The Brown Bomber, aka Joe Lewis is one of the greatest boxers of all time. He has a lot of records and a reputation that lives on to this day. A lot of people know all about Mike Tyson yet few modern era fans properly appreciate the one man who may have been able to truly outpunch even him, Joe Louis.

Born in 1914 in Alabama his skill in athletics were quickly apparent. He worked very well for an ice company, forced into early labor because of his family’s poverty, and he built up powerful arm muscles by his teens. He started an amateur career that was very successful, ending with him winning the Golden Glove. He turned pro in 1934 and won twelve fights that year.

The next year he fought thirteen times and created a sensation with his knockouts. He was certainly the Tyson of his time. He knocked out his first heavyweight champion in six rounds. He took out another champion in four. This second one was the indomitable Max Baer who had only been even knocked down once in his life and certainly never knocked out. He also knocked out someone who had never even been knocked down before (!) in champion Paolino Uzcudun!

He took his only loss in his next fight against Max Schmeling.who had studied his style thoroughly and found a weakness in his guard after throwing a jab. He knocked him out in round four. Schmeling returned to Germany a hero.

Louis won the championship in 1937. Schmeling had a shot before him and lost. Still, Joe said he would not consider himself a real champion until he beat Schmeling in a rematch.

The rematch came in June of 1938. World War Two was in everyone’s sights and this was seen as a symbolic battle between the two main potential adversaries for world dominance. Louis won by technical knockout in the first. Hitler and the Germans were thoroughly embarrassed. Schmeling drew the ire of the Nazis who despised him after the loss.

I think two things are most noteworthy about Joe Louis. The first is his punching power. He was recently voted by Ring Magazine as number one on their list of top 100 greatest punchers of all time. His power was tremendous.

The second thing that stands out was his longevity. Not in terms of years playing the sport but in terms of time on the absolute top. Once he got the ring he held it for over eleven years and made a record twenty five successful defenses of the title. It is this feat that in my mind makes him probably the best ever, ahead of even Tyson and possibly even Ali himself!

After his retirement and beyond his passing in 1981 his legend has only grown in circles in the know. He was named the greatest heavyweight of all time by the International Boxing Research Organization. I think they’re onto something.

Write your articlWinter fitness for a 40 something vet, with little time on my hands for leisure, or day light hours for cycling. No I don’t go down the turbo trainer route, as I regard cycling as a totally an outdoor pursuit and not something to be done indoors, on a stationary contraption. OK it’s good for your physical fitness, but for my mental wellbeing, I’m not so sure.

The gym, sure I’ve done that most winters, up until this year. Fine, great selection of leg waits, and you can run on the treadmill. Problem is I can only take about 10 minuets max. on the treadmill before the first signs of madness being to flicker on my mental horizon.

This year I’ve discovered outdoor running. Why do I now sing its praises? It suits my fitness requirements and fits in nicely to my tight time schedule. I ride races of no more than 2 hour duration. I enjoy racing, as it gives me something to work towards, making me fitter than if I was just into leisure cycling. Winning is not a priority, there fore my training doesn’t have to be that intense. After all I am 48 and while I want to be fit I also want to be healthy at the same time. There is a difference in being healthy and fit. Being at the top end of fitness is no guarantee that one is healthy.

I know of one particular cyclist in his early 50’s who was one of the top competitors in the Vets category. Unfortunately he dropped dead one morning from a heart attack.

So back to my winter training schedule. It’s mostly on Sundays that I will get out on the road bike for a 2 hour ride, during the course of theses dark winter months. So at least once a week, and possibly twice, I will go for a 20 30 minute run. I’ve been doing this now since September, and I’m really enjoying it, and importantly feeling the benefits. I I can fit it in over my lunch hour. It’s so easy to slip into a track suit and off I go. And it’s free, no membership fees required. It gets me a dose of that all important fresh air, so essential when one is indoors for most of the day. My leg muscles are in fine condition and my breathing is excellent.

I had not been on the bike for 3 weeks until last Sunday. However I was pleasantly surprised at how good my condition was on the bike. I put it down to the benefits of regular running.

I’m as always looking foreword to the new racing season, and it will be interesting to see how running as part of my winter training will aid and improve my performance. I feel there will be a marked improvement.

Oh and I also enjoy a daily drink of carrot juice. You can purchase the organic variety from the shop, or if you have a juicer or blender make your own from raw carrots. Great for energy and stamina. Try it.

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Jeremy Ybarra may not be a household name, but he’s certainly determined to change that. “I’m going to hold a belt.” he says with complete confidence. At 28 years old and only 5 fights under his belt, possibilities definitely appear to be endless.

For such a young fighter Jeremy has already tasted his fair share of adversity. “I got married, I got divorced. I did a lot of steroids, my joints blew out on me.” Although currently sidelined by a shoulder injury sustained in his last fight, Jeremy looks to get back to training very soon and hopes to fight both in January and March. “I plan on getting back out there January if I can, but I’m for sure in the next St. Paddywack, which is a Gladiator Challenge event (in March).” Jeremy will look to up his record to 4-2 against an opponent (at this point) still unknown.

When questioned about potential opponent preferences Jeremy was quick to answer. “Jaime Jara. He’s a nice guy, nothing against him but I would love to go strike four against Team X.” Jeremy holds victories over three other Team X (UFC veteran Cal Worsham’s team) fighters Eric Hayes, Alan Scoville, and Garrett Dugger. “Nothing against their team, it’s just that they’re pretty cocky.” For a young fighter, it seems Ybarra isn’t intimidated by a little rivalry. Who knows? Maybe fans will be treated to Ybarra VS Team X Chapter 4 at the upcoming St. Paddywack event.

Ybarra is a man surrounded by strong minds and bodies. He’s trained with some of the best in the sport including Cassio Werneck, Danny Castillo and current WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber. Talking with Jeremy, his level of admiration for Faber is evident. “I look up to that guy. He’s the best in the business. He’s got a recipe, he’s got a good game plan every time he fights. The guys a work horse.” Ybarra plans to train with Urijah at Ultimate Fitness in Sacramento California for his next fight.

While talking with Jeremy one gets a serious sense of rapid maturity. Ybarra has evolved from a street fighter to a professional mixed martial artist in just a few short years. “I was fighting my way through school.” Jeremy states, “But I’m making a solid career of this.” Years of school brawls and bar fights have helped add to the tenacity and heart of Ybarra, as already displayed throughout his young MMA career. “I’ve had my nose broken, my shoulder dislocated.” Jeremy remains unperturbed.

MMA is a blossoming sport with fresh talent and faces emerging everyday. Ybarra finds himself snug in the middle of the puzzle. Young, strong and disciplined Ybarra’s career is promising. With a Muay Thai, Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu background Jeremy is an already well rounded fighter. Having already fought on Pay-Per-View for King Of The Cage he’s quickly adding experience to his repertoire as well. Fellow fighters in the 170 pound division would do well to keep an eye on this guy. While still relatively unknown, his skill set and record (3-2, with all 3 wins by stoppage) clearly indicate Jeremy Ybarra is a genuine threat.

Jeremy Ybarra would like to thank his sponsors: Sacramento Auto Plaza, Dragon Audio in Elk Grove CA, Play It Again Sports in Elk Grove CA, Half Court Sports Deli in Roseville CA, Hot Soup Records and Doey Rock, Max Muscle in Rancho Cordova, Rocklin CA, Elite Fight Gear (whove been here from the beginning), Creative Graphics in Marysville, Black Castle Design, and Bone Head Tattoo’s.