Remember, remember. John Gotti was found guilty of murder, Canary Wharf was bombed, Dolly the clone sheep was born and Bill Clinton re-entered the White House. It was also the last time a fight between Dariusz Michalczewski and Graciano Rocchigiani meant something. The year? 1996. It didn’t stop them staging a 2000 rematch and it wont stop both retired parties facing off for a third time next year. Heaven help us. Continue reading “The three ages of boxing romance”
Magri, Winstone and Benn make WBC shortlist
Strikes me boxing is acquiring Halls of Fame faster than sanctioning bodies, but I’m never one to ignore faithful recognition of the fighters and fight figures who contribute blood, sweat and tears to the sport. In a press release from the WBC today, a short-list of nominees for potential induction into their version of boxing’s hall of fame has been circulated. British greats Charlie Magri, Howard Winstone and the irrepressible Nigel Benn accompany the likes of Mike McCallum and Larry Holmes on the list. Continue reading “Magri, Winstone and Benn make WBC shortlist”
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Contender, controversial and clap trap
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 a particular fighter’s fortunes as his in the ring potential.
Continue reading “Contender, controversial and clap trap”
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Low lefts, heavyweights and David Haye
David Haye’s recent victory over Frenchman Jean Marc-Mormeck will likely prove the Londoner’s last at the 200lb Cruiserweight limit. Much though it will irritate him not to flatten Enzo Maccarinelli, the WBO belt holder, to further confirm his dominance in the division, it is clearly no longer possible for him to squeeze his muscular frame inside the limit. Travellers on the Haye bandwagon believe the heavyweights will prove no greater obstacle to the speed and power of the Cruiserweight champion. Continue reading “Low lefts, heavyweights and David Haye”
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Boxing: Karim Mayfield Sparring Hatton
Young American professional Karim Mayfield, presumably imported to provide a useful facsimile of Floyd Mayweather Jnr. ahead of Ricky Hatton’s seminal Welterweight clash with the pound for pound motormouth, is in Manchester sparring with the Hitman. Like, it would seem, everyone who attends the affable but dedicated Phoenix gym, Mayfield is speaking highly of the 10 stone king and imploring fans to back the tigerish Mancunian come December. Continue reading “Boxing: Karim Mayfield Sparring Hatton”
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Ruddy cheeked and ready, boxing is back baby!
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 Joe Calzaghe’s acceptance as a modern day great are the latest links in a chain of good news that has transformed the complexion of British boxing.
For now, the doom-merchants have been vanquished, the threat of UFC forgotten and boxing galvanised.
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Haye Delivers On Promise
Tonight, amid a partisan French crowd, London’s David Haye delivered one of the most thrilling performances by a British fighter in a foreign ring since the glorious nights of John H. Stracey and Lloyd Honeyghan. By depositing Cruiserweight champion Jean Marc-Mormeck on the canvas in the seventh round with a thunderous right uppercut and swinging right cross Haye announced himself to the boxing world and secured the Cruiserweight world title. Continue reading “Haye Delivers On Promise”
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Standing room only; the Calzaghe bandwagon
The only thing quicker than Joe Calzaghe’s fists on Saturday night, aside from how quickly one could predict the outcome of the entire under card, was the alacrity post-fight pundits demonstrated hoisting the Welshmen from ‘over-protected’, ‘unfulfilled veteran’ to ‘all-time great’. I cannot extract myself entirely from the criticism of such unsavoury haste having maligned Calzaghe more than once for the injuries and timid matchmaking that wasted much of his youth. I was never guilty of saying he couldn’t fight though. Continue reading “Standing room only; the Calzaghe bandwagon”
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Calzaghe Hungrier Than Ever
Doubts about Calzaghe’s hunger for competition as he approaches his 36th birthday were at least partially dispelled today as he weighed in over a pound under the 168 pound limit. A limit the WBO and Ring champion has spent seven years complaining is very hard for him to squeeze his six foot frame into. Kessler, need to strip naked – save the tattoos – to make the limit having originally weighed 2 ounces over. Continue reading “Calzaghe Hungrier Than Ever”
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Maccarinelli faces…erm..someone
Big WBO Cruiserweight belt holder Enzo Maccarinelli is presumably a realist. In interview, he strikes me as a level-headed fighter who understands the sport’s political intricacies enough to realise facing top-line contenders in every bout isn’t possible, he’ll also digest the fact tomorrow night is all about Joe Calzaghe v Mikkel Kessler. But despite that presumed pragmatism he must be frustrated by the search for a worthy opponent to tackle, he’ll certainly wish to avoid the criticism levelled at him following the Bobby Gunn fight. Continue reading “Maccarinelli faces…erm..someone”
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Duddy may pay for bravery
Funny how quickly a fighter’s matchmaker can become emboldened. With the mouthwatering prospect of a world title fight against Kelly Pavlik on the horizon, few would imagine John Duddy’s handlers would be eager to sign up veteran middleweight Howard Eastman to a December date for the Derry born contender.
