Sunday, 27 July 2008
Hall Of Fame Battle
Whether Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito ever get to be regarded as truly great fighters, once their careers are done and dusted, there’s no doubt that what they gave us last night was a truly great fight.
Boxing has always been my thing, which makes me biased in its favour, but I don’t need to feed off that prejudice in saying no other sport can match - for sheer, unrelenting excitement - the kind of action those two guys came up with.
I’m glad for Margarito because he won. I’m sad for Cotto because he didn’t. While Tony goes home with the WBA welterweight title, though, it’s hard to see Miguel as a loser in this because it takes two, not one, to create the kind of memory we got here.
Cotto, for some, had seemed on his way to becoming one of the best ever, and he still could, but probably not without turning the tables in a rematch. Margarito himself has the Paul Williams setback to address. It will be fascinating to see what each man’s next move is, won’t it, and whether or not Tony now gets the job that had looked destined for Miguel, facing De La Hoya in Oscar’s career finale.
I have to hold my hands up and admit I’d thought Cotto would prevail last night. I reckoned he’d ride the rough patches and get home through superior speed and sharper skills, and he showed a lot of that early on, but while some of his boxing was brilliant it was apparent that Miguel was having to fight at full throttle the whole time to keep Margarito at bay.
That seventh round was key, wasn’t it. Cotto got hurt there, and Tony stayed right on him, and whereas Margarito’s forward march had always been threatening from the start his attacks became consistently effective from that point on.
Margarito took a battering at long range through the early rounds of his losing fight with Paul Williams, but couldn’t be subdued or discouraged. Again here. Different problem but same sentiment. Cotto’s movement had the Mexican stumbling clumsily at times and Miguel landed some blistering combinations and jarring single shots that would have done damage to most fighters, but Iron Man Margarito kept on coming. And it paid off. Strength won the day in the end.
It was humbling, and uplifting, to witness such a battle. It always is when this game produces something special.
That, unfortunately for the sport itself, is not an experience provided by the heavyweights in recent times. If you had to finger an opposite to Cotto/Margarito, the so called championship fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Tony “Tiger” Thompson would do perfectly.
Thompson did enough to win round one, but after that there were no roars from the tiger, just a few miaows along the way. Yet another dreadful disappointment at the top table. And looking around the current “champs” and contenders you’d have to fear there are more of those to come.
Maybe Alexander Povetkin can break the chain, though. He’s the one high ranked heavy out there who goes in the ring to attack and force the other guy into a real fight. I can just picture Povetkin watching last night’s duel and telling himself in Russian, “Oh yes, baby, way to go,” or, hopefully, something similar but less banal.
Let’s not kid ourselves, though. Klitschko v Povetkin isn’t going to match Cotto v Margarito for quality and intensity. No chance. But in heavyweight matters even a pale imitation would be a huge step forward.
Boxing has always been my thing, which makes me biased in its favour, but I don’t need to feed off that prejudice in saying no other sport can match - for sheer, unrelenting excitement - the kind of action those two guys came up with.
I’m glad for Margarito because he won. I’m sad for Cotto because he didn’t. While Tony goes home with the WBA welterweight title, though, it’s hard to see Miguel as a loser in this because it takes two, not one, to create the kind of memory we got here.
Cotto, for some, had seemed on his way to becoming one of the best ever, and he still could, but probably not without turning the tables in a rematch. Margarito himself has the Paul Williams setback to address. It will be fascinating to see what each man’s next move is, won’t it, and whether or not Tony now gets the job that had looked destined for Miguel, facing De La Hoya in Oscar’s career finale.
I have to hold my hands up and admit I’d thought Cotto would prevail last night. I reckoned he’d ride the rough patches and get home through superior speed and sharper skills, and he showed a lot of that early on, but while some of his boxing was brilliant it was apparent that Miguel was having to fight at full throttle the whole time to keep Margarito at bay.
That seventh round was key, wasn’t it. Cotto got hurt there, and Tony stayed right on him, and whereas Margarito’s forward march had always been threatening from the start his attacks became consistently effective from that point on.
