Thursday, 24 April 2008
Heavy Weather
When second ranked Juan Carlos Gomez said he didn’t have enough time to prepare for an ordered March 8th WBC eliminator with that organisation’s top heavyweight contender, Vladimir Virchis, Universum Box-Promotion deemed his plea incomprehensible on account of Gomez had had plenty of notice.
After Virchis had then declared that he too would need longer to get ready, however, the promoters stayed silent on the matter. Discrimination afoot, it would seem.
Virchis, unburdened by any criticism from the promoters, said he’d return to Ukraine from Germany to get in shape for a rearranged meet, at which Gomez – in an act of mischief – announced that he would after all be willing to present himself for duty on the original date.
The Cuban’s facetious offer may have had those Universum people seething, but they didn’t respond, just suggested September as the most likely time to actually get the fight on.
That delay won’t affect the bigger picture too much, though. Despite the winner being guaranteed a shot at the WBC title, he won’t get that fight until Vitali Klitschko has had his crack at it. Klitschko remains the WBC champion emeritus and holds priority.
Vitali, of course, was part of the mess that had us have to wait so long for the Maskaev v Peter saga to unfold. Dreadful though it would be, a similar situation could now be on the cards. Klitschko is about to try again to become mayor of Kiev, having been rejected at the first time of asking, and that distraction, whether he’s successful or not, is not going to hurry up his challenge to Sam Peter, is it.
Whatever, when Gomez and Virchis do eventually climb into the ring, we shouldn’t expect anything exciting. Gomez has real ability but is lazy and lackadaisical. It’s hard to see him imposing himself on the division even though the boxing skills are there to give the big men problems. I can see him imposing himself on Virchis, though.
The Ukranian is a large lump alright, and carries a hefty clump if you hang around to sample it, but he’s no sort of boxer and has just the two gears – very slow, and slower still.
Gomez no doubt sees the same, but Juan Carlos has a swagger about him and there’s a danger that he’ll take the job for granted, which would not be wise. You have to pay full attention when you’re in there with a man like Virchis who, though static and clumsy, does hit hard and has shown himself to be quite a good finisher once he has a victim stunned.
If Gomez preps right, though, and keeps his mind on the job all the way, he should be able to outbox this guy with ease. Juan Carlos was far too slick and quick for Sinan Samil Sam, a similar type to Virchis, and twice outclassed the toughest heavyweight in the game today, Oliver McCall, even if the first of their fights was later declared a no contest after a test showed that Gomez had been taking cocaine up his beak.
There’s a recommended bet here. Big Vlad will start favourite but, for me, Juan Carlos Gomez is too quick, too smart, and too good to lose to a statue.
After Virchis had then declared that he too would need longer to get ready, however, the promoters stayed silent on the matter. Discrimination afoot, it would seem.
Virchis, unburdened by any criticism from the promoters, said he’d return to Ukraine from Germany to get in shape for a rearranged meet, at which Gomez – in an act of mischief – announced that he would after all be willing to present himself for duty on the original date.
The Cuban’s facetious offer may have had those Universum people seething, but they didn’t respond, just suggested September as the most likely time to actually get the fight on.
That delay won’t affect the bigger picture too much, though. Despite the winner being guaranteed a shot at the WBC title, he won’t get that fight until Vitali Klitschko has had his crack at it. Klitschko remains the WBC champion emeritus and holds priority.
Vitali, of course, was part of the mess that had us have to wait so long for the Maskaev v Peter saga to unfold. Dreadful though it would be, a similar situation could now be on the cards. Klitschko is about to try again to become mayor of Kiev, having been rejected at the first time of asking, and that distraction, whether he’s successful or not, is not going to hurry up his challenge to Sam Peter, is it.
Whatever, when Gomez and Virchis do eventually climb into the ring, we shouldn’t expect anything exciting. Gomez has real ability but is lazy and lackadaisical. It’s hard to see him imposing himself on the division even though the boxing skills are there to give the big men problems. I can see him imposing himself on Virchis, though.
The Ukranian is a large lump alright, and carries a hefty clump if you hang around to sample it, but he’s no sort of boxer and has just the two gears – very slow, and slower still.
Gomez no doubt sees the same, but Juan Carlos has a swagger about him and there’s a danger that he’ll take the job for granted, which would not be wise. You have to pay full attention when you’re in there with a man like Virchis who, though static and clumsy, does hit hard and has shown himself to be quite a good finisher once he has a victim stunned.
If Gomez preps right, though, and keeps his mind on the job all the way, he should be able to outbox this guy with ease. Juan Carlos was far too slick and quick for Sinan Samil Sam, a similar type to Virchis, and twice outclassed the toughest heavyweight in the game today, Oliver McCall, even if the first of their fights was later declared a no contest after a test showed that Gomez had been taking cocaine up his beak.
There’s a recommended bet here. Big Vlad will start favourite but, for me, Juan Carlos Gomez is too quick, too smart, and too good to lose to a statue.
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Clinton Removed From Office
Styles might not always be what determines the pattern of a boxing match, or its outcome, but sometimes they do have an overwhelming influence. We got a perfect example of that in Tampa last night, didn’t we.
