Boxing



Katsidis fireworks could ruin Burns' night

On paper there’s little doubt that this Saturday night will be the toughest of Ricky Burns’ career. Scotland’s former world featherweight champion moves up in weight – and in class – to face Australia’s fearsome Michael Katsidis for the WBO strap.

Katsidis is well-known to UK fight fans, having destroyed home favourite Kevin Mitchell inside three rounds at a partisan Upton Park back in May, 2010. That night Mitchell, who later claimed that significant personal problems undermined his preparation, had no answer to the trademark ferocity of Katsidis and was brutally dispatched. 




Burns will enter the ring in Wembley Arena an underdog, and it’s perfectly understandable. Katsidis has been in with names such as Robert Guerrero, Juan Manuel Marquez and Joel Casamayor. Whilst unsuccessful, he tested them all with his power and all-action style.


The scot is new to lightweight, and though he insists he’ll be stronger for not having the discomfort of having to boil down to an unnatural weight class, he’s not faced anyone as heavy-handed as the Australian.

But to rule Burns out altogether would be a foolish move. Critics insist he lacks the power to fend off Katsidis as he marauds forward. But he’s never relied on power. He’s a clever fighter, schooled by the canny Billy Nelson. Nelson always has his man in tip-top condition and if the fight goes into the later rounds, it will be familiar territory for Burns.

He’s no stranger to the underdog status either. Arguably his greatest night came in September last year when he took on the reigning, and unbeaten, WBO strapholder Roman Martinez. Recovering from a disastrous first round knockdown, Burns outlasted the Puerto Rican with a display full of energy and heart to claim a unanimous decision.

He’ll need every ounce of energy and every bit of guts if he’s to get the win on Saturday.

But don’t bet against him shocking the world again.

Ralph Welch
@ralphwelch




The weekend wrap: Nonito’s non-event; Solid win for Williams; Booth passes the torch
24 October, 2011

Nonito’s non-event

Ever since Nonito Donaire’s spectacular KO of Fernando Montiel in February, the heavy-handed Filipino has been thrust into the limelight drawing inevitable comparisons with fellow countryman Manny Pacquiao. Indeed, many commentators see Donaire as a potential heir to the pound-for-pound throne when “Pacman” eventually hangs up his gloves.

However, with increased profile comes increased expectation. And with a big crowd at Madison Square Garden, Donaire’s promoters Top Rank – who fought a very bloody public battle with arch-rivals Golden Boy for his services – were hoping their charge would add to his growing reputation.

His opponent for the bantamweight title, Omar Narvaez, was predicted to test him early on but ultimately the fans in attendance were expecting another entry on Donaire’s highlight reel of knockouts.

However, it takes two to produce a spectacle. And whereas Montiel had gone in with genuine ambition, the wily Narvaez seemed content to just survive the 12 rounds and escape with his senses intact.

In truth, it was scrappy fare and the fans voted with their feet, streaming away in their droves before the announcement that Donaire had won the most unanimous of decisions.

Even the best suffer nights like this. Sometimes in boxing a win is a win.


Solid win keeps Williams on track

If Nonito Donaire’s travails were somewhat unexpected, few were surprised by the difficulties that Leon “Solid” Williams encountered in Bethnal Green on Friday night.

Fan favourite Williams challenged the evergreen Rob Norton, 39, for the British Cruiserweight crown. Norton has been inactive for 20 months, partly due to injury and partly due to promoter reluctance to stage his fights.

The Stourbridge man has an unorthodox, awkward style that is highly effective but low on entertainment. TV bosses may not like it, but it has earned Norton considerable success with the judges and he went into Friday’s battle a former Commonwealth strapholder.

However, on this occasion the officials plumped for the more muscular work rate of the challenger in a predictably cagey affair. Williams’ vociferous supporters, whose sheer noise may have swayed the judges, will hope that this heralds a new era for the domestic cruiserweight scene.

