Boxing news, opinion and insight
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””
Exactly two years to the day since this article was first published on thesweetscience.com, Bernard Hopkins continues to deny the obituary, professional at least, I recorded following his defeat to Jermaine Taylor in 2005. The fact, aged 42, he can still compete at elite level – he faces pound for pound great Winky Wright at 170 pounds – is astonishing. Continue reading “Archive: “Tonight I’m Gonna Party Like It’s 1999!””
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”
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”
I’m not alone in following the career of gutsy Mexican Alfonso Gomez. His heart-warming willingness to face series favourite Peter Manfredo in the opening show of Contender 1 endeared the soft-featured Welterweight to millions around the world. It is that exposure that facilitated his own elevation to elite competition. Notoriety over achievement. Ticket sales over ability. But the difference with Gomez’s opportunity, as opposed to Manfredo’s against Calzaghe is, Gomez delivered. Those who saw him beat the bigger, more seasoned Manfredo weren’t surprised. Continue reading “Plucky Gomez Talks About Gatti Victory”
Most of the boxing world has moved on since the slap and tickle excitable duo Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga indulged in at their press conference but I can’t quite shake it. Why? Well I’m trying to conjure a more contrived exchange from the long list of press events that have ended in controversy and fisticuffs in recent years. True the two looked pretty genuinely annoyed with one another in the end, but the opening gambit in the push-me-pull me was a feeble back hand slap from Mayorga and suggested more than a little choreography was involved.
Continue reading “Vargas and Mayorga Look Real in Play Fight”
World Light-Heavyweight contender Danny Green took a step closer to a world-title shot with a third round TKO victory over Otis Griffin. The 34 year old from Perth joins the list of potential foes for Antonio Tarver, Glen Johnson, Clinton Woods et al but could, theoretically also figure in the future of Joe Calzaghe – a fighter set to step up to the 175 pound class once he’s overcome fellow Super-Middleweight titlist Mikkel Kessler. It’s unlikely but Calzaghe will be a Light-Heavyweight cheque every contender would like to cash.
Continue reading “Oh Danny Boy! Green Stops Griffin in 3.”
To me at least, and perhaps all boxing fans of certain age, Derrick Gainer is one of those guys Prince Naseem never got around to knocking out. I’m sure that doesn’t truly define him as a fighter, a cursory check confirms his status as a former WBA champion. But the fact he never faced the Prince, whether it was his fault or Hamed’s is my frame of reference for ‘Smoke’s career thus far. Oh, and I think he once lasted twelve rounds in a title bout without an offensive move. I’m less sure on the latter, as I may be mistaking him for Freddie Norwood. That’s the trouble with multiple belts; so many ‘champions’ fail to register in my consciousness.
Continue reading “A voice from the past: Derrick Gainer”
The self-sustaining Bobby Gunn saga continues. Jeff Holcomb, the fighter reported to have been left in a pool of his own blood by Bobby Gunn (according to Gunn at least), is pursuing the 33 year old from Hackensack for a rematch. And the tension between the two American club fighters is growing. In the latest installment Holcomb 11-5-1 (5) continues to suggest that Gunn is both a liar and avoiding his clamour for a rematch.
Continue reading “Holcomb Squeezes Gunn’s Trigger”
As a fan and writer with a long standing love-hate relationship with professional journeyman I was delighted to see veteran warhorse Cliff Couser deliver the victory and performance of his career by knocking out Monte Barrett – a previously sturdy and pedigree heavyweight. OK, so pedigree affords him more gravitas than his career merited but you catch the drift. Couser is a professional loser, that’s his job, his mandate. But something went horribly right on Friday. Continue reading “Carousing Couser Stuns Barrett”
Middleweight champion Jermaine Taylor is looking likely to move up in weight to the Super-Middleweight division, and dependent on opportunities one could assume he could yet jump straight to the Light-Heavyweight division where a host of beatable veterans presently reside. The most obvious outcome of the move is, of course, the much discussed clash with Joe Calzaghe. Calzaghe destroys him if the fight comes off. There I said it. Continue reading “Taylor Needs a New Suit”
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”
The headline is cruel. And it’s cruel on two levels, firstly because Big Lou was a vegetarian for a number of years and secondly because it demeans the effort Savarese put forth throughout his career and did once more last weekend. But that said, Holyfield’s victory proved nothing to the interested observer and less to his detractors; Holyfield would always be quicker to the punch than the ponderous Savarese and in his 41 year old opponent he found a foe even more rusty than himself. So why am I still nurturing the first shoots of belief in Evander’s quest for another portion of the heavyweight title? Nostalgia? Apathy with the current crop of champions?
