Evander Holyfield, little more than an echo of the fearsome box-puncher he once was, continues his uncoordinated drudge toward another heavyweight title shot away from the brighter lights of mainstream contendership. His latest run, previously stopping off at the backwater of Jeremy Bates – not the former British tennis player, though it may as well have been – and the Puerto Rican village Fres Oquendo next faces Vinny Maddalone. A fighter of orthodox stance and limited ability. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for February, 2007|Monthly archive page
Boxing: Evander Holyfield, The Prospect
In Boxing, Mike Tyson on February 17, 2007 at 6:48 amAli Nuumbembe Faces Final Hurdle
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Previews, Sports on February 16, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Good luck to Ali Nuumbembe this weekend in his bid to win the Commonwealth Welterweight title from Scotsman Kevin Anderson. I met Ali just over a year ago, with benefactor Richard Parker, at the latter’s pub in Glossop and it is very hard not to be engaged by Ali’s story. Read the rest of this entry »
Chazz Witherspoon: A Rare Bright Light
In Boxing on February 15, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Amongst the gloom of the American heavyweight boxing scene, Chazz Witherspoon is a rare ray of sunshine. Big, powerful and with improving technique the likeable, affable often softly spoken cousin of Terrible Tim Witherspoon – that famous underachiever from the 1980′s – could prove to be the closest thing America has to a young, dominant heavyweight. Read the rest of this entry »
Earl Seeking to Earn Respect
In Boxing, British Boxing on February 15, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Graham Earl, the former British Lightweight champion and present custodian of the WBU Lightweight belt, a strap that enables non-elite fighters like Earl to masquerade as World Champions – Something the Luton fighter is clearly not – will contest the WBO version this week. Of course, Earl will tell you he understands the charade and that he doesn’t truly regard himself as a world champion because of his success in WBU title fights, a perspective that only beggars the question – why bother? Read the rest of this entry »
From Big Acorns: Earnie Shavers Lacing Up Again
In Boxing, British Boxing on February 15, 2007 at 9:57 am
Relax, the nearly man of the golden heavyweight era of the 1970′s isn’t returning to the professional ring, though he still cuts a fearsome figure at the age of 62, but will be – according to the British tabloid, The Daily Mirror – competing in an evening of White Collar Boxing in Tranmere. Read the rest of this entry »
The Fighter: Micky Ward’s Story
In Boxing on February 14, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Any film starring Matt Damon is usually high quality viewing, OK, granted Ocean’s 12 was dismal but typically Damon played the role amidst the self-indulgent script with his usual class. The news he is to star alongside Mark Wahlberg in a story chronicling the rise of Irish Micky Ward to championship fights is welcomed by me. Read the rest of this entry »
A Boxing Must: The Sweetscience by AJ Liebling
In Books, Boxing on February 14, 2007 at 4:11 pm
As a fan of the written word and the great boxing writers of the past and present, though I seem to work hard at preventing their influence appearing in my own ramblings, I was a belated recipient of AJ Liebling’s SweetScience collection of boxing reports. Read the rest of this entry »
Save the Last Dance for Me: Kostya Please?
In Boxing on February 14, 2007 at 3:47 pm
I’m trying to think of something predictable, a euphemism for Lovemore N’Dou’s desire to entice fellow Australian Kostya Tsyzu out of inactivity, I would suggest, more predictable than Hugh Grant’s latest script but I used that last week and with time pressing I’ll crack on without originality – nothing new there whispered the wag at the back. If you think of anything, answers on a postcard. Read the rest of this entry »
New Yorker, New Moan, Pneumonia
In Boxing on February 14, 2007 at 8:22 am
New York giant, Shannon Briggs has been forced out of his March 10th defence against Russian Sultan Ibragimov with a bout of ‘walking pneumonia’, a curious condition but one clearly likely to constrain a fighter already battling asthma. The fight will be re-arranged as promptly as possible though whether the same venue can be secured remains unconfirmed.
Though scheduled for the… Read the rest of this entry »
A Clash of Opposites: Audley faces Sprott
In Boxing, British Boxing on February 13, 2007 at 8:47 am
Audley Harrison takes another belated step on the path to heavyweight glory this weekend when he faces Reading’s quiet man Michael Sprott. The two fighter’s careers a study in opposites. For Audley, the toast of the domestic and international scenes for almost five years following his surprise Olympic victory, this represents another meaningful hurdle – for Sprott, a fighter forced to earn a crust around the rings of Europe, this represents a major opportunity to establish himself as a legitimate contender at the higher level.
