Livingstone Bramble – The former WBA lightweight champion died March 22, 2025, at age 64. His son, Shanoy, confirmed his father’s passing to noted cutman Jacob “Stitch” Duran. The cause of death is unknown. Bramble (40-26-3, 25 Kos 5 Ko by) won the title on June 1, 1984, in Buffalo, N.Y., when he stopped future Hall of Famer Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini in the 14th round of a stirring battle. He defended the belt with a 15-round decision over Mancini in their rematch on Feb. 16, 1985. A deeply eccentric personality, Bramble often wore a snake around his neck into the ring. At the news conference before the rematch, he pulled out a voodoo doll, poked it in the eyes, and turned to Mancini. “Ray,” he said, “tell me how your eyes feel. See how your eyes are jumping now?” His manager and trainer, the legendary Lou Duva, was known as one of boxing’s most colorful figures, but even Duva had to laugh at some of Bramble’s antics. “I mean, what we have here is a nut,” Duva said at the time. “A real coconut head. A cuckoo.” But Bramble, behind all the theatrics, was a legitimately elite fighter in his prime. He had a great chin, heavy hands, and the confidence to mix it with anyone. He was unpredictable, sometimes off-the-wall, but also gregarious and full of appreciation for his fans. He became close with Stitch Duran after a chance encounter in Las Vegas. “I met Bramble years ago at Golden Gloves Gym [in Las Vegas],” Duran said. “Being a fan, I asked him when he was going to fight next. He stopped, looked at me and said, ‘Now, if you ask again!’ We became friends after that moment. “One of the hardest punchers I ever did pads for. A true friend. I’ll miss his smile.” Bramble fought many of the great lightweights and super lightweights during the talent-rich 1980s. In addition to his two wins over Mancini, he knocked out Tyrone Crawley in the 13th round in a 1986 title defense in Reno. He also shared the ring with the likes of Kostya Tszyu, Edwin Rosario, Roger Mayweather, Buddy McGirt, Rafael Ruelas, and Charles Murray. (Source: Kevin Iole) / BoxRec
George Foreman – “Big” George Foreman, one of the most influential and recognizable boxers of all time, died March 21, 2025, his family announced on his social media account. He was 76. Foreman, who won an Olympic gold medal in 1968, was a two-time heavyweight champion and Hall of Fame boxer. He is perhaps best known for the historic Rumble in the Jungle bout with Muhammad Ali in 1974 in Zaire, a fight Foreman lost in an upset via eighth-round knockout. It’s arguably the most famous fight of all time, and the “When We Were Kings” film that chronicled the fight won an Oscar for best documentary feature. Foreman made history yet again later in his career. He fought five more times after he lost the heavyweight championship to Ali at age 25, including a fifth-round TKO victory over Joe Frazier (whom he stopped in two rounds to first win the title) and a fifth-round knockout of Ron Lyle in a classic slugfest. After that fifth fight at 28, Foreman shockingly announced his retirement and began a career as an ordained minister in his native Texas. George Foreman is led away after knocking down Joe Frazier during their bout in Kingston, Jamaica, on Jan. 22, 1973. Foreman won by TKO. Foreman was retired for 10 years. He returned to boxing in 1987 at age 38 and mounted arguably the most impressive sports comeback ever. At first, Foreman padded his record with easy wins. One of them was a second-round knockout of Gerry Cooney. But in 1991, Foreman proved this comeback was for real when he pushed the great Evander Holyfield to the brink in a classic heavyweight title fight at age 42. Though he was unsuccessful in his bid to become a two-time heavyweight champion, Foreman was undeterred. Five fights later, after a loss to Tommy Morrison, Foreman accomplished the unthinkable. Down on the scorecards in another title fight, Foreman landed a two-punch combination that laid Michael Moorer down for the count of 10 in 1994. At 45 years, 299 days old, Foreman was once again the heavyweight champion of the world, the oldest man to hold boxing’s greatest prize (and also the oldest champion ever, a record that stood for 20 years). “It happened,” Jim Lampley called on the HBO broadcast. “It happened!” Foreman went on to have a successful career alongside Lampley as an HBO boxing