Norton’s prospects are unclear. He may with some justification, ask for a rematch. But his appeal is likely to fall on deaf ears. Whatever happens, he can justly be proud of a career that has brought him five titles.


Booth passes the torch

As a rule, promoters generally receive little good press. Too often they become scapegoats for many of boxing’s ills: rotten mismatches and exploiting fighters for their own gain.

However, it was hard to aim that criticism at Frank Maloney on Saturday night in Bolton. The veteran promoter, who stood by Lennox Lewis in the heavyweight’s heyday, showed great compassion when he halted Jason Booth’s defence of his British super bantamweight strap versus unbeaten Scott Quigg.

Booth is a 15-year veteran of the sport, whose greatest battles have often been fought outside of the ring. His return from alcoholism and the brink of suicide to title glory has been truly inspirational. But there’s a famous saying in boxing that there comes a fight when a boxer gets old overnight.

Booth, 34, was overpowered by the relentless attacks of rising star Quigg, who seemed so much heavier and stronger than the champion. By the end of the seventh, it was clear that the champion had no chance of winning. Maloney’s concern was clear for all to see, and the decision spared Booth further punishment that he didn’t deserve.

Booth, who admitted that he lacks power at super bantamweight, will face a difficult choice over the coming weeks: retirement or a move to prolong his career at a lower weight class.

Whatever he chooses, he’ll do so with the appreciation of fight fans across the UK.

Ralph Welch
Twitter: @ralphwelch

Season's Beatings


August brings the traditional boxing season come to an end. Here we look back at some of the highlights of 2010/11…

Fury-ous Five go boxing

Channel 5 brought boxing back to the masses, by televising the domestic dust-up between Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora. For those of us old enough to remember, it evoked memories of the early nineties when Eubank and Benn brought the UK to a standstill on ITV.

Boxing has been criminally ignored by terrestrial stations since then, and it’s only thanks to the passion and expertise of Sky Sports that the sport has prospered. Fans have clamoured for terrestrial stations to invest in boxing and bring it back to the mainstream, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears - until Channel 5 took a gamble on the British heavyweight title bout, promoted by Mick Hennessy.

They were rewarded handsomely. Nearly three million viewers tuned in to see a good old-fashioned domestic dust-up and they had the highest viewing figures in their timeslot.

Hennessy insists that we’ll see more of Fury, and more boxing in general, on Channel 5.

And we couldn’t be happier.

The Wrath of Khan

Amir Khan’s rise to the upper echelons of the boxing world shows no sign of abating.

The ghosts of that brutal KO at the hands of Breidis Prescott in 2008 were exorcised as Khan survived some heart-stopping moments against Marcos Maidana. The big-punching Argentine had the Bolton man in huge trouble in a ferocious tenth round assault but Khan gritted his teeth and proved his critics wrong.

His subsequent domination of Zab Judah gained him further recognition from the all-important US market and it seems a future contest with Floyd Mayweather is a genuine possibility.

When Khan won an Olympic silver medal at the Athens in 2004, many predicted him to become one of Britain’s best-ever fighters. 2012 could be the year that he fulfils that destiny.

Sky is the limit for Froch

He’s been one of the most cruelly under-exposed fighters of recent times, but now Carl Froch seems destined for the global recognition he richly deserves.

His streak of fights reads like a who’s who of the super-middleweight division: Jean Pascal, Jermain Taylor, Andre Dirrell, Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham and Glen Johnson. Froch has packed his bags and travelled the globe to take on all-comers.

The Nottingham man now faces Andre Ward in the final of the troubled Super Six tournament. After that, a huge homecoming fight in Britain seems on the cards.

Now under new management, as part of the growing Matchroom stable, and back on Sky TV, the next year promises big things for “The Cobra”.

Hopkins KOs Old Father Time

He’s 46 years old, one of the most enigmatic fighters of his generation, and now the he’s the oldest world champion of all time. Bernard Hopkins defeated Jean Pascal, a full eighteen years his junior, for the WBC light-heavyweight strap and solidified his legacy as one of the greatest of all time.

