The Ring Magazine Profile
History
The Ring Magazine is an American boxing magazine considered to be the longest-lasting boxing publication in the world. Founded in 1922 by American boxing writer and collector Nathaniel Fleischer and his partners, The Ring has almost uninterruptedly published its magazine and ratings up until today. It remains one of the more reputable entities in boxing.
The first issue was published on 15th February 1922, counting 24 pages and costing 20 cents at that time, close to $3 adjusted for inflation.
Fleischer served as a publisher and editor of the magazine until his death in 1972. The managing editor at that time, Nat Loubet, succeeded Fleischer. Loubet would then have a 7-year tenure as publisher, notable for his initiative to expand The Ring internationally, with versions of the magazine published in Spanish, French, and Japanese.
Following Loubet's departure, boxing writer and historian Bert Sugar took over as editor-in-chief for the next six years. By 1989, The Ring had neared bankruptcy and ceased publication for almost a year, until getting back to its feet in 1990 under new ownership and management.
It was a former employee, Stanley Weston, who would end up saving the same magazine, 52 years after having worked there as a stock boy when he was just 13 years old. Not only that, but he was also considered responsible for re-establishing the magazine as the leading boxing publication in the world.
Weston would also work at the magazine as an artist, having painted 57 covers for The Ring. His first cover was a painting of light-heavyweight champion Billy Dunn for the December 1939 issue. Over the years, The Ring cover has featured some of the best boxers ever to live, including: Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Roy Jones Jr., Julio Cesar Chavez, Manny Pacquiao, and Oscar De La Hoya.
In 1977, female boxer Cathy Davis became the first female to appear on the cover of The Ring.
After Sugar's departure, the editor-in-chief would change every couple of yours, with the current being Douglass Fischer. The Ring's headquarters were located in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, until 2011, when it relocated to Los Angeles.
The Ring has changed ownership five times during its existence. The magazine changed hands between founder Nat Fleischer, Dave DeBusschere and Nick Kladis, Stanley Weston and Nick Karabots. Since September 2007, it has been owned by Hall of Fame boxer Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy enterprises.
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