A goodbye to a friend I never met, but really knew

A goodbye to a friend I never met, but really knew
August 18, 2014

This afternoon, while at work (a job which, among many other things, encompasses monitoring Twitter), I came across the heart-stopping news that Glyn Leach, the longtime editor of well-regarded print publication Boxing Monthly, passed away.

Photo courtesy of @ZombieSquasher.@ZombieSquasher

The loss was met by unrelenting sorrow by those in the boxing community. A vast majority of these people never were lucky enough to interact with Glyn but were still fortunate enough to enjoy his blood, sweat, and tears, as the magazine arrived in their hands a number of ways. For me, I lost someone who could only be referred to as a mentor of sorts.

It is unbelievably tough in the dog-eat-dog world of trying to make a living on the written word. While working full-time on the graveyard shift at a retail job, stocking shelves and trying not to fall asleep, Glyn Leach gave me my first opportunity to showcase my work someplace I considered well out of reach at the time. Boxing writing was something that was still far off from paying my bills, but Glyn got in touch with me about ideas for the magazine after coming across my work on Twitter. Despite being half the world away and having never met, Glyn saw something in my writing (which was extremely rough at the time) to give me a shout. This even though I was writing for a small, lightly regarded blog at the time.

Boxing Monthly: The Safest Bets

Boxing Monthly: The Safest Bets

Mark E. Ortega

February 2014 ed. of Boxing Monthly

I was lucky to get included in renowned British boxing magazine Boxing Monthly this month. This is my fourth appearance in the publication, this time a six-page spread detailing 14 prospects to keep your eye on as well as five unbeatens I think will lose their perfect record this year.

Final chapter, final Page likely written for former champ

Final chapter, final Page likely written for former champ
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
June 18, 2013

A week ago today, former WBA welterweight titlist James Page was arrested in Northern California in connection to six bank robberies that took place around the Bay Area over the past six months. According to the Bay Area News Group, he is being held on $395,000 bail.

It was just over a year ago that Page emerged from prison following an 11-year sentence stemming from a bank robbery in Atlanta in 2001. After serving his time, Page left prison a cut and ripped 159 pounds, intent on returning to the ring in an attempt to find old glory.

Page's comeback received little fanfare, though he took it much more seriously than most fortysomethings coming off more than a decade of inactivity. Page sparred with the late Omar Henry at King's Gym in Oakland, as well as junior middleweight contender Alfredo Angulo under the watchful eye of Angulo's trainer, Virgil Hunter.

In doing a story for the February edition of the UK publication Boxing Monthly, this writer recalls discussing Page with Hunter when it first became apparent that he was out of jail and looking to return to the ring. Hunter instantly brushed off the idea of it. He'd had a change of heart after seeing Page go toe-to-toe with Angulo in sparring.

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Journeyman Boone an unsung hero in boxing

Journeyman Boone an unsung hero in boxing
Mark E. Ortega
Freelance
March 23, 2013

Years from now, most people will have forgotten about Darnell Boone.

I'm not talking 20 years from now. If last night's sixth-round TKO loss to Adonis Stevenson on WealthTV is the last we see of Boone, even a few years from now he will have faded from the memories of most. His 19-21-3 record, despite the level of competition and circumstances it has come against, won't standout as anything but subpar.

But to those who have closely followed Boone's career, which may end up being just a few others outside of myself, they will remember Boone as one of the sport's toughest journeyman or gatekeeper types of this era.

Boone hoping history repeats itself against Stevenson

Boone hoping history repeats itself against Stevenson

Mark E. Ortega

RingTV.com
March 20, 2013

With greater exposure comes greater opportunity.

The last time Darnell Boone and Adonis Stevenson met, it was on a small untelevised club show in Salisbury, Md. Stevenson, then an undefeated but untested 13-0, was promptly knocked out by a single overhand right in the second round of the fight.

Due to the where and the when, the win garnered Boone little fanfare.

When the two meet Friday night in Montreal, it'll be the televised headliner of a WealthTV broadcast with Stevenson on the verge of a world title challenge.

Tough journeyman Boone (19-20-3, 8 KOs) told Boxing Monthly in their May 2012 edition that the biggest purse he'd ever earned was the $12,500 he'd received to fight Anthony Thompson in 2006.

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James Page's Battle to Turn Back the Clock

In the February 2013 edition of British boxing publication Boxing Monthly, I have a four-page spread on the unlikely comeback of former WBA welterweight titlist James Page, who returned to the ring in November 2012 after a 10.5 year jail sentence stemming from multiple bank robberies. In fact, Page's picture makes it on the front cover in the upper right corner. Though Page's comeback didn't go as planned, there was still a worthwhile story behind the ring return.

I was very proud of this piece. Unfortunately, the photographer I used pictures from was completely unprofessional and refused to provide me with shots of Page getting worked over by his opponent in that comeback fight, telling me "Page is her homie". This despite the fact I lined her up to get paid for the photos.

Taking Care of Business

In the June 2012 issue of British boxing publication Boxing Monthly, I had a four-page spread on Timothy Bradley ahead of his challenge of Manny Pacquiao. I interviewed Bradley for the piece, and we discussed a number of topics. My second BM spread.

Darnell Boone and the Education of Andre Ward

 In the May 2012 issue of British boxing publication Boxing Monthly, you can read my four-page spread on tough gatekeeper Darnell Boone, who dropped Andre Ward early in their careers and has been in with stiff competition his whole career, a lot of times on short notice. This was my first spread for the magazine. The article includes quotes from Boone, Ward, promoter Dan Goossen, and trainer Jack Loew.