Graham Earl, the former British Lightweight champion and present custodian of the WBU Lightweight belt, a strap that enables non-elite fighters like Earl to masquerade as World Champions – Something the Luton fighter is clearly not – will contest the WBO version this week. Of course, Earl will tell you he understands the charade and that he doesn’t truly regard himself as a world champion because of his success in WBU title fights, a perspective that only beggars the question – why bother? Continue reading “Earl Seeking to Earn Respect”
From Big Acorns: Earnie Shavers Lacing Up Again
Relax, the nearly man of the golden heavyweight era of the 1970’s isn’t returning to the professional ring, though he still cuts a fearsome figure at the age of 62, but will be – according to the British tabloid, The Daily Mirror – competing in an evening of White Collar Boxing in Tranmere. Continue reading “From Big Acorns: Earnie Shavers Lacing Up Again”
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The Fighter: Micky Ward’s Story
Any film starring Matt Damon is usually high quality viewing, OK, granted Ocean’s 12 was dismal but typically Damon played the role amidst the self-indulgent script with his usual class. The news he is to star alongside Mark Wahlberg in a story chronicling the rise of Irish Micky Ward to championship fights is welcomed by me. Continue reading “The Fighter: Micky Ward’s Story”
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A Boxing Must: The Sweetscience by AJ Liebling
As a fan of the written word and the great boxing writers of the past and present, though I seem to work hard at preventing their influence appearing in my own ramblings, I was a belated recipient of AJ Liebling’s SweetScience collection of boxing reports. Continue reading “A Boxing Must: The Sweetscience by AJ Liebling”
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Save the Last Dance for Me: Kostya Please?
I’m trying to think of something predictable, a euphemism for Lovemore N’Dou’s desire to entice fellow Australian Kostya Tsyzu out of inactivity, I would suggest, more predictable than Hugh Grant’s latest script but I used that last week and with time pressing I’ll crack on without originality – nothing new there whispered the wag at the back. If you think of anything, answers on a postcard. Continue reading “Save the Last Dance for Me: Kostya Please?”
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New Yorker, New Moan, Pneumonia
New York giant, Shannon Briggs has been forced out of his March 10th defence against Russian Sultan Ibragimov with a bout of ‘walking pneumonia’, a curious condition but one clearly likely to constrain a fighter already battling asthma. The fight will be re-arranged as promptly as possible though whether the same venue can be secured remains unconfirmed.
Though scheduled for the… Continue reading “New Yorker, New Moan, Pneumonia”
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A Clash of Opposites: Audley faces Sprott
Audley Harrison takes another belated step on the path to heavyweight glory this weekend when he faces Reading’s quiet man Michael Sprott. The two fighter’s careers a study in opposites. For Audley, the toast of the domestic and international scenes for almost five years following his surprise Olympic victory, this represents another meaningful hurdle – for Sprott, a fighter forced to earn a crust around the rings of Europe, this represents a major opportunity to establish himself as a legitimate contender at the higher level.
Continue reading “A Clash of Opposites: Audley faces Sprott”
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Takaloo in Embarassing Benefit Fraud
Margate’s Welterweight contender Mehrdud Takalobiagashi, widely known as Takaloo to save his adopted English countryman struggling with his Iranian pronunciation, appeared in court over alleged benefit fraud alongside his wife, Sarah. Continue reading “Takaloo in Embarassing Benefit Fraud”
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Shock News: Hatton Vacates
The most predictable story of the year so far; Ricky Hatton vacates the belt he won for the second time against Colombian hulk Juan Urango, preferring to face Jose Luis Castillo than mandatory challenger Lovemore N’Dou. Continue reading “Shock News: Hatton Vacates”
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Not Burns’ Night: Johanneson Prevails
Firstly, apologies for the title, I’m sure I’ll be around 43rd to use the Burn’s night phrase – alas nothing else presented itself.
More important than the header is the news hometown puncher, Carl Johansson successfully repelled the gutsy challenge of Scot Ricky Burns to defend the British Super Featherweight title at the Leeds Town Hall on Friday night. And the fight was compelling viewing. Continue reading “Not Burns’ Night: Johanneson Prevails”
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Staggering. Maccarinelli To Face Joke Opponent?
Pragmatism 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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Arturo Gatti: Must the Show Go On?
I love Gatti. One of the bravest fighters the sport has seen, the quintessential blue-collar brawler. Memorable for his clashes with Mickey Ward, Ivan Robinson and a cast of dozens of others, his last significant outings, a painful and comprehensive stoppage loss to Floyd Mayweather and defeat to Carlos Baldomir should, perhaps, have represented the final installments in the ‘Human Highlight Reel’s’ Hall of Fame Career. Continue reading “Arturo Gatti: Must the Show Go On?”
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Mike Tyson Heads to Rehab, No, No, No!
In the most predictable storyline since Hugh Grant last accepted a script, boxing’s most infamous son Mike Tyson has reportedly checked into a rehab unit in America. Unconfirmed addictions, but probably including cocaine given Tyson’s recent misdemeanours and police statements, will be treated. Continue reading “Mike Tyson Heads to Rehab, No, No, No!”
