Now far be it from me to tell the WBO how to run their business, nor am I willing to suggest something underhand has occurred to facilitate Amir Khan’s new found status as a world-ranked Lightweight, but Amir Khan – #14, really? A staggering step by the WBO, with whom Khan’s promoter – Frank Warren – has always had a close relationship, considering the Bolton fighter has yet to face an opponent of even moderate renown. Continue reading “You Khannot Be Serious: Amir Ranked!”
Boxing: Peace Follows War: Benn and McClellan Meet
For boxing fans of a certain generation, namely mine, the fight between Nigel Benn and Gerald McClellan represents a seminal moment in our love of the sport. Retrospectively however, the fight creates disharmony amongst those that saw it. Fans crave to revel in the intensity of the combat, the purity of two men willing to put their mind, body and sense of who they were under the most intense physical pressure imaginable in the name of sport. Respect, and a degree of embarassment given our love of a sport that fundamentally places men at risk, forces restraint because of the sad conclusion to the fight. Continue reading “Boxing: Peace Follows War: Benn and McClellan Meet”
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Shadow Boxing: Matthew Hatton Emerges
A brief note to recognise how important Matthew Hatton’s recent victory on the Hatton v Urango undercard could prove to be. The younger, bigger Hatton slogged away unspectacularly on the undercards of his illustrious sibling for a number of years without ever announcing himself as a talent in his own right, but a change could be on the horizon. Continue reading “Shadow Boxing: Matthew Hatton Emerges”
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Williams v Gammer: Live on the Web
According to www.boxingtimes.comthe British title fight between champion Scott Gammer and Danny Williams will available over the Internet for a price starting at $16.99. An interesting move, and yet another example of the inevitable move toward integrated coverage of the sport. What next, hover-boards?
Barry Hearn, head of Matchroom, and the promoter.. Continue reading “Williams v Gammer: Live on the Web”
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As Old as the Hills – Virgil Faces Maske
The news Virgil Hill, the once long-standing Light-Heavyweight champion, will fight Henry Maske – a fighter he sent into retirement more than a decade ago – has to be met with a shake of the head by boxing fans. Hill is 43, and so far removed from his prime that his hey-day is little more than a pen-pal to the current iteration. Continue reading “As Old as the Hills – Virgil Faces Maske”
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The End of TheSweetScience.com
Many discerning fight fans will shed a tear for the passing of TheSweetScience website, home to some of the greatest writing talents the sport has ever enjoyed. The site will close for business in the next week or so. Rigorous in its editorial control, stringently unique and thought provoking, TSS hosted some of the most ground breaking pieces I’ve read through any media outlet, printed or Internet. Continue reading “The End of TheSweetScience.com”
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Hatton Britain’s Greatest?
Billy Graham, the long-time trainer of Ricky Hatton, today claimed that the British public will one day accept Hatton as the greatest fighter to ever have emerged from the United Kingdom. It seems an ambitious claim given the mediocrity of his recent encounters but considering the achievements of the previous champions from these shores, it isn’t impossible to believe he could succeed in fulfilling that prediction. Continue reading “Hatton Britain’s Greatest?”
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Pittsburgh Ticket Seller Continues Comeback
Paul Spadafora, the unbeaten Junior-Welterweight with a conviction for shooting his then girlfriend in an argument and a fighter who has wrestled with a host of other demons in his life, continues his return from the inactivity forced by his ridiculously short incarceration early next month against Oisin Fagan. Continue reading “Pittsburgh Ticket Seller Continues Comeback”
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Hatton Faces Castillo on June 23rd
Reported everywhere today, so why should this little hideaway be any different, the news that Ricky Hatton is to face veteran – and its noticeable how many media outlets refer to him as veteran since his narrow victory and lacklustre performance last time out – Mexican, Jose Luis Castillo in a fight few fans will want to miss. Continue reading “Hatton Faces Castillo on June 23rd”
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Neil Sinclair’s Career: Take 47
Belfast banger Neil Sinclair, one of the purest punchers from the British Isles in recent memory, made a cautious return to action following a failed attempt to galvanise himself in America last year, beating imported loser Arek Malek. The detour to America went desperatley wrong, a third choice substitute knocked him out on his Stateside debut. A painful lesson in attention to detail for the former British champion in a fight scheduled to enable him to rebuild from the humbling defeat to Taz Jones back in ‘Blighty’ the year before. Continue reading “Neil Sinclair’s Career: Take 47”
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Poleaxed. The Audley Charade Ends
I’ve written dozens of articles, fight reports, previews and message board comments on Audley Harrison in the past five years, his professional career running parallel to my own contributions as a boxing writer – if affording myself that title isn’t too much of an insult to the Putnam, Leibling and Mailers that precede me. In fact, I’ve compounded the crime – mentioning their names close to mine – but hopefully they’ll excuse the indulgence. Continue reading “Poleaxed. The Audley Charade Ends”
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Congratulations Ali!
