I recently learned that an Arturo Gatti video that I posted last year had been removed from Youtube.   Today is a fitting day to add it back to the blog as July 11th marks the one year anniversary of his passing.  The original tribute from Gorilla Productions can be seen below.

Next, you’ll find a compilation of Gatti’s classic trilogy with Micky Ward.

I still can’t believe it has been a year since he passed.  It seems like yesterday we were talking about his tragic death.  Time certainly flies, but the memories that Arturo Gatti left the boxing world are still as vivid as ever.  I’m thankful to have seen some of his action in person.

RIP to a true warrior

Follow a recent Ray Robinson post on my Facebook page, I received several requests for more information on this legendary fighter.

Sugar Ray Robinson is considered by many to be the greatest boxer of all time.  He thrived in an era where it was common to fight one world class opponent one week and another the next.  For example, on February 5th, 1943, Ray Robinson lost a hard fought 10-round battle to middleweight Jake LaMotta.  Robinson stepped back into the ring on February 19th, earning a 10-round decision over California Jackie Wilson (a 50+ fight veteran).  A week later (February 26th), Robinson fought LaMotta again, this time winning a 10-round decision.

In less than a month, Robinson fought three 10-round fights, two with a middleweight who had 15 pounds on him.  In today’s world, it is common for world class fighters to have 3 bouts in a single year.  Robinson did it in one month.

Sugar Ray Robinson was a legend.  We may never see another fighter like him.  And as good as he appears on tape, his best days were not even captured on film.  That’s how great he was.

To learn more about this legendary fighter, take a look at the documentary below.  The embedded player includes all six parts.  The arrows on each side of the player can be used to navigate from one part to the next.  The full playlist can also be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=8D7250DED266802F

“To be a champ, you have to believe in yourself when no one else will.” – Sugar Ray Robinson

Following the popularity of the last entry, I’ve added another Bruce Lee documentary.   The first of 10 parts is embedded below.

A full playlist can be found next:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7C94BA516BB2B128

Anyone with any interest in Bruce Lee’s past should enjoy this documentary.  It is definitely worth a look when time permits.

“Knowing is not enough, you must apply; willing is not enough, you must do.” – Bruce Lee

An excellent Bruce Lee documentary was recently posted to my Facebook page.  Below you will find a preview to the film.

The entire documentary can be seen on Youtube.  The first of nine parts is embedded below.

A complete playlist for all 9 parts can be found next:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3260177A06AF2E78

Although his accomplishments and abilities are perhaps the most debated topic in the martial arts community, I believe we can all agree that Bruce Lee was a pioneer and a tremendous influence to other fighters around the world, both past and present.  I’m sure I speak for many when I say that I grew up watching and reading about Bruce Lee.  He was certainly an inspiration to me.

In his own words,

“Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own.”

Below is a video that shows how to build an inexpensive maize ball (often known as a slip bag):

Commercial models average between $20 and $25.  One example can be seen here.

For a brief demonstration of the maize ball, look no further than Mike Tyson.  Scroll to 1:18 and 1:58 within the video below:

If you enjoy the old Mike Tyson training footage, here is the first part of the video above:

For more do-it-yourself equipment ideas, refer to the following link:

Homemade Equipment Archives