analyst. But his greatest success outside the ring was yet to come. The same year that Foreman defeated Moorer, he launched his eponymous grill, which went on to sell more than 100 million units worldwide. In 1999, he sold the commercial rights to the George Foreman grill for $138 million. Foreman’s final fight came in November 1997, a majority decision loss to Shannon Briggs. He held his role with HBO as a ringside analyst for 12 years, ending in 2004. The Ring named Foreman the ninth-greatest puncher of all time and, in 2002, one of the 25 best boxers of the past 80 years. In a statement, Top Rank called Foreman “one of the biggest punchers and personalities the sport has ever seen.” “George was a great friend to not only myself but to my entire family,” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said. “We’ve lost a family member and are absolutely devastated.” Lampley said Foreman’s death was “a massive loss” and that he feels “blessed and privileged to have known him.” “Tonight, I am flooded with tears after learning of the death of my dear friend and broadcast partner George Foreman. I loved him,” Lampley said in a statement. “He was a great fighter and a far, far greater human being. Every great thing that ever happened to him, and there were many extraordinary blessings, was richly deserved. My thoughts and prayers tonight are with his family and his friends and his congregation.” (Source ESPN, Mike Coppinger) / BoxRec
Thomas Hayes – The Chicago, Illinois heavyweight, active 2002-2011, died March 13, 2025, age 43. He was born on March 16, 1981, and compiled a record of 27-2-0 (KO 18/KO by 2). BoxRec
Paco Mendez – The Huelva, Andalucía, Spain super welterweight, active from 1958-1964, died March 13, 2025, age 87. He was born Francisco Rodríguez Méndez in Huelva, Andalucía, Spain, on December 8, 1937, and compiled a record of 17-3-5 (KO 5/KO by 1). BoxRec
Richard McTaggart – Scotland’s only Olympic champion boxer Dick McTaggart passed away on March 9, 2025, aged 89. Heralded as one of the greatest boxers the country has ever produced, the Dundonian boasted a remarkable 610 wins from 634 fights. He remains the only Scottish boxer to have won Olympic gold, but McTaggart never regretted his decision to snub the professional ranks. McTaggart was the first Briton to box in three Olympic Games and is widely regarded as the best amateur boxer Britain has produced. The Dundonian was one of the inaugural inductees into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. He was also named the Best British Amateur Boxer in the prestigious Hall of Fame of the Ex-Boxers Association. Richard McTaggart MBE was born on October 15, 1935, one of 18 siblings in a family that resided in a tenement flat on Dens Road in Dundee. He started boxing at about the age of 11, along with several of his brothers, after his father, also called Richard, took them to a boxing club because they were always fighting. McTaggart told The Courier in 2016: ‘Kids used to pick on me at school, and when I took up boxing, they stopped.’ He left school at 14 and got a job in a butcher’s shop before training to become a cook while serving in the national service. He was the RAF boxing champion for five years, while one of his brothers was the Royal Navy champion and another was the Army champion. McTaggart won the Olympic lightweight gold medal in Melbourne in 1956 and also collected the coveted Val Barker trophy, presented to the most stylish boxer of the Games — the only British boxer to do so to this day. He and Britain’s other gold medal winners awaited a hero’s welcome. “My parents had been taken down to London to meet me,” he told The Scotsman in 2012. ‘My mum had borrowed my Auntie Marion’s fur coat for the day. ‘I don’t think she had ever been out of Dundee before in her life.’ Another major reception awaited as thousands lined the streets of Dundee to see McTaggart being towed on an open-top car from the train station up the hill to Dens Road. Lucrative opportunities to turn professional came flooding in. ‘I got one offer of £1,000 upfront, which was a fortune in those days,’ he said. ‘But if someone is giving me £1,000 to turn pro, they will be earning at least five times more than that from me fighting. ‘I enjoyed boxing, but I never wanted it to become my job. I knew that I didn’t have many brains, but I wanted to keep the ones I had. I have never regretted my decision to stay amateur. ‘I liked to lead a normal life as well. If I wanted to go for a pint then I would. You can’t do that as a pro.’ McTaggart initially boxed for England as he was based at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire, but he was picked for his country’s Commonwealth Games team after winning the Scottish Championship at the first attempt in 1958 and soon took gold at Cardiff. The right-handed southpaw was the flagbearer for the British team at the 1960 Olympics in Rome and won bronze after a controversial semi-final defeat. McTaggart became European champion the following year before being on the end of another contentious decision in the 1962 Commonwealth Games light-welterweight final when his Ghanaian opponent fainted with shock after being awarded the decision. He competed at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo but lost to the eventual winner in the quarter-finals. ‘I started taking a lot of punches in 1965 and decided this was a mug’s game. So I retired,’ he told The Courier in 2016. He did so as a five-times British champion who won 610 of his 634 fights and collected 32 cups, 57 plaques, and 49 medals. Outside of the ring, McTaggart’s jobs included a laborer, a ‘rodent exterminator’ with Glasgow Council, a Rolls Royce engineer, and a member of the Daily Express circulation department. He also spent many years coaching the British Olympic and Scottish boxing squads. McTaggart met his wife, Doreen, in 1962 at a cafe on Union Street, Glasgow, while she was working as a waitress. They had four daughters together. A statement from Commonwealth Games Scotland read: ‘We were saddened to learn of the passing of boxing legend Dick McTaggart MBE. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.’ dailymail.com /BoxRec
Mark DiGiovanni – The Kearny, New Jersey super welterweight, active from 1990-1992 and 1995-1996, passed away on March 3, 2025, at the age of 55. Mark, who fought out of Ring 20 in Kearney, New Jersey, was an outstanding amateur boxer who won several State Titles, including the 1989 New Jersey Golden Gloves. He also fought in Denmark and Sweden as a member of the U.S. national team. He was born April 19, 1969, turned pro in 1990, and had a record of 5-3-1, with two knockouts. Beyond his own achievements in the ring, Mark devoted himself to shaping the next generation of boxers. As a dedicated youth trainer, he shared his deep knowledge and love of the sport with young fighters throughout the Northeast, inspiring countless athletes with his guidance and encouragement. But Mark’s fighting spirit wasn’t just reserved for the gym—he carried it into every aspect of life with a playful and infectious energy. Family gatherings often turned into impromptu sparring sessions, where his nieces and nephews eagerly donned the gloves, laughing as they tried to land a punch on their skilled and ever-present uncle. His warmth, humor, and strong-mannered nature made every moment spent with him unforgettable. (Courtesy of Henry Hascup) / BoxRec
Francisco Fiol – The former Spanish light heavyweight champion, active 1974-1979, died March 5, 2025, age 74. He was born Francisco Fiol Reynés in uro, Islas Baleares, Spain, on April 28, 1950, and compiled a record of 22-6-1 (KO 16/KO by 2). BoxRec
Carson Jones – The former super welterweight contender from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, sadly passed away on February 28, 2025, at the age of 38 due to complications following surgery on his esophagus. Born in Oklahoma City on August 19, 1986, Jones turned professional on October 5, 2004, and achieved a career record of 44 wins, 16 losses, and three draws, with 32 of his victories by knockout and five defeats by knockout. At one point, he was ranked as high as No. 4 in the world. Earlier this year, Jones had informed his followers about his struggles with gastrointestinal problems, which affect the digestive tract through which food and liquids travel. Multiple boxing-related media sources/ BoxRec