Margarito took a battering at long range through the early rounds of his losing fight with Paul Williams, but couldn’t be subdued or discouraged. Again here. Different problem but same sentiment. Cotto’s movement had the Mexican stumbling clumsily at times and Miguel landed some blistering combinations and jarring single shots that would have done damage to most fighters, but Iron Man Margarito kept on coming. And it paid off. Strength won the day in the end.
It was humbling, and uplifting, to witness such a battle. It always is when this game produces something special.
That, unfortunately for the sport itself, is not an experience provided by the heavyweights in recent times. If you had to finger an opposite to Cotto/Margarito, the so called championship fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Tony “Tiger” Thompson would do perfectly.
Thompson did enough to win round one, but after that there were no roars from the tiger, just a few miaows along the way. Yet another dreadful disappointment at the top table. And looking around the current “champs” and contenders you’d have to fear there are more of those to come.
Maybe Alexander Povetkin can break the chain, though. He’s the one high ranked heavy out there who goes in the ring to attack and force the other guy into a real fight. I can just picture Povetkin watching last night’s duel and telling himself in Russian, “Oh yes, baby, way to go,” or, hopefully, something similar but less banal.
Let’s not kid ourselves, though. Klitschko v Povetkin isn’t going to match Cotto v Margarito for quality and intensity. No chance. But in heavyweight matters even a pale imitation would be a huge step forward.
Monday, 21 July 2008
Camelot May Have Some Mileage In It After All
Scotland’s Alex Arthur defends his WBO superfeatherweight title against England’s Nicky Cook next month in what is a top class match by domestic standards. It can also be viewed as an A-list pairing at European level, but despite the “world title” label this is not a fight that’s going to get people too excited in other parts of the globe, is it.
Arthur became champ by default when Joan Guzman abdicated to move up a division, while Cook has got here on the back of a terrible drubbing from Steve Luevano when he and the American lefty boxed for the then vacant WBO featherweight crown.
That was Nicky’s only loss as a pro. It was also, significantly, the only time he’s been in against a boxer of world class ability. Arthur too has been beaten just the once, when stopped by Michael Gomez in the fifth round of a wild brawl in 2003.
Like Amir Khan recently, Alex Arthur responded to Gomez’ pre-fight verbals by electing to meet the Mancunian head on, but, unlike Khan, he failed the test, getting dropped three times before the ceasefire. Alex learned from that, though, and he certainly needed to.
The Scot’s subsequent performances have seen him more thoughtful and disciplined, and he’s proven himself a capable box-fighter. For all that, and despite having moved up from “interim” champ to full title status, Arthur is still where Nicky Cook was at before he faced Luevano. It's ironic that while he might be a world champion of sorts Alex has never yet shared the ring with anybody of genuine world class. And the way he was made to struggle before getting home on points against Stephen Foster Jnr last time out gives cause for concern as to what might happen when Arthur does come into contact with a real top ranker.
Without dwelling on the quality, or lack of it, in the upcoming bout the good news for all of us is that Arthur v Cook looks like a cracking value fight. Better news still, for the winner, is that a defence against unbeaten Londoner Kevin Mitchell would figure to bring a big, maybe huge, purse. Best news for the overall survivor, though, is the sudden exodus of this division’s most dangerous men.
Joan Guzman has moved to lightweight. Manny Pacquiao has captured the WBC lightweight title. Juan Manuel Marquez is likewise making the jump to take on Joel Casamayor, while Cuban sensation Yuriorkis Gamboa has travelled in the opposite direction, down to featherweight.
All those guys would beat Alex Arthur. Of that I’m sure. But now he won’t have to meet any of them, will he. Brutal punching WBA champ Edwin Valero still remains, of course, but as long as Alex stays well clear of the Venezuelan it might be that Frank Warren was right when he said King Arthur could enjoy a lengthy reign. Even though I’m sure Warren didn’t really mean a word of it when he said it!
Arthur became champ by default when Joan Guzman abdicated to move up a division, while Cook has got here on the back of a terrible drubbing from Steve Luevano when he and the American lefty boxed for the then vacant WBO featherweight crown.
That was Nicky’s only loss as a pro. It was also, significantly, the only time he’s been in against a boxer of world class ability. Arthur too has been beaten just the once, when stopped by Michael Gomez in the fifth round of a wild brawl in 2003.
