Far be it from me to suggest that a fellow writer is a card-carrying lunatic who wouldn’t know talent if it sat on him and wriggled. But I came across an internet article recently which espoused the view, in all seriousness, that Bernard Hopkins is more talented than Oscar De La Hoya. I had to lie down to laugh properly at that one.

Bernard Hopkins is the luckiest mediocrity alive. A light-heavy debutant, he boiled down to hammer his way through little guys and into the hearts of the US media giants. They wanted a darling and they picked him – like a rich old lady picks the gardener. He was in the right place at the right time.

The only names of note on his record: Trinidad, a career welterweight, who failed to adapt on his feet and was badly let down by his corner in that fight. And Oscar, who came up from super-featherweight, but still managed for eight rounds to outbox a man who entered the ring at an unofficial 169 lbs. One good meal and Hopkins could’ve weighed in with Maccarinelli.

B-Hop welshed on a deal to fight Calzaghe for £3 million, opting instead to meet Carl Daniels for £1 million. What does that tell you about his willingness to meet a class act his own size?

But oh, B-Hop is lucky. For with that heavy paw to the short rib he handed Oscar his only uncontroversial loss.

There were the Mosley fights, of course. The first split decision we could almost live with. Shane boxed beautifully in that fight – just not beautifully enough to win it on my card. But it was the rematch which left the truly sour taste, all three judges delivering the same score of 115-113 for Mosley in a bout which saw De La Hoya dominate the ring to outland him by 3 to 1.

The judges, who were favouring Oscar unanimously in the earlier rounds, suddenly changed their minds for the later ones. The justification for this just isn’t there in the fight footage, and it led Oscar’s promoter Bob Arum to accuse the Nevada State Athletic Commission of putting up bent officials.

At around the same time the FBI, pursuing their own tip-top secret agenda, raided Bob Arum’s offices for evidence of tampering with medical records and found nothing. It was unclear why Arum would want a fight thrown against his own boxer (this was before their bitter falling-out). To the ludicrous suggestion that the fighters themselves may have been involved for a price, Mosley’s promoter Gary Shaw echoed the thoughts of many when he retorted that you’d have to promise those guys their own private continents to give them something they didn’t already have.

Anyway. It’s all water under the bridge now. Oscar and Shane were childhood buddies and now they’re business partners in Golden Boy Promotions. All’s well that ends well.

But one defeat in particular must still rankle for Oscar. He can probably live with not being a middleweight (or a light-heavyweight), and no doubt he and Shane have drawn a veil over that rematch so they can enjoy family barbecues together.

It’s the Trinidad fight that must come back to haunt the Golden Boy in the wee small hours, if he ever has trouble sleeping. That was the first loss. Everyone knows that it’s better for a fighter to lose early in his career, deserved or not, so he can get over it. The taller the record, the harder the fall. Oscar was coming in at 31-0 (25 inside). He had beaten his idol Julio Cesar Chavez twice, decisioned Hector Camacho, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Pernell Whitaker and Ike Quartey, and was coming off an 11th round knockout of the solid Oba Carr (who had just defeated Frankie Randall).

Sometimes comments made on press row after a fight have a way of lingering in the public consciousness, so that they come to be accepted as part of the body of boxing history, repeated and handed down as fact. One such is the ‘truism’ that Oscar fought eight rounds against Trinidad and then went on his bike for the last four. If this had actually happened, then he should have won the fight anyway, having won those eight rounds.

But it didn’t happen. Watch the tape.

De La Hoya fought a brilliant tactical battle from the opening bell, his punches cleaner and more varied, outworking and outlanding the Puerto Rican star in every round. Tito was walking into punches and his shots were usually caught on the arms or gloves. Oscar forced him into the inelegant role of following a puncher around just to get picked off. Going into the seventh, the HBO team said they wouldn’t be surprised if Oscar had a 5-1 lead on every judge’s scorecard. George Foreman said, ominously as it happened, that he had seen such crazy scoring in the past, they could have it 5-1 for Trinidad. Everyone laughed.

The seventh round was a great performance from Oscar. Trinidad couldn’t catch him, couldn’t land. Oscar used his feet to deliver a lesson on how to hit and take nothing back, darting in and out to land his combinations, making Felix miss. But one judge, Bob Logist, somehow scored this one for Trinidad.

Going into the tenth, Larry Merchant said, ‘I think on everybody’s scorecard here, Felix Trinidad is going to have to do something dramatic soon to turn this around.’ De La Hoya again boxed beautifully on his toes, keeping Tito on the end of his jab and slipping in to barrage to the body with some wicked combinations. Yet, astonishingly, the judges scored this one unanimously for Trinidad.

How could this be? Felix landed nothing of note and was being systematically demolished. The least cynical explanation is that the judges were being treated to a display of boxing skill they weren’t equipped to understand. They could see only that one fighter, Trinidad, was walking forwards. The fact that he was failing to connect while being fed leather, had not registered with them. Oscar’s performance was pearls before swine.

For those who had hoped to see a toe-to-toe battle, the eleventh round must have been frustrating. Oscar was moving fast again, and while he continued to jab he threw only two sets of combinations. They landed and hurt, however, particularly that big left to the head when Trinidad tried to rope him. This was the round that made the blood ‘n’ guts enthusiasts start talking about Oscar running. (They just backdated it a little after the fight.)

The last round saw Trinidad catching Oscar with a couple of good left hooks to the body. But De La Hoya was still moving, popping him with the jab. Larry Merchant conceded that Oscar may not have endeared himself to the fans by failing to provide a slugfest. ‘But he probably has endeared himself to the officials, and he’s endeared himself to his trainers Robert Alcazar and Bill Clancy, who begged him for weeks to come here and box.’
Judge Glen Hamada’s score was announced first, a draw. Oscar looked disbelieving, but worse was to come. Jerry Roth 113-115, Bob Logist 114-115, both for lucky Felix.

‘I thought I put up the boxing lesson of my life,’ said Oscar. ‘I know I won. People were expecting me to duke it out, but I was making him miss and making him pay. I’m hurt. I’m hurt inside, emotionally.’

‘Because your plan didn’t work?’ asked Merchant.

‘My plan did work! I thought I had the fight won easy, by outboxing him and outclassing him. People know I’m a warrior, I can stand in there with anyone. But I wanted to demonstrate a boxing show. I guess people didn’t appreciate that tonight.’

‘The people in your corner,’ said Merchant, ‘Were obviously telling you it was working, and you believed them?’

‘Of course. It was working. I felt in my heart that it was working.’

What could Oscar do, but go back to flooring people? Derrell Coley was first, then Gatti and Yori Boy Campas soon after.

But his most satisfying win has to be his eleventh-round stoppage of ‘El Feroz’, Fernando Vargas, who came into the ring looking like a bull on steroids. No coincidence, as it happened.

Career-Best Performance
De La Hoya v Vargas – next

The ‘Golden Pair’ stepped in with the current WBC welterweight champion shortly after watching their US co-promoter Oscar de la Hoya complete his final spar ahead of his highly anticipated showdown against Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand on Saturday night.

Lightweight Murray and welterweight O’Donnell, who both box on the stellar event, have been using de la Hoya’s LA gym as a training base since travelling to America last Tuesday.

“It’s been some day,” former Junior Olympic Gold medallist and English welterweight champion O’Donnell – who will box Mexican Christian Solano over ten rounds – said last night.

“I will never forget it. I’m just 21 and I have sparred Shane Mosley. Not many young fighters coming through get the opportunities I do. I regularly spar Carl Froch, (standout British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion), Junior Witter, (WBC World light welterweight champion), and now I have sparred Shane Mosley.”

He continued: “Both Shane and Oscar took time out for us, even though it is a very busy week. They went out of their way to give me support and advice. It meant a lot to me.”

O’Donnell sparred with Mosley over five rounds, whilst his Hennessy Sports teammate and history making WBC Youth World champion Murray worked over four.

“You can’t buy this kind of experience,” said Murray. “It’s invaluable. It’s something I will never forget. Shane, Oscar and their team are class acts. It was great to be around them and people like Freddie Roach and Jack Mosley.

“I learnt a lot in those four rounds against Shane. It was easy to tell why he has won four world titles at three weights. I was pleased with my own work though; I’m really up for Saturday. Both John and me are in great shape, we are on fire.”

The Golden Pair have since relocated to Vegas with the Golden Boy team, their trainers Robert McCracken, (O’Donnell), and Joe Gallagher, (Murray), and promoter Mick Hennessy.

“It was absolutely brilliant to watch that sparring,” said Hennessy yesterday. “They both gave an excellent account of themselves and Shane couldn’t speak highly enough about them afterwards.

“He said O’Donnell was full of tricks and he loved his style and fast hands. He thought Murray was a real handful, punched hard and was very strong for a lightweight. He said they were both great young talents.

“You cannot put a price on the opportunity John Murray and O’Donnell were given. Oscar and Shane are both absolute gentleman. It was an inspiration to see them putting something back into the sport, particularly when you consider the scale of the fight Oscar is going into this week.”

It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for, correction the moment I’ve been waiting for considering I’ve been getting round to compiling this feature since January. Click the link below to discover where we rank the leading fighters in Britain. We also list the champions currently holding traditional titles from the heavyweights to the flyweights.

Heavyweight

1. Matt Skelton
2. Michael Sprott, English & Commonwealth champion
3. Audley Harrison
4. Danny Williams, British champion
5. Scott Gammer
6. Mickey Steeds
7. Colin Kenna
8. Pele Reid
9. Mark Krence
10. John McDermott

Cruiserweight

1. David Haye
2. Enzo Maccarinelli, WBO champion
3. Herbie Hide
4. Mark Hobson
5. Robert Norton, English champion
6. Buster Keeton, British champion
7. Tommy Eastwood
8. Chris P Bacon
9. Lee Swaby
10. Carl Wright

Light-heavyweight

1. Clinton Woods, IBF champion
2. Dean Francis, Commonwealth champion
3. Brian Magee
4. Ovill McKenzie
5. Peter Haymer, English champion
6. Tony Oakey
7. Amer Khan
8. Ayittey Powers
9. Andrew Lowe
10. Steve Spartacus

Super-middleweight

1. Joe Calzaghe, WBO champion
2. Carl Froch, British & Commonwealth champion
3. Robin Reid
4. Glenn Catley
5. Matthew Barney
6. Tony Dodson, English champion
7. Kreshnick Qato
8. Joey Vegas
9. Nathan Cleverly
10. Jamie Hearn

Middleweight

1. Howard Eastman, British & Commonwealth champion
2. Wayne Elcock, English champion
3. Gary Lockett
4. Richard Williams
5. Ryan Rhodes
6. Steve Bendall
7. Paul Smith
8. Darren McDermott
9. Matthew Thirlwell
10. Darren Barker

Light-middleweight

1. Jamie Moore, British champion
2. Michael Jones
3. Bradley Pryce, Commonwealth champion
4. Steve Conway
5. Andrew Facey, English champion
6. Matthew Macklin
7. Wayne Alexander
8. Thomas McDonagh
9. Anthony Small
10. Gary Woolcombe

Welterweight

1. Ali Nuumbembe, Commonwealth champion
2. Kevin Anderson, British champion
3. Michael Jennings
4. Takaloo
5. Eamonn Magee
6. Colin McNeil
7. Tony Doherty
8. John O’Donnell, English champion
9. Ross Minter
10. John Fewkes

Light-welterweight

1. Ricky Hatton
2. Junior Witter, WBC champion
3. Ajose Olusegun
4. Ted Bami, European champion
5. Young Mutley
6. Barry Morrison, British champion
7. Lenny Daws
8. Colin Lynes
9. David Barnes
10. Nigel Wright, English champion

Lightweight

1. Graham Earl
2. Jon Thaxton, British champion
3. Willie Limmond, Commonwealth champion
4. Lee Meager
5. John Murray
6. Dave Stewart
7. Scott Lawton, English champion
8. Amir Khan
9. Gary Reid
10. Michael Gomez

Super-featherweight

1. Alex Arthur
2. Carl Johanneson, British champion
3. Kevin Mitchell, Commonwealth champion
4. Ricky Burns
5. Steven Bell
6. Ian Wilson
7. Kevin O’Hara
8. Femi Fehintola
9. Henry Castle
10. Martin Lindsay

Featherweight

1. Nicky Cook
2. Jackson Asiku, Commonwealth champion
3. Michael Hunter
4. Derry Matthews
5. John Simpson, British champion
6. Andy Morris
7. Stephen Foster Jnr
8. Choi Tseveenpurev
9. Rendall Munroe
10. Ryan Barrett

Super-bantamweight

1. Bernard Dunne, European champion
2. Esham Pickering, British champion
3. Marc Callaghan, English champion
4. Isaac Ward, Commonwealth champion
5. Sean Hughes

Bantamweight

1. Tshifhiwa Munyai, Commonwealth champion
2. Jason Booth
3. Martin Power, British champion
4. Lee Haskins
5. Jamie McDonnell, English champion

Flyweight

1. Chris Edwards, English champion
2. Dale Robinson
3. Ian Napa
4. Don Broadhurst
5. Usman Ahmed

Overseas fighters whose careers are now permanently based in the UK appear in the top 10. Fighters are penalised for inactivity. Comments welcome to benjcarey@yahoo.co.uk

Undefeated Manchester star Murray, 22, will have his 21st professional fight on the undercard of the highly anticipated showdown between Oscar de la Hoya, his US co-promoter, and Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand.

Murray’s team-mate John O’Donnell, the English Welterweight champion, will also feature. ‘The Golden One,’ who has strong Irish heritage, boxes Mexico’s Christian Solano over ten rounds.

The opponent for Murray, who impressed US fight fans after impressively outpointing Johnny Walker on the Lacy-Reid undercard in Florida in 2005, is set to be announced shortly.

The history making WBC World Youth Lightweight champion would have liked to have seen Khan in the opposite corner, particularly after his recent comments in the press, but he rejected the opportunity to make his US debut. Instead Khan faces Commonwealth champion Willie Limmond later this summer.

“I think Khan’s a complete joker,” said Murray. “He makes all these claims and then won’t back them up. I’m still waiting for an answer. When and where was this spar meant to have happened? It’s a fairy tale.

“If he thinks he can play with me, he may as well prove it. If you listened to him it would be a mismatch, but that shouldn’t be a problem. I don’t reckon he’s fought a live opponent yet.

“His next fight looks like another easy touch to me. He knows I’m a tougher fighter than Willie Limmond. He has fought once in almost a year and a half, is really a super-featherweight and doesn’t hit hard. Amir is too big for Limmond.

“I’m not surprised he didn’t want to fight me over here, or anywhere else for that matter. I believe he’s all talk. My promoter Mick Hennessy has told them that we want the fight and that it can happen further down the line, all he has do is step up to the plate.

“In the meantime I’m going to continue a proper apprenticeship. I’m doing things the right way, where as other lightweight prospects in Britain are just fighting fringe fighters who are there in front of them to be bashed up.”

Murray has been training in the same Los Angeles gym that Oscar de la Hoya has been using since arriving in America. The Golden Boy Promotions and Hennessy Sports teams relocate to Vegas tonight.

“This is what prospects should be doing,” said Murray, who is soaking up the atmosphere in America. “The experience I will be getting by boxing on such a big show will stand me in good stead for the future. I’m only 22 and there aren’t many fighters who have got this experience at this point in their careers.

“There aren’t many other fighters from Britain fighting over here full stop. John and I want to show the world there are two great British fighters coming through.”

“The media attention will be massive for this event. So we will be looking to put on a great performance and shine in front of everyone. We have both been on fire in the gym.

“There will be a bit of nerves in there but that will make me better on the night. I’ve fought in America before and the occasion brought the best out of me. It made me sharp and I’m going to want to knock my opponent out on May 5th.”

Countdown to May 5
by Suzanne Nield

‘Trophy Scalps’

Oscar De La Hoya v Julio Cesar Chavez (1)
7 June 1996 Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas

Floyd Mayweather Jnr defeated solid, world class fighters like Genaro Hernandez and Diego Corrales to prove his credentials. Oscar De La Hoya deposed a living legend.

This was the 100th professional bout for Julio Cesar Chavez, who had been in the paid ranks since the age of 17. Chavez was, and is, a cult idol in Mexico. He could command audiences of 132,000 devoted fans, such as that which had turned up to the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City to see him take Greg Haugen apart three years previously.

Haugen had incensed the Mexican public by suggesting that most of Chavez’s opponents had been ‘Tijuana taxi-drivers’. It gave them great satisfaction when, after five rounds, the American was forced to mumble through broken teeth, ‘Those were tough Tijuana taxi drivers.’

Chavez had defended the WBC super-featherweight title for three years before moving up to take the WBA lightweight title from Edwin Rosario. He soon added the WBC, then progressed to take that organisation’s light-welter title from Floyd’s Uncle Roger (whom he’d knocked out in two rounds previously, and now forced to retire on his stool). Tonight’s bout was for that belt, held for seven long years.

On his record, Chavez had a single loss, by split decision to Frankie Randall, in a fight where Chavez twice had points deducted for low blows (and unjustly accused referee Richard Steele of incompetence). There was also a controversial draw with Pernell Whitaker. Chavez had fought the best and had never, ever been stopped. Oscar De La Hoya was about to change that.

Unbeaten in 21 fights at this stage, Oscar was coming off a run of stoppages. As Larry Merchant said, it was a case of ‘youth, talent and ambition against experience, will and pride.’ The Golden Boy was facing his own childhood hero, the man he’d had in his sights since his debut. This was a big deal for him.

Round 1. Oscar gets a jab in to the body, then a quick right cross through Chavez’s guard. Chavez touches his brow. Oscar drives forward with the jab and lands again with the right. Blood starts to flow from a cut above the champion’s left eye. Within seconds, his face is awash with it. Referee Joe Cortez calls time for the doctor to check it out. The cut is deep. George Foreman, commentating, thinks, ‘That cut was opened in training. There’s been a big cover up.’ As it turns out, he’s dead right.
The doctor allows it to continue. Chavez turns it on, aware he has little time. De La Hoya gets in a right hand to the body and a lovely uppercut. He’s landed the cleaner punches and takes the round.

Into the second, and Oscar avoids Chavez’s jab to make him stumble off-balance and catch a left hand to the head. Oscar drives with the jab to reopen the cut. Chavez gets in a left hook but Oscar retaliates with one of his own. Chavez counters his one-two combination with a surprise right to the head. The crowd, unusually quiet to this point, begins to chant, ‘Mexico! Mexico!’ But Oscar is outworking the champion to take another round, catching him in the final seconds with a right to the body on his way in.

The 23-year-old challenger continues to work a tough jab, buzzing around Chavez’s head, stinging him constantly. Chavez is desperate to get inside where he prefers to work, is physically pushed away and looks incensed. Oscar gets a warning from Joe Cortez.

The champion comes out aggressively into the fourth, but takes a strong left on his way in. Unfazed, he continues bulling forward and lands a partially-blocked left hook to the head. Oscar gets the distance back with a long left hand, starching him with a counter hook as Chavez throws his own. Oscar slips under the Mexican’s jab to land his own to the body and upstairs. Chavez is continually short with the jab as Oscar’s footwork is terrific. As Chavez tries to pin him on the ropes, De La Hoya holds him off with a glove to the top of his head, infuriating him, and slides away. As Chavez plunges forward, he takes a strong pair of left body hooks and another left to his cut brow.

Oscar moves in to deliver an astonishing series of combinations – left jab, overhand right, left uppercut to the chin. Three left hooks, and a right to the top of the head. A pause, while Oscar circles, picking his moment, before darting back in to land another left uppercut, followed up with hooks to the head, some blocked. Another pause, as Chavez is stalked like a wounded animal at bay in centre ring, his face a bloody mess. De La Hoya delivers a double uppercut and a left hook to the ribs. Chavez forces him off, his head buried in Oscar’s shoulder, avoiding further shots on the ropes.

Cortez calls time again to look at the cut. Now the doctor isn’t happy. He stops the bout at 2 minutes 37 seconds of round four, to make De La Hoya the new WBC light-welter champion. Oscar had won all three previous rounds on the cards of all judges. Foreman: ‘He’s a phenomenon, that’s what he is.’

Oscar explained that his game plan had been to give Chavez something to think about which would distract him. ‘He’s known to get cut and have a tender nose.’ Oscar believed that he had broken that nose like he did for Hernandez.

Interviewed afterwards, Julio Cesar Chavez said that he’d been hurt on the brow previously, but after 3 months of preparation did not want to postpone the fight. He insisted that Oscar did not have great punching power. ‘I didn’t even feel his punches. I just couldn’t see because of the blood.’
Never a gracious loser, he issued a statement that Oscar had been lucky to escape because of the cut.

That wasn’t how most onlookers saw it. Larry Merchant thought, ‘The old guy was never in this fight because Oscar didn’t let him get in there. This kid is like a debutant with a knife in her purse. He looks like a Golden Boy but he has iron and lead in his gloves.’

Oscar felt Chavez’s contempt keenly, however. He would have to wait another two years to get Chavez in the ring again, and when he did he fought a very different sort of fight. Oscar stood toe to toe with the Mexican in a gruelling battle fought Chavez’s way, to prove that he could win on power punching. It wasn’t the game plan his trainers had worked out, he rarely used his terrific jab, and by the end of the fight he was more bruised up than he’d ever been before. But he forced Chavez to quit after eight rounds and admit that De La Hoya deserved his respect.

Chavez always claimed that his corner stopped that bout.

‘Trophy Scalps’

By Suzanne Nield

Floyd Mayweather Jnr v Diego Corrales
20 January 2001 MGM Grand, Las Vegas

Corrales was a two-time world title holder coming into the bout at 33-0, 27 inside. Pretty Boy, at 24-0 with 18 kayos, was making his sixth defence of the WBC super-feather title taken from Genaro Hernandez. Corrales gained 16 pounds between the weigh-in and the ring while Floyd was on the button.

Pretty Boy entered to custom-made rap music, prompting the comment from HBO’s Larry Merchant that, ‘Sometimes fighters come in with these hard edged rap lyrics and they fight like the sound of music or Britney Spears.’ By the end of the night, however, Harold Lederman was saying, ‘I don’t think I’ve seen an exhibition of boxing like this since Willie Pep.’ It was sometimes said of Pep that, if you listened closely, you would hear music as you watched. It wasn’t Britney.

Floyd’s work in this fight was an executive masterpiece. He spent the first round knocking the wind out of his opponent with a stabbing jab to the pit of the stomach, likened by George Foreman to a syringe sucking all the juice out of Corrales. In the second , Floyd concentrated on the head, his main scoring punch an overhand right with some weight behind it, sometimes used to set up a left hook. Then in the third, Floyd’s combinations started to fly, the timing and workrate calculated to frustrate and confuse.

Corrales had come in prepared to lose the opening rounds, but his plan was to hit Floyd anywhere and everywhere, to slow him down and soften him up for later. However, he was only given the chance to land single shots, and those chances became fewer as Floyd’s rhythm began to flow. Whenever he got lose enough to land, Floyd paid him back in spades. He was just too fast.

Pretty Boy boxed another brilliant round in the fifth, constantly moving, making Corrales miss badly, landing with ease himself. In these initial stanzas, Floyd’s plan was mainly to inflict psychological damage. But then at the close of the sixth, he landed a huge left hook to the head, rocking Corrales to his boots.

It was a taste of things to come. Opening the seventh, another surprise left put Diego on the canvas for the first time in his professional career. Floyd was patient – he didn’t try to rush things. Now, however, he began to put together more adventurous sequences – a left upstairs and then down to the short rib, followed by more aggressive right hooks to the head and a long right to take Corrales’ head back. This was a ghastly round for Diego – in the final minute he went down again from another left hook. After the count, Floyd poured it on with a barrage, and this time it was a right uppercut that floored Corrales. He made it out of the round, beating the count before the bell.

‘I’m going to stop this fight if you don’t throw punches,’ warned Miguel Diaz in his corner. (Diaz had worked for Mayweather before being offered a more lucrative post as co-trainer on the Corrales team. He said Floyd was a real gentleman about it.)

Diego’s legs were still unsteady going into the next round. He stumbled in the opening seconds, ruled a slip, and was missing with wild left hooks. The comment from the HBO team was that he was about to set an embarrassing CompuBox record, landing in single digits for eight rounds on the trot. Into the ninth, Floyd cracked out another left hook to put Corrales in slow motion, followed by consecutive overhand rights. His speed was otherworldly. Corrales rallied to get in a right to the head, and landed a good body shot as he backed Floyd up momentarily, but Mayweather slipped away. Once again, Diego went down on a slip. He looked shot as he told his corner, ‘I’m giving you guys everything I’ve got.’

Opening the tenth, Floyd pushed Corrales down blatantly. Referee Richard Steele should have taken a point. Then a legitimate left hook did the flooring – not a heavy punch, Corrales just had nothing left in the tank. It seemed pointless to continue, but Corrales beat the count again – only for Floyd to pounce, battering him down with a double right hook. It was the fifth knockdown, and Corrales’ stepfather Ray Woods threw in the towel at 2 minutes 19 seconds of the tenth round. Punchstats showed that Floyd landed 220 shots to Diego’s 60 during the fight.

Corrales was devastated, and livid about the stoppage. He felt he deserved to complete the last two rounds. Richard Steele had to hold him to prevent him attacking his stepfather. It was actually Floyd who stepped in to try to soothe him. There had been a lot of trash talking before the fight, but Pretty Boy said it was time to leave that behind. He told Diego that he respected him as a fighter and they should both get on with their careers.

Interviewed by Larry Merchant after the fight, Corrales was emotional. He said that he hadn’t planned on a loss, that it would be very hard to rebound from. Merchant made the sensible suggestion that he may be better off at lightweight. In that division Corrales notably handed Acelino Freitas his first loss and defeated Castillo in their original meeting.

Floyd defended his super-feather title twice more before moving up a division to tackle Castillo for the lightweight version.

More of that in ‘Controversy’, coming next.

by Suzanne Nield

The Rest of the Bill:

The expected clash between Peter Oboh and Tony Oakey for the British light heavyweight title did not take place. A ring announcement by Oakey went thus:

‘Peter Oboh has refused to fight. It’s not my fault, it’s not Frank’s fault. I’m absolutely gutted.’No further details were forthcoming, and there was no way to get close to events on the ground thanks to the uniformed jobsworths holding us at bay.

It appears that Oboh deliberately sabotaged the contest. He was aware that he had decided not to fight the day previously, but turned up to the Arena, allowed Tony Oakey to change and warm up, then announced his decision. Why he chose to do this is uncertain.

Frank Maloney offered him a three-fight deal if he would go ahead with the bout. This was refused, Oboh simply saying, ‘I stopped Tony Oakey and it was called no contest.’ He then claimed that his managers Spencer Fearon and Dean Powell were aware of his decision, an allegation they deny utterly.

British Boxing Board of Control Secretary Simon Block says that the light-heavyweight title has now been declared vacant. He said, ‘I am pretty confident you will not see Peter Oboh in a British ring again.’

Oakey was deeply disappointed, saying, ‘I was going to take the man out no-one wanted to fight.’ He feels particularly for his Portsmouth fans who travelled to see the match.

Robert Lloyd-Taylor v Craig Watson
Welterweight

Craig Watson’s last outing was against the talented John Fewkes, who was technically far in advance of anyone Craig had faced to that point. He lost his unbeaten record that night to go to 7-1-0, but many thought he did well against an opponent who came too early for him.

Lloyd-Taylor, at 13-4-0 coming in, was very negative through much of this 8-round bout. He’d hang his lead hand out there like it was washing to dry and let it flap in the breeze. He made nothing of his height and reach advantage. At first he kept his left elbow nice and high, which was just the right defence against Watson’s heavy left hooks from his southpaw stance, but Craig was quite capable of switching to get past it.

Watson got off first with his right-hand jab and was throwing multiple hooks in round one, well blocked at first, but having more and more success. He got the more experienced man on the ropes in round 2, but failed to keep him there. Taylor came back with a good uppercut. He was looking more alive and countering well in the third as Watson stepped up the pressure, but looked more vulnerable as the round wore o. Taylor landed some big right hands in the fourth, but then seemed to slacken his workrate again. Watson landed a strong left hook in orthodox as the sixth opened. In his natural stance he had begun to utilise a strong overhand left and this came into play in this round to huge effect to put Taylor down. It looked as though his knee had collapsed but the fall was the result of a punch and duly counted. Watson was already ahead on my scorecard. He tried to follow it up with a couple more good hooks to the head but the round expired. Those big left hands had given Craig bags of confidence, and he was slapping away Taylor’s jab with the back of his hand like it was a mere irritation through round seven, putting together sharp little combinations, and showing off that switching ability. Taylor caught him with a left hand on the way in, however. Watson nailed Taylor in the closing minute with a very strong left body hook for another trip to the canvas.

Taylor came out fighting for the final round, landing a left body hook but he’d been tiring for a while now and was warned to keep above the belt. Another signature overhand left to the head from Craig, who was showboating happily by now, and a double jab set another cracking one up, to put Taylor on the floor again.

The referee Jeff Hines’s score was 78-72. Personally, I thought it was a total landslide for Watson.

There were many hopes for Lloyd-Taylor, but no-one watching this fight objectively would be in any doubt as to who was the more talented, and certainly hungrier, fighter in there. Now Watson can forget about Fewkes and build on this excellent performance.

Sam Webb v Alexander Spitjo
Light-middleweight

Sam came out with all guns blazing, but Spitjo landed a big right hook and an uppercut early. He was presenting lots of angles to an opponent who looked at first like he wouldn’t be able to figure him out. A recent debutant, Spitjo landed some excellent combinations, like the right over the top of the jab followed by a steep left to the chest, which were giving Webb pause. But the Chislehurst man clipped him with a hook, then knocked his head back badly with an uppercut. Another right hand, then a big left and Spitjo was stunned on his feet. The ref Richie Davies jumped in to save him at 2 mins 11 seconds of round 1.

Sam Webb improves to 6-1-0 (3), Spitjo dips to 0-2-0 but shouldn’t be discouraged at this early stage because his potential was very evident.

Akaash Bhatia v Dai Davies

Featherweight
4 rounds

I was interested to see how the young Welsh super feather champ would fare in this match. He’s a tough little boxer, coming off a solid defence of his title against Riaz Durgahed in February.

The House boxer Bhatia is being talked up as ‘gifted’ and his promoters looked to him to ‘kick start a run of stoppages tonight.’ He’s had one knockout so far, against Sergio Tertii in January.

This was a fast-paced contest in which both fighters showed that they had speed, aggression and variety.

Bhatia dominated the first round with a good overhand right and multiple hooks, but Davies was always coming forward and looking for a way in. In the second there was a lot of close work and Akaash again had the better of it on the inside, with two right uppercuts to the heart and a good left hook. Davies landed a cracking left head shot, however, and his workrate at long range was very high. A drawn round for me. The third was a close one, but for me Davies took it as he worked a strong double jab and overhand right, with a couple of left hooks landing cleanly. Bhatia was landing a long left and caught him to the sternum on his way in. The Harrow boy lost his gumshield for the third time, clearly a fitting problem. He lost it again in the fourth.

Davies was working the jab well and found a lovely strong left counter as Bhatia threw his right. There was a lot of accuracy from the Welshman, a nice left upercut to the body and multiple combinations. Bhatia was driving him with the jab but Davies remained slippery. Akaash landed a good right uppercut on the bell.

The referee saw it 39-38, presumably with the same drawn round I had, for the House boxer Bhatia. It was very close and could have been scored a draw.

Tony Salem v John Anthony
Light-heavyweight

Late substitute Anthony took the place of Nick Okoth, and looked much the bulkier man. Salem outworked the Doncaster man to take a 40-37 decision, but Anthony had his moments, notably in the third round when he rocked the Nigerian with a massive right to the head.

Ruben Giles v Kristian Laight
Light-welterweight

The hardest working man in boxing, Kristian Laight, was back tonight to give another beginner, Ruben Giles a strong workout. Kristian has fought three times this month, and the boxing world couldn’t manage without him. He always gives his opponents plenty to think about, never slackening pace for a second. Giles was putting in plenty of effort himself and was obviously keen to show what he could do, some nice combinations there although Laight blocked many.

Giles improved to 4-0.

Patrick Maxwell v Geard Ajetovic
Middleweight

Paul Buchanan was slated to face Maxwell, but came down with a rotten cold. Ajetovic stepped in at the last moment, and as it turns out this was the highlight of the evening. I know, I know – David got his knockout win. Most of the sparse crowd seemed happy to spend the evening in the bar and take their seats for that 1 minute 45 seconds of action. But for those of us who came to see quality boxing between well-matched opponents, this was the pick of the bunch.

Geard, coming in at 12-1-0 with 6 kayos, was already working with trainer Peter Cope as a sparring partner for Buchanan in the build-up to the Contender event in Newcastle recently. Cope was impressed with the former amateur star and had no hesitation in putting him in the ring on short notice. And when I say short notice, I mean it – three days’ preparation is all Geard had for a match with the touted Maxwell, who came in at 13-1-0. (That loss was an early four-rounder on points).

Maxwell has spent a lot of time in the States sparring with world-class names like Margarito, Arthur Abraham and Vitali Tsypko. He’s gunning for a Commonwealth title shot in the near future and the Maloney camp are obviously eager to talk him up.

So maybe they hadn’t realised how good Ajetovic is? The ref called a draw at the end of this contest – anything else would have been a robbery for the UK-based Serbian. I saw it as a game of two halves, with Maxwell taking the first three rounds and Ajetovic the next three. Geard’s manager Gus Robinson agreed with this technically, but believed that the quality of his boy’s work was so superior in those later rounds, that a win for Geard was indicated. On reflection I’m inclined to agree. Maxwell looked undisciplined beside the Serbian technician, who rarely made an error, but was slow to start.

‘This was meant to be eight rounds,’ pointed out Ajetovic, ‘But they brought it down to six. If we’d gone eight I would have won.

‘I thought he’d try to knock me out, because we boxed on the same show once. He gave me a good fight but I caught a lot of his punches on my gloves. He didn’t fight like I expected, he was just awkward, coming in low all the time.’

Geard describes himself as a counterpuncher. ‘I wait for my opponent to miss. But I can step it up when I need to.’

Maxwell came in at 11 st 9, Geard at 11 st 8.

Patrick opened by jabbing well and getting in some clean rights to the body. It looked good, but Geard’s defence was excellent and he found space for some quality single shots. Maxwell missed widely with a swinging hook. ‘He’s trying too hard,’ said my notes here. But the Mancunian was usually effective. The good work continued in the second as the jab was strong and seeking out the gaps again. Maxwell landed an uppercut on the bell. Unfortunately, a lack of accuracy in some of Maxwell’s power shots made him look clumsy and off-balance at times.

In the third, Patrick threw some strong hooks to the body, mostly blocked, but caught a few head shots himself. Geard was pressuring him with combinations now, countering those over-eager hooks, and landing a particularly beautiful left uppercut when things got close. (He grins wickedly when I mention that one!)

Ajetovic was looking a very educated fighter, cautious and technically proficient, while Maxwell continued to put too much effort into big punches that didn’t find the target. It was a close round, which Geard believed should have been his. ‘I stepped things up then.’

He stepped them up even further, however, for the remainder of the fight. Maxwell began to look increasingly wild as Geard made him miss hooks continually and slipped everything coming at him. The Serbian landed another uppercut and some nice combinations – Patrick took a right hand straight through his guard. Geard dropped his hands to his sides to tempt the Englishman in – it worked, and he landed a left to the sternum and upstairs, getting the jab in on the bell.

Patrick was finding it difficult to get through Geard’s defence in the fifth, missing with his lead hand as the round wore on. Geard’s jab, meanwhile, was as cute as ever and the left was landing some cracking shots too. The quality from Maxwell deteriorated further in the final round as he missed an overhand right, lost his balance badly, and was throwing his jab out of range at times.

When he was in range, Geard rode it backwards, and continued to penetrate Maxwell’s defence to get in some surgical hooks and uppercuts. The Mancunian was looking increasingly under pressure as the round drew to a close, and I would have preferred another two rounds to see how it panned out. I’m pretty sure I know – although Maxwell’s power shots were impressive when accurate, the Serbian’s technical ability was superior.

I’ll be far more interested to see Geard fight again – possibly in Paris at the end of May – than I will be to see Maxwell. The 26-year-old’s only loss was to respected Frenchman Christophe Canclaux, current EBU super-middle title holder.

As an amateur, he was a silver medallist in the World Junior Championships, won gold at the European championships and represented his country at the Sydney Olympics.

It would have been good if there had been a proper introduction for Geard as he came into the ring. As it was, the acoustics were so bad we couldn’t even hear his name properly.

Many thanks to Geard and his team for taking the time to speak with me.

For the main event of the evening, David came in at a low 15 st 7, while the Pole scaled a full stone more. This is exactly the weight Haye was aiming for tonight, as he’ll need to drop down to cruiser to meet Mormeck in September or October.

Interestingly, the crowd was not full of screaming laydeez as many had speculated. There were considerably more at the Contender, percentage-wise. This is because, unless peripheral fans bookmarked their quality boxing websites, they may not have known David was here tonight. The event was not well-advertised and there were many empty seats in the Arena, half of which had been curtained off anyway.

David landed a solid left to the head as Bonin was sizing him up, followed by another quick one-two, the right hand tough. The Pole was working his jab but not enough to keep Haye off him. David planted a quick left hook behind Bonin’s elbow, then a left jab, huge overhand right put the ‘Bull’ on the canvas. He jumped up quickly – too quickly. (What’s wrong with taking a knee these days? Has good sense gone out of fashion?)

