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Ireland’s Niven Looking For Fourth Straight Win

By Bernard O’Neill

John Joe Nevin will be looking to record his fourth win in a row as the World Series of Boxing enters the second half of its 12-match season across the Americas, Asia and Europe this weekend.

The Cavan bantamweight, a bronze medal winner at the 2009 AIBA World Championships in Milan, is available for selection for his Paris United against Milan, nicknamed Milano Thunder, in Paris on Friday night.

Nevin is presently in pole position in the WSB Team Championships bantamweight rankings having won all three of his matches so far to help lift his side to the top of the table in the WSB European group.

The top two ranked boxers from the five WSB Team Championships weight categories, bantamweight, lightweight, middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight, will qualify for the WSB Team Individual Championships which has five Olympic places available.

If Nevin, the youngest member of the Irish 2008 Olympic squad in Beijing at 18, makes it to WSB Individual Championships then he will have to win just one fight to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games.

WSB Individual Championships fights will be contested over seven, three minute rounds, as opposed to five, three minute rounds in the WSB Team Championships.

Nevin’s Paris United team-mate Nordine Ouballi, meanwhile, is lying in second spot in the WSB bantamweight rankings, raising the possibility that they both could qualify for the WSB Individual Championships and end up trading leather for a place at the 30th Olympiad.

Nevin, who has beaten Olympic bronze medalist Vincenzo Picardi (Milan), Selcuk Eker (Istanbul) and Vitaliy Volkov (Milan) so far, could meet Vittorio Parrinello - who he beat 11-3 when Ireland beat Italy at the National Stadium in Dublin last March - as United seeks to increase their lead at the top of the table on Friday.

“After this win (over Picardi) I knew I was on the right track. I started well and I felt more confident. It feels great, but it is only half season. I am glad to be on top but I know there is 6 weeks of competition left,” said Nevin.

Meanwhile, Milano Thunder new signings Eamon O’Kane and Tommy McCarthy will also be available for selection for Friday’s crucial clash in the French capital. Milan go into the match three points adrift of United.

Elsewhere in the WSB European group, Istanbul new-signing David Oliver Joyce will line out for the Turk’s versus bottom-of-the-table Moscow at home this Friday evening. Istanbul are lying in third spot in the table, eight points behind Paris United.

In the WSB Americas, Ken Egan’s and John Joe Joyce’s Miami Gallos side are facing a crucial away clash against top-of-the-table Los Angeles on Thursday night. LA beat Miami 4-1 less than two weeks ago, a results that saw Miami drop to third place in the table, one point behind second place Mexico City Guerreros, who will fancy their chances of beating struggling Memphis Force on Thursday.

If Miami fail to win in California - or at least pick up a losing bonus point - then then they will drift ten points behind LA with just five matches remaining.

The three groups winners plus the best runner up in the Americas, Asian and European groups qualify for the WSB Team Championships semi-finals.

Azerbaijani side Baku Fires are top of the table in the Asian group.

All six Irish boxers are due to return home from their respective WSB sides at the end of this month ahead of the 2011 Irish Senior Championships at the National Stadium.

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Boxing Talk With Tavoris Cloud

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By Daniel Ciminera

Speaking to Tavoris Cloud today, he indicated he’d be fighting “real soon, possibly March/April”, though didn’t give much away with regards to who, naming Chad Dawson, Jean Pascal, Bernard Hopkns, Beibut Shumenov, and Jurgen Braehmer as possible candidates. Which is basically the top 5 ranked guys without him and Nathan Cleverly included. As generic an answer as is possible, almost.

We can pretty safely rule out Brahmer who has a mandatory defence to make against Nathan Cleverly, the interim WBO title holder, who was interestingly left out from Cloud’s shortlist. When I asked him “what if Cleverly beats Braehmer?”, he wryly responded with “we’ll see” indicating he does not think that Cleverly can beat Braehmer or that he knows something we do not about the Braehmer/Cleverly clash. He also said he wants to unify the WBO title “this year” so we can assume that Braehmer or Cleverly are definitely on the cards in 2011.

We can also probably rule out Dawson for March/April after suffering his first career loss at the hands of Jean Pascal last summer. A well rested, and eager to get back on winning ways Dawson would be a very dangerous fight for anyone in the division to take. I can’t see the young Cloud taking this fight.

This leaves WBA and IBA title holder Shumenov, off the back of a 6th round KO versus experienced William Joppy, also a dangerous proposition, but with high reward in terms of title unifications. More so than fighting either Pascal or Hopkins who drew with each other last month. Pascal put an end to Dawson’s unbeaten run in 2010 and in gaining a draw with the ever-wiley Bernard Hopkins has cemented himself among the top light-heavyweights, and as we all know, Hopkins can make anybody look bad.

