Category: Fight Previews

A life in reverse – Chris Byrd

I doubt a weight class has ever been as utterly descriptive of a fighter’s physique than Light-Heavyweight will prove for the former two-time heavyweight belt holder Chris Byrd tonight. In a bid to reinvent himself in the division, Byrd has lost in excess of 40 pounds at the age of 37. Byrd really is a Light, Heavyweight. For a decade the gutsy southpaw used his speed of foot and glove to mix it with the best the heavyweight division had to offer, and in the period in which he competed, they came pretty bloody big.

Continue reading “A life in reverse – Chris Byrd” →

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Battle of the Som-brero; give ol’ Gomez a chance

Matchmaking is a funny business. Not funny “haha”, funny “ooh”. As my Grandad would often say. There is simply no right and wrong methodology or barometer for matchmakers. If the house fighters wins, you’ve got it right. If the house fighters wins easily you’ve got it right but perhaps too right, because the audience want competition not a procession. In fact, getting it ‘too’ right can sometimes be wrong. But still better that, than simply getting it wrong. Are you keeping up?

Continue reading “Battle of the Som-brero; give ol’ Gomez a chance” →

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Witter faces the curse of two first names

Every one of us lives by certain unfathomable rules; idiosyncratic lines we never venture across. Superstitions or clichés collected from life experience or bestowed from those who formed us. “Never drink in pubs near the market in a strange town” my Dad always implored, a directive I wish I’d adhered to when I was in Stoke-On-Trent in the early nineties but that’s another story.

Continue reading “Witter faces the curse of two first names” →

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Thaxton challenges Simon Block, Commonwealth Council & Khan

ThaxtonIt would take a pretty substantial carpet to sweep Jon Thaxton beneath, not only is he British Lightweight champion but he’s also a hefty domestic obstacle in the path of the most publicised and high profile prospect in British boxing history, Amir Khan. Or at least he should be.

Continue reading “Thaxton challenges Simon Block, Commonwealth Council & Khan” →

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Calzaghe gets his trophy opponent

LongevityIt has been a long time coming. Years in the wilderness of WBO mandatories, late replacements and injury induced postponements left Joe Calzaghe close to “pound for pound” obscurity. Despite an unbeaten record, a dazzling fighting style and acceptance as the premier fighter at 168 pounds it required victories over Jeff Lacy, when decapitation was widely predicted by the American press, and rock hard Dane Mikkel Kessler in an unification bout to introduce Calzaghe to the major leagues. There remained a caveat to his new found status;  his record lacks an opponent of historic significance. By April 20th, that will all change.

Continue reading “Calzaghe gets his trophy opponent” →

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The three ages of boxing romance

FallenfighterRemember, 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” →

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Calzaghe Hungrier Than Ever

Calzaghe7Doubts 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

Punch BagBig 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

DuddyFunny 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

FrochIt 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?

Calzaghe5One 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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Contender Star Paul Smith In Action Dec 8

Paul SmithUnbeaten 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

GunnDo 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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Ruiz, the uncherished heavyweight

RuizRuizRugged former belt holder John Ruiz is arguably the most criticised heavyweight of his generation despite twice being the possessor of a world championship belt and holding victories over Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman and Andrew Golota. True his victory over the giant Pole was widely considered contentious but I think a little respect for Ruiz’s willingness to engage with tough opponents and overcome the humiliation of his defeats to Roy Jones and David Tua to compile a mixed but worthy record is overdue. Continue reading “Ruiz, the uncherished heavyweight” →

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Hobson’s Choice; Harrison shy but not retiring

AudleyFew 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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More than the sum of all parts; Golota v McBride

GolotaSensible? Interesting? Pragmatic? Desperate? Whatever descriptive you attach to the forthcoming series of matches in the heavyweight division there is unquestionably a degree of common sense at work. From the clash between ageing ramparts Andrew Golota, a fighter ten years removed from a prime he never actually had, and Kevin McBride, famous as the last fighter Mike Tyson quit against, to the IBF eliminator tourney – the heavyweights are getting their act together. Continue reading “More than the sum of all parts; Golota v McBride” →

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Is it ever Tua late?

TuaEasy to forget just how popular and formidable heavyweight David Tua was a decade ago and how eager fans were for the trunk-like Samoan to tackle the leading fighters in the division; to oust the ageing trinity of Tyson, Holyfield and Lewis. In truth, to replace the menace and thrills Mike Tyson had ceased to deliver.

Continue reading “Is it ever Tua late?” →

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For the love of the green stuff: Duddy’s Next Step

DerryKiko 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

Woodcock4When 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?

Robin Reid edges past Brian Magee

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.

Continue reading “Boxing: Who gives a Froch about experience?” →
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Boxing: Mikkel Kessler is Taylor made for Calzaghe

KesslerI fear this story line could become a theme of the next few weeks as experienced promoters Mogens Palle (Kessler) and Frank Warren (Calzaghe) carefully manoeuvre their ‘pieces’ in a bid to gain the upper hand in negotiations, both privately and in the public’s perception,  for the proposed clash between the two belt holders. Joe Calzaghe has changed his tune on his most desirable opponent once more following Jermaine Taylor’s soporific defence versus Cory Spinks last month, suddenly Mikkel Kessler is “the man”. Continue reading “Boxing: Mikkel Kessler is Taylor made for Calzaghe” →

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Boxing: The inevitability of boxing

SavareseIn the present era of heavyweight mediocrity and the longevity it affords heavyweight veterans, there are certain fights which seem inevitable despite the respective retirements, health scares, defeats and divergent paths of the two combatants. The forthcoming clash between the 74 year old Evander Holyfield and 62 year old Lou Savarese is another telling example.

Continue reading “Boxing: The inevitability of boxing” →

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Bah-Bah. Following The Flock

Evander 2Many articles have been written on whether veteran heavyweight Evander Holyfield should still be fighting, I know because I’ve penned one or two of them. One article for thesweetscience.com concluded that although Holyfield was very obviously a life-time removed from his prime, nor ever likely to secure the fifth heavyweight title he proclaims to need to retire content he had every right to continue punching in. Of course, the small caveat to this thesis was I had no intention of watching him try. Continue reading “Bah-Bah. Following The Flock” →

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Ali Nuumbembe Faces Final Hurdle

AliGood luck to Ali Nuumbembe this weekend in his bid to win the Commonwealth Welterweight title from Scotsman Kevin Anderson. I met Ali just over a year ago, with benefactor Richard Parker, at the latter’s pub in Glossop and it is very hard not to be engaged by Ali’s story. Continue reading “Ali Nuumbembe Faces Final Hurdle” →

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Staggering. Maccarinelli To Face Joke Opponent?

Bobby GunnPragmatism is an essential personality trait for boxing fans these days, accepting mediocre opponents in the name of world-championship boxing has become second nature to fans of the sport.

However, in Bobby Gunn, Frank Warren may just have found an opponent so devoid of credentials that boxing fans, even those devoted to the WBO Cruiserweight champion, Enzo Maccarinelli, Gunn is scheduled to face, will be unable to accept. Continue reading “Staggering. Maccarinelli To Face Joke Opponent?” →

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