The Corrupt Boxing Tournament: The US Boxing Championships and Its Ties to ABC and Ring Magazine in the 1970s

The 1970s was a significant decade for professional boxing, marked by thrilling rivalries and iconic matchups. However, it was also a period that revealed the dark side of the sport, with corruption, manipulation, and shady dealings often behind the scenes. One of the most notorious episodes in boxing’s history during this time was the US Boxing Championships of 1976, a tournament that was heavily influenced by major media entities like ABC (American Broadcasting Company) and Ring Magazine. While the tournament promised to showcase the best of American boxing, it quickly became mired in scandal, allegations of corruption, and unethical practices.

1977 | Heavyweight Boxing Documentary

Origins of the US Boxing Championships

The US Boxing Championships were created as a way to highlight the top American boxers in a tournament format. The event was organized in collaboration between ABC, one of the leading television networks, and Ring Magazine, the authoritative boxing publication. ABC, eager to take advantage of the popularity of boxing during the 1970s, sought to bring fans a new and exciting way to enjoy the sport, while Ring Magazine aimed to assert its dominance as the sport’s premier media outlet.

The tournament was intended to crown the best heavyweight boxer in the United States, with top contenders from across the country participating in a single-elimination format. However, despite the event’s grand promise, things quickly went off track, leading to widespread controversy and suspicion.

Don King Interview 1984

The Corruption and Manipulation

While the US Boxing Championships were marketed as a legitimate competition to determine the top American heavyweight, accusations of corruption soon surfaced. The most significant concern was the influence of ABC and Ring Magazine over the tournament’s outcomes.

It was widely believed that the matchups were rigged in favor of certain boxers, particularly those with the greatest marketability and media appeal. Fighters like Ken Norton, who was a popular name in the heavyweight division at the time, were rumored to have been given favorable positions in the tournament, ensuring they would advance to the later rounds for television ratings. This manipulation raised doubts about the tournament’s legitimacy, as it appeared more like a made-for-TV spectacle than a genuine sports competition.

Judging and referee decisions also became a major point of contention. Numerous instances of questionable scoring and officiating led fans and fighters to believe that the outcomes were influenced by outside interests rather than by the fighters’ actual performance in the ring. These issues only intensified the perception that the tournament was being controlled by television executives and media outlets with a vested interest in its success.

Ring Magazine’s Role in the Scandal

As the sport’s most influential publication, Ring Magazine’s involvement in the US Boxing Championships further fueled allegations of corruption. Rather than maintaining its reputation as an impartial observer of the sport, Ring was accused of using its platform to promote the desired outcomes of the tournament. The magazine’s rankings and coverage seemed to favor certain fighters, aligning closely with the media interests of ABC, which broadcast the tournament.

Ring Magazine was also under scrutiny for not providing biased coverage of the tournament. Some critics argued that the publication’s promotion of specific fighters and its lack of critical analysis gave the impression that the magazine was complicit in the manipulation of the event.

This blurred line between media and promotion raised serious concerns about journalistic integrity. Fans began to question whether Ring Magazine was serving the interests of boxing fans or if it had become just another tool in the media’s drive for higher ratings and profits.

• Falsified Records: The Ring magazine’s managing editor, Johnny Ort, was found to have fabricated the records of several boxers to make them appear more impressive and eligible for the tournament, which was organized by Don King.
• Rigged Fights: Some participants alleged that fights were fixed to favor boxers who were managed by or affiliated with King’s associates.

Several boxers benefited from falsified records, with some allegedly involved in rigged fights. BoxRec lists several boxers who were given false wins, including Donald (Biff) Cline, Mike Colbert, Paddy Dolan, Ike Fluellen, Anthony House, and Hilbert Stevenson. Additionally, Greg Coverson, Vonzell Johnson, Floyd Mayweather, and Richard Rozelle were collectively credited with 11 fake wins. It is important to note that not all of these boxers were necessarily aware of or complicit in the scheme.

LeDoux vs Boudreaux incident

Here’s a breakdown of what happened:

• The Fight: LeDoux lost an eight-round decision to Boudreaux, a decision he vehemently disputed. He felt he had clearly won the fight and was furious with the judges’ decision.
• The Aftermath: In a post-fight interview with Howard Cosell, LeDoux expressed his belief that the fight was rigged. He even mimicked Cosell’s famous phrase “Tell it like it is”.
• The Toupee Incident: During this heated exchange, LeDoux’s frustration boiled over, and he accidentally dislodged Cosell’s toupee. This moment, caught on live television, became a memorable (and somewhat infamous) event in boxing history.
• LeDoux’s Apology: Despite his anger and frustration, LeDoux later apologized to Cosell for the incident.

Key Takeaway: This fight drew attention to this controversy and garnered media attention due to his post-fight actions and outburst with Howard Cosell. LeDoux was robbed in this fight, and it showed the scandal that was emerging.

Johnny Boudreaux vs Scott LeDoux

The Fallout

The aftermath of the US Boxing Championships was swift and damaging. The accusations of corruption and manipulation led to a loss of faith in the tournament, and more broadly, in the credibility of professional boxing. Fans, disillusioned by the behind-the-scenes drama, turned away from the sport, and the tournament’s tarnished reputation lingered long after the final bell.

For ABC, the tournament marked a decline in its involvement in boxing. While the network continued to air boxing events for a time, its credibility in the sport was severely damaged. ABC eventually distanced itself from the world of boxing, and by the mid 1980s Boxing was not as big apart of it’s coverage.

Ring Magazine, despite its long-standing reputation as boxing’s premier publication, also faced significant fallout. Its role in the tournament left many fans questioning its impartiality, and its credibility took a hit that would take years to repair. Although Ring continued to be an influential voice in the sport, the scandal remained a stain on its legacy.

Conclusion

The US Boxing Championships of the 1970s stand as one of the darkest moments in boxing’s history, a glaring example of how media and promotional interests can corrupt a sporting event. What was intended to be a legitimate showcase of American boxing talent turned into a controversial spectacle driven by manipulation and profit. The involvement of ABC and Ring Magazine in the tournament only magnified the perception that the sport was more about entertainment and television ratings than about genuine athletic competition.

Though the US Boxing Championships faded into obscurity, the lessons from this episode continue to resonate in boxing today. The sport still grapples with issues of transparency and fairness, and the corrupt practices exposed in this tournament remain a cautionary tale for future boxing promoters, media outlets, and fans alike.