Official British Boxing Thread

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There is no British boxing community!

We have enough Brits on this forum, but the inactivity of our scene is poor. I have to travel to various other sites to find news and have decent discussions about our fighters.

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Upcoming bouts;

Tony Quigley vs Paul Smith
Frankie Gavin vs Steve Saville
Tony Bellew vs Jindrich Velecky
James DeGale vs Ally Morriso
Jamie Cox vs Manoocha Salari
Stephen Smith vs Gavin Reid
Liam Smith vs TBA


Card is stacked with prospects!

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The Haymaker - David Haye, a.k.a “The Haymaker,” is brash, ****y, and an incessant trash talker (he called Valuev "a big hairy freak," "a circus act" and also said the champion "stinks."). He fights with an explosive style and sledgehammer power, and possess a physique that Jeff Lacey would covet. As well, he is a legitimate knock out artist with 21 stoppages in his 22 fights. His only loss came against Carl “The Cat” Thompson in a closet classic fought back in 2004, but that was then and this is now..

The problem with Haye is that he doesn’t fight anywhere near often enough. Among his victims sine losing to “The Cat” have been Enzo Maccarinelli, Jean Marc Mormeck, Giacobbe Fragomeni, Alexander Gurov, and Glen Kelly. Indeed, his haymakers have been of the equal opportunity variety. Both he and the colossus fought Monte Barrett and both slaughtered Monte Barrett.
The “Haymaker” pretty well summed up what he has to do to beat the plodding Russian Giant, Nikolay Valuev, on November 7 in Nuremberg

"I'm going to have to fight better than I've fought before. I'm going to have to take a shot better than I've ever done before. I'm going to have to hit harder. My reflexes have got to be faster. I've got to be able to cover more distance, be quicker on my feet than I've ever been.”

The Beast

With a record of 52-1, Nikolay Valuev, a.k.a. “The Russian Giant” or Beast from the East,” is active enough. His problem, however, is that his plodding and ugly style makes watching paint dry a viable option.

A quiet and dignified person, he is point counterpoint to Haye. He is a patient, savvy, and strong fighter who is expert in not getting hit, and he has yet to be floored or knocked out in his 16-year professional career. Though over 7 feet tall and about 320 pounds in weight, the “Beast" is surprisingly quick, but even more surprisingly, he is a feather-fisted who uses his jab over and over and over.

The Logic

Now then, Valuev barley beat John Ruiz twice, and many say he didn’t really beat him in their last bout in 2008 in Berlin (where their first bout also was held). Many say Larry Donald clearly outpointed him in 2005 in Niedersachsen, Germany (the fight was a MD). Ruslan Chagaev DID beat him for the WBA World heavyweight title in 2007. This also was by MD. On December 20, 2008, The Giant squeaked by an aging Evander Holyfield again by an extremely controversial MD. Some called it one of the worst decisions ever in a heavyweight title fight. The one time legend outworked the befuddled colossus over 12 dreadfully boring rounds pot-shoting him more than enough to win an easy decision--at least in my view. Thus, he has 2 MD’S and one SD in his last 5 fights. The other two also went the limit against a worn Sergey Lyakhovich and limited and unknown Jean Francois Bergeron. Not exactly a testimonial to his power.

My feeling is that Haye, with his explosive speed and power would have decimated the geriatric Holyfield and easily beaten Ruiz, not to mention Lyakhovich and Bergeron.

In short, if Haye can theoretically wipe out a guy who arguably beat the “Beast” (i.e., Holyfield), why can he not beat the Beast? If he theoretically can handle guys who came this close to beating the “Beast,” why can’t he beat the “Beast?”

The Outcome

Haye punches with explosive power, speed, and sharp accuracy. He also is willing to force the action. Against this monster, he will need to make his punches count without taking too many himself.

If the smaller yet faster “Haymaker” bring his explosiveness against an opponent to whom he will be giving away 9 inches in height and about 100 pounds in weight, he should have the perfect combination of skills, speed, and power to frustrate the bigger and taller champion and win a decision. However, he must avoid clinches because the Russian uses them to his advantage to tire out his opponents, and he must pick his shots carefully and accurately by getting in and out quickly. Haye has knocked out 21 of his 23 opponents, but, all things considered, knocking out the Giant doesn’t seem as logical as decisioning him.

