Tag: EBU

Avanesyan has his triumph, Kelly’s loss needn’t be a disaster. If fans rally to his side

Pretty Boy Josh Kelly

One may learn wisdom even from one’s enemies

Aristophanes, Greek Satirist, 445-385BC

It’s traditional to muse on the events of the night before on a Sunday morning. Where once it was the haze of a hangover and wondering what may have been said and done beneath the influence of alcohol, Sundays are now more typically dominated by the injustices and frustrations evoked by Saturday night boxing. In a world of the cynical and sarcastic, of the negative and voyeuristic, being motivated to write by failure, by schadenfreude is a widespread malaise.

Important then, to write when a show has produced entertainment, drama and delivered a large dose of the thunder fight fans all crave. We must, collectively, counteract the all to familiar narratives. For if we don’t, if there is no buzz to compensate fighters and promoters for taking the risk of evenly matched fights, then they will defer to the tried and trusted safety first modus operandi that plagues the sport in the modern day. Their hangover will not be worth the entertainment they share.

Last night’s show, in which the favoured Pretty Boy Josh Kelly was stopped by a 32-year-old Armenian who lives in Newark, David Avernysan, and the loquacious Albanian Florian Marku had to get off the floor to beat Ryan Charlton, there was everything that was good about the fight game.

Please be upstanding for the participants and the matchmaker who compiled such an evenly matched card. There was so much to enjoy.

Continue reading “Avanesyan has his triumph, Kelly’s loss needn’t be a disaster. If fans rally to his side” →
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McCloskey smashes Lauri to the canvas in the 11th

Irishman Paul McCloskey plucked a world-class right hook to knockout veteran Italian Giuseppe Lauri in dramatic fashion to retain his European title and preserve his aspirations of securing a world-title shot in the near future. Just moments before there had been concerns about his swollen right eye between rounds and he’d had a point deducted for persistent use of his head. It had served to nudge the partisan Kings Hall crowd to the edge of their seats as the points verdict looked likely to be close. Then, with Lauri lowering his guard momentarily, McCloskey stepped forward and thudded his pet right hook on to his chin and the famous old Hall erupted in delight. Continue reading “McCloskey smashes Lauri to the canvas in the 11th” →

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Come in #13, Daniel Rasilla gets the nod for McCloskey

rasillaSpaniard Daniel ‘Rasilla, ranked #13 at 140 pounds by the EBU has agreed to step in to tackle Paul McCloskey for the European crown next week. While it will underwhelm those hoping speculating about more mouth-watering contests with everyone from Junior Witter to Gavin Rees the Spaniard – according to Barry Hearn – is close to weight, in the gym and eager to take the chance. Continue reading “Come in #13, Daniel Rasilla gets the nod for McCloskey” →

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Fighter of the Month: September

applauseThe BoxingWriter.co.uk Fighter of Month award has now developed such prestige I’ve been asked if I can make an award more than twelve times a year. I’ve tried to explain how this plan has a numerical flaw but several fight figures assure me they’re 150% sure nobody will care, “look at the 17 sanctioning bodies, they’ll never notice, the fans are daft”. I’ve refused, neither of my readers are daft I protested, so for now I remain committed to a single award per month. Hiatus for July and August, so September’s winner is… Continue reading “Fighter of the Month: September” →

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Moore and Rhodes step out of the shadows

WAROFTHEROSES-SMTwo of  British boxing’s longest serving fighters will clash tonight for the European Light-Middleweight title, a bout which doubles as an eliminator for the WBC world title belt, or at worst a qualifier to face Julio Cesar Chavez Junior in a final eliminator for a crown held by slippery Sergio Martinez. It will also offer an opportunity for both fighters to finally step out of the shadow contemporaries Ricky Hatton and Prince Naseem Hamed threw across their respective careers and prove the old boxing truism, that styles make fights. 

Continue reading “Moore and Rhodes step out of the shadows” →

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Nowhere to Hide, not that old chestnut

I’m sure the revelation Delia Smith, who famously coined the phrase “lets be having you” during an impromptu half-time plea to the insipid Norwich City football crowd, is looking to sell her stake in the club has nothing to do with the impending return of boxing maverick Herbie Hide to the region, but Hennessey Sports’ decision to run with the “Lets Be Having You” show title does provide coincidental segway between the two events.  Continue reading “Nowhere to Hide, not that old chestnut” →

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Jamie Moore now set for shot at vacated title

Few announcements could be met with more glee. Salford’s likable Light-Middleweight contender Jamie Moore has today learned European Champion Zaurbek Baysangurov has relinquished the crown rather than fulfil his obligation to Moore. In a brief release from the Frank Maloney camp, it would appear more likely that the new bout will land on English shores. Continue reading “Jamie Moore now set for shot at vacated title” →

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Dunne’s promoter lashes out at Maloney

Once inter-promoter arguments begin it is hard to keep track, apportion blame or see the wood for the trees. However, Brian Peters, the promoter of popular Irishman Bernard Dunne, was obviously irked by Frank Maloney’s press release this week, which claimed Dunne’s camp were ducking his improving European champion Rendall Munroe. Of course the pair could be in cahoots and sniggering backstage at the attention they’re generating for a fight which could prove beneficial to both fighters.

Continue reading “Dunne’s promoter lashes out at Maloney” →

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Jamie Moore’s big fight was an urban myth after all

Poor old Jamie Moore, one of the most likable characters and down to earth punchers on the circuit has once more been robbed of the opportunity to win the European belt following the withdrawal of champion Zaurbek Baysangurov. It is another frustrating chapter in a career blighted by injuries and one which finally appeared to be progressing when the fight was confirmed. Moore’s hope, according to today’s press release by Frank Maloney, is the EBU will act to strip the champion and nominate a new foe for the Salford favourite. Continue reading “Jamie Moore’s big fight was an urban myth after all” →

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Moore’s mythical shot becomes reality

Precious few fighters boast the universal respect afforded to blue-collar banger Jamie Moore. The Salford Light-Middleweight is one of British boxing’s most well-respected professionals and the news his challenge to Zaurbek Baysangurov for the European title at 154 pounds has finally been confirmed will be widely welcomed. Delayed by Moore’s career threatening shoulder injury and a late nose injury to the champion back in December, the fight began to sound like an urban legend – everyone talked about it, but nobody could prove it was real.

Continue reading “Moore’s mythical shot becomes reality” →

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Awkward as ever, Junior Witter speaks out

Defining Junior Witter’s style has stumped greater minds than mine. Unorthodox is the ubiquitous descriptive and through generic, probably the most accurate. The former WBC Light-Welterweight champion is almost impossible to pigeon-hole, once the slippery, pitter-patter runner he blossomed into a destructive two fisted puncher but threw in enough disjointed performances to never fully engage the Yorkshire public or television audiences. Now as a former, rather than current World champion the one thing he is, without fear of contradiction, is avoidable. Continue reading “Awkward as ever, Junior Witter speaks out” →

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