Leading Off

Fire on Ice
Shani Davis of Chicago turned in the fastest time in the first of two 1,000-meter races at the ISU Speed Skating World Cup on Nov. 19 in Kearns, Utah. In the second race, on the following day, the 23-year-old Davis churned a world-record 1:07.03 (inset).

Prized Fighters
These portraits of current and former boxers--all of whom were known for being warriors in the ring--were taken over the last six months, at sittings from New York to California.

Giving the Devils Their Due
After winning the Long Island Class III championship game last Saturday in Stony Brook, N.Y., Huntington High players applauded their opponents, the Red Devils of Plainedge High. Last June the Plainedge school district cut funding for sports programs, but a parents group raised $575,000 to keep the teams going. The Red Devils went 10-0 before losing to Huntington 27-14.

• For more Leading Off pictures, go to SI.com/photos.

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Photograph by George Frey/EPA

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DOUGLAS C. PIZAC/AP

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Photographs by Al Bello/Getty Images

EMILE GRIFFITH, welterweight-middleweight, 1958 through 1977

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Photographs by Al Bello/Getty Images

CHUCK WEPNER, heavyweight, 1964 through 1978

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Photographs by Al Bello/Getty Images

ARTURO GATTI, featherweight--junior welterweight, 1991 to present

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Photographs by Al Bello/Getty Images

MIKE TYSON, heavyweight, 1985 to present

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Photographs by Al Bello/Getty Images

 IRAN BARKLEY, middleweight-light heavyweight, 1982 through 1999

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Photographs by Al Bello/Getty Images

BERNARD HOPKINS, middleweight, 1988 to present

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Photographs by Al Bello/Getty Images

JERMAIN TAYLOR, middleweight, 2001 to present

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Photographs by Al Bello/Getty Images

JAKE LAMOTTA, middleweight, 1941 through 1954

TWO PHOTOS

Photographs by John Iacono