Clinton Woods, who had gone head to head three times with Glen Johnson in exhausting battles and come out level over all, was totally outboxed – no, make that outclassed – by Antonio Tarver and is no longer IBF light heavyweight champion of the world.
Woods is tough and brave, and a good proven fighter against static types and people who are prepared to get in his face and stay there, but in this fight he had something altogether different on his plate. Clinton tried his best but Tarver was so dominant it was made to look a really weak effort from the Brit.
Seemed to me that Woods got disillusioned before the fight had reached half way. He would never run out of courage but I thought Clint had run out of ideas, and belief, as early as round four.
Antonio’s movement was too much for Woods, who had trouble throughout just getting into punching position, and even when he did he couldn’t get his shots off. And all the time he was following Tarver around to no avail, the slick southpaw kept raking him with straight punches and that jolting uppercut.
Tarver could hardly miss. Woods could hardly land. It was an evening to remind us once again that boxing is the name of the game and that, as ever, class is class.
Clinton Woods, who had gone head to head three times with Glen Johnson in exhausting battles and come out level over all, was totally outboxed – no, make that outclassed – by Antonio Tarver and is no longer IBF light heavyweight champion of the world.
Woods is tough and brave, and a good proven fighter against static types and people who are prepared to get in his face and stay there, but in this fight he had something altogether different on his plate. Clinton tried his best but Tarver was so dominant it was made to look a really weak effort from the Brit.
Seemed to me that Woods got disillusioned before the fight had reached half way. He would never run out of courage but I thought Clint had run out of ideas, and belief, as early as round four.
Antonio’s movement was too much for Woods, who had trouble throughout just getting into punching position, and even when he did he couldn’t get his shots off. And all the time he was following Tarver around to no avail, the slick southpaw kept raking him with straight punches and that jolting uppercut.
Tarver could hardly miss. Woods could hardly land. It was an evening to remind us once again that boxing is the name of the game and that, as ever, class is class.
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Crash Bang Wallop
Barry Hearn put on his novelty show called “Prizefighter” at London’s York Hall last night and the entertainment proved top class even if the quality wasn’t.
Eight heavyweights of varying sizes were paired off to do battle in three round fights. It was quick turnover sport. Little time for rest between exertions. As soon as those first series bouts were done with, the four winners were back in the ring for semi-final action and we ended up, eventually, with David Dolan and Martin Rogan fighting for the 25 thousand pounds prize (about 50 grand in dollars).
Dolan, former three time ABA (national amateur) champ, had been strong pre-event favourite and stayed that way coming into the final, being by far the most technically adept boxer on view, but he came unstuck against the rip roaring attacks of Irishman Rogan.
After a wildly exciting nine minutes, Rogan got the win on the strength of dropping Dolan in the opening session and again in the third. Dolan’s superior skills showed through at times and he certainly won the second round but the Irishman deserved the nod, and the money.
Promoter Hearn was well pleased with the night, but not more so than Martin Rogan. The man from Belfast couldn’t have been more delighted if it had been a world title he’d won. Always great to see any fighter that happy.
This ‘prizefighter’ format is hardly the future of boxing but there is a place for it in the system. The whole thing had a sizzling atmosphere and the punters got what they paid to see, whole hearted triers giving it their best in a good spirit with mutual respect on display at the end of each bout.
I reckon we’ll be seeing Hearn, or somebody else, replicate this kind of venture before long, probably with boxers from a lower weight class. Gives eight guys a chance to grab a purse they’d otherwise take a long time to aggregate on the regular circuit, and gives the winner a place in the limelight as well, even if it does prove only temporary. Yes, I like it.
Eight heavyweights of varying sizes were paired off to do battle in three round fights. It was quick turnover sport. Little time for rest between exertions. As soon as those first series bouts were done with, the four winners were back in the ring for semi-final action and we ended up, eventually, with David Dolan and Martin Rogan fighting for the 25 thousand pounds prize (about 50 grand in dollars).
Dolan, former three time ABA (national amateur) champ, had been strong pre-event favourite and stayed that way coming into the final, being by far the most technically adept boxer on view, but he came unstuck against the rip roaring attacks of Irishman Rogan.
After a wildly exciting nine minutes, Rogan got the win on the strength of dropping Dolan in the opening session and again in the third. Dolan’s superior skills showed through at times and he certainly won the second round but the Irishman deserved the nod, and the money.
Promoter Hearn was well pleased with the night, but not more so than Martin Rogan. The man from Belfast couldn’t have been more delighted if it had been a world title he’d won. Always great to see any fighter that happy.
This ‘prizefighter’ format is hardly the future of boxing but there is a place for it in the system. The whole thing had a sizzling atmosphere and the punters got what they paid to see, whole hearted triers giving it their best in a good spirit with mutual respect on display at the end of each bout.
I reckon we’ll be seeing Hearn, or somebody else, replicate this kind of venture before long, probably with boxers from a lower weight class. Gives eight guys a chance to grab a purse they’d otherwise take a long time to aggregate on the regular circuit, and gives the winner a place in the limelight as well, even if it does prove only temporary. Yes, I like it.