Source;

ESB

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British Welterweight Champion Kell Brook has suffered his first KO defeat - at the hands of a viral infection that will keep him out of his British welterweight title defence on Friday night in Liverpool. The Lonsdale belt holder - and 2009 Boxing Writers' Young Boxer of the Year - was due to meet Michael Jennings at the Echo Arena in a mouth-watering domestic clash, but has had to pull out because of his illness. The fight will be rescheduled as soon as possible, while Jennings will feature in an eight rounder on action-packed card which is topped by the cracking British super-middleweight title fight between Champion Tony Quigley and challenger Paul Smith..

It also features some of the country's brightest prospects James DeGale, Frankie Gavin, Tony Bellew, Stephen Smith and Jamie Cox.

"I'm gutted that I won't be part of what will be a very big fight night in Liverpool," said undefeated Brook.

"I came down with the virus after collecting my Boxing Writers award in London last week. Since then I haven't been unable to move let alone train and there's no way I was going to fight a top fighter like Jennings in this state,

"I was really looking forward to defending my British title, but I hope that the fight with Jennings will be back on very quickly,

"I'll be glued to my television on Friday night because it's going to be a great fight between Smith and Quigley."

Source;

ESB

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Former World Champion Barry McGuigan is tipping his Super Bantamweight protégé Carl Frampton to follow in his footsteps by reaching the very top in the sport. The “Clones Cyclone” is now managing a stable of boxers himself and he’s very excited about Belfast man Frampton who will have his third pro fight on the undercard of Paul McCloskey’s European title challenge at the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt on Friday, November 6th..

While McCloskey will be looking to take the European Light Welterweight title off former World Champ Souleymane M’baye in the main event the 22-year-old Frampton will be looking to continue his professional apprenticeship on the supporting bill. The 2009 Irish Senior Featherweight Champ made his punch for pay debut in June with an impressive second round KO before adding a second win to his record last month and McGuigan believes he’s destined for stardom.

“Carl’s a world class super bantamweight and every time I watch him spar that’s confirmed to me,” said McGuigan. “He’s something really special and he has everything that’s needed to succeed in the pro game. He’s a really exciting talent and I think he’ll prove that at the highest level.”

Even as an amateur Frampton’s all action style marked him out as ideally suited to the pro ranks and McGuigan believes he’s made a relatively seamless transition to date.

“There’s a major transition to be made from the amateur to the pro game,” said McGuigan. ”They’re very different codes but it’s a very exciting journey for Carl. His style was already more suited to the pro’s but there are subtle, little things he’s had to work on and they will take time to perfect but he has a tremendous boxing brain and he’s getting good quality sparring against top pros.

“Right now at this stage of his career it’s all about getting Carl regular fights and the best sparring available. He’s already spent time in a lot of different training camps. Before his last fight he sparred the Commonwealth Featherweight Champ, John Simpson and I’m planning on having him spar the likes of Rendall Munroe and Jason Booth shortly.”

McGuigan also believes that Frampton possesses the kind of knockout power that will make him a big hit with fight fans. “He’s a phenomenal puncher. He might only be a super bantamweight but he punches like a welterweight and he’s fabulously exciting to watch and I expect him to be in contention for the British title within 18 months.”

The undercard at the Meadowbank Sports Arena also features Belfast’s Martin Lindsay with the reigning British Featherweight Champion getting a chance to press his European title claims and add to his 14 fight perfect record on the card. In a second title bout on the card Liverpool’s Steve Williams and Londoner Michael Grant will square off in an English Light Welterweight title decider.

Liverpool’s “Dangerous” John Donnelly will also be in action as he builds towards a shot at the British bantamweight title while further local interest will come in the shape of Omagh’s popular light welterweight Damian Taggart with hard hitting Belfast heavyweight, David Hannah also making his debut on the card.