So for me, of these three, Shumenov is the only one worth going after right now in terms of “risk v reward” at least anyway, with a winter bout with the winner of Braehmer v Cleverly for a massive unification bout which would likely be one of the best fights of the year. And would be another shining-light example of top boxers not avoiding each other for the sake of it!

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By Daniel Ciminera

A legend of boxing, does not have to be your favourite boxer. Nor even the best of their time. But someone who’s story, or ring wars are inspiring long after they have retired and even died. These people become the reasons boxing was so exciting and drew me in like a moth to a flame when I was a child. I’m not very old, I’m only 25, so perhaps these people have more to do with my father’s influence on me as he was the one who got me interested in boxing, himself boxing for our country. Despite not being old enough to have seen most of these guys live, I was brought up watching tapes of them and being gripped as though I were ringside, throwing every punch along with them and screaming them on to victory. After all, that’s what boxing is all about right?

I would like to begin with Tommy Farr as I am from about 2 miles from where he was born and raised and he is still something of a local hero. Many gymnasia across Wales are adorned with some sort of image of Tommy, and he is held in the highest regard by all. He was a fighter who, not only gave his all inside the ring, but was a great example and role model outside of it too, always sure to spend a lot of time with his family.

Farr spent his early life, as did most people from the poverty stricken South Wales valleys, “down the coal-mine”. The whole area is built around coal mining. Farr hated this life with utmost passion and was later to describe boxing as “the lesser of two evils”. At the age of twelve, having left school already, Farr took part in his first official contest, over six rounds in Tonypandy. He won the fight via a points decision and his appetite had been well and truly whetted. He was nicknamed “The Tonypandy Terror” thereafter.

His professional record hosts 126 bouts, with 81 wins (24 by KO), 30 losses, 13 draws and 2 no contests, although Farr was also a keen “booth boxer”, fighting at fairgrounds and such. Including his “booth” fights, his total career fights amasses to 296. An astonishing number in comparison to today’s boxers, and given that his original retirement was at the age of 26, this is even more amazing!

You could describe Farr as a journeyman, with ups and downs, and seemingly every time he’d build an unbeaten streak, he’d get beaten and be back to square one. However, his luck was to change in the mid 1930s, Farr managed to string together seven professional wins to receive a chance at the Welsh Light-Heavyweight title, outpointing Randy Jones to take the title and went onto another six straight wins. Then, just as with the rest of his career, he was to lose. He lost three times against Eddie Phillips, the last of which was for the British Light-Heavyweight title.

Farr then came back into favour winning eighteen contests straight, including wins against memorable opponents and former Light-Heavyweight champions, Tommy Loughran and Bob Olin as well as another renowned Welsh boxer, Jim Wilde. This gave Farr an opportunity to battle against Ben Foord in March 1937, to take both the British and Empire Heavyweight titles. He was by far and away the underdog in the bout despite his growing reputation in the sport. He used his awkward crouching style and jackhammer-esque jab to win an untidy affair. He had now proven he was good enough for the world stage.

Farr’s first venture onto this platform was just a month later (imagine that today) against Max Baer, in which he thoroughly dominated the favourite. In the early rounds, Baer played to the crowd (in a fashion not too dissimilar to that of “Apollo Creed” in the Rocky movies), acting as though he could remove Farr from the bout at any time he wished. When Baer eventually decided he was ready to end the match, he found he couldn’t get past the iron rod that was Farr’s jab.

No matter what Baer tried, he was met head on by the jab and that was the way the fight was to play out with Farr putting in the boxing performance of his career to take a points win. Two months later in June 1937, Farr fought and knocked-out Walter Neusel in superb fashion in the third round. This set Farr up for a dream bout with Joe Louis in the August of 1937, just weeks after Louis had taken the title from “The Cinderella Man”, Braddock, and amidst a world of controversy surrounding the title and Max Schmeling.

Before the two went head to head at Yankee Stadium, New York, in front of 32,000 spectators (a large number even today), Louis asked Farr where he had got the large amount of scars on his back. With a cheerful smile, Farr replied, “oh they’re nothing, I got those from fighting with tigers”, which reportedly is said to have terrified Louis. The fight gripped the South Wales valleys like no other had done ever before, and still hasn’t been rivalled to this day, it is said that every household in the Rhondda valley had stayed up until the 3am (UK time) start to listen on the radio, which had been relayed to the BBC via telephone.

