Reports published in the Daily Mirror and Boxing News in the UK, suggested the potential partnership between former Olympic champion Audley Harrison and Lennox Lewis failed to develop because Harrison was failing to listen to instruction, or more specifically was too set in his ways to embrace Lewis’ advice and methods. On face value a damning commentary on Harrison’s personality and willingness to accept wisdom from the decorated former champion, and a particularly sensitive issue given Harrison’s struggle to live up to the hype surrounding his professional career and the arrogance many have blamed for it. Harrison isn’t accepting that conclusion or the two publications’ version of events. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for July, 2007|Monthly archive page
Audley to Sue Over Lennox Comments
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on July 19, 2007 at 7:36 amPR: Briggs Calling Out Wladimir
In Boxing, Mike Tyson, Sports on July 19, 2007 at 1:42 am
Earlier today, one of boxing’s busiest publicists Mario Serrano was on the case for former WBO Heavyweight title holder – lets not call him champion, I’m feeling rebellious and one belt is essentially a fraction of the crown - Shannon Briggs. The respiratory difficulties Briggs endures don’t seem to prevent him spouting hot air on a regular basis; even in these troubled times in the heavyweight division Briggs cannot jump straight back into a world-title fight or can he? Wladimir Klitschko is the target. Read the rest of this entry »
Vargas and Mayorga Look Real in Play Fight
In Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on July 19, 2007 at 1:12 am
Most of the boxing world has moved on since the slap and tickle excitable duo Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga indulged in at their press conference but I can’t quite shake it. Why? Well I’m trying to conjure a more contrived exchange from the long list of press events that have ended in controversy and fisticuffs in recent years. True the two looked pretty genuinely annoyed with one another in the end, but the opening gambit in the push-me-pull me was a feeble back hand slap from Mayorga and suggested more than a little choreography was involved.
The Bobby Gunn Saga Continues
In Boxing, Sports on July 18, 2007 at 11:04 pm
For readers focused on more meaningful global events, the Bobby Gunn saga has been little more than a frivolous distraction – to some it has become an escape from the pedestrian, a welcome splash of tabascon intrigue in an otherwise mundane pork chop of a summer. For those huddling together to hear if there are further installments, I’m delighted to report another chapter or two has been added. Read the rest of this entry »
Oh Danny Boy! Green Stops Griffin in 3.
In Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on July 18, 2007 at 9:45 pm
World Light-Heavyweight contender Danny Green took a step closer to a world-title shot with a third round TKO victory over Otis Griffin. The 34 year old from Perth joins the list of potential foes for Antonio Tarver, Glen Johnson, Clinton Woods et al but could, theoretically also figure in the future of Joe Calzaghe – a fighter set to step up to the 175 pound class once he’s overcome fellow Super-Middleweight titlist Mikkel Kessler. It’s unlikely but Calzaghe will be a Light-Heavyweight cheque every contender would like to cash.
A voice from the past: Derrick Gainer
In Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on July 18, 2007 at 8:51 pm
To me at least, and perhaps all boxing fans of certain age, Derrick Gainer is one of those guys Prince Naseem never got around to knocking out. I’m sure that doesn’t truly define him as a fighter, a cursory check confirms his status as a former WBA champion. But the fact he never faced the Prince, whether it was his fault or Hamed’s is my frame of reference for ‘Smoke’s career thus far. Oh, and I think he once lasted twelve rounds in a title bout without an offensive move. I’m less sure on the latter, as I may be mistaking him for Freddie Norwood. That’s the trouble with multiple belts; so many ‘champions’ fail to register in my consciousness.
Holcomb Squeezes Gunn’s Trigger
In Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on July 11, 2007 at 1:23 am
The self-sustaining Bobby Gunn saga continues. Jeff Holcomb, the fighter reported to have been left in a pool of his own blood by Bobby Gunn (according to Gunn at least), is pursuing the 33 year old from Hackensack for a rematch. And the tension between the two American club fighters is growing. In the latest installment Holcomb 11-5-1 (5) continues to suggest that Gunn is both a liar and avoiding his clamour for a rematch.
Archive: Sometimes Winning is Just The Beginning
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports, TSS.com Archive on July 11, 2007 at 12:40 am
25/06/2004
It’s hard to believe three years have already elapsed since I interviewed Bobby Vanzie for the second time – the first being shortly before his destruction of Anthony Maynard. Occasionally, the language may seem more contrived than you would anticipate but Bobby preferred to consider some of his responses and respond via email as opposed to in person. In the time that has passed, I’ve grown to regard the retired former British and Commonwealth champion as a friend. But interviewing him back in 2004 remains a great thrill.
