I’m not usually one to advocate these fan-led Radio shows, too often they’re so poorly conceived, so uncomfortably amateurish that any meaningful content is lost amongst the cringing I’m doing. However, while still a little rough around the edges, the OntheGrindRadio.com crew are smoothing out the wrinkles and in their weekly show have attracted some interesting voices, Shannon Briggs last week, James Toney this week. Tune in and try it. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for March, 2009|Monthly archive page
Give OntheGrindRadio.com a whirl; James Toney live on the show this Sunday
In Boxing, Fight Previews, Fight Reports, Sports on March 27, 2009 at 3:31 pmCan the heavyweight contender list be clarified this month?
In Boxing, Fight Previews, Mike Tyson, Sports on March 27, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Those desperate to rekindle interest in the talent bereaved heavyweight division will hope the next three weekends herald the emergence of a new consensus contender for the division’s sibling kings. Since the departure of Lennox Lewis, and the three year retirement of the more rugged Klitschko, the division has waited for either a charismatic young puncher to appear or for the more fluid, but less stout Klitschko to stamp his authority on the troubled weight class. Fans gravitated toward Samuel Peter for a while, then had their heads turned by Alexander Povetkin swift ascension, fell in line behind David Haye’s march from Cruiserweight or, for the visually impaired who fail to see the molasses around his waist, fell in love with Cristobal Arreola in their quest to find an antidote to the soporific Ukrainians.
Maloney starts the Dunne-Munroe bidding at £150,000
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Previews, Sports on March 27, 2009 at 11:17 am
I’ve written some pieces for Frank Maloney’s website in the past, and hope to again in the not to distant future, so I have a small history with the wily promoter. But I defy anyone to not to appreciate his tone and attitude in conversation with Steve Bunce on Steve’s weekly show on Setanta. The exchanges between Maloney and Brian Peters, the Irish promoter of Bernard Dunne the new WBA Super-Bantamweight champion and direct rival to Maloney’s European Champion, Rendall Munroe, in the run up to Dunne’s punishing victory over Ricardo Cordoba at the weekend certainly developed some sharp edges. Despite that, Maloney proved pragmatic and gracious in his praise for Dunne’s achievement on the popular show. Read the rest of this entry »
Guest: Wladimir doth protest too much; Dr Steel Hammer indeed
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Previews, Sports on March 27, 2009 at 10:54 am
Regular visitors will be accustomed to the acerbic analysis of Andrew Mullinder, our resident correspondent in Moscow. I’m sure Andrew has all the usual creature comforts we enjoy in the West but I prefer to adapt the usual visual triggers employed by third rate cold war thrillers to conjure an image of Andrew huddled over an ageing type writer, all fingerless gloves, one bar fires and cheap vodka, manically venting on the issues of the day from his down trodden apartment block in some mafia run ghetto. Why? Well it just makes sense of his withering contributions, and the latest, a deconstruction of the most artificially created ring moniker in boxing must have come after a slurp or two of the strong stuff. Read the rest of this entry »
Tyson Fury; treading a fine line with fans
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Previews, Sports on March 26, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Like many who have witnessed his open three engagements, I’ve warmed to Tyson Fury – he’s seemed confident but sincere, ambitious but eager to learn. Hennessy Sports matchmaking has been encouraging and his name and story help garner him a disproportionate amount of exposure. However, like Audley, Amir and Eubank before him it is easy to see his youthful mischief turning into unlikeable arrogance if he’s not careful. David Price, who debuts this weekend, is inevitably his latest target. Read the rest of this entry »
Boxing relies on Don King and Terry Dooley for sense and integrity!
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on March 26, 2009 at 10:23 am
For a man accused of just about every sin possible within the parameters of boxing and capable of bamboozling writers with quotes and sentiments drawn from Twain to Churchill it says a lot about the sport he inhabits, that veteran promoter Don King is the sole voice of reason in the aftermath of the Khan v Barrera contest. Well, alongside Terry Dooley at BritishBoxing.net at least. Dooley is a fearless, if slightly dishevelled, writer who can always see through the mist, and is unafraid of running against the grain. Dooley titled his review of the fight; “Say what you like but Khan should never have won”. Read the rest of this entry »
Old man or big threat; McCullough responds
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on March 25, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Now the preceding release from Brian Peters, which strongly stated Wayne McCullough would need to earn a clash with new WBA Super-Bantamweight title by winning fights was largely dismissed by yours truly. After all McCullough v Dunne made massive commercial sense and that would be the primary motivator in Dunne’s first fight wouldn’t it? McCullough still believes so, but with more information to reflect on, I think the veteran could be chasing a lost cause. Here is Wayne’s view this evening; Read the rest of this entry »
Brian Peters cools talk of McCullough; but I don’t believe him
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Previews, Sports on March 25, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I know precious little of Brian Peters, he is a new name on the promotional front, so commentating too much on his latest release is not grounded in much experience of the man or his methods. However, despite that lack of history, I still think the prospect of Bernard Dunne accepting either a non-title fight or voluntary defence against Wayne McCullough (if the WBA can be coerced into ranking McCullough) is just as likely as the unification bouts Peters is professing to prefer. It simply makes too much financial sense to miss out on, particularly given the presumed lack of risk a 38 year old McCullough would present. Judge for yourselves. Read the rest of this entry »
Most avoided fighter of the past 10 years? Poll
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Previews, Sports on March 25, 2009 at 3:49 pm
The forthcoming middleweight clash between veteran southpaw Winky Wright and Paul Williams, the former Welterweight champion stirred me to contemplate which fighter of the past decade had been the most avoided. Winky Wright makes a strong claim for this unwanted acknowledgement, particularly given his recent enforced inactivity, but ultimately he has secured bouts with Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins to name but two. His advocates would remind me he had to chase Hopkins all the way up to Light-Heavyweight when they spent years side by side in the Middleweight division, both in desperate need of a big payday. Williams too, wouldn’t be without his supporters, but now he has Wright, following victory over Margarito, himself a contender for the tag. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive: Old Man Thompson Stops Unbeaten Haye in 5
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports, TSS.com Archive on March 25, 2009 at 11:40 am
ARCHIVE: 10/09/04
David Haye is the toast of the boxing media presently thanks to his shrewdly selected but nevertheless impressive debut at heavyweight, sinking Tomasz Bonin in a round, title triumphs at Cruiserweight and latterly his destruction of the seasoned Monte Barrett. He has subsequently emerged as a loquacious rival for Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko to embrace or avoid – depending on the prevalent press release at the time of reading.
