In the boxing backwater of Gloucestershire, Ovill McKenzie and Dean Francis clash this weekend for McKenzie’s Commonwealth title and the bout represents a major achievement for both fighters. Francis, for whom much was once expected, contesting a significant title following the injuries to his right arm that twice convinced him to retire only to return is prize enough. The fiercely competitive 33 year old will want, and expect to go one further and win of course despite relying almost exclusively on the left hand for much of the eight years since the dislocation against Undra White. Continue reading “Real Life Rockys Go Head to Head: Francis & McKenzie”
Boxing: Witter Just Wouldn’t Let It Lie
The on-going PR campaign being waged by Junior Witter’s irrepressible promotional team, Hennessey Sports is beginning to take on a life of its own. Perpetual and persistent, the endless supply of challenges made to Ricky Hatton is slowly returning the long-overdue Hatton v Witter clash to the top of most boxing fans’ list of must-see engagements.
True, Hatton’s clash with Jose Luis Castillo takes on greater meaning for the intangible ‘legacy’ to which it seems all boxer’s attribute every matchmaking decision of their career – though precious few selections actually the deliver the validation they claim to crave – and for the lucrative American market for whom Junior Witter represents… Continue reading “Boxing: Witter Just Wouldn’t Let It Lie”
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Tarver or Jones Next for Clinton Woods?
On whichever criteria IBF Light-Heavyweight champion Clinton Woods’ career is assessed it is impossible not to congratulate his perserverence and willingness to tackle the best the division has to offer. Defending the title he secured beating game young puncher Rico Hoye against challengers as capable and ambitious as Gonzales and Johnson illustrate this zest for genuine competition.
In this era of avoiding fellow contenders he is to be applauded for this willingness. Continue reading “Tarver or Jones Next for Clinton Woods?”
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The Contender Arrives in the UK
Following success Stateside, the Contender concept will take its bow in the UK later this year and will feature a host of Welterweight/Light Middleweights with much to prove.
Provocatively pitched against American counterparts including Cornelius Brundage and Grady Brewer, the likes of Ross Minter, Wayne Alexander and Nigel Wright will seek to grasp the undoubted noteriety and attention the series generates. Continue reading “The Contender Arrives in the UK”
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Tyson on ESPN Classic – In the UK
A brief note to alert British boxing fans, [and only 3 of them read these pages], channel 442 starts a three part re-run on Mike Tyson’s eventful early career – should be a nice recap for those too young to recall his thunderous prime and those who had begun to forget the demonic like swathe he cut through the ponderous 1980’s heavyweight division. Continue reading “Tyson on ESPN Classic – In the UK”
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‘Bad’ Chad Dawson Arrives at One Seven Five
At 6-3, with telescopic reach, solid technique, authoritative power and a southpaw stance Chad Dawson struck most informed observers as a young man with undoubted potential. Now aged 24, and a new arrival in the WBC champion’s lounge – a comprehensive destruction of champion Tomasz Adamek earning him the belt – Dawson is suddenly hot news.
In the light-heavyweight division, a new broom is overdue – Antonio Tarver, Bernard Hopkins, Clinton Woods, Roy Jones and Glen Johnson still sit aloft the weight class and all are at the veteran stage, and more than one is shot. Continue reading “‘Bad’ Chad Dawson Arrives at One Seven Five”
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Boomerang Lovemore Back For More
Likeable Australian Lovemore N’Dou beat Ben Rabah last night to spring a mild surprise on the boxing world and secure a mandated shot at the IBF Light-Welterweight championship, a title held by bankable superstar Ricky Hatton. The self acclaimed Black Panter, a veteran of over 50 bouts, arrives back at contender status via a circuitious route having originally campaigned that he should have contested the vacated belt the first time Hatton relinquished. Continue reading “Boomerang Lovemore Back For More”
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Boxing: “I feel lost” – Alan Bosworth
I spoke to proud old pro Alan Bosworth on Friday, a couple of weeks on from the final contest of his career – a stoppage defeat to rising prospect Ashley Theophane in a British title eliminator. Hampered by flu, though typically magnanimous about the result, Alan relayed a sense of feeling lost since retirement. Continue reading “Boxing: “I feel lost” – Alan Bosworth”
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Scott Harrison: The Final Bell
Troubled fighter Scott Harrison was arrested for drug related charges last night and without wishing to condemn him for crimes for which he’s yet to be found guilty it would seem he has yet to reach the foot of the slippery slope his personal and professional slope have been plummeting in the past two years. Continue reading “Scott Harrison: The Final Bell”
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Ossie Duran v Contender Reid
Rugged former Commonwealth champion, Ossie Duran continues his Stateside career next week when he faces veteran of Contender Series 1, Jonathan Reid. From memory Reid was the first to depart the show, despite entering as arguably the most decorated of the group.
