Review of Boxing's Greatest Controversies

Boxing's Greatest Controversies: Blunders, Blood Feuds, and Mob Corruption

By Louis Joshua Eisen

Dundurn Press, 2025

In Boxing's Greatest Controversies, Lou Eisen delves deep into eleven significant fights, ranging from a bareknuckle brawl to Mike Tyson's gnawing on Evander Holyfield's ear. Heavyweights dominate the book as Eisen examines the seminal moments from the careers of Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, and Muhammad Ali. Legendary lightweights Joe Gans and Roberto Durán are also featured.

Each chapter provides background on both fighters involved and the wider context of the sport at the time. That's followed by a diagnosis of the controversy and its ultimate significance. To avoid spoilers, analysis of Eisen's forcefully delivered conclusions to each controversy, which often buck conventional beliefs, will be omitted from this review.

In providing those conclusions, Eisen carefully and gradually lays out his case for each one. Since a few of the fights he covers took place around a hundred years ago, there's some necessary speculation surrounding Eisen's findings. The writing is at times rhythmic due to the author's frequent deployment of hypophora. A touch of moralizing seeps into the accounts of fistic battles with managers often the culprits of any mischief.

Nine of the eleven fights covered are truly integral to telling the story of boxing. The less important Carnera-Schaaf bout is the weakest chapter because of some inconsistencies. Boxing has produced so many fights that could have been included, it's unfair to suggest any replacement, but it would have been enlightening to read Eisen's treatment of the Jack Britton-Benny Leonard fiasco.

Boxing's Greatest Controversies is a great introduction to the history of the sport through several key fights. This book is an illuminating gateway for those who want to learn about boxing history, but don't know where to start. For those more versed in boxing history, Eisen's conclusions provide fodder for argument about these memorable events by challenging established narratives.

Lev Jackson Wins by KO

Lightweight Lev Jackson won tonight by second round knockout over Jonathan Hernandez Pelayo in Jamay, Jalisco, Mexico.

The 32 year old Vancouverite came into this fight without any knowledge of his opponent for the first time in his pro career. "I was patient and boxed, no brawling," Jackson told The Jewish Boxing Blog. "I waited him out because he wanted a street fight."

Hernandez, a 26 year old from Zapopan, fought as a southpaw and hoped to lure Jackson into exchanges. Jackson, though, kept his distance and landed accurate shots from the outside.

In the second round, Jackson scored a knockdown with a well-timed left to the body. He then connected with a two punch combination to the midsection and a left to the temple to score the knockout. Referee Alejandro Zaragoza counted to ten and waved off the fight two minutes and 24 seconds into the round.

BoxRec currently has listed the wrong date for the event and the wrong round of the knockout. The site also says Jackson won by TKO even though Zaragoza reached the count of ten, constituting a KO. If the winless Hernandez was actually the opponent, he had on trunks worn by Christian Acevas Rivera on March 15, but Hernandez had turned the trunks around so that the back was in front.

Jackson was so focused on the fight, he didn't pay attention to the name of the opponent. He thought he heard his foe was named Ivan, but was too locked in. Ivan Amescua, a southpaw, fought on the same March 15 card as Aceves when he wore those trunks.

In any event, the experience taught Jackson to be prepared for anything. He appreciated the opportunity to fight outside his native Canada for the first time. Lev's record improves to 4-1-1 with 2 KOs. Hernandez is now 0-10 and has been stopped eight times.

courtesy of Jackson's IG page

Lev Jackson Weighs In

Lev Jackson and Jonathan Hernndez Pelayo weighed in ahead of his fight tomorrow at Jamay Center, in Jamay, Jalisco, Mexico. Teofista Boxing is promoting the show.

The 32 year old from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada will be facing a substitute opponent in a lightweight bout. The all-action fighter flew down to Mexico today for his first fight outside of Canada. Jackson, who is 3-1-1, was last in the ring on July 20, 2023.

Pelayo (0-9) is a 26 year old from Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. Nicknamed "Palas." his weight was 136.3 pounds, the heaviest of his career. His lightest was 121.5 pounds in 2021. His previous high was 135.8, which has been twice before fights.

Jill Matthews to be Inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame

Jill Matthews will be inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame this weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is a deserved honor for a woman who was both a pioneer and a quality boxer.

A former gymnast, Matthews was nicknamed "The Zion Lion." In 1995, she became the first woman ever to win a New York Golden Gloves title when she stopped Dee Hamaguchi in the first round of the 101-pound final at Madison Square Garden.

Matthews turned pro later that year and lost her first fight. In 1998, she won the IFBA light flyweight world title. Later that year, she avenged that debut loss to win the IWBF light flyweight world title. She finished her career in 1999 with a hard-fought record of 9-4-1 with 7 KOs and two world titles belts.

A college graduate, Matthews was a musician before and after her boxing career. Around 2013, Matthews was diagnosed with brain cancer. She fought bravely and beat the disease. Mazel tov to Jill Matthews for her induction into the IWBHOF.