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Archive for the ‘Contender Series’ Category

Boxing: Sakio Bika, a ghost from Calzaghe’s past returns to the fore

Posted in Boxing, Contender Series, Fight Previews, Sports, tagged , , , , on July 29, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Debate about the substance of Joe Calzaghe’s career will enthrall boxing fans for decades to come, his standing will ebb and flow with the passage of time and in all likelihood forever divide opinion thus – he was an all-time great who dominated his division for 10 years or, alternatively, he was a great fighter [...]

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Smith v Quigley as it happens: Live

Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Fight Reports, Sports, tagged , , , , , on October 30, 2009 | 2 Comments »

Genuine electricity in the air as fellow Liverpudlians clash for the British Super Middleweight title, thankfully officiated by Richie Davies – the most respected referee in the country. Each time these two have met in the build up to this fight, sparks have flown. It could be about who holds their composure in the red-hot arena [...]

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Sexton wins Prizefighter 2; is it really drawing new fans?

Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Fight Reports, Sports, tagged , , , , , , , , , on September 15, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Always enlightening to watch an event like this with those not keenly interested in the sport. Spend too much time on Internet forums and it is entirely possible to succumb to the assumption EVERYONE is interested in boxing. Of course they are not. An evening at my old local, The Windmill in the former coal-mining town of [...]

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Natural order is restored; Forrest dominates Mora

Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Fight Reports, Sports, tagged , , , , , , , on September 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

The Contender series wasn’t a reality show in the popular sense of the word. I’m always disgusted when mainstream reporters refer to its contestants, when partaking in significant out-of-show bouts, as “reality show winners”. It misleads the uninitiated, implying those who featured were not ‘real’ boxers but talented wannabees, celebrities even. Fighters like Steve Forbes, Peter [...]

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Archive: Is the Rocky road boxing’s only path to redemption?

Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Ricky Hatton, Sports, TSS.com Archive, tagged , , , , , , on November 16, 2007 | 1 Comment »

Archive: 20/10/2006  The recent renaissance of interest in boxing has been palpable. Stirred by the success of Joe Calzaghe, David Haye and the impending super fight between Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather the recently beleaguered and oft discarded sport of boxing is back on the sports pages, back on the television and back in the consciousness [...]

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Contender, controversial and clap trap

Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Sports, tagged , , , , on November 13, 2007 | 3 Comments »

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the premise and execution of the Contender series. Pitching together undiscovered gems, gutsy veterans and nearly men tapped into a global love of the underdog and reintroduced many mainstream and casual fans to the bitter reality of boxing. It told stories, and a fighter story is as compelling a reason for following [...]

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Ruddy cheeked and ready

Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Ricky Hatton, Sports, tagged , , , , on November 12, 2007 | Leave a Comment »

How fickle the fortunes of British boxing, and boxing in general in fact. A year or less ago, every article spoke of the terminal outlook of boxing’s various ills. Naysayers pointed to the rise of Mixed Martial Arts and its most notable body, the UFC. David Haye’s weekend capture of the World Cruiserweight title and [...]

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Contender Star Paul Smith In Action Dec 8

Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Fight Previews, Sports, tagged , , on October 29, 2007 | 4 Comments »

Unbeaten Contender star Paul Smith Jnr., re-emerges domestically from his successful stint in the third series of the boxing reality show stateside on the December 8th card scheduled for the Bolton Arena (according to frankwarren.tv) or the Reebok stadium (according to Smith’s Myspace circular). Regardless of venue, presumably, it will be a support for Amir Khan’s tangle with [...]

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Who Gives a Froch about Experience?

Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Sports on August 16, 2007 | 8 Comments »

On paper, Carl Froch versus former WBC World Champion Robin Reid is a terrific battle, positioning the veteran Runcorn man as the final, and arguably, superfluous gatekeeper to the British champion’s ascent to the international scene. In reality, Froch doesn’t need the fight to further substantiate his credibility on the domestic scene, but a knee [...]

