Class dismissed. Fisher survives, just. Zuffa money doesn’t make you better.

A weekend or two have passed since I conjured the headline. The braggart with the fast smile and quicksilver punches, Ryan Garcia had doused Conor Benn in lashings of humility so copious in quantity even Benn’s disproportionate purse would be inadequate compensation for a man with too much pride in too little qualification for such an exalted platform.

It struck me that the duality of meaning in the word class, well, it ventured to remind Benn the Junior that he’d not had the required schooling to compete and equally, the juggernaut of promotion propelling him forward had ignored the gulf in class evident in the pairing.

As the Romford Bull Johnny Fisher clung to victory with his legs disobeying him and his gasps for air betraying the poker face he was trying to offer last night, I was reminded that British fighters propelled toward levels they’re ill-equipped to succeed at is a dangerous pastime.

The fact Fisher is meeting that reality so soon only confirming the poor state of domestic level shows in the UK in the aftermath of the distortion caused by Saudi Arabian riches.

Continue reading “Class dismissed. Fisher survives, just. Zuffa money doesn’t make you better.” →

Cordina too close in the ring and on the cards

Cordina wins in Monte Carlo in tougher than expected defence

Welshman Joe Cordina successfully defended his IBF Super Featherweight in Monte Carlo, beating American Edward Vazquez over 12 competitive rounds. It was closely contested, Judge Jeremy Hayes arrived at a 114-114 score which struck this observer as generous but was in keeping with DAZN pundit, and former Cruiserweight champion, Tony Bellew’s card.

Closer than widely anticipated; Cordina made the mistake of not offering Vazquez the space to make his own.

Continue reading “Cordina too close in the ring and on the cards” →

Usyk cuts out your heart Witherspoon

Those pruning the previously lustrous blooms of their expectations of Oleksandr Usyk are very obviously still reading from a script the Ukrainian long since tore up and rewrote. Despite the interest surrounding his heavyweight debut and the apparent modesty of opposition, Usyk was never likely to win this fight by early stoppage.

To expect him to comply with the traditions of heavyweight debuts, given his  personality and the nature of his boxing style was a misguided notion. True, Chazz Witherspoon was a less dangerous opponent than widely anticipated when Usyk opted to move up to the more lucrative division, but, like any man North of 200 pounds, he still represented risk. Usyk, for all his formidable ability and gargantuan self-belief remains a studious and respectful prize fighter.

Seven rounds with Chazz Witherspoon, although essentially semi-retired, was more valuable than two, despite the bolder font a quicker win would have earned in the ensuing coverage.

Continue reading “Usyk cuts out your heart Witherspoon” →

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