Like Amir Khan recently, Alex Arthur responded to Gomez’ pre-fight verbals by electing to meet the Mancunian head on, but, unlike Khan, he failed the test, getting dropped three times before the ceasefire. Alex learned from that, though, and he certainly needed to.
The Scot’s subsequent performances have seen him more thoughtful and disciplined, and he’s proven himself a capable box-fighter. For all that, and despite having moved up from “interim” champ to full title status, Arthur is still where Nicky Cook was at before he faced Luevano. It's ironic that while he might be a world champion of sorts Alex has never yet shared the ring with anybody of genuine world class. And the way he was made to struggle before getting home on points against Stephen Foster Jnr last time out gives cause for concern as to what might happen when Arthur does come into contact with a real top ranker.
Without dwelling on the quality, or lack of it, in the upcoming bout the good news for all of us is that Arthur v Cook looks like a cracking value fight. Better news still, for the winner, is that a defence against unbeaten Londoner Kevin Mitchell would figure to bring a big, maybe huge, purse. Best news for the overall survivor, though, is the sudden exodus of this division’s most dangerous men.
Joan Guzman has moved to lightweight. Manny Pacquiao has captured the WBC lightweight title. Juan Manuel Marquez is likewise making the jump to take on Joel Casamayor, while Cuban sensation Yuriorkis Gamboa has travelled in the opposite direction, down to featherweight.
All those guys would beat Alex Arthur. Of that I’m sure. But now he won’t have to meet any of them, will he. Brutal punching WBA champ Edwin Valero still remains, of course, but as long as Alex stays well clear of the Venezuelan it might be that Frank Warren was right when he said King Arthur could enjoy a lengthy reign. Even though I’m sure Warren didn’t really mean a word of it when he said it!
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Sonny Liston And Changing Times
The celebrity-obsessed culture in which we live seems to have taken a total grip now, doesn’t it, with your average Bill & Doris ever more willing to ignore flaws in the famous and overlook, or even applaud, their misdemeanours. Attitudes to Mike Tyson attest to that. While he’s not to everybody’s liking, there are millions out there ready to embrace him as a person and either forget or make allowance for his undeniable contributions to anti-social behaviour.
You could say contrition for past errors deserves forgiveness, and Mike does at least act like a mellowed soul these days, but, that conceded, the former champion is certainly held in higher general regard today than would have been the case had he lived in another era. Like, for instance, the times of Sonny Liston.
Was Sonny a more disruptive citizen than Mike Tyson? Maybe, maybe not. What’s for sure, though, is that Liston, whose life and career had many parallels with Tyson’s, never got to feel the sort of public sympathy or affection that’s presently getting showered on Iron Mike. Not one drop.
Mike Tyson had a tough childhood. Liston’s was tougher. At least Mike was lucky enough to get rescued from some of his troubles by Cus D’Amato who became his legal guardian and gave him a feeling of being wanted. No such comfort for Liston. Born into real poverty, Sonny was a brutalized child who never had the benefits of education or moral guidance and grew into the kind of illiterate, aimless adolescent you might think could hardly help but drift into crime. Not something to be condoned, but it’s easy enough to understand how a man who’s been downtrodden all through his formative years, and been denied access to even basic life skills, might figure the only way he’s going to get anything in this world is to reach out and take it.
The young Sonny Liston wasn’t much good at the thieving game, though. When he did reach out, Sonny was captured, convicted of armed robbery, and taken to serve a stretch in Missouri State Penitentiary at Jefferson City. What happened there in 1954 gives further insight into Sonny’s deprived background. That was the year inmates staged a riot in protest at the conditions and the food, the very same calibre of food that Liston, paroled out of MSP near the end of ’52, had said was as good as, if not better than, anything he’d ever eaten up till then.
Prison is also where Liston learned to box. In a brief amateur career after being let out, he won a Golden Gloves title, the other highlight being victory over Olympic heavyweight gold medallist Ed Sanders. Impressive and rapid development. Then he turned pro and started reeling off the wins, except for a single loss on points to one Marty Marshall in a fight where Sonny got his jaw broken yet soldiered on regardless.
Liston twice avenged that loss to Marshall but just when his career was ready to take off he assaulted a police officer and did six months of a nine months sentence, plus the further penalty of being banned from boxing for the whole of 1957.
