The Mouthpiece – George Hanson, Jr.

The Mouthpiece, a boxing column written by George Hanson Jr., is arguably the most intriguing and engaging commentary dedicated to the sweet science. Many of its readers exclaim, “The Mouthpiece makes me feel as though I’m in the ring with the fighters!” Hanson has made boxing coverage an art form and has been sedulous in his effort to report on established and neophyte fighters in creative stories. In the Lion’s Den, a riveting piece on the bout between Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey, reveals the inner workings of boxing, unbeknownst to the common viewer. Hanson’s story, Orlando Tilelli, features the last interview granted by former middleweight champion Joey Giardello, and shares new dimensions of the great warrior with readers who only knew of Giardello from his defense against Rubin Carter in the1999 movie The Hurricane.

In addition to composing boxing articles, for the past two years Hanson has also been a color commentator in Philadelphia for Power Productions Inc.’s Boxing Ringside Series where he has provided commentary for some of the most memorable, action-packed fights in the City of Brotherly Love.

Hailing from New Forest, Jamaica, Hanson started boxing as a teenager in Philadelphia under the tutelage of former welterweight contender, Dick Turner. He excelled, capturing four Pennsylvania State Amateur Championships—his last while a junior at Drexel University studying Accounting. According to most who have seen Hanson fight, “He is the best fighter never to have turned professional.”

Hanson chose to attend Harvard Graduate School of Business, where he earned his MBA, over a professional boxing career. While at Harvard, he joined the Harvard Boxing Club where he spent many afternoons simultaneously honing his boxing skills while managing rigorous business coursework. A renaissance man, Hanson also holds a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law.

He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the New York State Bar with a proven track record in business. Hanson’s professional career began at the Big Four public accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Over the years he has also worked in consulting, real estate development, corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions, strategic planning and financial services, both in the United States and the Caribbean.

In his spare time, Hanson volunteers as a boxing coach training young fighters about the art of boxing while sharing his life experiences and helping kids focus on their education.