To British fans, Duran is well known from his time based here. Tough, good reach and decent ability he has a victory over Jamie Moore, though Moore retired injured in truth Duran was on top when the fight was stopped, and his recent defeat to Bradley Pryce a surprise given their respective form a the time. Continue reading “Ossie Duran v Contender Reid”
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Danny Williams Last Chance Saloon
Depending on to whom you speak; Danny Williams is a vast underachiever or a fighter who has earned far more than his talent and fragile self-belief would suggest he should have done. There is no in between. Knockout victories over Kali Meehan, Mark Potter and Mike Tyson – did I really just put Iron Mike in the same sentence as Mark Potter – sparkle alongside triumphs over Michael Sprott, Julius Francis, Matt Skelton and Audley Harrison. Continue reading “Danny Williams Last Chance Saloon”
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IBF, Hatton and the r-word
With the abdication of the three belts he won beating Kostya Tszyu, Carlos Maussa and Luis Collazo behind him the irony of the IBF’s threat to withdraw light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton’s belt wont be lost on the wider boxing public. It’s hard to malign Hatton for preferring to fight Jose Luis Castillo in June before his mandated obligation to Ben Rabah or Lovemore N’Dou, who contest a final eliminator soon, but surely Hatton soon has to stick rather than twist. Continue reading “IBF, Hatton and the r-word”
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Hatton Making Excuses
Manchester iron-man Ricky Hatton told the BBC this week that the disappointment expressed over his recent performance versus Juan Urango, and before that Luis Collazo, was unfair. Calm and personable out of the ring, Hatton is clearly irked by the commentary on his recent ring form, although he conceded the forthcoming contest with Jose Luis Castillo would encourage him to stay within sensible reach of 140 pounds – something he’s constantly denied had any bearing on his performance. Continue reading “Hatton Making Excuses”
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UFC – Will it suffocate or galvanise boxing?
I remind myself that long before the slide toward ‘Entertainment’, wrestling was a legitimate sport around the globe, and for fans of the sweet science concerned by the growing popularity of MMA and UFC perhaps that shared history provides comfort. Boxing can survive without a monopoly on fans of combat sports. Continue reading “UFC – Will it suffocate or galvanise boxing?”
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Hamed, Tyson and YouTube
As a late-comer to the YouTube party, I was intrigued to monitor to whom I would gravitate in my first taste of archive footage of the sport I love. For this writer, boxing is about more than knockout power and the slug-fests, to give them their playstation generation tag, for which the sport appeals to most fans. Continue reading “Hamed, Tyson and YouTube”
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Vital or A Knee Jerk? The Return of Big Brother
The return of giant Ukrainian Vitaly Klitschko caused something of a rumpus in boxing circles this week, fresh from Samuel Peter’s emergence as a contender from the ranks of pretenders it would seem the WBC, the over-valued leader of the sanctioning bodies and one of the sport’s biggest problems, reinstated the former champion as mandatory challenger to Oleg Maskaev. Himself of Soviet birth and clearly, at the age of 75, looking for the biggest pay-day his belated ascension to the heavyweight throne can garner him. Continue reading “Vital or A Knee Jerk? The Return of Big Brother”
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Boxing Returns to Sweden
As a country that fathered former Heavyweight boxing champion Ingamar Johansson, who beat Floyd Patterson to win the title before losing in a rematch – as well as flattening proud British hope Henry Cooper amongst others, Sweden is long overdue a return to professional boxing. 37 years on from the last card staged there, and having witnessed the growth of elite level boxing in Denmark in the intervening period, the wider boxing industry should welcome the return of the Scandinavians to the squared circle. Continue reading “Boxing Returns to Sweden”
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Coma to KO with Jorge Castro
As a veteran of 144 contests you would think there could be little left to prove or pursue in a fighter’s career, but following a car crash that threatened to paralyse former middleweight champion Jorge Castro (130-11-3) returned from months of rehabilitation and a 20 day coma to exert revenge over Jose Herrera, the last man to beat him on his last comeback, one far too hasty following his crash. Continue reading “Coma to KO with Jorge Castro”
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Harrison and Cook in Rare Heated Exchange
Unlike America, where press conference squabbles between fighters and their entourages is common-place, here in the UK press conferences are typically tacit, mild-mannered and respectful affairs.