Continue reading “Duddy may pay for bravery”
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Slowly, slowly catchy monkey; Froch still wants Calzaghe
It would be hard to conjure an argument against Carl Froch’s merits as a fighter. Hard-hitting, good selection of shots, fit, brave with quick hands. On the evidence this far, he’s a rounded contender and a stand-out challenger for the winner of Joe Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler’s clash tomorrow night. But I can’t help thinking I’ve been hearing how good Froch is for an awfully long time.
Continue reading “Slowly, slowly catchy monkey; Froch still wants Calzaghe”
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Final Step For Calzaghe?
One of the finest fighters of his generation and certainly, one of the most unflinchingly dedicated professionals boxing has ever produced, Joe Calzaghe enters the ring on Saturday to complete the final step in his decade long journey to unify the Super-Middleweight division. It has been a long time coming for the 35 year old. Continue reading “Final Step For Calzaghe?”
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‘You never know when a fight may be your last.’
I will always remember the first interview of substance conducted with Ricky Hatton and his father, Ray, at the beginning of their bitter divorce from promoter Frank Warren. Expressing their frustration at the stagnation that preceded Hatton’s seminal contest with Kostya Tszyu, Ray Hatton opined “Every fight from now on will be a big one, because you never know when a fight may be your last”, well words to that effect anyway.
Continue reading “‘You never know when a fight may be your last.’”
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Contender Star Paul Smith In Action Dec 8
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 Graham Earl.
Continue reading “Contender Star Paul Smith In Action Dec 8”
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Gunn Looking to Overthrow Castro
Do you see what I did there? Love him or hate him, plucky pug Bobby Gunn is proving hard to ignore since his crushing defeat to Enzo Maccarinelli earlier this year. Eager publicity agent, Knockout Publicity, capitalised on the usually, fleeting profile afforded to challengers plucked from obscurity to contend WBO belts. People laughed at claims he was the most ferocious fighter since Jack Dempsey, and while I concede mentioning Gunn’s name in the same sentence as the Manassa Mauler pains me, I can’t help featuring updates for the Light-Heavyweight from Hackensack. Jorge Castro is next in his sights.
Continue reading “Gunn Looking to Overthrow Castro”
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Dreaming, Believing and Achieving with Wayne Elcock
An interview with then British title challenger Wayne Elcock proved of sufficient interest to feature in the venerable British publication, Boxing News a fortnight ago. It was a moment of great personal satisfaction to appear on the pages graced by the great and the good over the past 98 years. Should it prove the most read piece I ever pen, it will represent a satisfactory pinnacle. Of course, I hope it will not , but in years to come the words committed to the page will remain in tact long beyond features I’ve written for the web. In an act of self-indulgence the unedited interview is included below. Continue reading “Dreaming, Believing and Achieving with Wayne Elcock”
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The Fighter: Mark Wahlberg Already Training
I’m happy to report the story of Micky Ward, and half brother Dicky Eklund, to be captured in the film The Fighter – due to start filming in 2008 – looks likely to be a cracker. Not only have the notable talents of Brad Pitt and Mark Wahlberg been penned to play the lead roles, but Wahlberg has already begun dedicating himself to creating a telling facsimile of the gutsy blue collar hero.
