Shrewd matchmaking earned Alex Arthur a shot at the interim WBO Super-Featherweight title recently, a fight he won – having started slowly – and with champion Joan Guzman looking very unlikely to make 130 pounds again, the stop watch on Arthur’s ascension to the full title started. For the time being, the watch is stopped. [...]
Archive for July, 2007
Arthur Not King Yet
Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on July 31, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Boys to Men: Amir Khan to Face Earl in December
Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on July 31, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
News Amir Khan is to face Luton’s Graham Earl on December 8th has already been widely reported but coupled with the forthcoming fight in Nottingham, opponent unconfirmed and the recent victory over Willie Limond – 2007 could yet prove to be a fruitful one for the country’s most well known professional.
Povetkin and the Klitschko Two Step
Posted in Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on July 27, 2007 | 1 Comment »
It’s hard not to be fond of Alexander Povetkin, the aspiring young contender from Russia, and his ambitious matchmaker. After just 13 bouts he’s signed to fight two- time heavyweight champion Chris Byrd in a crossroads bout that pitches the fresh faced puncher against the cunning old fox.
Pirates of the Injin Chi
Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on July 27, 2007 | 5 Comments »
At one time or another we’ve all been bewildered by the actions of the various sanctioning bodies; from the acceptance of Eddie Croft as a challenger to Erik Morales, to the promotion of deceased fighters in monthly rankings, not to mention the creation of spurious interim, inter-continental and emeritus belts to help ensure every fighter, [...]
Cliff Couser to face Shannon Briggs?
Posted in Boxing, British Boxing on July 27, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Thanks to his recent upset victory over Monte Barrett, legendary journeyman heavyweight Cliff Couser is pencilled in to face Shannon Briggs – the former WBO champion bidding to rebuild following his defeat to Sultan Ibragimov. According to Couser at least, the only outstanding formality is Briggs’ signature on the contract.
Update: Final Bell for Oyebola Today
Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on July 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Following yesterday’s premature news of former British heavyweight champion James Oyebola’s demise, I’m sad to report that the gentle giant’s life support machine, which he’s been dependent on since being shot on Monday night, is to be switched off later today. The 46 year old, leaves a long-term partner and two children behind. To date, there are [...]
In the shadow of Woodcock; Witter to fight in Doncaster
Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Ricky Hatton, Sports on July 26, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
It doesn’t feel quite right. First the prospect of Oscar DeLaHoya fighting in England and now, it might be worth grabbing a chair before you read on, the WBC Light-Welterweight belt – once held by the Golden Boy himself, Julio Cesar Chavez and Arturo Gatti – is to be contested in Doncaster. Yep. My home [...]
Oyebola Continues to Fight for his life
Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on July 26, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
It seems the Sun, to whom this article originally linked, got this wrong and James is still fighting for his life. My apologies to those mislead by the linked article and for my own failure to check the facts the Sun reported at length. And continued best wishes to James in his battle, and those close to [...]
Is Oscar really coming to little old Blighty?
Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Ricky Hatton, Sports on July 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
They say the world is shrinking, I’m not sure who ‘they’ are, but they have something to say on most topics and they believe we’ve all grown closer. Travel and communication technology makes everyone your neighbour, or a MySpace pal at the very least, but I never thought the world could grow so small that [...]
Larios and Amonsot Released From Hospital
Posted in Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on July 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Following the terrible news James Oyebola is fighting for his life following a shooting yesterday, it was heart-warming to hear that Oscar Larios and Czar Amonsot were both released from hospital fit and healthy following minor bleeding on the brain suffered during bouts on Saturday.
Beautiful Ugliness; “Boxing is back!”
Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on July 25, 2007 | 4 Comments »
When Bernard Hopkins’ exclaimed “boxing is back” in the post fight interviews over the weekend, I for one felt the words resonate somewhere deep down inside. Although no more than a fan with an opinion, I feel part of boxing, my love of the sport in part defines me. In an age where boxing is a marginal sport, [...]
