Friday, March 29, 2024  |

News

THE RING wants to see your connections

Fighters Network
06
Nov

altFor the past year or so on the pages of THE RING Magazine, we’ve been playing a little game we call “Advanced Degrees.”

“Advance” because it involves moving through history in a forward fashion. “Degrees” because it’s inspired by that Kevin Bacon thing. “Advanced Degree” because it’s like something you can frame and hang on your wall to intimidate people with your superiority.

We want you to have that power.

Here’s how it works: Connect a boxer from the past to a boxer in the present through a chain of opponents. For instance:



Harry Greb to Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Harry Greb fought …
Mickey Walker, who fought …
Lou Brouillard, who fought …
Georgie Abrams, who fought …
Ray Robinson, who fought …
Joey Archer, who fought …
Emile Griffith, who fought …
Alan Minter, who fought …
Marvin Hagler, who fought …
Ray Leonard, who fought …
Hector Camacho, who fought …
Oscar De La Hoya, who fought …
Floyd Mayweather Jr.

That’s a span of 82 years in 12 steps. Some are shorter (Floyd Sr. to Floyd Jr. – four steps), some are based on historical counterparts (first WBA/WBC junior welterweight titleholder Eddie Perkins to current unified champ Danny Garcia – nine steps), and some are just bizarre (Filipino flyweight legend Pancho Villa to Evander Holyfield – 10 steps).

We’ve been amazed at how these fighters can be connected to each other, through each other, and at the perspective it gives on the sport itself. As a bonus, it’s fun.

So we invite you to give it a shot! The more unexpected or in some way poignant the better. Post your chains in the comments or send an email to [email protected], and each month we’ll select one to publish in the magazine (which you can then frame and hang on your wall).

For your convenience, here’s the link to Boxrec.com, but extra respect if you can do it without looking.

We look forward to seeing your connections!

THE RING

SIGN UP TO GET RING NEWS ALERTS