Johnny Rico – The junior middleweight from Tucson, Arizona, who was active from 1970 to 1975, passed away on February 27, 2025, at the age of 78. Born John L. Rico, Jr., on September 22, 1946, he compiled a professional record of 24 wins, 12 losses, and no draws, with 14 of his wins and 4 losses coming by knockout. Throughout his career, Rico held both the Arizona welterweight and junior middleweight titles. He achieved victories over notable opponents such as Joey Limas, Aristeo Castro, Eddie Mazon, Frank Kolovart, Raul Soriano, Frank Flores, Tom Von Hatten, and Mike Evans. He also faced off against well-known fighters, including Eddie Perkins, Elisha Obed, Sugar Ray Seales, Armando Muniz, Peter Coblah, and John L. Sullivan. BoxRec
Jimmy Voss – The former middleweight boxer from Utica, New York, who was active from 1953 to 1961, passed away on February 25, 2025, at the age of 89. Born on June 10, 1935, in Grace, Mississippi, he compiled a professional record of 5 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws, with 3 wins by knockout and 2 losses by knockout. He won the New York State AAU Championship in 1953 as an amateur. BoxRec
Greg Haugen – The former three-time world champion passed away at age 64 on February 22, 2025, after battling cancer. He won the IBF lightweight title in 1986 but lost it in his first defense. Haugen regained the title in a rematch in 1988 but lost it again to Pernell Whitaker in 1989. He captured the WBO junior welterweight title in 1991 by defeating Hector Camacho, marking Camacho’s first loss, although he later lost the rematch. Haugen had a 50-fight career, finishing with a record of 39-10-1 (KO 19/KO by 3). His notable bouts included facing Julio Cesar Chavez in 1993 before a record crowd, where he was stopped in the fifth round after taunting Chavez. Haugen was diagnosed with renal cancer in 2023, and he passed away at a care facility near Seattle. He is survived by four children, and his daughter expressed pride in his fighting spirit. Multiple boxing-related media sources/ BoxRec
Luis “Lumumba” Estaba – The former WBC light flyweight champion from Venezuela, passed away on February 16, 2025 at the age of 86. Born in August 1938, he turned professional in 1967 at 28, primarily fighting in Venezuela and facing several early defeats that helped shape his career.In 1975, after the junior flyweight division was revived, Estaba won the vacant WBC title by defeating Rafael Lovera via fourth-round knockout. He reigned for nearly two and a half years, making 11 successful title defenses, including notable wins over Franco Udella, Rodolfo Rodriguez, Rafael Pedroza, and Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh. His reign ended in February 1978 after a loss to Freddy Castillo, who later lost to Sor Vorasingh. Estaba faced Sor Vorasingh in a rematch in July 1978 but lost by fifth-round knockout. Due to Venezuelan law requiring boxers to retire at 40, Estaba ended his career with a record of 41 wins, 9 losses, and 2 draws (27 by knockout). Multiple boxing media sources/ BoxRec
Albert Mills – The junior middleweight boxer from Plainfield, New Jersey, was active in professional boxing from 1981 to 1982. He passed away on February 12, 2025, at the age of 67. Born Albert Raynaldo Mills in Plainville on January 28, 1958, he achieved an impressive professional record of 14 wins, 2 losses, and no draws, with 10 of those wins coming by knockout. Mills had a successful amateur boxing career from 1975 to 1980, during which he won numerous Golden Gloves titles. After retiring from boxing, he transitioned into coaching, leading his teams to victory in the Golden Gloves championships in 1996 and 1997. In addition to boxing, Mills also coached Pop Warner football in Plainville for eight years. A pillar of the Plainville community, Mills was heavily involved in helping at-risk youth. He was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame on November 8, 2007. (Courtesy of Henry Hascup) / BoxRec
Danny Giovanelli – The Brooklyn, New York welterweight, active from 1951-1957, died in early 2025 (exact date unknown) at the age of 92. Giovanelli was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 25, 1932, and compiled a record of 30-9-1 (KO 13/KO by 2). During his career, he defeated Vince Martinez, Jimmy Martinez, Giampaolo Melis, Chris Christensen, Rocky Sullivan, Joe Klein, Danny Jo Perez, Jackie O’Brien, Gene Poirier, Harry Deputy, Phil Morizio, Eddie Oliver, Emerson Butcher, and Mike Colucci. He engaged Art Aragon, Joe Miceli, Tony DiBiase, Ray Drake, Carmen Fiore, Miguel Diaz, and Rock Casillo. BoxRec
