Super-Middleweight contender Anthony Mundine may elect to quit, or in fact be forced to quit boxing following an eye infection that threatened, and still threatens, to cost the opinionated Australian his sight in one eye. If ever there was a lesson for lazy contact lense wearers, that licking the said lense to clean it is a shortcut to misery, this must surely be it. From a worry to reality in just a few days, Dick Caine a friend of Mundine confirmed to Fox Sports Australia that some sight loss was now unavoidable. A development that almost certainly draws his boxing career to a premature conclusion. Continue reading “Boxing: Never mundane Mundine May Quit”
Elcock’s Trainer Wins Eastman Purse Bids
Birmingham’s prominent Middleweight hope, Wayne Elcock will face Howard Eastman, the British and Commonwealth Champion, on a card promoted by his own trainer and Pat Cowdell following their successful purse bid for the bout. Continue reading “Elcock’s Trainer Wins Eastman Purse Bids”
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Who do you think you are kidding Mr Kipling?
Over at SecondsOut.com, the first barely audible whispers of a potential third bout between Danny Williams and Matt Skelton are being heard. According to the newly svelte Williams, a rubber match with Skelton will hopefully precede a second shot at one of the four major belt holders. Now where have I heard that line before?
Continue reading “Who do you think you are kidding Mr Kipling?”
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Je-wish Greenberg Would Step Up? I do
Roman Greenberg is an unbeaten heavyweight. He’s variously been complimented on his hand-speed and combination punching. Latterly, he’s been maligned for his soft physique, lack of snap in his punches and for progressing at a rate so slow – only video replay confirms he’s moving forward. Next up for the Russian born, British managed, Israeli national is Damon Reed. Groan. Continue reading “Je-wish Greenberg Would Step Up? I do”
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Hold on to your hat: Hatton-Mayweather is ON!
A few fans and writers will be force fed their hats and copius amounts of humble pie today as the mega fight between Floyd Mayweather, rated as the finest fighter on the planet, and human piranha Ricky Hatton took another giant step toward reality. According to Ray Hatton, not only has son Ricky signed the contract, so has Floyd – essentially, the deal is done. Continue reading “Hold on to your hat: Hatton-Mayweather is ON!”
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Second Man Arrested in Oyebola Hunt
Police appear close to catching up with the killers of former British heavyweight champion James Oyebola, as a second man, aged 22, is held for questioning following the shooting at a London nightclub last week. Continue reading “Second Man Arrested in Oyebola Hunt”
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Arthur Not King Yet
Shrewd matchmaking earned Alex Arthur a shot at the interim WBO Super-Featherweight title recently, a fight he won – having started slowly – and with champion Joan Guzman looking very unlikely to make 130 pounds again, the stop watch on Arthur’s ascension to the full title started. For the time being, the watch is stopped. Guzman is adamant he will make Super-Featherweight to face Arthur.
Continue reading “Arthur Not King Yet”
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Boys to Men: Amir Khan to Face Earl in December
News Amir Khan is to face Luton’s Graham Earl on December 8th has already been widely reported but coupled with the forthcoming fight in Nottingham, opponent unconfirmed and the recent victory over Willie Limond – 2007 could yet prove to be a fruitful one for the country’s most well known professional. Continue reading “Boys to Men: Amir Khan to Face Earl in December”
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Pirates of the Injin Chi
At one time or another we’ve all been bewildered by the actions of the various sanctioning bodies; from the acceptance of Eddie Croft as a challenger to Erik Morales, to the promotion of deceased fighters in monthly rankings, not to mention the creation of spurious interim, inter-continental and emeritus belts to help ensure every fighter, young or old, good or bad has the chance to possess one at one time or another. Continue reading “Pirates of the Injin Chi”
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Cliff Couser to face Shannon Briggs?
Thanks to his recent upset victory over Monte Barrett, legendary journeyman heavyweight Cliff Couser is pencilled in to face Shannon Briggs – the former WBO champion bidding to rebuild following his defeat to Sultan Ibragimov. According to Couser at least, the only outstanding formality is Briggs’ signature on the contract. Continue reading “Cliff Couser to face Shannon Briggs?”
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Update: Final Bell for Oyebola Today
Following yesterday’s premature news of former British heavyweight champion James Oyebola’s demise, I’m sad to report that the gentle giant’s life support machine, which he’s been dependent on since being shot on Monday night, is to be switched off later today. The 46 year old, leaves a long-term partner and two children behind. To date, there are no developments on the detainment of the three men who fled the scene following the shooting. As always, thoughts go to James’ family and to those for whom he was more than a former boxer. Continue reading “Update: Final Bell for Oyebola Today”
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In the shadow of Woodcock; Witter to fight in Doncaster
It doesn’t feel quite right. First the prospect of Oscar DeLaHoya fighting in England and now, it might be worth grabbing a chair before you read on, the WBC Light-Welterweight belt – once held by the Golden Boy himself, Julio Cesar Chavez and Arturo Gatti – is to be contested in Doncaster. Yep. My home town, the gritty, blue collar mining town of Doncaster. If Bruce Woodcock were still pulling pints at the Tumbler, he might have dropped his glass at the news.