Another stiff jab from Haye, and a right to the body, and the Pole seemed to collapse while Haye’s additional shots landed unevenly to the top of the head. There was no count as the ref must have decided it was a stumble. But another one-two combination put Bonin down properly within seconds, counted this time.

David knew it was all over and wasted no time in finishing him off – a barrage of pressure involving a left hook and a couple of uppercuts, then a left hand that nearly took Bonin through the ropes. Referee Ian John-Lewis waved it off at 1 minute 45 seconds of the first.

Was Bonin simply caught out cold before he settled?
Or was he another ‘good on paper’ warm body mined from the endless seam of European journeymen who have clocked up impressive stats to somehow achieve a world ranking by fighting babies and taxi drivers?

Both. But nice one anyway, Dave.

Those holding ringside seats who came to see only the main event, and spent time boozing when they could have been watching the rest of the boxing (I just don’t understand it) paid roughly 96 pence per second.

David’s aim is to meet Jean-Marc Mormeck for the WBC Cruiser title this autumn, possibly before September. Although Haye thinks that squeezing back down to cruiser will put him at 75% strength, he believes this will be enough against Mormeck. Then he’ll vacate the title to campaign at heavyweight until he gets a shot at the Big Green Heavyweight Belt too. He’ll win that, he says, then never defend it but give the game up forever. What, and go back to wearing clothes for a living?

Yeah, right. Like the idea of keeping that belt wouldn’t exert a strange fascination.

Haye will now reportedly drop back down to the cruiserweight division to challenge WBC & WBA champion Jean Marc Mormeck later this year. However, after tonight’s display many will be eager for Haye to continue his quest to be the saviour of the British heavyweight division. Suzanne Nield was ringside for us (well, she was in the arena, thanks Frank) and will bring you the full lowdown later on tonight’s action.

Earlier in the evening, British light-heavyweight champion Peter Oboh went AWOL and left the arena following a backstage row resulting in his title defence against Tony Oakey being aborted. The rarely seen Oboh, who hasn’t defended his British crown for three years, will now almost certainly be stripped.

The Shepherds Bush welterweight competes alongside his Hennessy Sports teammate John Murray on arguably the biggest promotion in boxing history. The ‘Golden Pair’ will both box over ten rounds.

Solano, who has stopped 14 of his 19 victims, competed over that distance last time out when he dropped a decision to the highly rated Julio Cesar Chavez Junior, a 21-year-old welterweight like O’Donnell. Of JC Junior’s last seven opponents; he is the only one to hear the final bell.

Junior Olympic Gold Medallist O’Donnell, who has strong Irish heritage, won the English Title in his last contest by out-pointing fellow unbeaten prospect Stuart Elwell in standout fashion.

The 21-year, whose gown bears the ancient Irish symbol for gold and ancient Irish wording for ‘The Golden One’, will be looking to impress again next week in front of the world’s media.

“Everyone’s attention is going to be on this event,” said O’Donnell, who was “The Sun’s” pick for the fighter to watch in 2007. “It’s my chance to shine. It’s a big opportunity for me to show people what I can do. Fighting someone like Solano will help me do that.

“He is a tough Mexican, who took Julio Chavez Junior ten rounds a division up. It could be a good comparison because I would love to fight Chavez in the US. He is my age and weight and even though he has had a lot more fights than me, (31 in total), I would love it right now. I know I can take him apart in style.

“Solano is an excellent test for me. I need to be winning these if I am to achieve what I want to achieve. Hopefully I can do a number on him and people will sit up and take notice of what I am all about.

“I’m going to show the American’s what a world-class British prospect really looks like. Amir Khan went out on HBO a couple of weeks back, but from what I’m hearing he didn’t go down too well. It was a bad mismatch.

“I sparred him a few years ago when we were the same weight and I wiped the floor with him. Unlike his accusations about John Murray, that spar actually did happen. There were plenty of witnesses to see it. I know that I am in a different league to Khan and people will start to realise that shortly.”

O’Donnell added: “There will be a few nerves on the night I’m sure. This is the biggest boxing show I can remember, so I’m bound to get a bit nervous, but I will be able to work that to my advantage.

“I won the English title recently and want to make a statement in the States with this fight before getting a crack at the British Title against either Anderson or Magee this year.

“The British Boxing Board of Control need to put me in a final eliminator because I’m ready and would beat any of the top British fighters right now.

‘Golden Pair’ promoter Mick Hennessy is confident that both O’Donnell and his teammate John Murray will fully demonstrate their exciting potential on the marquee event.

“Not many get the chance to fight in the US at such a young age,” he said. “It’s a massive stage and it can be a daunting experience, but that’s why I put these two forward. They are perfect for this job. They are special talents and will rise to the occasion.

“John Murray has impressed abroad before, (in Canada and Florida), and we know John O’Donnell will more than handle the occasion. He is so composed for his age. I think long-term they both have the potential to go all the way and could be boxing in the States frequently. They both have styles that can become a hit with the US fans.”

by Suzanne Nield

Oscar De La Hoya v Jimmi Bredahl
WBO Super-featherweight Title

The latest copy of The Ring Extra tells us that ‘De La Hoya’s first alphabet strap was the IBF version he won at 135 with his win in ‘95 over Rafael Ruelas.’

Er, no. That would be wrong. The magazine, along with much of the American media to date, is wilfully ignoring the World Boxing Organisation, under whose auspices Oscar took two consecutive titles prior to the Ruelas match – the above-mentioned and also the lightweight version, when he knocked out Mexican hero Jorge Paez in 2 rounds.

HBO television only recently deigned to regard the WBO as an official sanctioning body, calling it a paper organisation at first, and making snooty comments about its champions ‘holding some title or other’.

They wouldn’t like that much in Wales, would they? But considering that the Puerto Rican association famously advanced the ranking of a dead man (twice), you can understand why it’s taken some time to gain respectability. Now, of course, there’s no excuse for rudeness – the WBO champs include Juan Manuel Marquez, Antonio Margarito, Jermain Taylor, and Jhonny Gonzalez as well as those Welsh blokes. So get your act together, Ring magazine. The title-monster is a beast with many heads – since none of them are gorgeous, there’s no reason to smooch one and spit in another’s eye.

Oscar only had to lace on a pair of gloves for the bunting to fly and the band to strike up in LA. On that March evening in ‘94, however, the crowd was already buoyed by the action of the main card -James Toney had taken a bad cut in his battle with Tim Littles, but roared to a fourth round knockout. He was in his dressing room getting 12 stitches, the most in his career. The venue was the newly-reopened Grand Olympic Auditorium, which had seen some great boxing and other sporting events up to the 1950s, when poor attendance figures for a wrestling promotion closed it down. Oscar’s father and grandfather had both fought there, so it was an emotional evening all round.

By this time De La Hoya was 11-0 (10 by knockout). He’d been matched against opponents with winning records, and already held a quick stoppage over Floyd’s Uncle Jeff. Mayweather was at 23-2-2. The Golden Boy’s latest outing was an eventful single round against 50-fight veteran Narcisco Valenzuela, when the Mexican shocked him with a flash knockdown. The youngster kept a level head like it had happened a hundred times instead of never. He took a knee for the count of eight, calmly got to his feet, battered Valenzuela to the canvas and sneered at him. It was cool.

‘It’s great to see a young fighter looking so perfect, so unblemished, his mind uncluttered by doubt,’ soliloquised HBO’s Larry Merchant dreamily, as Oscar jogged around the ring. But we all felt the same way. The Golden Boy had arrived like a gift in a time of great need, and the boxing world’s cardiac muscles were throbbing with gratitude.

The devotional parade came bearing sacrificial lamb Jimmi Bredahl, the young Dane who had taken the belt from long-serving European champion Daniel Londas eighteen months previously, and was undefeated at 17-0 with 5 inside.

To meet him, Oscar was squeezing into a weight class he hadn’t seen since the amateurs. It was part of the ‘champion at six weights’ quest which had been in his mind all along. Well, he made it – just. Oscar’s highest title-winning poundage was when he beat Sturm for the WBO middleweight strap, but he could scarcely look us in the eye afterwards. Nature never intended the Golden One to be a middleweight, but he cheated her, and it’s Oscar and Tommy Hearns who go down in history as six-division champions.

Genaro Hernandez was also a title-holder at this point, and rumour had it that the young prospect was being steered away from so dangerous an opponent. It would have been poor management to have made that fight so early, and Oscar was candid about needing more time to develop his strength. In fact, he took Hernandez on the following year, and handed him his first loss inside 6 rounds.

…And Jimmi Bredahl has never been on the canvas, but that changes after 1 minute in the company of Oscar’s right hook. Bredahl takes his time climbing to his feet, and is looking overwhelmed in the rest of the round, but Oscar fails to capitalise well and he makes it to the corner.
The Dane isn’t going to give his belt up like a pushover, however. Opening round 2, he connects with a strong right hand to De La Hoya’s head. Oscar throws back, but then his knees buckle in a delayed reaction. Audible gasp from the crowd – but he recovers to snap Jimmi’s head sideways with a left hook, then a big right takes the defender’s head back. Another overhand right, and the follow-up barrage includes a right uppercut to put Bredahl down again. But he won’t stay down, and survives another flurry to make it to the bell.

The crowd are chanting ‘East LA! East LA!’ expecting Oscar to finish things quickly. To tell the truth, although severely outclassing Bredahl, the young Olympian looks green in the early rounds. He’s putting a lot of power into hooks that just whistle through clean air – Jimmi’s pretty nippy – he’s not cutting off the ring and he’s forgetting to go to the body. Bredahl’s southpaw stance seems to be giving him problems. By the end of the fourth, Oscar is annoyed that he can’t get rid of this guy. George Foreman, commentating, sighs, ‘Some guys you can’t knock out just ‘cos you hittin’ them in the head.’

De La Hoya continues grimly to outland Bredahl by a preposterous percentage, providing lovely sharp counters to everything Jimmi puts together. Oscar’s on his toes, but he’s not trapping his opponent, who runs far and wide across a large ring. Harold Lederman comments that Oscar is winning whether we score on clean punching, effective aggressiveness, ring generalship, defense, artistic impression or technical merit – it’s true enough that he’s winning on any criterion you could name, but let’s not gush about the ring generalship.
He’s winning on that only because Bredahl’s idea of it is to scamper away when he can, and collapse into De La Hoya’s arms when he can’t. Frustrated, Oscar shoulders him off, then gets warned for hitting on a break.

If the fight had been made just a few months later, the cinnamon Danish would have been toast in round 1. But it goes into the ninth, then the tenth. Oscar’s never been this far before – only Mike Grable survived to round 8 with him. De La Hoya gets off a flurry in the opening seconds, ending in a big right to the head through Bredahl’s guard. Through the follow-up barrage Jimmi tries to hang on, only to get a teeth-rattler on the inside. Oscar beats out a terrific tattoo, left to the sternum, right hook to the head, then a straight left that rocks the melancholy Dane to his boots. A cracking right hand nearly takes Bredahl’s head off, followed by an uppercut. He had no right to be standing up at all. The round ends, and De La Hoya’s long-time trainer Robert Alcazar bounds into the ring centre to hug Oscar like the fight’s over. And it is – the doctor says enough punishment is enough for the durable Bredahl.

De La Hoya was fighting one or two guys a month in those early days, none of them pushovers, though he made them look that way. He wasn’t being babied. (Have a look sometime at Boxrec and compare Oscar’s early opponents with those of Amir Khan, and you’ll see what I mean.) The Olympic winner had huge experience as an amateur, but was learning on the job in the pro game.

Oscar defended his new belt once, taking unbeaten Giorgio Campanella out in the third, before moving back up to lightweight to compromise his popularity with the Hispanic community by wiping out folk hero Paez in two rounds for another WBO title. Paez was at 53-6-4.

Oscar’s second-round destruction of Rafael Ruelas for the IBF lightweight title was much more satisfying. Paez had been on the slide, but Ruelas came in for his third title defence at 43-1-0 (34 kayos) to Oscar’s 17 pro bouts, having just stopped Billy Schwer on severe facial lacerations in eight rounds.

The audience was expecting fireworks – both fighters had impressive techniques but an occasional vulnerability that had seen them on the canvas in round 1. It was widely believed that if the fight went past the early rounds Ruelas, a slow starter, would take it. But De La Hoya liked a quick evening’s work. The first round saw him deliver a beautiful double one-two to the head followed by a steep left hook to the body – one of his signature punches. Ruelas was forced to work at long range against his inclinations, and had limited success, given Oscar’s outstanding defence. He made Ruelas miss several hooks to get in his own right to the head. Up close, Ruelas had a wicked uppercut which was his only really effective weapon in this fight.

In the second minute of round two, De La Hoya threw a left hook, right uppercut followed by a shattering left to floor Ruelas. When he was on his feet again, Oscar feinted with the left to land a right hook that chopped him back down. The champion pulled himself up on the ropes to beat the count, clearly shaken to the core, and endured another barrage to the head before referee Richard Steele jumped in to rescue him.

Speed, technique, and the killer instinct – there was no doubt that De La Hoya had it all. But for some, the very fact that Oscar looked more like a matinee idol than a boxer offended their sensibilities. Really, how could he look like that and be any good? That’s who Oscar was talking to when he said after the Ruelas fight, ‘For all the critics out there who doubted me, this one’s for you.’

But it would take more than that.

Next: Trophy Scalps

Chief support bout sees ex-WBU super middleweight titlist Tony Oakey looking to complete his comeback by challenging the reigning British light heavyweight champion Peter Oboh. Oakey, 23-2 (5), has won 4 straight contests since losing a razor thin controversial points decision to English champion Peter Haymer two years ago.

But the popular Portsmouth fighter will have his work cut out for him as knockout artist Oboh, 14-5 (12), who has not lost a fight in 9 years, has so terrified the light heavyweights of Britain that he has been unable to find an opponent to face him in almost three years.

In a clash of middleweights, Sheffield’s Patrick J. Maxwell, 13-1 (10), puts his 11 bout win streak on the line against Paul Buchanan, 8-1-1 (1), of the popular TV show “The Contender”.

Amir Khan’s amateur nemesis Craig Watson, 7-1 (2), of Manchester steps up to welterweight to take on the towering Robert Lloyd Taylor, 13-4 (4), who is fresh off a dismantling of former Commonwealth champion James Hare.

Former amateur sensation Sam Webb, 5-1 (2), of Chislehurst stays busy against fellow novice Alexander Spitjo, 0-1 (0), at light middle.

Frank Maloney Promotions presents ‘Heavyweight Hayemaker’ at Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, England on April 27, 2007. Tickets are priced at £100; £70 & £40 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508 or televised live on Sky TV. For any further Press information please call 02086914165.

The ‘Golden Pair’ flew in to Los Angeles – the home of de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions – with their promoter Mick Hennessy and trainers Robert McCracken, (O’Donnell), and Joe Gallagher, (Murray).

They are currently based in Old Pasadena and have set up training camp in the gym de la Hoya will be using when he arrives from Puerto Rico. Preparations for their appearance on arguably the biggest card in boxing history will be finalised in Vegas itself after they relocate with the Golden Boy team early next week.

“This is an incredible experience,” said Junior Olympic Gold Medallist O’Donnell yesterday. “I’ve always been confident that I will get to box in America and appear on big shows later in my career, but I didn’t expect the chance to come this early.

“It’s given me a real taste for it – being part of this setup is unbelievable. LA is a great place and we are getting the best treatment. I’m really looking forward to Vegas and travelling over there with the Hennessy Sports and Golden Boy teams.”

O’Donnell’s appearance on this bill is a natural fit. The eye-catching southpaw, who has only just turned 21 and has strong Irish ancestry, has earned the nickname ‘The Golden One’ after a stellar amateur career and rapid progression as a professional that has already seen him claim the English welterweight title.

It is a lofty moniker, but one his team feels he can more than live up to. Whenever O’Donnell – whose gown bears the ancient Irish symbol for gold and ancient Irish wording for ‘The Golden One’ – boxes in the States, he will be co-promoted by de la Hoya and Hennessy.

As will John Murray, the other half of the ‘Golden Pair’. The history making WBC Youth Champion and current Boxing Writers’ Young Boxer of the Year will also box over ten rounds on the marquee event, which appropriately now features the best young talent in Europe.

“Everyone’s attention is going to be on this show, including the worldwide media,” said Murray. “This is a big chance for me to show people what I can do. It can really open the door to the big time if I put on a good performance. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.

“I want to see my own name up in lights as the main event in Vegas one day and this is a step towards that. I know that if I deliver the goods in the ring, Mick and Golden Boy can bring me over here for the big ones. I have got the perfect team around me.”

Hennessy sees the appearance of Britain’s ‘Golden Pair’ on the show as just the latest development in a relationship that is set to rapidly develop.

“We have got some big plans for the future with Golden Boy Promotions,” he said. “They have a fantastic team and there are a lot of things we can work on together, in both America and the UK.

The development of young talent is one of them.

“This is an incredible opportunity for John O’Donnell and John Murray to showcase their talents to the worldwide media and I am confident they will make the most of it.

“This is the biggest stage of all and they are perfect to be representing this side of the pond. They are made for TV fighters and have a style that I know the American’s will appreciate.

“Murray, an excellent pressure fighter, has already proved that; they really took to him when he boxed in Florida two years ago. He has a no-nonsense, never-say-die, gritty approach and doesn’t stop coming forward. That kind of style always goes down well over here.

“It is O’Donnell’s US debut and I know he’s going to make a big impact. He is a brilliant box fighter who can mix it up any which way. He has the quickest hands in the business. I know the Americans are going to love his six, seven, eight punch machine gun combinations.”

Martin Williams

Haye UD12 Bonin….

I feel, in time, Haye will carry his power up to heavyweight with him, but a cautious approach and slick boxing skills will take him to a decisive points victory on this occasion.

Dean Moston

Haye stops Bonin inside 8

I’m bad at the prediction game and it’s a blessing because it keeps me out of the bookies, but I think it’s a shrewd matchup by Maloney/Haye and David is maturing. I don’t buy all the ‘crazy match-up’ press for his one. At the end of the day he’s a 15 stone plus fighter with good power and speed. Bonin’s record is full of unknowns and if Audley did it in 9 – whether you think it was a valid stoppage or not – Haye will do it quicker. There’s more devil in his output and he’s on home turf. This one won’t go the distance and if it does, Haye should concentrate on the cruisers.

Steve Hartley

My prediction is for a Haye victory, coming from an early stoppage (2nd/3rd round).

Whilst Bonin has an impressive record, the one blot comes from a ninth-round stoppage by none other than Audley Harrison, so inevitably comparisons will be made when it comes to an assessment of Haye’s heavyweight potential.

Bonin has an impressive record of 37-1 but recently his career seems to be turning full circle. His last fight was a scrappy affair which saw him down in the first round of a 6-rounder, against a novice opponent boxing in his first bout. Prior to that he went to a decision in another six-round contest, against a fighter with a record of 5-10-0.

By contrast, Haye is definitely on the up, and has set himself a challenge at heavyweight while continuing to trumpet his intention to campaign at cruiser. His last bout against the tough Italian Fragomeni was one he may well have lost if it had come a couple of fights earlier. However, Haye seems to have learned that contests in the higher ranks require a different level of preparation and determination, and he looks as if he now has the ambition, and the management team to keep him focused.

Bonin is taller and heavier than Fragomeni, but is by no means as motivated. He’s knocked people down before, but Haye showed he can take a shot these days against Fragomeni. Haye’s never lacked a punch, but I think his fitness, desire, and the greater weight behind his shots will be too much for Bonin.

Haye’s schedule is fairly transparent – a cruiserweight title followed by a move into the world rankings of the heavyweight division as quickly as possible. He can’t afford to look anything less than impressive in a fight like this.

Oliver Fennell

David Haye is fighting the world’s 11th-ranked heavyweight. Isn’t he brave?

Well, not as brave as you might think when reading the statement above.

Opponent Tomasz Bonin can only be ranked so highly by members of his immediate family and the warped minds of the WBC.

No, Bonin is not a world class heavyweight. I’d make him a significant underdog for the European championship, even.

His glossy 37-1 record has been almost exclusively compiled against nobodies and his most impressive result is a defeat. That might not make sense, but not much in boxing does.

Sure, it could be interesting to see cruiserweight Haye get hit on the chops by a 17st man, but I suspect Bonin won’t get many opportunities to do this.

Aggressive but slow of hand and foot, and with an average KO ratio against a low level of opposition, Bonin looks tailor-made for the Londoner’s sharp-shooting skills.

Haye’s speed can bamboozle the Pole for a stoppage at the halfway stage.

Ben Carey

I agree with the rest of the team in terms of their assessment of Bonin’s credentials, however my gut feeling is that Haye is going to struggle. Perhaps I’m overly cynical, but I still remember Haye looking soft at 14st 3lbs when he fought Carl Thompson and find it hard to believe that he’s been a genuine heavyweight in disguise.

Providing Bonin comes into the fight with ambition it’s going to be interesting to see how Haye copes under pressure against a genuine heavyweight. Cruiserweights Fragomeni and Johansen placed Haye onto the back foot all too easily, and so too did Lolenga Mock in what seems an age ago now, so what are the big boys going to do to him?

Haye proved his heart and stamina against the squat Fragomeni but as a dress rehearsal for the Hayemaker’s assault at the heavyweights it raised more questions than it provided answers. And for all his talent, what was Haye doing allowing the limited, stumpy Italian to dictate the fight and bust him up?

Unless Haye catches the lumbering Pole early I foresee a long and uncomfortable night for him and a subsequent return to the cruiserweight division with his tail firmly between his legs. Haye to scrape home on points, for me.

Rhodes has been hampered by a back injury that has sidelined him since then but has recovered from successful treatment and is looking forward to getting back into title contention. He will top the bill in a six round contest at middleweight before dropping down to light-middle in pursuit of his title ambitions.

Former professional footballer Curtis Woodhouse has now established himself as a bona fide boxer after a very impressive performance on the last Koncrete show a fortnight ago.

Woodhouse boxed behind an excellent jab and put together some thunderous combinations during his four round points win over Duncan Cottier. Curtis proved to his army of supporters, including several Sheff Utd first team players, that he isn’t just a brawler and that he could box too. Since switching to Dave Coldwell’s Koncrete stable Woodhouse has gained tremendous experience sparring the likes of Ryan Rhodes, Kell Brook and Daniel Thorpe (Daniel having shared the ring with virtually every top prospect in the country during his near 90 fight career).

Super-Bantamweight has a new prospect to take seriously as Josh Wale looks to build on a fabulous showing last time out when he won every round and produced every punch in the book to beat Tony Hanna despite giving away eleven pounds in weight. Many of the fight fans at Barnsley were going home talking about this young man after being taken a back by his maturity and astonishing workrate.

What’s more impressive is the fact that Josh is only 18yrs old. Currently 2-0 as a pro, Josh is learning the game fast sparring the likes of Rendall Munroe( British featherweight title challenger) Daniel Thorpe and Commonwealth Games featherweight gold medallist Stephen Smith from Liverpool .

Andrew Ward must be one of the country’s most exciting boxers despite only having had a modest three fights. Maltby Warrior Ward certainly lives up to his nickname of Thunder when he fights. Each contest has seen ringsiders ducking for cover from the blood and sweat spraying as he stands toe to toe giving the crowd the action they pay to see.

After a controversial opening two fights to his career, where he drew his first then lost his second despite looking like he had done enough to take both decisions, Ward got the win he deserved when beating Latvian Dennis Sirjatov… despite breaking his nose badly in the second round and being completely covered in blood come the end of the fight.

Former Karate golden boy Paul Royston’s decision to turn to boxing looked to be a mistake after losing his first two fights, although the first contest result even baffled legend Steve Collins who had Royston a clear winner. However, looking for your first win in front of hundreds of your fans could have been a daunting experience but Paul rose to the occasion and boxed superbly to stop Tommy Flynn in the third round. What a way to get your first win.

Tickets priced at £40 and £25 are available from David Coldwell on 01709 510001 or 07799456400

Floyd Mayweather Jnr v Genaro Hernandez
WBC Super-featherweight Title

On 3 October 1998, Floyd was a hot prospect at 17-0 with 13 wins inside the distance. But his best opponent thus far was experienced Canadian Tony Pep, whom he’d outpointed over ten.

Hernandez had been a super-feather world champion for much of the previous seven years. The Californian’s only loss in 40 fights had come when he relinquished his WBA belt to challenge for Oscar’s lightweight title, and was destroyed in six rounds. De La Hoya was too powerful and threw an uppercut that shattered Hernandez’s nose to stop the fight.

But Genaro dropped back down to super feather to collect the WBC strap – from Azumah Nelson, in a difficult battle where Hernandez took a hard shot to the throat after the bell rang to end the seventh, could have won on disqualification but chose to do it the hard way.

The beltholder Floyd was up against had knocked out both the formidable Jorge Paez, and former champion Raul Perez (in a rematch – their first meeting has the distinction of being the only world title fight on record where no punches were thrown. Perez headbutted Hernandez right after the bell and popped his own artery. Straight to casualty.)

Hernandez’s only fear was a hometown decision in Vegas for the youngster if it went to the cards, but the HBO commentary team were sceptical about Floyd’s chances. Larry Merchant reminisced about the time Len Matthews, who ‘had a better record’ than Floyd, went up against Carlos Ortiz. ‘Ortiz dismantled him, ruined his career.’
Actually, Matthews was 16-1-1 at the time, but Larry wasn’t the only one relishing the prospect of a battered prospect. The bookies were favouring Hernandez too.

…Hernandez jumps on Floyd at the first bell, but can’t touch him. It’s like there’s a slipstream around his punches and Floyd just flows into it. In the first half of the round, Hernandez can’t lay a glove on the kid, though he tries to drive forwards, makes Floyd lose his balance and go down. Merchant wants to call it a kayo, but there was no landed punch. Pretty Boy gets in his jab to the top of the head and downstairs, there’s blood in Hernandez’s mouth. ‘Don’t go to the head,’ his corner advises, and that’s good advice because he can’t catch it with a net.

The bell goes for the second and Hernandez starts to put Floyd under pressure. He’s trying to dominate but his tactics turn ugly – they tangle as Genaro traps Floyd’s head under his arm and they fall heavily in the corner.
Pretty Boy recovers fast to work a double jab to the head, lands an overhand right and back to the jab. Hernandez is being outworked and he knows it, gets frustrated and bulls forwards. He’s not boxing, he’s wrestling, burying his head in Floyd’s chest and pushing him back, giving him nowhere to put his feet. Floyd grabs to hold on but is forced down. Referee Jay Nady perversely decides it’s Floyd’s fault and gives him a warning.

The champion had claimed that he would make the counterpuncher come to him, but he’s pressuring again. Floyd lands a cracking left hook to the head, Genaro wrestles him backwards, and again it’s Floyd who gets warned. The champ is looking like a crafty old pro who knows a few tricks, but it’s the youngster who’s landing the clean shots.

Pretty Boy has more spite in his punches for the third. Double jab, straight right combinations are working beautifully for him, he’s beating Hernandez to the punch time and again. The champ isn’t happy with Floyd out there circling, and forces his way inside to land some hard hooks.

But a vicious right hand he didn’t see coming rocks Genaro, and for a moment it looks like he might go down. Again, he grapples in close.

Things get even more one-sided in the fourth. Pretty Boy turns it on offensively, feinting, making Hernandez blink. The only hope for the champion is to get in close and rough him up. But Floyd shows that, even when the other guy won’t give him space to work the way he likes, he can adapt, shorten his punches and exploit the gaps instinctively. There’s one gorgeous moment when Hernandez throws a left to the abdomen, and Floyd slips his body around it like a ballet dancer to bury his left hand in Genaro’s face. He ends the round with a flourish, left hooks to the head and a right uppercut, the titleholder on the ropes.

Hernandez’s corner shout words to the effect of, ‘This time with feeling!’ like the champ’s a bored chorus girl.

He’s not bored, he’s seething with frustration. But Genaro’s feelings don’t come into it. It’s Floyd on top all the way now. In the fifth Hernandez gets painted with combos on the ropes, a terrific right uppercut smashing through his guard. Then more payback time for those shady tactics in the opening rounds, as blistering salvos drive the champion onto the back foot. Floyd is blasting through the smallest window of opportunity with that shimmering speed, but it’s all headhunting and Genaro didn’t get this far without a chin.

Watching his belt become a memory, he tries to get the edge back in the seventh. But he’s just following Floyd around to be fed combinations, like the left hook, right uppercut sequence he swallows a couple of times. The kid’s only 21 and making a seasoned champion look like he doesn’t belong in the same ring. Floyd lands a perfect straight right to the chin on the bell.

In his corner, Genaro is cut to the right eye. His team are saying they’re so far behind they’re thinking of stopping the fight. But the tough defender emerges into the eighth for a further shellacking. Hernandez has a moment of hope when he lands a hard left coming off the ropes – Floyd loses his balance for a second but recovers without touching down. He retaliates with multiple head shots in the closing seconds of the round.

The champion’s trainer and brother, Rudy Hernandez, makes an executive decision and asks the ref to stop the fight. The entire Mayweather clan swarm the ring. Floyd bursts into tears and hugs his mom.

And Genaro Hernandez, two-time world champion, loses with beautiful grace. ‘I always knew that he had intelligence and speed. He was a smarter fighter and a lot quicker than me. My reflexes weren’t there, I’m 32 years old.

‘You’re a true champion, ‘ he says to Floyd. ‘My hat’s off to you. God bless you.’

So that’s how Floyd became the second Mayweather after Uncle Roger to earn a title belt, defeating the man who was called the best fighter at 130lbs in a decade. He defended the belt eight times against the cream of the super-featherweight division – a roll-call of talent, Corrales and Castillo to name but two – before moving up to lightweight.

Genaro Hernandez never fought again. He devoted himself to providing some incisive commentary and, being a computer expert, running CompuBox for HBO.

In UKBP’s final instalment in this series, ‘The World Awaits’, we’ll bring you not only the team’s predictions, but the inside story from the men who fought both champions: Genaro Hernandez and Angelo Nunez. Angelo speaks to UKBP by e-mail from his successful gym in Sacramento, Prime Time.

Carl Johanneson will challenge Russia’s Leva Kirakosyan for the European super-featherweight title at Leeds Town Hall on July 13 and seek to overturn a shattering first round knockout suffered against Kirakosyan in Crystal Palace back in December 2004.

Johanneson has recovered well since slipping to the only second defeat of his career, winning the British crown last July and successfully defending it against Femi Fehintola (TKO6) and Ricky Burns (UD).

Kirakosyan was stopped in six rounds by Michael Gomez for the WBU crown in 2004 but his upset win over Johanneson served to kickstart his career. The 33-year-old Russian, 25-4 (19), is currently on a winning run of 11 and captured the European title vacated by Alex Arthur by stopping Joao Antonio Bento in the third round earlier this year.

It promises to be a fascinating rematch between two big punchers who are also known to be vulnerable.

Part 1. Olympian Debutants

Oscar De La Hoya made his pro debut at lightweight in the midst of a three-ring circus. Riddick Bowe, unified heavyweight champion at the time, was on hand to wave to the hometown crowd. Teenage girls jumped up and down with banners screaming ‘We love you, Oscar!’, and Jimmy Lennon Junior’s ring announcement was for a young fighter ‘really needing no introduction’. Oscar was fresh from scooping an Olympic gold in Barcelona, and at the age of 19 was the toast of America.

His opponent on 23 November 1992 was Lamar Williams, a young boxer who looked a lot like a skinny Roy Jones Jnr but didn’t fight like him, holding an unassuming 6-2 (2) record.

Oscar had him down in the first minute, combinations culminating in a double left hook to the body and a straight right through Lamar’s guard. Then again – jab to the head, left hook behind the elbow and right hooks to the head. Williams on the floor. And again, a short left to the chin finishing things at 1 min 42. It was a formality.

Oscar didn’t even smile. ‘I was a little nervous,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t wait for the bell to ring. But he feared me, I saw it in his eyes. Hopefully within one year I’ll be a world champion.’ It would actually take 15 months.

Here was a debutant who described himself as a mixture of Sugar Ray Leonard and Alexis Arguello. He was already talking about a future fight with Mexican deity Julio Cesar Chavez, whose record at the time at 84-0. The thing was, nobody laughed.

Least of all Bob Arum, who signed him for an unprecedented $1 million.

Four years later, Floyd Mayweather Jnr emerged into the professional ranks on the undercard of a Johnny Tapia fight in Vegas. He was a bronze medallist in the Atlanta Games, robbed, as many believed, of the chance at gold when a one-point decision against Bulgaria’s Serafim Todorov relegated him to the semifinal bout. (Todorov, incidentally, went on to fight as a pro, always against beginners or guys with losing records. He retired at 5-1.)

In the quarter-finals, Floyd had become the first American in 20 years to beat a Cuban – Lorenzo Aragon, whom he outpointed 12-11. As a yardstick of the kind of class we’re talking about, the Cuban defeated Andre Berto in the 2003 World Amateur Championships, and went on to take a silver at Athens.

An example shows the difference between Oscar’s gold and Floyd’s bronze: Pretty Boy was paid $7,500 for his third professional fight, when De La Hoya was already making $50,000 at the same stage in his career.

Floyd’s first pro outing before a sparse outdoor crowd matched him in a super-feather bout with Roberto Apodaca, whose record at the time is alternatively given as 2-1, or 0-0. The guy was a grizzled-looking Mexican, whatever. ‘Mexicans are known for taking good headshots,’ generalised Floyd afterwards, ‘So I had to go to the body.’

He loosened up with combos to the head, though, and then got a knockdown with a massive left body hook at 1 min 15. The same shot stopped things after 37 seconds of round 2.

The ESPN commentators started out talking about how Papa Mayweather was convicted for drug trafficking and clinked for 5 and a half years, sniffed that Floyd wasn’t using the jab as much as he should, but pretty soon had to recognise the fine display in front of them.

By the time the dissection in the ring was over, they had decided that he would be a superstar in the pro game.

Suzanne Nield concludes her in-depth look at what lies ahead for Joe Calzaghe and considers the merits of Denis Inkin, Carl Froch and Roy Jones Jnr as potential opponents for the Welshman.

Number 3: Denis Inkin

Can it happen?
If everything else falls through, as seems likely, then Inkin is pencilled in to step through the ropes with Calzaghe in July as mandatory challenger.

Do we want it to happen?
Inkin’s claim to fame is that he demolished an ageing Mario Veit in 7 rounds last October.

Joe has beaten Veit twice – once when the German was unbeaten at 30-0 and then again in a rematch. He took Veit out in round 1 when they met for the first time – in the repeat it took 6 rounds. The Welshman commented that Veit had improved a lot, but had him down in the fifth round with a huge left hook and twice in the sixth before the ref stepped in.

Inkin’s record looks impressive enough on paper at 30-0 with 23 kayos (almost identical to Veit’s when he first met Joe). The 29-year-old Russian has fought a mixture, including prospects and tough, experienced journeymen. From all accounts he is a skilled but conventional operator who is unlikely to match Joe’s speed or workrate. He actually fought here once before, on the Hatton-Pedersen undercard against Ovill McKenzie. It’s not one I recall.

However, Carl Froch argues that he has as much right as Inkin to be Joe’s mandatory, and wants a final eliminator to decide who meets Calzaghe. If Lucian Bute fights Berrio for the IBF, this means that Carl and Inkin will be ranked as numbers one and two for both the WBO and WBC titles.

There’s been no ruling on this as yet from WBO leader Francisco Valcarel, but it would appear to make good sense for Froch and Inkin to face off first.

The two met as amateurs when the German-based Russian won a points decision – but only after being saved by the bell when Froch put him down. (Froch took a bronze at 75kg at the World Amateur Championships in Belfast, the same year David Haye took silver at 91kg – 2001).

Number 4: Carl Froch

Can it happen?
See above. It was further confirmed this week that Warren has been in touch with Mick Hennessy to offer Froch a shot at Joe some time this year without the necessity of Carl facing Inkin. But Hennessy wants more clarity on the strings attached.

Do we want it to happen?
Mick Hennessy wants it to happen – but is understandably concerned to make sure Sports Network won’t demand any control over Carl’s future career if he wins. Why should they build Carl up only to hand him over to Sports Network?
It sounded as though Frank Warren was okay with that following his comments in the Guardian the other day, but Hennessy haven’t had confirmation in writing.

Carl Froch wants it to happen, calling Joe’s last fight ‘a joke’ and claiming that Joe needs to make it up to the British public by giving them a fight they deserve.

And I personally would prefer to see it happen a bit further down the line, because Froch is a beautiful fighter and potentially a world-class operator. But it’s too soon to put him in with Joe. It’s not that I don’t think it would be competitive. The British and Commonwealth title holder is as slick as the champion, and his technique gets more and more impressive with every fight. He’s fast, crafty, unpredictable, aesthetically quite jaw-dropping at times. Froch is one of the jewels in Britain’s crown and has a great future.

But he has to be careful here. Joe has had more than twice as many pro fights. Back in ‘97, of course, he was a slip of a lad with a mere 22 wins under his belt, daring to challenge Chris Eubank for the WBO title. Everyone said it was too soon, but the 25-year old Welshman put Eubank down in the first round on his way to a landslide decision and has kept that belt for evermore.