Continue reading “Holyfield Beats Italian Meatball Savarese”
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”
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”
Hot on the heels of Bobby Gunn’s challenge to Enzo Maccarinelli and his unfathomable arrival at WBO #15 WBO in the weeks preceding the bout, the WBO may well have surpassed themselves by sanctioning a bout between their unbeaten Light-Heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei versus the wonderfully named George Blades. Now Erdei isn’t Bob Foster, but he is an accomplished belt-holder and undefeated in 26 contests. Blades isn’t. Nor will he ever be. His record is aesthetic enough at 21-2, but the 21 is flimsy and the 2 illuminating.
Continue reading “WBO and their house of sham(e)”
Former heavyweight champion, and he was a proper one not just a belt holder, Hasim Rahman got back on track with a perfunctory points victory over peripheral contender Taurus Sykes. Weighing a beefy 261 pounds Rahman eventually won a comfortable points decision but it was only in the penultimate round Sykes was docked a point and floored that a clear gap emerged. And he still found time to shake The Rock in the last.
Continue reading “Rahman Looking to Stars After Taurus Win”
Canadian Super-Bantamweight Steve Molitor is one of my favourite fighters. Ever since he arrived in England and schooled Jason Booth I’ve been a keen follower of his progress. The ease with which he dispatched Hartlepool’s game brawler Michael Hunter was of little surprise to me and the IBF 122lb belt secured cemented his position as a gem only partially discovered. Accomplished, busy and with a rounded style, Molitor could well feature in some high-profile encounters in the division. First on the list is South African Takalani Ndlovu. Continue reading “Dark-Horse Molitor to Face Ndlovu”
British welterweight, Ross Minter – an improving professional – has been forced to pull out of his clash with Michael Jennings next month with a rib injury. Disappointingly, the Crawley Observer are referring to his clash with the Mancunian puncher as being a world title fight. Is there any wonder casual fans simply don’t understand or connect with our complex sport? The WBU belt to which they refer, is essentially meaningless on the international stage. Continue reading “Minter Pulled Out of ‘World’ title fight”
I’m not sure whether I’m surprised about today’s story that 38 year old James Toney failed the drugs test conducted around his May 24th clash with Danny Batchelder. Both boldenone and stanazolol were found in Toney’s blood stream and an automatic one year suspension is applied pending appeal. A break that would, surely, end the career of a fighter already in the autumn of his prime and in increasing decline. It will be shame if this second drugs test scandal casts a shadow over all of his professional career but I suspect it will. Continue reading “Toney Shamed By Steroids Slur”
Former World-Champion Hasim Rahman returns on Thursday against peripheral American contender Taurus Sykes in a minor title bout. Rahman is confident victory over Sykes will pave the way for what feels like his 17th shot at the title. Obviously, that isn’t the case but he has undoubtedly failed to live up to the potential he showed beating Lennox Lewis in his key bouts since.