Continue reading “In the shadow of Woodcock; Witter to fight in Doncaster”
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Oyebola Continues to Fight for his life
It seems the Sun, to whom this article originally linked, got this wrong and James is still fighting for his life. My apologies to those mislead by the linked article and for my own failure to check the facts the Sun reported at length. And continued best wishes to James in his battle, and those close to him.
Continue reading “Oyebola Continues to Fight for his life”
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Is Oscar really coming to little old Blighty?
They say the world is shrinking, I’m not sure who ‘they’ are, but they have something to say on most topics and they believe we’ve all grown closer. Travel and communication technology makes everyone your neighbour, or a MySpace pal at the very least, but I never thought the world could grow so small that Oscar DeLaHoya, the most bankable star in boxing, would be seeking to fight in England. Tired, rainy, downtrodden old England? Continue reading “Is Oscar really coming to little old Blighty?”
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Beautiful Ugliness; “Boxing is back!”
When Bernard Hopkins’ exclaimed “boxing is back” in the post fight interviews over the weekend, I for one felt the words resonate somewhere deep down inside. Although no more than a fan with an opinion, I feel part of boxing, my love of the sport in part defines me. In an age where boxing is a marginal sport, I’m ‘Dave, you know Dave, loves his boxing?’. When Hopkins spoke, I perched closer to the edge of the chair, the same way I do when an ageing champion rallies against a younger foe. Go on boxing! Stick it to him.
Continue reading “Beautiful Ugliness; “Boxing is back!””
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Smoking Gun – James Oyebola Shot
Few fighters cut a more imposing figure than 6-9 former British Heavyweight champion James Oyebola, described as a ‘true gent’ by those who knew him, but the 47 year old is nevertheless fighting for his life having been shot in the face in a seemingly innocuous night club incident yesterday.
Continue reading “Smoking Gun – James Oyebola Shot”
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“Tonight Matthew, I’m Going to be Light-Welterweight champion of the World”
Incredulity, is the only word I could find to describe my reaction to Gavin Rees‘ capture of the WBA Light-Welterweight belt on Saturday night from seasoned champion Souleymane M’Baye. Lucky to get the shot he may have been, lucky to win he certainly wasn’t. Rees outworked, out thought and outmanoeuvred M’Baye from start to finish.
Continue reading ““Tonight Matthew, I’m Going to be Light-Welterweight champion of the World””
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First Bruno, now Warren Pursues Damages
According to reports today, Frank Bruno successfully sued the News of the World for damages following a breach of his privacy by the Sunday tabloid and secured a significant settlement. Frank Warren meanwhile, is aiming for more than £300,000 from the Daily Record for remarks printed in relation to the John Simpson v Derry Matthews clash back in March. Continue reading “First Bruno, now Warren Pursues Damages”
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So Near So Czar: Katsidis ‘defends’ Interim belt
Australian strongman Michael Katsidis, one of a host of fighters to expose British champions in recent months, makes the first defence of his interim WBO Lightweight title against Czar Amonsot this weekend. A sentence which will dumbfound the boxing purists; how does boxing create a scenario where interim champions defend the belt simultaneous to the activity of the real champion, in this case Juan Diaz? Continue reading “So Near So Czar: Katsidis ‘defends’ Interim belt”
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Rees The Next Unbeaten Brit to Step Up
This weekend’s bout between game Gavin Rees and stylish Frenchman Souleymane M’Baye for the latter’s WBA Light welterweight title isn’t quite another example of an over-hyped British fighter being pitched in with a world class operator only to discover he’s a chasm away from true elite class. Why? Well simply put, because we know Rees is no world beater before the fight.
Continue reading “Rees The Next Unbeaten Brit to Step Up”
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Audley to Sue Over Lennox Comments
Reports published in the Daily Mirror and Boxing News in the UK, suggested the potential partnership between former Olympic champion Audley Harrison and Lennox Lewis failed to develop because Harrison was failing to listen to instruction, or more specifically was too set in his ways to embrace Lewis’ advice and methods. On face value a damning commentary on Harrison’s personality and willingness to accept wisdom from the decorated former champion, and a particularly sensitive issue given Harrison’s struggle to live up to the hype surrounding his professional career and the arrogance many have blamed for it. Harrison isn’t accepting that conclusion or the two publications’ version of events. Continue reading “Audley to Sue Over Lennox Comments”
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Archive: Sometimes Winning is Just The Beginning
25/06/2004
It’s hard to believe three years have already elapsed since I interviewed Bobby Vanzie for the second time – the first being shortly before his destruction of Anthony Maynard. Occasionally, the language may seem more contrived than you would anticipate but Bobby preferred to consider some of his responses and respond via email as opposed to in person. In the time that has passed, I’ve grown to regard the retired former British and Commonwealth champion as a friend. But interviewing him back in 2004 remains a great thrill.