There were even loudspeaker playings of the bout in church halls and public houses. The fight, as was agreed by all, was going to be a walk in the park for Louis. Nobody outside of Wales, gave Farr a chance at all. Apparently nobody showed this script to Tommy as from the first bell, he charged at Louis and stuffed two solid jabs into his face. This was to be the tone of the evening, much to everyone’s shock. However, while Louis was obviously the more “skilled boxer” and the more fearsome puncher, Farr kept coming forward and forward the entire fight with his low guard and was completely unphased by the champion, who literally had torn Farr’s face to shreds.

Farr eventually losing out to a close judges decision met by loud, emphatic booing from the crowd. They thought Farr had beaten Louis. As did the “Los Angeles Times”, printing “A courageous, tousle-haired man from Wales named Tommy Farr tonight made a bum out of Joe Louis and all the experts when he stuck the full fifteen rounds against the world’s champion to lose a close decision”.

In my opinion, the fight was close enough to be called a draw, however, perhaps the judges had been swayed by the fact that Louis’ punches had clearly been more damaging as Farr’s face was a terrible mess. Farr commenting that his face “looked like a dug-up road”.
Farr then had four more fights in America, including bouts against James Braddock and Max Baer. He lost all four before returning to the UK to win a further four fights, avenging an earlier loss against “Red” Burman. He then retired in 1940 at the age of 26.

In 1950, after 10 years of retirement Tommy Farr was facing bankruptcy and was forced to return to the ring to make some money, having 16 more fights and winning 11 of them, Farr also became the Welsh Heavyweight Champion in 1951 with a sixth round knock-out over Dennis Powell.

In his last bout, Farr was beaten in the seventh round by Don Cocknell, after which Tommy took the ring announcer’s microphone and sang the Welsh national anthem, which is seen by us all here in Wales as a fitting and emotional farewell to a roller coaster of a career of a great man.

Tommy Farr is rightly considered one of the greats in boxing and one of the greatest Welshmen in history. A fact of which he’d be very proud. Like he said after fighting Louis, “I’ve got plenty of guts….I’m a Welshman.”

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By Rio

London - Monday, 24th January 2010

Dutch Cruiser Mitchell Balker Beats Nick Okoth In London, Looks For Next UK Fight.

On Saturday night London based Dutch Cruiserweight prospect Mitchell Balker got the first UK win under his belt, after beating Battersea’s fighting fireman Nick ‘The Ox’ Okoth, at the Graham Earl promoted ‘Capital

Punishment’ event at York Hall in Bethnal Green.

Balker, who relocated to London in September last year to train with Johnny Eames at his Ultrachem TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, put the disappointment of losing his unbeaten record, when he faced #8 ranked Matty Askin on his British debut back in November last year, behind him and put on a dominating performance against the very tough Okoth.

Right from the opening bell Balker controlled the fight utilising crisp solid jabs to keep Okoth on the defensive, before swiftly moving in to land solid jabs and big right hands.

Round two see Okoth charge from his corner to take the fight to the Dutchman. Balker kept calm and stayed out of trouble by moving out of

range and occasionally letting rip with accurate lefts and rights, to both head and body, that slowed the advancing Okoth considerably.

Round three see Balker shift up a gear and just plain out box Okoth by utilising crisp jabs and powerful combinations. Okoth pressured Balker onto the ropes, but the savvy Dutchman would just step around Okoth and launch controlled attacks of his own. Often just jabbing to the head but occasionally with a venomous three punch combination that ended with a solid left to the body.

Round four was more of the same and it was no surprise that come the final bell the referee declared Balker the winner by a clear 40-36 points margin.

Following the fight Balker said, “I got my win, my first in UK. I feel really good, my performance was good, I just got in the ring and did my thing. It’s good to win all four rounds. I felt strong and was totally in control and I pushed him. It went OK.

The body shots we worked on in the gym worked good. I went to Nick Okoth in the changing rooms after the fight and he told me like ‘if you had hit me two, three more times there I would go down, if you hit me more with the body shots I would go down’.

It was good performance but I could do more. I felt little bit slow but it was still good.

I want another fight soon, build on the win and show what I can do.”

Balker’s manager/co-trainer Johnny Eames added, “I thought that Mitchell performed really well. It’s his first outing since Matty Askin, and he was fighting Nick Okoth, who really is a very, very brave man and gave a very good performance.

Mitchell boxed extremely well, boxed to orders and did what he was asked to do. It’s a shame he had a little bit of a cold, otherwise he may have had a stoppage, mind you I wouldn’t wish that on anyone really, especially Nick as he’s a lovely kid. But I think Mitchell would have definitely got the stoppage win.

Mitchell is a work in progress and we’re looking to get him out again soon, he’ll be available here for any fights against anyone outside the top ten.”

