Following weeks of public deliberation as to the name of Clinton Woods’ next opponent today’s announcement that the Sheffield fighter will tackle former foe Julio Gonzales in a mandatory defence was met with varying degrees of apathy. What happened to Roy Jones Jnr, Antonio Tarver, Bernard Hopkins or even long-shots Darius Michelczewski and Joe Calzaghe? True Woods has been side-lined longer than expected by an arm injury but still, Gonzales again? Hardly quickens the pulse does it? Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for March, 2007|Monthly archive page
See the Woods for the Trees
In Boxing, British Boxing on March 13, 2007 at 10:40 pmThe Heavyweight Malaise, Moorer Looks to Bygone Days
In Boxing, Sports on March 13, 2007 at 9:33 am
In most other sports, participants over the age of 35 are eligible for the Senior Tour. A parallel competition established to provide escape for the tired former champions to continue to earn a crust away from the intensity of their youthful counterparts. Tennis is a prime example, few top line players can sustain themselves beyond the age of 28 or 29, and though each generation throws up an exception from Conners to Ivanisevic, the rule of thumb applies – by 30 your done. Sadly for boxing, and particularly in the heavyweight division – though the trend is extended throughout the weight classes – 30 is simply the beginning. And it isn’t a good thing. Read the rest of this entry »
Vida Loca; Another Sad Chapter in the Life Of Johnny Tapia
In Books, Boxing, Sports on March 13, 2007 at 9:08 am
As one of the finest prizefighters of his generation Johnny Tapia’s life has always been a back-page story, and more frequently than he’d prefer, a front page one too. News that the recently retired former champion has once again been found close to death following an apparent cocaine overdose will chill but not surprise those of us for whom Tapia has always been a hero. His biography, My Vida Loca – [My Crazy Life] contains more drama and turmoil than most people could pack into five lives – and within it – Tapia’s claim he’d been pronounced clinically dead six times following a drug and drink related episodes provides Freudian support for that conclusion.
Double You B Who?
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports on March 11, 2007 at 8:03 am
British terrestrial network ITV returned to professional boxing two years ago with the happy mantra of focusing on meaningful fights. Research had told them of the frustration and misconception the plethora of meaningless belts had caused. SKY TV, no longer committed to Frank Warren’s Sports Network group, also publicly announced that the previous acceptable notion of WBU, WBF, IBO (and others) title belts being required to make fights worthwhile was now extinguished and only ‘proper’ English, British, Commonwealth, European and World Title contests would be considered for broadcast. Hallelujah. Read the rest of this entry »
M’Baye Survives a Squeeky One
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on March 11, 2007 at 7:49 am
French WBA LightWelterweight title holder Souleymane M’Baye survived an absorbing contest last night, emerging from his bout with Andreas Kotelnik with a contentious draw that preserved his status as the champion. The fight, broadly defined by Kotelnik’s superior aggression and volume of punches and M’Baye back-foot counter-punching and thudding right hand, was an enjoyable spectacle. As result, few ripples will be felt in the 140 pound division; M’Baye remains a mile away from a shot at Ricky Hatton while ever Frank Warren remains in control of his career.
Beware, Beware. Klitschko is Due A Fall
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on March 10, 2007 at 8:31 am
I can’t really summon rational reason for what I’m about to write but I feel compelled to suggest Ray Austin is going to upset the heavyweight applecart tonight and dethrone Wladimir Klitschko. Austin is a mediocre puncher, has a mediocre resume and is of mediocre renown, but I just feel Klitschko re-emergence as the golden boy of the beleaguered weight class is overdue another punctuation mark. Too many people have been eager to forget his pummelling at the hands of Corrie Sanders, his collapse versus Lamont Brewster and most recently the fact pedestrian powerhouse Sam Peter decked him three times.
Burgos Out of Induced Coma
In Boxing, Sports on March 9, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Just to cover all those boxing fans that proclaimed their love and concern for Victor Burgos, who suffered bleeding on the brain and a clot following his defeat to Vic Darchinyan, but then immediately forgot and neglected the fallen Mexican once they clicked on, I’ve dug around on one or two sites, but not in a Ron Borges way – can you believe that story? - to find out what happened next. In truth, I’d forgotten for a day or two too. Making others feel bad eased my guilt.
However, back to Burgos.
Under the Radar; Barney to Face Bute
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on March 9, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Few fighters unify boxing fans like Matthew Barney. Before I explain why, it’s firstly important to point out that I instinctively recoil from sharing the thinking of the masses. I like holding a contrary view. Sometimes it sets you aside as a voice of wisdom other times it is a compulsion that leads you to suggest Clifford Etienne could stop Mike Tyson late. So as a state of mind or ethos, it is a flawed position. The majority cannot always be wrong is the lesson these experiences teach me. However, on the subject of Matthew Barney I think they are. Because, you see, boxing fans simply don’t like Matthew Barney.