He’s the most masterful defensive technician in the game, rarely takes a clean punch and has the uncanny ability of nullifying the best weapons in his opponent’s arsenal.

Next up is Chad Dawson and Hopkins, who famously promised his mother that he’d retire at 40, is showing no sign of letting up.

Ralph Welch
Follow on twitter: @ralphwelch


Mitchell chooses the right path


July 18, 2010

“Using the power of decision gives you the capacity to get past any excuse to change any, and every, part of your life in an instant.”  ~Anthony Robbins

As Kevin Mitchell savours Saturday’s thrilling victory over John Murray, he would do well to reflect on two key moments that changed the course of his career, and indeed his life.

The first of these moments occurred approximately six months ago. Slumped in an East End bar, and by his own admission £100k poorer after an eight-month drinking binge, the Dagenham man was trapped in a downward spiral of depression. 

His relationship with Amanda, the mother of his two children, had disintegrated and seriously upset the preparations for his world title tilt against Australian Michael Katsidis in May 2010. Mitchell kept his home turmoil secret from trainer Jimmy Tibbs until moments before the fight. Tibbs watched on powerlessly as his under-prepared charge duly suffered a brutal KO in front of his adoring West Ham public. 

Humiliated and heartbroken, Mitchell joined the long list of sportsmen who sought solace in alcohol – and found none.

At that particular moment, Mitchell was confronted by his parents, estranged for many years, but united in their concern for their son. The story goes that Mitchell was dragged from the premises and given an ultimatum: give up drinking or give up on everything you’ve worked so hard for.

Mitchell listened and made a choice.

It was the right one.

He reunited with Tibbs, the man who’d guided him so carefully to the brink of global recognition. Still upset about what had unfolded in the dressing room before the Katsidis fight, Tibbs laid out the terms for their reconciliation; all or nothing. No booze, no distractions. Total dedication. 

Fast forward six months to Saturday night at Liverpool’s Echo Arena. Mitchell once again found himself on the brink as he returned to his corner after a fifth round mauling at the hands of rival John Murray.

The unbeaten Mancunian had dragged Mitchell into a dogfight, exactly what the Londoner had hoped to avoid, and was winning. Another big round could force a stoppage. A stoppage that would launch Murray’s career into boxing’s stratosphere and almost certainly consign Mitchell’s to the scrapheap.

Unlike his battle with alcohol, this particular moment of truth offered no time for lengthy introspection. Mitchell had less than 60 seconds to make two choices: Did he have the mental strength to recover from adversity? Was he ready to place his faith in the tutelage of Jimmy Tibbs?

The answer was emphatic.

Mitchell’s trainer sent him out with a clear message; follow the gameplan. Do what you do best. Box behind the jab and out manoeuvre Murray.

A huge seventh round was swiftly followed by a ruthless start to the eighth as Murray, who’d not been hurt in his previous 31 bouts, visited the canvas for the first time in his career. And from the jaws of defeat, Mitchell snatched victory.

The general belief is that at sport’s highest levels, where physical prowess is all but equal amongst the top competitors, the difference between victory and defeat can be in the mind.


On Saturday night, Kevin Mitchell showed the boxing world reserves of mental strength that many doubted he still possessed.

And we were happy to be proved wrong.

Ralph Welch
Follow on twitter: @ralphwelch


Brawls, Knockouts and Controversy - Boxing returns to form



It’s been a week of introspection in the boxing universe.

Seven days previously the two most powerful pugilists on the planet had met in the Hamburg Arena. It was a fight two years in the making. A fight that had captured the imagination of the entire world. A fight that had commanded more global headlines and column inches than any other in recent times.

If you believed the hype, and it was inescapable, this was the fight that was going to re-ignite the public’s passion for boxing’s flagship division.

Ultimately this titanic battle would indeed go down in history. Not for the bravery and mastery of the combatants, but for the fragility of a little toe.

It left many fans asking the question: should we ever believe the hype?

Thank goodness then for Brandon Rios.