Continue reading “Archive: Sometimes Winning is Just The Beginning”
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Oquendo and Castillo Meet At The Crossroads
Along with the word ‘legend’ or ‘legendary’, ‘crossroads’ – and more specifically ‘crossroads bout’ – must be one of the most abused and over-used terms in boxing parlance but in the case of veteran heavyweights Elieser Castillo and Fres Oquendo the descriptive fits, and fits snugly. I first saw Castillo when tackling tall and rugged Russian Alexander Zolkin and Oquendo in contentious victory over Maurice Harris. From those innocuous points I’ve taken an interest in their development. Continue reading “Oquendo and Castillo Meet At The Crossroads”
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Molitor Cocktail
I was delighted to hear that the promoter of Canada’s undiscovered gem Steve Molitor, plans to project the accomplished IBF Super-Bantamweight to the world. And even more interesting is the unfamiliar twist on the traditional promotional path they’re planning. His next defence, presuming he beats Ndluvo at the weekend, will be held in the war-torn wilds of Afghanistan in front of the brave Canadian troops currently deployed there. Molitor, the nation’s hero, is the aspiration. “Wrapping the kid in the flag”, summarises promoter Allan Tremblay in conversation with the Toronto Sun. Building his Canadian fanbase is they key to building Molitor as an exportable brand. Continue reading “Molitor Cocktail”
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ITV and Warren Reach Agreement
ITV’s schedule for Saturday night suggests the network and Sports Network, Frank Warren’s promotional company, has finally reached at least a short term agreement. Following weeks of debate on various boxing forums and presumably hours of negotiation between the two sides it is a relief for British boxing in general that Saturday’s bill will be widely available to the British public. Continue reading “ITV and Warren Reach Agreement”
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The Irrepressible Glen Johnson
At the top of the Light-Heavyweight division; old is the new young. I cannot think of another era or weight class in which so many ageing fighters remain in control of the paydays and belts. Not even the moribund heavyweight division can match the 175 pounders for supporting the elderly. I’m reminded of the old eighties buddy flick ‘Tough Guys’; a film in which two vintage gangsters; Bert Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, are released from prison to discover they could still out think, out hustle and out punch their modern day counterparts.
Continue reading “The Irrepressible Glen Johnson”
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Warren and ITV both holding their nerve
Even in these multi-channel, multi-media times the importance of terrestrial television to the future health of boxing in the UK cannot be underestimated. Sure, boxing survived a long period in the satellite wilderness in the nineties, but with so many exciting fighters currently competing; Hatton, Witter, Calzaghe, Haye, Woods, Froch and Moore it would be a great travesty were their immediate futures consigned to the marginal world of Satellite only viewing.
Continue reading “Warren and ITV both holding their nerve”
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Hatton – Ten Days On
A brief sabbatical denied me opportunity to opine on the Ricky Hatton v Jose Luis Castillo bout, but those with whom I debate the boxing issues of the day on the various boxing forums will know I fancied Hatton to demolish Castillo early from the day the bout was signed. I’m aware this whiffs of convenient revisionism but the evidence is there in black and white (or whatever background colour the site in question defaults to).
Continue reading “Hatton – Ten Days On”
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Happy Days – Haye to Face Mormeck
OK, so big-punching David Haye couldn’t crack Ismael Abdoul and true he was decked by Super-Middleweight Lolenga Mock but despite those apparent limitations he remains a crucial piece of the British Boxing jigsaw. In fact, his importance could reach further. Boxing needs a charismatic, heavy handed heavyweight contender. Haye is one of a precariously short list of applicants for that role. Only Alexander Povetkin ranks ahead of him as a heavyweight youngster with punch power. The difference with Haye? He has obligations at 200 pounds to fulfil first.
Continue reading “Happy Days – Haye to Face Mormeck”
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In the footsteps of Dodson
The fact aspiring Light-Middleweight Jamie Moore is unable to fulfil his match with the magnificently named Vincent Vuma due to a viral infection is undoubtedly frustrating. The Salford banger is on the cusp of a world-title shot and any interruption to his upward momentum is laden with risk. At 28, with a series of wars behind him, Moore cannot afford wasted time. However, his enforced absence provides an opportunity for raw British contender Mark Thompson to leap into the consciousness of the British fight public. Continue reading “In the footsteps of Dodson”
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