Source;

ESB

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Exciting 23-year-old southpaw Jamie Cox of Swindon, U.K, is perhaps one win away from a shot at the British welterweight title. The 12-0(7) talent, who captured Commonwealth gold in 2006, fights veteran Manoocha Salari on this Friday's big Liverpool card that is topped by British 147-pound champ Kell Brook defending against former champion Michael Jennings - and the word is, if he's victorious, Cox will fight the winner.

Speaking to me about this and other things today, Jamie very kindly gave the following answers to my questions:

James Slater: It's great to speak with you, Jamie. First of all, how's training gone for your fight on October 30th, against Manoocha Salari?

Jamie Cox: Training's gone well. Everything's on point and I'm just looking forward to the fight now.

J.S: What do you know about Salari? He's a southpaw like you isn't he?

J.C: Yeah, he's a southpaw. I've not actually seen him fight but I have looked at his record. He's been in with some top fighters, like Ryan Rhodes. You have to be ready for any style anyway.

J.S: I see he has a stoppage win over Martin Concepcion from a few years back. He could be dangerous then?

J.C: For sure. You can't take any fighter or any fight for granted. You have to take very fight like it's a world title fight.

J.S: I read how you got a cut over your right eye in your last fight back in July. Has there been any problem with that?

J.C: It was a very small cut, high up on the brow. It's healed perfectly and I've had no problem with it at all in training camp.

J.S: I've read how Frank Warren has verbally promised you a fight with the winner of October 30th's headliner between Kell Brook and Michael Jennings. Is that a definite?

J.C: Yes, Frank said that to me and I trust Frank and take his word. So yeah, that would be a very exciting fight, me against whoever wins on the 30th.

J.S: And who do you think wins that one, Jamie?

J.C: I think it's a close fight, a fifty-fifty fight. Kell has the speed and the power, while Jennings has the experience. You know, Jennings has been around for ages, he's been in with [Miguel] Cotto and nothing fazes him. It's a very interesting fight. If it goes late, I'd go with Jennings. I'm not really going to call a winner, but Kell has the better chance early on I think.

J.S: You've been after a fight with Kell Brook for a while now. Deep down do you kind of hope he wins so you can fight him, or are you not concerned who wins?

J.C: I'm not bothered [who wins]. I just want to fight the best of the best, so I can show how good I am. Obviously Kell's doing very well right now, he's just won the Young Boxer of The Year award. But I want to get in there and show people what I can do.

J.S: How far is your fight with Salari scheduled for?

J.C: It's scheduled for 8 rounds.

J.S: And it's on a big bill, which is to be shown live on Sky Sports. I know you've been shown live on Sky before, but is it fair to say this fight is the biggest bill you'll have been on so far as a pro?

J.C: No, I fought on the under-card of the Joe Calzaghe-Mikkel Kessler fight - in front of about 60,000 people, which was a bit daunting. Daunting but exciting. I don't think anything will ever compare to that really.

J.S: My apologies, I didn't know you fought on that card. Still, October 30th's bill is a big one; you obviously want to shine in your fight?

J.C: I definitely want to shine. Like I say, I want to show how good I am, and then hopefully they will start building up my fight against the Brook-Jennings winner.

J.S: Do you want a KO against Salari, or would you like to get some rounds in?

J.C: As long as I win in style. A KO can look good, as long as I look good up until I get it. Or if I shine in every round on the way to a big win on points.

J.S: Ideally, would you like the Jennings-Brook winner next, or would you prefer to have another fight beforehand?

J.C: I'm ready now. I'd like to fight the winner in my next fight after this one.

J.S: Well, it's been great speaking with you, Jamie. I appreciate your time. You're 12-0(7) now, and you'll definitely be 13-0 come October 30th?

J.C: I hope so, yes.

Source;

ESB

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I've heard a lot about Cox, haven't seen him fight yet or not that I can remember.

Anyone have an opinion on the guy?

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Albert Sosnowski fights Paolo Vidoz on the 18th December for the vacant EBU heavyweight title.

Sosnowski beat Williams in 8 last November. Recently got a draw against Pianeta.

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George Groves fights on the undercard of Haye-Valuev. A lot of people I've spoken to regard Groves as one of Britain's best prospects.

This is Groves in his pro debut;

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