This is different. Eubank was on his way out anyway – the loss finished him. Carl Thompson just swept up the pieces. But Joe is as lethal as he ever was, and makes a habit of chewing up guys with more promise than experience. He broke that nice boy Lacy’s heart and arguably spoiled him. Tsypko deserved to win over Lacy recently, although the American got the decision and did well to fight with a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder.

Beautiful fighters don’t bother Joe too much. You have to be a brutal thug who’s all over him like a rash – like Sakio Bika – to give Calzaghe a bad night. And I don’t think that’s Froch’s sort of game. I’d tip Carl to win against Inkin, Lacy, Mundine, or Taylor, to be honest – but not against Joe.

But then, I thought the Tatevosyan fight would go to points.

Number 5: Roy Jones Jnr

Can it happen?
‘If I get the opportunity to fight Joe Calzaghe over Anthony Hanshaw, I’d be an idiot not to take it. What kind of man would want to fight a guy who’s not known instead of fighting one of the best super middleweights ever? I’d rather fight Joe Calzaghe over Anthony Hanshaw,’ was Jones’ recent comment.
Warren has tried to put this fight together before, and nothing happened. The stumbling block was always what Roy wanted to be paid. Jones went on the record to state that he’d accept a deal of 60-40 to the winner. However, we haven’t heard an update and it appears that negotiations may have collapsed. Either that or Sports Network are taking their sweet time to get back to Roy.

Do we want it to happen?
The days when 38-year-old Jones was phenomenal are a thing of the past. To put it in perspective – when he defeated Hopkins the two were contesting for a middleweight title vacated by James Toney. It’s a long time since Toney saw 160lbs.

But Roy is a Name, and still has loyal fans in the States who might think he’d be in with a chance against the Welshman.

Jones always had an unusual style, rarely using the jab and opting for the kind of swinging hooks no-one would try to teach. His footwork and countering speed were legendary at his best, and his awkwardness would still have the potential to make him an interesting opponent for Calzaghe. The former Olympian and four-weight world champion has brittle hands, which explains the fall in his knockout rate. Calzaghe, of course, has the same problem. He cracked the scaphoid bone in his left hand once more against Manfredo, but it’s worth noting that hand injuries didn’t prevent him from dominating in the Lacy fight. Joe knew he could have cruised for the last couple of rounds, but kept his foot on the gas to floor Lacy in the 12th. Roy, famously, claims to carry opponents to the bell, rather than go for a knockout, so they aren’t injured…

So Roy would go out on his shield, there’s no question about it. That second-round knockout by Tarver for a slew of titles, followed by the Glen Johnson loss and further Tarver defeat, speak of the end of a great career, despite Jones’ recent victory over Prince Badi Ajamu, who was simply overawed by him.

Perhaps a final defeat by Calzaghe would be a fitting end. And Roy’ll have more time to raise those show chickens he loves so much.

Best-case scenario?
Froch fights Inkin in July and wipes the floor with him. Calzaghe may end up missing out on July – which is a downside because he wanted a July fight to help him enter negotiations for the winner of Hopkins-Wright – but gets Taylor for September. The Kessler and/or Froch fights are made early next year.

That way we get it all.

by Suzanne Nield

Ok, so we usually report only British action. And it’s actually going to be May 6 for us, around 4am by the time the undercards are done. But it will be the first day of a new world. We’ll have a judgement on who’s the better fighter: Floyd or Oscar. And if anything matters more than this in boxing, I don’t know what it is.

Most websites will be splashing around the promoters’ propaganda about the supposed hate-fest between the Golden One (good guy) and the Pretty One (bad guy). Floyd, for instance, recently christened a chicken ‘Golden Girl’ and gave it a little Olympic medal. So who do you reckon said this: “I think Oscar is an unbelievable fighter, an unbelievable champion. He is a true icon in the sport of boxing.” (Interview with Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia Daily News for CBS Sportsline).

Pretty Boy, that’s who. But don’t let me get in the way of a good sales build-up. (Not that the Hoover Dam could slow the cashflow from this one.)

To make a refreshing change, UKBP have decided to bypass the screaming headlines, and compare instead some important fights in the careers of these two phenomenal talents at the pinnacle of the sport.

In the countdown to the big night we’ll release regular episodes in this series:

1. ‘Olympian Debutants’
2. ‘First Alphabet Strap’
3. ‘Trophy Scalps’
4. ‘Controversy’
5. ‘Career-Best Performance’
6. ‘The World Awaits – UKBP’s Prediction’

According to the EBU’s official site, Ireland’s Bernard Dunne will make the second defence of his European super-bantamweight title against Reidar Walstad in Dublin on 23 June.

After boxing brilliantly to capture the title by outpointing Esham Pickering in November, Dunne was handed something of a “gimme” first defence when halting Yersin Jailauov in three rounds last month in front of 8,000 passionate fans at The Point Theatre.

And despite only one defeat in 18 fights, Walstad looks like being another routine assignment for the 23-fight unbeaten Dunne.

The challenger registered the best win of his career last time out, winning every round when decisioning French bantamweight champion Jean Marie Codet over eight. However, the Norwegians solitary career loss which saw him stopped in the opening round by Oldham-based Mongolian Shinny Bayaar in Cardiff in February 2004 probably provides a clearer picture of his credentials.

Should he triumph as expected, Dunne must defend his European crown against mandatory challenger Kiko Martinez next as he eyes a possible world title shot in 2008. Dunne is currently ranked at 10 by the WBC, WBA 9, IBF 11 and WBO 5.

John Simpson will make the first defence of his British featherweight title against Ryan Barrett in London on 8 June. It will be Simpson’s first bout since his bloody points defeat to Derry Matthews for the WBU crown in March.

The Scot dropped Matthews in the first, saw the petulant Liverpudlian deducted two points for various infringements, but still controversially conceded a wide unanimous decision to Matthews on the cards in what looked a close fight all the way.

Simpson did receive a slice of fortune however when relieving Andy Morris of the British title in December. The Manchester stylist, who had widely outpointed Simpson to claim the vacant championship 13 months previously, was surprisingly stopped in the fifth of a fight he was controlling due to a cut eye which didn’t seem that bad. With Morris recently instated as Simpson’s mandatory challenger, the pair will contest a rubbermatch later this year providing the British champion can see off Barrett.

After competing for the majority of his career at lightweight, southpaw Barrett earns his chance following his points win over faded former British featherweight champion Jamie McKeever in February. It was the Londoner’s third win in a row after he was crushed inside a round by Amir Khan last September.

According to the Scotsman, Amir Khan will challenge Scotland’s Willie Limmond for the Commonwealth lightweight title in London on July 14. Though there has been no official announcement from promoter Frank Warren, rumours of a meeting between Khan and Limmond have been gathering pace over the past week (Update – Warren has confirmed the bout today – Ed).

The 28-year-old Limmond, with an impressive record of only one defeat from 29 contests, should present Khan with his toughest assignment to date, but one which the Olympic silver medallist will be comfortably expected to pass.

In fact I’d argue that the carefully matched Limmond is tailor made for Amir. Uncomfortable coming forward, and lacking in power, Willie appears ill-equipped to capitalise on Khan’s slack defence and make him pay. Question marks will also be asked of Limmond’s big-fight temperament when considering his only career defeat against fellow Scot Alex Arthur four years ago.

Unable to handle the pressure, Willie froze that night and was stopped in eight one-sided rounds for the British super-featherweight title. In fairness, the Glasgow man has won ten in a row since then, and after moving up to lightweight in November captured the vacant Commonwealth title he is expected to defend against Khan with a hard-fought points win over Kpakpo Allotey in November.

The 20-year-old Khan, 12-0 (9), won his first professional title when outpointing Rachid Drilzane to claim the IBF inter-continental light-welterweight bauble in December, but has since registered easy victories over Mohammed Medjadji and Steffy Bull and now requires a test.

British lightweights beware: Stoke handful Gary Reid is dropping down to 9st 9.

The Stoke slugger continued his late career resurgance by battering Dean Hickman to defeat in five action-packed rounds to seize the Midlands Area light-welterweight title on the Eastman-Ashira undercard.

In doing so, the 34-year-old exacted revenge over Hickman who had controversially outpointed Reid three years ago and exposed the local man’s known vulnerability to body shots by bulldozing his opponent to the canvas on no less than five separate occasions.

After two hotly contested rounds, in which both men swapped bombs, Reid wrestled control late in the third when a right hand that caught Hickman to the solar plexus sent him to the mat in considerable discomfort. Ironically, Hickman had hurt Reid seconds earlier with a corking staight right to the chin.

Upon the resumption, Reid tore into Hickman and bundled him over but referee Shaun Messer ruled no knockdown and the bell sounded to rescue Dean. He was immediately placed under the cosh at the start of the fourth and left hooks to the body floored Hickman 15 seconds into the round. The mauling continued but Hickman, realising that he couldn’t afford to stand off and allow Reid to dictate, tried to meet fire with fire and enjoyed brief success when nailing the over eager Reid with uppercuts.

But just when the Dudley crowd thought their favourite was coming back into things, he was blasted by a cracking right hand and dropped for the second time in the round. Badly hurt once more, a disconsolate Hickman rose at six knowing exactly what was coming next as soon as referee Messer had completed the mandatory eight-count.

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to guess what Gary Reid is going to do, but perhaps you do have to be one to work out how to stop him when he is fit and at his marauding best. Do you reckon Amir Khan would fancy sharing a ring with Reid after watching this?

I digress. In a crazy three-minutes, Reid still found time to register his thrid knockdown of the round, this time trapping Hickman in a neutral corner and sinking thudding hooks into the West Bromich fighter’s bruised and battered rib cage.

The action had become too one-sided now, and when Hickman was floored again in the fifth from another left to the body referee Messer called a halt to proceedings. Dean protested, perhaps with some justification as he had come off worse following a clash of heads at the same as Reid delivered the fight-ending blow, but the result never seemed in doubt from the third round onwards.

Like a fine wine, Reid is getting better with age. This was his fourth victory in five outings with his only defeat being a narrow points loss to Nigel Wright in a failed English title challenge last November. His modest 13-16-1 record doesn’t do him justice. After his shattering defeat, on the back of stoppage losses to the aforementioned Wright and Barry Morrison, Hickman’s future is far less rosy.

By Ben Carey

Howard Eastman kept his slim hopes to secure a third crack at the world title alive by outpointing Evans Ashira to add the vacant Commonwealth middleweight crown to his British title in Dudley on Friday night.

Judges Howard Foster and Terry O’Connor scored 116-113 in Eastman’s favour after twelve stop-start rounds. The third judge, Ian John-Lewis, had things fractionally wider at 116-112. The officials obviously preferred Eastman’s pitter-patter blows thrown off the back foot and his steady, if unspectacular work to Ashira’s more eyecatching punches.

Personally, I preferred Ashira’s crude aggression and had him up 115-113 on my card at the finish.

Ashira, a Kenyan based in Denmark, swept the first three rounds for me. Busier, more purposeful and getting off with decent jabs and left hooks placed the circumspect Eastman immediately onto the defensive. Howard, who frankly requires a rocket up his arse at times, awoke from his slumber in the fourth, getting inside and jolting Ashira with accurate uppercuts. Whenever the action was fought at close quarters Eastman was the boss. Another uppercut momentarily froze the shorter Ashira in his tracks in the fifth but Eastman, seemingly unaware that he had his man hurt, continued to box at a pedestrian pace.

I had the two middleweight contenders, who possess a combined age of 73, level at the halfway point. Rounds seven and eight were harder to score, but Eastman’s decision to box at range handed the initiative back to Ashira who sent sweat spraying from Eastman’s brow with a couple of right hands. The pattern continued into the eighth. Eastman, looking all of his 36 years, can only box in fits and starts these days and appears uncomfortable whenever he is made to box at tempo.

With Ashira threatening to become a handful once more, Howard elected to turn southpaw in round nine and comfortably outboxed the limited Kenyan with accurate one-twos utilising the full perimeter of the ring. Eastman did enough to befuddle Ashira in the tenth, too, making it all to play for as we entered into the championship rounds.

Who wanted it most? Who was prepared to dig deep and go the extra mile? I could only see one fighter biting hard on his gumshield and throwing leather as if his very career depended on it, and it wasn’t Eastman.

Head down, burrowing forward without much method typified Ashira’s approach throughout but make no mistake Evans landed the cleaner blows and he registered with enough of them to make a mockery of the judges scorecards. The Kenyan finished the fight as he began it, on top, stinging Eastman with a left hook which was arguably the best shot of the contest in the final seconds.

Eastman clung on and spoiled his way to the final bell but is seriously deluded if he believes he can win a version of the world title on the evidence of this. Even if this match was hastily arranged following Scott Dann’s decision to retire and vacate the Commonwealth title, Eastman was supposed to shine against an opponent who had been outclassed by a one-armed Joe Calzaghe on his previous visit to Britain, and knocked out in two rounds in his first world title challenge.

But it wasn’t to be, which pretty much sums up Howard’s career.

In the first of a two-part feature, Suzanne Nield takes an in-depth look at what lies ahead for Joe Calzaghe as the Welshman enters the final stages of his career.

After that frustrating premature stoppage against Manfredo, the fans need something to look forward to. But they’re starting to feel nauseous as the endless carousel of possible challengers keeps spinning. We’ve been told a possible date and venue: July at the new Millenium Dome in Greenwich.

But who will be in the other corner against Calzaghe? And will it be another disappointment?

Number 1: Jermain Taylor

Could it happen?
Frank Warren recently confirmed that he wants to make the Jermain Taylor fight even if they have to wait until September to do it. Taylor is fighting Cory Spinks on 19 May so a July date would be out of the question. Sports Network offered $4 million to the WBC and WBO middleweight king, but in a recent interview Taylor said, ‘If Joe and Frank want me that much..make me an offer for $10 million and I will show up and bring him a gift to his front door.’ Taylor was non-committal about a fight with Joe, saying that he couldn’t look past Spinks. However, he also said that he would have no trouble putting weight on and would not be intimidated by a fight in front of Joe’s home crowd in Wales.

Do we want it to happen?
The 2000 Olympics bronze medallist, now at 26-0-1 with 17 kayos, really arrived when he upset future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins for the unified middleweight title in July 2005. However, he won by a split decision that should have been a draw. Everyone scored that last round for Hopkins except one of the three people who mattered – Judge Duane Ford. It wasn’t exactly an action-packed tear-up, and neither was their rematch 6 months later, when Taylor managed to do just enough accurate work to take a unanimous decision. All three judges saw it 115-113 this time. Then came the controversial draw with defence master Winky Wright, who stormed out of the ring in disgust after Taylor was given the benefit of the doubt in yet another fight where he was outlanded by his opponent according to CompuBox numbers.

Promoter Lou DiBella said, ‘My kid just went two fights in a row with Bernard Hopkins and then fought Winky Wright in a close fight. What does he have to do to get your respect?’ He has a point – Taylor has had quality opposition. But outside of his native Arkansas, Jermain is often regarded as unexciting and his record as deceptive. The too-wide decision over a physically smaller but terrifically active Ouma didn’t improve his image much.

This is a good match for Joe for the obvious reason – a big US audience for his talents. The weight issue won’t be an issue – Taylor is a big middleweight and has fought the bigger Hopkins. But Hopkins is getting on a bit.. and Joe, frankly, isn’t. Calzaghe keeps saying he doesn’t want to fight past forty like Bernard, but his recent matches have shown him to be as fast and vicious as ever. I think he’d do a tap dance on Taylor with superior strength and speed. Jermain has never encountered a thoroughly aggressive opponent with Calzaghe’s furious workrate, and I reckon he’d get the same shock the good-natured Jeff Lacy did.

Number 2: Mikkel Kessler

Could it happen?
This one’s looking more difficult, and Frank Warren’s come in for some flak about it. However, the cash offer to Danish promoter Mogens Palle included Scandinavian and German TV rights worth £3-£4 million, and Kessler has never had a better offer. What Warren balks at is Palle’s insistence on a 50-50 split and joint promotion.

Frank’s had experience of working in tandem with Palle back in the days of Joe Bugner – I’m guessing it must have been in ‘84 when Bugner fought Anders Eklund and Steffen Tangstad back to back in Denmark – and he called it ‘a nightmare’.

Sports Network were willing at one point to take the thin end of the wedge at 40-60 if a match with Hopkins could be made, but take the view that Kessler simply isn’t as valuable as Joe. You can see why – we’re talking about the difference between a champion who’s reigned for a decade and made twenty title defences, as opposed to one who’s been around since 2002 and defended his oldest belt, the WBC, five times.

WBC president Jose Sulaiman has gone on record this week to say that Kessler could beat Joe with one hand and that Calzaghe has fought nobodies. ‘Calzaghe’s been led in his career by defeating many second and third-rate fighters. He’s never really met a first-rate fighter,’ claimed Sulaiman.

The WBC President will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame this June in Canastota. The justification for this entirely escapes me, given that his organisation is purely concerned with the gathering of huge sanctioning fees. Its charity to boxers put one leading writer in mind of ‘a mobster buying a new boiler for the parish orphanage, just a way to deflect attention from the real business at hand’.

But let’s consider the issue rather than the personality. Has Joe played safe compared to Mikkel?

In his last ten fights, Joe’s opponents showed combined wins of 262 and combined losses of 17.
Compare the figures for Kessler: combined wins of 295, but combined losses of 36. Not a great deal of significance there if you ask me – the variation is to do with Kessler facing real veterans like Thobela, Craig Cummings and Lucas. Joe’s overall level of opposition during his career has been higher, most of his victims coming in fairly unsullied.

Just looking at the last couple of years, it’s quite hard to separate the two champions in terms of their activity. Mikkel went to Oz to tackle former rugby-player Mundine on his own turf, Joe knocked out mandatory Mario Veit (who was at 45-1 – that 1 loss also to Joe). Kessler knocked out respected former champ Eric Lucas, kayo-ed Markus Beyer for his WBC belt and returned an overwhelming decision over undefeated Mexican hotshot Librado Andrade last time out. Joe decisioned prospect Evans Ashira with a similar wide margin, destroyed world champ and former Olympian Jeff Lacy, and took a gruelling battle to the murderous Bika, not the cleanest fighter in the world.

However, we would certainly have expected to see bigger names than Bika or Manfredo after the Lacy performance
The worry is that Warren will drive too hard a bargain and potentially waste Joe’s career by failing to get those defining fights.

Do we want Calzaghe – Kessler to happen?
Hell, yes. Of course. Every self-respecting fight fan wants this one. No matter what great things life brings us, if it doesn’t come off we’ll lie on our deathbeds feeling just that little bit unfulfilled. Or maybe we’ll be clutching our grandchildren with withered hands asking, ‘Joe did beat Kessler, didn’t he?’ and they’ll have to humour us that it happened.

The Dane unified the WBC and WBA titles when he clonked Marcus Beyer in three rounds last October. A match up between Mikkel and Joe could at one point have unified the four major belts, as Joe has held the WBO since ooh before you were born, and ripped the IBF off the still-warm carcase of Jeff Lacy a year ago. Joe vacated the IBF, though, when he elected to face Manfredo rather than mandatory challenger Robert Stieglitz. (The belt has since been claimed by Colombian Alejandro Berrio, who walked all over Stieglitz in three rounds last month).

Nobody, but nobody, was happy with the Manfredo fight. We weren’t happy it was made, we weren’t happy it was stopped. No disrespect to Peter, who’s a better fighter than many gave him credit for. But we want it proven to the world that Joe is really a living legend, and that means putting him in with someone of undisputed quality.

We want Kessler, who at 39-0 with 29 on the inside is the closest thing to a fair match for Joe we can think of.
During the Lacy massacre, the American Showtime commentators called Joe a ‘machine’.

Well, Kessler’s a machine, too. But they’re different machines. Mikkel is the kind of precision instrument the northern Europeans make well – reliable, sturdy and safe. He’s like a big, blue-eyed Volkswagen – you could pack the kids in him and take them on a day trip, secure in the knowledge that his transmission won’t let you down. Watching him fight gives you a kind of secure feeling, to know that the world is a civilised place that has produced a calm, assured athlete who is so well-trained you can just wind him up and let him go, to do his reliable stuff.

On the other hand, Joe is like one of those industrial woodchippers people use to dispose of bodies in nasty movies. You keep him in a shed with a padlock and don’t let the family pet play nearby.

Kessler gets quite enthused sometimes in a happy Viking way when he scores a knockdown. But he’s got nothing like the murderous Celt’s killer instinct. Beyer went down from a single meaty right to the chin that was a bit surprising in a slow-paced fight – if he’d been in with Joe, he’d have been spread all over the ring in round 1. Same goes for Eric Lucas – despite their records, both of those guys were one-dimensional fighters, and it would’ve taken Calzaghe less time to expose them. Even Mundine, a terrific athlete, wouldn’t be capable of matching the Welshman’s speed and would have felt the twist inside the distance.

Joe told the Sun recently, ‘Kessler is a carbon copy of Lacy. When I got injured and pulled out of the first date against Lacy people called me chicken. Then I destroyed him only for people to say he was never any good anyway. If I have to fight Kessler to unify the division I will. Just because he beat some average Mexican called Librado Andrade doesn’t make him a great fighter.’

Don’t miss part two of Suzanne’s feature on Monday.

Featherweight Nicky Cook is on the verge of a world title shot after suffering extreme disappointment when former WBO champion Scott Harrison pulled out of their scheduled clash last year. Cook is currently ranked at 2 by the WBO and could contest the world title against no.1 ranked Steve Luevano if current champion Juan Manuel Marquez decides to vacate and meet Manny Pacquiao in a mouthwatering rematch up at super-feather.

However, Cook could also be set to land a crack at the IBF title currently held by Robert Guerrero. The Dagenham fighter has moved up from 7 to 3 in the IBF’s latest rankings with the organisation’s number 1 and 2 ranking berths currently left unoccupied. It seems likely then that Cook will be ordered to box a final eliminator for the right to become Guerrero’s mandatory challenger. For the record, Valdemir Pereira and Eric Aiken are ranked 4th and 5th respectively by the IBF.

To find out where the rest of the Brits are currently ranked by the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO click the link below.

Heavweight
Matt Skelton WBO 10

Cruiserweight
David Haye WBC 1, WBA 4, WBO 3

Light-heavyweight
Dean Francis WBO 10

Super-Middleweight
Carl Froch WBC 2, WBA 13, IBF 6, WBO 3
Glenn Catley WBC 15

Middleweight
Howard Eastman IBF 14
Scott Dann IBF 9 (even though Dann has recently announced his retirement)
Gary Lockett WBO 5

Light-Middleweight
Jamie Moore WBC 12

Welterweight
Michael Jennings WBO 2
Tony Doherty WBO 8

Light-welterweight
Ricky Hatton WBC 4, WBA 3,
Ted Bami WBC 15
Ajose Olusegun WBC 14

Lightweight
Graham Earl WBO 10
Willie Limmond WBO 13
Amir Khan WBO 11

Super-Featherweight
Alex Arthur WBC 6, WBA 3, WBO 4
Kevin Mitchell IBF 12, WBO 6
Carl Johanneson WBO 7

Featherweight
Nicky Cook WBA 6, IBF 3, WBO 2
Derry Matthews WBO 9

Super-Bantamweight
Michael Hunter IBF 4, WBO 7 (Incidentally Bernard Dunne is WBC 10, WBA 9, IBF 11 & WBO 5)

A win on the Hennessy Sports and GoldenPalace.com event, being covered live by Sky Sports, will also see ‘The Battersea Bomber’ claim back the second of the titles he relinquished in order to challenge then undisputed champion Bernard Hopkins in February 2005.

Eastman won back the British crown with a stunning knock out of old friend and fellow south Londoner Richard Williams in December. He is rapidly moving back to the top level where he clearly belongs.

The Hennessy Sports boxer has only ever suffered setbacks against world-class operators. For Eastman, each occasion was controversial.

His first defeat came via a disputed points decision to American William Joppy for the WBA title in 2001. He was then beaten again on points by ring legend Bernard Hopkins in 2005.

Germany-based Arthur Abraham – now the IBF champion – got what appeared to most to be a hometown verdict over him five months later, before Colombian Edison Miranda was awarded a controversial seventh round stoppage last year.

Eastman, who had badly hurt Miranda in the previous round of their world title eliminator, insists he was never hurt.

“I want a rematch with the likes of Miranda and Abraham,” said the ‘Battersea Bomber’, who has stopped 35 opponents in 45 fights and a 13-year career.

“I don’t believe that I lost to them and I was robbed, just like I was when I fought William Joppy. I would love to fight him again too.

“Bernard Hopkins was supposed to be the undisputed champion when I fought him, but he just ran for 12 rounds and didn’t put up a fight.

“There should have been a rematch with him. Instead he fought Jermain Taylor, twice.”

He continued: “I need to be fighting this calibre of opponent. Ashira is a two-time world title challenger so this is a good fight me.

“I still want to win a world title to accomplish all my goals.

“I will fight as long as I can because I love boxing. Look at Bernard Hopkins – he is still fighting and he’s over 40. You can go on as long as you want if you are physically and mentally fit.

“I still want to box the top guys and they should have fought me long ago. Hopefully I will be back in the world mix after this one.”

“I’m the middleweight champion of the world in waiting… but not for much longer. I’m more dangerous than I was before.”

Both Eastman and Ashira made the weight at the first time of asking this afternoon. Eastman scaled 11 stone 5lb 8oz, whilst Ashira stepped on at 11 stone 5lb.

“This is a major gamble for David Haye,” promoter Frank Maloney said. “David is the mandatory challenger to Jean Marc Mormeck, the WBC Cruiserweight champion, and he is putting it all on the line by testing himself for the first time at this level.”

“I see it as exactly that,” Haye, 26, agreed. “Losing to Bonin is not an option. He is a natural boxer who has a good ranking. He really fancies it. The word from Poland is he is here to knock me out.”

“I want a risk,” Haye continued. “I could go to Barbados and just wait for a suitable cruiserweight opponent, but that’s not me. I said to Frank Maloney ‘Get me Enzo Maccarinelli or someone where I can make a statement. I want a challenge.’ My world title fight now is on the line. If I lose, my WBC title bout is up in the air. It will be a tough fight as I don’t punch hard enough to knock him out. He has been boxing the best since he was an amateur.”

“Training has been going really well,” said Haye, who has been training in Tenerife. “It can be traumatic taking two stone off for each fight to make cruiserweight. [Ultimately] I want to be the number one heavyweight.”

“I am making strides and I am doing things the right way,” the 6′ 3″ Bermondsey resident continued.

“Bonin is freakishly strong and he has had two and a half months to prepare for this. This is as dangerous as any fight I have had. I am looking forward to fighting at heavyweight and I can’t stress how strong Bonin is. He has got a great chin [but] I am going into this fight with great confidence.”

And Haye’s initial step up to heavyweight seemingly holds no fears for the South London resident:

“I am 6 foot 3 and 16 and a half stone [231 lb] is my natural weight. I feel that I can be the heavyweight champion of the world. As soon as I am world champion, maybe I will make one cruiserweight defence – as long as it is safe to make the weight.

“For the next fight, all I can say is ‘bring it on.’ At cruiserweight, Jean Mormeck is the best so I must make sure I get rid of him competently.”

Haye remains clear on his future ambitions and has clear thoughts on future heavyweights:

“The modern day trend is for heavyweights of my size as it is increasingly coming down to skill, speed and pedigree. I like the way the heavyweight scene is looking and I feel I can clean up.”

“If the choice was between Mormeck and a heavyweight bout, I would go for Mormeck,” he continued. “I have put in so much effort in the cruiserweight division it would be a shame not to go for it as I am only one fight away from the cruiserweight title.”

Unsurprisingly, Bonin too feels things are going in the right direction following his sole defeat against Audley Harrison in June 2004. Since then, the 33 year old Pole has racked up 11 consecutive victories and now holds a WBC ranking of No.11 – in stark contrast to Harrison’s decline – and arrives in London full of confidence.

“My first defeat was not warranted,” Bonin said, “The referee over-reacted.

“I think [Haye] is a talented fighter who is ambitious. He likes to attack. It will be a good fight. I am coming to the UK to win. I lost my first fight here under suspicious circumstances and I am coming to Wembley to win. I want to fight for a championship next.”

“I love boxing guys from Eastern Europe,” Haye says. “I feast on those guys like they’re going out of fashion. While other boxers often avoid the best fighters in Eastern Europe – because of their technical skills and amateur background – I thrive on facing their style. I love chinning Eastern Europeans.”

The 33-year-old Bonin, based in Warsaw, has admitted to knowing all about Haye’s reputation from the amateur ranks. The Polish slugger said last week: “I was in Belfast when David won the World (Amateur Championships) silver medal in 2001 and I’ve followed him ever since. Believe me, I know what I’m dealing with.”

Haye believes him.

“Bonin says he’s seen me box as an amateur and, if that’s the case, he’ll know all about my success against Eastern European heavyweights,” Haye, 18-1 (17 KOs), adds. “I expect Bonin to train like crazy because of this. I’ve actually heard that he’s been knocking out respected European heavyweights left, right and centre in Poland while training for this fight. I fully expect him to be up for this.”

At cruiserweight, Haye famously grabbed the prestigious European title by flattening Ukrainian champion Alexander Gurov in 45 seconds. As a 17-year-old amateur boxer Haye shattered five of 28-year-old Roman Kolvalchuk’s teeth in 1996. Kovalchuk was Russian. It’s fair to say Haye saves his most devastating performances for those fighters from Eastern Europe.

“I honestly don’t know why it is,” he says. “I just enjoy boxing guys with that kind of style. Although they are all very experienced and technically solid, I find ways of breaking their style down with my brain and then breaking them in two with my ‘Hayemaker’.”

Bonin will hope to be the exception when the pair meet at London’s Wembley Arena on April 27. A sturdy, hard-punching contender, currently ranked at number 11 in the world by the World Boxing Council (WBC), Bonin, 37-1 (20 KOs), carries the tools to flash warning signs in Haye’s direction.

“Despite my record against Eastern Europeans, I definitely won’t be taking Bonin lightly,” he admits. “I know that should I get lazy or make a mistake, I will be flat on my back. You don’t get second chances in the heavyweight division. These guys won’t let me off the hook if my concentration wanders.”

The Hennessy Sports boxer faces Kenyan Ashira Evans for the vacant Commonwealth Middleweight Title at the Dudley Concert Hall live on Sky Sports as he aims to win back the second of his old belts.

The first was recaptured in devastating fashion, when he knocked out old friend and fellow south Londoner Richard Williams in December. Now Eastman, who lost to American Bernard Hopkins for the undisputed world middleweight title in 2005, faces another top class operator.

“I understand Ashira to be a very dangerous opponent,” he said earlier today from the Hennessy Sports training facility in London. “He has fought for two world titles, one at super middleweight.

“I need to be fighting this kind of dangerous opponent. I will be back in with the very best, very soon. I am a world champion in waiting.”

The ‘Battersea Bomber’ clearly feels that the best is yet to come.

“I feel stronger and more dangerous than I have ever been,” he added. “And the motivation is still there. The story is not finished yet.

“As well as my boxing training, I do a lot of other sports like basketball, football and swimming. This helps a lot; it keeps me in great general condition.”

Eastman will be supported on the Hennessy Sports and GoldenPalace.com event by his featherweight team-mate Billy Corcoran. The former English champion and British Title challenger goes over eight against Walsall’s Steve Gethin.

The bill also features an intriguing Midlands Area clash between home fighter Dean Hickman and Gary Reid, two experienced Championship campaigners who always give their all.

“I’m looking forward to winning this belt and moving on upwards,” said Hickman. “My aim is to challenge Jon Thaxton for the British Title at lightweight. I feel that with the right preparation it is a fight I can win.”

Other local favourites appearing include Dean Harrison, Martin Gethin, Sam Horton and Kevin Buckley, who now goes over four against his namesake Pete.

“I haven’t got long left at 28 years of age,” Maxwell says. “I’m not old, but I’m not a young prospect anymore, either. I want to crack on now, leave all the politics behind, and, with the help of Desert Sky Promotions and Hayemaker, make my way towards titles.

“The minimum I want this year is the Commonwealth title. I also want to get a shot at the European title. That’s my aim.”

Maxwell’s nine-year professional career has been blighted by inactivity and boxing politics. When active, though, Maxwell cuts a fearsome figure – power in either fist and a calculated pressure style born from his American upbringing in the Bronx, New York.

In 2007, Maxwell promises to be at his most active. He’s also dropping down a division.

“I was sceptical at first about moving back to junior-middleweight, but I really believe it can be done now,” stresses the 13-1 (10 KOs) Maxwell. “It’s just going to take time to get my body used to it. It will take discipline and some extra hard work. It’s got to be done.

“When I do get down to junior-middleweight, though, can you imagine the impact I could make? It would be awesome. I’m probably four or five times the fighter now than I was when I originally campaigned at junior-middle. When I do get down there I can’t wait to start testing myself. There are some good boxers at junior-middleweight but nobody is really setting anything alight in this country.”

Recently Maxwell has spent as much time overseas in America and Germany as he has in England. The versatile puncher has been away sparring some of the world’s best fighters – including Arthur Abraham, Antonio Margarito, Vitali Tsypko and Enrique Ornelas.

“Abraham is very, very strong but he’s no bigger than me and I still believe in my heart of hearts I can beat him,” Maxwell says. “He’s mechanical, flat-footed and lacks speed and I’d be really confident of beating him if I was given the chance. Obviously, though, he’s a world champion and I’m a way off his level yet.”

Of Margarito, Maxwell says: “Margarito was an eye opener. I never realised how much people wanted to chase their dream until I met him. Margarito is a middleweight and yet he makes welterweight. This guy is cut up at 11 stone. He hits hard – not concussively – but every shot is solid and felt. I was stronger than him – maybe because he was weak after losing so much weight or maybe because I’m very strong myself.”

Maxwell competes in a non-title eight rounder on the bumper April 27 Maloney Promotions bill at London’s Wembley Arena. Maxwell faces Newcastle’s Paul Buchanan in an intriguing crossroads fight between once-beatens.

“It’s eight rounders onwards from now,” Patrick adds. “I’ve had enough of these four and six rounders. I’ve been craving eight and ten rounders and really want to make my way towards championship level as soon as possible. A win over Buchanan will be a great starting point.

“I’d love to fight somebody like Sergio Martinez eventually,” Maxwell adds. “I know people avoid him like the plague but I really fancy that fight. That would launch me onto the world stage as the guy is rated highly by all the main world governing bodies.”

Ambition has never been a problem for Patrick J. Maxwell.

For details on how to purchase tickets for Haye-Bonin at London’s Wembley Arena, please call 07885728330.

For more information visit David Haye’s official MySpace page at www.myspace.com/davidhaye

Howard Eastman vs. Evans Ashira

Vacant Commonwealth Middleweight Championship

@ Dudley Concert Hall – 20th April 2007

Other sponsors: EJKO Promotions and Everlast

Tickets priced £50 and £30 on 0785 226 8333.

12×3 Vacant Commonwealth Middleweight Championship

Howard Eastman vs. Evans Ashira

(Battersea) (Denmark)

10×3 Midlands Area Light Welterweight Title

Dean Hickman vs. Gary Reid

(West Bromwich) (Stoke on Trent)

8×3 Featherweight

Billy Corcoran vs. Steve Gethin

(Wembley) (Walsall)

6×3 Light Welterweight

Dean Harrison vs. Judex Meemea

(Wolverhampton) (London)

6×3 Lightweight

Martin Gethin vs. Carl Allen

(Walsall) (Wolverhampton)

4×3 Middleweight

Sam Horton vs. Tony Stones

(Stourbridge) (Wakefield)

4×3 Featherweight

Paul Truscott vs. Riaz Durgahead

(Middlesbrough) (London)

4×3 Super Featherweight

Kevin Buckley vs. TBA

(Chester) ()

4×3 Light Welterweight

Martin Gordon vs. Christian Laight

(Dudley) (Nuneaton)

“After being made aware of Frank Warren’s comments over the last few days, I’m pleased to confirm that negotiations have started with his company Sports Network about a super fight between Carl Froch and Joe Calzaghe,” confirmed Hennessy.

“We were keen to negotiate this fight in the background to its conclusion, but articles published in the News of the World, The Nottingham Evening Post and the Guardian have left me no option but to go on record and address this matter.”

Hennessy explained: “Sports Network’s matchmaker first got in touch with us at the end of last week to ask if we were serious about making the fight. I said: ‘of course: very serious’.

“I explained we were fine with it being staged by Sports Network if the deal was right, but stressed that there couldn’t be any options on Carl Froch’s future fights.

“The matchmaker suggested that this could pose a problem and that Frank Warren would require some kind of options if Carl beat Calzaghe, but told me that he would get back to me. I then received a simple text on Saturday morning with a money offer for July or September, but there was no mention of the situation regarding options.

“I requested clarification on their position regarding options in writing to our fax number, but received nothing. The lack of response suggests there is an issue, but this would appear to contradict Frank Warren’s comments in the Guardian yesterday. At this moment, their stance on options is still unclear to me.

“I am happy to continue negotiations for Carl to box on a Sports Network event, but need to know they won’t require an involvement in Carl’s career after the fight if he wins. Given Frank Warren’s apparent confidence in Calzaghe, it would be a contradiction if they did.”

Unbeaten British and Commonwealth champion Froch has been promoted by Hennessy since his professional debut five years ago. He is currently ranked third by the WBO and second by the WBC, having stopped 17 of his 21 victims. He will move up a position in both rankings once Bute is removed for contesting a final eliminator for the IBF championship, leaving him at #1 with the WBC.

