Little more than a snippet really, but the Guardian yesterday reported that Frank Warren has rejected ITV’s latest contract offer for the rights to broadcasting the on-going fortunes of Amir Khan, Joe Calzaghe and the rest of Warren’s Sports Network stable. Following two years of mixed results from the partnership I would assume ITV are driving a tougher bargain this time round, as a more informed customer they will surely be stipulating an improvement in quality is paramount. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for May, 2007|Monthly archive page
Warren and ITV Contract Negotiations
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on May 31, 2007 at 9:06 amArchive: The Final Curtain – Tyson, Holyfield & Jones Jnr.
In Boxing, British Boxing, Mike Tyson, Sports, TSS.com Archive on May 31, 2007 at 8:55 am
I penned this article toward the end of 2004 for thesweetscience.com, intended to be the first to provide obituary on the careers of three of the modern era’s finest fighters it now seems premature as only Iron Mike has listened to his body and given up trying to fool opponents and fans that he can still reclaim his unfulfilled youth and potential.
Tyson’s Application Incomplete
In Boxing, Mike Tyson, Sports on May 31, 2007 at 8:44 am
I read on TysonTalk.com that Mike Tyson’s quest to be part of Sultan Ibragimov corner this weekend for his heavyweight clash with Shannon Briggs has hit a snag. Unfortunately, the former champion overlooked the minor detail of recording which fighter he will be working with on the application form. A frustrating technicality but I hope it can be overcome to facilitate Tyson assisting the challenger’s cause. To be honest, the fight needs every splash of interest it can get. Read the rest of this entry »
Akinwande Refuses to Go Away
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on May 31, 2007 at 8:26 am
Former world-title challenger Henry Akinwande, one of the merry band of 40 somethings still plying their trade in the heavyweight division, has the opportunity to gain revenge for his defeat to Oleg Platov on June 30th when the two provide chief support to Alexander Povetkin’s debut in international class against Monte Barrett. Most observers believed the 6-7 Akinwande deserved the decision the first time they clashed, whether Akinwande can be more decisive this time remains to be seen. Read the rest of this entry »
Congratulations to ITV Boxing’s John Rawling
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on May 30, 2007 at 9:55 am
Sir John of Rawling, as Steve Bunce calls him since he earned the commentator’s chair at ITV, has been criticised a great deal over the past couple of years for glossing over mismatches presented by ITV’s exclusive promoter Frank Warren and for being a little too damning, though subtle, of rival promoters and fighters. And for me he talks a little too much during the introductions and the fight, but his award from the Royal Television Society rewards his quality deliver, knowledge of the sport and unflinching enthusiasm for the subject. Read the rest of this entry »
ESPN: 50 Greatest Fighters of All Time
In Boxing, British Boxing, Mike Tyson, Sports on May 30, 2007 at 9:23 am
A Herculean effort to select 50 great fighters from the hundreds worthy of consideration, but the harder task is actually creating an order of merit. Such a subjective task, deciding who is #37 is arguably harder than picking a top ten. However, ESPN has collated opinion to make a pretty good fist of it. Sugar Ray wins out, but there are some surprises in the top 50. Read the rest of this entry »
Boxing: The inevitability of boxing
In Boxing, Fight Previews, Mike Tyson, Sports on May 30, 2007 at 8:29 am
In the present era of heavyweight mediocrity and the longevity it affords heavyweight veterans, there are certain fights which seem inevitable despite the respective retirements, health scares, defeats and divergent paths of the two combatants. The forthcoming clash between the 74 year old Evander Holyfield and 62 year old Lou Savarese is another telling example.
Losing my women’s boxing cherry
In Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on May 30, 2007 at 7:56 am
Despite my roots as a coal miner’s son from South Yorkshire my historic distaste for women’s boxing isn’t borne out of a misogynistic perspective on the fairer sex. If a women wishes to make a living from the noble art and ticket buying fans are willing to indulge her then I applaud the freedom to pursue that goal afforded by the modern world. And it’s true I enjoyed Million Dollar Baby but when it comes to actual, real women’s boxing, don’t ask me to watch because, simply put, it isn’t very good. Last night I didn’t have the luxury of choice.
“UFC is like a bad Patrick Swayze movie.”
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on May 29, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Debating the health of boxing in light of UFC’s present popularity has become something of a parlour game for boxing columnists, revelling in the opportunity to trot out every melancholic cliche and metaphor they can muster. Despite my own willingness to join the discussion I refuse to accept boxing will be extinguished by a ‘sport’ in which men roll around on the floor in their pants. Boxing’s problems are within. Cancerous and aggressive but beatable. Bryan Burwell at the St Louis Post makes an engaging case for the defence in the meantime. Read the rest of this entry »
Is Zab You Judah?