PHOTOS : Mitchell Balker lets rip against Nick ‘The Ox’ Okoth
PHOTO CREDIT: Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro
JustListen2This Publicity & Promotion

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Top boxing trainer Freddie Roach has found a new home in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico where he has been for the past two weeks preparing Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. for his next fight. “I have found this to be a very great experience. I did not know what to expect but it was been great. The people are very nice and to my surprise they know who I am. I thought the only other place as was known outside of the US was the Philippines,” said Roach with a smile. Roach is getting Chavez Jr. the January 29 fight against Billy Lyell, that will take place in the Banorte Soccer Stadium in Culiacan.

“People come up to me and ask me to take care of Julio and get him ready to fight for a championship. They ask for my autograph and take pictures with me. This people are very hospitable,” said Roach, who loves the food and has made some trips to nearby beaches in Mazatlan and Tata.

“I just love their sea food and I have even begun to eat their hot salsa and I also like the Mexican Banda music that is so popular here, it has a very unique sound with all the instruments they play with,” said Roach.

But Roach has also worked very hard with Chavez Jr. during his stay in Culiacan and was more than happy with the facilities.

“We everything we need here and Julio is working very hard. He will be ready for the fight and for Billy Lyell,” added Roach.

Photos: Rafael Soto/Top Rank

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Latest Boxing News in Brief – Monday 24^th January for: “Ali – Frazier” award, Charles defeats Vasquez, Chavez vs. Lyell, Diego Magdaleno, Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield, Freddie Roach, Gamboa vs. Solis, Jose Antonio Rivera, Juan Carlos Reveco, Martinez ‘Fighter of Year’, Oquendo destroys Santos

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• Gamboa vs. Solis - WBA Super World/IBF featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa (19-0, 15 KO’s) will be taking on WBA interim super featherweight champion Jorge Solis (40-2-2, 29 KO’s) on March 26th at the Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

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• Chavez vs. Lyell - Unbeaten middleweight contender Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (41-0-1, 30 KO’s) is probably facing the best opponent of his eight year pro career this Saturday night against 26-year-old Billy Lyell (22-8, 4 KO’s) at the Estadio Banorte, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. Chavez, 24, has effectively been filling in for not having much of an amateur career by extending his time facing B and C level fighters.

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• Comeback Jose Antonio Rivera. The Pride of Worcester, Massachusetts. 37-year-old former WBA World Light Middleweight Champion, and former WBA World Welterweight Champion. - After his retirement in 2008, with a professional record of 39 wins, against 6 losses, 1 draw and 24 knock outs, “El Gallo” has kept his guard up, as a Security Officer for the Worcester Housing Court - Rivera Returns on April 9th fight against a yet to be named opponent, on a boxing card promoted by Isperduli’s Paxton Promotions.

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• The WBA has affirmed that light flyweight champion Juan Carlos Reveco will continue to be recognized as champion for the moment. Reveco, who has been involved in a managerial dispute, is long overdue for a title defense and fought a non-title bout against WBA rules. “Everyone should be given the chance they deserve to seek justice,” stated WBA executive vice-president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza. He explained that Reveco will be asked to explain his actions, “and then the matter will be put to a vote.” He added that these “were flagrant violations,” and the process will take about a week. — Mendoza also clarified the situation involving former champion and #1 rated featherweight Celestino “Pelenchin” Knight, saying that Caballero is not the mandatory challenger. “The regulation is clear, and until the Committee acts, he isn’t the mandatory.

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Saturday night’s title fight between Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield and Sherman “Tank” Williams abruptly ended after three rounds due to a cut over Holyfield’s left eye that he suffered in the second round. Holyfield was unable to continue after three and the fight was declared a no contest because the cut was caused by an accidental head butt and the fight didn’t go minimum four rounds.

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• Charles defeats Vasquez - Osnel Charles (6-2) withstood a late surge by Victor Vasquez (12-5-1, 6 KOs) to win a majority decision in the six round lightweight main event Saturday night at Harrah’s Casino and Racetrack in Chester, Pennsylvania. In the co-feature, Zeferino Albino (4-12-2, 2 KOs) stopped “Big” John Poore (21-5, 18 KOs) after two completed rounds of a scheduled four round cruiserweight bout. The seven-bout card, which drew a standing-room-only crowd, was promoted by Joey Eye Boxing Promotions in association with David Feldman. It was the first-ever boxing event at the venue.

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• BWAA: Martinez ‘Fighter of Year’ - For Sergio Martinez, 2010 was a year to remember. He started by winning the world middleweight title from Kelly Pavlik, then successfully defended it with a sensational one-punch knockout of Paul Williams. As a result of Martinez’s success, the Boxing Writers Association of America have voted him recipient of the “Sugar Ray Robinson Fighter of the Year” award. Martinez becomes the second boxer from Argentina to receive this prestigious honor, the first being Carlos Monzon in 1972.

