I’m struggling to summon a fight in recent memory to which more attention has been paid. Certainly, the column inches afforded to Amir Khan’s humbling defeat is entirely disproportionate to the superficial importance of the Inter-Continental bauble he and Breidis Prescott scuffled over on Saturday night. Of course, Amir Khan is not merely ‘just another’ fighter, Andrew Mullinder provides one final analysis of the fight, the aftermath and that most emotive of topics, blame. Continue reading “Oliver Harrison, Amir Khan and the final word; blame”
The incomparable Steve Bunce ‘goes off on one’
I didn’t catch Calderon’s recent fight, a weekend at the Setanta-less parents house can do that to you, which means I missed a good fight and old Buncey sticking it to the ambitious Dougie Fischer. Fischer, best known to the marauding Internet boxing fan as the face of Maxboxing.com was doing a passable impression of David Ruffin in Sonny Liston’s best suit, a reference for the older reader, as he interviewed Ivan Calderon about his future prospects. The irrepressible Buncey didn’t let Fischer’s performance go unchallenged.
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Audley, Audley, Audley
Love him, hate him, ignore him, beat him, write him off, mock him, chastise him, heck, tie an anvil to each ankle and drop him in the Thames. It wouldn’t matter, Big Audley would still be believing, still fighting, still chasing the dream. I’m beginning to think Harrison has special powers, the hide of a Rhino, the defiance of the Black Knight and will of Arnie’s Terminator. Despite being jeered to and from the ring, despite failing to overwhelm a man he outweighed by 3 stone and despite the proximity of his 37th birthday, Audley will not give up. Continue reading “Audley, Audley, Audley”
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Video: Amir Khan mimicks Judah’s ‘chicken dance’
Seeing Amir Khan laid out like a flat-packed bookcase on Saturday, with his head propped against the ring post in the style of a teenager watching Batman re-runs on the portable reminded me of one of the first times he came to the public’s attention. Coincidentally, he was mimicking the Zab Judah inspired ‘chicken’ dance he show-cased when hit by a Prescott punch on Saturday following a less formidable left-hook from Craig Watson back in the Amateurs. Continue reading “Video: Amir Khan mimicks Judah’s ‘chicken dance’”
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Jamie Moore’s big fight was an urban myth after all
Poor old Jamie Moore, one of the most likable characters and down to earth punchers on the circuit has once more been robbed of the opportunity to win the European belt following the withdrawal of champion Zaurbek Baysangurov. It is another frustrating chapter in a career blighted by injuries and one which finally appeared to be progressing when the fight was confirmed. Moore’s hope, according to today’s press release by Frank Maloney, is the EBU will act to strip the champion and nominate a new foe for the Salford favourite. Continue reading “Jamie Moore’s big fight was an urban myth after all”
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“Nobody is invisible” Amir Khan explains
It is hard to know where to begin any reconstruction of the shattered remnants of Amir Khan’s carefully constructed reputation. Following four years of cautious match-making, three trainers and a deluge of column inches, platitudes, award ceremonies and celebrity television appearances, the 21-year old demonstrated holes in his fistic education large enough to drive even his own ego through.
In a slip of the tongue, Khan suggested, by way of earnest explanation, “nobody is invisible”. He meant invincible of course, but invisible seemed to fit very well too.
Breidis Prescott certainly found him easily enough.
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Monday digest: Khan, Diaz and all that
An amazing weekend of action, nothing like a good upset to stir boxing fan’s interest. Pampered protege Amir Khan was unceremoniously exposed as a chinny, naive pretender, while there were good wins for Nicky Cook, American heavyweight Kevin Johnson and Juan Diaz among others. Continue reading “Monday digest: Khan, Diaz and all that”
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Archive: Scott of the anarchic
The sorry tale of Scott Harrison lurched to a new low this week when he was sentenced to a total of 8 months imprisonment for assaulting his girlfriend and a police-officer alongside being found guilty of driving whilst 4-times over the legal limit. Should Harrison remain at Her Majesty’s service for the entire sentence, he will emerge, squinting at the crumbled remnants of his life, a fast-approaching 32nd birthday and over 3 years of professional inactivity. Not to mention a destructive thirst he can never quench.