Hennessy has long claimed a fight between the Nottingham boxer and Calzaghe is a marquee affair that would create significant nationwide and global interest. In order to make it happen, he has attempted to set the politics aside and made a firm offer of his own.

“This is a massive fight, between two of the best fighters in the world who both happen to be British,” added Hennessy. “Joe Calzaghe is a great champion and a true warrior. I believe it will take a very special fighter to beat him, but I believe Carl Froch to be just that.

“This is a marquee contest that needs to happen and options shouldn’t get in the way. As such, I have attempted to put all the confusion to one side and made an offer to stage the fight in either July or September.

“I feel the offer was very generous. If you take the amounts that the champion and challenger receive from WBO purse bids, (75/25%), my offer values the total fight at twice the amount of Frank Warren’s. It would also result in Joe Calzaghe receiving 6 times the amount of Sports Network’s offer to Carl.”

Unfortunately, the proposal has already been knocked back.

“Within an hour of sending the offer, it was turned down by their matchmaker,” said Hennessy a short while ago. “The text offer to Carl was also re-iterated as a final offer, but did not mention whether they required options or not.

“I have again sought clarification on this. There is little point in us even discussing the offer they have made for Carl to box on a Sports Network show until we know their position for certain.

“Once they have stated in writing, as requested, that they do not require options, we can look at the possibility seriously. They have stated that the offer was their last, but I am confident that through ongoing dialogue we could come to an arrangement that reflects the magnitude of this fight.

“This contest could be one of the biggest in British Boxing history. Calzaghe already holds the record for the highest indoor attendance, but it would be blown away if he met Carl Froch.

“I see Jermain Taylor has turned a big offer down. There now isn’t a bigger viable fight out there for Calzaghe, so I’m hopeful his team will be realistic going forward.

“In light of their rejection, I have also asked what terms would be acceptable to Joe Calzaghe to defend against Carl on one of our shows. I am still very hopeful that this contest can happen, regardless of whose event it is on.”

When Haye disposed of the undefeated Giacobbe Fragomeni last November in his third defence of the EBU cruiser belt, the fight also functioned as an eliminator for the WBC title then held by O’Neil Bell. Bell failed to get past Jean-Marc Mormeck in their rematch recently, and Haye was named number one contender for Mormeck’s new WBC strap.

However, David’s problems making the weight are well known. It’s only a matter of time before his body dictates that sub-200lb battles are a thing of the past, which is partly why he’s decided to test the water at heavyweight against Tomasz Bonin next Friday, before dropping back down to cruiser to challenge Mormeck later this year.

The other reason for the move up is that it proved impossible to get a match with Maccarinelli on good terms for David. (Now, wouldn’t that have been better than Bobby Gunn? It beggars belief, it really does).

But politics are so boring. Far more interesting is the rise and rise of an exceptional young talent, whose amateur career was topped by a silver at the 2001 World Championships (Olympic winner Odlanier Solis took gold), and who is now at 18-1.

That shock loss to Carl Thompson back in ‘04 was largely down to inexperience – Haye punched himself out throwing bombs that would have floored a lesser opponent several times over. ‘I was actually enjoying it in there,’ said David after the towel came in to save him in the fifth. He rebounded with a series of knockouts, notably a spectacular 45-second demolition job on hardened Alexander Gurov for his present title.

Only one of Haye’s victims got to hear the final bell. That was a bit of a snoozer against Ismail Abdoul, but at least we saw that Haye could box for 12 rounds, even if his workrate could have been better.

And now David is a man with a plan – see how it goes against Bonin, drop back to scoop the cruiser world title, then make the permanent move to heavyweight and aim for a title there, too. Of course it’s ambitious – apart from a couple of back-to-back losses in ‘97, the only bad day at the office for Mormeck was his initial loss to Bell, now avenged. And that’s looking past Bonin, the Pole known as the ‘Bull’, now at 37-1 with 20 kayos.

But there’s something about David that makes me believe it just might happen. His ten rounds as the ‘Heavyweight Hayemaker’ are what’s selling the Wembley bill on the 27th, despite the fact that Peter Oboh is defending the British light-heavy title against Tony Oakey on the main card.

The 26-year-old South Londoner has captured the imagination of the British public. Maybe it’s the way he gets so wired and enthusiastic in interviews, especially post-bout when his adrenaline’s pumping. Maybe it’s because professional fighters who struggle to squeeze down to 200lbs, but are pretty enough to model for Versace, don’t turn up every day. Or maybe it’s the combination of concussive power and vulnerability in the ring.

Against Fragomeni, we watched David take too many head shots and suffer a badly-seeping cut to the left brow, and wondered if it was still a case of youth against experience, as in their earlier amateur clash. The Italian was absorbing power shots like he could suck it up forever, and still grinding forward like a truck. It must have been disconcerting. But Haye landed a terrific left body hook, and a right to the head in the ninth that finally shook Fragomeni, driving into a barrage that ended things. This was the fight where David proved that he’s grown into his strength and can keep a cool head too. I don’t think there’s any doubt that he has heavyweight hands after this one – the granite Italian had fought some decent battlers and, as far as I know, never been down even temporarily.

No-one can question David’s talent or his power. It’s that vulnerability we’re concerned about – what will low hands and an exposed chin cost him in the top weight division?

Bonin is ranked at number 11 by the WBC, and was apparently the only top-15 heavyweight willing to step in with David. That single loss was to Audley Harrison when challenging for the WBF title back in June ‘04, and Bonin has said that to this day he doesn’t understand referee John Keane’s decision to stop the bout. Fans booed the stoppage at the Alexandra Palace after the Pole’s strong performance, in which he overcame height, weight and reach disadvantages to put Harrison under pressure.

However, Bonin’s record should not be allowed to blind us to the fact that he’s fought some very poor opposition. Last time out was against a debutant, and Bonin has to pick himself up off the floor in round one to win that. Only five of his last ten opponents have had winning records, and none were particularly impressive. He currently holds the lightly-regarded IBC title, taken against the Dominican Republic’s Fernely Feliz (who at 36 years of age is currently at 23-8).

David defended the European title he took from Gurov three times now, with relative ease (a title he has recently vacated). That knockout record is sufficient proof that he has surplus power at cruiser. He’s tailor-made for the heavyweight division, and I expect he’ll prove that at Wembley inside the distance, if he can just present a moving target and be a little more difficult to hit than last time out.

I’m not the first to comment that the most wildly popular fighters of recent times – Ali, Leonard, De La Hoya – have all been beautiful guys. Make of that what you will! The fact remains that, if David can prove his class above 200lbs, the hairy old heavyweight division is going to get a much-needed makeover. Since this is the division that has traditionally attracted most interest from general sports fans, Haye’s heavyweight debut could be the start of exciting times ahead for British boxing’s popularity.

Set to step up to the heavyweight division on April 27 against Poland’s Tomasz Bonin, Haye believes the key to success is found further afield.

“I’m targeting the world heavyweight title not the British heavyweight title,” the 26-year-old stresses. “I’m not moving up to heavyweight to fight all my domestic rivals and end up going absolutely nowhere.

“My next opponent, Bonin, is rated higher than all the British heavyweights with the World Boxing Council (WBC), and that is one of the reasons why I am boxing him.”

British contenders Matt Skelton, Michael Sprott, Danny Williams and Audley Harrison have all served up some intriguing heavyweight clashes in recent times. They have also often met each other more than once. Haye insists the rivalries have moved none of the heavyweights anywhere fast.

“If I were to beat someone like Skelton or Sprott, the win would then be followed by a rematch,” Haye says. “Then you’re looking at a rivalry. Then you’d have to defend the British title against the next challenger – and then they’d want a rematch. It just doesn’t get you anywhere. I’d be constantly going round in circles.”

Haye adds: “I’m 26 years of age and feel I am approaching my prime. I don’t want to waste my best years against domestic opponents. Frank Bruno and Nigel Benn never bothered with the British title, and they didn’t do too badly, did they?”

Nevertheless, Haye does consider himself Britain’s biggest hope in the heavyweight division when he eventually settles into the weight-class full-time.

“I’m definitely Britain’s best heavyweight,” Haye says. “By taking on world-class opponents instead of domestic rivals, I’ll prove that I’m the best. I’m going to be bringing speed and explosive power these heavyweights have never seen before – it’s the stuff of nightmares.

“Ruslan Chagaev beat Nicolay Valuev the other day despite being eleven inches shorter than him and 90 pounds lighter. He did it with speed, intelligence and skills. These big, plodding heavyweights better get used to it.”

Haye’s attempt to disarm the heavyweight division begins at London’s Wembley Arena on April 27. His opponent, Tomasz Bonin, is not to be underestimated, however.

“Bonin’s a very dangerous fighter,” Haye, 18-1 (17 KOs), admits. “He’ll be the biggest and hardest-punching fighter I’ve ever faced. He’ll also be the first heavyweight to taste ‘The Hayemaker’. I’ll assure you he won’t be the last, either.”

Joe Calzaghe’s promoter Frank Warren has hit back at the critics who have suggested that Joe Calzaghe is content to beat up overmatched foes like Peter Manfredo instead of facing a real challenge. Speaking in his weekly column in the News of the World, Warren reiterated that he has made offers to Mikkel Kessler, Jermain Taylor and now Nottingham’s Carl Froch.

“WBA super-middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler is already claiming he won’t be ready until September even though three weeks ago he was screaming for a fight with the no 1. As well as making an offer to the Dane, I’ve also put $4million on the table if middleweight number one Jermain Taylor is interested.

And up and coming Carl Froch – who doesn’t yet mean anything the States – who likes to boost that he’ll smoke Calzaghe’s boots – has also been made a more than generous offer. Will he risk the Welshman putting out his fire?”

The exact nature of Warren’s offer to Froch is unclear but is nevertheless an interesting revelation. It will be interesting to see the response from Carl’s promoters Hennessy Sports. Froch’s recent devasating displays have at last justified his sizeable boasts and many, this writer included, believe ‘The Cobra’ is now a genuine threat to the Welshman. Despite Warren’s criticism that Froch is largely unknown in America, the British and Commonwealth champion IS an established name in Britain and would present Calzaghe with a far more taxing night’s work than the likes of Peter Manfredo, Sakio Bika, Evans Ashira and a shot Roy Jones Jr who has worryingly thrown his hat into the ring to face Calzaghe in Britain this Summer.

A Calzaghe-Froch meeting would be an intriguing battle of Britain, and for those who argue that Froch is out of his depth, how many of you tipped Brighton braggart Chris Eubank to tople Nigel Benn in 1990? Like Froch, Eubank still had much to prove at the time and had contested only 24 fights but rose to the occasion magnificently to stop the Dark Destroyer in the ninth round.

It would be a surprise though if the 35-year-old Calzaghe ended up sharing a ring with Kessler, Taylor or Froch before he finally hangs up the gloves. Not for the want of trying, according to Warren.

“I can definitely tell you the Welshman has been willing to face all comers over the years – and hasn’t been the one doing the ducking. Joe is an outstanding athlete and the big crowd at the Millennium Stadium gave him the respect and appreciation he deserves. When he’s gone Joe will be sorely missed – but he’ll be around at the top for a few years yet, and talking to HBO’s Ross Greenberg, who was delighted with the viewing figures in the States over the weekend, they will showcase his next fight.”

Barratt has rebounded well after his mauling by Olympic silver medalist Amir Khan, outpointing faded former British champion Jamie McKeever.

At light-welterweight, English champion Nigel Wright must defend his title against Ashley Theophane. The fight will double as an official eliminator for the British title currently held by Motherwell’s Barry Morrison. Wright was widely outpointed by former champion Lenny Daws in their clash for the vacant British title last May. Theophane earns his chance after stopping veteran Alan Bosworth.

Purse bids must be submitted to the Board by noon on Wednesday 9th May and both contests must take place by the end of September.

David Haye seeks to emulate Evander Holyfield’s outstanding record by becoming the first British boxer to hold the World Heavyweight and Cruiserweight titles and takes a significant step towards boxing’s Holy Grail when he meets Tomasz Bonin, the WBC No.11 ranked fighter, at Wembley Arena on 27 April.

Haye, “The face of British boxing” must be admired for shunning the plentiful cruiserweight opportunities and risking everything by stepping up to fight at heavyweight for the first time against a world ranked, rather than “safety first” opponent.

Haye, a gunslinger of a fighter, has claimed 17 of his 18 victories by knockout and fervently awaits the opportunity to mix it with boxing’s big men in his continued quest for world domination. The opportunity should not be too long in coming for the 6′ 3″ South London resident who was recently named the mandatory challenger to Jean-Marc Mormeck, the WBA and WBC Cruiserweight champion, who regained his crown in Paris four weeks ago.

Bonin suffered his sole reverse in a 38 bout career at the hands of a peak Audley Harrison, who has since slipped in the ratings, while Bonin’s stock has soared. Haye will be seeking a convincing victory to achieve the dream he shares with all young men from the time they first don a pair of boxing gloves – namely the opportunity to become world heavyweight champion and the No.1 ambassador for British sport.

In the chief support bout Peter Oboh, the most avoided light heavyweight, faces the likeable Tony “Oakey Kokey” Oakey for the British title.

Frank Maloney Promotions presents “Heavyweight Hayemaker” at Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, England on April 27, 2007.

Tickets are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508 Sky TV televises live. For any further Press information please call 02086914165.

Footballer-turned boxer Curtis Woodhouse, now trained by Coldwell, takes part in his second pro contest against Duncan Cottier. Top of the bill sees dynamite fisted cruiserweight John Anthony meet JJ Ojuederie. Multi-title winning amateur Josh Wale continues his pro career at super-bantam. Former England international Wale required only 73 seconds to stop Neil Read in the opening round of his debut.

There are also outings for former British welterweight champion Chris Saunders and popular ticket sellers Andrew Ward and Paul Royston who will attempt to secure their first pro victories. Finally, local pride will be at stake when Sheffield’s Dean Walker tackles Barnsley’s former two-weight Central Area champion Rob Burton at light-heavyweight.

Haywood shocks O’Connor

The rangy Scott Haywood recorded the finest win of his career to widely outpoint local favourite Gary O’Connor on the Moore-Lujan undercard. Referee Phil Edwards awarded Haywood every round and only gave O’Connor a share of one returning a 60-55 verdict in this welterweight six-rounder. The Manchester man could have no complaints. He was outpunched, outsmarted and ultimately outclassed for the duration.

O’Connor came perilously close to being stopped in the first round. Walking forward in straight lines with no head movement, the Manchester man was nailed flush by huge right hand counters from the long-armed Haywood and was clearly dazed. Boxing through a fog, Gary attempted to duck under Scott’s blows but was nailed by a big uppercut and almost went down. The bell couldn’t come soon enough for O’Connor and there was a genuine case for scoring this round 10-8 in Haywood’s favour.

O’Connor was more cautious in round two but this ironically worked against him. In essence, Gary’s tactics remained the same. He still trudged forward without method, but by electing to only throw sporadic single shots presented himself as an even more inviting target than he had done in the opener. Haywood lapped it up, waited for O’Connor to make the first move then crashed home a left-right which had the Manchester fighter on unsteady legs once more. O’Connor simply couldn’t get out of the way and Haywood couldn’t help but find the target with alarming regularity.

Gary’s right eye was closing rapidly in round three but at least he managed to perform better in this stanza. Finally displaying some head movement, O’Connor injected some much needed urgency into his work which unsettled Haywood for the first time. An untidy tangle saw Scott bundled to the canvas but he dusted himself down to resume normal service, picking O’Connor off boxing on the back foot.

The Derby man was slowing down though, and I awarded O’Connor the fourth on workrate alone. Gary caught his taller opponent with a solid right hand, one of his few successes, and followed this up with another right on the bell as Haywood became a little complacent. The fifth was competitive, too. After head hunting throughout, Gary sensibly tried to work Haywood’s body and also landed an uppercut inside. Haywood, now fighting in bursts with his work lacking the crispness of previous rounds, retaliated with single hooks off the ropes.

O’Connor needed a big final round to stand any chance of snatching a draw but Haywood rallied and won the session clearly. A textbook delivered right hand, thrown with speed and accuracy, knocked O’Connor’s gumshield out. Gary tried for one big final push, but having finally worked his way inside, was unable to get his shots off as Scott tied him up to make sure of the win.

And what a win it was for the away fighter who is trained by the Shinfields. Haywood had suffered disappointment when dropping a narrow decision to unbeaten prospect John Fewkes last year. The Derby stylist’s victory over O’Connor, who had only lost once prior to this on points to Tony Doherty by a one-point margin, ought to put him in line for a crack at the English title held by John O’Donnell.

Harding proves it wasn’t a fluke

Fight of the night on this superbly matched undercard saw Stockport’s Danny Harding repeat his points win over former ABA champion Chris Pacy in a thrilling rematch. Pacy had been seeking revenge ever since he lost his unbeaten record to Harding in a four-round sprint last September.

With their light-welterweight rematch scheduled over six, Pacy was expected to put the record straight but once again the gutsy Harding proved us wrong. Danny may not possess the amateur pedigree of Pacy but is now unbeaten in six-fights since he turned pro and has genuine ability.

The first three rounds mirrored their previous encounter. Both men went at it tooth and nail from the off, but Harding’s superior speed and ability to throw more straighter shots gave him the edge whenever the pair went toe-to-toe in some furious exchanges. Danny’s slashing blows drew claret from Pacy’s left eye following a stinging right hand and Chris was again left frustrated by not having things his own way.

Nothing was going right for Pacy. He was coming off second best in the exchanges and when he paused to collect his thoughts in the centre of the ring, Harding nailed him with one-twos which repeatedly knocked his head back.

The plot shifted in round four, however. Harding, having worked so hard to build himself a lead in the opening three rounds, started to tire and Pacy was coming on strong. Prepared to walk through Harding’s shots, Chris got inside and clubbed Danny with solid hooks and produced some educated pressure.

Now blowing harder, the going got tougher for Harding in the fifth as Pacy’s short shots drew blood from his nose. The stronger, fitter Pacy was in the ascendancy and had this fight being scheduled over eight would probably have gotten his nose in front, eventually.

But it was scheduled for six, both men knew it, and Pacy and his disappointed promoter Frank Maloney could have no complaints. Aware that the fight hinged on the final round, Harding dug deep and pumped his arms furiously for three minutes of non-stop action to edge the final round. As Chris became increasingly desperate he left gaps in his defence which Harding gratefully exploited. Harding showed some intelligence by tieing Pacy up after landing with his own scoring blows to clinch a 58-57 verdict from referee Edwards.

Maloney was furious and briefly remonstrated with the official. Pacy, a model pro, accepted his fate and went straight over to Harding to offer his congratulations. Both boys have bright futures on the evidence of their two battles to date and it would be no surprise if we saw them in the same ring together down the line.

Matvienko unlucky

Only referee Keith Garner’s verdict of a 39-39 draw spoiled a rousing four-threes middleweight battle between Alex Matvienko and Ryan Ashworth. Bolton bomber Matvienko, a 100mph crowd pleaser who seemingly only knows one way to fight, finished the contest with a knick under his right eye and a mouse under his left but was far busier throughout.

Ashworth, who was relatively unmarked aside from some reddening on his face, scored with some cute counters off the back foot but nevertheless took some serious leather to head and body as Matvienko never stopped swinging.

There was no feeling out process in this one. Bolton hammer Matvienko launched right hand bombs from the opening bell, some got through, some missed, but Ashworth was under constant pressure and also had to endure some hurtful hooks to his ribcage. Ryan coped remarkably well, and gathered his composure after being spun around from a left hook to register with his own counter left hooks to mark up Matvienko below his eyes in round two.

The house favourite continued to have the better of it but was making the job far harder than it needed to be, needlessly loading up with every shot and neglecting to set up his attacks with the jab. Alex was blowing hard by the end of the third but Ashworth, probably grateful of a breather, didn’t really capitalise on Matvienko’s increasingly slack defence.

The action lulled slightly in the final round. Scarborough’s Ashworth seemed happy with navigating himself to the final bell without incident. Matvienko continued to bully his way in but his work lacked quality and his accuracy duly suffered. Despite this, Alex’s far superior endeavour should have been more than enough to extend his unbeaten record to 7-0. Garner saw things differently raising both boys’ arms aloft.

The crowd loved it. Matvienko suffers his first career blot and his now 6-0-1, the plucky Ashworth slips to 2-1-1.

Sykes returns

Former ABA champion Gary Sykes returned to the ring following exactly a year out with a four-round workout against Nuneaton trier Kristian Laight. The fight took place at welterweight but Sykes’ long term aim will be to compete at lightweight or super-feather.

The Dewsbury man, in his first contest for new promoters Frank Maloney and Steve Wood, looked as though he’d never been away as he targeted Laight’s body in the opener. The back pedalling Laight maintained a high guard throughout, so after Sykes missed with attacks to the head in round two, he switched his focus to the body with greater success.

Laight occasionally came out of his defensive shell, clipping Sykes with the odd hook as he rushed in, but lost every round. The well-supported Sykes struggled to cut the ring off in the final round but still got through with enough lead right hands to seal a 40-36 points win from referee Phil Edwards. Having shaken off the ring rust Sykes advances to 3-0 (1) and should see a lot more action in 2007.

Early night for Thompson

Local light-middleweight prospect Mark Thompson stopped the hit-or-be-hit Manoocher Salari in the opening round in the fight that followed Jamie Moore’s triumph over Sebastian Lujan.

Both men came out swinging but Thompson landed first, dropping Salari with a right hand and then a left hook. The knockdowns were flash yet the reckless Salari was taking full-blooded shots, and when a left hook rocked him the referee had seen enough.

Thompson improves to 11-0 (6) and is one to keep an eye on. Midlands Area champion Salari, who has previously shocked Martin Concepcion, slips to 4-3-2.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you. It happens. We import a tough guy for a tear-up and are treated instead to a civilised game of lawn tennis.

Lujan entered the ring at 10st 13lbs of 27-year-old muscle, with a reputation for giving world-class operators a tough workout. Margarito had to punch his ear off to stop him (and didn’t they do a good job fixing that?) Maybe one or two of us felt a moment’s unease at the thought of our Jamie stepping up against the man who took Dzinziruk 12 rounds for the WBO belt.

Oh, we of puny faith. Jamie was the all-knowing guru of boxing in there, while Lujan took his lesson like a novice. I was convinced that I was missing something – surely the Argentinian was being very crafty, pretending to be harmless with those looping soft punches, all the while planning a surprise attack when Moore was lulled into a false sense of security. I suppose we’ll never know, because Jamie didn’t let his guard down for a second.

Lujan’s style was unusual, to say the least. He seemed to spend a lot of time with his head down, winging out blind hooks, often slapping with the inside of the glove. There was often no real power there – as if he wasn’t taking it seriously that these tactics would result in his fifth loss in 33 fights. Lujan had a bit of fun waving his gloves up and down pointlessly, and taunting the British champion to come and get him.

Moore, who outweighed his opponent on the night at 11st 2, was doing that anyway. Jamie boxed superbly. In fact, this was the big plus in an otherwise disappointing match – the Salford southpaw showed that he is a consummate technician, patient and controlled, capable of handling a dangerous opponent no matter how weird he is. His trademark body work is to crunch in a steep left to the abs, then get the left hook in behind the elbow when the guy brings his arm up for protection. But Moore has developed his arsenal over the past few years into a collection of weapons for every occasion. Whatever the weakness, he has something old-fashioned but effective to dig in and exploit it with. He boxed at a distance with double-jab, left hook sequences, and his uppercut-hook combinations worked well for him on the inside all night.

Lujan was dangerous when woken. The last time he was in the UK, he came alive in the second half of his bout with Mihaly Kotai to earn a draw, maybe nick it for some. Tonight, he shook off the lethargy at occasional points during the fight, suddenly turned it on and had Moore on the back foot. It happened in the third round, which Jamie opened with a cracking left to the head on the ropes, and combinations on the inside, but then found himself on the receiving end of a bit of a barrage. Moore showed his defensive skill in taking most of it on his arms before slipping out of the tight spot.

The seventh looked sticky when the Argentinian caught him with a good left head shot and started to pour on some leather again, forcing Moore to tuck up tight to ride it out to the bell. However, Lujan looked tired again going into the eighth, which Moore dominated once again with jab, right hand combos and a really cracking left hook to the head.

Again in the tenth, Lujan upped his workrate, although his hand speed was never impressive – Jamie handled him, and the effort fizzled out once more. The Argentinian had a last ditch attempt at putting some clusters together in the final two rounds – looking a threat once again in the eleventh, driving forward with the hooks and whaling to the body on the ropes. But Jamie was never taken by surprise or troubled, and always simply tucked up until he had an opening to punch his way out. It was impressive the way he took back the upper hand.

As Johnny Nelson said afterwards, Jamie wasn’t tempted to give the crowd something spectacular. This was a compliment to his professionalism. Moore took care and took his time in dealing with an unpredictable opponent who’d had his share of success with an awkward, unschooled style. That was an intelligent Jamie Moore who swept to 119-110 on the ref’s card, one who looks absolutely ready to take on the higher ranks.

Moore’s been after a shot at Michele Piccirillo’s European title for the past 12 months. If they can get Piccirillo’s team to the table, it would be a terrific match. Otherwise, it’s time to manoeuvre him towards a shot at undefeated WBO holder Dzinziruk.

Chris Edwards and Dale Robinson suffered cuts to both eyes as they battled to a bloody draw in their clash for the vacant British & Commonwealth flyweight titles in Altrincham on Friday night.

In November, Edwards did a number on Robinson stopping him in eight rounds to claim the vacant English crown in a major upset. This time a better prepared and focused Robinson made this rematch closer. So close in fact that the three judges couldn’t split them. Judge Phil Edwards favoured Robinson 115-113, Mickey Vann ruled for Edwards by the same margin. The casting vote saw Dave Parris return a 114-114 draw. UKBP’s scorecard totalled 115-113 for Edwards who finished strongly to sweep the final four rounds from my ringside vantage point.

Almost certainly the pair will contest a third meeting, but it will take some time for their injuries to heal. It was by no means a dirty or bad tempered encounter, it was simply a case of the boxers heads frequently coming together.

Robinson’s damage to his right eye was particularly bad and arguably cost him a victory that seemed well within his grasp at the halfway point. Edward’s seized his opportunity as Dale’s cut deteriorated by finishing strongly in the final third. Twice referee Terry O’Connor led Robinson to the ringside doctor for inspections in rounds nine and eleven. Edwards too survived an inspection in round eight, but his blood was mostly running down the side of his face and wasn’t in danger of impairing his vision.

Robinson was disconsolate afterwards – one may remember a blatant head butt from Martin Power that caused a nasty cut which hampered his bid to win the vacant British bantamweight crown in 2005 (Power got the nod, controversially in my view, on points).

The Yorkshireman began tonight’s fight purposefully, controlling the pace with his jab but an accidental clash of heads that occurred virtually on the bell to end the second resulted in a gash appearing above Robinson’s right eye. Initially cutsman Frank Hopkins was able to keep the bleeding under control.

Edwards, who was passive in the early stages, was up on his toes more in round three and caught Robinson unawares with right hands delivered over the top. Chris was surprisingly subdued in the main though. Robinson’s work had been steady rather than spectacular but he seized control of the fight in the sixth, injecting some pace into his work and driving Edwards back with two-fisted assaults which left the Stoke man looking disorganised. Blood was now seeping from Chris’s eyes and nose as he continued to struggle to obtain a foothold as the action developed.

Robinson looked set to dominate, but at a time when he should have maintained the pressure he took his foot off the gas. The cut to Dale’s right eye had significantly worsened and was now bleeding profusely. Clearly bothered by the blood obscuring his vision, Robinson stayed on the outside, clearly concerned that referee O’Connor may intervene.

However, a strong eighth round for Robinson prompted the portly official to request the doctor to take a closer look at Edwards’ cuts above both his eyes. Chris’s injuries didn’t seem bad enough to stop the fight or to disrupt his rhythm, unlike Robinson. There looked a real possibility that O’Connor was about to call off the fight when he ordered an inspection of the Huddersfield man’s cuts in the ninth.

This transferred to Robinson who was no longer willing to press the action in close through fear of being halted. This decision, whilst containing sound reasoning behind it, handed the initiative to Edwards at a crucial stage of the fight. Full credit to Chris, long considered nothing more than a mediocre journeyman, for taking advantage.

He gritted his teeth, capitalised on Robinson’s growing uncertainty and drove him back to dominate the later rounds. Dale was never hurt but his head was now being frequently knocked back by Edwards’ accurate right hands who maintained his composure throughout. Chris was quicker and there was more imagination about his work.

The boxers sensed that the outcome hinged on the final round but it clearly belonged to Edwards. An uppercut and right hands jarred Robinson who was momentarily pinned in a neutral corner. Edwards continued to press and was always the first to resume his attacks following a break from a clinch.

It wasn’t a classic but was nevertheless a captivating tussle. Both men will feel unlucky not to have left the Altrincham Leisure Centre with the belts strapped around their waists, but for very different reasons.

We await the third instalment.

The right to stage the Championship was due to have been decided by a purse bid at 6pm GMT today, but Witter’s promoter Mick Hennessy was able to agree terms with his counterpart Gary Shaw beforehand.

Former undefeated British, Commonwealth and European champion Witter won the title by dominating former world champion DeMarcus Corley at the Alexandra Palace last September and made his first defence at the same venue in January, stopping Mexico’s Arturo Morua in nine rounds.

Harris has outstanding world championship credentials of his own. He defeated now WBA champion Soulemane M’Baye to lift the same crown in 2003, then twice successfully defended against the highly rated Oktay Urkal, stopping his man second time round.

He suffered a shock defeat to Carlos Maussa next time out, but has since returned to outstanding form, stopping Stevie Johnston in seven before outpointing the highly regarded Juan Lazcano in an eliminator for Witter’s title.

“I can see this being a cracking fight,” said Witter on hearing the news. “Harris is a top level operator and he always comes to win. I hear the Americans are tipping him to do big things in the division. He will be coming over to knock me out, but that will just bring out the best in me.

“It’s been great winning and defending my title in Britain and it means a lot to be able to continue that process.”

Details of the date and venue will be announced in due course by Hennessy Sports.

“This is a tough first mandatory,” said Mick Hennessy. “But that’s how it should be; this is the WBC title. Harris has regained the top form that was making people talk very highly of him a couple of years ago when he beat Oktay Urkal in his backyard and then Soulemane M’Baye. Both of these fighters go for the knockout, so I believe this is going to be an explosive fight.”

Lujan, weighing in at 154 lb, poses a significant threat to the talented Salford resident having fought at the highest level and Moore, soon to be awarded an honorary degree in Sports Science by his local University, believes that a convincing victory will propel him into the WBC’s top five.

Dale Robinson, who fights Chris Edwards for the British and Commonwealth Flyweight titles, weighed in at 110 lb to Edwards 108 lb.

Robinson suffered the third loss and first stoppage of his 23 bout career at the hands of Edwards last November and he will be eager to erase this blemish. Edwards, unbeaten in his past three bouts, seeks to become the first Stoke-on-Trent boxer since 1922 to win a British title.

Bristol’s Catley returned to the ring following a 3 ½ year absence by halting Hussain Osman late last year. Reid recently outpointed Jesse Brinkley on the UK vs USA Contender show in Newcastle. It was the Grim Reaper’s first fight since his hammering by Jeff Lacy in August 2005. Reid has already been called out this year by Froch’s promoters Hennessy Sports about a possible meeting against ‘The Cobra’ but has yet to respond publicly to the challenge.

The Board has also put the following matches out for purse bids, all possessing noon deadlines on 9 May:

Cruiserweight: John Keeton vs Mark Hobson (Promoter Frank Warren has now withdrawn his previous winning bid following Keeton’s recent Commonwealth title loss to Troy Ross)

Middleweight: Howard Eastman vs Wayne Elcock

Light-Middleweight: Jamie Moore vs Bradley Pryce (Pryce has withdrawn, no further action will be taken by the Board at this time)

Lightweight: Jon Thaxton vs Willie Limmond

Featherweight: John Simpson vs Andy Morris

Khan, 20, claimed after his 12th professional win on Saturday that he had “played with” Murray during a sparring session and that his domestic rivals are just looking to earn a pay-day by calling him out.

But Murray, 22, insists he has NEVER sparred with Bolton’s Olympic silver medallist and that all he was doing by offering him the chance to fight him in Las Vegas on the May 5th Oscar de la Hoya-Floyd Mayweather undercard was answering KHAN’s challenge to his British rivals to step up and face him.

“I think Khan’s mouth is as reckless as his driving. It’s going to get him in trouble,” said Murray. “He’s either seriously confused or he is lying. I couldn’t believe it when I heard what he said. I have NEVER shared a ring with him.

“He’d remember if we’d sparred because I would have taken him apart, but we have never sparred as amateurs or at any other time.

“He needs to get his stories straight. He says there are lots of people calling him out, but HE called out his British rivals and said they had better hurry up and fight him.

“He was full of bravado and disrespect last week, insulting far more established fighters, but where’s his bottle now?

“I took up the challenge by saying I would be willing to fight him in Las Vegas on May 5th when I have my next fight. It’s on the undercard of possibly the biggest fight in boxing history but now he’s looking for the exit signs.

“And he says I’m scared! How can I be – I have stepped up to HIS challenge. Is his head right? I believe he’s a hypocrite for saying he wants his British rivals but then backing out. Now I have put it on him, he has started coming up with fairy tales.

“Him saying I’m looking for a payday is another absolute insult. I have carved out a name for myself. I have won the Boxing Writers Young Boxer of the Year award, just like he has, and I am the WBC World Youth champion – the first ever in Britain.

“I’m at the start of my career. I am not someone looking for a pay-day before he hangs up his gloves.

“And if either of us is about money, it certainly isn’t me. I reckon he is the most overpaid fighter in Britain. He is the one getting massive money for easy jobs.

“He is hallucinating after 12 fights. What’s the lad going to be like once I get to him? He says I’m not on his level, well he’s right in a way – I’m on a higher level and I am ranked higher than him.

“He needs to compare our records. I have been matched well since day one. His opposition is way off mine. I’ve taken decent late notice jobs and won and I have boxed outside of the comfort zone, outside of England. I fought in America in my 13th fight and I’ve offered Amir the chance to do the same, on neutral ground.”

Murray was left unimpressed by Khan’s latest win, after the Bolton boxer stopped Doncaster’s Steffy Bull in three rounds on the Calzaghe-Manfredo undercard.

“I’ve had enough of the hype and I’m sick of watching him firing away four or five unanswered shots against opponents who don’t want to be in there,” said Murray.

“He only fights opponents who are smaller or just there to survive, or who have just come out of retirement like Bull. Surely they are running out of easy targets for him to fight now?

“He’s tripped himself up again by saying I am not on his level. Are the people he has been fighting? If he really thinks that, why not continue the process and bash me up?

“I’ve had a lot of support from people here in Manchester this last week and people have been coming up to me and saying: ‘give him a good crack from me!’ But this wouldn’t just be a high-profile north-west Derby; it would also generate a lot of national interest, as well as in America.

“I want to ask the press and the public if they are prepared to keep putting up with this. If they are prepared to keep watching a so called star of the future feast on easy pickings and talk big, but then run for cover when someone looks him in the eye.”

Do you agree with them? To read a more in-depth preview of Moore-Lujan, Ben Carey gives you the lowdown further on down the homepage.

Suzanne Nield
This is a really interesting fight for Moore.

I suppose it’s unfortunate that Sechew Powell backed out, because the American has a name. Our Jamie is a bit of a dangerous proposition, and not well-known enough in the States to make the risk worthwhile. Or so Powell’s team reasoned, upon reflection. After sitting through Powell’s recent yawnfest against Ishe Smith, while I’ve no doubt that Moore could have made him pick up his workrate, I know I’d rather see the Argentinian.

This is the guy who went 12 rounds against Dzinziruk, after all – although putting him in with Margarito was a mistake. Lujan ended up with his ear practically hanging off, it was horrible. But Lujan, who was something of a hero in Argentina, didn’t lose fans because of that brave defeat. He lost fans when he got knocked out in the second by Marco Antonio Avendano, who was supposed to be nothing but cannon fodder for him. Lujan seriously underestimated the Venezualan, and ended up visiting the canvas twice from a hard right hand when he left his chin exposed.

Lujan is a very solid-looking, come-forward South American pressure-fighter who was good enough to challenge for ‘world’ titles. For what it’s worth, he should really have had the IBO title against Mihaly Kotai, but the judges turned in a draw. I’m sure he’ll give Jamie a real run for his money, and Lujan has experienced a southpaw recently in WBO champ Dzinziruk.

But Jamie is made of solid stuff himself and can handle a bit of pressure. We saw him tuck up and outlast Macklin’s furious assault, and still be there, strong as ever, when Matthew ran out of juice. Everyone knows that the loss to Ossie Duran came because Jamie should never have been in the ring with that tendon injury. And the disqualification against Jones was harsh. Fortunately, Moore’s quality is obvious enough that the stats don’t speak.

Lujan’s fight against Margarito was down at welter, and his last fight was made at 147 too after intervals at light middle. It’s not the best idea to bob about in weight like that, and Jamie’s most likely going to be too strong for him.

