Illustrated".Golden Boy Promotions.September 12, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon November 19, 2008.RetrievedNovember 20,2008.
- ^Cliff Rold (May 10, 2012).""The Ring" Changes The Rules, Further Clouds Title Scene ".Bo xing Scene.
- ^Springs Toledo (May 10, 2012)."Occupy the Ring".The Sweet Science.Archivedfrom the original on December 20, 2016.
- ^Gibson, Paul (February 2, 2015)."Bo xing loses credibility with every new champion. Can the sport be saved?".The Guardian.
- ^Starks, Tim (October 11, 2012)."The Transnational Bo xing Rankings Board: An Opening Bell For Reform".The Queensberry Rules.RetrievedJanuary 3,2017.
- ^Kimball, George (April 27, 2008)."Calzaghe claim far from undisputed".Boston Herald.Archived fromthe originalon October 22, 2012.RetrievedNovember 14,2008.
- ^Rosenthal, Michael (May 8, 2012)."Ring Ratings Update: Does Mayweather supplant Pacquiao atop Pound-for-Pound list?".The Ring.Archivedfrom the original on May 10, 2022.RetrievedMay 10,2022.
- ^"Past winners ofThe Ring'syear-end awards ".The Ring.February 24, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon March 7, 2013.RetrievedMarch 11,2012.
External links
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