None of that stuff put Sonny in a favourable light with a public that was only becoming aware of him, nor did his connection to known criminals, and as he started to climb the ratings he got painted as a mafia tool as well as a fistic ogre, so much so that when Floyd Patterson eventually agreed to give Liston a shot at the heavyweight crown it was widely considered a match between good and evil. Seems simplistic and silly now, perhaps, but that’s the tag it carried.
There’s no doubt he was mixed up with undesirables but inside a boxing ring Liston didn’t need any help from the mob, or the devil, or anybody else. He had devastating power in both hands and was a technician – not a speedster like Ali, of course, but a technician nonetheless – who worked everything off one of the best jabs, if not the best, in heavyweight history.
After getting out of prison the second time Sonny set about mowing down the entire heavyweight division, a trail of destruction that eventually forced the title fight with Patterson. But it took some forcing.
Floyd’s manager, the same Cus D’Amato who would later develop Tyson, wanted nothing to do with Liston because he rightly feared that Sonny would overwhelm his champion. With that in mind, Cus used Liston’s notoriety as an excuse for denying him a title fight. What was just a ploy to D’Amato, however, went right to the heart of the matter with many Americans. They felt the heavyweight champion of the world should be a person who could be looked up to and admired unreservedly, a role model, not just the outstanding fighter on Earth. Charles ‘Sonny’ Liston wasn’t seen to fit that bill.
So the public at large might have been happy to go along with D’Amato in shunning Liston but Floyd Patterson himself, a proud man, saw continuing avoidance of the number one contender as an embarrassment he couldn’t live with. In Floyd’s mind, accommodating Liston was a duty.
That sense of honour got Patterson into the ring with Liston at Chicago in 1962, where he was annihilated inside one round, so losing the heavyweight crown.
After what he’d just done, and the manner in which he’d done it, you’d think Sonny would have captured some acclaim, but it didn’t happen like that. Sure he was respected out of fear but, while everybody knew who he was and what he’d achieved, few wanted anything to do with him.
Arriving back in Philadelphia after his title win, there was no greeting party, just an airport going about its normal day. Sonny’s wife and those close to him said he was deeply hurt by such indifference. The new champion would hardly have expected people to love him but the odd pat on the back wouldn’t have gone amiss, instead of which his coronation brought with it an atmosphere of gloom.
Prior to the title triumph, now having won it, and always thereafter – through the two defeats to Ali and the winding down of what was still a mostly winning career until being found dead by his wife on January 5th, 1971, Sonny Liston had pretty much the social standing of a leper.
Police records say Liston was a bad man yet those who knew him best insist otherwise. Whatever the reality on that count, I don’t doubt Sonny was a nicer guy at heart than media projection would have us believe.
One thing is for definite, though. At his peak, Sonny Liston was a truly great fighter. And formidable to the very end.
Chuck Wepner, legendary tough guy who was reputedly the inspiration for Stallone’s Rocky Balboa, lost to Liston in Sonny’s last ever fight and had nothing but praise for the former champ. Despite Liston being way past his best by then, Wepner was in awe of the power, saying later, “Every time he hit you, he broke something.”
Further, more specific, endorsement comes from Angelo Dundee. A few years ago - I can’t pinpoint the actual year, but we’re talking recent - Angelo was asked how he thought Sonny would have fared on the contemporary scene. “If he was around today,” said Dundee, without hesitation, “Liston would have a party. He’d destroy everything.”
As of now, 2008, I have no trouble visualizing exactly that.
You could say contrition for past errors deserves forgiveness, and Mike does at least act like a mellowed soul these days, but, that conceded, the former champion is certainly held in higher general regard today than would have been the case had he lived in another era. Like, for instance, the times of Sonny Liston.
Was Sonny a more disruptive citizen than Mike Tyson? Maybe, maybe not. What’s for sure, though, is that Liston, whose life and career had many parallels with Tyson’s, never got to feel the sort of public sympathy or affection that’s presently getting showered on Iron Mike. Not one drop.