Unlike some of the mismatches we saw on Saturday, this one looks like fun. Neither player holds all the cards, but both bring something to the table. I just hope Lujan doesn’t turn out to be another Arturo Morua, who mysteriously lost his Latin machismo when he set foot on British soil to meet Witter. (Incidentally, Morua is due to be fed to Ricardo Torres on the 28th).

I expect our Jamie will spend the evening proving to any remaining doubters that he’s world class. Knockout in the later rounds.

Sam Doleman
Moore Vs Lujan could easily transpire into one of the finest fights on UK soil thus far in 2007. But then, isn’t it the case that any Jamie Moore fight could indeed transpire into such a contest?

The danger for Jamie and his team in this fight will be the contrasting skill levels between domestic class opponents and the next level up. Who can forget Cosme Rivera’s ten round shellacking of James Hare, at a time when many plaudits were calling for Hare to be given a world title shot. Or how about Sergio Martinez arriving on these shores to teach Richard Williams a boxing lesson (or two). Could Lujan prove to be banana skin in Moore’s progression beyond domestic level?

After all, Lujan has pitted his skills with two very notable World Class fighters in Margarito & Dzinziruk. Granted he lost both, but didn’t embarrass himself in either, the two contests proved his credentials as a fringe world class operator, something Jamie is yet to prove.

I was fortunate enough to be ringside for the Moore-Macklin fight, and I can assure you the atmosphere on Friday will be electric. Moore proved to have grown as a fighter that night. His defensive skills were much improved from the third Jones fight, and he looked calm and composed in what was a powder keg contest. The ring rust should have been shaken during the 8 round formality last month, so Jamie should be ready to go.

Although many domestic fight fans won’t have seen Lujan fight, and many more will have never heard his name, he will without doubt be Jamie’s finest opponent to date. He’ll be tough, he’ll come forward, and I believe will give Moore some very shaky moments (possibly a knockdown?). I think it’s safe to say we’ll be able to gauge his future prospects with a little more conviction come Saturday morning.

Personally I’m going for Moore by late TKO (maybe the 9th), but this will by no means be a formality. If any of the bookies have long odds on the Argie, it might be worth a quid or two.

Spud Woollatt
At first I thought Jamie was in an extremely tough close to call fight. I don’t now. Don’t get me wrong I still think Lujan pushes him a tadge, lets face it all South Americans are tough and they come to fight, they enjoy it.

On a very quick inspection of Lujan’s record it looks impressive. I chose to look a little closer and discovered Lujan has fought on these shores before against Mihaly Kotai on the undercard of the Moore-Walker fight … that fight came out a draw … and for me that’s the fight result I am not impressed with.

Yes, Lujan has impressive fights against Sergiy Dzinziruk and also against Antonio Margarito … both whom he pushed to a 12 round points decision and 10 Rounds TKO loss respectively. So clearly Lujan is a tough cookie.

My prediction is, I am impressed massively by Jamie Moore, he has really come out of his shell and deserves a world title shot. Thats why he must deal with Lujan and do so comprehensively, forget British or Commonwealth Title defences, this fight is a stepping stone that Moore must not fail in … thus I see a middle to late round stoppage in favour of Moore.

One note of caution, Jamie sometimes starts slowly, he cannot afford to with this bloke. Lujan has 8 first round stoppages and a handful of 2nd and 3rd round stoppages. Once Jamie gets over a business like performance in those early rounds he can set about his work and stop the Argie. I cannot get certain military and political history out of my head that is another reason why I will screaming my head off for Jamie to do the business.

Martin Williams
Moore TKO9 – Lujan is technically strong but Moore’s brute strength and workrate will carry him to a late stoppage.

A fascinating meeting at light-middleweight between the explosive punching but brittle chinned Wayne Alexander, and the flashy but defensively negligent Anthony Small, could take place this Summer.

“Through agents, I heard I could be fighting against Anthony Small, who was in the UK team on the Contender card, in July. It could be on the Amir Khan and Joe Calzaghe bill.

“Small will be the favourite and he is much younger than me. But if I beat him it could give me another opportunity of a world title shot and a big pay day,” said Alexander in an interview with the Wimbledon Guardian.

The Croydon banger hasn’t fought since he was surprisingly stopped in the first round by French also-ran Serge Vigne in December. The disastrous defeat not only saw Alexander stripped of his WBU crown but also put pay to a mooted challenge to WBO champion Sergei Dzindziruk.

Wayne was set to return in the recent UK vs USA Contender tournament but pulled out of his scheduled match against Cornelius Bundrage after injuring his hand in the build up. Ironically, Small claimed the biggest win of his career on the same show when outpointing American Walter Wright via split decision, withstanding a rocky final round when he was in danger of being halted.

Now perceived as damaged goods, the 33-year-old Alexander looks the ideal test for the unbeaten 17-0 Small but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the cocky prospect got chinned. Written off before, Alexander produced a devastating one-punch knockout to beat arch rival Takaloo a couple of years ago and will no doubt fancy his chances of repeating this feat.

He will have to do it without John Breen in his corner though after Alexander decided to part company with the Belfast trainer due to being homesick and missing his daughter Sade.

Boxers have short memories at times. After salvaging his career by beating Takaloo, Alexander hailed Breen for taking him under his wing and relieving him of the distractions found closer to his London home.

Time will tell if Wayne’s U-turn will prove to be a costly error of judgement or an inspired gamble.

Two world title eliminators followed, before he regained the domestic crown by knocking out old friend and fellow Londoner Richard Williams in December. Former two-times world title challenger Ashira, now based in Denmark but from Kenya, is another major step back towards the top level.

Ashira took Welshman Joe Calzaghe to points for the WBO Super-Middleweight Crown in 2005 and a year earlier lost a bid for the WBA Middleweight Title against big puncher Maselino Masoe.

“It’s good to be continuing the rebuilding process and to be boxing again for another title so quickly,” said the ‘Battersea Bomber.’ “If I can get the Commonwealth title back around my waist, it will be another step towards another world title fight.

“I belong at that level and when I am fully prepared I can beat anyone. It is still very much my intention to win a genuine world title.

“At the moment I’m focussed on Ashira. He’s a top-class operator in his natural division and I will have to be at my best.”

Eastman’s promoter Mick Hennessy agrees that Ashira will bring a stiff challenge, but one that can lead to bigger things if overcome.

“Ashira is without doubt a fringe world class operator at middleweight,” said the Hennessy Sports head. “He was never big enough for 12 stone; super middleweight just wasn’t his division.”

“At this weight he is a real handful. This is an excellent standard of fight for a Commonwealth Title. It’s a tough opponent for Howard to win another of his old titles back against, but one he can use to spring himself back into contention for bigger honours.”

Eastman will be supported on the bill by Hennessy Sports team-mate Billy Corcoran and a host of local favourites, with Dean Hickman, Dean Harrison, Sam Horton, Paul Truscott, Kevin Buckley, Martin Gordon and Steve and Martin Gethin all in action.

Hennessy Sports and GoldenPalace.com Proudly Present

Howard Eastman vs. Evans Ashira

Vacant Commonwealth Middleweight Championship

@ Dudley Concert Hall – 20th April 2007

Other sponsors: EJKO Promotions and Everlast

Tickets priced £50 and £30 on 0785 226 8333.

12×3 Vacant Commonwealth Middleweight Championship

Howard Eastman vs. Evans Ashira

(Battersea) (Denmark)

8×3 Featherweight

Billy Corcoran vs. Steve Gethin

(Wembley) (Walsall)

8×3 Lightweight

Dean Hickman vs. TBA

(West Bromwich) ()

6×3 Light Welterweight

Dean Harrison vs. Judex Meemea

(Wolverhampton) (London)

6×3 Lightweight

Martin Gethin vs. Carl Allen

(Walsall) (Wolverhampton)

4×3 Middleweight

Sam Horton vs. Tony Stones

(Stourbridge) (Wakefield)

4×3 Featherweight

Paul Truscott vs. Riaz Durgahead

(Middlesbrough) (London)

4×3 Super Featherweight

Kevin Buckley vs. Dez Higgison

(Chester) (Barnsley)

4×3 Light Welterweight

Martin Gordon vs. Christian Laight

(Dudley) (Nuneaton)

Four years on after he first became British champion, Jamie Moore finally bids to wave goodbye to the domestic light-middleweight scene when he takes on former world title challenger Sebastian Andres Lujan over 12 rounds at the Altrincham Leisure Centre on Friday night.

Victory for Moore won’t seal the world title opportunity he so desperately craves, but it will cement his position in and around the world’s top 15 rankings and provide the clearest indication yet that he belongs in the upper echelons of the light-middleweight division.

Perhaps I’m in the minority, but I have to confess to being disappointed upon hearing the announcement of Moore-Lujan. The Argentinean, 26-4-2, wasn’t the “world class” contender that I had in mind for Moore, particularly given the fact that his team has had ample time to deliver. Nor is Lujan currently ranked in the top 15 by the major world governing bodies.

In fairness, Moore’s handlers, led by manager Steve Wood and promoter Frank Maloney, did attempt to attract slickster Sechew Powell over here but the American was unwilling to travel. Last year, SKY TV blocked Moore’s attempts to take on hit-or-be-hit slugger Teddy Reid, clearly voicing their preference for Jamie to defend his British title against the highly rated Matthew Macklin. Everyone benefited but Moore.

Left frustrated by his stagnating career, and irritated by SKY’s apparent fascination with Macklin, Jamie produced the performance of his life to withstand the determined challenge of Macklin, knocking out the Brummie hopeful in the ninth round following an incredible war of attrition. The Salford man just doesn’t do routine.

We discovered a lot more about Moore on that unforgettable night last September. We already knew that Jamie possesses a tremendous heart and is capable of digging deep when it matters, illustrated in his fight-of-the-year rubbermatch with Michael Jones. But we didn’t know that he has developed into an expert defensive craftsman, who can box cannily of the back foot before delivering the decisive finishing blows to end a fight late on.

Moore utilised his experience against Macklin brilliantly by covering up and allowing the younger man to expand all of his energy, before upping the tempo and capitalising on his tiring opponent’s increasingly porous defence. Now we will see if he can translate his finely tuned skills developed by trainer Oliver Harrison onto the world stage.

Sebastian Lujan has frequently flirted between welter and light-middle, and has challenged twice for world titles (or three if you count the IBO), falling short on each occasion. The squat 5’6 South American enjoys coming forward and will look to put constant heat on Moore, but his approach is expected to be more refined than Macklin’s. If Lujan’s first world title challenge is anything to go by, the visitor can clearly handle himself in the trenches.

In his gallant attempt to seize Antonio Margarito’s WBO welterweight crown in 2005, Lujan was eventually bludgeoned to a bloody defeat in the tenth, and was left to nurse the horrific injury of his ear practically hanging off.

Two fights later, Lujan featured on the undercard of Moore’s British title defence against David Walker, to challenge Hungarian Mihaly Kotai for the IBO light-middleweight strap. Reports of the fight are sketchy, some felt Lujan got a raw deal. The record books will show that Kotai retained his title following a draw. The judges returned verdicts of 113-115, 115-114 and 115-115. Had Kotai not been deducted a point in round ten he would have run out a narrow winner. To put the Hungarian’s credentials into context however, he went on to suffer back-to-back points defeats to our own Steve Conway being widely outboxed in the process and hasn’t fought since. At best, Conway qualifies as a reasonable British title challenger, so in theory if Lujan is indeed the world class force we are led to believe he should have dealt with Kotai far more decisively.

Sebastian stopped Ariel Chaves in three in his return but was then shockingly hammered in two rounds by Venezuelan Marco Antonio Avendano in December 2005. Despite rebounding with a meaningless one-round knockout over Miguel Angel Morales, it was nevertheless enough to earn Lujan a shot at Sergiy Dzinziruk’s WBO light-middleweight title last May. The Argentinean put up a credible challenge against the Ukrainian southpaw champion, but was clearly outpointed over 12 rounds, 118-110, 117-110 and 116-111.

Lujan is good enough to challenge for a world title but clearly lacks sufficient ability to win one. He is arguably coming off a career best win against previously undefeated countryman Roberto Hernan Reuque in nine rounds (though Reuque had a decidedly padded record) and should comfortably present Moore with his toughest challenge to date.

Friday’s outcome is no foregone conclusion, far from it in fact.

Though Jamie has been at the top of the domestic tree for a while, some of his challengers have been little more than Area title standard (David Walker, Gary Logan, for example). And whilst Macklin was tipped for a glittering career, it’s worth remembering that he had lost previously to English champion Andrew Facey who was subsequently hammered by Moore himself. Politics, which litter boxing all too frequently, have kept Moore apart from the likes of Wayne Alexander and Takaloo, who were long considered to be Jamie’s main British rivals in spite of their inconsistent form.

The Salford southpaw’s memorable trilogy with Michael Jones, which saw Jamie win two and lose one (on a controversial DQ), stands up well in light of Jones’ brave bid for the European title against Michele Piccirillo in January (Michael was stopped in the final round but gave a terrific account of himself).

As he has matured, Moore has gotten better and is now a very well rounded operator. Unless the wars with Jones and Macklin have caught up with him, he should weather some uncomfortable patches against Lujan to clinch a deserved points victory. Hopefully victory on Friday will be the catalyst for a major fight for Jamie later in the year. No one in British boxing deserves it more.

The main co-feature pits bitter rivals Chris Edwards, 10-12-2 (3), and Dale Robinson, 19-3-1 (9), in a rematch for the vacant British and Commonwealth Flyweight titles. The two tangled previously last November and journeyman Edwards pulled off a career best performance with a shattering slugfest that stopped Robinson in the eighth round.

A former IBO title challenger, Robinson has vowed to reverse the loss and take both the British and Commonwealth belts home to Huddersfield while the reinvigorated English titlist Edwards is looking to consolidate his position as the best flyweight in the UK.

Featherweight southpaw Rendall Munroe, 10-1 (4), coming off a spirited effort to unseat British Champion Andy Morris a year ago, will face spoiler Youseff Al Hamidi, 2-3-1 (1), over six rounds. Munroe will have to be on point as Hamidi’s opponents have had a combined record of 35-1-3 and the British based Syrian has acquitted himself well, winning two bouts, drawing one and losing two by a combined three points.

Light welter Gary O’Connor, 7-1 (1), looks to get back on the winning track after dropping a razor thin one point decision to undefeated current Celtic welterweight titlist Tony Doherty last November. The Manchester man faces a stiff test over six rounds in the form of the iron chinned Scott Haywood, 13-2 (3), who had previously pushed unbeaten John “Fireball” Fewkes to the brink.

Light middle prospect Mark Thompson, 10-0 (5), will be seeking to keep his perfect record intact in a six rounder against Midlands Area titlist Manocha Salari, 4-2-2 (3), who has previously stopped Martin Conception and drew with Gorkhan Kazaz and Simon Sherrington.

Lightweight Chris “Soldier Boy” Pacey, 3-1 (0), squares off with the man that derailed his burgeoning career just seven months ago, Danny Harding, 5-0 (1). Last September, Harding mounted a high volume attack versus the more accurate but less busy style of former British Army champion Pacey and walked away with a controversial one point victory.

Scheduled for four round bouts include middleweight Alex Matvienko, 6-0 (2), super bantam Stuart McFadyen, 5-0 (1), lightweight Gary Sykes, 2-0 (1) and light middle Brett Flournoy, 3-0 (1).

Frank Maloney and VIP Promotions present Jamie Moore vs. Sebastian Lujan with full supporting undercard at the Altrincham LC in Manchester, England on Friday, April 13, 2007. Tickets are £65 and £35 and can be purchased by logging on to www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508. Sky Sports televise live on SS2 at 22:00.

Explosive punching enigma Patrick J Maxwell is primed for a fresh assault on Britain’s leading middleweight and light-middleweight contenders. His second round stoppage over Kevin Phelan in Dagenham last month was his first fight in Britain since September 2005, and only his fifth in three years.

Now rejuvenated following a stint in America, and having secured the backing of manager Frank Joseph which has also seen Maxwell work alongside Adam Booth and David Haye, the 28-year-old is determined to make up for lost time. His comeback will continue in an eight-rounder on the undercard of Haye’s heavyweight debut against Tomasz Bonin at Wembley Arena on April 27.

Contrary to the rumour mill, Maxwell will not be squaring off against Manchester’s Wayne Pinder (no official approach has been received from Team Pinder as yet) but will instead face a selected opponent. English champion Andrew Facey could be a possibility.

Commenting on his return, Maxwell told UKBP: “For the first time in ages I’m really enjoying boxing again having previously become disillusioned with all the politics. I’ve now got a settled team, have an excellent manager in Frank Joseph and am enjoying working with David (Haye) and Adam (Booth).”

A regular on internet boxing forums over the years, sceptical fans (including this one) can be forgiven for not taking Maxwell’s latest words as gospel. Despite changes of trainer, promoter and scenery, the reality is that Pat has been limited to only 14 starts in nine years as a professional.

What will be different this time?

“I know what people will be saying: ‘Maxwell’s talking bullshit again,’ he acknowledged. “That’s why this time I’ve been keeping my head down and not telling the world my intentions.”

“I wouldn’t class myself as being difficult to deal with, but I’m not frightened of expressing my opinion and it’s fair to say I’ve pissed off members of the establishment (ie Promoters) over the years. But that’s all behind me now and it’s up to me to go out and prove the critics wrong,” said Maxwell when quizzed concerning his stop-start career.

To substantiate Patrick’s claims, I should point out that it was this reporter who requested an interview with him, not the other way round. Having closely trailed Maxwell’s career between 2003-04 and chewed the fat with him at ringside on several occasions, it’s hard not to be intrigued by his career rollercoaster ride or to warm to his engaging personality.

Boasting a marketable 13-1 (10) record (his sole defeat, a disputed four-round points loss to Jason Collins), the big-punching slugger has a made-for-TV style and is a genuine threat to any domestic contender. Who could forget Maxwell’s 12-second annihilation of future British title challenger Andy Halder in 2003?

“The plan is for me to compete at light-middleweight. If guys as big as Antonio Margarito can make welterweight (10st 7lbs) then there’s no reason why I can’t make 11st. The light-middleweight division is wide open in Britain and hopefully when Jamie Moore eventually vacates the British title I can get my shot at some point. No disrespect to the likes of Bradley Pryce and the other contenders out there but I don’t think I’ve got a lot to worry about,” confessed Maxwell.

Speaking of Margarito, Maxwell has encountered first-hand the rath of the marauding Mexican in sparring following his whistle stop tour of America last year which saw Patrick take up residency in Big Bear (California), Las Vegas and Chicago in some of the US’s meanest gyms.

“Margarito looks like a middleweight and is so physically strong. He’s a huge welterweight and he certainly tried to take my head off a few times but I managed to do ok against him,” recalled Maxwell. “In my opinion, Margarito is a better pound-for-pound fighter than Ricky Hatton. He can function at welterweight and at light-middle whereas Ricky struggled when he went up to welter. There’s so much variety to Margarito’s attacks. He can hurt you to the body and then surprise you with uppercuts and right hands.”

Maxwell’s baptism also included sessions against unbeaten welterweight contender Antonio Mesquita and heated wars alongside the Wayne McCullough trained middleweight Enrique Ornelas, who lost a majority decision to world title challenger Sam Soliman in November.

Maxwell also found time to boost his win column whilst residing in the States, flooring Charden Ansoula three times en route to a six-round points win in November and blasting Anthony Little in two in October whilst under the tutelage of Thel Torrance. The New-York born powerhouse’s recent win over Kevin Phelan made it three outings in five months – much more like it.

“I’ve been focussed and on top of my game for a while now. It wasn’t a case of me reappearing from nowhere and beating Phelan and then fading into the background again. I want to be kept busy so it’s great that I’m fighting on Frank Maloney’s show later this month with David Haye topping the bill,” said Maxwell.

“The sparring I experienced over in America will act as an excellent learning curve for me and I’d love to box there again at some stage, hopefully sooner rather than later. The plan was for me to box more than twice but it was so hot over there that I ended up suffering from the effects of dehydration because through working so hard in the gym.”

British and Commonwealth Super-Middleweight Champion Froch, 29, is currently ranked third by the WBO and promoter Mick Hennessy has asked the governing body to match the undefeated Nottingham fighter in a final eliminator with Calzaghe’s #1 ranked challenger Inkin, after #2 Lucian Bute opted to fight for the IBF crown.

The governing body, however, are yet to make a decision and WBO holder Calzaghe already has his 21st defence pencilled in for the 02 Arena this summer. WBC and WBA counterpart Mikkel Kessler and Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor have both been mentioned as possible opponents, but both appear out of the frame.

Kessler’s handlers have already turned the fight down and Taylor is set to face Cory Spinks in a defence of his WBC and WBO middleweight championships in May. Reports this morning suggest that Inkin has come into the picture, but this would appear a strange choice with Froch on Calzaghe’s doorstep.

“Joe has said he is looking to make the most money possible from his next fight,” began Froch. “Given the options open to him, that must mean fighting me. It certainly wouldn’t mean someone like Inkin.

“The fight would sell out in an instant; it would be one of the biggest in British boxing history. For domestic broadcasters, there isn’t a bigger contest out there. They would really get behind it.

“The excuse that American TV wouldn’t be interested wouldn’t wash either. I am highly ranked and I am known in the States. US TV would be far more interested in me than anybody else he has a realistic chance of facing in July. There would definitely be more interest in me than Inkin; he is a complete unknown to everyone.

“And it should be about more than money. It should be about the best fighting the best. I will give him a proper fight: I am no Peter Manfredo.

“Joe’s got some making up to do after that debacle. I don’t believe the broadcasters can have been happy with that match; but I don’t really want to waste any more breath on that fight. I thought it was a joke.

“I just want to give the British fans a fight they deserve. I am a proper challenger. I am the best in the division and politics shouldn’t stop us meeting.

“Joe’s promoter has gone on record showing his confidence in his man over me. Unless he totally contradicts those opinions and starts asking for options, there is no reason this fight cannot happen.

“It would be an exciting battle before I smoked his boots.”

The seven-fight bill will feature local favourites and regulars on Impact shows Jimmy Doherty and Danny Johnston. Shelton’s Imran Khan together with Burslem based light-heavyweight Justin Jones will each make their second appearance in the pro ranks. Khan will be seeking to continue his winning ways whereas Jones will be looking to go one better than last time when he drew with fellow debutant Richard Collins.

Alsager’s Aaron Thomas will also make his welcome return to Stoke having won his previous two contests in the city. The son of former Stoke City favourite, Mickey Thomas, was forced to pull out of Impact’s last event in February due to an injury sustained in training.

Werrington heavyweight Alex Ibbs will make his first appearance in Stoke since turning pro last year. Trained by former WBC super-middleweight champion Richie Woodhall, Ibbs prevailed in his debut at Aston Villa Leisure centre last December when he beat the Midlands based Hungarian Istvan Kecskes on points in a four rounder. He has been scheduled to fight twice since only to have opponents fall through at the eleventh hour.

At 6’3” and 16st, Ibbs will become the biggest man to appear on an Impact bill to date and the 21 year old is delighted to have the opportunity to box in front of his home crowd: “It’s great to have the chance to fight in front of my own fans in Stoke,” said Ibbs. “I want to match the great achievements that the Stoke lads at Impact are making and I promise to put on a great show for the fans.”

The switch-hitting Chester welterweight, Chris Goodwin will complete the line-up.18 year-old Goodwin thrilled the Kings Hall crowd in February when his tactics completely bamboozled the experienced Kristian Laight and secured him an impressive victory.

Opponents have yet to be confirmed for each of the home boxers but another night’s thrilling action is promised by Impact Boxing’s Mick Carney: “I believe that we have established a reputation for putting on well run shows that provide great entertainment and excellent value for money,” said Carney. “I can see no reason why our next show should be any different.”

“Jimmy Doherty and Danny Johnston are establishing themselves as hot prospects in their respective weight divisions; Imran Khan is an exciting fighter and pulled off a first round knockout in his debut; Justin Jones is a former Welsh ABA champion and has a lot to prove so I expect him to become an accomplished boxer and Chris Goodwin put on a fantastic display last time.”

“We now have a heavyweight on our next show for the first time and everyone loves to see a heavyweight clash. On top of that Alex is a local lad and his fans will help to add to the great atmosphere that we always get at our shows.”

Tickets for the event are available from Impact Boxing on 0845 156 7168 or at www.impactboxing.com

Matt Skelton has paid tribute to opponent Michael Sprott ahead of their Commonwealth heavyweight title clash at the ExCeL Arena on May 26. The Bedford Bear has been out of the spotlight since injuring his hand prior to his scheduled meeting with Audley Harrison last December.

Harrison’s subsequent three-round battering of Danny Williams increased the clamour to see a Skelton-Harrison match-up resurrected, only for Sprott to throw a giant spanner in the works by knocking the Olympic champion out cold in February thus costing Skelton a bumper pay day in the process.

Not that the likeable 40-year-old minds. Commenting on his official website, mattskelton.uk.com, Skelton said:

“All the talk before the fight (Harrison vs Sprott) was when would I be fighting Audley. My response was always ‘You are aware that he has got a fight coming up which he has to win first.’ I’m a realist and I do believe that if you start focussing ahead of yourself, you end up being disappointed. Ask Audley!”

Skelton bludgeoned Sprott to defeat in the 12th and final round to annex the British and Commonwealth crowns in April 2004, abruptly ending Sprott’s three-month reign after the Reading man had controversially outpointed Danny Williams in their third encounter. In truth, Sprott was never at the races against Skelton, unable to deal with the Bedford brawler’s physical tactics and non-stop aggression. Their rematch promises to be a lot closer, however.

“Michael is a genuine, clever fighter and I am under no illusion that he will be a better fighter than he was that night in Reading when I beat him. The European circuit that Michael has followed is a hard one to pursue and looking at some of his results against quality opponents you will see at what level Michael really is at,” acknowledged Skelton.

“He outpointed an up-and-coming 6’5 southpaw Rene Dettweiler (in November) and he has also mixed it with the likes of (Ruslan) Chagaev (L TKO8) who is now fighting Valuev for the world title, not to mention Koc (W SD10), Vidos (former European champion LUD12) and Virchis (L UD12, current European champ), all tough, quality fighters,” he added.

Sprott will enter the fight high on confidence having registered the biggest win of his career against Harrison. Having become a regular fixture on the European heavyweight circuit in the last three years, the 32-year-old has clearly benefited from competing against testing opposition. In contrast, Skelton will have been out of the ring for 10 months, the longest absence of his five-year career, by the time he sets foot into the ring against Sprott.

“This will be a very tough fight against a quality opponent and I will have to prepare for war,” said Skelton.

A word title crack could be the prize for the winner, but lets not bank on it, eh?

Joe Calzaghe’s hopes of a July super-fight against either Mikkel Kessler or Jermain Taylor are likely to be dashed, at least for now. Promoter Frank Warren revealed after Calzaghe’s three-round hammering of Peter Manfredo on Saturday night that his overtures to Kessler’s promoter Team Palle had been met with barriers.

“I had already offered Mikkel Kessler a multi-million dollar purse, including his keeping the German and Danish TV rights, for a summer title unification fight. However, Kessler’s promoter countered with a demand for parity and a 50/50 split on everything,” said Warren.

“Now look around Millennium Stadium today. Joe has sold a European record amount of tickets and generated publicity worldwide by successfully defending his title a landmark 20 times during a reign that has lasted nearly 10 years.

Kessler is barely two years into his title reign and has very little name recognition outside his own country. We think he is an outstanding fighter and it would be brilliant if he and Joe would face each other next, but when a counter offer like that is made, it tells me his promoter doesn’t want the fight. I can’t believe that counter offer came from Mikkel.

Joe is going to attempt to tie Sven Ottke’s record with his 21st title defence this summer. I hope cooler heads prevail and it’s against Mikkel Kessler,” added the Sports Network supremo.

Warren has endured similar frustration with Plan B. Despite offering world middleweight king Jermain Taylor $3million to entertain Calzaghe in Britain, the unbeaten American is expected to defend his WBC & WB O crowns as planned against Cory Spinks on May 19. Assuming he triumphs over Spinks, it seems unlikely that Taylor would be prepared to take on Calzaghe just two months later.

Given Taylor’s current fetish for feasting on smaller men (Spinks will Taylor’s third ex-junior middleweight opponent in a row after Kassim Ouma and Winky Wright), a meeting against a talented, big super-middleweight like Calzaghe may not be top of his agenda either.

With both Kessler and Taylor hesitating, according to Gareth Davies of the Daily Telegraph, Calzaghe’s 21st defence of his WBO crown is expected to be against no.1 contender Dennis Inkin. The July duel will take place at the Millennium Dome in Greenwich.

Undefeated Russian Inkin sports an impressive 30-0 (23) record but has beaten few fighters of note. His best win is a seventh round stoppage over Mario Veit last October, a man Calzaghe has previously destroyed twice back in 2005 and 2001. The 29-year-old Inkin has boxed once in Britain, decisioning former Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Ovill McKenzie in Manchester over eight rounds in April 2004.

Call me a sceptic, but as I’ve been saying since 2003 (originally in an article that appeared on Eastsideboxing, http://www.eastsideboxing.com/boxing-news/Calzaghe-Mitchell-Preview.php), it appears increasingly likely that Calzaghe’s triumph over Jeff Lacy will be remembered as the Welshman’s career defining fight.

I hope I’m wrong.

On a bill packed with quick kayos and premature stoppages, it was a treat to see this one go the distance. Michael Jennings may be no knockout artist, but who cares? I could watch him for hours. And he could probably fight for hours and still look as fresh as a daisy.

There’s only one loss on this superb stylist’s record – a split decision awarded to Young Mutley back in January of last year, when Jennings lost the British title on his second defence. Many felt that Young Mutley’s flashy approach and heavy hooks distracted two of those judges from the Chorley man’s more consistent scoring work.

However, Jennings bounced back with a quick kayo of Rastislav Kovac, and gave his fans a treat tonight when he easily outclassed a tired-looking Takaloo to take the WBU World Welterweight title.

Some very dodgy scoring, I’m afraid, but at least we didn’t have a split decision. Karl Rogers saw it fairly reasonably at 117-111, but Reg Thompson and Mickey Vann were both looking somewhere else to turn in 115-114 and 115-113. It was never anywhere near that close.

I struggled to give Takaloo a single round. Maybe he could have had a share in one or two if you were feeling generous. I wasn’t. Takaloo was flat. His feet were flat, his battery was flat – in short, he didn’t behave like a titleholder trying to defend against a dangerous opponent. He did very little at all for the first two rounds, while Jennings gave him a thorough working-over, precise rights to the body coming off a snappy double jab.

Takaloo was waiting too long to get anything off and relying on his single trusty uppercut, while Jennings put together sweet little sequences with a sting in them.

There was a cut to Takaloo’s left eye by the end of the round – it was just a nick, but a clash of heads in the fourth caused some damage to both fighters, in particular a deep gash to the champion’s forehead.

Mike peppered constant one-two combinations into Takaloo’s face, switching briefly, while the titleholder followed him around. Takaloo was caught by a heavy-looking left on the way in. He improved his workrate in the next two rounds, landing well on the inside, but it took the ref a while to warn him for use of the head as he tried to open up the cut on Jenning’s eye.

The challenger was just too quick for him, always getting off first, and showing his strength by bulling Takaloo to the ropes. Jennings landed a beautiful left, right cross combination to the head and worked the ribcage, slipping hooks easily. He was in control, boxing very intelligently, and his work throughout the sixth was hard to fault for sheer variety and speed.

Takaloo knew Jennings had his number, and was straining the rule book at times with backhanded shots, a couple of clubs to the back of the head, and a punch after break was called. He was dropping his hands, hoping to sucker Jennings into a rash move, but the Chorley boxer was too smart for that. His defence was tight as a drum, and Takaloo couldn’t often find an opening for his body shots on the inside. He was being bullied. At the end of the seventh the Margate champion had his head taken back with a couple of hard left hands.

More of the same through the following rounds – it’s not easy to do justice to Jennings’ work. I’d have to write a sonnet or something. But the man showed no weariness whatsoever, still on his toes, fighting just as happily off the back foot as coming forward, darting in and out to land almost whenever he wanted to. Takaloo swallowed dozens of head shots in the ninth but was always just short with his own jab.

The champion tried to turn it on more in the tenth, aware that his title was slipping away from him with every move Jennings made. But the Lancashire lad was having none of it, turning the tables on him no matter what he tried. He was far too alert to let those swinging hooks anyway near him – you’d think he was twenty and Takaloo pushing retirement, and there’s only two years between them.

If Takaloo was hoping that the challenger would slow down and give him a chance to plant some big shots, he had another think coming. The one-two combinations kept flowing, and a good right hook to the head in the eleventh, while Takaloo couldn’t find him much better than if they’d been fighting in the dark.

Most good defence artists start to show the holes by the championship rounds and ship a few – not so Michael Jennings. The fitness fanatic was no less slippery with a minute to go, and still bouncing lightly around his unfortunate opponent, enjoying a bit of target practice.

It’s just a pity Thompson and Vann didn’t appreciate the quality they were fortunate enough to witness, to give Michael Jennings the shutout he deserved.

He’s very, very classy.

Unfortunately, it looks like Takaloo’s tank has run dry.

If a live crowd of 35,000, breaking indoor records for Europe, and huge TV audiences in Britain and across the Atlantic, put Amir Khan under the slightest pressure, he didn’t show it.

He looked razor sharp and as cool as they come. “I’ve done all my homework,” he said, “I’m going to prove a point.”

If the point was that he’s fast and destructive when in little danger, Khan proved the point and underlined it. Poor old Steffy Bull – of course he wasn’t going to turn down the opportunity when he got that unexpected call 5 weeks ago. But the best you could say about him in the opening round was that he was elusive.

Khan tracked him patiently through the first minute, clearly hoping that the Doncaster man would put something together for him to counter. He’s happiest profiting from the mistakes of others. But it didn’t happen – Bull wouldn’t commit himself, and it wasn’t long before Khan realised that he could be as aggressive as he liked in there without paying for anything.

He drove Bull to the ropes with a double jab, right hand combination and punctuated it neatly with a hook to the ribs. Bull still wasn’t throwing and caught more head shots. Amir soon had him cornered again and countered a left hand with a crunching right over the top. His hand speed was every bit as cute as we remembered as he drove Bull around the ring – the shots coming back at him were in single figures and he repaid everything instantly.

Maybe Khan was a little over-eager at first and the accuracy suffered slightly – he was warned for a low blow in the closing seconds. But he wasn’t having any problems with Bull’s southpaw stance and it was patently clear who was in charge. Any hopes Steffy Bull’s supporters may have had that he would put some pressure on were evaporating. In truth Bull showed Khan too much respect – it was all or nothing in there and Bull looked over-awed, which did him no favours.

Khan chased him around with light combinations going into the second, nothing doing much damage, and Bull wisely held on when he got too close. Again, Bull was throwing little except the occasional left himself, but absorbed a body hook on the ropes and a lovely straight right to the head. An overhand right from Khan was largely blocked, but then the right did puncture Bull’s defence in the corner. Those long arms stabbed again to the head and body in the closing minute, and Khan landed a good right hook. A double jab was about to set something up when the bell rang.

Amir was being patient, still looking for his shot in the third, starting with the double jab, right hand. Whenever he started to let his hands go, Bull held on. The Doncaster man is ring-savvy and quick on his feet, and he made Khan miss widely with a left hand as he slid along the ropes out of reach.
But the end came quickly – Khan drove to the ropes, and then a nasty, crunching little left hook to the ribs really did the damage before a long right took Bull’s head back. The right hook got in upstairs and down, and that left landed again in the same painful spot, before Bull was on his knees.

It was a relentless, punishing barrage and although Bull climbed to his feet he didn’t quite make the count. It was clear that he had no objections when things were stopped at 1 minute 45 seconds.

The effect of that hook was seen in Steffy’s corner – it made him physically sick.

“I am the best lightweight in Britain,” said Khan matter-of-factly. “And very soon I’ll be the best lightweight in the world.”

Until Amir gets in the ring with Jon Thaxton, it’s all talk. This bout did nothing to show that Khan’s defence is improved, or that he can look good against a strong and skilful puncher. But for the first time, an American audience on HBO has seen a showcase of his abilities, and the future is wide open for Khan to prove himself.

Frank Warren is lining up a title fight for him on July 12th.

Joe Calzaghe successfully defended his WBO World Super Middleweight Title against American Peter Manfredo Jr (26-4). Referee Terry O’Connor controversially stopped the bout after 1 minute 30 seconds of the 3rd round. In my opinion, the fight was stopped far too early, TV showed the replay of the stoppage, many of the Calzaghe punches clearly missed their intended target. With that said, it was utterly clear that Manfredo was not in the same league as Calzaghe as it was only a matter of time before his 43rd career victory arrived.

Calzaghe has now reigned at the very top of the Super Middleweight division for an impressive 10 years and tonight saw him defend his WBO crown for the 20th time.

I have to be honest here, as much as I was impressed with Calzaghe’s performance, any boxing fan in the world would have told you it was totally expected. It would be far more impressive if Calzaghe fulfilled his ambition of beating the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Antonio Tarver or Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler before his impending retirement. Let’s face it, which one of you readers honestly gave Manfredo a chance in the first place? I qualify this by already stating Calzaghe’s achievements, where as Manfredo’s claim to fame was coming second in the American “Contender” series in 2005.

Calzaghe tipped the scales a quarter of a pound under the 168lbs Super Middleweight limit whilst the clearly smaller Manfredo Jr was a full 2 pounds under.