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• BWAA Awards - Freddie Roach maintained his perennial position as the “Trainer of the Year.” Roach won the for the third year in a row and fifth time overall. The award has always had special meaning for Roach as it is named after his mentor Eddie Futch.

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• BWAA Awards - “Ali – Frazier” award for “Fight of the Year.” - Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana. For the intensity and fury shown in December, when Amir Khan was pushed to the limit in winning a unanimous 12-round decision over Marcos Maidana.

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• BWAA Awards - Robert Guerrero had put his career on hold to deal with his wife Casey’s health issues. With her Leukemia in remission, Guerrero made a successful return to the ring. How he coped with the situation impressed the BWAA electorate who voted him the “Crawford” award for “Courage in Overcoming Adversity.”

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• Oquendo destroys Santos - In a clash for the NABO title on Saturday night at the Bayamón Correctional Complex 1072 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, super bantamweight Jonathan Oquendo (21-2, 14 KOs) won by KO when he sent Cecilio Santos (25-17-3, 15 KOs) to the canvas with a body punch in the first round and Santos didn’t beat the count. Time was 2:46.

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Diego Magdaleno - The Dallas Event Center at the Texas Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday night featured a sold-out crowd. Magdaleno did not disappoint the raucous hometown crowd of 1505 in one of his most impressive performances to date. One of Top Rank’s fast rising stars captured the title and again showcased a more punishing demeanor as he earned a resounding fifth round TKO victory and claimed the title while improving to 18-0 with his 6th knockout.

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Bernard O’Neill

Saturday, January 22, 2024

Irish National Novice Championships Finals

Mairead Whelan added to the Ryston BC’s ever expanding collection of Irish titles with a first round stoppage of Sandra McNally in the opening final in tonight’s National Novice Championships at IABA headquarters.

Whelan was 3-0 up when the flyweight decider was stopped just before the bell for the end of the frame. The bantamweight decider went to way of Dylan McDonagh, who carried a 4-0 first round advantage to the final bell at the expense of Chris Smith.

Miread Keane, who had multiple Irish senior champ Stephen Reynolds working her corner, ensured that one title was heading back to Sligo after coming from behind against Drimnagh BC ace Stephanie Quaile, who was leading for most of the three-rounder.

However, never-say-die Keane pulled it back to 6-6 in the final stanza and triumphed on a countback.

Meantime, Star BC featherweight John Hale was 6-0 up and en route to victory when his 57Kg showdown with Stephen McGaley was stopped in the second.

Aaron McKeith also impressed, a 4-1 decision over Darragh Hall ensuring that the Glengormley BC didn’t go home empty handed, while Cork’s Timmy Lehane and Bray’s Ryan Nolan were involved in a battle royale at 64Kg.

Lehane took the first round 1-0, but Nolan restored parity in the third to tie the light-welter final at 1-1 at the final bell before Lehane’s hand was raised in victory on a razor thin 3-2 countback.

The 67Kg final was a much tamer affair, not that that will trouble Clonard’s Conal Hall who denied Munster a second belt in a row after seizing the initiative in the second on his way to a 6-2 win over Limerick’s Daniel Tobin.

Dean Desmond was hoping to claim two on the trot for the Rylane BC in his 81Kg final with Karl O’Donnell. The Leesider opened up a 1-0 lead against the Dubliner in the first.

However, O’Donnell leveled affairs before the bell and both boxers were tied at 3-3 going into the third. It was 4-4 early in the second - and ended up at 5-5 - before O’Donnell shaded a 10-9 countback from one of the bouts of the Championships.

John Corcoran (Four Corners BC) denied the Star BC in Belfast their second title after producing a magnificent final round against Liam Corr. It was locked at 2-2 going into the third round of this encounter, but Corcoran racked up five points without reply to collect the cruiserweight title.

The super-heavyweight honours went to Noel Phelan. The Tolerton man was 6-1 in front at the start of the second round against Paul Courtney, who received a public warning for dropping his head in the first, and 8-2 ahead going into the third before sealing an 11-4 decision.

Dylan McDonagh (red) v Chris Smith

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Top Boxers Give Their Thoughts on First Half of the WSB Season

By WSB

Saturday, 22 January 2024 - Switzerland, Lausanne

With half of the 2010-2011 regular season gone, team tactics start to take on even greater importance and the top boxers start to consider the prospect of qualification for the Olympic Games through the Individual Championships.

We spoke to four of the top boxers across the five weight categories:

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Bantamweight

Ireland’s John Joe Nevin stands atop the bantamweight rankings ahead of Paris United team-mate Nordine Oubaali thanks to a greater number of away wins. Nevin got his season off to a good start with an important away win over Vincenzo Picardi of Paris United’s main rivals, Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder.