Mike Tyson had a tough childhood. Liston’s was tougher. At least Mike was lucky enough to get rescued from some of his troubles by Cus D’Amato who became his legal guardian and gave him a feeling of being wanted. No such comfort for Liston. Born into real poverty, Sonny was a brutalized child who never had the benefits of education or moral guidance and grew into the kind of illiterate, aimless adolescent you might think could hardly help but drift into crime. Not something to be condoned, but it’s easy enough to understand how a man who’s been downtrodden all through his formative years, and been denied access to even basic life skills, might figure the only way he’s going to get anything in this world is to reach out and take it.
The young Sonny Liston wasn’t much good at the thieving game, though. When he did reach out, Sonny was captured, convicted of armed robbery, and taken to serve a stretch in Missouri State Penitentiary at Jefferson City. What happened there in 1954 gives further insight into Sonny’s deprived background. That was the year inmates staged a riot in protest at the conditions and the food, the very same calibre of food that Liston, paroled out of MSP near the end of ’52, had said was as good as, if not better than, anything he’d ever eaten up till then.
Prison is also where Liston learned to box. In a brief amateur career after being let out, he won a Golden Gloves title, the other highlight being victory over Olympic heavyweight gold medallist Ed Sanders. Impressive and rapid development. Then he turned pro and started reeling off the wins, except for a single loss on points to one Marty Marshall in a fight where Sonny got his jaw broken yet soldiered on regardless.
Liston twice avenged that loss to Marshall but just when his career was ready to take off he assaulted a police officer and did six months of a nine months sentence, plus the further penalty of being banned from boxing for the whole of 1957.
None of that stuff put Sonny in a favourable light with a public that was only becoming aware of him, nor did his connection to known criminals, and as he started to climb the ratings he got painted as a mafia tool as well as a fistic ogre, so much so that when Floyd Patterson eventually agreed to give Liston a shot at the heavyweight crown it was widely considered a match between good and evil. Seems simplistic and silly now, perhaps, but that’s the tag it carried.
There’s no doubt he was mixed up with undesirables but inside a boxing ring Liston didn’t need any help from the mob, or the devil, or anybody else. He had devastating power in both hands and was a technician – not a speedster like Ali, of course, but a technician nonetheless – who worked everything off one of the best jabs, if not the best, in heavyweight history.
After getting out of prison the second time Sonny set about mowing down the entire heavyweight division, a trail of destruction that eventually forced the title fight with Patterson. But it took some forcing.
Floyd’s manager, the same Cus D’Amato who would later develop Tyson, wanted nothing to do with Liston because he rightly feared that Sonny would overwhelm his champion. With that in mind, Cus used Liston’s notoriety as an excuse for denying him a title fight. What was just a ploy to D’Amato, however, went right to the heart of the matter with many Americans. They felt the heavyweight champion of the world should be a person who could be looked up to and admired unreservedly, a role model, not just the outstanding fighter on Earth. Charles ‘Sonny’ Liston wasn’t seen to fit that bill.
So the public at large might have been happy to go along with D’Amato in shunning Liston but Floyd Patterson himself, a proud man, saw continuing avoidance of the number one contender as an embarrassment he couldn’t live with. In Floyd’s mind, accommodating Liston was a duty.
That sense of honour got Patterson into the ring with Liston at Chicago in 1962, where he was annihilated inside one round, so losing the heavyweight crown.
After what he’d just done, and the manner in which he’d done it, you’d think Sonny would have captured some acclaim, but it didn’t happen like that. Sure he was respected out of fear but, while everybody knew who he was and what he’d achieved, few wanted anything to do with him.
Arriving back in Philadelphia after his title win, there was no greeting party, just an airport going about its normal day. Sonny’s wife and those close to him said he was deeply hurt by such indifference. The new champion would hardly have expected people to love him but the odd pat on the back wouldn’t have gone amiss, instead of which his coronation brought with it an atmosphere of gloom.
Prior to the title triumph, now having won it, and always thereafter – through the two defeats to Ali and the winding down of what was still a mostly winning career until being found dead by his wife on January 5th, 1971, Sonny Liston had pretty much the social standing of a leper.
Police records say Liston was a bad man yet those who knew him best insist otherwise. Whatever the reality on that count, I don’t doubt Sonny was a nicer guy at heart than media projection would have us believe.