To the fight, the atmosphere in the Millennium Stadium was fantastic, a little short of 40,000 loyal Welshmen screaming at the tops of their lungs for their hero to do the “business”, which Calzaghe was only too happy to oblige. The first round saw Calzaghe working well off the jab, he was having a good look at his American opponent, who tried his best to catch Joe with a couple of swinging hooks which hit thin air!!! Calzaghe just about won the round, however not many telling punches landed.

In the second round, Calzaghe started a lot more purposefully, his speed of punch was extremely impressive. Whilst his punches were not highly concusive they were having an affect on Manfredo in that he did not seem to know what to do.  Calzaghe in the latter half of the round worked to the body and the head of the outclassed challenger but nonetheless the fight was short in impressive punches.

The third round brought the end of the contest, it was controversial and again in my view the stoppage was totally wrong!!! Whilst it was clear Calzaghe came out of his corner with aggressive intent, Manfredo was defending relatively well albeit finding it difficult to cope with Calzaghe’s hand speed. Half way through the round, Calzaghe started another assault which had Manfredo covering up on the ropes. Whilst Manfredo was not throwing anything back it was clear a lot of punches were missing. British Referee Terry O’Connor disagreed and waved the action off declaring Calzaghe the winner of the bout after one minute 30 seconds of the round.

As with any end to a fight report, you and everyone else has to ask “What’s Next”?? Personally, I really want to see Mikkel Kessler in the opposite corner. How many times do we as boxing fans see a weight division in world boxing being unified?? It’s not often is it? Calzaghe has the WBO belt, with Kessler having the WBA & WBC crowns. Both fighters are Europeans and their respective promoters Warren and Palle, have done business before, so why not now, especially with US giants HBO on board to bankroll the fight.

Calzaghe’s promoter Frank Warren declared in a post fight interview that an offer for Calzaghe to fight Kessler in July was turned down, but accepted for later in the year. Warren also stated that a multi million dollar offer would be made for his charge to fight Jermain Taylor …. We will see!!!

Earlier in the evening, Commonwealth light-middleweight champion Bradley Pryce made a successful second defence of his crown with a clear 12-round points decision over Ghanaian novice Thomas Awinbono. The judges returned scorecards of 120-109, 117-111 and 118-111 which reflected Pryce’s superiority but failed to acknowledge the African’s honest endeavour.

Pryce was generally one-step ahead, throwing punches in combinations as Awinbono stalked him throughout. The erratic Newbridge stylist did have his customary mid-fight blip however, allowing his eight-fight challenger encouragement in the middle rounds as he outworked Pryce, catching him with occasional left hooks and targetting his body.

Bradley awoke from his slumber in round eight, jarring Awinbono with a beautifully timed uppercut as Thomas waded in without much method. The challenger’s spirit was never broken though and he finished the round on top as Pryce elected to take a breather to admire his earlier work.

Having regained his focus, the champion underlined his supremacy in the final round, boxing rings around the tiring Awinbono trippling his jab and nailing him with superbly timed uppercuts. It was a far from vintage performance from Pryce, but arguably a fight the inconsistent Welshman could have lost earlier in his topsy-turvy career. The Newbridge man does look there for the taking though.

In a dreadful mismatch, Enzo Maccarinelli retained his WBO cruiserweight title with a first-round drubbing over the overmatched Bobby Gunn. Maccarinelli, with massive height and reach advantages, looked at least a division bigger than his Canadian challenger who began his pro career as a welterweight back in 1989.

Sharp hooks and mean right hands busted Gunn’s nose inside the opening minute and everyone, including Gunn, knew it was just a matter of time. A left hook soon dipped Bobby’s knees and a booming right hand sent him staggering backwards with only the ropes keeping him up.

The rampaging Welshman immediately followed-up with a straight right which made Gunn crouch prompting referee Mark Nelson to intervene and administer an eight-count. Utterly out of his depth, Gunn somehow found it within himself to smile as blood streamed down his face. Thankfully, this worrying spectacle was brought to an end by referee Nelson when another right hand left Gunn on rubbery legs upon the resumption of the action.

Nelson’s well-timed stoppage with 25 seconds remaining in round one didn’t come a moment too soon. Questions must be asked of the WBO who somehow found it within themselves to rank Gunn in their top 15 thus making him eligible for a title shot. But for the foresight of the official, who waved things off despite Gunn remaining on his feet throughout the duration, the Canadian could have been seriously hurt.

Following his latest victory, secured on the back of his 74 second hammering of Mark Hobson in October, Enzo improves to 26-1 (20). Let’s hope the Welshman faces more credible opposition next time.

“I’m better prepared than I have ever been before and I’m really pleased with the way that my training has gone,” said Edwards. “This is the biggest fight of my career and I’m determined to produce the performance of my life so that I can come home to Stoke with those two belts.”

“When I boxed Dale last November I was the underdog by a wide margin and if you compare our records he should be starting as the favourite again next Friday. That’s fine with me because I’m not feeling any pressure, the onus is on him to reverse the result from last time.”

“I think Dale and his team underestimated me last time; he said he was going to stop me then and he’s said the same this time. Well, I caused an upset then and I know I can do it again.”

“I’m sure he won’t be underestimating me this time; I’m the only man that’s ever stopped him and he won’t want that to happen again. I understand that he’s taking this fight seriously and that he’s training harder this time but so am I so I’ll be fitter and stronger this time too.”

“I was surprised by Dale last time, I thought he would be a much tougher opponent. This time I expect him to cover up more and defend better. I also expect him to vary his shots more and give me a lot more to think about this time.”

“I was on form in November and felt very sharp, that’s why I beat him. I am feeling very fit now and relaxed about the contest so I expect to be equally sharp on Friday night.”

“I’ve taken time off work for the first time to prepare for a fight and my employer has been brilliant. I’ve also done a lot more sparring this time and with much heavier lads. I know that Dale won’t be as strong as some off the lads that I’ve been sparring with but I gather he’s been sparring bigger lads too. That should mean that we are both up for it and I expect us to put on a great show for the fans.”

“I’m focused on Friday night and I’m not thinking beyond that until I get my work done in the ring. It’s felt great being the English champion and I know that the feeling will be even better if I win the British and Commonwealth belts. I’m not taking anything for granted, I know I will have to be on top form to beat Dale again.”

Edwards has completed his training now and will spend the next week recharging his batteries. His next scheduled appointment is the weigh-in which takes place on Thursday at the Thistle Hotel at Manchester Airport. Meanwhile Potteries’ promoters Impact Boxing are preparing for their next event that will comprise of six bouts and will take place on 12th May at Stoke’s Fenton Manor.

Fresh from his first round destruction of Ovill McKenzie, Commonwealth light-heavyweight king Dean Francis will return to action on June 2 against Ayitey Powers at Bristol’s Ashton Gate stadium. Disappointingly, the pair will contest the lightly regarded IBO inter-continental light-heavyweight crown.

The popular 33-year-old kept his career alive with his stunning win over McKenzie in February and looked like the Francis of old after successful surgery to cure a long-standing shoulder injury that has ransacked his career. The Powers clash is something of a sideways step but Francis may wish to get rounds under his belt against the durable Ghanaian as he prepares for an assault on the British and European titles.

Powers, whose last five fights have been in Britain, sports a patchy 13-7-1 (9) record but will enter the Francis duel high on confidence after his recent second round stoppage against Peterborough hopeful Cello Renda. In essence a blown-up middle, the Ghanaian can nevertheless handle himself capably at light-heavy and holds a points win over forthcoming English title challenger Steve Spartacus in December. His successes against British fighters tend to be a rarity however, as points losses to Matthew Barney, Amer Khan and Gary Lockett testify. Ayitey has only been stopped once though, in seven rounds by Richard Williams in a bid for the Commonwealth title down at light-middle in January 2004.

Francis’s reemergence is a welcome boost for the domestic 12st 7lbs scene which has grown increasingly stale. British champion Peter Oboh, who hasn’t fought for approaching three years, is finally set to defend his title against Tony Oakey at the end of the month – a contest Francis is sure to have a keen eye on. The winner of next month’s English title clash between champion Peter Haymer and Spartacus could secure a crack at Francis’s Commonwealth crown later this year.

Tomasz Bonin is looking forward to his return to London for his bout with David Haye on 27 April following his controversial loss to Audley Harrison when challenging for the WBF Heavyweight title in June 2004.

In the intervening years Bonin’s stock has rocketed and he is now ranked No. 11 by the WBC while Harrison’s rating has dropped and the Pole will be seeking to further improve his position while blocking Haye’s heavyweight aspirations.

Bonin, 33, is sure to feel at home amongst London’s one million plus Polish residents and the Tczew, Poland, born fighter will not want to let his countrymen down in what is sure to feel like a home fixture for this talented Warsaw resident.

Tickets are priced at £100; £70 & £40.

Frank Maloney Promotions presents ‘Heavyweight Hayemaker’ at Wembley Arena, London, England on April 27, 2007. Tickets are available by logging
onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508 or televised live on Sky TV. If you can’t make it to the fight watch it live on Sky TV! For any further Press information please call 02086914165.

Bolton’s 2004 Olympic silver medalist has claimed ahead of only his 12th professional fight this weekend that he is ready to face the likes of British lightweight champion Jonathan Thaxton.

Murray, promoted by Mick Hennessy like Thaxton, has dismissed his claims as an insult. But the WBC Youth Champion is willing to give Khan the opportunity to back up his boast by facing him in his next contest.

Murray, from Manchester, claims an all-Lancashire scrap with Khan would decide who the best young lightweight in Britain really is, without the hype.

Murray, 22, won the Boxing Writers ‘Young Boxer of the Year Award’ for 2006, and is set to gain valuable experience and exposure by fighting on the undercard of the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather mega-fight in Las Vegas on May 5.

He has stopped half of his 20 victims inside the distance, has challenged fellow unbeaten prospect Khan, 20, to meet him for his WBC Youth World Title on the show in the capital of boxing and back up his claims that he is ready to face anyone in Britain.

“It’s a joke, an insult to established fighters proven at Championship level to start saying that you are ready for them and that they need to fight you before you move on to bigger things.” said Murray.

“Jon Thaxton has established himself as a British champion and has been in the game years, so it’s a bit big-mouthed to start calling him out before he has even fought some of the other top prospects coming through.”

“But I noticed he didn’t mention my name in there and didn’t offer me out. He knows of me and has seen me fight, but he doesn’t say he wants to fight me because he knows out of everyone coming through I’m the best.”

“He knows it would be too much of a risk fighting me. We’re both from the northwest. It would be a massive fight there and for boxing in general in this country.”

“I have called you out before. I will defend against you no problem. We are both young and the same weight. Stop talking rubbish! Put up or shut up.”

“I was the first British fighter to win the WBC World Youth Title. It’s a title designed for fighters who will go on to win full honours like Khan is saying he will do.”

“I’ve heard he’s mad to fight in Vegas, so why not fight me on May 5th. I would mow him down inside the distance.”

“I would be up for defending against him on the show and it would be a big deal over there too. The Americans like me; I have fought over there and went down well. It would be great for both of us. He says he’s ready to fight anyone in Britain. Well he needs to fight me now then, on potentially the biggest event of all time.”

David Haye will challenge WBC cruiserweight champion Jean Marc Mormeck irrespective of whether he triumphs in his heavyweight debut against Tomasz Bonin later this month. After months of frustration, Haye recently received confirmation of his mandatory challenger’s status from the WBC with the Mormeck clash expected to take place in the autumn, either in Paris or London.

Mormeck withstood a late onslaught from O’Neil Bell to regain the WBC crown following a narrow points victory in Paris three weeks ago. It was the first time Bell had fought since knocking out the Frenchman in ten rounds 14 months prior. The Jamaican’s inactivity was not only hindering his own career but also stalling Haye’s. Given his well documented battles to make the 14st 4lbs cruiserweight limit, the European champion has understandably grown impatient whilst being kept waiting for his overdue opportunity.

It came as no surprise when the ‘Hayemaker’ announced he is to dip his toe into the shallow waters of the heavyweight division at Wembley Arena on April 27. Media darling Haye told captivated reporters that he is looking for no easy assignments. To supposedly signal his intent, he has selected an opponent with just one defeat in 38 contests for his heavyweight bow.

Whilst Haye’s ambition is admirable when one considers the depressing state of the heavyweight landscape both in Britain and worldwide, don’t be fooled by the spin on Bonin (see it rhymes, almost).

The padded Pole suffered his only career defeat against a certain Audley Harrison in June 2004. True, Bonin was prematurely stopped on his feet in the ninth round but Harrison was in the ascendancy and seemed on course to secure a points victory. His gallant defeat against the Olympic champion increased Tomasz’s stock at the time, but with Harrison’s level subsequently exposed following his shocking KO at the hands of Michael Sprott, Bonin can now be regarded as a mediocre European heavyweight at best.

If Bonin’s 37-1 record is so impressive how come he’s never had a sniff of a European title shot?

Since the Harrison setback, Bonin has reeled off 11 straight wins against circumspect opposition, the highlight being his IBC (what?!?) title winning triumph over Fernely Feliz in Chicago in November (UD12)

Look, to put things in perspective, if Haye is going to be taken seriously as a future heavyweight force he needs to be handling the likes of Bonin with relative ease. At 6ft 1 and 16 ½ stone the Pole is hardly a modern day heavyweight colossus. In fact, the bulked-up Haye is likely to tip the scales at a similar weight and will enjoy height and reach advantages over Bonin. There are, however, some fascinating intangibles to consider:

Will Haye’s famed power make a dent on a natural heavyweight?
Will his (arguably still questionable) chin let him down?
How will Haye’s stamina cope with being mauled around by a fully fledged heavyweight?

Against Giacobbe Fragomeni last time out, Haye emphatically answered those critics who had questioned his stomach for a long, grueling battle when his back was well and truly against the wall. However, his worrying tendency to allow himself to be backed-up by the squat Italian could spell disaster if he adopts similar attacks against the big boys. Haye was also pushed onto the back foot by ordinary Dane Lasse Johansson to a lesser extent – cause for concern, I’d suggest.

Whatever the outcome of the Bonin duel, Haye will have approximately six months to boil himself back down to 14st 4lbs in readiness for his challenge to Mormeck, a fighter he has vowed to stop inside five rounds. That would be some achievement. The Frenchman is an excellent all-rounder fighter who can slug it out in the trenches or stylishly box in retreat.

There are some chinks in Mormeck’s armour, most notably his stamina. The WBC champion faded in both his fights against Bell and also appeared weary down the stretch when defeating Wayne Braithwaite. The Frenchman will turn 35 in June and could be ripe for the picking.

The more I consider the outcome of Haye-Mormeck, the more I question the short-sightedness of Haye’s heavyweight warm-up against Bonin. The Mormeck fight could ultimately be decided on who lasts the pace the better and Haye is surely doing himself no favours by competing at (probably) two stones over the cruiserweight championship limit.

Only by successfully conquering the cruisers will Haye be taken seriously as a potential heavyweight force. Beating Bonin, however impressively he does it, will count for little in the grand scheme of things.

When Amir Khan turned pro, many in the game said he’d switched codes too early, passing up the opportunity to gain experience and win an Olympic gold in Beijing. Whether he was right or wrong to make the jump when he did will always be a matter of conjecture, but few can deny that the talent he now has owes a great deal to the investment made in him by the unpaid and often unsung heroes who coach the amateur ranks.

As the British Olympic team gears up to 2012 there’s likely to be increased investment at amateur level, and it’s a safe bet that there’ll be a better-than-usual crop of young boxers turning professional after the London games. So is there anything that professional promoters could, or even should be doing now to build bridges between the two sides of the sport?

UK Boxing spoke to Mickey Delaney, who coached newly-crowned English welterweight champion John O’Donnell during his amateur days, to see what he thinks about the way the professional game treats its amateur counterpart. Mickey is a respected figure in the world of amateur boxing who’s spent 30 years at the Dale Youth club in Notting Hill. In that time he’s had a host of successful boxers from schoolboy level right through to ABA champions, with medal winners at junior world championships and Commonwealth Games and numerous England internationals.

Mickey describes himself as ‘not a big fan of professional boxing’, but nevertheless he understands the temptation for boxers to want to get paid, particularly when they frequently come from disadvantaged backgrounds and have few other options to earn a living. His issues stem primarily from the way he feels those in the amateur game are treated by promoters. Mickey asks why it should be acceptable that after years of coaching a boxer through the amateur ranks, a promoter can come along and sign him without even the courtesy of a phone call to his coach. He also feels that promoters sometimes don’t advise boxers well, often signing them when they’re too young or before major championships, to the potential detriment of their future marketability as pros.

In some respects it’s easy to understand the way that promoters operate, since they themselves are in competition with other promoters and have a vested interest in making sure that they are first to the signature of leading amateur prospects. The situation in boxing today is at least comparable with the one which existed in football a few years ago where the issues of tapping up and compensation caused a lot of friction. Since the Bosman affair the football authorities have acted to clarify contractual arrangements between clubs, with strict rules being enforced about the use of proper channels when approaching players. The Bosman ruling has also brought about compensation arrangements which mean that clubs losing players under the age of 23 can seek recompense for the investment made in coaching.

There are differences between the sports of course, with the arrangements in football mainly affecting contractual link ups between professional individuals and clubs, but it’s still possible to see how amateur bodies could seek to impose contracts which might give them similar levels of protection. The Bosman changes have the backing of European law which means that there’s a precedent which could be tested by other sports, boxing included.

Mickey feels that there’s a stark contrast between the money that pervades the professional game, and the distinct lack of it within the amateur ranks. The dearth of professional boxing on terrestrial television these days gives an indication of the levels of finances going into boxing via the broadcasters, with only the likes of Sky TV being able to continue to afford it on a regular basis (though in fairness ITV are making a decent go of things – Ed).

He would like to see more of this money trickling down to the amateur ranks and feels this would benefit both the amateur and the professional game ultimately. Training facilities in cities like London don’t come cheap and travel is another expensive component of the amateur budget. He feels that the opportunity to travel to other clubs boosts the level of competition and maintains the focus of amateur boxers. His club Dale Youth have run a regular trip to Las Vegas for several years where boxers get the chance to experience top-class training facilities and face quality opposition in a ‘UK v USA’ tournament. This is not easy to finance though, and the club spends most of the year seeking sponsorship and raising funds to permit the trip to take place.

Mickey would like to see more liaison between amateur clubs and professional promoters. He recognises there’s a certain inevitability about talented amateurs turning professional and feels it would be better if there was more recognition of the amateur training process and the part it plays in developing the skills of future professionals. He feels that time spent developing the skills of a young boxer is more profitable than working on his power before his body is sufficiently developed, and he believes that the amateur sport is the best place to do this. His idea of liaison also extends to seeing financial investment from the professional sport.

In the absence of such liaison he thinks that amateur boxing is taking appropriate steps to retain its most promising talent. Sport England and the ABA have been doing their utmost with limited resources in the last couple of years to encourage talented amateurs to think about medals rather than money, funding their living expenses and giving them regular high-quality training at the new ABA headquarters in Sheffield. Mickey feels that this has benefitted two of his own boxers, James Degale and George Groves, and hopes it will improve their chances of qualification for the Beijing Olympics.

Given that so many professional boxers have an amateur background it seems strange that more isn’t being done to foster the development of future professionals within the amateur sport. The USA has always had a strong amateur tradition, and not surprisingly, a strong professional one too. Perhaps the situation that exists here is due to professional boxing being in something of a ‘comfort zone’ – not realising that change might be necessary. But while ever promoters continue to pick up ready-made talent for free from the amateur ranks they should ask themselves whether the situation will continue forever. These days many in the football world bemoan the rise of agents, and the drain on the sport’s finances with which they’re associated. There are no agents in boxing at the moment, but that may change if those within the sport feel they’re not getting their due.

On the other hand, perceptive promoters may have the opportunity to turn things their way and look good while doing it. By developing good practice guidelines which govern the way they interact with the amateur sport, and contributing financially to the development of the amateurs who will becomes tomorrow’s professional elite they could build strong relationships with amateur clubs. This will ultimately ensure that the promoters are in pole position to secure first choice of future talent and ensure that tomorrow’s professionals are challenging consistently for world championships.

Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, April 7

In most sports, Olympic success is the pinnacle of achievement. Outside of Cuba, this is not the case in boxing, where the question is always, ‘So what’s next?’

Unbeaten prospects are a precious commodity, and no-one really wants to see the shine taken off the young Bolton hero who brought home the silver from Athens at the tender age of 17. But we do want to know just how valuable he really is, considering that the stock of a certain Sydney heavyweight has plummeted rather badly of late.

How good is Khan? In his last amateur fight he turned the tables on an ageing Kindelan. It must have felt good to step out of the great Cuban’s shadow. And since turning pro, Amir’s been served quite a varied spread of opposition, from veterans like Daniel Thorpe to youngsters like Martynov, with southpaws (Bailey, Barrett) and switchers (Drilzane) mixed in.

Poor old Vitali Martynov may have been a tomato can, lasting just over a minute, but we weren’t to know that from his 9-1 record. Everyone thought Ryan Barrett would give Khan a workout but he was blown away in the first. Amir has been sensibly matched, on the whole, against people he could be expected to learn from – people who weren’t formidable punchers.

That last part’s important. It’s the reason why Khan shouldn’t be going anywhere near Jon Thaxton for a while yet. Khan’s toughest fight to date was against Rachid Drilzane – if Drilzane had packed any real power, Khan’s record wouldn’t be spotless today.

The Frenchman caught him fair and square any number of times, as Khan’s left dropped low and his chin was exposed on the way out. It started in the fifth round when Drilzane landed a big right to the head, and continued through the remainder of the fight as Khan was catching right hand leads and left counters as he went in for body shots.

Amir took a count in the seventh, famously. It was legitimate, as I saw it – caused by a punch, although being off-balance was a contributing factor. It shook his composure and he shipped another head shot. A big left took Khan’s head back in the eighth and he was advised in his corner to show more movement when coming out. In the tenth he was rocked again, wide open to a counter.

It sounds like a problem, doesn’t it? But this kind of criticism seems almost petty in the light of the display Khan was putting on. He swept every round with finesse – his hands and his reflexes were lightning-fast, he controlled the ring and put his combinations together with a lot of flair. Maybe he loses accuracy sometimes when he’s trying to finish things with a barrage to the head, over-throws instead of picking his shots, but offensively he’s pretty much got it all.

So will Steffy Bull prove Khan’s worth?

His last outing was a very easy points win over Carl Allen, a repeat performance of their tussle for the WBF Intercontinental belt – putting his record at 24-4-1, and making him, on paper, the most interesting opponent Khan has faced as a pro.

But whether he’ll stretch Khan where he needs to be stretched is another question.

I’m fairly certain that trainer Oliver Harrison has been doing something about Amir’s defence. But the truth is that Khan isn’t going in with a big puncher. Bull has five kayos in 29 bouts, the last one coming when he took Haroon Din out in the second defending his Central Area lightweight title (he has also held the Central featherweight belt).

Having won 13 bouts in a row, Bull gave up his titles for a shot at Scott Lawton for the English belt back in June. It was a hard match to call, but Bull succumbed to Lawton’s body punching to be stopped in the eighth. Now he’s coming back from semi-retirement, having felt that he wasn’t being offered opportunities after a bout with John Fewkes fell through last autumn.

This opportunity came out of the blue for Bull (real name Andrew Bullcroft). He’ll be getting in that ring with nothing to lose and everything to gain. One point of interest is that Bull put Baz Carey on the canvas at one point when Khan didn’t manage it.

Bull is a good pressure-fighter and stands a chance of giving Khan some trouble if he can get inside. He can also box effectively, and is quick to see an opening, so if Khan’s defence is still loose he may be taking shots again like he did with Drilzane. However, all of Bull’s losses have come by stoppage, and he’s going in with a knockout artist…

So once again, this will be an educational outing for Khan. He shouldn’t underestimate the experienced Doncaster southpaw. But aside from Scott Lawton, the quality of Bull’s opposition has not been high.

Khan needs to show improved defence and win this one impressively. If he does, we may be one step closer to knowing his worth on the pro scene, but the real tests are surely yet to come.

A quote can be the perfect way to start a story. Passages from classic literature, verses from the Bible, or excerpts from the motivational speeches of revolutionaries are writers’ favourites.

For my preview of Enzo Maccarinelli’s second WBO cruiserweight title defence, the boxer himself offers me a perfect lead-in.

Speaking in the wake of the New Year collapse of negotiations for Maccarinelli to fight David Haye in a domestic blockbuster, Enzo said:

“We are about to announce one of two world-class men to challenge for my title on 7 April.”

Shortly afterwards, it was announced Bobby Gunn was the one.

Who was the other “world-class” man on the shortlist?

Hastings Rasani?

Maccarinelli’s WBO cruiser ancestor Boone Pultz, now on a comeback at 47?

Or had Earl Morais had been offered a rematch with the Swansea puncher?

OK, so I’m being facetious, but in all honesty those names could well give Maccarinelli a better fight than Gunn figures to on Saturday night.

Who is Bobby Gunn? Good question. If you think his name is strangely resonant, you’re surely thinking of Tommy Gunn, the villain in Rocky V.

Maybe that’s why Bobby was selected.

Perhaps promoters Sports Network thought the armchair fan, already starry-eyed by the show’s inclusion of reality TV celeb Peter Manfredo in the top of the bill, would tune in because they thought “that guy off Rocky” was getting a real-life title shot.

Coincidentally, real boxer Tommy Morrison – who played Rocky’s nemesis in the fifth instalment of the franchise – recently launched a controversial comeback at the age of 38, after 11 years out of the ring, having been (mis?)diagnosed with HIV back in 1996.

Even an ancient, inactive and possibly sick Tommy Gunn (sorry, Morrison) might be a more formidable test than Bobby Gunn.

But before you say Bobby must be better Tommy because he’s young and hasn’t had an 11-year layoff, consider this: he isn’t young and he has had an 11-year layoff!

OK, I’m being ever-so slightly unfair. At 33, Tommy isn’t overly-old for a cruiserweight, and he has fought six times since launching his comeback in 2004.

I don’t want to seem like I’m bending over backwards to be critical of this match, so let’s take a look at the positives about this mysterious visitor from a dusty-sounding town called Hackensack, New Jersey.

Ermm….

Sorry. Can’t do it.

Gunn is an awful challenger for Maccarinelli; quite possibly the worst world title opponent ever to fight in the UK.

Damon Reed, who folded inside a minute against Herbie Hide in a 1998 WBO heavyweight attempt in Manchester, currently holds that distinction.

But I would even venture that Reed – who remains active at cruiserweight – would be better qualified to meet Maccarinelli in the Millennium Stadium.

So I will bend over backwards to be critical of this match.

Gunn, 16-2 (13), turned pro at light middleweight. The only three recognisable names on his record are highly spurious.

He beat Kirino Garcia in the Mexican’s pro debut back in 1990, rendering that result meaningless.

He was floored four times by the unremarkable Shelby Gross before being stopped in two rounds, although the result was later changed to a no-contest when Gross failed a post-fight dope test.

Now consider cannabis isn’t exactly known for its performance-enhancing qualities. Quite the opposite, in fact. And yet a guy who was under the influence of a narcotic which usually renders its users into a state of lethargy somehow “smoked” Gunn inside two rounds.

Last time out, Gunn got a TKO 7 over Shannon Landberg, known only for his failure to beat a 47-year-old Tommy Hearns.

And that 11-year absence?

Gunn spent the time fighting in unlicensed bouts, the graduates of which NEVER make an impact in professional boxing.

Meanwhile, 26-year-old Maccarinelli has built a 25-1 (19) record and a reputation as one of the sport’s biggest pound-for-pound punchers anywhere in the word.

Bobby Gunn may sound like a Hollywood character, but there’s to be no fairytale ending here. Prediction: Maccarinelli to win very easily, and very quickly.

Feel free to quote me.

A few years ago, I was on my way out of the day job’s office when a young female colleague gave me an excited look and said: “I bet you’ll be watching the big fight tonight, won’t you?”

Given how she would previously have struggled to tell Joe Frazier from Joe Pasquale, I was surprised at her sudden interest in the sport.

What was this “big fight” her eyes were sparkling over?

John Simpson versus Dariusz Snarski was scheduled for that evening, but I doubted it was anybody’s idea of a “big” fight, let alone a member of Jill Public. Besides, it wasn’t even on TV.

But there was indeed a boxing match listed on the schedules, on primetime BBC1, no less.

It was not Scotland’s hardest-luck competitor, nor Poland’s hardest-faced journeyman, who had ignited the boxing flame in my colleague.

No, it was the rotund Michael Carroll and a chunk of beef called Rhino who had secured this prestigious slice of TV scheduling. And they had done so not because they were boxers, but because they were “celebrities”.

So it was Carroll, the infamous “Lottery Chav”, against Rhino, from the long-since defunct TV show Gladiators, in the second instalment of the abomination known as Celebrity Boxing.

Bigger than Jesus they were not, but they were bigger than Simpson and Snarksi, and a mere soupcon of pop-culture appeal – however convoluted – seems to be the only criteria for getting on the tube these days.

This explains why Peter Manfredo is challenging for Joe Calzaghe’s WBO super middleweight championship in Cardiff on Saturday night, live on ITV1.

Clued-up boxing fans have decried the match, but the reasons for it being made are obvious.

Manfredo, from Providence, Rhode Island, was among the cast of the original series of reality TV show The Contender.

The exposure gave him a greater profile than any number of more deserving challengers, and if you accept boxing is primarily a business, his name value equals cash value.

This is especially true in the all-important US market, where several stars of the original Contender became household names.

Calzaghe is using this as a tool to further his own Stateside reputation and Manfredo looks the perfect foil – well known but well beatable.

But the fact the Welshman needs to further his US stock is an indictment of the state of the sport’s popularity.

Last year’s trouncing of “next big thing” Jeff Lacy should in its own right have been enough to permanently etch the Newbridge man’s name into the consciousnesses of even the most casual of sports fans on both sides of the Atlantic.

But our era is far removed from the ones where famous British Yank-spanking heroics such as Lloyd Honeyghan’s upset over Don Curry or Randy Turpin’s humbling of Sugar Ray Robinson gained the victors immediate immortality.

Lacy may have gained the aficionados’ respect, but my young female colleague surely wouldn’t know him unless you put him in a mocked-up “jungle” and made him eat grubs.

This is why Calzaghe is fighting Manfredo instead of Kessler, Mundine, Woods, Froch, Taylor, Hopkins, Tarver, Jones, Wright, Johnson, and so on and so on.

But this is more of an “event” than a sporting contest.

If he retains, Calzaghe will make his landmark 20th successful defence. In the all-time records, this would push him past Larry Holmes to join Bernard Hopkins in equalthird place, behind only Ricardo Lopez (22 defences) and Joe Louis (25).

But the carnival feel to this promotion should not detract from the often-missed fact that Manfredo, 26-3 (12) is actually a solid enough challenger.

The 26-year-old is a bona fide top 10 contender who has earned his spot with impressive stoppages over Scott Pemberton and Joey Spina.

If he was put in with any of the other 12st titlists, there wouldn’t be any of the outcry that has dogged the promotion of Manfredo’s duel with Calzaghe.

The problem is, Calzaghe attained such a standard of excellence against Lacy that fans had hoped it would propel him towards the highest stratosphere of the sport; a place where not just WBO straps but pound-for-pound honours were contested.

Instead, we have been kept waiting another year as the world’s longest-serving champion trod water in much the same manner that has characterised the majority of his reign.

At least Manfredo is no Sakio Bika. The Afro-Aussie who extended Calzaghe last time out was tough and durable, but largely devoid of skill.

Manfredo is certainly a more gifted boxer, possessing fast hands, a good workrate and, at least so far, a reliable chin.

But remember, he didn’t even win The Contender – lost twice, in fact – and that was down at light middleweight.

It is probably true Manfredo was weight-drained through the tournament, and his form at super middle testifies to that, but his physical stature doesn’t compare to Calzaghe.

The Welsh southpaw has been a super middle for his whole career – all 14 years and 42 undefeated fights of it (31 KOs) – and must be bursting at the seams at 12st.

Manfredo, in contrast, has only been in the division for a year and has scaled as low as 10st 12lb in the past. He is also giving up almost three inches in height at 5’ 9” and a couple of inches in reach.

But I maintain Manfredo is better than he is given credit for. Armchair fans might think he’s better than he is due to The Contender, but conversely his reality TV badge has made more astute fans sneer on capabilities and achievements they might otherwise have appreciated.

Still, I can’t make a case for a Manfredo win. Everything he does well – speed, combination punching, aggression, stamina and durability – Calzaghe does better.

His sole hope lies in the slim chance of the champion growing old overnight at 35. He may also gain some confidence from the increasing likelihood of Calzaghe’s notoriously fragile hands giving way.

But even in those scenarios, the best I can predict for Manfredo is a creditable points loss.

An on-form and healthy Calzaghe will have too much strength and experience, and a chin unlikely to be troubled by a man who has posted a sub-50% knockout ratio in a lighter division.

This all points to the stoppage most are predicting, but I have a feeling it won’t be as quick or easy as the cynics maintain. Let’s say eight rounds, of which Manfredo might win a couple.

Hopefully beating a reality TV star will give Calzaghe the fame and bargaining power necessary for him to land the kind of “big fight” that will have office workers buzzing again, but for the right reasons.

Michael Carroll and Rhino need not apply.

For Edwards it provides the opportunity to match the achievement of Stoke’s last British champion Tommy Harrison. Harrison won both the British and Commonwealth (then the British Empire) titles when he defeated Jim Higgins in Liverpool on 26th June 1922.

For Robinson it represents the chance to win a Lonsdale belt for the first time and also to repeat his Commonwealth victories of 2003.

On paper Robinson still appears to be favourite to lift both titles. His record is impressive and reads: W 19 (9 KO) L 3 D 1. Edwards record is less inspiring reading: W 10 (3 KO) L 12 D 2. However, in their last six bouts Robinson has 3 wins 2 losses and a draw whereas Edwards has won 4 and lost 2 with his last victory coming over Robinson last November in an English title clash.

Sky Sports will televise the bout live which promises to serve up some mouth-watering entertainment. Last time out Edwards produced a stunning performance to stop Robinson in the 8th round and he will be looking to perform even better now that the stakes are even higher. Robinson on the other hand will be more motivated this time as he seeks to reverse last November’s result.

On hearing the news today Edwards said: “Its fantastic news obviously and it would be great to pick up both belts. It won’t make me any more determined though, I already have enough motivation as I’m sure Dale has too. I just want to win the fight and give something back to Stoke-on-Trent.”

Edwards’ manager Mick Carney added: “It’s a fully justified decision. Both Chris and Dales are consummate professionals and they equally deserve the chance to be fighting for major honours.”

“If the bout is only half as good as their last tussle the fans are in for a real treat.”

Tickets for the event, which also includes British light-middleweight champion Jamie Moore against Argentinean ‘hard-man’ Sebastian Andres Lujan, are available from Impact Boxing. Telephone 0845 156 7168 or visit www.impactboxing.com for details.

Welshman Calzaghe, 35, has held the WBO title for ten years but his last mandatory defence, a 12 round domination of American Jeff Lacy, was over a year ago.

Undefeated Froch, 29, notched up his 21st victim with a devastating two-round demolition job on Russian Sergey Tatevosyan in his home city of Nottingham just over a week ago and is now ready to battle the world’s best.

The British and Commonwealth champion, who is promoted by Mick Hennessy, hopes to face Calzaghe before he retires and believes it can happen later this year if the final eliminator is confirmed.

Froch is ranked third by the WBO, but is set to move up at least one berth. Current #2 Lucian Bute was taken the distance last time out by Tatevosyan and has opted to contest an eliminator for an alternative championship.

Inkin is still currently ranked above him, but the emphatic nature of his win over Sergey Tatevosyan should see him leapfrog into the top spot. Froch already had the far stronger record.

“The WBO needs to find a suitable, mandatory challenger for Calzaghe,” said Froch. “At the moment I feel he is cashing in on easy money fights, like this one against Manfredo. He’s not a credible challenger. I would blitz him in a round.”

“Fighting me could potentially be the biggest fight in British Boxing history. If Joe was forced to take it, I think he would do.”

“If I became his mandatory contender, it would cut out all the usual nonsense. Options wouldn’t get in the way of the fight. This fight has the potential to smash all British purse bid records and whoever wins, it would be a massive affair.”

“If my promoter Mick Hennessy won, the fight would most probably take place at the Nottingham Forest ground. If Calzaghe’s people won, they may use the Millennium Stadium.”

“Joe would have nowhere to hide. If he didn’t go through with the fight everyone would know why. If we got into that position and he somehow managed to wriggle out of it, I would personally hand him the four feathers.”

“That is why I think this fight can happen. The timing is perfect as well. By the time the purse bids have been called for a final eliminator and I have actually knocked Inkin out, Calzaghe will be due his next mandatory in September.”

Froch continued: “The only way for the WBO to find a suitable mandatory fairly, is to take their number one and number two and make that final eliminator. I would like President Valcarcel to do the right thing. I’ve heard he is over for the Calzaghe fight later this week, perhaps the British press can ask him personally?

“Although the WBO mandatory is due first, I don’t see any reason why the fight couldn’t be a final eliminator for the WBC title as well. The way the ratings are now, I am about to become their number one and Inkin their number two.”

“That way, if Calzaghe and Kessler did unify, things would tie in nicely. We would have the mandatory for both titles.”

