By Scoop Malinowski

The ring entrance music element of professional boxing originated in September 1977. On that evening Muhammad Ali chose the theme from the film Star Wars to be played inside Madison Square Garden as he walked to the ring before doing battle with Earnie Shavers. In a way that decision by Ali forever altered the presentation of the sport. Since then most all boxers have followed Ali’s footsteps, including Larry Holmes, shortly thereafter, whose signature song became McFadden & Whitehead’s ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now.’

Several boxers such as Kelly Pavlik, Wladimir Klitschko, Vernon Forrest and more, share with Boxinginsider.com what their favorite ring entrance music is/was and why:

“Ice” John Scully: “One time i came out to ‘Ice Ice Baby’ (By Vanilla Ice) against Jose Vera in Worcester in 1990 Just a local fight. It was real cool actually. The way I came out, the vibe, it was cool. The song was BIG at the time so with my nickname etc. it was very well received. In bigger fights I was too focused on the fight, the last thing in the world I thought of was what song I would walk out to. When you are amateur you think about those things - everybody wants a great song - but I learned early that no song can really help you. I never cared one way or the other. I took it all for hype and show. The only time I ever even noticed an opponent’s song was when I fought Henry Maske in Germany. He came out to this really eerie song - not sure what it was called - I was already in the ring. It was spooky sounding almost, but it didn’t faze me as far as the fight went. Funny story, though, one time at Foxwoods against Willie Kemp, we were held up in the hallway waiting to go out. I didn’t know what the hold up was. I was trying to stay loose. Finally I said, Come on, man, What’s the hold up? And my trainer said, Your music hasn’t come on yet. I was like, WHAT? ARE YOU CRAZY? Let’s GOOOOOOOOO!”

Shannon Briggs: “Marvin Gaye ‘Let’s Get It On’ or Teddy Pendergast ‘Love TKO.’ For at least my last 20. I think (it gets a positive reaction from the crowd) because most fighters come to hip-hop music and the profanity is not always accepted by older fight fans. Especially if women and children attend. I think they’re also surprised. I’m all hip-hop but I realize that most fans are older, at least those who buy tickets. I think for both songs the words fit perfect and most of the time it is looking like another TKO and with Marvin’s song I feel like Let’s Get It On. (Does the music help your performance in any way do you think?) Yes, I think so. It’s ritual. I’ve won so much with it. (Any other boxers entrance music impress you?) Hell no! I have the smoothest sh** going - old school R&B.”

Robert ‘The Ghost’ Guerrero: “‘Heaven’ by Los Lonely Boys. I’ve used this song for all of my fights. Since I’m a Christian, it just seems like the perfect song.”

Wladimir Klitschko: “I’m a fan of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Red Hot Chili Peppers are boxing fans as well. I’ve met them once. I love the rock which they do and ‘Can’t Stop!’ is one of the best pieces they have. In my sport the line ‘Can’t Stop’ - is my motto in the ring!”

Kelly Pavlik: “I play Korn’s ‘Here to Stay.’ Because you really don’t have a lot time. So you need to find something that’s quick, has the energy right from the rip. When I was listening to it, I knew it would get people going. You only get 30 to 40 seconds and it’s perfect. And it became part of superstition – we won big fights with that song, so we’re sticking with it.”

Vernon Forrest: “My best one was ‘Welcome to Atlanta.’ When I played ‘Welcome to Atlanta’ in New York at The Garden when I fought Mosley. And I had Jermaine Dupri come out - it was his song. When it was the hottest song in the country. It was pretty cool. (Did it uplift you in your performance?) Yeah, I mean, I won the championship that night. My come out music usually states the point at that particular - it kind of tells the tale of how I’m feeling or what the situation is at that particular time. So I’m really picky about what music I use. But I like to use just upbeat, real, real upbeat music.”

Juan Manuel Lopez: “I use salsa. Because this is the music that identifies Puerto Rico. I used Victor Manuel for the Ponce De Leon fight but I like a lot of Marc Anthony. The songs I choose talk about Puerto Rico and it’s very uplifting that pumps me up.”

Dimitriy Salita: “By far the best and favorite music I played is when I was entered into the ring with Matisyahu. You can catch the clip on You Tube. Boxing fans who were present on that show tell me it was the best sporting event they had been too. He hyped me up to put on a great performance. The name of the song was ‘Lord raise me up from the Ground’ and I felt it being appropriate because it was my first title fight NABA and at that moment and time I felt that it was my redeeming moment and I had to kick the door open for the future. It worked out well as it was one of my best performances and I scored a ninth round TKO.”

Renaldo Snipes: “New York, New York by Frank Sinatra. (Unique choice. How did the audience react?) All the world loved it because they did not think a black man in the 1980’s could have a culture background. (It’s an unexpected song to hear as a ring entrance.) Everything about me is unexpected. That’s why I won my fights, because people underestimated me, always. (Did you meet Sinatra? And what did he think about you picking his music?) All the time. He said I had ‘good taste.’ He said I was one of his favorite fighters and that I reminded him of Joe Louis.’”