Just a brief note of congratulation to Ali Nuumbembe, the Glossop based Namibian finally fulfilled his dream of winning a professional title – defeating Commonwealth champion Kevin Anderson by Split-Decision in a tightly contested fight. Anderson was somewhat dismayed by the decision having started by brightly but barely survived the eighth. Continue reading “Congratulations Ali!”
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Boxing: Evander Holyfield, The Prospect
Evander Holyfield, little more than an echo of the fearsome box-puncher he once was, continues his uncoordinated drudge toward another heavyweight title shot away from the brighter lights of mainstream contendership. His latest run, previously stopping off at the backwater of Jeremy Bates – not the former British tennis player, though it may as well have been – and the Puerto Rican village Fres Oquendo next faces Vinny Maddalone. A fighter of orthodox stance and limited ability. Continue reading “Boxing: Evander Holyfield, The Prospect”
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Ali Nuumbembe Faces Final Hurdle
Good luck to Ali Nuumbembe this weekend in his bid to win the Commonwealth Welterweight title from Scotsman Kevin Anderson. I met Ali just over a year ago, with benefactor Richard Parker, at the latter’s pub in Glossop and it is very hard not to be engaged by Ali’s story. Continue reading “Ali Nuumbembe Faces Final Hurdle”
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Chazz Witherspoon: A Rare Bright Light
Amongst the gloom of the American heavyweight boxing scene, Chazz Witherspoon is a rare ray of sunshine. Big, powerful and with improving technique the likeable, affable often softly spoken cousin of Terrible Tim Witherspoon – that famous underachiever from the 1980’s – could prove to be the closest thing America has to a young, dominant heavyweight. Continue reading “Chazz Witherspoon: A Rare Bright Light”
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Earl Seeking to Earn Respect
Graham Earl, the former British Lightweight champion and present custodian of the WBU Lightweight belt, a strap that enables non-elite fighters like Earl to masquerade as World Champions – Something the Luton fighter is clearly not – will contest the WBO version this week. Of course, Earl will tell you he understands the charade and that he doesn’t truly regard himself as a world champion because of his success in WBU title fights, a perspective that only beggars the question – why bother? Continue reading “Earl Seeking to Earn Respect”
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From Big Acorns: Earnie Shavers Lacing Up Again
Relax, the nearly man of the golden heavyweight era of the 1970’s isn’t returning to the professional ring, though he still cuts a fearsome figure at the age of 62, but will be – according to the British tabloid, The Daily Mirror – competing in an evening of White Collar Boxing in Tranmere. Continue reading “From Big Acorns: Earnie Shavers Lacing Up Again”
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The Fighter: Micky Ward’s Story
Any film starring Matt Damon is usually high quality viewing, OK, granted Ocean’s 12 was dismal but typically Damon played the role amidst the self-indulgent script with his usual class. The news he is to star alongside Mark Wahlberg in a story chronicling the rise of Irish Micky Ward to championship fights is welcomed by me. Continue reading “The Fighter: Micky Ward’s Story”
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A Boxing Must: The Sweetscience by AJ Liebling
As a fan of the written word and the great boxing writers of the past and present, though I seem to work hard at preventing their influence appearing in my own ramblings, I was a belated recipient of AJ Liebling’s SweetScience collection of boxing reports. Continue reading “A Boxing Must: The Sweetscience by AJ Liebling”
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Save the Last Dance for Me: Kostya Please?
I’m trying to think of something predictable, a euphemism for Lovemore N’Dou’s desire to entice fellow Australian Kostya Tsyzu out of inactivity, I would suggest, more predictable than Hugh Grant’s latest script but I used that last week and with time pressing I’ll crack on without originality – nothing new there whispered the wag at the back. If you think of anything, answers on a postcard. Continue reading “Save the Last Dance for Me: Kostya Please?”
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New Yorker, New Moan, Pneumonia
New York giant, Shannon Briggs has been forced out of his March 10th defence against Russian Sultan Ibragimov with a bout of ‘walking pneumonia’, a curious condition but one clearly likely to constrain a fighter already battling asthma. The fight will be re-arranged as promptly as possible though whether the same venue can be secured remains unconfirmed.
