Boxing news, opinion and insight
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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…”
As suggested on various Internet message boards over the past few weeks, and particularly in the past 24 hours, Bedford heavyweight Matt Skelton has been forced to withdraw from next week’s clash with Audley Harrison.
A hand injury, compounded by Matt’s attempts to continue training, forces the postponement – whether Harrison still fights is unknown but unlikely and equally the future prospect of the two fighter’s paths crossing in the New Year is unsure.
Cynics may suggest the troubled promotion needed to drop some of it’s significant costs, given the presumed damage Scott Harrison Mediterranean detention caused to ticket sales.
Visit www.mattskelton.uk.com for the fuller news release
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?”
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?”
