Comments on: Don’t forget Celestino Caballero, a real champion at 122 pounds

By: David Payne

David Payne — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:46:40 +0000

Amen, Packie. I’ve no cross to bear with Bernard. And he’s playing the hand the sport deals him. But this world-champion tag is too easily hung on too many fighters.

By: Packie

Packie — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:27:41 +0000

I came across this while surfing the net. As an incredibly proud Irishman i’m afraid that i agree 100%with David Payne. In fact i would have agreed with him in April 09 – i was saying this then – a few wks after the sheer delight we all had as a nation (when we won the rugby on the same day as well) had sunk in. It’s not being cynical, it’s about being authentic. Was he our 1st world champ since Steve Collins, Wayno or Barry McGuigan? Can he be mentioned in the same sentence with these greats? I questioned it’s credibility, as i do with everything in this ludicrious sport. Of course it’s not Bernard’s fault, it’s the sport’s.

Can BD genuinely call himself a world champ? He’s entitiled to think it coz that’s what they led him to believe. It’s all the one now, he got badly hurted against Poonsawat. Can Poonsawat call himself a world champ? I’m sorry but he can’t either. Not until he fights Celestino. Not that it’ll probably ever happen.

Oh please bring back the days of Ali when there was one world champ, not over 4 in the one weight and 2 with one of those bodies all at once. What a joke. I think the WBA should be banned as an organisation after this. Not that that’ll ever happen either coz money talks, not authenticity.

What next for our Bernard? Personally i think he should retire even though he’s my hero. I’d say his ears are still ringing from that savage hiding, and twas around a month ago. Shame he didn’t qualify for Sydney 2000, he should have stuck around for Athens. He’s better suited to the amateur game and could have been a medalist in a genuine sport.

By: David Payne

David Payne — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:21:03 +0000

On your last point, I would if Poonsawat related press releases landed in my inbox every other day or I came across those who promote the view that he was.

Caballero is the WBA champion, in my opinion, as far as I can unravel the mess.

As for Munroe, he was a current comparison.

Equally, when Jeff Lacy fought Calzaghe he was no more than a contender, this fellow champion malarky was also ludicrous.

By: Cian

Cian — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:55:59 +0000

The point is not moot, even though Dunne, as you so nicely put it, got sparked out. This still does not change the fact that Bernard Dunne beat a world class boxer to win the title, and then had to face the WBA’s mandatory challenger (who Caballero would not fight). So how does that compare with a Euro level fighter like Munroe who has yet to face even fringe world class opposition? The fact that you are even bringing Rendall Munroe into the equation proves beyond doubt that you are writing from a pro British view.
If Munroe had the balls to fight Cordoba when he was offered the title fight (which was before Dunne by the way), and if by some miracle he actually won the fight, would I be reading, “Munroe is no more a world champion than Dunne”? I don’t think so.
If in fact you are standing by your claim that this article is anything but a cheap dig at the former World Champion, Bernard Dunne, then I am assuming that the article on Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym having no rightful claim on the WBA title, is in the works? I’ll be on the lookout for that one.

By: David Payne

David Payne — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:55:03 +0000

And Bernard’s nationality, colour, creed or personal proclivities have no impact on my assessment of his standing as a world champion or the likelihood of him defeating Munroe.