“After this win I knew I was on the right path,” he said, “I started well and I felt more confident.”

He followed up with another win on points over Selcuk Eker of the Istanbulls in week 3 and a home victory over the Thunder’s Vitaliy Volkov in week 6.

“It feels great,” he says, “but it is only half season. I am glad to be on the top but I know there is 6 weeks of competition left.”

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Lightweight

Everton Dos Santos Lopes from Brazil tops the lightweight rankings. The Los Angeles Matador boxer is happy with this and with the WSB in general:

“It feels great. It is a very important moment for me and my family. WSB is very different from what I did so far in boxing. I love the training. There is much more physical preparation, fitness, running, sparring. We need to be in excellent form to be prepared for each match. We train a lot and this is why I love it - I want to learn more and more.”

Lopes is tied on wins with Yerzhan Mussafirov of the Baku Fires but has a five-point advantage over his Asian rival.

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Light heavyweight

Ludovic Groguhe is the second boxer from Paris United to top the individual rankings. However, he is more interested in the team’s progress than his personal career: “The biggest challenge is to become World WSB Champion in the best team. I hope that we will participate in the play-off with my friends of Paris United.”

Groguhe has a 3-0 record with two away wins and has a three-point lead over Beijing Olympian Abdelhafid Benchabla of the Pohang Poseidons. He enjoyed his last victory in Paris in front of the home fans but claims his worst moment of the competition so far was a momentary lapse of concentration in the opening seconds against Sergiy Lapin of the Istanbulls. But the lapse was indeed only momentary, since in Groguhe’s own words, “I awoke and won by TKO in the second round.”

“Nikolajs Grisunins from Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder was my toughest opponent,” he continues. “I won in the last seconds of an incredible fight.”

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Heavyweight

Magomedrasul Medzhidov of the Baku Fires has a commanding lead in the heavyweight rankings, 66 points ahead of Olympic silver medalist Clemente Russo of the Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder.

The position is natural for the 24-year-old Azeri, who is one of only four boxers to floor his opponent in the first half of the season. “It feels right,” he says, “and at the same time hard, because I’ll have to always show better results. I’ve always strived to be 1st.”

“The matches had their ups and downs, I remember only the best moments - my winning moments. WSB has been an opportunity, a step towards my dream. ”

Mezhidov sees tough opponents and good coaches in the other teams in the Asian conference, but despite this does not consider the WSB to pose any challenges: “For me at WSB there are no challenges, just opportunities. The only thing is a good chance to go and fight for your dream.”

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FIGHT REPORT: Morby Retains Title - Upsets, Drama And Controversy At York Hall

Article and Photos by Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro
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Former WBU Lightweight Champion, turned promoter, Graham Earl promised closely matched, exciting fights on his return to York Hall on Saturday night with his ‘Capital Punishment’ event. Being a man of his word, that’s just what Graham delivered and much, much more.
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For a start there were no less than three drawn bouts, albeit two being declared under the new BBBofC ‘technical draw’ rule. There was a massive upset, when Alex Spitko stopping Navid Iran. There was bloody drama when two fights were stopped due to bad cuts and there was controversy as Manny Oshunrinde was denied a clear stoppage win, only to receive a ‘technical draw’. More on these a little later.
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The headline Southern Area Super Middleweight title clash between Paul Morby and Daniel ‘The Slick’ Cadman was a closely fought affair, so much so that after ten hard fought rounds the Referee declared the bout a draw.

The bout got of to quite a slow start as both protagonists feeling each other out, as such it was impossible to declare a clear leader after the first couple of rounds. Cadman had set his stall out, deciding to close the Champion down. Whilst Cadman did all the controlling it was Morby that landed the more meaningful punches, just not enough.

Round three was a much more lively affair, with plenty of back and forth exchanges. About midway through the round the crowd leapt to their feet as one as Cadman backed Morby onto the ropes and let rip with a powerful flurry of shots. Cadman was driven on, to try and finish the fight early following landing a vicious left to the body, that clearly hurt the Champion. Morby survived the onslaught but round three was clearly Cadman’s.

Cadman again seemed to hurt Morby with a an equally vicious left to the body in the fourth round. However this was the wake up call the Champion needed, Morby came back with some world class ring craft and salvo of punches of his own as he boxed his way out of trouble. Whilst again a very close round I felt that Morby had done just enough to claim the round.

Round five was all Cadman. The reigning champ showed he has the heart of a Lion, soaking up onslaught after onslaught , any of which looked sure to end the Champions reign at a moments notice. At times the round got messy, as Morby clung to Cadman in an effort to stop further punishing salvos. Cadman’s round for sure.