One thing is for definite, though. At his peak, Sonny Liston was a truly great fighter. And formidable to the very end.
Chuck Wepner, legendary tough guy who was reputedly the inspiration for Stallone’s Rocky Balboa, lost to Liston in Sonny’s last ever fight and had nothing but praise for the former champ. Despite Liston being way past his best by then, Wepner was in awe of the power, saying later, “Every time he hit you, he broke something.”
Further, more specific, endorsement comes from Angelo Dundee. A few years ago - I can’t pinpoint the actual year, but we’re talking recent - Angelo was asked how he thought Sonny would have fared on the contemporary scene. “If he was around today,” said Dundee, without hesitation, “Liston would have a party. He’d destroy everything.”
As of now, 2008, I have no trouble visualizing exactly that.
Saturday, 19 July 2008
Robbery In Essex
John McDermott will never be a World heavyweight champion. It’s unlikely he’ll ever become European champion either. Right now, though, big John should be the heavyweight champion of Great Britain.
It’s not the case, however. Danny Williams somehow still has that honour after the judges rallied to his cause last night. Once it was announced we had a “majority” decision, a stench began to rise in the Goresbrook Leisure Centre, and it got stronger as the scores were revealed. 113-113, 113-114, and 111-114 to the winner and “still champion” Williams.
Danny had gone in a lopsided favourite, with few believing the challenger had much chance, but the contest turned into a proper struggle and it wasn’t just some sort of sentimental feel for the underdog that saw McDermott prevail in the eyes of any fair minded watcher.
It wasn’t a classic boxing match but was always tense and at times exciting, especially in the fifth when McDermott connected with a pretty uppercut before having himself a solo game of ping pong with Danny’s head as the ball. It was the fight’s definitive round.
Aside from that, Williams was the more aggressive of the two and tried to unload with hooks from time to time, but John blocked a lot of those and in the quieter moments pecked away with his own jab to scoring effect.
As in past fights Danny fired in some low punches along the way, which drew rebuke from ref Dave Parris, and later in the piece took to spitting out his gumshield repeatedly. Eventually, Williams had three points deducted in total, removing any doubt as to who should have got the nod.
When the decision was announced in his favour nobody could have looked more amazed than Williams himself.
Yet, in the immediate post-fight interview, Danny figuratively continued what he’d been doing in the ring, spitting his dummy out of the pram in a tirade at the referee. Parris, he claimed, had been trying to rob HIM of victory by “ridiculous” deduction of points when, in fact, the ref had shown plenty of patience before imposing penalties. On top of that, many third men would have stopped the fight in that fifth round when Danny was being battered without reply. Danny Williams got a fair shake in all departments and had no cause for complaint whatsoever.
As for John McDermott, his name should now be alongside previous holders of the Lonsdale belt like Tommy Farr, Henry Cooper, and Lennox Lewis. But it isn’t, is it, thanks to those three blind mice that served up the verdict.
Promoter Frank Maloney said it was armed robbery without a gun. It wasn’t quite that but it still stank and, if McDermott never gets to wear the coveted belt in the future, what happened last night will be an enduring travesty.
It’s not the case, however. Danny Williams somehow still has that honour after the judges rallied to his cause last night. Once it was announced we had a “majority” decision, a stench began to rise in the Goresbrook Leisure Centre, and it got stronger as the scores were revealed. 113-113, 113-114, and 111-114 to the winner and “still champion” Williams.
Danny had gone in a lopsided favourite, with few believing the challenger had much chance, but the contest turned into a proper struggle and it wasn’t just some sort of sentimental feel for the underdog that saw McDermott prevail in the eyes of any fair minded watcher.
It wasn’t a classic boxing match but was always tense and at times exciting, especially in the fifth when McDermott connected with a pretty uppercut before having himself a solo game of ping pong with Danny’s head as the ball. It was the fight’s definitive round.
Aside from that, Williams was the more aggressive of the two and tried to unload with hooks from time to time, but John blocked a lot of those and in the quieter moments pecked away with his own jab to scoring effect.
As in past fights Danny fired in some low punches along the way, which drew rebuke from ref Dave Parris, and later in the piece took to spitting out his gumshield repeatedly. Eventually, Williams had three points deducted in total, removing any doubt as to who should have got the nod.