Continue reading “Archive: Scott of the anarchic”
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Weight of expectation rests with Pavlik and Dawson
For those of us left jaded by the endless recycling of pensionable punchers Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jnr., Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson, the new season throws up three fights which may finally expunge 75% of the ageing chorus line from the Light-Heavyweight rankings. It cannot come too soon. Continue reading “Weight of expectation rests with Pavlik and Dawson”
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Harsh home truths for Alex Arthur
Until Alex Arthur starts beating world-class fighters instead of simply being trained by them his tenure as WBO Super-Featherweight champion will never be widely regarded as anything other than opportunistic. It isn’t that Arthur is without ability, nor I suspect, is it because the Edinburgh man fears the division’s elite contenders, but with the long-shadows of Jim Watt and Ken Buchanan falling across his achievements, he will need to beat someone like Joan Guzman or Juan Manuel Marquez to be taken seriously alongside his predecessors. Continue reading “Harsh home truths for Alex Arthur”
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Is Mayweather Snr. the right trainer for Hatton or HBO?
I doubt I’m alone in being mystified by the appointment of Floyd Mayweather Snr. to training duties for Ricky Hatton’s Light-Welterweight outing against feather-fisted Paulie Malignaggi in November. He is far removed stylistically and geographically from the Mancunian ticket-seller and quite how his bombastic personality will fit with Hatton’s fiercely preserved ‘man of the people’ demeanour is equally hard to contemplate.
Continue reading “Is Mayweather Snr. the right trainer for Hatton or HBO?”
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Haye searching for a tree to fell in division of deadwood
Chinese proverb say “don’t try to be lumberjack in desert”. Okay, to my knowledge there is no such proverb but it would apply neatly to David Haye’s current quest to find a big, tall meaningful opponent for his next heavyweight fight. Today’s press conference, to announce the date, venue and opponent for his long awaited second appearance at the weight has been pushed back a fortnight simply because he cannot get the signature of a preferred opponent on the contract. Continue reading “Haye searching for a tree to fell in division of deadwood”
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Is this the bottom for Scott Harrison, or can he fall further?
The story of Scott Harrison the fighter, and he was a competent world-level operator at his best, is close to becoming a footnote in the life of the former two-time WBO Featherweight belt holder. Today, having pleaded guilty to assaulting girlfriend Stacy Gardner and an attendant police officer, the gruff former fighter was sentenced to two months imprisonment. Continue reading “Is this the bottom for Scott Harrison, or can he fall further?”
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Fewkes, Khan, Maloney and that old favourite “the anorak”
Useful garment in certain circumstances is the anorak. In the current climate of record rain-fall it is arguably a must-have in any sensible wardrobe. Okay it isn’t likely to enthuse Trinny and Susannah, but for those of us not worried about such frivolous opinion the anorak is a much maligned but much required item. Promoter Frank Maloney loves to use the negative connotations associated with the anorak – that its inhabitant is a solitary, narrow-minded, unsociable and unworldly individual – to mock, antagonise and tease those who contribute to boxing forums and message boards. Reading the latest release from his stable, I can only assume its raining where Frank is.
Continue reading “Fewkes, Khan, Maloney and that old favourite “the anorak””
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PPV featuring Amir Khan, Alex Arthur and erm…
Bad luck is just that. Bad luck. Contingencies can be prepared up to a point, but the misfortune befalling Frank Warren’s compilation of a value for money PPV card this weekend is going beyond what any matchmaker could allow for. First, Paul Smith’s revenge mission with Steve Bendall fell by the wayside, then Martin Rogan couldn’t quell the pain in his hands to face Harrison and now Stephen Foster Jnr has pulled out on Femi Fehintola with less than a week to go.