This past Saturday the WBA lightweight champion and arch-rival Urbano Antillon gave us a toe-to-toe war that will live long in the memory. More importantly, it restored our faith in the pre-fight posturing that is so crucial to the sport.

In this case, the trash talk had been particularly aggressive. In several spicy press exchanges Rios alleged that Antillon had insulted his wife, and duly vowed revenge. For his part, Antillon promised to meet his foe in the centre of the ring and settle their differences the old-fashioned way.

It was a promise that boxing fans had heard seven days previously. Only this time it most definitely delivered.

The only disappointment was that the fight didn’t last longer. For eight minutes and forty-nine seconds we were treated to a battle of such frenetic, ferocious intensity that it provoked memories of the famous Gatti –Ward trilogy of the previous decade.

After a stunned Antillon was felled for a second time, the referee wisely called the contest to a close.

But unlike Haye or Klitschko, when these two men lace up their gloves again, we’ll all be watching.

Williams return impresses judges, but not the fans

Returning from a devastating knockout is perhaps the ultimate test of any fighter.

Many pundits had questioned whether Paul “The Punisher” Williams would have the mental strength to pick up the pieces of a career that had been so violently shattered by Sergio Martinez in November 2010.

On Saturday night, Williams (40-2) returned the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the scene of that Halloween nightmare and sought to exorcise the ghosts that have haunted him since.

He faced a difficult challenger in unbeaten Cuban Erislandy Lara, but one that he was expected to beat comfortably.

In truth, over twelve rounds it was hard to make any kind of case for a Williams victory. Lara landed more punches and power shots, leaving Williams bruised and battered. At the final bell, “the Punisher” was left hoping for a huge slice of fortune in a venue which had been so brutally unforgiving in the past.

Except that on this night the gods of fortune favoured him. The officials gifted him a highly questionable decision met with disbelief in the arena, and widespread cries of highway robbery amongst boxing commentators.

The vitriol directed towards Williams from some quarters has been relentless. He’s gone from being a former champion with a point to prove to a has-been fighter who stole a decision. Even by boxing standards, it’s a remarkable fall from grace.

Given the context in which Paul Williams fought, I suggest that it’s unfair. After all, he didn’t judge the fight. He entered the ring trying desperately to resurrect his career. As his dreams of a glorious comeback seemed to slip away with each attack, he didn’t give up. He gritted his teeth and hung in there, hoping that the unlikeliest of decisions would go his way.

Whatever the result, whatever our opinion of the judges, on Saturday night in Atlantic City Paul Williams epitomised the bravery and courage that makes boxers such a special breed.

For that at least, he deserves nothing but praise.


Ralph Welch
@ralphwelch


Macklin woes should act as warning to Haye


If David Haye wasn’t already wary of the task that awaits him in Hamburg on Saturday, then he is now.

This past Saturday he saw a fellow Briton go into the German equivalent of the lion’s den, outbox a hugely popular titleholder and come away empty-handed.

That man was Matthew Macklin.

Macklin learnt the hard way that the age-old maxim about Germany being a “home” fighter’s territory is still entirely well-deserved.

Over 12 rounds, Macklin out-worked WBA middleweight strapholder and home favourite Felix Sturm. Whilst the latter’s power and accuracy were always a threat, Macklin consistently landed more punches in a tireless display.

His herculean effort went unrewarded. Sturm was the recipient of the sort of controversial split decision for which Germany is renowned.

There’s no denying that it was a close fight. But one could argue that the two judges who gave the fight 116-112 to Sturm were watching an entirely different sporting contest.

So what does this mean for the “Hayemaker”?

Ahead of his superfight with Wladimir Klitschko, much attention has been focussed on the strength of the combatants’ chins.

Haye supporters feel that the Bermondsey man has the brute force to KO a man who has been on the canvas twelve times in his career. Others believe that Haye, himself no stranger to the canvas, has never faced anyone with Klitschko’s knockout power.