When the decision was announced in his favour nobody could have looked more amazed than Williams himself.
Yet, in the immediate post-fight interview, Danny figuratively continued what he’d been doing in the ring, spitting his dummy out of the pram in a tirade at the referee. Parris, he claimed, had been trying to rob HIM of victory by “ridiculous” deduction of points when, in fact, the ref had shown plenty of patience before imposing penalties. On top of that, many third men would have stopped the fight in that fifth round when Danny was being battered without reply. Danny Williams got a fair shake in all departments and had no cause for complaint whatsoever.
As for John McDermott, his name should now be alongside previous holders of the Lonsdale belt like Tommy Farr, Henry Cooper, and Lennox Lewis. But it isn’t, is it, thanks to those three blind mice that served up the verdict.
Promoter Frank Maloney said it was armed robbery without a gun. It wasn’t quite that but it still stank and, if McDermott never gets to wear the coveted belt in the future, what happened last night will be an enduring travesty.
Sunday, 13 July 2008
One More Brit For Khan?
John Murray won the British lightweight title on Friday night with an impressive fifth round stoppage of fellow Mancunian Lee Meager. I’d expected Murray to win but have to admit his total dominance surprised me.
Meager, a former British champ himself, figured to make things tough for Murray, probably for the full twelve rounds. That never looked likely, though. Not that there was any lack of effort on Lee’s part. He gave it the full try and let his punches go as best he could, but Murray was much too good.
In going to 25-0 as a pro, John Murray turned in a definite career best. I still don’t think he can be successful internationally, not on the world stage anyway, but you’ve got to give credit where due. Murray was hot all the way. His punch picking was first class, his combinations sharp and accurate, his attacks incessant. Defensive frailties will, I feel, find him out in a higher grade but on this showing he’s a more than decent fighter.
The win, and the manner of it, might set up a double title match against Commonwealth champ Amir Khan. I’ve said, and still believe, it’s time for Khan to move beyond domestic opposition, but a fight with Murray would make some sense.
Despite his good showing on Friday, the Mancunian hasn’t got skills or tricks that Khan hasn’t seen before, so the fight would have little educational value for him in the technical sense, but it would provide the perfect opportunity for Amir to show he can control his emotions in the heat of battle.
Murray v Khan would be a local derby. Bolton’s Khan is booked to box next at Manchester’s M.E.N. Arena on September 6th and he’s probably a big enough draw himself to pack the place out no matter who the foe, but with Manchester’s own Murray in the other corner the joint would really be heaving.
With local pride at stake, and a seething atmosphere, Murray would want to goad Amir into standing his ground and having a mad tear up. And Khan’s inclination would be to oblige. Amir needs to show he’s above that, though, by proving he has the character to elbow the macho impulse and go into pure boxing mode. That’s the key to his future.
John Murray looked the goods against Meager, but Meager was right in front of him. And Meager isn’t Amir Khan, or anything like.
If he sticks to his boxing Khan would figure to gradually bust Murray up, should they actually get to fight. But would Khan stick to his boxing or would he allow pre-fight rhetoric from Murray to get under his skin and have him fight the other man’s fight.
Amir could probably go head to head with John and still win, but if that was what he chose to do there’d be some transatlantic onlookers rubbing their hands.
As a fighter, Amir Khan is exciting but vulnerable. As a boxer, Amir Khan is brilliant. Choosing which way to go should be a no brainer.
Meager, a former British champ himself, figured to make things tough for Murray, probably for the full twelve rounds. That never looked likely, though. Not that there was any lack of effort on Lee’s part. He gave it the full try and let his punches go as best he could, but Murray was much too good.
In going to 25-0 as a pro, John Murray turned in a definite career best. I still don’t think he can be successful internationally, not on the world stage anyway, but you’ve got to give credit where due. Murray was hot all the way. His punch picking was first class, his combinations sharp and accurate, his attacks incessant. Defensive frailties will, I feel, find him out in a higher grade but on this showing he’s a more than decent fighter.
The win, and the manner of it, might set up a double title match against Commonwealth champ Amir Khan. I’ve said, and still believe, it’s time for Khan to move beyond domestic opposition, but a fight with Murray would make some sense.