Danny Toriani – To a generation of pool fans, Danny DiLiberto was known primarily for his insightful analysis and clever commentary on pro tournament matches taped and streamed for Accu-Stats Video Productions, mostly teaming with Billy Incardona as one of the sport’s iconic commentator duos. But DiLiberto, who passed away on Feb. 11 in Florida, will be remembered as one of the game’s great all-around champions, a tenacious competitor who won major national titles in four disciplines. DiLiberto was 89, just eight days short of his 90th birthday. Born in Buffalo on Feb. 19, 1935, DiLiberto excelled in any sport that began with the letter “B.” He reached the AA level of minor league baseball and, fighting for famed trainer Angelo Dundee under the name Danny “Kid” Torriani, was unbeaten in 14 professional fights. He posted 12 wins (KO 11) and two draws, until multiple broken hands ended his career. He was also a proficient bowler, bowling a perfect 300 game when the feat was a rarity. But it was billiards at which DiLiberto eventually carved out a career that spanned more than 40 years. A New York city and state straight pool champion in the early 1960s, DiLiberto twice finished runner-up in the prestigious Billiard Congress of America U.S. Open — falling to fellow BCA Hall of Famers Joe Balsis in 1968 and Steve Mizerak in 1972. It was also in ’72 that DiLiberto scored his biggest wins, capturing the straight pool division at the legendary Johnston City World All-Around Championships and then defeating Incardona and Larry “Boston Shorty” Johnson to claim the All-Around title. In 1981, DiLiberto defeated Nick Varner in the BCA National 8-Ball Championship in Las Vegas. Two years later he won the World One-Pocket title and followed that a year later winning the 1984 Classic Cup National 9-Ball Championship. DiLiberto is a member of four halls of fame. In addition to being inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame in 2011, DiLiberto was inducted into the One-Pocket Hall of Fame (2004), Buffalo Boxing Hall of Fame (2006), and Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame (2017). BoxRec / Obituary
Mark Weinman – The Jacksonville, NC junior middleweight, active from 1985-1991, 2012-2013, died February 8, 2025, at age 62. He was born Mark Pate Weinman in Whitestone, Queens, NY on August 5, 1962, and compiled a record of 12-4-0 (KO 10/KO by 4). On September 7, 2012, in Tampa, Florida, Weinman, known as ‘The Hebrew Hammer,’ made a remarkable return to boxing after a 21-year hiatus, knocking out Dominican boxer Elvis Luciano Martinez in the second round. At 50 years old and weighing 162 1/4 pounds, only six pounds above his last fight weight in 1991—Weinman, a professional boxing trainer who had stayed in shape and continued to spar, proved that a comeback was possible against the right opponent. While his return was uncommon, it was not unprecedented, as other former contenders and champions like Jack Johnson and Julio Cesar Chavez had attempted comebacks with varying degrees of success. BoxRec
John Cooney – The super-featherweight boxer from Galway, Ireland, passed away on February 8, 2025, following an intracranial hemorrhage suffered during his fight against Welshman Nathan Howells at Ulster Hall on February 1, 2025. He was 28 years old. Born John Henry Cooney on April 2, 1996, in Ealing, London, he turned professional in 2020 and remained undefeated in eleven fights leading up to the bout with Howells. In the ninth round of that match, Cooney was knocked down, and the fight subsequently stopped. He was taken to the hospital after the match but, unfortunately, he passed away there. BoxRec
Rodney Vinson – The Terre Haute, Indiana heavyweight, active from 1997-2000, died February 3, 2025, at age 57. Vinson was born in Terre Haute on March 14, 1967, and compiled a record of 5-3-0 (KO 2/KO by 1). BoxRec
Antonio Amaya—The former junior lightweight contender from Colón, Panama, passed away on January 26, 2025, at the age of 79. He was active in boxing from 1963 to 1978 and was recognized as a world contender by Ring magazine for 64 months, from October 1966 to September 1974, achieving his highest ranking of No. 2. Born in Colón on August 10, 1945, he finished his career with an impressive record of 48 wins, 22 losses, and 7 draws (with 10 wins by knockout and 8 losses by knockout). Throughout his career, he held the Panamanian featherweight and junior lightweight titles. He achieved notable victories against fighters such as Sugar Ramos, Rafiu King, Pedro Gomez, Julio Rios, Baby Luis, Mario Diez, Ray Adigun, Vicente Garcia, Frankie Narvaez, Ramiro Bolanos, Jesus Alonso, and Efren Jimenez. He also split two decisions with Rene Barrientos. However, he was unsuccessful in his attempts to obtain the WBA junior lightweight title, losing to Hiroshi Kobayashi twice, and also fell short against Kuniaki Shibata for the WBC junior lightweight title. BoxRec