Smoking Gun – James Oyebola Shot
Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Sports, tagged heavyweight, James Oyebola on July 24, 2007 | 11 Comments »
Few fighters cut a more imposing figure than 6-9 former British Heavyweight champion James Oyebola, described as a ‘true gent’ by those who knew him, but the 47 year old is nevertheless fighting for his life having been shot in the face in a seemingly innocuous night club incident yesterday.
Is Hopkins The Greatest Athlete to Ever Box?
Posted in Boxing, Fight Reports, Mike Tyson, Sports on July 23, 2007 | 4 Comments »
Is Bernard Hopkins the greatest athlete to ever lace on a pair of gloves? To even pose the question will doubtless invite a deluge of abusive emails from fans mocking the suggestion. But for all Mayweather’s speed, Tyson’s natural firepower and the unflinching stamina of eye-catching fighters like Joe Calzaghe – to consider just three [...]
Joe McEwan and the turning worm
Posted in Boxing, Sports on July 23, 2007 | 4 Comments »
I enjoy being a vehicle for the Joe McEwan-Bobby Gunn fall out. It’s been entertaining throughout and you wouldn’t believe just how many people have contacted me about the story, whether connected or simply as interested observers. It started with Joe McEwan, Bobby Gunn’s former promoter, who called Gunn “a liar, a thief and a [...]
“Tonight Matthew, I’m Going to be Light-Welterweight champion of the World”
Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Ricky Hatton, Sports on July 23, 2007 | 5 Comments »
Incredulity, is the only word I could find to describe my reaction to Gavin Rees‘ capture of the WBA Light-Welterweight belt on Saturday night from seasoned champion Souleymane M’Baye. Lucky to get the shot he may have been, lucky to win he certainly wasn’t. Rees outworked, out thought and outmanoeuvred M’Baye from start to finish.
Archive: “Tonight I’m Gonna Party Like It’s 1999!”
Posted in Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports, TSS.com Archive on July 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Exactly two years to the day since this article was first published on thesweetscience.com, Bernard Hopkins continues to deny the obituary, professional at least, I recorded following his defeat to Jermaine Taylor in 2005. The fact, aged 42, he can still compete at elite level – he faces pound for pound great Winky Wright at 170 [...]
First Bruno, now Warren Pursues Damages
Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on July 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
According to reports today, Frank Bruno successfully sued the News of the World for damages following a breach of his privacy by the Sunday tabloid and secured a significant settlement. Frank Warren meanwhile, is aiming for more than £300,000 from the Daily Record for remarks printed in relation to the John Simpson v Derry Matthews [...]
So Near So Czar: Katsidis ‘defends’ Interim belt
Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports, tagged Graham Earl, Lightweight, Michael Katsidis on July 20, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Australian strongman Michael Katsidis, one of a host of fighters to expose British champions in recent months, makes the first defence of his interim WBO Lightweight title against Czar Amonsot this weekend. A sentence which will dumbfound the boxing purists; how does boxing create a scenario where interim champions defend the belt simultaneous to the [...]
Rees The Next Unbeaten Brit to Step Up
Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on July 20, 2007 | 2 Comments »
This weekend’s bout between game Gavin Rees and stylish Frenchman Souleymane M’Baye for the latter’s WBA Light welterweight title isn’t quite another example of an over-hyped British fighter being pitched in with a world class operator only to discover he’s a chasm away from true elite class. Why? Well simply put, because we know Rees is no world beater [...]
Plucky Gomez Talks About Gatti Victory
Posted in Boxing, Contender Series, Fight Reports, Sports on July 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
I’m not alone in following the career of gutsy Mexican Alfonso Gomez. His heart-warming willingness to face series favourite Peter Manfredo in the opening show of Contender 1 endeared the soft-featured Welterweight to millions around the world. It is that exposure that facilitated his own elevation to elite competition. Notoriety over achievement. Ticket sales over ability. [...]

