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.” →

Emotional transference. Benn, Hearn and all that shit

“I’ve been fucked so many times. I don’t even get upset about it. Boxing is one of the worst businesses in the world.” Eddie Hearn speaking to GQ in 2022.

Perhaps it says more about the writer than the protagonist that news of Conor Benn signing with Zuffa Boxing drew a wry smile. The schadenfreude of it all. Eddie Hearn, the sport’s most lusty chapman, with the film star crop and the double breasted roll neck and white pimp soles, betrayed by the fighter he stood by in his darkest moments.

And to Hearn’s newest nemesis. Dana White. A challenge even to boxing’s loquacious Lex Luthor – and if early interviews are a guide – the disbelief appeared to be winning.

Continue reading “Emotional transference. Benn, Hearn and all that shit” →

A WordPress.com Website.

Up ↑

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started