The general feeling is that we’re in for an explosive contest and that Haye’s best chance of victory will come in those early rounds. Avoiding Klitschko’s merciless right hand at all costs, he needs to take big risks to get into range and land the big shots that will poleaxe the giant Ukrainian.

“Risk” is not a word one frequently associates with Haye’s trainer and mentor Adam Booth. Booth’s incredibly meticulous approach to boxing strategy has earned him the moniker “The Dark Lord” by his own fighters. His finest achievement of late came in the Groves-DeGale showdown. Thanks to Booth’s tactical mastery, the unfancied Groves nullified his more gifted rival en route to the tightest of tight points victories.

I expect Booth’s gameplan for Klitschko to centre around David’s speed and agility, not dissimilar to the tactic that earned Haye victory over Nikolai Valuev in 2009. That night the giant Russian barely landed a single punch. Haye danced his way to the title, landing infrequent jabs to the midsection in an effective, if uninspiring, display.

Yet Klitschko, schooled in recent years by legendary trainer Emanuel Steward, is no Valuev. His victims all testify that he’s quicker and more technical than they expected.

Under Steward’s guidance the crude, vulnerable style of old has been replaced by a more cautious, balletic approach. He’ll cut down the ring quickly and Haye won’t have the same wide open spaces to enjoy that he did against the cumbersome Valuev.

Even if Haye executes this gameplan perfectly, it’s likely that most rounds will be close affairs. Haye will land more frequently. But each of Klitschko’s shots will be roared on by his legion of fans, which will undoubtedly influence the officials.

David might find himself entirely at the mercy of the ringside judges in Germany. As Matthew Macklin will testify, that is a very dangerous place to be.

So what will it be; power or prudence?

Right now David Haye is stuck between a rock and a hard place.





Final thoughts on Groves-DeGale

25th May, 2011

Booth proves himself the chess master

After a build-up dominated by insults and heated exchanges, there was one very cool head in the O2 Arena.

Adam Booth, trainer to both George Groves and David Haye, has rightly attracted the plaudits for masterminding victory.

It was a tactical masterclass, nullifying DeGale’s strengths and convincing the occasionally erratic Groves to stick to a gameplan.

With Booth in his corner, Haye may well succeed where all others have failed and finally conquer the Klitschko’s.


DeGale will reach his destiny

It would be easy to dismiss Saturday as a setback for James DeGale. But the loss of face aside, in fact the defeat may hasten his journey to a world title.

I’m convinced DeGale will emerge from this a better, hungrier fighter. He may have lost an unbeaten record, but in truth it’s a vastly-overrated prize in modern boxing.

This experience of promoting and competing in a super-fight will steel him for the challenges that lie ahead.

He will be eager to prove two things to the doubters hastily writing his obituary. Firstly, that he is capable of being a world champion. And secondly, that he CAN beat George Groves.

I wouldn’t bet against either.

Beware the Cobra

One extremely interested observer on Saturday was Carl Froch. “The Cobra” returns to our TV screens in early June against grizzled veteran Glencoffe Johnson in the next instalment of the Super Six.

Once that tournament concludes, it’s no secret that Froch, one of the most entertaining fighters around, will be seeking a huge fight on home territory.

If George Groves continues to progress, Froch may well have found his opponent.


Ralph Welch
info@ultimatefightclub.co.uk





“Protect yourself at all times

In the next fortnight two legends in boxing and MMA, Evander Holyfield, 48, and Randy Couture, 47 will compete once again in their chosen arenas. One is adamant this bout will be his swansong. The other ignores the pleas of those who fear for his safety…

Couture: “I’m not crazy. I realise it’s not going to last forever”

When Randy Couture announced he was going to fight Lyoto Machida at UFC 129, it would have been tempting to dismiss the forty seven year-old’s latest bout as an attempt by another veteran fighter to regain past glories.

But to do that is to misunderstand Randy Couture.