Continue reading “The Fighter: Mark Wahlberg Already Training”
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Alex Arthur’s Revolving Door
It may be unfair, it may be unjust but the constant changing of trainers by Scottish Super-Featherweight contender Alex Arthur continues to bemuse most observers. For such an affable character on the cusp of genuine world title opportunities, it once again appears a peculiar time to change a such a crucial aspect of his camp. Continue reading “Alex Arthur’s Revolving Door”
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The Fighter: Brad Pitt Steps in
Reports today suggest the much discussed Micky Ward film, The Fighter, has had a major cast change. Originally, Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon were widely expected to fulfil the roles of Ward (Wahlberg) and half brother Dickie Eklund (Damon), sadly scheduling problems with other projects mean Damon – who’s popularity has soared since the Jason Bourne series – is no longer able to appear. Continue reading “The Fighter: Brad Pitt Steps in”
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Hobson’s Choice; Harrison shy but not retiring
Few fighters receive the kind of attention afforded to Audley Harrison, certainly the column inches he has garnered from his stuttering professional career remains wholly disproportionate to his accomplishments in the prize ring thus far. Coverage ranges from the objective, pointing out his defeats and the unsatisfactory manner in which they were collected, to the hysterically insulting, suggesting Harrison is a coward and a triumph of pontification over professional endeavour. In which ever camp you reside, there is no denying the giant Londoner isn’t afraid to put his big neck back on the chopping block. Continue reading “Hobson’s Choice; Harrison shy but not retiring”
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Archive: Jennings Survives British Barnburner
27th October 2005
Chorley’s Michael Jennings, the Welterweight contender to whom the WBU pay homage as their world champion, returns to the ring on the 28th, headlining a Guild Hall, Preston card on which he stays busy versus sturdy Ukrainian Vladimir Khodovoski; a fighter durable enough to go the distance with classy campaigners like Stevie Johnston and Kendall Holt. The bout is close to two years on from Jenning’s tumultuous British title defence with Bradley Pryce, his last successful defence of the classic title before losing the belt to Young Muttley in early 2006. Continue reading “Archive: Jennings Survives British Barnburner”
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Klitschko No Longer Vital
Giant former champion Vitali Klitschko may well have been the consensus champion when a knee injury forced him into retirement in 2004, shortly after he removed his kitchen sink from Danny Williams’ face, but he wasn’t the modern great many seem to retrospectively believe he was. His return got a few fans hot and sweaty but always left me a little cold. He was never really that good was he? Continue reading “Klitschko No Longer Vital”
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Boxing: No More Ugly Duckling, Witter Emerges
In preview I opted for the height, reach and thudding straight right hand of Vivian Harris, in retrospect I should never have found a way to doubt Junior Witter. True, there is little escaping the subdued nature of his victories against Colin Lynes, Andreas Kotelnik and latterly DeMarcus Corley and Arturo Morua, but Witter reengaged the viewing public with a sharper, more decisive performance and made a mockery of the suggestion he may already have peaked.
Continue reading “Boxing: No More Ugly Duckling, Witter Emerges”
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For the love of the green stuff: Duddy’s Next Step
Kiko Martinez’s stunning knockout defeat of the touted Bernard Dunne placed an unwelcome comma in the previously fluent progression of the popular super-Bantamweight and reminded his more eager supporters of the two dictums by which all careers should be governed. Firstly, hype is no substitute for hard rounds and secondly, one punch is all ‘it’ takes. Continue reading “For the love of the green stuff: Duddy’s Next Step”
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Boxing: Witter, Woodcock and the world title that never was
When Junior Witter, the WBC Light-Welterweight champion, dips his sculptured frame and no doubt intricately shaven head between the ropes at the Doncaster Dome tonight he will not be the first ‘World Champion’ to grace a ring in the South Yorkshire town. But it feels like it. Continue reading “Boxing: Witter, Woodcock and the world title that never was”
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Boxing: Who gives a Froch about experience?
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 operation has encouraged caution, a pause for breath before capitalising on his high rankings with every sanctioning body.
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Hatton still the hook; Witter, Harris, Castillo and all that
According to Mick Hennessy, promoter of Junior Witter, Vivian Harris – who Witter tackles in Doncaster in September – is a tougher foe than Jose Luis Castillo who provided Ricky Hatton with his most prized scalp since Kostya Tszyu. True, I maintained throughout that Hatton would demolish Castillo in 4 or 5 rounds, but I thought I was the only one with such vision? Damn it.
Continue reading “Hatton still the hook; Witter, Harris, Castillo and all that”
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Boxing: Three is a crowd – Guerrero gets new opponent
The withdrawal of Jorge Barios from his headline bout with Juan Manuel Marquez presented popular Texan contender Rocky Juarez with a short-cut back to elite level, one he gleefully accepted. Pencilled in to face Robert ‘The Ghost’ Guerrero on the under card, the show promoters, GBP, offered Juarez the chance to step in ahead of the IBF champion. So what of Guerrero? Well, the 24 year old will now face Mexican rough-house Martin Honorio. And he’ll have his hands full. Continue reading “Boxing: Three is a crowd – Guerrero gets new opponent”
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Boxing: Behind the smile, Ali Nuumbembe
First published at TheSweetScience.com
14th November 2005
If it’s true that boxing sold its soul to television networks a generation ago, eagerly snatching pay-per-view’s 30 pieces of silver and prostituting itself on the behest of an array of clandestine figures and their grubby titles. The story of Ali Nuumbembe, a Namibian welterweight, and philanthropic publican Chad Parker with whom he plots a path to boxing glory from the obscurity of a refitted caravan in Glossop, England, will help remind fans that for all its faults, boxing remains the sport “to which all other sports aspire.”
Continue reading “Boxing: Behind the smile, Ali Nuumbembe”
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