Oquendo and Castillo Meet At The Crossroads
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on July 11, 2007 at 12:29 am
Along with the word ‘legend’ or ‘legendary’, ‘crossroads’ – and more specifically ‘crossroads bout’ – must be one of the most abused and over-used terms in boxing parlance but in the case of veteran heavyweights Elieser Castillo and Fres Oquendo the descriptive fits, and fits snugly. I first saw Castillo when tackling tall and rugged Russian Alexander Zolkin and Oquendo in contentious victory over Maurice Harris. From those innocuous points I’ve taken an interest in their development. Read the rest of this entry »
Carousing Couser Stuns Barrett
In Boxing, Fight Reports, Mike Tyson, Sports on July 10, 2007 at 11:49 pm
As a fan and writer with a long standing love-hate relationship with professional journeyman I was delighted to see veteran warhorse Cliff Couser deliver the victory and performance of his career by knocking out Monte Barrett – a previously sturdy and pedigree heavyweight. OK, so pedigree affords him more gravitas than his career merited but you catch the drift. Couser is a professional loser, that’s his job, his mandate. But something went horribly right on Friday. Read the rest of this entry »
Molitor Cocktail
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on July 10, 2007 at 11:24 pm
I was delighted to hear that the promoter of Canada’s undiscovered gem Steve Molitor, plans to project the accomplished IBF Super-Bantamweight to the world. And even more interesting is the unfamiliar twist on the traditional promotional path they’re planning. His next defence, presuming he beats Ndluvo at the weekend, will be held in the war-torn wilds of Afghanistan in front of the brave Canadian troops currently deployed there. Molitor, the nation’s hero, is the aspiration. “Wrapping the kid in the flag”, summarises promoter Allan Tremblay in conversation with the Toronto Sun. Building his Canadian fanbase is they key to building Molitor as an exportable brand. Read the rest of this entry »
ITV and Warren Reach Agreement
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on July 10, 2007 at 10:55 pm
ITV’s schedule for Saturday night suggests the network and Sports Network, Frank Warren’s promotional company, has finally reached at least a short term agreement. Following weeks of debate on various boxing forums and presumably hours of negotiation between the two sides it is a relief for British boxing in general that Saturday’s bill will be widely available to the British public. Read the rest of this entry »
Taylor Needs a New Suit
In Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on July 10, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Middleweight champion Jermaine Taylor is looking likely to move up in weight to the Super-Middleweight division, and dependent on opportunities one could assume he could yet jump straight to the Light-Heavyweight division where a host of beatable veterans presently reside. The most obvious outcome of the move is, of course, the much discussed clash with Joe Calzaghe. Calzaghe destroys him if the fight comes off. There I said it. Read the rest of this entry »
The Irrepressible Glen Johnson
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on July 5, 2007 at 8:39 pm
At the top of the Light-Heavyweight division; old is the new young. I cannot think of another era or weight class in which so many ageing fighters remain in control of the paydays and belts. Not even the moribund heavyweight division can match the 175 pounders for supporting the elderly. I’m reminded of the old eighties buddy flick ‘Tough Guys’; a film in which two vintage gangsters; Bert Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, are released from prison to discover they could still out think, out hustle and out punch their modern day counterparts.
Warren and ITV both holding their nerve
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on July 5, 2007 at 7:33 am
Even in these multi-channel, multi-media times the importance of terrestrial television to the future health of boxing in the UK cannot be underestimated. Sure, boxing survived a long period in the satellite wilderness in the nineties, but with so many exciting fighters currently competing; Hatton, Witter, Calzaghe, Haye, Woods, Froch and Moore it would be a great travesty were their immediate futures consigned to the marginal world of Satellite only viewing.
Holyfield Beats Italian Meatball Savarese
In Boxing, Fight Reports, Mike Tyson, Sports on July 5, 2007 at 1:59 am
The headline is cruel. And it’s cruel on two levels, firstly because Big Lou was a vegetarian for a number of years and secondly because it demeans the effort Savarese put forth throughout his career and did once more last weekend. But that said, Holyfield’s victory proved nothing to the interested observer and less to his detractors; Holyfield would always be quicker to the punch than the ponderous Savarese and in his 41 year old opponent he found a foe even more rusty than himself. So why am I still nurturing the first shoots of belief in Evander’s quest for another portion of the heavyweight title? Nostalgia? Apathy with the current crop of champions?
Hatton – Ten Days On
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on July 5, 2007 at 1:19 am
A brief sabbatical denied me opportunity to opine on the Ricky Hatton v Jose Luis Castillo bout, but those with whom I debate the boxing issues of the day on the various boxing forums will know I fancied Hatton to demolish Castillo early from the day the bout was signed. I’m aware this whiffs of convenient revisionism but the evidence is there in black and white (or whatever background colour the site in question defaults to).
Happy Days – Haye to Face Mormeck
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Mike Tyson, Sports on July 5, 2007 at 12:44 am
OK, so big-punching David Haye couldn’t crack Ismael Abdoul and true he was decked by Super-Middleweight Lolenga Mock but despite those apparent limitations he remains a crucial piece of the British Boxing jigsaw. In fact, his importance could reach further. Boxing needs a charismatic, heavy handed heavyweight contender. Haye is one of a precariously short list of applicants for that role. Only Alexander Povetkin ranks ahead of him as a heavyweight youngster with punch power. The difference with Haye? He has obligations at 200 pounds to fulfil first.
In the footsteps of Dodson
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on July 5, 2007 at 12:10 am
The fact aspiring Light-Middleweight Jamie Moore is unable to fulfil his match with the magnificently named Vincent Vuma due to a viral infection is undoubtedly frustrating. The Salford banger is on the cusp of a world-title shot and any interruption to his upward momentum is laden with risk. At 28, with a series of wars behind him, Moore cannot afford wasted time. However, his enforced absence provides an opportunity for raw British contender Mark Thompson to leap into the consciousness of the British fight public. Read the rest of this entry »
BoxingWriter.co.uk Tribute Wear
In Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Mike Tyson, Shop, Sports on July 4, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Begun on an idle whim, the BoxingWriter .co.uk Tribute Wear has proved tremendously popular and exceeded expectation. Sales of t-shirts featuring the likes of Marciano, Hearns and Tapia have been well received and dispatched to satisfied customers within 2-3 days of order receipt and the feedback on quality has been favourable too. Check them out… Read the rest of this entry »