However, there was a time when his confidence took him into territory from which his right hand couldn’t provide escape. He took on Carl ‘The Cat’ Thompson in 2004 before he was ready and came unstuck. It was one of the most enthralling, absorbing and punishing contests I’ve had the privilege to cover from ringside.
Wayne McCullough far from Dunne
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on March 25, 2009 at 8:30 am
It is beyond the remit of any writer, no matter how well intentioned to implore a man to retire. A fighter, regardless of the date on his birth certificate, should not be prevented from earning a living if they are physically able to do so. Wayne McCullough, that most dedicated of professionals is one such example. Despite the evidence of a waning ability the Pocket Rocket refuses to relinquish his dream of once again being crowned World Champion. As a heavyweight, his 38 years wouldn’t be the millstone they are at Super-Bantamweight where speed, stamina and volume punching are more prevalent than amongst the heavyweight molasses. Read the rest of this entry »
Inevitable Mayweather comeback growing closer; July 11th or sooner
In Boxing, British Boxing, Sports on March 24, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Still too early to suggest Joe Calzaghe will stay retired but instinctively I believe he will, but contemporary Floyd Mayweather Jnr was never likely to remain retired irrespective of the wealth he has accumulated, throwing hundred dollar bills from nightclub balconies has a way of dwindling the coffers. It has to be enforced doesn’t it? After all, the mooted Oscar DeLaHoya match up of last year would have earned him another multi-million purse and a thick wedge of associated earnings. He retired not needing that pay day. Something changed. Read the rest of this entry »
“Deep water and hope he can swim”. Yada, yada, yada; Jermain Taylor leans on cliche
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Previews, Sports on March 24, 2009 at 1:44 pm
I’m excited about the WBC Super-Middleweight contest between Nottingham’s Carl Froch and Arkansas’ Jermain Taylor, it pitches two fighters together who are in their respective primes. It doesn’t rely on nostalgia, nor does it feature a network favourite and a cherry picked opponent. It isn’t quite the choice Froch has framed it to be, pursuing Taylor is noble given the posturing of preceding champions in the selection of foes, but Taylor, lest we forget, is Froch’s mandatory as he won a vacant title and Taylor beat Lacy in a final eliminator. However, for all the glass half full gloss it still beats Taylor’s reliance on an age old cliche to promote the fight. Read the rest of this entry »
Silent Assassin Nuumbembe back on track
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on March 23, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Namibian Welterweight Ali Nuumbembe became something of an iconic figure during his six years in the hilltops of Derbyshire. His wandering life story, from war torn Africa to sleepy Glossop warmed the hearts of the entire town and all those who met him. His return to Namibia didn’t bring to an end his fighting career and I’m pleased to report Ali added his 21st victory to his professional slate over the weekend. Read the rest of this entry »
Lamon Brewster wants Marty Rogan next!
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Previews, Sports on March 18, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Now I’m not a regular over at Eastside Boxing, but young James Slater is a dedicated servant to the site and now and then puts together some interesting thoughts. A recent interview with Lamon Brewster - another of my favoured fighters – provided further evidence of just how far the big Irishman has come. The former two time world-title belt holder is eager to move from Michael Sprott to the current darling of the British fight scene. Read the rest of this entry »
Guest: Barrera’s bloody mess obscures the true worth of Khan’s victory
In Boxing, British Boxing, Fight Reports, Sports on March 18, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Having clung tight to my £14.95 last weekend, Amir Khan is not presently a pay-per-view attraction regardless of the affection with which I hold his opponent – in this case Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera, I’m delighted to provide a forum for guest writer Ben Carey’s view of the contentious clash between the aspiring Khan and the jaded Barrera. Read the rest of this entry »
Irish eyes are smiling; McCullough fights on
In Boxing, Fight Previews, Olympic Boxing, Shop, Sports on March 4, 2009 at 12:04 amPrecious few combatants evoke the same swell of good will that will greet Wayne McCullough when he strides to the ring for the 35th time in a fortnight’s time. The former Super-Bantamweight world title-holder has had a frustrating Autumn to his career, with the shadow of an overturned suspension for irregular brain scans thwarting his attempts to regain momentum in his ebbing trajectory. A retirement six rounds in to a fight he appeared to be winning last June, on the back of a doctor’s intervention during the rematch with Oscar Larios, remain his only meaningful action of the past 40 months.