Takaloo in Embarassing Benefit Fraud
In Boxing, British Boxing on February 13, 2007 at 8:23 am
Margate’s Welterweight contender Mehrdud Takalobiagashi, widely known as Takaloo to save his adopted English countryman struggling with his Iranian pronunciation, appeared in court over alleged benefit fraud alongside his wife, Sarah. Read the rest of this entry »
Shock News: Hatton Vacates
In Boxing, British Boxing on February 12, 2007 at 9:24 am
The most predictable story of the year so far; Ricky Hatton vacates the belt he won for the second time against Colombian hulk Juan Urango, preferring to face Jose Luis Castillo than mandatory challenger Lovemore N’Dou. Read the rest of this entry »
Not Burns’ Night: Johanneson Prevails
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports on February 12, 2007 at 8:24 am
Firstly, apologies for the title, I’m sure I’ll be around 43rd to use the Burn’s night phrase – alas nothing else presented itself.
More important than the header is the news hometown puncher, Carl Johansson successfully repelled the gutsy challenge of Scot Ricky Burns to defend the British Super Featherweight title at the Leeds Town Hall on Friday night. And the fight was compelling viewing. Read the rest of this entry »
Staggering. Maccarinelli To Face Joke Opponent?
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Previews on February 8, 2007 at 11:51 am
Pragmatism is an essential personality trait for boxing fans these days, accepting mediocre opponents in the name of world-championship boxing has become second nature to fans of the sport.
However, in Bobby Gunn, Frank Warren may just have found an opponent so devoid of credentials that boxing fans, even those devoted to the WBO Cruiserweight champion, Enzo Maccarinelli, Gunn is scheduled to face, will be unable to accept. Read the rest of this entry »
Arturo Gatti: Must the Show Go On?
In Boxing on February 8, 2007 at 10:55 am
I love Gatti. One of the bravest fighters the sport has seen, the quintessential blue-collar brawler. Memorable for his clashes with Mickey Ward, Ivan Robinson and a cast of dozens of others, his last significant outings, a painful and comprehensive stoppage loss to Floyd Mayweather and defeat to Carlos Baldomir should, perhaps, have represented the final installments in the ‘Human Highlight Reel’s’ Hall of Fame Career. Read the rest of this entry »
Mike Tyson Heads to Rehab, No, No, No!
In Boxing, Mike Tyson on February 8, 2007 at 9:58 am
In the most predictable storyline since Hugh Grant last accepted a script, boxing’s most infamous son Mike Tyson has reportedly checked into a rehab unit in America. Unconfirmed addictions, but probably including cocaine given Tyson’s recent misdemeanours and police statements, will be treated. Read the rest of this entry »
Hatton, N’Dou and the IBF
In Boxing, British Boxing on February 8, 2007 at 9:44 amNever the shy retiring type, Lovemore N’Dou has gone public on his frustration at Ricky Hatton’s decision to face Mexican Jose Luis Castillo in June rather than honour his mandatory obligation. N’Dou, who beat countryman Ben Rabah to secure mandated status, is a veteran of the PR game and an irrepressible voice in the Light-Welterweight division. Read the rest of this entry »
Sugar Ray Too Sweet About Amir Khan
In Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series on February 8, 2007 at 8:12 am
There is little doubt Sugar Ray Leonard is one of the finest atheletes to ever grace the sport. Victories over Hearns, Duran and Hagler alone earn him a place in any debate on the greatest fighter of all time. It isn’t a crown he could claim but he isn’t out of place in the discussion.
However, following a brief spell as a promoter after his final retirement he has returned to the consciousness of boxing fans as the face of The Contender series – a show pitting peripheral contenders against one another in a last man standing format. The series has proved popular enough in America, where both series winners and many of the supporting fighters have gained acclaim and recognition beyond their ability and potential. Read the rest of this entry »
Real Life Rockys Go Head to Head: Francis & McKenzie
In Boxing, British Boxing on February 7, 2007 at 5:09 pm
In the boxing backwater of Gloucestershire, Ovill McKenzie and Dean Francis clash this weekend for McKenzie’s Commonwealth title and the bout represents a major achievement for both fighters. Francis, for whom much was once expected, contesting a significant title following the injuries to his right arm that twice convinced him to retire only to return is prize enough. The fiercely competitive 33 year old will want, and expect to go one further and win of course despite relying almost exclusively on the left hand for much of the eight years since the dislocation against Undra White. Read the rest of this entry »
Boxing: Witter Just Wouldn’t Let It Lie
In Boxing, British Boxing on February 7, 2007 at 4:46 pm
The on-going PR campaign being waged by Junior Witter’s irrepressible promotional team, Hennessey Sports is beginning to take on a life of its own. Perpetual and persistent, the endless supply of challenges made to Ricky Hatton is slowly returning the long-overdue Hatton v Witter clash to the top of most boxing fans’ list of must-see engagements.
True, Hatton’s clash with Jose Luis Castillo takes on greater meaning for the intangible ‘legacy’ to which it seems all boxer’s attribute every matchmaking decision of their career – though precious few selections actually the deliver the validation they claim to crave – and for the lucrative American market for whom Junior Witter represents… Read the rest of this entry »