“Me versus Inkin would be a big fight in itself and build the Calzaghe fight even more. Inkin is 29-0 and I’m 21-0, we are both big punchers and everything would be on the line.”

“We have got amateur history as well. He beat me on points but I put him on the seat of his pants and only the final bell saved him. I will do the job properly this time.”

“My promoter has asked the WBO for this fight a few times. He has called for a final eliminator, but the WBO seem to be dragging their heels? If I was the President of a governing body, I would want to find the very best to challenge my champion. It doesn’t really make sense to me.”

“Calzaghe needs a proper test. He is a good fighter, but I believe I’m exceptional and there is no one out there he should be fighting except for me.”

“There will be more demand for that fight now I’ve annihilated a world-class opponent in Tatevosyan. Once I win a world title final eliminator, Joe will have no choice but to put up or shut up. Fight me or vacate the belt.”

“I’ve knocked out my last five opponents. People are now realising that I don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk. Other fighters swerve and go round obstacles, but I’m ready and the correct thing for the WBO to do would be to grant me a final eliminator this summer.”

By Suzanne Nield

In the most dramatic bout of the evening at the Metroradio Arena, baby-faced Freddy turned the tables on favourite Ross Minter to win a spectacular eighth round knockout.

UKBP, as you know, had tipped Freddy to win – certainly not the bookies’ choice. But the New Jersey father of three can be a very silky customer. His beautiful evasive skills did not disappoint tonight – but he gave more besides, digging deep after absorbing punishment in the middle rounds to deliver a conclusion no-one saw coming.

Minter started aggressively, but although the Crawley prospect is quick, he has never been in with anyone so difficult to hit. In the first three rounds it must have been like trying to swat a fly – Curiel was in outstanding form defensively, avoiding the jab as though he had a sixth sense. If this is what you appreciate in boxing, you couldn’t fail to love it.

Moreover, Freddy was getting in the shots – he landed a neat one-two combination as an opener, and another right hand appeared to bloody Minter’s nose in the first. He was catching most of Minter’s shots on his gloves, but Ross is dangerous and the second saw him getting in two good body shots. A fast jab caught Curiel but he rode it backwards, getting in some overhand rights of his own. Minter was trying to run him down, and pinned him to trade, landing a hard right to the head, but for clean punching and defence the American deserved this round. He sneaked in a nice left body hook and his head shots had some snap in them.

I liked the double jab Curiel kept up – his work to the head remained strong in the third, giving Minter a teeth-rattler at one point, but the Brit was landing well when he got inside. The fourth saw a determined Minter finally run his prey to ground – mid-round he was getting in some heavy shots to the head and wading in with the hooks. Curiel was forced to cover up and slip like mad to survive – he finished the round with a bad cut to the bridge of the nose and it seemed that Ross was just too powerful.

The fifth and sixth round were a nightmare for Freddy. No-one expected him to make it. Minter was driving forward, landing to the head, and it seemed that the damage Curiel took in the fourth had shaken his composure permanently. He was still evasive, and still coming back to land, but the deluge coming at him meant that something must get through, and he absorbed some cracking uppercuts on the ropes.

Ross continued chasing him down in the sixth, landing overhand rights and hooks to the head. But Curiel was working the jab again downstairs and up. He was still slipping well, but Ross continued to punish him with body hooks and took his head back with a right at the close of the round. It looked like a matter of time for Freddy, most at ringside surprised he had lasted so long.

Looking battered, the New Jersey man went into the seventh with a dangerous swelling to the right eye. But this was the round where things started to change. Minter’s jab was still as tough as teak, but it was much less frequent and he seemed to have run out of steam. He spent the round wearily following Curiel, who landed a good hook in a brief exchange and some neat combinations to the head. It was amazing, but the American was outworking him again.

Minter came out into the eighth determined to target that eye, and once again Curiel had his head taken back. But he just wouldn’t quit. He worked his jab well, slipped a heavy-looking hook and got in a nice combination of his own. Minter head-hunted him to the ropes and got in a left to the body – Curiel escaped, they traded again, and then out of nowhere came the astonishing massive right hook that put Minter down.

He tried to rise, stumbled and went down again – it was a stunner. Referee Jeff Rees waved it off at 2 minutes 20 seconds.

Maybe it was a lucky shot, but the heart and determination Curiel showed made this the highlight of the evening. He was touchingly surprised when I told him UKBP had tipped him to win (on points!). What was going through his mind when he was struggling though those middle rounds? ‘I knew, with God on my side, that I could do anything.’

After the fight, Minter’s right hand was badly swollen. He is due to meet Colin McNeil on 26 May for a British welterweight title eliminator.

Suzanne Nield was in Newcastle for us and brings you the most detailed lowdown of the UK vs USA Contender matches. Click the link to read all about it!.

Paul Smith v Jonathan Reid

With the first bout of the evening, a ‘preliminary’ which would not count towards the final team scoring, things got off to a bit of a shaky start with a controversial stoppage.

Smith’s jab was being blocked at first, but he landed a good right to the head, left to the body combination as Reid also maintained some strong body work in the opening round. Paul took the round for me with a neat uppercut on the inside and a double right hand at the bell. The match was very competitive in the second round as Smith maintained his workrate with an accurate jab and left uppercut to the body, but Reid was producing some heavy hooks, blocking Smith well. Smith landed an overhand right to the head and a good left to the body, but the best work came from Reid with uppercuts on the ropes and a big left to the head closing the round. Smith outdid the American in the third with excellent variety, taking his head back with the jab and finishing with a strong combination to the body.

Reid’s uppercut was clearly his weapon of choice, and it looked a killer in the fourth through sixth rounds, but Smith was increasing the tempo, putting some classy sequences together. Smith swept the fifth with a barrage – it became a bit of a wrestling match at times as things hotted up, both fighters hungry to win. There was some use of the head by Smith in the sixth as the urgency increased – I had Smith well ahead due to his variety and accuracy, but this was a competitive round, Reid landing a good double jab and driving forward.

Reid was trying to tie Smith up going into the seventh, but the Scouser landed a hard overhand right to the head and a massive uppercut, left hook combination put Reid on the canvas. He beat the count to be driven to the ropes, but things became messy and as the fighters grappled Reid stumbled down again. It was no knockdown and the referee didn’t call it as such, but unbelievably waved things off as soon as Reid regained his feet.

Reid was ruled as unfit to continue at 1 minute 21 seconds of the bout by UK referee Victor Loughlin, but the American’s eyes were clear.

Reid was understandably furious and this wasn’t a good start to international relations! However, all three judges had him behind, 68-64 twice and 69-65.

Nigel Wright v Jonathan Nelson

In the second non-scoring preliminary bout, southpaw Wright worked a classic one-two to good effect in the opening round, but not much else. However, it didn’t look as though much more would be needed, as Nelson was ineffective in the first and boxing out of range. Early in the second, Nelson went to the canvas, ruled a slip although it seemed that a hook may have been responsible. Wright got in a right uppercut on the inside, which left its mark, and carried on with the old one-two. A tussle on the ropes led to Nelson going down again, this looked to be from a clash of heads–cum-push but was counted by referee Pat Russell. Nelson beat the count easily.

The Hartlepool man connected with a left hook to the body and was dissecting the American with jabs that couldn’t miss. Nelson, bleeding badly from the left brow, was caught again with a jab on his way in.

In the corner, the cuts were bad enough for the ringside doctor to recommend an end to the bout.

Anthony Small v Walter Wright

A contentious result here from my point of view. The Brit, whose exuberant personality could have won him plenty of fans across the pond when the series is televised, has chosen instead to alienate our American cousins with his ‘spank a Yank’ nonsense all week.

I expected that he would be dominated by Wright, frankly, but this bout was surprisingly even. Although Wright’s technique was superior, he relied on countering and didn’t turn it on as early as he should have. Small was clearly up for the fight and kept very busy.

In the opening round Wright was landing well to the body, and Small showed that he has a good uppercut, but it was a bit of a feeling-out session.

Small began the second with an excellent left uppercut, right cross sequence and took Walter’s head back with the jab. Although this was a very close round Wright took it for me with his sharp counters as Small came in, a nice overhand right and some solid hooks to the body. However, the American looked uncertain about Small’s unusual, dodging style and wasn’t pressing an attack.

The action was very back and forth for the next four rounds, two apiece on my card, as Small was aggressive but getting caught with counters and being made to pay for everything he landed. I appreciated Wright’s left hook, right cross combination and tough hooks in the fourth, and Small was looking a bit sloppy in the fifth, warned for not facing his opponent, while Wright kept things tight with a neat flurry and lovely right head shot.

The difference in style of these two fighters meant that the scoring was going to be highly subjective. For me, Wright got the better of most exchanges and boxed a neater game. However, Small was eye-catching in the sixth with a hard left hand doing great work downstairs and up. The seventh was also a good round for him as he landed strong hooks and an uppercut to the head, although Wright was beginning to look more dangerous, driving to the corner with a barrage.

The final round was huge for Wright. A heated exchange opened things, which Wright dominated with tough head work. Small looked in trouble early. He went down, ruled a slip, and the Seattle man continued to land with massive right hooks to the head. Bloodied, Small was extremely lucky to make it to the bell.

Wright clearly believed he had won, and given that last round he surely had the moral victory.

One more round and it’s hard to believe the American wouldn’t have finished things.

However, the judges, as expected, saw different fights.

American Jack Rees matched my score of 77-75 for Wright.

Victor Loughlin saw it 77-76 for Small.

The score I had a problem with actually came from the American judge Pat Russell, who saw a bout where Small took it 78-74.

Wright left the ring with a face like thunder, but he simply should have pushed things earlier.

Ross Minter v Freddy Curiel

See separate special report – ‘Fight of the Night’.

Martin Concepcion v Alfonzo Gomez

Gomez had a lot of fans in the audience, some of whom turned up primarily to see the hard-hitting, slick Mexican (by way of California) do his stuff. He was always the favourite going into this bout, but Concepcion gave him some spirited competition.

Martin slipped well but didn’t throw much in the first, while Gomez looked busy and accomplished, landing a particularly nice hook to the body and showing a firm jab. The Englishman just couldn’t match his workrate in the second, although he started well with hooks to the head. Gomez kept up that strong jab, taking Martin’s head back, and finished with a strong rally of combinations.

The Englishman was outgunned, and this was clear by the third. The Mexican’s big left hook did some serious damage early, and when it showed up again Concepcion went down. He beat the count but was looking ragged, absorbing some more heavy shots to rally briefly at the close of the round.

Gomez is certainly no mere slugger – he boxed craftily behind the jab, showing respect for an opponent who came back well from the knockdown. In the next two rounds Martin demonstrated plenty of durability and power, a very strong left hook shaking Gomez momentarily in the fifth. But the Mexican just had too much to offer, raining a bewildering array of hooks, uppercuts and a big right cross on Concepcion, who finished the round on the ropes.

The Englishman came out slugging in the sixth, and there was some bruising on the Mexican’s face to show for it. But he caught most of Martin’s shots on his gloves and rocked the Brit again with an overhand right. The uppercut was used well by him and Martin was taking some clubbing to the head and ribs by the close.

The seventh was the finisher – the Leicester man was throwing a strong right hand, but Gomez stepped on the pedal and took things to another level. A lovely sequence to the head was followed by punishing body work – things got fast and furious, and an uppercut on the inside resulted in Martin turning away, clearly in trouble, his glove to his eye. Gomez pounced, and the referee Victor Loughlin quickly intervened as the Brit couldn’t respond.

The time was called at 2 minutes 23 seconds.

Paul Buchanan v Jerson Revelo

I can’t call this a disappointing fight as it seemed a mismatch anyway – the rumour was that the inexperienced Buchanan got this shot against former Olympian Ravelo primarily because Newcastle is his home town. However, Ravelo certainly didn’t shine.

The Geordie was outworked in the first two rounds, looking like he didn’t have much of a plan to handle the busy, but hardly devastating, American. He managed to block most of what was coming his way but wasn’t throwing enough.

Ravelo spiced up the action in the third landing a big overhand right and some good body hooks, a barrage putting Buchanan on the canvas near the close of the round. He beat the count, but it looked as though the American was going to close the show.

However, this promising round was followed by three rounds of apparent pointlessness, as Ravelo circled and jabbed, circled and jabbed, and everyone wondered why he was being so cautious against an opponent who didn’t really pack a punch. It became a yawnfest, frankly, and Buchanan was heartened enough to do some good stuff in the sixth and seventh and probably nick at least one of those rounds with a good jab and some body work.

Ravelo wasn’t throwing the right hand much, so it seemed that he’d damaged it – this was confirmed later by his corner who said it had been broken. I expect this happened in the third.
Buchanan was taking some head shots however, and was bloodied by the final bell.

Howard Foster scored 80-71.

Victor Loughlin 79-73.

Jack Rees 79-72, all for Ravelo.

Robin Reid v Jesse Brinkley

The big question going into this fight was, how rusty was Reid? Rumour had it that the Olympic bronze medallist and former WBC title holder, who practically retired after the Lacy loss, had spent a bare six weeks in the gym for this. Brinkley was known to be accomplished and likely to give him a run for his money.

Reid stumbled off balance a few seconds into the opening stanza, which looked bad, and landed a low blow or two unnoticed by the ref Howard Foster. Although Reid did enough to take them, the first three rounds were very messy, and Reid looked to me like he was breathing too hard. The famous Brit’s work was undisciplined, but he was landing. Brinkley proved slippery, but was starting to come under pressure by the fourth when a big hook took his head sideways early on. He landed a nice uppercut inside at the bell.

By the fifth round Reid had warmed up, shaken off whatever rust he came in with, and settled down to some solid boxing. The scrappiness disappeared. Huge body hooks resounded, well absorbed by Brinkley, who also had to deal with another low blow at the bell. Brinkley was boxing well and working very hard in the middle rounds, landing some strong hooks and a tough, controlled jab, but Reid was clocking him with a counter shot whenever he came in close.

What started as an untidy brawl was a decent fight by now. Some good combinations to the head from the Brit in the seventh and a strong overhand left – Reid was dominating well now. He opened the final round with a huge right uppercut, a real rattler – although Brinkley was getting shots through, he was paying for them in spades. A double left hook to the head from the former champion did some damage, and he slipped beautifully to land another one at the bell.

Reid improved as the fight progressed, his speed increased as Brinkley tired. Although easier to hit in the later rounds, the American’s work was impressive and this was a competitive, entertaining bout after a clunky start.

Victor Loughlin 78-75

Pat Russell 78-76

Jack Rees 78-74

All for Reid, who has apparently signed a three fight deal and isn’t looking to retire just yet.

Colin McNeil v Cornelius Bundrage

K9 initially looked a little nonplussed by our southpaw Scottish title holder, almost as if he hadn’t been expecting the stance. But he doubled up the jab and got some uppercuts inside in the opening round, while McNeil landed to the body. McNeil looked determined, bulling to the ropes in the second, his left getting in power shots to the body and head, continuing this solid stuff in the third. The Brit was the aggressor, but Bundrage was making him miss.

By the fourth K9 had figured McNeil out. He countered him well, and on the second of a couple of huge right hooks to the head, McNeil went down.

He beat the count, but K9 was on the warpath now and controlled the last minute with tough right hands to the body.

McNeil went down again in the fifth – a slip – but the Brit was looking ragged now. K9 was in control – the sixth saw him land overwhelmingly with a strong multiple jab and body hooks, a right putting McNeil on the canvas once more. Following the count Bundrage waded in with hooks from both sides (one low!) and Colin was saved by the bell.

It was only a matter of time – and not much time at that. 40 seconds into the seventh that terrific right hand finished things, to give the US team their fourth victory.

Friday 30 March Metroradio Arena Newcastle

A crowd of 6,500 filled the Arena on an atmospheric evening when British fans flocked to see their hometown favourites meet the famous faces from the popular TV show.

If you don’t want to see the results before the shows are aired, don’t follow the link below!

The first ever international Contender event exceeded expectations in an event billed as the Ryder Cup of boxing. Peter Manfredo Jnr, who meets Joe Calzaghe next week in Cardiff, was in attendance to support his former US Contender teammates in their bid to take home the inaugural Sugar Ray Leonard Cup. Sugar Ray Leonard and Barry McGuigan captained the teams.

The aim of the event was to stimulate interest in the sport at a grass roots level where reputations, not titles were at stake. Winners of the bouts received medals and the team with the most wins would retain the trophy.

The first two bouts of the evening were described as ‘preliminaries’ and would not count towards the score total. One partial explanation given was that the last-minute substitute Jonathan Nelson did not appear in the US Contender series. However, Frank Warren later confirmed that there had been a problem (not his choice of words!) with the ITV4 airtime, and only six hourly programmes, beginning on April 23rd at 9pm, could be televised.

Preliminaries:

Paul Smith (UK) bt Jonathan Reid (USA) TKO7
Nigel Wright (UK) bt Jonathan Nelson (USA) TKO RD2

Scoring Contests:

Anthony Small (UK) bt Walter Wright (USA) SD

Freddy Curiel (USA) bt Ross Minter (UK) KO8

Alfonso Gomez (USA) bt Martin Concepcion (UK) RSC/TKO RD7

Jerson Ravelo (USA) bt Paul Buchanan (UK) UD

Robin Reid (UK) bt JesseBrinkley (USA) UD

Cornelius Bundrage (USA) bt Colin McNeil (UK) KO7

The final result was therefore:

USA 4
UK 2

The Sugar Ray Leonard Cup was awarded to the American team, and the boxing legend himself thanked Newcastle for its hospitality.

The show will become an annual event, plans already being discussed for a Europe v US contest.

All fighters delivered cracking performances in one of the most consistently entertaining bills we have seen in recent years.

However, Freddy Curiel deserves special credit for a magnificent display of skill and grit in the Fight of the Night. See full seperate report.

Bonin is clearly not making the journey to the UK just to make up the numbers, but to inflict a severe dent into any ambitions Haye may have in the heavyweight division.

“I am very excited abut fighting David Haye! Very excited!” Bonin said from his base in the Polish mountains.

“I am fully aware that he’s marked the favourite by the media and fans when we fight, but they forget he never boxed at full heavyweight before. I am a full heavyweight and I consider myself a grown-up fighter. I’m not a young kid anymore, I’m very experienced and I’ve had more than 200 amateur fights.

“Actually, I was in Belfast, when David won the World Silver Medal in 2001 and I’ve followed him ever since. Believe me, I know what I’m dealing with.

“We both have one loss, but in contrast to him, to this day I can’t understand why the referee stopped my fight with Audley Harrison. I think of myself as the first to beat him and I work hard here in the Polish mountains to become the second man to beat David Haye.”

Tickets for David Haye vs. Tomasz Bonin are priced at £100; £70 & £40.

Frank Maloney Promotions presents ‘Heavyweight Hayemaker’ at Wembley Arena, London, England on April 27, 2007. Tickets are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508 or televised live on Sky TV. If you can’t make it to the fight watch it live on Sky TV! For any further Press information please call 02086914165.

Hartlepool’s recent world title challenger Michael Hunter returned from his emphatic IBF defeat to Steve Molitor by thrashing – or should that be threshing – Ghanaian trialhorse Ben Odamattey over eight rounds at featherweight.

It was Hunter’s first fight at the weight. He claims he had immense difficulty making super bantam, where he reigned at British, European and Commonwealth level before his unsuccessful assault on world honours.

Hunter was repelled with ease by Molitor, who stopped him in five rounds despite being renowned as a non-puncher. Hunter put it down to being weak at the weight and vowed to return stronger at 9st.

Whether or not he is stronger at featherweight remains to be seen, as Odamattey provided a work-out rather than a test.

It was typical Hunter; high output, fast hands and irrepressible forward motion. Odamattey had no answer, but stoically hung in there with a sound journeyman’s defence and survival instincts. He made the occasional offensive contribution but was never likely to dent the Brit’s enthusiasm or chin. The referee’s score of 80-73 was a formality.

Hunter later reiterated he felt “stronger than ever” at featherweight, and praised Odamattey for staying with him, claiming “anyone else would have gone down”.

However, when you consider Odamattey has been beaten inside the distance by John Murray and Michael Gomez, it does suggest Hunter might not be quite as effective at this weight limit than he was at 8st 10lb.

——————-

Welterweight prospect Michael Lomax endured the first blemish on his unbeaten record when late, late substitute Silence Saheed took him into the trenches and earned a 57-57 draw after six rounds.

Lomax was due to meet dangerous fringe domestic contender Gary Reid in what looked to be the toughest test of his young career. Instead he met Nigerian journeyman Saheed at a day’s notice and did actually get the big test.

Saheed did his best Valery Odin impression, piling forward with no thought or method, his arms swinging in arcs usually associated with hammer throwers and fast bowlers.

Lomax was utterly thrown out of his game and had to dig deep to earn a share. His right ear was ripped in the second round and he finished the third with a red river pouring thickly down his forehead. As Saheed stood a full head shorter than Lomax, these injuries almost certainly came from punches. By the end of the fight, Lomax’s blond hair had been dyed completely red-brown from the constant flow of claret.

Saheed was delighted to earn a draw. He is that rare journeyman – one who comes to win rather than just survive. He is better than his now 8-18-3 records suggests. Lomax, now 10-0-1, will surely be disappointed, but can count this as a good learning experience.

——————-
Former IBO light welterweight champion Colin Lynes secured a second shot at the British title with a routine second round stoppage over 4-9-2 Pole Arek Malek.

Lynes, who pushed Junior Witter to a creditable 12-round decision in 2005, is now 28-3 and will provide a good challenge to new national champion Barry Morrison. The fight will take place on June 8 in Motherwell.

Many people who have gotten back with an ex-girlfriend will know the feeling: you think things will be better second time around, but more often than not they end up worse.

Ted Bami’s rematch with Guiseppe Lauri had that feel about it. Having outpointed the veteran Italian for the vacant European 10st belt six months ago, Bami reckoned their second go would bring him happiness and fulfilment.

Unfortunately his quest for a stoppage that would have advanced his career was thwarted by an opponent who spent too much time worrying about what went wrong last time they got together.

In September last year, Bami won a scrappy but convincing unanimous decision over Lauri. He came in at just two weeks to replace injured Lauri opponent Jason Cook and landed with enough power to force the Italian into his shell for most of the 12 rounds.

This time, it was Lauri who was coming in at late notice, accepting the job less than a week before the first bell following the withdrawal of his compatriot Gianluca Branco. As Bami has enjoyed a nine-week preparation, all the signs pointed to a more emphatic win for the Congolese-Brit from Brixton.

But evidently it was the challenger who had learned more from the first fling. Last time, Bami had been criticised for loading up too much, but in the end got the job done. Lauri was negative again, but this time mixed some effective inside work with his almost-incessant spoiling and generally succeeded in throwing Bami off his game and at times dictating the pace.

At the end of 12 frustrating rounds, it was hard to pick a winner with confidence, so the unanimous scores of 116-111, 118-112 and 117-110, all for Bami, were something of a surprise. UK Boxing Press’ card had Bami winning his first defence by 114-112, but only after a strong finish and without much conviction.

It would be interesting to see the official scorecards, because the margins of victory suggested the judges had again neglected to make a point deduction, this time from Bami in the eighth round. The penalty seemed harsh, but more on that later.

Three weeks ago, Derry Matthews’ WBU defence against John Simpson was marred by controversy when two points deductions from Matthews ordered by the referee were not made on two judges’ cards. It didn’t effect the eventual result, but it was a dangerous bit of negligence.

I don’t wish to cast accusations that may have no basis, but if Bami’s deduction was made, it suggests one judge had him losing only one round and sharing four. I have no problem with scoring rounds even, but it is unusual for a qualified judge to be unable to split the combatants for a third of the entire contest. If the scores were arrived at competently, then I have no problem, but again, I would be interested to view the actual cards.

But the deduction seemed bogus, anyway, and despite feeling the contest was close, I thought the right man won, as Lauri’s negativity didn’t do him any favours.

Bami opened the first round suggesting he was going to box rather than brawl, which on paper would seem to be a sensible improvement, but in effect it meant Lauri this time didn’t have the “fear factor” from early on. Rather than retreating, Lauri kept close to the champion, denying him leverage to generate power.

The pattern was set early on, with Bami realising fighting from the outside was making no impression on the Varese visitor, but being thwarted in his attempts to get closer as Lauri would put him in a headlock almost every time and gesture to the referee in a “it’s not my fault” style.

Bami suffered a cut from a headclash in round four and this seemed unravel the slight psychological thread he had picked up from winning the first fight. Distracted by the blood, Bami’s gameplan went out of the window and he resorted to the application of brute force, his face knotting in frustration as more often than not his efforts were stymmied. For me, he dropped rounds four to six inclusive, leaving him two points down at the halfway stage.

The champion regained a bit of focus and picked up his workrate to earn round seven, but Lauri’s veteran tactics were having an effect not only on Bami, but on the referee, too, who was increasingly getting on the Londoner’s case despite him being blameless from my position.

Sure enough, yet another ugly maul ensued in round eight and had Lauri gesticulating to the referee, shaking his head in mock disgust and spreading the arms in a display of innocence. This despite them being the same arms that had spent more time wrapped around Bami’s body than throwing punches.

Referee Manuel Oliver inexplicably decided Bami had used his head, despite it being locked inside an elbow at Lauri’s waist level, and ordered the champion be penalised.

Thankfully the judges were more generous to Bami than the referee and it would ultimately have no bearing on the outcome, but at the time it looked as though “Dangerous Ted” was in danger of losing his title.

Rising to the challenge, he won all four of the remaining rounds for me, fighting with more urgency and scoring a flash knockdown at the end of round 10 with a glancing left hook.

Team Bami did not look confident at the end, but got the win and will move on. It would be wise to keep him at this level for a while, though, despite Bami’s own desire to fight for a world title. To put things into perspective, Junior Witter and Ricky Hatton stopped a younger Lauri without fuss in two and five rounds respectively.

At 29, Bami can afford to bide his time for a while yet, and he’ll be glad he won’t have to dance with Lauri again.

The standout 21-year-old confirmed his credentials with an impressive win over fellow undefeated puncher Stuart Elwell last Friday to claim the English championship on the Hennessy Sports and GoldenPalace.com ‘Cobra’s Hood’ event at the Nottingham Arena.

It seems, however, that in order to get a tilt at the British he will have to wait for the Championship to be contested on two more occasions.

Current champion Kevin Anderson meets Belfast veteran Eamonn Magee in Kirkcaldy next month and the next challenger is already being lined up, with Ross Minter meeting Colin McNeil on the 26th May in London in a final eliminator.

“I am a bit upset about this whole situation,” admitted O’Donnell, who has sent Minter and Matthew Hatton running for cover, amongst others. “Where no-one would face me, I have been keen to fight a final eliminator. My promoter Mick Hennessy even asked for the Elwell fight to double up as one.

“Instead Ross Minter has been nominated. I feel that I am more deserving; I have been prepared to fight anyone. He had the English Title, but never defended it. He pulled out of two fights against Alan Bosworth with different injuries.

“Then he was meant to defend against me, but gave up the title instead. It feels a bit like he’s been rewarded for avoiding me. It doesn’t really make any sense. Now I have to sit here and watch him in a final eliminator.

“I’m not even sure he appreciates the opportunity; he’s got a final eliminator scheduled and he’s boxing on that Contender show tonight. If anything goes wrong with that, I want to jump in as the next in line. Minter has pulled out of fights before.

“If his fight with McNeil is going ahead, we are going to ask the Board to put me in another final eliminator straight away, with the winner fighting for the title within 90 days of the next two defences happening.”

O’Donnell added: “I would love it to be against Matthew Hatton. His team have talked about making this and that eliminator for a while now, but everything goes quiet when my name is mentioned.

“He wants to get real. I have seen the talk about him fighting Gatti when he’s been avoiding me. I’ve had half the fights Hatton’s had and I am four years younger, so come on here I am.”

Whilst O’Donnell showed his undoubted potential last time out, he claims he could have knocked out the previously unbeaten Elwell.

“He was tough and kept coming at me,” said John. “I thought I could have taken him out if the ref had warned him again for holding, but he didn’t. He warned me about going in with my shoulder and I stopped it, but Elwell was holding from the fourth so I couldn’t get to him.

“He started well and I’ve got the habit of starting slowly but I caught up with him in the middle rounds and he couldn’t stand the pressure. I started unloading combinations and once I let my hands go, no one knows where there coming from.

“I hurt him in the fourth and he was all over the place, but he just held from then on.”

The Trustees and Members of the Grants Committee of the British Boxing Board of Control Charitable Trust extend to the family of the late Ron Olver their most sincere sympathies at his passing.

Ron’s service to the sport of boxing over so many years took many forms. He was Assistant Editor of the trade newspaper “Boxing News”, served on the Commonwealth Boxing Council as a representative for New Zealand Boxing, provided in his “Old Timers Column” a central point for news concerning all the Ex-Boxers’ Associations and in his role as a member of the Grants Committee of the Board’s Benevolent Fund, later incorporated into the British Boxing Board of Control Charitable Trust, Ron did valuable work providing much needed support where needed most to those who had been involved in boxing and required assistance. Despite diminishing health in recent years he maintained his enthusiasm until the very end and boxing has lost a very good friend.

Not a big man in stature, Ron was a big man in his beloved sport, and to all those who knew him.

Everyone at UKboxingpress.co.uk sends their sincerest condolences to Ron’s family and friends. He will be sadly missed.

However, Hunter returns to action on Friday when he fights dangerous Ghanaian Ben Odamattey in an eight-round contest on the undercard of Matchroom Sport’s next boxing show. The bout takes place at the K2 Crawley Leisure Centre, West Sussex and will see Hunter compete at Featherweight after repeatedly struggle to make the weight at Super-Bantamweight.

“I’m looking for a nice clean, fresh start and I feel like I’ve just turned professional again,” said Hunter in an exclusive interview. “I can’t make Super-Bantamweight anymore, I can’t even think about it. It was not healthy and it was dangerous the way I was making the weight.

“I was just starving myself with more work in the gym but it was down to mind games and I was saying ‘I’m strong and OK’. The defences of the titles were going well and I was stopping opponents so I had no reason to move up a weight but we knew one day I would have to.

“In just over a year I had five hard fights and that was my body telling me you can’t do it. That (the knockout) is what happens and my body was so drained and weak. Eight pounds had to come off for me to make the weight and I can’t see how I ever did it. I still have to be on a strict diet now but I don’t have to put as many miles on the road as I used to.

“I feel a lot stronger, I can hit a lot harder and I couldn’t get any stronger at Super-Bantamweight. I’m bigger than some Featherweights so I will be right at the top of my game. All I have to do is go and do what I normally do – go to war.”

Hunter has previously held the British, Commonwealth and European Super-Bantamweight titles and his defeat against Molitor was the first in his 28-fight career. But Hartlepool-based Hunter has already set his sights on winning more belts at Featherweight and wants to fight the winner of the May clash between Italian Alberto Servidei and Ukrainian Yuri Voronin for the vacant European belt.

“The winner of the European title fight would be ideal in the summer time,” added Hunter. “I’m ready anytime after this one. I’ve got enough experience and I can change my tactics for anyone. This fight is to get rid of the loss off the record.

“I just want to get the show back on the road and get another belt. I owe it to Mr (Barry) Hearn, to Matchroom Sport and to the people of Hartlepool to bring the boxing back there.”

Another Italian, Gianluca Branco, had been scheduled to fight Bami but he withdrew from the contest to give Lauri a chance to gain some quick revenge.

Bami has won 21 of his 23 professional contests and after each success celebrates with a trademark somersault while Lauri’s defeat in September was only his fifth in nearly 50 contests. The venue in West Sussex will hold about 1,750 people and it should be a sell-out, especially with popular home fighter Ben Jones (Crawley – Super-Featherweight), who has won both of his professional contests, fighting on the undercard.

Former European Super-Bantamweight Champion Michael Hunter (Hartlepool) will return to the ring for the first time since he suffered a fifth round stoppage in an IBF World Super-Bantamweight title fight against Canadian Steve Molitor back in November.

However, Hunter has decided to move up to featherweight and it will be interesting to see how he performs at the higher weight. Elsewhere, the rest of the undercard includes Michael Lomax (Chingford – Light-Welterweight), Colin Lynes (Hornchurch – Light-Welterweight), Martin Lindsay (Belfast – Super-Featherweight) and David Mulholland (Liverpool – Super-Middleweight).

There will also be a world title fight on the card as Hungarian Gyorgy Hidvegi fights for the WBF Cruiserweight and vacant IBO Inter-Continental Cruiserweight belts against Ismail Abdoul of Belguim.

Tickets are priced at £30 and £50 (ringside) and are available by calling Matchroom Sport on +44 1277 359900 or alternatively by phoning +44 1293 553636.

Matchroom Sport Boxing
K2 Crawley Leisure Centre
Friday, March 30, 2007 (show begins at 6pm)

Main event
12 x 3 mins European Light-Welterweight Championship
Ted Bami (Brixton) v Giuseppe Lauri (Italy)

Undercard
12 x 3 mins WBF Cruiserweight Championship
Gyorgy Hidvegi (Hungary) v Ismail Abdoul (Belgium)

8 x 3 mins Light-Welterweight Contest
Michael Lomax (Chingford) v TBA

8 x 3 mins Featherweight Contest
Michael Hunter (Hartlepool) v Ben Odamattey (Ghana)

6 x 3 mins Featherweight Contest
Martin Lindsay (Belfast) v Buster Dennis (Canning Town)

6 x 3 mins Light-Welterweight Contest
Colin Lynes (Hornchurch) v Arek Malek (Poland)

6 x 3 mins Light-Welterweight Contest
Graham Delehedy (Liverpool) v Martin Marshall (Sunderland)

4 x 3 mins Super-Featherweight Contest
Ben Jones (Crawley) v Rom Krauklis (Peterborough)

4 x 3 mins Super- Featherweight Contest
David Mulholland (Liverpool) v Steve Gethin (Walsall)

4 x 3 mins Light-Welterweight Contest
Tibor Dudas (Hungary) v Chris Long (Calne)

Born Walker Smith Jnr in 1920, Sugar Ray grew up in Depression-hit America where the boxing ring or gangsterism were the only way out of poverty. Sugar Ray chose the ring, coming under the tutelage of the trainer George Gainford at his Salem Crescent gym in New York and producing an outstanding amateur career of 89 fights with 89 victories.

His march to a world title when he turned professional was inexorable. He lost just once in his first 100 fights, to the rough, tough Jake La Motta, whose bouts with Robinson were to end up as cinematic folklore through the biopic Raging Bull. Indeed, more than 20 of his fights have become part of fistic folklore.

He won his first title at Welterweight by defeating Tommy Bell in December 1946. In 1951 he added the Middleweight tile by defeating La Motta in their brutal fifth encounter before surprisingly losing it to Randolph Turpin and regaining it again two months later.

Less than a year later he was unlucky not to add the Light Heavyweight title when he lost a bruising encounter with Joey Maxim. Following this fight Robinson retired only to return to the ring more than two years later and, astonishingly, regain the World Middleweight title twice more. His bouts with Carl Bobo Olsen, Gene Fullmer and Carmen Basillio have become the stuff of legend.

In ‘Peerless’, this new biography of Sugar Ray, father and son writing team from Manchester, Brian Hughes MBE and Damian Hughes, examine his career, focusing not only on the great bouts but also on the character of the man, whose life out of the ring was a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs.

The release date for the biography is 1st April 2007, which contains a foreword by Angelo Dundee and an introduction by Frank Warren. Copies of the biography can be purchased from www.sugarrayrobinson.co.uk.

At the Kinmel Manor Hotel in Abergele last Friday, fighters from across the region gave the sport another shot in the arm with a knockout evening’s entertainment.

Organised by Happy Faces children’s charity and Dyffryn ABC boxing club, based in Colwyn Bay, guests enjoyed a three-course meal before a series of top-level bouts.

First up was Chris Nuttall of Middleton ABC, who coasted to victory over Welshpool’s Tom Davies in a three-round schoolboy fight.

Next was Dyffryn’s Ashley Beacall, unlucky to lose a closely-fought contest against Shotton’s Chris Halfpenny, before ferocious Kevin Jones of Caernarfon gave a blistering performance against Red Dragon’s Ryan Gibbs.

The tall and rangy Gibbs impressed, but Smith’s come-forward style was too much for him and he lost a majority decision.

One of the fighters of the night – Llay’s Ashley Hamilton – was robbed of victory by poor judging after dominating Maes G’s Connor McKernon.

Hamilton has great balance and was streetwise throughout, and though McKernon proved
tough, I was surprised to see him win and later pick up the ‘schoolboy of the night’ award.

Idris warrior G Owen then endured a frustrating six minutes against Newtown’s E Andrews in an ugly contest, with Andrews losing two points for persistent holding. Owen was the rightful winner.

Then came the seniors, led by talented Dyffryn ABC boxer Lee Quinn. Quinn has potential, he’s quick with great mobility and a great left hand, but he ran into the brilliant Zac Poole of Palace ABC, who nullified his good work. Quinn took the first, but from then on the Rhyl man poured on the jab and picked holes in Quinn’s defence, taking a unanimous decision.

However, both should be proud of their efforts and have bright futures in the game.

One man who will reach the top, if he continues in this vein of form, is Quinn’s stablemate Luke Bannister. Bannister is heavy-handed with ferocious intent. He lost the first round against brilliant Llay technician Stephen Smith but soon blew him away with
a combination of hooks and uppercuts. The referee quite rightly stepped in to stop it with around 30 seconds of the second round remaining.