Despite his good showing on Friday, the Mancunian hasn’t got skills or tricks that Khan hasn’t seen before, so the fight would have little educational value for him in the technical sense, but it would provide the perfect opportunity for Amir to show he can control his emotions in the heat of battle.
Murray v Khan would be a local derby. Bolton’s Khan is booked to box next at Manchester’s M.E.N. Arena on September 6th and he’s probably a big enough draw himself to pack the place out no matter who the foe, but with Manchester’s own Murray in the other corner the joint would really be heaving.
With local pride at stake, and a seething atmosphere, Murray would want to goad Amir into standing his ground and having a mad tear up. And Khan’s inclination would be to oblige. Amir needs to show he’s above that, though, by proving he has the character to elbow the macho impulse and go into pure boxing mode. That’s the key to his future.
John Murray looked the goods against Meager, but Meager was right in front of him. And Meager isn’t Amir Khan, or anything like.
If he sticks to his boxing Khan would figure to gradually bust Murray up, should they actually get to fight. But would Khan stick to his boxing or would he allow pre-fight rhetoric from Murray to get under his skin and have him fight the other man’s fight.
Amir could probably go head to head with John and still win, but if that was what he chose to do there’d be some transatlantic onlookers rubbing their hands.
As a fighter, Amir Khan is exciting but vulnerable. As a boxer, Amir Khan is brilliant. Choosing which way to go should be a no brainer.
Monday, 7 July 2008
Thompson Not The Man To Impale Wlad
In the week when Wladimir Klitschko is about to make what looks a reasonably safe defence of his two quarters of the heavyweight crown, my thought is that things would be much more interesting if it were Chris Arreola and not Tony Thompson going against the Ukranian next Saturday.
Not that Thompson doesn’t deserve his chance. He won an eliminator and has that entitlement. But Tony doesn’t strike me as a guy who has the confidence to try anything too bold, which is a shame really because if he just stays cautious he’ll likely be outboxed and ground down inside six rounds.
Should Thompson surprise by being aggressive and looking to put a bit of panic into Klitschko’s work he could leave himself open to the same fate suffered by Ray Austin, but to have any hope of winning he’s surely going to have to chance his arm a bit. Klitschko is an impressive physical specimen, and technically sound, but in the interests of politeness let’s say he doesn’t exactly have a Hall of Fame chin. Trouble is, I just can’t see Tony Thompson getting to exploit it.
Chris Arreola might, though. Which is not to say that Chris would beat Klitschko. Maybe Arreola is not, and never will be, a world class fighter but the one thing about him we know for sure is that he likes to fight, loves to get in there and let his punches fly.
Okay, Chris is at least another win away from being a contender, but beating Witherspoon has put him near and if he can mangle a Tua or a Rahman or somebody of that ilk next time up he’ll be in the mix for sure. Unlike a lot of other guys, given a crack at Klitschko, Chris Arreola wouldn’t err on the side of caution. He’d go straight for the mandible.
Not that Thompson doesn’t deserve his chance. He won an eliminator and has that entitlement. But Tony doesn’t strike me as a guy who has the confidence to try anything too bold, which is a shame really because if he just stays cautious he’ll likely be outboxed and ground down inside six rounds.
Should Thompson surprise by being aggressive and looking to put a bit of panic into Klitschko’s work he could leave himself open to the same fate suffered by Ray Austin, but to have any hope of winning he’s surely going to have to chance his arm a bit. Klitschko is an impressive physical specimen, and technically sound, but in the interests of politeness let’s say he doesn’t exactly have a Hall of Fame chin. Trouble is, I just can’t see Tony Thompson getting to exploit it.
Chris Arreola might, though. Which is not to say that Chris would beat Klitschko. Maybe Arreola is not, and never will be, a world class fighter but the one thing about him we know for sure is that he likes to fight, loves to get in there and let his punches fly.
Okay, Chris is at least another win away from being a contender, but beating Witherspoon has put him near and if he can mangle a Tua or a Rahman or somebody of that ilk next time up he’ll be in the mix for sure. Unlike a lot of other guys, given a crack at Klitschko, Chris Arreola wouldn’t err on the side of caution. He’d go straight for the mandible.
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