Continue reading “PPV featuring Amir Khan, Alex Arthur and erm…”
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Audley Harrison and the search for a foe
It isn’t Audley Harrison’s fault Martin Rogan has been forced to withdraw at the eleventh hour but there is an air of inevitability about the doom and gloom surrounding Harrison’s attempt at a comeback. Harrison cannot complain of his misfortune too much, he’s a wealthy man who has lost every fight of meaning in his professional career and aged 36 is very fortunate to be afforded the attention he still attracts. Continue reading “Audley Harrison and the search for a foe”
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August Fighter of the Month: Cedric Boswell
It may appear a theme or pattern is being established in the selection of the BoxingWriter.co.uk fighter of the month, the first winner Monte Barrett was selected for extinguishing the flicker of respect Tye Fields had ignited by rubbing the two sticks of his talent together and last month Antonio Margarito triumphed having snapped the unbeaten record of Miguel Cotto. August’s victor, Detroit born Cedric Boswell trumps Joshua Clottey for the most eye-catching performance of the month by destroying pampered heavyweight protege Roman Greenberg in two rounds. I had custard with my humble pie. Continue reading “August Fighter of the Month: Cedric Boswell”
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Gammer succumbs to Pianeta and broken hand
Welsh hard-man Scott Gammer was forced to retire from his absorbing contest with German based prospect, Francesco Pianeta, due to a suspected broken hand. An injury he must have sustained very earlier in the fight as he threw precious few during the 8 completed rounds. It was particularly hard on the returning former British Heavyweight champion, as he looked well placed following 3 or 4 rounds to get the job done. Pianeta looked pleased not to be forced to accrue any further damage to his right eye, left damaged by Gammer’s meaty left hook.
Continue reading “Gammer succumbs to Pianeta and broken hand”
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Boxing: Greenberg, Boswell and the old smoke and mirrors trick
To casual fans of the sport in polite conversation in the office or across the pool table I can appear to know everything about boxing. Of course I don’t, in fact I can barely scratch the surface if really pushed on fighters of the modern era or times gone by in comparison with true boxing historians. I just appear, in comparison to those for whom boxing is a by-gone curiosity or a console game, to be the Obi-Wan Kenobi of the noble art. I state this to alleviate the disappointment I felt on realising Cedric Boswell would not be the dangerous watershed for Roman Greenberg I presumed he would.
Continue reading “Boxing: Greenberg, Boswell and the old smoke and mirrors trick”
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Guest: In Thailand, there is no PPV
“There is no such thing as bad publicity, except your own obituary.” Irish author Brendan Behan once wrote and despite his celtic roots suggesting a pre-disposition to the noble art, I’ve no idea where he stood on the great PPV debate. However, the announcement Amir Khan is to feature on the premium format has so enraged boxing’s keenest observers one wonders whether their collective outbursts has served only to further promote the show?. In the meantime, guest writer Oliver Fennell provides a stiff retort to Andrew Mullinder’s prose of yesterday from his new home in a far more humble Thailand.
Continue reading “Guest: In Thailand, there is no PPV”
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There is no such thing as a free punch; the PPV debate
Guest writer Andrew Mullinder comments on the furore surrounding the announcement Amir Khan’s next bout is to cost SKY subscribers an additional £14.99 to watch, despite featuring an unknown Colombian and lacking the global significance typically found at the core of most pay-per view contests. An astonishing step, and one Frank Warren appeared aware, looks opportunisitic and premature. Mullinder however, has grown a little tired of the boxing fans’ bluster and bleating about PPV and while it doesn’t have the withering zing of Terry Dooley’s article this morning, Andrew makes an interesting point. Continue reading “There is no such thing as a free punch; the PPV debate”
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Video of Amir Khan foe Breidis Prescott in action
I’ll not be indulging SKY next month, there is no hope what so ever of the satellite broadcaster’s flashy advertising campaigns convincing me that Amir Khan is a PPV attraction. Nor will I succumb to the overt and subliminal suggestion his opponent, Colombian Breidis Prescott, is a foe of such brilliance that to miss the PPV could mean I miss Khan being beaten. Continue reading “Video of Amir Khan foe Breidis Prescott in action”
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Boxing: Rugged Simpkin joins Prizefighter
I first saw Luke Simpkin fight in 2001 against future British title challenger John McDermott in, if memory serves, the walk-out bout on the Danny Williams v Kali Meehan show at Bethnal Green. Dogged and willful the bearded brawler belied his tender years and gave a solid account of himself against the then unbeaten Essex man. Britishboxing.net report the Derbyshire trier has replaced Ian Millarvie in the second installment of the Prizefighter series next month. Continue reading “Boxing: Rugged Simpkin joins Prizefighter”
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Golota v Briggs in Poland?