Higher Napa, Higher Napa
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on March 9, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Diminutive scrapper Ian Napa has battled against his physical limitations of height and a lack of natural pop his entire career. Relying on his rolling style to avert the heavier punches of his opponents and allow him to land his classy combinations. If only he had a little snap in those shots he could be a genuine contender. Ifs, buts and maybes don’t win belts and against Italian Simone Maludrottu he faces a European champion of substance and with a nice line in fortunate decisions. A gift Napa has never enjoyed. Read the rest of this entry »
Come Back and Finish What You Started
In Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Sports on March 9, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Don’t leave me hanging on, hanging on. Runcorn veteran Robin Reid returns to competitive action against Jesse Brinkley the former Contender contestant on the Newcastle bill that pits British fighters against Contender series fighters later this month. It hurts me to describe the former WBC World Champion as a veteran as it only serves to remind me that the first generation of fighters to whom I gravitated as a younger fan are all but retired – Lewis, Benn, Hamed, Watson, Graham, McMillan they’re all gone. Read the rest of this entry »
Donny Lad! Bull Gets Khan Job
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on March 9, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Stefy Bull is a fighter I’ve been trying to get an interview with for a while, obviously I didn’t try hard enough, given I’ve had it on my to do list for about four years. Finally, and by complete coincidence our paths crossed last week on doghouseboxing.com, home to the some of the weird and wonderful inhabitants of boxing’s forum underworld – though I remain certain one or two are from an entirely different planet – and Stefy relayed his willingness to organise something. Before you get excited and click ‘more’ in the hope of reading Bull’s inner most thoughts, don’t – the interview hasn’t happened yet. You can’t say I didn’t warn you. Read the rest of this entry »
Calzaghe: A Year On From Lacy
In Books, Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on March 5, 2007 at 9:32 pm
On the cusp of his American coronation against game Contender Peter Manfredo on April 7th, Joe Calzaghe has been reflecting on the year that has elapsed since he emerged from the debris of his long tenure as WBO Super-Middleweight champion, and all the mediocrity that attracts, to beat Jeff Lacy. In conversation with the Wales On Sunday, and available through icwales.co.uk, Calzaghe is clearly keen to still bask in the glow of that victory but is growing more earnest and pragmatic regarding the disrespect that preceded his vault into the pound-for-pound debate.
Welterweight Is Where The Party Is Ricky
In Boxing, British Boxing on March 5, 2007 at 8:16 pm
The lunacy of Ricky Hatton’s recent career direction was further highlighted during the past seven days as the elite opponents he seeks to add ‘meat’ to the ‘skeleton’ of his victory over Kostya Tszyu two years ago continues to be gobbled up by the draw of the Welterweight division. Ironic considering Hatton’s 2006 conclusion that a move to 147lbs to pursue Floyd Mayweather and make the big fights was the only route forward. Read the rest of this entry »
Boxing Holds It’s Breath: Burgos Hospitalised
In Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on March 5, 2007 at 1:33 pm
The news Victor Burgos, one of a long line of glorious Mexican fighters, had emergency brain surgery to remove a clot and ease swelling following his clubbing defeat to Vic Darchinyan this weekend caused the boxing community to hold it’s collective breath. Disaster is always one punch away in boxing and though everyone involved consents to the risk the sport is always scrutinised when a fighter is hospitalised. Read the rest of this entry »
Despite Victory Introspection Beckons For Williams
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Mike Tyson, Sports on March 3, 2007 at 11:31 am
Whether victory over Welshman Scott Gammer for the British Heavyweight title proves to be the final chapter in the colourful career of the 33 year old Londoner remains to be seen. Even in victory Danny was typically unsure of his future commitment to the sport and will take time to assess his options beyond his latest reign as British champion. For Gammer, his pedestrian potential has surely been exhausted now and declining the £100,000 payday offered to fight Audley Harrison two months ago doesn’t look quite the astute choice manager Paul Boyce assured everyone it was. Read the rest of this entry »
McGuigan Takes the Fight to UFC
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on March 3, 2007 at 11:16 am
I’ve written a thought or two on the emergence of UFC as a threat to boxing’s place in the hearts and minds of British sports fans and with some substance, they get so much right in their organisation and promotion. Much of which was learned from the flaws currently suffocating boxing. However, boxing has an articulate defender in Barry McGuigan, the former Featherweight champion, who in today’s Daily Mirror made the most lucid defence of boxing and unraveled many of the myths that surround UFC recent success. It is a heartening read for beleaguered boxing fans. Read the rest of this entry »
So can anyone stop Valuev?
In Boxing, British Boxing, Mike Tyson, Sports on March 2, 2007 at 11:10 am
Rocky Marciano’s hasty retirement, still unbeaten in 49 contests, following the victory over Archie Moore, a fight in which he was floored, created one of the world’s greatest and most long-standing sporting landmarks. The closest anyone has come to surpassing the Rock’s pristine benchmark was in the early eighties when Larry Holmes, who once suggested Marciano wasn’t fit to carry his jock strap, came within one points decision of equalling the marker. Until of course, a Russian giant appeared on the heavyweight landscape. Read the rest of this entry »
Who Do You Think Your Are Kidding Mr.Kipling?
In Boxing, British Boxing, Mike Tyson, Sports on March 2, 2007 at 8:19 am
I often state that boxing can no longer surprise me. As a keen observer of the sport for a number of years its hard to believe boxing could throw up an event or news story that could shock me. The sanctioning bodies and promoters have exhausted every plausible manoeuvre to further their own bank accounts, every unexpected fight outcome has been seen before and no judge or referee’s decision could sink lower than those already catalogued in my time following the sweet science.
ESPN Classic: The Downfall of Iron Mike
In Boxing, British Boxing, Mike Tyson, Sports on March 1, 2007 at 10:20 am
I’ve highlighted the availability of some classic archive footage on SKY channel 442 before so I wont keep you too long. Just a brief note to remind British readers – both of you – that the excellent ESPN Classic channel is showcasing Mike Tyson at 6.30pm GMT tonight. Experts will try to establish the factors behind his protracted demise from the most fearsome fighter of the eighties to a tabloid curiosity by the nineties. Read the rest of this entry »
The Fighter: Micky Ward Story Latest
In Boxing, Sports on March 1, 2007 at 9:46 am
In the embryonic early days of this blog, no single post has generated the level of interest created by the news Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg are to co-star in the story of Micky Ward’s life. Certainly, boxing at the movies – or the pictures as those of us of a certain demographic refer to them – is hot news following the success of Million Dollar Baby, Rocky and Cinderella Man but it is possible The Fighter may just prove the greatest formula of all. Read the rest of this entry »