Though scheduled for the… Continue reading “New Yorker, New Moan, Pneumonia”
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A Clash of Opposites: Audley faces Sprott
Audley Harrison takes another belated step on the path to heavyweight glory this weekend when he faces Reading’s quiet man Michael Sprott. The two fighter’s careers a study in opposites. For Audley, the toast of the domestic and international scenes for almost five years following his surprise Olympic victory, this represents another meaningful hurdle – for Sprott, a fighter forced to earn a crust around the rings of Europe, this represents a major opportunity to establish himself as a legitimate contender at the higher level.
Continue reading “A Clash of Opposites: Audley faces Sprott”
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Takaloo in Embarassing Benefit Fraud
Margate’s Welterweight contender Mehrdud Takalobiagashi, widely known as Takaloo to save his adopted English countryman struggling with his Iranian pronunciation, appeared in court over alleged benefit fraud alongside his wife, Sarah. Continue reading “Takaloo in Embarassing Benefit Fraud”
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Shock News: Hatton Vacates
The most predictable story of the year so far; Ricky Hatton vacates the belt he won for the second time against Colombian hulk Juan Urango, preferring to face Jose Luis Castillo than mandatory challenger Lovemore N’Dou. Continue reading “Shock News: Hatton Vacates”
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Not Burns’ Night: Johanneson Prevails
Firstly, apologies for the title, I’m sure I’ll be around 43rd to use the Burn’s night phrase – alas nothing else presented itself.
More important than the header is the news hometown puncher, Carl Johansson successfully repelled the gutsy challenge of Scot Ricky Burns to defend the British Super Featherweight title at the Leeds Town Hall on Friday night. And the fight was compelling viewing. Continue reading “Not Burns’ Night: Johanneson Prevails”
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Staggering. Maccarinelli To Face Joke Opponent?
Pragmatism is an essential personality trait for boxing fans these days, accepting mediocre opponents in the name of world-championship boxing has become second nature to fans of the sport.
However, in Bobby Gunn, Frank Warren may just have found an opponent so devoid of credentials that boxing fans, even those devoted to the WBO Cruiserweight champion, Enzo Maccarinelli, Gunn is scheduled to face, will be unable to accept. Continue reading “Staggering. Maccarinelli To Face Joke Opponent?”
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Arturo Gatti: Must the Show Go On?
I love Gatti. One of the bravest fighters the sport has seen, the quintessential blue-collar brawler. Memorable for his clashes with Mickey Ward, Ivan Robinson and a cast of dozens of others, his last significant outings, a painful and comprehensive stoppage loss to Floyd Mayweather and defeat to Carlos Baldomir should, perhaps, have represented the final installments in the ‘Human Highlight Reel’s’ Hall of Fame Career. Continue reading “Arturo Gatti: Must the Show Go On?”
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Mike Tyson Heads to Rehab, No, No, No!
In the most predictable storyline since Hugh Grant last accepted a script, boxing’s most infamous son Mike Tyson has reportedly checked into a rehab unit in America. Unconfirmed addictions, but probably including cocaine given Tyson’s recent misdemeanours and police statements, will be treated. Continue reading “Mike Tyson Heads to Rehab, No, No, No!”
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Hatton, N’Dou and the IBF
Never the shy retiring type, Lovemore N’Dou has gone public on his frustration at Ricky Hatton’s decision to face Mexican Jose Luis Castillo in June rather than honour his mandatory obligation. N’Dou, who beat countryman Ben Rabah to secure mandated status, is a veteran of the PR game and an irrepressible voice in the Light-Welterweight division. Continue reading “Hatton, N’Dou and the IBF”
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Sugar Ray Too Sweet About Amir Khan
There is little doubt Sugar Ray Leonard is one of the finest atheletes to ever grace the sport. Victories over Hearns, Duran and Hagler alone earn him a place in any debate on the greatest fighter of all time. It isn’t a crown he could claim but he isn’t out of place in the discussion.
However, following a brief spell as a promoter after his final retirement he has returned to the consciousness of boxing fans as the face of The Contender series – a show pitting peripheral contenders against one another in a last man standing format. The series has proved popular enough in America, where both series winners and many of the supporting fighters have gained acclaim and recognition beyond their ability and potential. Continue reading “Sugar Ray Too Sweet About Amir Khan”
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