Marcel Cerdan Jr. – The French welterweight contender from Marseille, France, and the eldest of three sons of the late former World Middleweight champion, Marcel Cerdan, passed away from pneumonia on January 24, 2025, in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, at the age of 81. After a brief amateur career, Cerdan Jr. fought professionally from 1964 to 1975, amassing a record of 56-5-3, with 18 knockouts. He was rated in the world as a junior-welterweight and welterweight by the Ring Magazine from July 1966 to June 72. His highest rating was # 2 as a junior welterweight. Noted for his determination, but he lacked his father’s punch and overall abilities and never earned a world title shot. He played his father in the movie Edith et Marcel. BoxRec
Ronnie Rentz– The 1981 National Golden Gloves flyweight champion died January 19, 2025, at age 60. Rentz was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on April 20, 1964, and had a short professional career in 1985, compiling a record of 3-0-1, winning all three by kayo. BoxRec
Lawrence (Laurie) Austin – The former junior welterweight contender from Perth, Western Australia, passed away on January 10, 2025, at the age of 68. He was born in Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia, on January 22, 1956, and was active from 1971 to 1986, finishing his career with a record of 34 wins, 12 losses, and 2 draws, including 12 wins by knockout. The rugged Austin, also referred to as “Babby Cassius,” was never stopped in his professional career. During his career, Austin held several titles, including the Australian West State welterweight, Australian Commonwealth Boxing Council super lightweight, Australian welterweight, and South Seas light middleweight. The Ring magazine ranked him as high as the fifth world-rated contender from August 1977 to October 1978. Austin had notable victories, defeating Hector Thompson, Graeme Looker, Steve Dennis, Jimmy Greco, Peter Batty, Benny Tabua, and Dave Ramsden. He also faced opponents such as Russell Sands, Sakaraia Ve, and Frank Ropis during his career. BoxRec
Jimmy Giambelluca – The former Buffalo boxer and amateur coach passed away on Friday, January 10, in Buffalo, NY, at the age of 69. Jimmy won the open 125 lb. Buffalo Golden Gloves in 1974, defeating Noel Brain of St. Catherines. He was the runner-up in the 1973 novice class of the Gloves, losing in the finals to Rocky Fratto of Geneva. He had 24 pro fights (1981-1986) before becoming a coach at the Lackawanna Boxing Club with Roy Brasch. Source: Bob Caico/ BoxRec
Jackie Burke – The Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada featherweight, active from 1964-1971, died January 3, at age 82. He was born John Gerald Burke in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, on November 8, 1942, and compiled a record of 16-15-0 (KO 2/KO by 8). BoxRec
Cliff Allen – The Long Beach California heavyweight active from 1969-1970, died January 3, 2025, at age 82. He was born Clifford Duane Allen in Jackson, Wyoming, and compiled a record of 3-1-0. BoxRec
Roberto Tamayo – The Ciudad Obregón, Mexico super lightweight was murdered in Ciudad Obregón on January 2, 2025. No further information is available. He was born Roberto Tamayo González on June 7, 1978, and compiled a record of 12-23-1 (KO 7/KO by 19). BoxRec
Ján Zachara – Zachara was a Czechoslovakian amateur boxer who competed from 1949 to 1956. He won the gold medal in the featherweight division at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. Zachara also participated in the 1956 Olympics, where he lost in the quarterfinals on points to Pentti Hämäläinen of Finland. He passed away on January 2, 2025, at the age of 96. BoxRec
Lawson Baker – The San Diego, California, heavyweight, active from 2006-2009, died January 2, 2025, at age 55. Lawrence David Baker was born in Los Angeles, California on September 30, 1969, and compiled a record of 5-6-1 (KO 2/KO by 4). BoxRec