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Pugilistic Dementia; Something old, something new?

Posted in Boxing, Contender Series, Fight Reports, Sports, tagged , , , , on August 14, 2007 | 12 Comments »

Few writers met the news of Oscar DeLaHoya intention to continue fighting with the type of disappointment expressed by Bill Dwyre at the LA Times. Is every other writer too entrenched in the hushed, unspoken agreement to keep boxing relevant, to comment objectively? Is Bill the sole voice of reason? Recycling the last remaining superstars [...]

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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. [...]

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BoxingWriter.co.uk Tribute Wear

Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Mike Tyson, Ricky Hatton, Shop, Sports, tagged , , , , , , , , , on July 4, 2007 | Leave a Comment »

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…

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Danny Green Tackles Reality Star Griffin

Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Sports on June 14, 2007 | Leave a Comment »

Forgotten in the wake of The Contender’s global success as a boxing reality show, Next Great Champ – the show fronted by Oscar DeLaHoya - produced its own victor a year or two back when Otis Griffin secured the $500,000 prize. It seems the kudos associated with that triumph is now set to start delivering for him. [...]

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Hasim Rahman Back For More

Posted in Boxing, Contender Series, Fight Reports, Sports on June 12, 2007 | Leave a Comment »

Former World-Champion Hasim Rahman returns on Thursday against peripheral American contender Taurus Sykes in a minor title bout. Rahman is confident victory over Sykes will pave the way for what feels like his 17th shot at the title. Obviously, that isn’t the case but he has undoubtedly failed to live up to the potential he showed [...]

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Rhodes Flattens Buchanan in One

Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Sports on June 4, 2007 | 3 Comments »

It’s been a while since Ryan Rhodes demonstrated the type of form he did yesterday in knocking out game Paul Buchanan in the opener. Traditionally, known for his speed of hand and elusive style – at least those were his trademarks in a youth that saw him capture the British title in record time - the [...]

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Most Over Used Words in Boxing

Posted in Boxing, Contender Series, Sports, tagged , on April 27, 2007 | 3 Comments »

The recent press release pertaining to Peter Manfredo’s next bout caused a tremor of discomfort in my sensitive sensibilities. And this dissatisfaction centred on one key word in the brief release; controversial. In recent years the word controversial has become a broad church for a litany of different conclusions to fights. Whether points, knockout or [...]

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Gatti to Tackle Gomez in July.

Posted in Boxing, Contender Series, Sports on April 26, 2007 | 1 Comment »

Few fighters demonstrate the resolve and determination regularly delivered by Arturo Gatti during his long and eventful career and precious few are held in such affection by boxing fans around the globe. A reputation for effort, entertainment and sheer bloody mindedness has earned Arturo Gatti a very special place in boxing folklore, his name etched [...]

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The Weekend Long-Shot

Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Sports on March 16, 2007 | 2 Comments »

I thoroughly enjoyed the laughter that surrounded my Ray Austin to win prediction last week, I countered those who berated me for the ridiculousness of the claim that it was merely a slow news day and I enjoy being contrary. However, I think I might make it a weekly feature. So this week I’ve scanned [...]

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What do jer maine Mora’s out?

Posted in Boxing, Contender Series, Sports on March 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment »

According to the always swift SecondsOut, and it’s a great site when the topic isn’t Roman Greenberg, Sergio Mora has pulled out of the forthcoming clash with undisputed Middleweight Champion Jermaine Taylor because of fears the proximity of Memphis to Taylor’s home town could affect his chances of winning. Personally, I would think the fact [...]

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Alfonso Gomez: Contender Star

Posted in Boxing, British Boxing, Contender Series, Sports on March 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment »

I have to confess, I didn’t follow the second Contender series at all nor did I see the first series through to conclusion. The television schedule was continually changed and I missed key episodes and the fighters’ stories passed me by. However, one fight I did see – and it’s preceding story – was the [...]

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