Category: Sports

Mayweather, Lennox, Hamed, Hopkins; you can never win.

A few disparate references got me thinking this week. First it was the retirement of Floyd Mayweather, brought into sharper focus by this weekend’s Welterweight face off between Cotto and Margarito, then it was a YouTube compilation of Prince Naseem getting battered from pillar to post with super slow-mo’s to make the former Featherweight king look like a clown. And finally, it was the news Bernard Hopkins, the veteran determined not to fight beyond 40 to keep a promise to his mother, apparently signing to fight Kelly Pavlik just shy of his 45th birthday. Too early, too late, boxing fans will crucify you either way.

Continue reading “Mayweather, Lennox, Hamed, Hopkins; you can never win.” →

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“Verbal contracts aren’t worth the paper they’re written on”

Voicing an opinion without concrete foundation on a legal case involving Frank Warren is rather like smothering your tongue in honey, sticking your head in a bees nest and trying to sing “Are you lonesome tonight”, bottom line is, you’re going to get stung. With that reality in mind, I’ll tip-toe through the news he has brought a case against departed superstar Joe Calzaghe for Breach of Contract.

Continue reading ““Verbal contracts aren’t worth the paper they’re written on”” →

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Welter Wars: A New Hope

The thrust of the following piece is flawed. I’ll concede that before I begin. A post Mayweather era only exists in a world where the Pretty Boy is genuinely retired, like most observers I cannot accept the sport’s most gifted exponent will fail to push his frail hands inside leather gloves at least once more. A man with the self adorned ‘Money’ moniker will find it hard to resist the whisper of the millions his return would generate in 2009. But for now a new Welterweight dawn has broken and boy is it starting with a belter.

Continue reading “Welter Wars: A New Hope” →

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Hope grows for Froch v Pascal

A quick note to connect up the stories and theories currently swirling around the Super-Middleweight division. Interesting to record Jean Pascal has withdrawn from the purse process for his proposed fight with Karoly Balzsay for the Interim WBO title – the belt Calzaghe is porbably keenest to remain custodian of. As mentioned in conversation on Steve Bunce’s boxing hour on Setanta, Pascal is the next most likely opponent for Carl Froch if the much maligned preference of Lou DiBella and HBO to match Jermain Taylor with Jeff Lacy comes to pass. Continue reading “Hope grows for Froch v Pascal” →

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Boxing: Broken men; Froch and Lacy

As children, we all pushed our noses to the shop windows, whether it be sweets, a BMX or a Scalectrix set. We’ve all steamed up the glass to try and get closer to our dream. Poor old Carl Froch must still feel like the child on the wrong side of the glass watching the rich kids tucking into mountains of Fruit Salads, Gobstoppers and Coconut mushrooms. Despite a long unbeaten record, status as the WBC number one contender and victories over peripheral players like Brian Magee, Robin Reid, Henry Porras and Matthew Barney he remains sweet less, friendless and excluded in the Super-Middleweight scene. The news Jeff Lacy laboured to another points victory last night will not have cheered the spirits of the confident puncher. Continue reading “Boxing: Broken men; Froch and Lacy” →

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Limond a “worthy” foe for Salita

Scottish lightweight Willie Limond, a capable, diligent but oft undervalued performer, will have to wait a little longer for his moment in the spotlight versus Dmitriy Salita at Madison Square Gardens, as the repercussions of Joe Calzaghe’s wrist injury domino through the postponed September fight-card. Continue reading “Limond a “worthy” foe for Salita” →

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MIA – BoxingWriter returns

Due to circumstances beyond my control the site, www.boxingwriter.co.uk has been inactive for over two months due to major server problems. A point of great frustration to me and to both of my readers the site is now back in its primative form with the redirect from boxingwriter.co.uk hopefully restored in the days ahead. My thanks to those who’ve clamoured for a return of boxing’s little water cooler. Hopefully, I’ll be able to post with some degree of regularity in the coming weeks. Continue reading “MIA – BoxingWriter returns” →

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Fenech, Rocky and the beast inside

Jeff Fenech has pretty much seen it all during his career in the boxing business. From rugged national hero, through momentous fights on the international stage to training Mike Tyson and public spats with Anthony Mundine that almost led to a mismatched fight between the two a while ago. Now aged 44, thanks to a birthday two days ago, the Marrickville Mauler is to pull the gloves on once more for a rubber match with nemesis Azumah Nelson. Continue reading “Fenech, Rocky and the beast inside” →

