Amen to that SC. He was my favourite heavy of all time.

He was also my Dad's favourite, which possibly influenced me early on. My old man was of the older generation who never warmed to Ali so as i was coming up all i heard about was Smokin Joe. Although he was retired by the time i was in my teens i have dug up and watched all his fights over the years.

What a fighter, the modern day boys could not last a round with him.

RIP Joe. A true legend

I'm not really a boxing fan, but R.I.P. Joe. ...About the most interest I have in boxing is that "Cinderella Man" James Braddock lived on the same street as me until his death in the 70's.

Manny fights tonight so that means Ibarra will be posting several hundred photos of him over the next few days...

Opinions on the fight tonight, Pac v Marquez?? I got Pac winning a clearer decision than previous meetings, possibly by late stoppage. Marquez is 37, and showing signs of slowing down IMO.

I agree Nicky. Marquez is a tough old hombre who drinks his own piss for strength but age is against him. Manny should do a number on him, but hey you never know eh?

Yeah certainly looking forward to watching should be a decent scrap!

Manny always good value. The only time i never rooted for him was when he fought Hatton!

Yeah that was a horrible experience... Since Hatton retired I haven't been able to get as excited for a Brit fighter, I don't know there was something special about Hatton, I will never forget the build-up for the Mayweather fight!

Yes that was great wasn't it? All the Brits in Vegas drinking all the bars dry. Briliant

Just read Barry McGuigans auto-biography. Great read of a great man and a cracking fighter. I remember watching him beat Pedroza in '85 and the lose to Stevie Cruz the year after in the sweltering heat of Vegas. He had such tremendous support. Now of course a brilliant commentator on Sky. Read this book if you can!!

Iv'e been meaning to get hold of that. You know a lot of American fight fans and writers don't think he should be in the hall of fame.

I think it is because he was only world champ for 18 months....but if they can have Sly Stallone in there why not little Baz

Question I'm asking myself is will Ricky Hatton get into the hall of fame??

For the level of his support and what he gave to boxing yes, but in the ring i don't know. Apart from beating Tzuyu??? I know he defended a few times but the biggest 2 fights of his career he lost!!

I would have him in though, big Hatton fan, my kinda fighter!

Come on Cotto!!! Never have I wanted someone to get hurt in the ring before, but with this scumbag Margarito it's a different matter!

Never seen any of the fights but glad Cotto did a number on Margarito. Cotto one of my faves and Margarito obviously tainted for ever!

Another good fight last night was the exciting Brandon Rios against England's warrior John Murray at lightweight. My mate just texted me to say it was an absolute belter, a war, my kind of fight. Rios won but Murray shwed enormous courage and balls!

Yeah I saw the while show, Murray was spirited but he took a vicious, vicious beating, blood everywhere, the sort of fight which ruins a fighter.
Cotto was masterful, he boxed beautifully, never getting trapped on the ropes. For me he won practically every round.

I like bleeders with heart, my kinda fighters

Is Amir Khan the next big thing? Future Pound for pound champ?

Not now he's not

lol yeah who saw that coming?!

Just watched it and here is what i reckon!

1. It was a great fight!

2. I not a big Khan fan, he has never struck a chord with me, but i thought he won by a point. Obviously the points off affected him but it was that sort of fight. His classless whinging afterwards made me sick....

3. Well done to Peterson, a rags to riches story. I have said it before, come forward gutsy scrappers are my kinda fighters

4. Re-matsch for sure!!

Agree on all points, any where else in the world and Khan wins that fight by a couple of points! Hard not to like Petersen, well done to him!

Froch v Ward next week. Obviously rooting for Froch big style but he has hands full, Ward a class act.

Should be a belter of a fight!!

Yeah I think this is the fight I'm looking forward to most this year, A very tough fight and if Froch wins Iv'e heard rumblings he's a lock for the hall of fame. Will be extremely tough to get inside Wards jab and also avoid his head!

I don't have cable , if that makes a difference. I like boxing and can remember when the big fights were on. We have some of that kick boxing stuff around hare. Kung fuuy , guys are good but damm it is not the same. I don't know what happened in this part of the country, I guess they see to many cowboys belting each other

Just watched a TV show called FIGHT OF THEIR LIVES,all about the brutal fight between Nigel Benn and Gerald McClellan back in 1995. I remember watching this fight and screaming at the TV. Benn was one of my favourite fighters and this scrap had it all in spades.

Of course the aftermath was shocking and seeing it all again was very moving, Benn genuinely torn up about it(despite his flippant attitude at the time), McClellans sisters anger and poor McClellan himself, asking every day if he won the fight!!!!

Yeah Iv'e seen that too very good feature, very sad.

Good luck to Carl Froch later. He has a very tough fight ahead but i supporting him the whole way

Well that was that then......

Ward a class act indeed and it was a hard, frustrating night for Froch.

At 34, Froch should walk away, he has nothing more to prove to anybody in the ring!

On the undercard, talented Brit welter Kell Brook showed his wares pretty impressively!