Polish boxing site, www.boxingnews.pl, is reporting colourful heavyweight veterans Andrew Golota and 
Shannon Briggs are set to clash in October on the under-card of Tomasz Adamek‘s next fight. My Polish is a little rusty, i.e. non-existent but that seems to be the thrust of the piece. Its an intriguing contest and while of only peripheral significance to the main heavyweight picture, Golota is never more than one knockout away from a world-title shot.
Continue reading “Golota v Briggs in Poland?”
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Moore’s mythical shot becomes reality
Precious few fighters boast the universal respect afforded to blue-collar banger Jamie Moore. The Salford Light-Middleweight is one of British boxing’s most well-respected professionals and the news his challenge to Zaurbek Baysangurov for the European title at 154 pounds has finally been confirmed will be widely welcomed. Delayed by Moore’s career threatening shoulder injury and a late nose injury to the champion back in December, the fight began to sound like an urban legend – everyone talked about it, but nobody could prove it was real.
Continue reading “Moore’s mythical shot becomes reality”
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Awkward as ever, Junior Witter speaks out
Defining Junior Witter’s style has stumped greater minds than mine. Unorthodox is the ubiquitous descriptive and through generic, probably the most accurate. The former WBC Light-Welterweight champion is almost impossible to pigeon-hole, once the slippery, pitter-patter runner he blossomed into a destructive two fisted puncher but threw in enough disjointed performances to never fully engage the Yorkshire public or television audiences. Now as a former, rather than current World champion the one thing he is, without fear of contradiction, is avoidable. Continue reading “Awkward as ever, Junior Witter speaks out”
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Venerable Manuel Medina fights on
For all the criticism I aim at the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones and Evander Holyfield for their unwillingness to accept the passing of time and talent and for all the disappointment I feel hearing Marco Antonio Barrera and Chris Byrd are set to return to action it conversely provides great comfort to learn plucky veteran Manuel Medina is still performing close to his best well into his thirties. James Toney and Vitali Klitschko may garner more attention but neither has contested the number of world-titles the 37 year old Mexican has.
Continue reading “Venerable Manuel Medina fights on”
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Valuev v Ruiz II; Impossible to miss
It may seem condescending or ungracious to suggest Nicolay Valuev is a hard fighter to ignore, or perhaps overlook. At 7ft and over 300lbs the Russian is a man of almost mythical proportions but even though his contest with America’s John Ruiz is very unlikely to induce high-blood pressure moments, I will find the broadcast impossible to ignore. Continue reading “Valuev v Ruiz II; Impossible to miss”
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Chunky Gold Medina; Degale to go pro?
James Degale’s success in the Beijing Olympics has left the young Londoner with a difficult decision to make about his fistic future. Capitalise on his gold medal and accept one of the presumably numerous offers from promoters trying to tempt him into the professional sport, or hold on until 2012 to try and repeat the triumph in his hometown. Continue reading “Chunky Gold Medina; Degale to go pro?”
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I’ve tried, Oscar, but Paul Williams doesn’t excite me
Much though there is to admire in Oscar De LaHoya’s glistening career and despite the perfect role model he represents for any aspiring pugilist his status as boxing’s Golden Boy, and the enormous cheques his crossover appeal allows him to accept and write, is beginning to leave me a little nauseous. Oscar isn’t the Light-Middleweight champion, nor is he a Welterweight titleist – you need to go back to 2002-2003 for the last time he won and defended a belt – and yet he remains the ultimate goal of every fighter from 130 to 160 pounds. With this financial luster comes responsibility. One he will ignore if he opts for Paul Williams.
Continue reading “I’ve tried, Oscar, but Paul Williams doesn’t excite me”
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