The evening ended with popular Llangefni fighter Ian Jones stopping Dyffryn’s Llion Scott. Scott’s nose was broken by the first punch thrown. He looked shaken straight away and was never in the fight before the referee called it off in the second minute.

It can be argued that Chorley Welterweight Michael Jennings is the most amiable boxer in Britain. Cordial, polite and relaxed during our interview, he’s the consummate professional, but when the 29 year-old dad-of-one steps into the ring against WBU champ Mehrdud Takaloo (25-5) on April 7, at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, he won’t be quite so engaging.

With just one defeat in 30 – a closely fought battle with the rugged Young Muttley last year, where he relinquished the British title – Michael has every reason to be confident, though he admits the critics and fight fans may think differently.

“I guess certain people will have him favourite for this fight because he’s the champion,” says Michael, who’s trained by Brian Hughes out of Manchester’s Collyhurst gym.

“But training has gone really well, I’ve no injuries and I’m ready for him. My weight is right on the money and I just want to get in there, I want this fight out of the way.”

“I’m not looking past Takaloo at all but I’m in great shape and Brian is pleased with how things have gone.”

As part of the Joe Calzaghe v Peter Manfredo undercard, Jennings and Takaloo will be fighting in front of over 30,000, but the Lancastrian slickster says he won’t be fazed by the occasion.

Before stumbling to a dastardly decision against Young Muttley, Michael was
unbeaten and gearing-up for a world title shot, yet a win over the respected Iranian should throw him back in the mix.

“It’s not going to be an easy night but I will beat him,” says Michael, who cites Nigel Benn, Ken Buchanan, Muhammad Ali and Chris Eubank as his boxing idols.

“I’m going to box him, I don’t want a tear-up. I’ve been in several – including the fight with Bradley Pryce – and I plan to avoid getting into that. He says he’ll knock me out but that won’t happen, for starters he’s got to catch me first! I’m sure he’ll come at me from the start but I’ll take him a few rounds and use my speed. One thing I am is fit, my conditioning is second to none and I’ll be there at the end.”

“It won’t be like the Muttley fight. I don’t want to make excuses but I wasn’t right for that fight, my training was totally wrong. Everyone has their own opinion about what happened and they’re entitled to it. I thought I’d just got the decision but it didn’t happen like that, he got it and good luck to him.”

“I boxed terribly in that fight and don’t plan to again, my timing was off, my training was terrible – I was training at the wrong times and too often, so I felt exhausted and empty from round two onwards. But I’ve won since then and was made up with my performance against Ratislav Kovac (third round knockout at the Reebok Centre, Bolton, last
September), I boxed well that night.”

Not only is Jennings a talented pugilist and likeable chap, he’s also drummer with up-and-coming rock four-piece The Shoks (www.myspace.com/theshoks).

So is Jennings planning a career as a music star when he hangs up his gloves or are there a few more fights out there for him?

“I’m not really one for predicting things, I’m just looking at beating Takaloo and getting that belt,” he says.

“Eamonn Magee is fighting Kevin Anderson for his British welterweight title in May so I’m not sure what’ll happen after that, maybe I’d defend the WBU or get a crack at the winner – we’ll just have to wait and see.”

“I’m looking to make a bit of money and keep winning, starting at Cardiff on April 7. It’s a great arena but that doesn’t matter to me, I’m focused on him.”

British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion Froch, boxing in front of his loyal hometown fans at the Nottingham Arena, became the first ever to stop Tatevosyan after flooring him with a spectacular right hook in the second round. Tatevosyan beat the count, but was rescued shortly after whilst under a barrage of punches from the merciless ‘Cobra’.

The win cements his place in the world top two. He was already ranked at #3 by the WBO and WBC but Lucian Bute – who was ranked above him in both – was taken the distance last time out by Tatevosyan and has opted to contest a final eliminator for the IBF championship.

With Bute out of the picture, Froch is set to move up and become the #2 contender for the WBO Championship held by his long-term rival Joe Calzaghe. Only Inkin would remain above him.

Froch, however, holds the whip hand over Inkin with the WBC, whose rankings he is set to top. Previous #1 Andrade has just been beaten in his mandatory challenge to champion Mikkel Kessler, whilst Bute was at #2 and Inkin #4.

“I get the feeling Inkin is hoping to sit and wait in his #1 slot with the WBO and get a nice, easy, straight shot at the title,” began Froch. “But I’m afraid, Dennis, that you are going to have come through me.

“I am right on your case. We are going to be #1 and #2 for both the WBC and WBO titles. To find the mandatory there needs to be a final eliminator. Calzaghe’s next defence is due soon. Let’s cut out the rubbish and do it for both titles.

“I’m challenging you to meet me in an old-school fight between two undefeated bangers.

“Don’t swerve me at all costs like Bute has. It was looking like him and me in a WBC final eliminator, but he has gone another route. His team knew I was contracted to box last week so I couldn’t fight an IBF eliminator.

“Don’t look for the easy option and play the ratings game. You’re 29-0 with 23 KO’s; I’m 21-0 with 17 KO’s. We are the highest rated contenders, so let’s do things the proper way.

“You beat me as an amateur. You got a good win on points in an England-Russia International. But don’t forget, in the last round I put you down heavily and only the bell saved you. I want the opportunity to do the job properly this time. I’m going to knock you out.”

Michael Hunter will begin life as a featherweight with an eight round assignment against familiar African trialhorse Ben Odamattey in Crawley on Friday night. Ted Bami’s rematch with Giuseppe Lauri, first revealed on this site, for the European light-welterweight crown tops the Matchroom bill. The all-action Hunter hasn’t fought since he was outclassed by Canadian slickster Steve Molitor in five rounds in a failed bid for the vacant IBF super-bantamweight title in November.

The Molitor setback was the former British, Commonwealth and European champion’s first in 28 fights and one wonders if he will ever be the same again. Hunter didn’t take a beating, but the ease of Molitor’s victory is sure to have dented his confidence and encouraged future opponents to target the Hartlepool slugger’s seemingly fragile chin. It would be a major upset if the 28-year-old was derailed in his comeback fight, however.

Odamattey may enter the ring as Ghana’s reigning featherweight champ but his patchy 13-6-2 ledger highlights his true level. The African hasn’t fought since being stopped in five rounds by John Murray in January. On his previous visits to Britain, Odamattey has lost to Michael Gomez (TKO3) and Carl Greaves (Pts 12).

Should he emerge unscathed, it will be interesting to see if Hunter continues his quest at featherweight where his immediate opportunities would appear to be limited. British champion John Simpson, Andy Morris, Derry Matthews and Stephen Foster Jnr are all promoted by Frank Warren. And in addition, the Sports Network supremo has recently inked Nicky Cook to a long-term deal. Cook has been installed as no.1 contender for his old European title soon to be contested by Yuri Voronin and Alberto Servidei. The avoided Commonwealth champion Jackson Asiku would probably oblige Hunter, if the North East man’s handlers fancy taking a gamble.

Incidentally, Hunter is currently ranked no.1 by the EBU at super-bantam. A clash with Ireland’s Bernard remains a mouthwatering prospect if Michael can still make 8st 10lbs, as would a rematch with former nemesis and recently crowned British champion Esham Pickering.

Also on the undercard, Colin Lynes will warm up for his June challenge for Barry Morrison’s light-welterweight title in a six-rounder against a selected opponent.

Matched against former Commonwealth champion Dale Robinson once more at Altrincham Leisure Centre on 13th April, Edwards now has his sights firmly set on becoming the first Potteries fighter to win a Lonsdale Belt since Tommy Harrison in June 1922. Contemplating the biggest fight of his career to date, Edwards has taken leave from work for the first time ever in order to prepare and is now training three times a day.

Chris Edwards stopped Robinson in the eighth round of their English flyweight title clash at Stoke’s Kings Hall last November. Regarded as one of the biggest shocks in British boxing of 2006, the victory earned the Sneyd Green based boxer the right to fight for the British title. An honour he had previously been denied twice by the British Boxing Board of Control.

A second victory over Robinson in April will catapult Edwards onto the world stage as a serious contender for the first time in a division which provides little competition domestically. Furthermore, it will provide the possibility of a rematch with Italian Andrea Sarritzu, the current European champion, who beat Edwards in last March courtesy of a 4th round KO.

Another potential opponent for a British title holding Edwards is the former World and European bantamweight title contender Ian Napa. Napa has already declared his intention to step down to flyweight in order to mount a challenge to the victor of the Edwards/Robinson clash.

On hearing the news of his world ranking a delighted Edwards said: “It’s a fantastic boost to my preparations. I have plenty of motivation already but this gives me an added incentive to beat Dale again.”

“It’s flattering for people to be talking about future opponents for me already but I’ve got my feet firmly on the ground; the only opponent I’m focussing on at the moment is Dale Robinson. I beat Dale last time and I know I can beat him again but I also know he will be stronger and better prepared this time.”

“I’m anticipating a much tougher fight this time because I think Dale and his camp underestimated me in November. They won’t be making that mistake again so I know I have to work much harder this time too.”

Tickets for the Frank Maloney/VIP Promotions event are available from Impact Boxing on: 0845 156 7168

From the seriously packed Point Depot, Dublin: tonight Bernard Dunne made his first defence of the EBU Super-Bantam title against Kazakhstan’s Yersin Jailauhov – 8,000 raving Irish fans in attendance!

That was such a performance against Esham Pickering in November when he lifted the European belt, that we expected one terrific show tonight from the unbeaten Dubliner, at 22-0 with 13 kayos. We weren’t disappointed – it was quick, but it was pure showbiz.

Jailauov is not a big puncher – although our experience of him was limited to that premature stoppage by Michael Hunter, we knew that not many could outbox Bernard Dunne, the smooth mover who can punch from all angles, evade and counter so well. Exciting, dynamic, entertaining – Dunne is ranked in the top 10 in the division and looks like a real player.

Talking of the future and possible world titles before the bout, the 27-year-old said, ‘I want to see how far I can go.’ Both fighters tipped the scales at 8st 91/2lbs, but Bernard had a couple of inches in height on his slightly older opponent. The champion had not studied his opponent in great detail. ‘I’ll impose my style on him and let him deal with my issues,’ he said confidently.

But could Jailauov be a dark horse? Kazakhstan is a powerful force in amateur boxing, and Jailauhov’s record was 19-4 with a WBO Intercontinental title. We needn’t have worried our little heads.

The Prince of Dublin came in to the Ride of the Valkyries, which segued into the Irish Rover – this was more than sport, it was Ireland having a good time as only the Celts know how, supporting one of the city’s favourite sons. The commentators speculated that there’s something about Dunne’s personality which clicks with the Irish fans – that little touch of arrogance together with the soul of a real showman.

Jailauov looked a bit soft in the body to be honest. His guard was too low going into round 1, and that raking jab of Dunne’s took advantage to take his head back. Bernard got in a left to the body then upstairs, his combinations beautifully neat, to end the round with a strong left body hook. Into round 2 and the Irishman opened with a right cross, left hook to the head. Everything was flowing from that exquisite jab which provided the framework for some varied and imaginative combinations, most of the more solid shots coming from the left hook. The challenger, who had looked far too casual and was hanging his chin out to dry, was literally lost in a maze of sharp hands.

And by the way, I loved the commentary from the Irish team: ‘If this goes the distance, Jailauov should patent the idea of longevity,’ and ‘Leave the garden gate open, and Bernard will come and steal your rugs.’ Take notes, some commentators this side of the Irish Sea.

That jab was so precise, frequent and yet unexpected, the only quibble was that it wasn’t doing more damage. Did Bernard need to get a bit more upper body weight behind it?

In the third, the jab set up a right hook to the body, and Bernard rattled the challenger’s chin with a lovely left uppercut, followed with some swift work which would be described as a barrage if it was less articulate. Jailauov went down, ruled a slip. Bernard got in a cracking left body hook that the referee seemed to think was low (it wasn’t) and soon had the challenger in serious trouble, landing at will with no comeback. Bernard showed that he had the killer instinct all right – once he had Jailauov where he wanted him, the guy wasn’t going anywhere. The ref Giuseppe Quartarone could actually have stopped things sooner, but stepped in at 1 minute 57 seconds of the third.

Crowd goes wild.

Bernard was hugged by his dad, the former Montreal Olympian who did the sport such a service by giving it his son. Harry Hawkins, Dunne’s trainer, said that the team could get Bernard ready for anyone or anything. Manager Brian Peters noted that the mandatory challenger is Kiko Martinez, ‘La Sensacion’, who will be the next step. The Spaniard is unbeaten in 15 bouts and has an impressive kayo percentage. He currently holds the European Union belt and should provide a little more work for Dunne than tonight. But obviously Bernard is going to want to chase a world title in the not-too-distant. Hard-hitter Molitor would be their ideal choice, as Bernard has beaten him in the amateurs – not to lose sight of the fact that the Canadian has come on a bit since then.

Bernard exhibited some lovely evasive skills tonight which they’ve obviously been working on, that nice backwards sway for instance, he could clearly read ahead everything that was coming his way. He was too smart for this opposition, and we want to see him against someone where he really gets those lovely skills and that quick mind stretched.

Other Results

Jim Rock, ‘The Pink Panther’, proved frisky at 35 with a terrific second round knockout of Hungarian Szabolcs Rimovsky, who was at 12-7-1 going in. In round 1, Jim showed a lovely right to the head which rocked his opponent, and it was that strong clubbing right hand to the temple which sent Rimovsky to the canvas in the second. He wasn’t coming back from that. Jim wasted nothing, threw no wild punches, just went about the job. Great stuff from the Dublin native who improves to 28-4-0 with 9 kayos.

At middleweight, Conroy McIntosh of Wolverhampton lost a points decision to impressive Pole Lukasz Wawrzyczek, scored 79-73. McIntosh had a peculiar crouching style that didn’t accomplish much against a real prospect with a superior technique and stronger work rate. The 23 year old who makes his home in Budapest improves to 5-0.

At light welter, Chill John lost on points to Dublin’s Stephen Haughian, now unbeaten in 9.

There are some changes to the show as announced earlier on UKBP – Wayne Alexander was forced to pull out with an injury, and Americans Miguel Angel Espino and Grady Brewer, winner of the 2006 Contender series, are also off the schedule. Their replacements are Colin McNeil, Jonathan Reid and Jesse Brinkley, respectively. (For introductions to the fighters and a discussion of the UK Contender concept see my earlier article here on UKBP).

The final line-up for the Brits v Yanks show this Friday at Newcastle’s Metroradio Arena:

Ross Minter v Freddy Curiel welterweight
17-1-1 (8) 16-6-2 (6)

Curiel can be a class act when he wants to be, and certainly showed Steve Forbes and Hector Camacho Jnr a hard time. But he hasn’t always arrived with the goods, having one or two defeats by fairly low-level practitioners on his book. Minter also has shown some inconsistency with a draw against the green John Marshall and a second-round defeat by journeyman Howard Clarke.

This is good match that should be very entertaining – it would be nice to see Ross edge a decision to send him into his British title eliminator against Colin McNeil, but there’s a big question mark as Curiel can be sharp. I think we’ll be looking at a points win for Freddy.

Paul Smith v Jonathan Reid middleweight
19-0 (11) 39-5-0 (19)

Paul has just won the WBU middleweight title with an eighth-round kayo of Alexander Polizzi, dropping the Belgian four times with a right hand. However, he did take some damage himself due to a lack of head movement, and was marked up enough to call into question his appearance this Friday. But apparently all is well.

Reid has held the NABA Middleweight title but failed in his bid for the WBA strap against William Joppy six years ago. His losses are starting to clock up lately, suggesting that at 34 he has peaked. However, Smith should take this experienced fighter very seriously. A win over someone with his pedigree would cement his arrival. Paul is on a roll with the knockouts lately and Reid has been down before so I’m hoping for a stoppage win for the talented Brit, provided he keeps his defence tight.

Anthony Small v Walter Wright light middleweight
16-0-0 (11) 13-2- 0 (7)

For me, Wright looked like he was going to be the big star in the second Contender series. Sugar Ray was comparing him to Hearns, and many expected him to defeat Bundrage. It was a mistake to trade in close with K9, but Wright maintains that a knockdown of Bundrage was edited out of the televised bout. The Seattle man is talented, really impressing in his fight with Andre Eason for his variety and speed.

Most would regard this as the next level for motormouth Anthony Small, who has clocked up a nice kayo percentage on beginners and journeymen. He does have a lot of power in his hands, but Small is untried. If he wins this fight, which I don’t think is likely, he will have proved he has the goods. I expect Wright will be too fast for him and frustrate his way to a points decision.

Nigel Wright v Michael Clarke light welter
17-2-0 (8) 36-4-0 (17)

Stepping in against Nigel Wright, we have Michael ‘Cold Blood’ Clarke. Clarke is seriously classy. His losses have been to top-notch players. Firstly, back in ‘99, he suffered a knockout by the excellent lightweight Artur Grigorian, who in 38 bouts has so far been defeated only by Acelino Freitas. However, Clarke had the Uzbek southpaw down at one point. He dropped a pretty close decision to Vivian Harris for the IBA Continental back in ‘02, then suffered a knockout by Sirimongkol Singwancha in a WBC title eliminator. The Thai has lost only two fights in his 57 bout career, one to Jesus Chavez for the WBC super-feather belt.

This is a very questionable match-up from my point of view. Although he did a good job against Gary Reid for the English title, Nigel Wright’s best opponent so far has been Lenny Daws, and that was too early for him. He was dominated. Nigel will be going in with someone far more experienced, at a far higher level, and is likely to suffer the kind of defeat that can only be a hurdle in a very young career.

Paul Buchanan v Jerson Ravelo super middle
8-0-1 (1) 17-2-0 (12)

Another mismatch, I’m afraid. Paul has been out of action for a while due to injury and arrangement failures, and is very inexperienced to be going in against a former Olympian with a string of knockouts. Paul’s win over Jason McKay was controversial, many believing that his fifth round trip to the canvas should have been ruled as such. The only other name on his record is a draw against Wayne Pinder. Ravelo will take this one by knockout, quite possibly in the early rounds.

Martin Concepcion v Alfonso Gomez middleweight
11-3-0 (8) 15-3-2 (6)

Despite the apparent closeness on paper, this is another one which I think is relatively easy to call. Gomez is terrific. A former sparring partner for Oscar De La Hoya, the Mexican is as tough as they come. One of those losses was to Ishe Smith in only his second pro outing. He’s beaten Peter Manfredo in the past, and I expect to see a great future for him. He’ll be fighting at a higher weight than has been usual for him recently, having come in under 154lbs for his last three, two of which were knockouts.

By contrast, Martin is coming off three losses and before then fought some very poor quality opposition. Possible late stoppage for Gomez.

Robin Reid v Jesse Brinkley super middle
38-5-1 (27) 26-4-0 (17)

New on the list is the supermiddle bout between Robin Reid and first series Contender Brinkley. Reid took the light-middle bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics, and the WBC super-middle belt in only his 22 pro fight, in a seventh round kayo of Vincenzo Nardiello, going on to defend it three times. He has also held the WBF strap which he defended successfully five times, and holds a decision over Brian Magee for the IBO title, when he had Magee on the canvas more than once. At 38-5-1, with 27 knockouts, his losses have been to top quality like Calzaghe and Branco.

This will be Reid’s first outing since August 2005 when he was stopped by Jeff Lacy for the IBO/IBF titles, Reid’s first stoppage defeat. Reid’s corner called a halt at the end of the seventh in a match which suggested to many that Reid had passed his best.

After being on the receiving end of a poor decision against him in the Sven Ottke fight, it sounded as though Reid was preparing to retire. But then he came back to hand Magee his first loss. Now he’s back after the Lacy disaster to meet thirty year old Brinkley, 26-4-0 with 17 stoppages, who was one of the popular characters of the 2005 Contender series, but defeated on points by Sergio Mora in a hugely one-sided bout. Brinkley has also lost to his Friday-night teammate Alfonso Gomez, but defeated seasoned veteran Jonathan Reid on points back in 2004.

Brinkley’s victims are not hugely recognisable names over here, but he does hold two wins over the respected Cleveland Corder, one for the APBA Western US middleweight title. However, he is coming off an eleventh-round knockout by Joe Spina for the WBC (United States) title and would appear to exhibit shortcomings at higher levels. He has power but isn’t mobile enough.

A talent like Reid, if he isn’t too rusty, should be able to deal with him fairly swiftly. Say a points victory, although given Brinkley’s lack of head movement I wouldn’t rule out Reid catching him with a stunner.

Colin McNeil v Cornelius Bundrage light middle
11-1-0 (3) 25-2-0 (14)

Colin is has just taken the Scottish light middle title back in December from Barrie Lee, in a match which looked to be close for the first three rounds but was a fourth round knockout for the 34-year-old southpaw. However, he was slow at first and continually being caught with Lee’s right uppercuts, which opened a bad cut to McNeil’s brow. The problem stimulated McNeil to go for broke as soon as possible, and it was a good barrage that made Lee’s corner throw in the towel.

McNeil is a late starter and at much the same age (33), K9 has far more experience. The Detroit man’s losses have been a humiliating first-round knockout by Sechew Powell, and a points loss to Steve Forbes (who recently put up such an excellent show against Demetrius Hopkins, not reflected in the scores).

In his last outing, Bundrage looked seriously at risk against Jamaican Chris Smith, somehow clawing his way back from crisis points in the 6th and 10th rounds to get a split decision. It wasn’t supposed to be so hard, as Smith had never beaten anyone of real quality and was widely supposed to be on the way out. It highlighted K9’s shortcomings, in that he looks vulnerable to someone with heavy hands who can keep the pressure up. K9’s jab was excellent though, without it he would have lost.

This is quite a hard one to call, as McNeil has shown that he can turn it on. If he makes it through to Bundrage’s questionable chin, starts a bit more smartly and doesn’t let up, who knows? McNeil is looking towards a British welterweight title eliminator with Ross Minter on May 26 and this may be a spur to look good in this bout. However, the wise money would be on a points win for K9 as McNeil is a little too easy to hit.

All in all, we can look forward to some cracking action, but the Brits are going to have their work cut out.

Ted Bami could be forced to defend his European light-welterweight crown against the man he beat to win it following the withdrawal of Italy’s Gianluca Branco due to injury. This is the second time the clash has been aborted – Bami was originally due to defend against Branco in January in Milan.

According to the EBU’s official website, Bami will now face another Italian in Giuseppe Lauri at the Crawley Leisure Centre on Friday night, but no official confirmation has been made by the show’s promoter Matchroom Sport.

Bami claimed the vacant EBU crown with an unanimous points victory over Lauri at the York Hall in September (117-112 twice and 118-110) but hasn’t fought since. Lauri returned to the ring in January and outscored Miro Dicky over six rounds.

Other possible opponents for Bami could be EU champion Michele Di Rocco and British trio Barry Morrison, Colin Lynes and Young Mutley.

Purse bids for Junior Witter’s WBC light-welterweight title defence against mandatory challenger Vivian Harris have been postponed. The bids, originally due to be opened at the WBC offices in Mexico City on March 20th, will now be opened on Tuesday 10th April.

This decision could fuel speculation that Witter vs Harris could take place in the US this Summer. Former WBA champion Harris has rebuilt his career following his surprise loss to Carlos Maussa with three wins, the latest being a narrow points victory over Juan Lazcano in a WBC title eliminator last month.

Witter’s promoters Hennessy Sports enjoy an excellent relationship with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, and may feel the time is now right for Witter to convince the ever sceptical American public that he is deserving of his world championship status. An impressive win over Harris would be a good start.

At 33, Witter doesn’t have time to waste as he seeks a major fight. Junior’s previous trip to the States saw him outpoint the recently crowned IBF champion Lovemore N’dou in an entertaining skirmish on the undercard of Bernard Hopkins vs Howard Eastman in February 2005. Sadly, the contest wasn’t televised by box-office giant HBO and was only seen by a limited number of worldwide PPV buyers.

De La Hoya is currently completing his final preparations ahead of his May 5 superfight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. However, Witter vs Harris would be an attractive chief support to July’s mooted clash between Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright, which will also be staged on a Golden Boy bill.

It will be interesting to see whether promoter Mick Hennessy elects to dig deep into his pockets and stage Witter-Harris in Britain. It would be a prospect that the Guyanese New York based challenger wouldn’t relish. Harris famously priced himself out of coming to Manchester to entertain Ricky Hatton but has boxed in Europe before, defeating Oktay Urkal twice in Germany back in 2004.

Witter captured the WBC title by comfortably decisioning DeMarcus Corley in September. He stopped disappointing challenger Arturo Morua in nine rounds in his first defence in January.

In the chief support to Froch-Tatevosyan, John O’Donnell won the battle of the unbeaten southpaws to capture the vacant English welterweight title with a hard-fought points victory over Stuart Elwell.

Referee Marcus McDonnell’s 97-94 scorecard in favour of O’Donnell failed to reflect the Hennessy Sports star’s superiority over his willing but ultimately outclassed opponent. With significant height and reach advantages over Elwell, O’Donnell could have made the job much easier but clearly the youngster relishes a scrap.

The 29-year-old Elwell began brightly, punishing the relaxed defence of O’Donnell and targeting his body in the opener. Either frustrated by his inability to create some room for himself, or having simply decided that he wanted Elwell out of there, O’Donnell significantly stepped on the gas in round four.

A tremendous burst of punches to body and head nailed the unsuspecting Elwell from every angle which left him dazed and on the verge of being stopped. O’Donnell isn’t a concussive puncher, but his unrelenting attacks are characterised by a breathtaking variety delivered at blinding speed. John genuinely looks sensational when in full cry.

After battering Elwell around the ring in the fourth, O’Donnell kept the pressure on in the fifth and appeared to hurt the Midlands man to the body. What separates O’Donnell from other southpaws is the potency of his right hand. He used this ploy to drill Elwell repeatedly downstairs before quickly switching and whacking his opponent with right hooks to the side of the head in a spiteful manner.

O’Donnell took his foot off the pedal slightly but still boxed with a confident swagger. Elwell never stopped trying and served a couple of reminders to O’Donnell in the seventh and eighth that the fight was still in the balance, bypassing the taller man’s defence with straight lefts.

No doubt given a ticking off by trainer Robert McCracken, O’Donnell entered the ninth with renewed vigour and proceeded to hand the plucky Elwell a three-minute pasting. Poor Stuart hardly knew where the shots were coming from but he gamely hung in there and took his lumps. He deserved to hear the final bell.

The 21-year-old O’Donnell improves to 15-0 and has serious potential. However, he will need to iron out some flaws if he is to realise his goals. Despite treating us to flashes of brilliance, O’Donnell’s performance was also littered with some basic errors at times, mainly as a result of his less than watertight defence.

One gets the impression though that John went in there to prove a point. To show that he’s a superb talent, that he can box and fight and that, contrary to opinion, isn’t lacking in the strength department either. He certainly ticked all those boxes and a lot more besides.

Gethin finally gets his man

A big shock on the Ice Arena undercard saw Walsall’s Darren Gethin knock out local hopeful Tyan Booth in the tenth and final round to claim the Midlands Area welterweight crown. A big right hand left Tyan flat on his back prompting Shaun Messer to inexplicably complete the formalities of the ten-count instead of waving off the count so that the stricken boxer could receive some attention. Tyan is believed to have spent the night in hospital and everyone connected with UKBP wishes him well.

Perhaps Booth’s gamble in boiling himself down from middleweight to make the 10st 7lbs welterweight limit had much to do with his gradual capitulation. But lets not do Gethin a disservice who manfully stuck to his task despite his face being a mask of blood after he sustained a cut to his left eyelid.

Darren was outboxed in the opening three rounds but never stopped throwing punches and eventually the back pedalling Ingle stylist could no longer get out of the way. Gethin’s breakthrough came in the fifth when an increasingly tiring Booth looked ready to fold following a sustained onslaught.

Tyan used his legs to stay out of harms way as best he could but was a sitting duck the longer the contest went on. Touted as a prospect in the Junior Witter mould beforehand, this is a devastating setback.

The future looks decidedly brighter for the ever-willing Gethin though. His scalping of Booth follows his upset wins over former Commonwealth title challenger Craig Dickson and one-time Doncaster hopeful Jason Rushton last year.

Carl Froch delivered a chilling message to the world’s leading super-middleweights by blowing away Sergey Tatevosyan in just two rounds at the Nottingham Arena tonight. Whilst the 34-year-old Russian southpaw has now lost three of his last four, he had never been stopped before and was still considered to be a fringe world operator who was capable of extending the local favourite.

Froch, often a slow starter, was at his commanding best from the off and repeatedly found the target in the opening round to cause a swelling underneath Tatevosyan’s right eye. The Cobra picked up where he left off in round two, piercing the Russian’s guard with beautifully delivered right hands through the middle. The finish, which is becoming par for the course from Froch now, was devastating.

Froch’s trademark shot, a right hand turned into an uppercut just before the punch met its intended target, sent Tatevosyan crashing to the canvas. The visitor rose on unsteady legs but was placed under immediate pressure upon the restart. Backing Tatevosyan into a corner, Froch let fly with a series of hooks to body and head which in truth mostly missed. However, with Tatevosyan covering up and offering little in return referee Terry O’Connor perhaps wisely called a halt to proceedings with 15 seconds in the round remaining.

After unconvincing displays against Ruben Groenewald, Dale Westerman and Brian Magee, Froch has answered his critics in emphatic fashion by destroying arch rival Tony Dodson and now Tatevosyan in stunning back-to-back displays. At 29, and 21-0 (17), the Nottingham man looks ready to tackle anyone in the 168lbs division, and that includes Mikkel Kessler and Joe Calzaghe.

Over the last year Froch has become a patron for the ‘Help A Nottinghamshire Child’ scheme at the ‘NCCL Galleries of Justice’ museum, one of the Midland’s leading Tourist Attractions.

In between the 1780′s and 1980′s the museum site was used as prison and courts.

Now its all about prevention rather than punishment.

The Galleries of Justice also functions as a national centre for citizenship, through which it operates the ‘Help a Nottinghamshire Child’ scheme.

Through the project, children in the area take part in ‘Good Citizenship’ activities with both their schools and families, encouraging them to take pride in their environment and live as good citizens. Froch has been behind it from day one.

“Every child deserves the right to have the life skills and tools to make the right decisions to stay within the law,” said Froch. “That is why I think this scheme is so important.

“It is excellent that the children of the area have such easy access to it. If by coming to see me fight they can see the benefits of clean, honest living and we can make some kind of impact, then all the better.

Many of the children who have attended these classes will be at the Nottingham Arena for this evening’s ‘Cobra’s Hood’ event promoted by Hennessy Sports and GoldenPalace.com.

Froch takes on this highly ranked Russian Sergey Tatevosyan as he aims to build on his number 3 world ranking to land a genuine world title shot by the end of they year.

GoldenPalace.com has donated 100 tickets to ‘Help a Nottinghamshire Child,’ which have been taken up by pupils from schools in Clifton and young people who attend projects at the Galleries.

“It will be nice to have them shouting me on,” said Froch. “I would like to thank GoldenPalace.com for giving them the opportunity and for backing this event. This isn’t your normal sponsorship. This is meaningful, highly beneficial support.”

The pair compete at championship weight in the top of the bill contest on the Hennessy Sports and GoldenPalace.com ‘Cobra’s Hood’ event that also features the championship for the vacant English welterweight title between Hennessy Sports standout prospect John O’Donnell and fellow unbeaten puncher Stuart Elwell.

O’Donnell and event promoter Mick Hennessy were also both in attendance at the presser at the Revolution Russian Vodka bar in Froch’s home city of Nottingham.

Froch on Tatevosyan:

Sergey Tatevosyan is exactly the kind of opponent I have to beat to get where I want to be – winning world titles. He is well ranked, very tough and has been in with the very best. Like a lot of the other top super middleweights out there he is a southpaw. He has never been stopped, despite the level of opposition he has faced. It’s important that I look good against him.

I’m already number three in the world, so if I put in a big performance it will set me up for the rest of 2007. It should line up that final eliminator for a world title and then hopefully a world title fight by the end of the year.

Tatevosyan (through a translator) on Froch:

I have seen his fights. He is a good fighter. He has had a fast progression. But now he is fighting me it will be hard for him. It will be a good fight.

Tatevosyan on his last opponent and possible future Froch opponent Lucian Bute:

He was good. He was very good. But I will save comparing him and Carl until after Friday. Then I will let you know.

Mick Hennessy on Froch-Tatevosyan:

This is the perfect fight for Carl. No credible British challenger wants to fight him, so it made sense to look to the world picture. Sergey is proven at that level and it was very much in our mind that he was a southpaw. This is a big challenge for Carl, but one he can benefit from immensely. He is on the verge of deservedly becoming a major star and this fight is the next step towards that.

John O’Donnell on challenging for his first title:

I’m really buzzing. I just want to get in there now and get on with the fight. Stuart Elwell is a good fighter. He is undefeated like me, but I’m really confident.

I am in great condition and I have had great sparring. I have been sparring with Carl and with Junior Witter, (Hennessy Sports promoted WBC world light welterweight champion). You cannot get better sparring than that. No fighter in the country gets better sparring. I am very grateful to Carl and Junior.

Froch on O’Donnell:

John is where I am at a while back when I boxed Alan Page. He is undefeated and boxing for the English title. In a while he will be sitting where I am.

He is an outstanding fighter. I am not just saying that because he is my stable mate. I have experienced it first hand. He hits you with shots from every angle. He puts a massive number of shots together and you can’t tell where they are coming from. For me, he is the best thing coming through for a mile. There is nothing else out there to touch him.

Hennessy on O’Donnell:

John is an unbelievable talent and he couldn’t have better people around him. His trainer Robert McCracken has brought the very best out of him and the sparring he is getting is invaluable. Carl is in the same gym and Junior came down to London for several sessions when we struggled to get southpaw sparring. For a WBC champion to do that on short notice says something. That tells you all you need to know about Junior Witter.

Suzanne Nield has previewed tomorrow night’s bill in detail below. Click the link to discover how the rest of the UKBP team think Froch-Tatevosyan will pan out. Do you agree with them?

Oliver Fennell

This is one of those matches where the emphasis is not on whether or not the home corner will win, but rather if he can do so by stoppage.

Tatevosyan has already been beaten seven times, but significantly has never been halted. World class men such as Roman Karmazin, Howard Eastman and the hammer-fisted Lucian Bute have all been extended by the man Eastman branded “The Vaseline Kid” for his slipperiness.

The Russian visitor is not the formidable, world beater Team Froch would have you believe. Tatevosyan owns respectable victories over Rudy Markussen, David Gogiya and Armand Krajnc, but those are countered not only by the above-mentioned losses, but by four setbacks against virtual unknowns, including dropping a decision to three-fight novice Dmitry Pirog less than a year ago.

Froch should win handily enough, and in all probability on points.

Spud Woollatt

This is the perfect fight for Carl Froch. Sergey Tatevosyan has enough class and ringcraft to be able to test Froch to his limits but at the sametime if Froch is to legitimately breach the world class ranks then he simply has to deal with the Russian fighter.

Tatvosyan is a southpaw boxer with a very good amateur pedigree, winning the majority of his amateur bouts. Up until the later rounds the scoring when Tatevosyan met Howard Eastman was reasonably close and thus there simply cannot be any slip ups from Froch.

I feel the fight will not be an exciting one to watch, Tatevosyan will try to counter any of Froch’s work and try his best to capatilise on any mistakes the Nottingham fighter will make. Unfortunately for Tatevosyan he does not have the punch power to be able to stop a man of Froch’s ability in his tracks thus my feeling is there may not be too much ambition from the Russian if he is not able to gain any success in the early rounds.

Readers need to be aware though Tatevosyan holds a win against the current European Super Middleweight Champion David Gogiya in a 10 round fight which took place in April 2005. Also you may want to take note of Tatevosyan’s stoppage win against Rudy Markussen in Denmark in October 2006.

Froch will need to be on his guard but overall his searing jab and highly impressive range of punches will see him through to a convincing points win. A stoppage is highly unlikely, but if it were to happen in Froch’s favour the very best Super Middleweights in the world will need to sit up and take notice.

Ben Carey

Even though Tatevosyan is at the tail end of his career he’s comfortably Carl’s best opponent and remains on the fringes of the world’s top 20.

Finally, Froch backed up his sizeable boasts by dispatching Tony Dodson in three rounds last time out in what was a punch-perfect performance from the Cobra. It will be interesting to see if Froch can deliver another impressive display against Tatevosyan.

For all Carl’s considerable talent, he has been blighted by inconsistency at times. Prior to smashing Dodson, Froch struggled against southpaw Brian Magee before uncorking a cracking punch to end matters in the eleventh. In Tatevosyan, Froch will be facing another southpaw who has operated at a higher level than the Irishman.

Tatevosyan’s busy style was a constant irritant to Howard Eastman on the Russian’s last visit to the UK. Although the judges ruled in Eastman’s favour by ridiculously wide margins I actually scored the fight a draw. But that was over three years ago and the 34-year-old is coming off a landslide points loss to Lucian Bute. Froch showed good discipline when decisioning another slippery performer in Matthew Barney. The level of patience he showed that night will stand him in good stead for this one.

It’s unlikely to be pretty, or dramatic, but Froch can be expected to eventually get to grips with Tatevosyan and record a comfortable points win.

Martin Williams

Froch KO10. He’s punching so hard these days and will take out the tiring Russian late on.