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Big Danny Williams victorious in up and downer in Spain

kiplingCongratulations must go to gutsy, no sniggering at the back, London heavyweight Danny Williams tonight following his 7th round stoppage victory over the previously unbeaten Konstantin Airich in Bilbao. Williams, up lifts his ledger to 39-6 (31 Ko’s) with the win continues to build some momentum despite fluctuating weight suggesting ebbing motivation, he scaled 267 pounds for this encounter. Continue reading “Big Danny Williams victorious in up and downer in Spain” →

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“No, no, just say no” Hatton, PPV and the power of one.

As fan and as a writer, purchasing pay-per-view boxing is a prerequisite these days. I’ve done them all, from Bruno v Tyson, Hamed, Lewis through to Hatton v Tszyu and everything in between. So strong is my thirst to see the stars of the fistic world that I even succumbed to the very shallow temptation of Eastman v Hopkins. A fight never likely to distract the annual visitors to the Dulux sponsored, Watch Paint Dry Championships. Continue reading ““No, no, just say no” Hatton, PPV and the power of one.” →

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Behind enemy Lynes against bucking, ducking Branco

Most writers will confess to soft spots for certain fighters. I pointed out my own affection to John Ruiz, the most unloved of heavyweights, only this week but the reasoning or events that form and fuel these affiliations are often curious and minuscule. It doesn’t stop at boxing, I always urged old Rex Williams on in the snooker championships because we share a birthday. Tenuous but a rivet-strong bond all the same. Colin Lynes is another fighter for whom I always wish good fortune.

Continue reading “Behind enemy Lynes against bucking, ducking Branco” →

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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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“World title belts, get ya belts ‘ere, fiver a pair!”

Boxing is a cruel enough sport for fighters without crass sniping from commentators like me but the news Alex Arthur has been awarded full world champion status by the WBO left a sour taste. I’m sure it did for Arthur too, a proud fighter and one who, publicly at least, yearned for a shot at the genuine big time. Not the pretend big time, but the real, genuine big time. His proposed fight with now abdicated champion Joan Guzman would have been just such an opportunity. Continue reading ““World title belts, get ya belts ‘ere, fiver a pair!”” →

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Hatton v Witter, goes down the ……

It was painful to view. And my scorecard reflected my desire to prolong the feint hope of Junior Witter finally securing the chance to face arch-rival Ricky Hatton before both got too old or too fat for anyone to care. Placing the credit for the victory at the door of Ricky Hatton, given it was young Timothy Bradley in the ring throwing punches, would be ungracious and unfair but there was certainly a shadow of the wealthy Hitman over the split decision triumph for the American. Continue reading “Hatton v Witter, goes down the ……” →

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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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Boxing: John Ruiz and loving the wrong man

When consigned to history John Ruiz’ career will be much maligned, it is already. His success and resolve will be overshadowed by the snipers who point to his suffocating, ugly style, a crushing defeat to the then Zeus like David Tua in 17 seconds and a ponderous pursuit of Light-heavyweight Roy Jones Jnr. in 2003. Despite these facts, and they are all facts, his rough-edges and lack of beauty, I just can’t help liking him. It’s a strange thing, attraction.

Continue reading “Boxing: John Ruiz and loving the wrong man” →

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Archive: Knowing You’re Born: A Boxer’s Tale

TSS Archive: 18/01/2007

It is a worn analogy to compare boxers with hookers, but for those fighters who eek out a career well beneath the remuneration and spotlight of the bill toppers the cliche undoubtedly has some resonance.

Former British title challenger Alan Bosworth is one such heart on his sleeve puncher who walked away from the sport he’s loved and loathed in equal measure for most of his life. He did so with precious little to show for the sacrifices he’s made to compete. Behind the warmth he extended to me in his home in 2007, lay a bitterness for those who’ve influenced his career directly, and indirectly, and a forgiveable avarice for the opportunity and protection afforded to the sport’s young prospects. It is already more than a year since one of boxing’s grittiest performers retired.

