Jeff Fenech has pretty much seen it all during his career in the boxing business. From rugged national hero, through momentous fights on the international stage to training Mike Tyson and public spats with Anthony Mundine that almost led to a mismatched fight between the two a while ago. Now aged 44, thanks to a birthday two days ago, the Marrickville Mauler is to pull the gloves on once more for a rubber match with nemesis Azumah Nelson. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for May, 2008|Monthly archive page
Fenech, Rocky and the beast inside
In Boxing, British Boxing, Mike Tyson, Sports on May 31, 2008 at 12:07 amBig Danny Williams victorious in up and downer in Spain
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Mike Tyson, Sports on May 30, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Congratulations must go to gutsy, no sniggering at the back, London heavyweight Danny Williams tonight following his 7th round stoppage victory over the previously unbeaten Konstantin Airich in Bilbao. Williams, up lifts his ledger to 39-6 (31 Ko’s) with the win continues to build some momentum despite fluctuating weight suggesting ebbing motivation, he scaled 267 pounds for this encounter. Read the rest of this entry »
“No, no, just say no” Hatton, PPV and the power of one.
In Boxing, British Boxing, Mike Tyson, Sports on May 29, 2008 at 12:16 pm
As fan and as a writer, purchasing pay-per-view boxing is a prerequisite these days. I’ve done them all, from Bruno v Tyson, Hamed, Lewis through to Hatton v Tszyu and everything in between. So strong is my thirst to see the stars of the fistic world that I even succumbed to the very shallow temptation of Eastman v Hopkins. A fight never likely to distract the annual visitors to the Dulux sponsored, Watch Paint Dry Championships. Read the rest of this entry »
Behind enemy Lynes against bucking, ducking Branco
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Previews, Sports on May 16, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Most writers will confess to soft spots for certain fighters. I pointed out my own affection to John Ruiz, the most unloved of heavyweights, only this week but the reasoning or events that form and fuel these affiliations are often curious and minuscule. It doesn’t stop at boxing, I always urged old Rex Williams on in the snooker championships because we share a birthday. Tenuous but a rivet-strong bond all the same. Colin Lynes is another fighter for whom I always wish good fortune.
A life in reverse – Chris Byrd
In Boxing, Fight Previews, Sports on May 16, 2008 at 11:08 am
I doubt a weight class has ever been as utterly descriptive of a fighter’s physique than Light-Heavyweight will prove for the former two time heavyweight belt holder Chris Byrd tonight. In a bid to reinvent himself in the division, Byrd has lost in excess of 40 pounds at the age of 37. Byrd really is a Light, Heavyweight. For a decade the gutsy southpaw used his speed of foot and glove to mix it with the best the heavyweight division had to offer, and in the period in which he competed, they came pretty bloody big.
“World title belts, get ya belts ‘ere, fiver a pair!”
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on May 16, 2008 at 9:32 am
Boxing is a cruel enough sport for fighters without crass sniping from commentators like me but the news Alex Arthur has been awarded full world champion status by the WBO left a sour taste. I’m sure it did for Arthur too, a proud fighter and one who, publicly at least, yearned for a shot at the genuine big time. Not the pretend big time, but the real, genuine big time. His proposed fight with now abdicated champion Joan Guzman would have been just such an opportunity. Read the rest of this entry »
Hatton v Witter, goes down the ……
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on May 12, 2008 at 10:09 am
It was painful to view. And my scorecard reflected my desire to prolong the feint hope of Junior Witter finally securing the chance to face arch-rival Ricky Hatton before both got too old or too fat for anyone to care. Placing the credit for the victory at the door of Ricky Hatton, given it was young Timothy Bradley in the ring throwing punches, would be ungracious and unfair but there was certainly a shadow of the wealthy Hitman over the split decision triumph for the American. Read the rest of this entry »
Battle of the Som-brero; give ol’ Gomez a chance
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Previews, Sports on May 8, 2008 at 10:39 am
Matchmaking is a funny business. Not funny “haha”, funny “ooh”. As my Grandad would often say. There is simply no right and wrong methodology or barometer for matchmakers. If the house fighters wins, you’ve got it right. If the house fighters wins easily you’ve got it right but perhaps too right, because the audience want competition not a procession. In fact, getting it ‘too’ right can sometimes be wrong. But still better that, than simply getting it wrong. Are you keeping up?
John Ruiz and loving the wrong man
In Boxing, Mike Tyson, Sports on May 8, 2008 at 9:06 am
When consigned to history John Ruiz’ career will be much maligned, it is already. His success and resolve will be overshadowed by the snipers who point to his suffocating, ugly style, a crushing defeat to the then Zeus like David Tua in 17 seconds and a ponderous pursuit of Roy Jones Jnr. Despite these facts, and they are all facts, his rough-edges and lack of beauty, I just can’t help liking him. It’s a strange thing, attraction.
Archive: Knowing You’re Born: A Boxer’s Tale
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports, TSS.com Archive on May 7, 2008 at 1:44 pmTSS Archive: 18/01/2007
It is a worn analogy to compare boxers with hookers, but for those fighters who eek out a career well beneath the remuneration and spotlight of the bill toppers the cliche undoubtedly has some resonance. Former British title challenger Alan Bosworth is one such heart on his sleeve puncher who walked away from the sport he’s loved and loathed in equal measure for most of his life with precious little to show for the sacrifices he’s made to compete. Read the rest of this entry »
Witter faces the curse of two first names
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Previews, Sports on May 7, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Every one of us lives by certain unfathomable rules; idiosyncratic lines we never venture across. Superstitions or clichés collected from life experience or bestowed from those who formed us. “Never drink in pubs near the market in a strange town” my Dad always implored, a directive I wish I’d adhered to when I was in Stoke-On-Trent in the early nineties but that’s another story.