Sunday, 6 April 2008
Khan Still On Hold?
Amir Khan did the expected in stopping Martin Kristjansen last night, and remains on schedule for a world title shot this year. Kristjansen gave it a brave go, even trying to negate Khan’s strengths by pushing him back, but never succeeded in making an impact. He just didn’t have the ability to compete and when he did connect with jabs or straight right hand shots the Dane lacked the power to rattle Amir. Khan was way too good.
The only sour note came with the first knockdown in round seven. Khan chased Kristjansen and dropped him by the ropes but then – while Martin was clearly on the floor – fired in a solid shot to the head. Referee Mickey Vann did issue a warning to Khan, despite a volley of dickhead boos from some of Amir’s home crowd, but he should have gone further and taken a point. What Khan did was completely out of order.
In his post fight summing up for TV, Barry McGuigan described the incident as ‘unfortunate’, but that’s the wrong word. Hitting a grounded fighter is always unacceptable, which firmly includes situations like this where the transgression had no effect of the outcome of the fight itself.
Amir Khan is begging for the big chance. He wants it now. It wouldn’t be beyond Frank Warren’s powers to provide it for him, and maybe he will, but the promoter’s posture was non-commital last night. Standing next to Khan at the time, and probably not wanting to tread on the fighter’s immediate ambition, Warren didn’t dismiss the idea but still said he’d prefer Amir to have another bout first.
There’s no denying Khan’s talents, nor the way he’s developing as a world class boxer, but he is still a youngster and the world league is different to what he’s tasted so far. That can’t be stated too much. And Amir has yet to be pitted against a recognized puncher.
There’s been some talk of a domestic clash with British champ Jonathan Thaxton but, with all due respect to Jon, that wouldn’t raise Amir’s level any. A match against European title holder Yuri Romanov would do the job though.
That seems, perhaps, the most likely move. Romanov is approaching his peak at 25, has world ambitions of his own, and I don’t think there’d be too many problems getting the Belarussian to box in England again. That Euro defence of his last Friday when he carved up Thaxton in five rounds was Yuri’s fifth time on English soil and he’d most likely be pleased to return, especially for what would be far and away his biggest earner.
I first saw Romanov when he was just 20, stopping Steve Murray in the 10th round of a real thriller at York Hall here in London, and it was obvious even then that he had something about him. Five years on, Yuri has become an accomplished boxer. He is also physically strong and a solid hitter who can boast a couple of spectacular kayos on his log. Fighting Romanov might be the perfect intermediate step to the chance Khan craves.
If they are to box each other my expectation is, of course, a Khan victory. But because of what Romanov brings to the ring it would be the experience gained, not the win itself, that would prove invaluable to Bolton’s favourite son.
The only sour note came with the first knockdown in round seven. Khan chased Kristjansen and dropped him by the ropes but then – while Martin was clearly on the floor – fired in a solid shot to the head. Referee Mickey Vann did issue a warning to Khan, despite a volley of dickhead boos from some of Amir’s home crowd, but he should have gone further and taken a point. What Khan did was completely out of order.
In his post fight summing up for TV, Barry McGuigan described the incident as ‘unfortunate’, but that’s the wrong word. Hitting a grounded fighter is always unacceptable, which firmly includes situations like this where the transgression had no effect of the outcome of the fight itself.
Amir Khan is begging for the big chance. He wants it now. It wouldn’t be beyond Frank Warren’s powers to provide it for him, and maybe he will, but the promoter’s posture was non-commital last night. Standing next to Khan at the time, and probably not wanting to tread on the fighter’s immediate ambition, Warren didn’t dismiss the idea but still said he’d prefer Amir to have another bout first.
There’s no denying Khan’s talents, nor the way he’s developing as a world class boxer, but he is still a youngster and the world league is different to what he’s tasted so far. That can’t be stated too much. And Amir has yet to be pitted against a recognized puncher.
There’s been some talk of a domestic clash with British champ Jonathan Thaxton but, with all due respect to Jon, that wouldn’t raise Amir’s level any. A match against European title holder Yuri Romanov would do the job though.
That seems, perhaps, the most likely move. Romanov is approaching his peak at 25, has world ambitions of his own, and I don’t think there’d be too many problems getting the Belarussian to box in England again. That Euro defence of his last Friday when he carved up Thaxton in five rounds was Yuri’s fifth time on English soil and he’d most likely be pleased to return, especially for what would be far and away his biggest earner.
I first saw Romanov when he was just 20, stopping Steve Murray in the 10th round of a real thriller at York Hall here in London, and it was obvious even then that he had something about him. Five years on, Yuri has become an accomplished boxer. He is also physically strong and a solid hitter who can boast a couple of spectacular kayos on his log. Fighting Romanov might be the perfect intermediate step to the chance Khan craves.
If they are to box each other my expectation is, of course, a Khan victory. But because of what Romanov brings to the ring it would be the experience gained, not the win itself, that would prove invaluable to Bolton’s favourite son.
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