Continue reading “Archive: Knowing You’re Born: A Boxer’s Tale” →
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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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“Is that you Arthur?”, Arthur and Guzman await purse decision

OliveLife in the world run by the World Boxing Organisation must be a curious experience. Most of us operate only on the periphery, interested and bemused bystanders to the WBO’s alternative and parallel universe. For those dependent on the Puerto Rican sanctioning body for clarity, objectivity and consistency it must be an entirely frustrating and perplexing existence. Talented and affable Scotsman Alex Arthur is one such subject. Continue reading ““Is that you Arthur?”, Arthur and Guzman await purse decision” →

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EverGel Glove Wraps and me

EverGel Glove WrapsAs a 3-month novice in the boxing gym I may not be the most punishing barometer for the EverGel Glove Wraps but nevertheless, the good people at Everlast were eager to know what I thought about them.

Continue reading “EverGel Glove Wraps and me” →

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Archive: Scott Harrison Looking To Crash Party

sunArchive: 25th January 2005

I’ve read with interest the numerous articles pertaining to Scott Harrison’s impending return. Owen Slot of The Times probably summarising the topic best. The return of his withdrawn licence, in light of host of misdemeanours at home and abroad, strikes me as a routine decision for the British Boxing Board of Control and the former WBO belt holder will soon be sending shivers down the spines of Super-Featherweights at weigh-ins once more.    Continue reading “Archive: Scott Harrison Looking To Crash Party” →

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Boxing as a social force

chavs16th century French philosopher Jean Bodin once said; “The study of history is the beginning of political wisdom.”, luminaries including Churchill and Confucius have all similarly opined on the need to understand the past to enjoy success in the future but it is Bodin who captured the sentiment most succinctly.

Continue reading “Boxing as a social force” →

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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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Golota got a lota shot

GolotaUrban legend states you are never more than ten yards from a rat when in London. If you frequent some of the fast food establishments I have you could probably reduced that by 50% with some confidence. There is also an Internet phenomenon and modern day parlour game which believes nobody in movie history is more than six steps removed from actor Kevin Bacon. Continue reading “Golota got a lota shot” →

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Rusty Chagaev still too smooth for Skelton

ChagaevFew fighters are more honest, fearless and hard working than Bedford’s big bear Matt Skelton. We knew that before his fight with Ruslan Chagaev in Germany last weekend and though the contest represented Skelton’s first venture in to true world class, he further substantiated that repute. Sadly, he couldn’t add either the technique or knockout power required to prevail at this elite level. Continue reading “Rusty Chagaev still too smooth for Skelton” →

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Setanta Sports: Boxing’s newest friend

Setanta LogoOnce a upon a time boxing coverage was the exclusive preserve of SKY, the premier satellite broadcast network here in the United Kingdom, but it now appears to have stepped out of the sport for all but the major ‘cash cow’ events. It is a peculiar tactic given the revived pulse and stirred interest in the sport. In fact, from a domestic perspective the boxing scene is arguably at its most buoyant. Continue reading “Setanta Sports: Boxing’s newest friend” →

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Trinidad plays heavy-lightweight to Jones’ light-heavyweight

PensionersRoy Jones begins the week with a characteristically wry smile and a less familiar sore right hip following his impressive defeat of Felix Trinidad over the weekend. True, both fighters are mere shadows of their respective primes, but despite advancing years they engaged in hefty action throughout the contest. Continue reading “Trinidad plays heavy-lightweight to Jones’ light-heavyweight” →

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Farewell Ali Nuumbembe

Ali3News former Commonwealth Welterweight champion Ali Nuumbembe is to return to Namibia following a six-year adventure into professional boxing here in the UK has already been well documented. In fact, Ali’s remarkable life, from the civil war of his youth, the death and disappearance of family members to life in a caravan in Glossop, has also been recorded and retold thoroughly and comprehensively. Continue reading “Farewell Ali Nuumbembe” →

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Guest: From boos to boohoo

Union Jack FansRegulars will notice this site has become dormant of late, a case of poor timing given the buoyancy of the sport. In a bid to maintain currency and to showcase a broader range of opinion pieces I invited submissions from those contemporaries for whom I have respect and who I believed would provide entertaining and challenging copy for the growing readership. The first of these Guest pieces is from Andrew Mullinder, taking up the thorny and topical issue of booing National Anthems. 
Continue reading “Guest: From boos to boohoo” →

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