In Boxing, Mike Tyson, Shop, Sports on May 29, 2007 at 11:11 am
In one of the most bizarre stories I’ve heard in a while and for a sport which, to paraphrase Dennis Norden, doesn’t lack stories you’d have to file under strange but true, a recent conference call held between the media and Welterweight contender Zab Judah proved to be a meaningless and misleading endeavour for the hacks who dialled in. Why? Because the classless Judah had his father Yoel sit in and pretend to be him. Cheap. Read the rest of this entry »
Tyson To Work Sultan’s Corner
In Boxing, Mike Tyson, Shop, Sports on May 29, 2007 at 10:44 am
Boxingtalk.com report Mike Tyson will be a fully fledged member of Sultan Ibragimov’s corner for his challenge to breathless WBO champion Shannon Briggs this weekend. Hopefully, it represents more than a cheap publicity stunt because a place for Mike Tyson’s knowledge of the sport should really be found. Articulate and a once keen student of the sport it would be shame if he doesn’t grasp the olive branch, it would certainly be more dignified to see Tyson passing on his wisdom to young fighters than see him feature in the glorified boxing booth he did late least year. Read the rest of this entry »
Femi back in the saddle
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on May 29, 2007 at 8:28 am
Aspiring young Super-Featherweight Femi Fehintola returned to action this weekend, beating circuit regular Carl Allen over six rounds, the Bradford fighter’s first fight since his premature shot at the British champion Carl Johanneson. Despite being an outspoken critic of the board’s willingness to sanction Fehintola’s title crack at the time, it is encouraging to see a young professional willing to take a gamble in his career and equally eager to regroup having been defeated. Read the rest of this entry »
Power Out of Booth Clash
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on May 25, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Always on the spot, BritishBoxing.net’s Kevin Taylor is today exclusively reporting that Martin Power has withdrawn from his intriguing clash with Jason Booth next month, however fight fans needn’t despair as the hard to match Ajose Olusegun, arguably one of the most polished fighters in the UK today, will tackle the always game Gary Reid as the new main event. Click Here for Kevin’s full story. Read the rest of this entry »
Toney Back With a Whimper
In Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on May 25, 2007 at 1:32 pm
The fact James Toney returned to action on a Thursday night tells fans plenty about what the veteran fighter has left. Add the fact he chose a blown-up club fighter, Danny Batchelder, to comeback against suggests a steep decline in promoter confidence following his knockout defeat to Sam Peter. If also told you Toney could only eek out a split-decision win over ten, espite weighing in a breezy 229 pounds,you’d probably be eager to write off the former champion wouldn’t you? Read the rest of this entry »
Archive: Harrison Breaks Brodie’s Heart
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports, TSS.com Archive on May 25, 2007 at 12:58 pm
05/06/2005
With further clouds brewing over Scott Harrison, it felt pertinent to recall the capable fighter Harrison once was. Next week two years will have elapsed since his clash with Manchester’s Michael Brodie – one of boxing’s most genuine nearly men. It was an engaging contest and, in retrospect, a great shame it didn’t prove the final step before richly rewarding clashes with the Featherweight elite. Now sadly synonymous with drink rather than boxing, once a upon a time Scott Harrison was a bloody good fighter.
YouTube Taking Punches
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on May 9, 2007 at 2:31 pm
It is arguably life’s most absolute truism; “nothing in life is free”. Ok, it lacks the history, popularity or endorsement from Luthur Vandross of “the best things in life are free” but its resonance is irrefutable. Your place between the two schools of thought is probably decided by your natural level of cynicism and demeanour in every day life. Is the glass half full or half empty? Read the rest of this entry »
Archive: King to a Republic
In Boxing, Mike Tyson, Sports, TSS.com Archive on May 9, 2007 at 1:03 pm
25/08/2005
The news Joan Guzman is to step up to 135 pounds to challenge WBO Lightweight belt holder Michael Katsidas will further endear the enigmatic puncher to boxing fans. Once known as a ‘Lil Tyson’, the proud native of the Dominican Republic prefers to compare himself to Marvin Hagler stylistically and aspires to become a hero to his countrymen in the way Julio Cesar Chavez was to Mexicans. Read the rest of this entry »
Arthur Close To WBO Shot
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on May 9, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Throughout the past decade, the World Boxing Organisation has become increasingly omnipresent in British rings. Usually the preserve of Frank Warren’s Sports Network promotions, the WBO has become synonymous with Warren’s elite champions. No surprise then, that over-ripe Scottish contender Alex Arthur appears close to a shot at their Super-Featherweight title. Less surprising is the news world-class Joan Guzman’s forthcoming abdication of the ‘crown’ precedes the challenge. Read the rest of this entry »
Dangerous Liasons: Hatton and PPV
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on May 9, 2007 at 11:43 am
Light-Welterweight champion Ricky Hatton has been a pay per view attraction for almost two years. I’m not sure many of the fights, Kostya Tszyu aside, have warranted the implicit kudos associated with attaining PPV status either on paper or in retrospect but despite, mediocre performances and moderate entertainment value the blue collar hero’s fans will once again need to dig deep to see him in action. Read the rest of this entry »
Mayweather Prevails But Questions Remain
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on May 8, 2007 at 2:19 pm
And so it came to pass. Finally, the most hyped fight in living memory – and probably beyond that too – came and went and with it a new superstar was born; Floyd Mayweather. Of course, to boxing fans Mayweather has long been a superstar but this fight was intended to deliver him on a big, plump Oscar De La Hoya fragranced cushion to the mainstream American sports fan. Did it happen? As a British fan of boxing, I’m as far removed from the US casual fan as its possible to be but am I the only one who still feels a little unfulfilled? Read the rest of this entry »