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Hatton, N’Dou and the IBF
Never the shy retiring type, Lovemore N’Dou has gone public on his frustration at Ricky Hatton’s decision to face Mexican Jose Luis Castillo in June rather than honour his mandatory obligation. N’Dou, who beat countryman Ben Rabah to secure mandated status, is a veteran of the PR game and an irrepressible voice in the Light-Welterweight division. Continue reading “Hatton, N’Dou and the IBF”
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Sugar Ray Too Sweet About Amir Khan
There is little doubt Sugar Ray Leonard is one of the finest atheletes to ever grace the sport. Victories over Hearns, Duran and Hagler alone earn him a place in any debate on the greatest fighter of all time. It isn’t a crown he could claim but he isn’t out of place in the discussion.
However, following a brief spell as a promoter after his final retirement he has returned to the consciousness of boxing fans as the face of The Contender series – a show pitting peripheral contenders against one another in a last man standing format. The series has proved popular enough in America, where both series winners and many of the supporting fighters have gained acclaim and recognition beyond their ability and potential. Continue reading “Sugar Ray Too Sweet About Amir Khan”
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Real Life Rockys Go Head to Head: Francis & McKenzie
In the boxing backwater of Gloucestershire, Ovill McKenzie and Dean Francis clash this weekend for McKenzie’s Commonwealth title and the bout represents a major achievement for both fighters. Francis, for whom much was once expected, contesting a significant title following the injuries to his right arm that twice convinced him to retire only to return is prize enough. The fiercely competitive 33 year old will want, and expect to go one further and win of course despite relying almost exclusively on the left hand for much of the eight years since the dislocation against Undra White. Continue reading “Real Life Rockys Go Head to Head: Francis & McKenzie”
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Boxing: Witter Just Wouldn’t Let It Lie
The on-going PR campaign being waged by Junior Witter’s irrepressible promotional team, Hennessey Sports is beginning to take on a life of its own. Perpetual and persistent, the endless supply of challenges made to Ricky Hatton is slowly returning the long-overdue Hatton v Witter clash to the top of most boxing fans’ list of must-see engagements.
True, Hatton’s clash with Jose Luis Castillo takes on greater meaning for the intangible ‘legacy’ to which it seems all boxer’s attribute every matchmaking decision of their career – though precious few selections actually the deliver the validation they claim to crave – and for the lucrative American market for whom Junior Witter represents… Continue reading “Boxing: Witter Just Wouldn’t Let It Lie”
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Tarver or Jones Next for Clinton Woods?
On whichever criteria IBF Light-Heavyweight champion Clinton Woods’ career is assessed it is impossible not to congratulate his perserverence and willingness to tackle the best the division has to offer. Defending the title he secured beating game young puncher Rico Hoye against challengers as capable and ambitious as Gonzales and Johnson illustrate this zest for genuine competition.
In this era of avoiding fellow contenders he is to be applauded for this willingness. Continue reading “Tarver or Jones Next for Clinton Woods?”
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The Contender Arrives in the UK
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”
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Tyson on ESPN Classic – 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”
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‘Bad’ Chad Dawson Arrives at One Seven Five
At 6-3, with telescopic reach, solid technique, authoritative power and a southpaw stance Chad Dawson struck most informed observers as a young man with undoubted potential. Now aged 24, and a new arrival in the WBC champion’s lounge – a comprehensive destruction of champion Tomasz Adamek earning him the belt – Dawson is suddenly hot news.
In the light-heavyweight division, a new broom is overdue – Antonio Tarver, Bernard Hopkins, Clinton Woods, Roy Jones and Glen Johnson still sit aloft the weight class and all are at the veteran stage, and more than one is shot. Continue reading “‘Bad’ Chad Dawson Arrives at One Seven Five”
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Boomerang Lovemore Back For More
Likeable Australian Lovemore N’Dou beat Ben Rabah last night to spring a mild surprise on the boxing world and secure a mandated shot at the IBF Light-Welterweight championship, a title held by bankable superstar Ricky Hatton. The self acclaimed Black Panter, a veteran of over 50 bouts, arrives back at contender status via a circuitious route having originally campaigned that he should have contested the vacated belt the first time Hatton relinquished. Continue reading “Boomerang Lovemore Back For More”
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Boxing: “I feel lost” – Alan Bosworth
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”
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Scott Harrison: The Final Bell
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”
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Ossie Duran v Contender Reid
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”
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Danny Williams Last Chance Saloon
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”
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IBF, Hatton and the r-word
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”
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Hatton Making Excuses
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”
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UFC – Will it suffocate or galvanise boxing?
I remind myself that long before the slide toward ‘Entertainment’, wrestling was a legitimate sport around the globe, and for fans of the sweet science concerned by the growing popularity of MMA and UFC perhaps that shared history provides comfort. Boxing can survive without a monopoly on fans of combat sports. Continue reading “UFC – Will it suffocate or galvanise boxing?”
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Hamed, Tyson and YouTube
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”
