Eric Raskin

Second verse, different from the first: Boxing’s greatest rematch adjustments

It was civil rights campaigner and feminist author Rita Mae Brown — not the frequently credited Albert Einstein — who defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” And while at least a light splash of...

The Manny, Manny Hall of Fame-worthy sides of Pacquiao

This is hardly an original observation, but it is nonetheless a remarkable reality that would be true of very few boxers in history: you could divide Manny Pacquiao’s boxing career into two distinct halves...

California commission head Andy Foster weighs in on PEDs, scoring controversies and more

In part-two of his fascinating interview with the Andy Foster, head of the California State Athletic Commission, Eric Raskin asks about the use of PEDS, cutting weight, poor judging decisions and much more

From submission to commission: Ex-fighter Andy Foster oversees boxing in California from a unique perspective

For the last dozen years, the Golden State has had, in the form of Andy Foster, the most bad-ass athletic commission executive director in the land. Eric Raskin gets to know him...

It’s time to stop paying attention to Jake Paul’s fights … but not his promotions

There was no glow to bask in when Jake Paul’s dance with the ghost of Mike Tyson concluded. So, almost immediately, we got Tyson calling out Logan Paul — even the Paul brothers didn’t seem to know what to do with that one — and we got every boxer, ac...

I’d rather be writing than fighting — especially at 58

Last week, about 27 hours and 1,600 miles apart, two 58-year-old men who make a portion of their living in boxing commanded my attention. I shouldn’t have to tell you who one of the 58-year-olds in question was. On Friday night, the focus belonged to...

Half a lifetime later, Ike 'The President' Ibeabuchi campaigns again

So, did you hear about the fifty-something, formerly imprisoned, highly intimidating heavyweight about to return to the ring after a long layoff?

‘New era’ for The Ring, same ongoing mess for media

My first masthead credit appeared in The Ring magazine. My first professional byline appeared in The Ring. First feature story, first column, first BWAA award-winning article (#humblebrag), first on-screen credit for TV talking head appearance — Ring...

Jaron Ennis again outpoints Karen Chukhadzhian in a fight to forget

A little under two years after Jaron “Boots” Ennis shut out Karen Chukhadzhian over 12 dreary, frustrating rounds in Washington, D.C., he repeated the feat in his hometown of Philadelphia on Saturday.

Wham, 'Bam': Rodriguez dazzles in first defense at 115

Pedro Guevara had never been stopped in 47 pro fights, but on Saturday in Philadelphia he was stopped inside three rounds by lineal junior bantamweight champ Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez.

No stoppage, but Raymond Ford bounces back from first defeat

Raymond Ford's night didn’t end as early as it first seemed Saturday, but five months removed from surrendering his 130-pound title, he at least got the win over Orlando Gonzalez in Philadelphia.

Can ‘Boots’ and ‘Bam’ become the new GGG and ‘Chocolatito’?

Eric Raskin wonders whether combining Jaron Ennis and Jesse Rodriguez can double the impact and help their respective careers

Was Robson Conceicao-O’Shaquie Foster I a true robbery?

Robson Conceicao and O’Shaquie Foster really shouldn’t be doing this a second time. Their first fight, July 6 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, just wasn’t engaging enough to warrant a rematch.

Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo and Joel Casamayor: Rivalries revisited, candidacies considered

For all the many macro debates to be had about what the International Boxing Hall of Fame is and should be, at this time of year, the focus shifts to the micro debates.

Junior middle matchmaking madness: The top 15 fights to make at 154

If you’re a matchmaker connected to one of the world's best junior middleweights, you pretty much can’t go wrong pairing them with any other fighter in the division. There are probably 50 different combinations Eric Raskin would pay to see right now....