Above: No count was needed after Francis Ngannou was smashed by Anthony Joshua. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A ‘T’ MAKES

Is there a difference between a Unanimous Decision and a Split Decision or a Majority Decision? Of course there is. The difference is small and minute, but there IS a difference. How about between a knockout and a TKO? Again, of course there’s a difference.

If a fighter takes a shot and goes down, the referee sends the standing fighter to the furthest neutral corner, picks up the count from the Knockdown Timekeeper and proceeds to count to TEN. If the fighter doesn’t arise by the count of “TEN!” they are deemed “the loser by knockout.” 

On the other hand, if a fighter is on his/her feet but under assault and showing an inability to defend themselves, the referee will step between the fighters and wave the contest over. The loser has just lost by a technical knockout (TKO). On the record of any fighter, both variations of a stoppage (KO and TKO) are listed as a knockout. On the public record, there is no variation in the kind of stoppages a fighter has. For instance, Terence Crawfor’s record is 41-0 (31). That (31) doesn’t distinguish how many stoppages are by KO and how many by TKO. 

Mark it down as a KO or a TKO, but Ashton Sylve got KTFO’d by Lucas Bahdi. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

On a side note, a fighter can be KO’d but lose on the local commission records by a TKO. For instance, earlier this summer, lightweights Lucas Bahdi and Ashton Sylve were in the sixth round of their bout. Suddenly, Bahdi launched an overhand right that crashed onto Sylve’s chin. Sylve was out cold the moment the punch landed. He fell face forward onto the canvas. The referee didn’t bother to count. He didn’t have to. Sylve was unconscious. So, the ref quickly waved the fight over. He was right to do so (but was wrong to leave the stricken fighter laying on the canvas so he could go tell Bahdi to stop jumping on the ropes and celebrating). By the books, the ref’s waving the fight over was indeed a TKO. But, in every other sense, the ending was a KO.

However, with California rules, there are no TKOs even though there are clear differences. I just wonder why California has such a ruling. 

I’ll search for the answer and have it for you in next month’s column.

*** 

While I think California – the busiest state in the amount of fight shows per year – has one of the best commissions in the country, my vote for the best boxing commission in the world goes to New Jersey. Commissioner Larry Hazzard and his longtime associate, Deputy Commissioner Rhonda Utley-Herring, handle every show – from New Jersey’s biggest arenas to casino shows in Atlantic City to small club shows throughout the state – professionally, easily and flawlessly. They almost make it look too easy. Other state commissions should take notice.

***

I believe that Matt DeLaglio, the longtime Director of Boxing at the New York State Athletic Commission, is quickly going to develop into one of the finest Chief Executives of any boxing commission in the world. Since the departure of NYSAC’s Executive Director, Kim Sumbler, DeLaglio – although not officially appointed as the new head of the commission – has made it clear, with his handling of several high-profile shows in the Empire State, that he is certainly the man for the job.

Without the burden of Ms. Sumbler, DeLaglio can move, talk, act and operate as he pleases, which has always been with knowledge and class. 

It’s about time the New York State Athletic Commission can again be looked at through the eyes of the boxing world with respect and admiration. 

While he hasn’t been appointed as such, I will take it upon myself to say, “All the best, Commissioner DeLaglio!”

*** 

When I – and so many in the media – first saw Jared “Big Baby” Anderson a few years ago, he had “Future Champion” written all over him. He seemed to be a “Can’t Miss” prospect.

But, that was in one fight. Following that, he showed lots of flaws and weaknesses. Poor footwork. A lack of imagination. A poor attitude. He also showed a disdain for the sport. It seemed he had his mind on making a huge amount of money, then packing it in.

His destruction a few weeks ago at the hands of big, strong, sloth-like Martin Bakole exposed Anderson.

Perhaps the loss – the beatdown – will be an awakening. Or, will his confidence be destroyed by the brutal loss? Right after the fight, Anderson seemed to shrug off the pounding. He didn’t seem concerned at all, simply saying, “I’ll be back!”

All we can do is watch as Top Rank plays “Heavyweight Humpty Dumpty” and tries to put Jared Anderson back together again. If anybody can do it, they can. But will Anderson be too much of a big baby, even for them?

***

While America once ruled the heavyweight division, it doesn’t anymore. Since 2020, Deontay Wilder has gone 1-4. Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller squandered years of his prime battling suspensions for PED use, and another “Big Baby,” Jared Anderson, showed he needs more work – lots of it – before we can again talk about him becoming heavyweight champion.

Richard Torrez Jr.

While I’m not saying any of the three following men will become heavyweight champion, I have seen them in action several times and like what I have seen. I think they should be watched:

Lorenzo Medina is a 19-year-old out of Hollywood, Florida. As of this writing, he had an 11-0 (9 KOs) record. He stands 6-foot-2 and weighs around 230 pounds. He has fast hands and feet and loves to face taller guys. He is nicknamed “Giant Killer.”

Bruce Seldon Jr. is the 30-year-old son of former WBA heavyweight titleholder Bruce Seldon Sr., He stands 6 feet tall and is a muscular 230-pounder. He is 2-0 (2 KOs) and managed by veteran Jim Kurtz.

Isiah Branch is a 31-year-old out of Baltimore. He is managed and trained by Roger Womack. He stands 6 feet tall and weighs around 245. He is 2-0 (1 KO). His next fight is scheduled for September 28 in Maryland.