Continue reading “Hasim Rahman Back For More”
Precious few fighters are born with the physical gifts Michael Grant has been blessed with. 6ft 7inches, 250 pounds of lean, athletic muscle and a talented sportsman in a number of fields. Grant is undeniably a tremendous heavyweight in 2d. Further to this, he can punch too. However, for all the genetic blessings, Grant has suffered a great deal of professional misfortune. Continue reading ““I’m coming back because I miss the glory.” Michael Grant”
I seem to attract fighters from the club circuits, in a purely platonic way you understand, but ever since I flippantly criticised Crawford Grimsley and was swiftly brought to task by Mrs Grimsley they’ve been congragating at my ‘virtual’ front door. My recent commentary on Bobby Gunn has attracted attention from past opponents, fans and managers. The latest? Former foe Jeff Holcomb is desperate for a rematch. Continue reading “Holcomb Hunting Bobby Gunn”
I don’t mind admitting it, I take great pleasure in getting this bout spot on. True, I wasn’t alone in believing Cotto’s precision, rediscovered stamina at 147 and heavier hands would wear down the erratic Judah late in the fight but I still take great joy from being right. Well wouldn’t you after some high-profile howlers? Most notably, and with the caveat that it was a deliberately selected long-shot – Ray Austin to beat Klitschko. Groan. Continue reading “Cotto Shuts Judah Up (For Now)”
Tough Welsh heavyweight Scott Gammar got his career back on the rails over the weekend overpowering busy trier Paul King, a late-replacement for a replacement, to score a six round points win. Predictable enough result and a performance designed purely to add a W to the record of the former British champion following his defeat to Danny Williams. I’d certainly assume Gammar isn’t booked to learn much from circuit veteran King. Reports suggest he opted to use the whole six round work out rather than close the show.
Continue reading “Boxing: Scott Gammar Scores Comprehensive Victory”
I didn’t catch the bout between Howard Eastman and Evans Ashira so don’t feel qualified to comment on Ashira’s claims that he was robbed in their recent Middleweight bout. I read several reports suggesting Eastman delivered one of his trademark hollow performances but Ashira, in conversation with Henrik Risum assures the reader he was flat-out robbed: “Come on man, the guy had home ground advantage, plus all the officials on his side, and on top of that he was allowed to hold me like that, and pull my legs too. He even said himself that he had to ruin the fight to survive. Incredible!” Continue reading “Eastman Blasted By Ashira: Interview”
Press Release 05/06/07
Warriors Boxing is unquestionably one of the hardest working promotional houses, churning out a deluge of press releases on their fighters. I elect not to feature them all, after all they appear on every boxing media outlet available, but news of Randall Bailey’s opportunity to snatch some autumn glory from his long and winding career appealed to me. The release provides detail to Bailey’s fight with Herman Ngoudjo in an IBF Light-Welterweight title eliminator on Friday night. Continue reading “PR: Bailey One Win From Glory”
15/07/2005
As the first contract between British broadcaster ITV and promoter Frank Warren draws to a close and negotiations begin on a new contract, it seemed relevant to pause and remember how the news ITV were to return to professional boxing was greeted. In an article for thesweetscience.com, I took an optimistic view of the partnership’s potential and revelled in the nostalgia of hearing that famous theme tune one more time. As Nigel Benn once famously said “I preferred boxing when it was on ITV”. Continue reading “Archive: Big Fight Live – Boxing returns to ITV”
The criticism and hearty guffaws accompanying Bobby Gunn’s unexpected and patently unsubstantiated elevation to world-title class earlier this year were hard on the squat, pugnacious scrapper. After all, he didn’t ask to be plucked from the tank town circuit and projected as a legitimate Cruiserweight contender by Sports Network and the World Boxing Organisation (WBO).
Continue reading “Bobby Gunn Reloads”
I noted last week that Shannon Briggs appeared far too willing to comment on his asthma, one press release flippantly using the steroid ingredient of his medication to snatch attention for this life-long affliction, and he frequently referenced the pneumonia that preceded the March postponement of this fight. For a fighter with a history of poor stamina and huge muscular bulk, it didn’t seem a healthy recipe. Continue reading “Briggs Chest Not Good Enough; Ibragimov Wins”