Round six was more or less an extension of the later part of the fifth, with Morby grabbing hold of Cadman each time he mounted an attack. Saying that there was some scintillating action, just more holding than action. Again I gave the round to Cadman as he was by far the more positive and landed the more meaningful, and hurtful, punches.

Round seven was again a close round, like in the previous rounds there was a lot of holding, but there was also plenty of back and forth action. I gave the round to Morby purely as he had landed the more telling punches.

Round eight saw some excellent action, between the holding that is. Again another very close round, this time I just couldn’t split the pair.

Round nine was a scrappy affair, but did include some fiery exchanges, as well as some rather amusing moments - first Cadman is sent head first through the ropes following some nifty footwork by Morby, who sidestepped an attack before spinning the flaying Cadman head first through the ropes.

Just moments later the tables were turned when Cadman stepped aside, matador style, as Morby charged forward. Morby’s pace was such that the momentum almost propelled him completely over the third rope and onto the officials table. Finally following another grappling session Morby gets pushed down to end up kneeling in front of less than amused referee.

At the end of the three minutes again it was impossible to declare a clear winner of the round.

With just the one round to go this fight could go either way. Morby comes out hard and fast but Cadman doesn’t seem fazed and stands his ground. Following yet more grappling sessions, interspersed by some scintillating back and forth action. Both gave there all, it was without doubt a magnificent, and again too close to call, final round, even with the holding and pushing, and truly deserving of the rapturous applause that ensued as the final bell rang.

The cheers quickly turned to jeers though as the referee lifted both Morby and Cadman’s hands high declaring the fight a 96-96 draw, as such Paul Morby gets to retain his title.

Hopefully there will be a rematch in the not to distant future.
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Prior to the headline bout American Super Middleweight Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Oshunrinde was clearly robbed of his first win on British soil by the fight being declared a technical draw following the fight being stopped, in the first round, due to a serious cut over Smyle’s right eye.

Unlike the earlier technical draw decision, when a cut was caused by an accidental clash of heads, the cut to Smyle’s eye, as well as a serious swelling below the right eye, was caused by the many solid and highly accurate jabs and punches Oshunrinde landed throughout the short encounter.

Both protagonists started fast, however Oshunrinde quickly took control with his superior jab, often forcing Smyle backwards. Around half way through the round Oshunrinde again sent Smyle backwards, but this time followed up and let rip with a big left-right to the head.

Smyle covered up quickly, but not quick enough to stop another heavy straight right. Oshunrinde looked set to continue the onslaught but the eagle eyed referee had spotted the blood gushing from a cut above Smyle’s eye and called a halt to the proceedings.
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The highly anticipated clash between Ultrachem TKO’s exciting London based Dutch Cruiserweight prospect Mitchell Balker and Battersea’s fighting Fireman Nick ‘The Ox’ Okoth proved to be one of the fight’s of the night.

Balker’s savvy ring craft proved to be too much for ‘The Ox’. Right from the start Balker controlled the fight utilising crisp jabs to keep Okoth on the defensive before moving in to land solid jabs and right hands before stepping aside to thwart any return salvos from the heavy handed Okoth.

Round two see Okoth charge from his corner before swinging wildly in a effort to gain a semblance of control. Balker kept calm and stayed out of trouble by moving out of range and occasionally letting rip with accurate lefts and rights that slowed the advancing Okoth considerably.

Round three see Balker step things up a notch and just plain out box Okoth with crisp jabs and wicked combinations. Each time Okoth advanced Balker would let him back him onto the ropes before spinning Okoth and launching a controlled attack of his own. Often to the head but sometimes with a peach of a three punch combination that ended with a solid left to the body.

Round four was more of the same and it was no surprise that come the final bell the referee declared Balker the winner by a clear 40-36 points margin.
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Before the break Redhill’s Daryl Setterfield had a short and bloody battle with Jay Morris.

Prior to the fight stopping cut there wasn’t much to choose between the two as they slugged it out. However the turning point came about three quarter the way through the first round after an accidental clash of heads.

Blood gushed from a nasty cut above Setterfield’s left eye and in an instant Morris was all over him like a rash. Setterfield covered up, protecting the wound from possible more damaging blows, and soaked up the pressure until the bell.

World class cuts man Jimmy Tibbs got to work on the badly damaged eye as Johnny Eames calmed Setterfield, who looked concerned by the extent of the bleeding.

As the bell rang for the second round Morris shot across the ring and let rip with a series of massive bombs. However instead of covering up Setterfield returned fire with a brace of exocets of his own.

Both returned to boxing, rather than attempting to take the other’s head off, but following another close quarter exchange a second accidental head clash reopened the wound, leaving referee Bob Williams no option but to stop the fight and declare the bout a technical draw.
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The third fight of the night was set to be a feisty affair, as both Sutton’s Danny ‘Cassius Connor and Stevenage’s Terry Holmes had publicly stated their intention of knocking the other out.