True, Herbie Hide has had an altercation or two down the years but with the Norwich fighter absent presently the heated words Scott Harrison and Nicky Cook shared caused something of a stir. Continue reading “Harrison and Cook in Rare Heated Exchange”
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Hatton and Calzaghe Short-Listed for Personality Award
Pessimism or its younger sibling, apathy, often irks leading figures in the sport of boxing. It’s easy to suggest boxing is in crisis, close to self-destruction and disappearance as a sport of note amongst an increasingly disinterested new generation of sporting fans. Continue reading “Hatton and Calzaghe Short-Listed for Personality Award”
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Danny Boy, the pipes the pipes are calling…
Frustrating former world-title challenger Danny Williams accepted the late notice invitation to face Audley Harrison in a re-run of arguably the worst heavyweight bout in recent memory. Continue reading “Danny Boy, the pipes the pipes are calling…”
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Cotto Impresses Securing Hatton’s Vacated Title
The more time passes, the less likely it appears the paths of Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton will ever cross. Last weekend, following his belated move to the Welterweight division – a move simultaneous to Hatton’s own return to the Light-Welterweight class – Cotto provided ample evidence of his own ability in the stoppage defeat of previously unbeaten Puerto Rican, Carlos Quintana. Continue reading “Cotto Impresses Securing Hatton’s Vacated Title”
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Boxing Welcomes Latest Rugby Player to Pro Ranks
The BBC report that New Zealand international Rugby League star and Wakefield captain Monty Betham will follow in the footsteps of fellow Antipodean Anthony Mundine and fore sake his stature as a leading Rugby player for the squared circle. Continue reading “Boxing Welcomes Latest Rugby Player to Pro Ranks”
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Skelton Out Rumour Gathers Pace
Yesterday’s suggestion that the much troubled December 9th Sports Network card could lose the Matt Skelton v Audley Harrison heavyweight clash received added substance today when American based British middleweight Patrick Maxwell confirmed that Thel Torrence, his and Harrison’s trainer, had cancelled his planned flight to England.
This is unconfirmed by Sports Network, but reliable evidence that the show – headlined by Scott Harrison’s WBO featherweight defence versus Nicky Cook – will suffer yet another withdrawal.
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Alex Arthur Vacates European Super-Featherweight Belt
In a brave move, entertaining Scottish Super-Featherweight Alex Arthur has opted to vacate the European belt he secured beating gallant veteran Boris Sinitsen last year. On the cusp of a world-title shot in the talent rich 130 pound division Arthur will need to be a the pinnacle of his capabilities simply to be competitive with the likes of Joan Guzman, Marco Antonio Barrera and the other leading lights at the weight.
Presumably, Arthur’s promoter Frank Warren has spied an easier route to world-title level through the WBO. Their champion the infinitely more beatable Malcolm Klassen who deposed Gary St. Clair recently.
It will be interesting to see whether the decision to vacate the much trumpeted EBU belt proves an astute choice or indeed, whether Arthur can be manoeuvred to a title shot and not toward a meaningless lesser sanctioning body’s belt.
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Matt Skelton Out Of Harrison Clash?
Bedford brawler Matt Skelton is rumoured to be pulling out from his forthcoming under card clash with the much maligned Audley Harrison due to a hand injury. Although no substance as yet, the suggestion would certainly devalue the December the 9th bill. Continue reading “Matt Skelton Out Of Harrison Clash?”
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Amir Khan: Stick or Twist?
Burgeoning light-welterweight talent Amir Khan next faces little known Frenchman Rachid Drilzane on the Harrison v Cook under card in just over a week’s time. The tenth fight in his professional career and burdened with an intense spotlight following his success at the Olympics Khan is being moved studiously by promoter Frank Warren. Continue reading “Amir Khan: Stick or Twist?”
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Hopkins Returns. Did he ever leave?
When you start to open a door, the pressure has to be greatest in the beginning, yet the door moves the least.
Norman Mailer, Author, 1923-2007, The Executioner’s Song (1979)
Boxing needs personalities. And never more so than in the beleaguered heavyweight division. Yesterday’s announcement, and the worst kept secret in boxing, that former middleweight great and presently consensus Light-Heavyweight champion, Bernard Hopkins plans to return in the blue ribbon weight class didn’t cause the gasps of disbelief the ‘Executioner’ appears to crave.
Continue reading “Hopkins Returns. Did he ever leave?”
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