Richard Torrez Jr. is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound power-punching southpaw from Tulare, California. His current record is 10-0 (10 KOs). He is promoted by Top Rank.

Ali Feliz is the 6-foot-2, 20-year-old son of former heavyweight Fernely Feliz, who fought out of Danbury, Connecticut, between 1993-2008, compiling a record of 23-9 (16 KOs). Ali turned pro in 2024 and has won all three of his fights, two by way of knockout. 

***

It’s nice to see a good guy with a passion for boxing get acknowledged for his hard work. Larry Goldberg, the head of Boxing Insider Promotions, is being honored as the “Promoter of the Year” by the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame at their annual banquet at the luxurious Russo’s on the Bay Catering Hall on Sunday, September 15. Goldberg has become New York’s busiest promoter, having run nearly one dozen professional shows and one amateur show in Manhattan’s Sony Hall over the last two years. Goldberg, who lives in Manhattan but also has a home in Margate, New Jersey (which borders Atlantic City), has also become A.C.’s newest promoter, having run two shows there in 2024 with a third on deck in the town known for its Boardwalk, beaches, casinos, nightlife and entertainment. 

While Atlantic City may never again be the Mecca of Boxing, what with Saudi Arabia now wearing that crown, it is nice to see Goldberg having success with his shows at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino, where he will be putting on his next event in mid-October.

Back in the late ’70s, and for a period of around 25 years, Atlantic City was boxing’s hotspot.

Those were the days when fights regularly appeared on all three major television networks.

Bobby Czyz defended his IBF light heavyweight title for the fourth and final time with a sixth-round stoppage of Jim MacDonald on May 3, 1987, at the Convention Center in Atlantic City. (Photo: The Ring Magazine)

It is in Atlantic City where Top Rank Boxing and ESPN became household names, as did such fighters (many with colorful and memorable nicknames) as Terrence Alli, Kenny “Bang Bang” Bogner, Frank “The Animal” Fletcher, James “Hard Rock” Green, Earl “The Pearl” Hargrove, Micky Ward, Calvin “Silky” Grove, Tyrone “The Butterfly” Crawley, James “Broad Axe” Broad, Bobby “Chappie” Czyz, Freddie Roach, Curtis Parker, Roger Stafford, Rocky Lockridge, Johnny “Bump City” Bumphus, “Joltin’” Jeff Chandler, Marlon “Moochie” Starling, Kevin “The Spoiler” Howard, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Teddy Mann, Tony “The Punchin’ Postman” Thornton, Wilbert “Vampire” Johnson, Robert “Boo Boo” Sawyer, Mario Maldonado and a slew of others. Even cutman Eddie “The Clot” Aliano became a household name in the 1980s because of his constant appearances on boxing shows from Atlantic City.

Curtis Parker nails Mustafa Hamsho with a right hook at the Playboy Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City on March 3, 1982. Hamsho would go on to win their middleweight bout by majority decision. (Photo: The Ring Magazine)

On dozens of occasions in the 1980s to cover one or more of those names listed above, I would take the bus from New York’s Port Authority to Atlantic City. On many of those occasions, I was accompanied by Malcoln “Flash” Gordon (the publisher of a popular underground newsletter called Tonight’s Boxing Program) and Harold Lederman. The two-hour bus ride seemed like minutes riding with those two incredibly passionate boxing fans. 

Speaking of Harold Lederman, I wish his daughter, Julie Lederman, would resume her career as a boxing judge. Ms. Lederman, who began judging in 1996, was regarded in boxing circles as one of the finest judges in the business. She was, without question, an A-list judge. Then came the night of October 17, 2020: She was one of the judges for Vasily Lomachenko’s title defense against Teofimo Lopez. The fight took place in Las Vegas. The NSAC put four of the best officials in place for the bout, naming Russell Mora as the referee, localite Tim Cheatham and East Coasters Steve Weisfeld and Julie Lederman as the judges. 

That night, Teofimo Lopez was on top of his game. Lomachenko wasn’t. He was fighting with an injured shoulder. It showed. After 12 rounds, all who were watching knew they had just watched Lopez take Lomachenko’s lightweight titles. Judges Cheatham and Weisfeld had it 116-112 and 117-111, respectfully, for Lopez. Judge Julie also scored Lopez as the winner. But her card, which read 119-109 for the new champ, was deemed by many to be overly generous. She was ripped by the media and on social media. She gave only the 11th round to Lomachenko (as did Cheatham and Weisfeld). Hey, this columnist gave two rounds to V-Lo. As it was the first major fight held during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the show – on ESPN – was viewed by an audience of over four million. So, the screaming about Ms. Lederman’s near-shutout scoring was a bit louder than usual. Because of the yelling and finger-pointing – something Lederman wasn’t accustomed to – she hung up her pencil and scorecards. Hopefully, her passion for the sport remains. If she listens closely, she will hear lots of members of the boxing community yelling her name again.

“JULIE LEDERMAN – COME BACK! WE NEED YOU!”

***

It’s a storybook romance: A male boxing announcer met a female boxer at a fight card. They took their time, fell in love and got engaged. On August 10, DAZN’s Chris Mannix and the woman I feel is boxing’s pound-for-pound No. 1 female – undefeated world champion Seniesa Estrada – were married at a ceremony in California.

We wish them nothing but health, happiness and a bunch of children who are as beautiful as they are.