Round one started fast, Connor using his superior jab to keep the raging bull attacks of Holmes at bay. Connor showcased his boxing skills whilst Holmes seemed content to throw bomb after bomb whenever he got in range, or not as the case may be. It was a close round but I felt that Connor had done enough to secure the round.

Round two was more of the same, until around midway when one of Holmes’ bombs hit the target - hard. Feeling more confident Holmes went on the attack forcing Connor back. Connor continued to use his jab to keep the terrier like Holmes at bay, however Holmes just wouldn’t back down. I see the round in favour of Holmes.

Things settled down a bit in the third round and some good toe-to-toe action ensued. Holmes slowed things down a bit and instead of launching wild attacks started picking his punches. Connor was boxing beautifully but the tide had turned firmly in favour of Holmes with his more controlled approach.

Round four was more of the same again and at one point looked like Holmes may have the stoppage he predicted after landing a big right before pouncing on Connor with a flurry of big shots. Connor weaved and ducked but with his back to the rope didn’t seem to have an escape route so let rip with a few of his own. This was enough for Holmes to take to the back foot. Connor pushed forward and let rip with a salvo of his own. The crowd were on their feet as the action flowed back and forth until the final bell rang and Holmes was declared victor by a 40-36 points margin - whilst I agree Terry Holmes won the fight I don’t feel it was a four round shutout.
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The second bout of the night see a massive upset as Navid Iran lost his unbeaten record to Mansfield’s Alex ‘Pit Bull’ Spitko.

The early going was all Iran, who dominated with vicious two handed attacks. At around the midway mark of the first round it seemed the fight may already be over after Iran landed a massive right. Spiko’s legs were gone, but somehow the plucky Latvian exile stayed on his feet to weather the storm.

The turning point of the fight came in the second minute of the third round when Iran seemed to run out of wind. Spitko turned the tables big time and let rip with a full blown salvo, Iran tried to run but Spitko stayed on him like a rash throwing flurries of shots until the referee Bob Williams stepped in to stop the fight at the 2 minute 39 second mark.
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The opening fight of the night, between Joe Hillerby and Ryan Clark, also featured a battle of former World Champions turned trainers, as Graham Earl was in Hillerby’s corner and Carl Greaves in Clarke’s.

The normally fast starting Clarke seemed a little more cautious than normal, which allowed Hillerby to take the first couple of rounds by forcing the pace throughout.

Round three see the real Ryan Clarke emerge. Normal service is resumed as Clarke starts letting rip with heavy hands. Hillerby is made of sterner stuff though, standing his ground and trading with equal venom. Much closer round but Hillerby still gets the nod and is set for a good win.

More of the same in fourth with Clarke throwing everything but the kitchen sink in an effort to stop the advancing juggernaut known as the ‘Belfast Banger’. No surprise that Hillerby and Graham Earl come out the winners in this one.
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Without doubt Graham Earl is a man of his word as ‘Capital Punishment’ featured well matched bouts that produced plenty of drama and excitement, as well as a little controversy to keep everyone talking.

So there you have it London’s first boxing show of 2011, can’t wait for the next - Bring it on!

PHOTO CREDIT:
Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

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By Daniel Ciminera

McEwan steps in to replace retiring Duddy

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Andy Lee was left high and dry without an opponent with John Duddy taking the decision to retire ahead of their scheduled 12th March clash, citing a lack of desire to make the sort of sacrifices required to be the fighter he needs to be as the reason for his retirement. Which as an aside, is quite a refreshing thing to hear in boxing, it would be nice to hear more guys admit this way sooner rather than fight on and do themselves harm.

Scottish southpaw, Craig McEwan (19/0 – 10ko) had been touted as a potential replacement for Duddy along with fan favourite, Peter Manfredo Jr. when Lee told press he was keen to go ahead and fight on the 12th March. But tonight, I am told that McEwan and Lee have agreed terms and signed their contracts for the 12th.

Some say Lee should be fighting Bryan Vera who dealt him his only career defeat back in 2008, but For me, McEwan, who decisioned Vera in 2009, is a stronger opponent and he must be given credit for not taking a softer touch, rather than criticized for not fighting Vera. Which lets face it, at the moment is applying Khan/Prescott to other fights for the sake of it! Vera is even more out of the picture than Prescott having only won 3 of his last 8 contests and is ranked at 34.

If Lee can get past his undefeated challenger in what promises to be an action-packed encounter, there are 20 or so credible guys out there including aforementioned Manfredo Jr, and the ever controversial Chavez Jr. in the ever talented middleweight division.

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