The UFC Hall-of-Famer is remarkably circumspect about his own abilities and how he wants to leave the sport. He has in fact retired once already (in 2006). But he came back into the Octagon because he was convinced he could beat the reigning – and much younger champion – Tim Sylvia. He was right. That night Couture proved that despite an age difference of 12 years he was still a world-class competitor.

But time waits for no man.

Couture has learnt from the mistakes of others. He likens his situation to that of fan-favourite and former light-heavyweight champ Chuck Liddell. The “Iceman” was the undoubted star of the UFC between 2004 and 2007, knocking out a succession of opponents with his devastating hands.

But then the wheels came off. He suffered four brutal knockouts at the tail end of his career. After each bout, fans pleaded with him to call it a day and not tarnish his legacy. But Liddell wanted to go out on his shield. And he did. A heavy k.o at the hands of Rich Franklin was enough for Dana White, UFC supremo and personal friend, to call time on Liddell’s career.

Couture is adamant that he will not go out the same way.

He recently told ESPN "There had to be an end. So why not take control and do it on my terms? When I want to do it and not because I've been knocked out the last three times and nobody wants to see me get beat up again? I never want to have that conversation with anybody."

It’s an attitude that is refreshing in a sport where fighters so often fail to heed the warnings of their own body. But whatever the result this Saturday, Couture has nothing further to prove in the Octagon.

He will be remembered for pushing his body to extraordinary limits. For being the oldest-ever UFC title holder and for being the first MMA competitor to make the crossover into pop culture.

His legacy will take some matching.

Holyfield : “I’m gonna be the heavyweight champion of the world one last time”

Mark the date, May 7th 2011. Many fans hope it will be the last time that Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield steps into a boxing ring.

But few would bet on it.

His bout against fellow veteran Brian Nielsen, 46, has attracted little media interest. Some boxing writers see it as an act of compassion. Their hope is that if he’s no longer afforded the spotlight, then Holyfield will lose his relentless desire to force himself back into title contention.

Holyfield seeks the fairytale end to a career that has seen him take on and beat a who’s who of heavyweight boxing; James “Buster” Douglas, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Michael Moorer, John Ruiz, Hasim Rachman all fell to “The Real Deal”.

And his bouts with Riddick Bowe (three) and Mike Tyson (two) and Lennox Lewis (two) produced the finest drama heavyweight boxing has seen since in the past twenty years.

If you haven’t checked them out on Youtube, then do. What you’ll see is a warrior who never took a backward step. Whose heart could never be in question. Whose mixture of speed and skill made him a match for any heavyweight in history.

Watch some his more recent bouts and they tell a different story.

Like many ageing fighters, the speed and reflexes are dwindling. He’s taking many more punches than he did in his heyday. But the warrior’s heart remains.
His career has becomes something of a twitching corpse. Just when you think he’s gone, a victory flickers his career back to life.

He’s called out both of the dominant Klitschko brothers but his cries fall on deaf ears. The younger Russian, Wladimir, recently told popular Sky boxing magazine Ringside that he would never fight Holyfield. Not out of fear. But out of compassion. He doesn’t want to further tarnish the reputation of a man he once rated so highly.

Perhaps the fairytale has become a pipedream.

But still Holyfield fights on.

Couture/ Holyfield: The next chapter

So where will we be in two weeks’ time?

The consensus amongst MMA experts is that Couture will prevail in a close-run fight over Machida. Irrespective of the result, we hope that “The Natural” will stick to the promise he has made.

There is no reason not to. He has invested wisely and has forged a career outside of the Octagon as a film star, reprising his role in the sequel to Sylvester Stallone’s action homage “The Expendables”.

For Holyfield, things are less clear. As a father to eleven children and with two costly divorces, there are fears that economics, as well as an immensely proud fighting heart, are forcing him to prolong his career. His grandiose Atlanta mansion was seized by the banks in 2007 and he’s currently being pursued over large unpaid debts.

The fight against a bloated Nielsen, who’s been out of the ring for eight years, should provide little danger.

But then the greatest danger is not his opponent, but Holyfield’s stubborn refusal to call it quits.