Tag: Heavyweight Boxing

There’s nothing else to say baby. Goodbye, so long

Derek Chisora intends to box again. However fat the cheque or significant the title, the calls for him to be saved from himself have been loud for a considerable time and, if ignored, will eventually leave many with regret. Not just Derek.

In the course of 25 years scribbling about fighters and the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune they’ve all encountered in the murkiness that stalks the sport, I’d would imagine Tyson Fury has probably accumulated the most words. It is alleged he has a fight upcoming. Beside him in the time I’ve spent musing on boxing probably stands Bernard Hopkins, Ricky Hatton, Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua.

An unscientific instinctive listing. I’ve neither time nor inclination to provide the data. They are five outstanding fighters, Bernard probably the pick of the bunch if I permitted a digression into a pound for pound debate between them. I’ll resist because none of the five are the subject. Derek Chisora, who probably ranks #6 on this list of principle studies of the last quarter of a century writing about boxing is today’s muse.

As news broke this week that big Derek is booked to box Murat Gassiev, a 19-stone boulder from Russia almost 10 years and 200 rounds his junior, I was reminded of the number of times I’d contemplated the morbidity of his never ending, if colourful, career.

Continue reading “There’s nothing else to say baby. Goodbye, so long” →
0

Itauma and the drain of comparison

Article first appeared at BigFightWeekend.com

As an ever larger cohort of fight fans are exposed to the prodigious talents of heavyweight Moses Itauma, the degree of comfort they feel with the media comparing him to the once imperious Mike Tyson will largely be governed by the plasticity of their thinking. Or put more simply, their age. 

It isn’t a mirror Itauma sought, but promotionally his career has been benchmarked against Tyson as the narrative that he could become champion at a similar age hung heavy in early press releases. Or would have if people still wrote them. 

Continue reading “Itauma and the drain of comparison” →
0

On the shoulders of giants. Moses Itauma

Article first appeared at BigFightWeekend.com

A biblical name. Laden with promotional opportunity. A southpaw with dynamite in both hands, Moses Itauma could be the next special heavyweight.   

It is a familiar path, a familiar sales pitch. Young, powerful, fast. Crashing through the professional losers, the part-timers and then the vaguely known, to the peripheral, the stout, the sturdy and the once were. Busyness is the business. Accumulating highlight reel knockouts, interviews and brand recognition. 

Building a heavyweight from a youthful prospect to contender to challenger to champion is usually done from this tattered but trusted blueprint. Evolved, such as it is, for these times of reduced activity and our deficit of attention, it remains rooted in a century or more of match making. 

Continue reading “On the shoulders of giants. Moses Itauma” →
0

BW Archive – Farr: “Ali wouldn’t have hit Joe Louis on the bum with a handful of rice!”

First published August 29th 2008

Tommy Farr said that and who am I to argue? Tomorrow will mark the 71st anniversary of his courageous but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to dethrone the newly crowned heavyweight champion Joe Louis. The humble ‘Tonypandy Terror’ is long remembered for giving the legendary ‘Brown Bomber’ an arduous first defence of his heavyweight title and for the unflinching resolve he demonstrated in doing so.

His effort was as herculean as it was unexpected to ringside observers. Those hunched around the family wireless back in Britain, were moved to believe he’d done enough to topple the great champion.

Continue reading “BW Archive – Farr: “Ali wouldn’t have hit Joe Louis on the bum with a handful of rice!”” →
4

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” →

0

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” →

3

Haye Delivers On Promise

Union JackTonight, amid a partisan French crowd, London’s David Haye delivered one of the most thrilling performances by a British fighter in a foreign ring since the glorious nights of John H. Stracey and Lloyd Honeyghan. By depositing Cruiserweight champion Jean Marc-Mormeck on the canvas in the seventh round with a thunderous right uppercut and swinging right cross Haye announced himself to the boxing world and secured the Cruiserweight world title. Continue reading “Haye Delivers On Promise” →

3

Holyfield; Please, Please Continue

Evander5Evander5Instantly noticeable in the aftermath of Evander Holyfield’s, 42(27)-9-2, latest attempt to annex a portion of the fractured heavyweight title was the lack of demand for his retirement. Ronnie Shields and Freddie Roach both spoken openly of their preference for the 45 year old to hang up his gloves, it’s becoming a habit for Roach who distanced himself from his own charge, James Toney in recent months too, but the en mass clamour for his retirement hasn’t reached the fever pitch it did following his slam-dunk losses to Larry Donald, in 2004, and the aforementioned Toney in 2003. Continue reading “Holyfield; Please, Please Continue” →

8

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” →

1

A WordPress.com Website.

Up ↑

Create your own website, free on WordPress.com.Create your own website.
Start free