By Terence Dooley
Floyd Mayweather Junior (49-0, 26 stoppages) retired with an unbeaten record last year, but a group of feminists in the city of Bristol claim to have KO’d his proposed speaking event following a series of protests.
John Houseman of the Bristol Post today reported that the event has been relocated, Bristol’s feminist community believe it is down to the fact that they publicised the former world Champion’s history of domestic violence.
However, the organisers of An Evening with Floyd Mayweather have claimed that there were practical reasons for moving the show away from Colston Hall, arguing that it was a simple case of “unforeseen circumstances”.
Julie Zerlang of Fight Abuse Bristol led the protests as well as drawing up a petition and urging fellow feminists to complain to the venue’s management team. “We welcome the news that the event has been cancelled,” she said when speaking to the Bristol Post.
“Our opposition, petition and planned protest came from a place of hurt. A place of hurt for the many women who daily suffer domestic abuse, and for their children who are equally affected by these atrocities.
“On average, two women die at the hands of their partner here in the UK and 750,000 children witness domestic violence every year, profoundly affecting them—as was the case with Mayweather Jr's own children. The issue is as poignant as ever, and deserves our attention.”
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Ken Buchanan is widely acknowledged as Scottish boxing’s greatest export. The tough, skilful former world lightweight Champion was held in such high esteem a trophy was named after him and given out annually to the country’s most promising young fighter. Unfortunately, the cup disappeared over 30 years ago and the award ceased to exist.
That has all changed, though, as former awardee Jim McIntosh found the cup in his garden shed and has put it back into circulation. McIntosh won the prize in 1978, aged 18—Buchanan presented him with the cup. In a case of role reversal, the former fighter handed the cup back to Buchanan at an event celebrating the Scottish legend’s life and career.
"It was under my Uncle Arthur's stair for a while, then moved to my sister Rose's house about 25 years ago and ended up in her hut,” said McIntosh when speaking to Alan McEwen of the Daily Record.
“It only came back to my mind when I was looking at a photo of my work manager holding a trophy.”
“I remember Jim and it's great the trophy turned up,” added Buchanan. “It would be nice if it could be awarded again.”
What Ken wants Ken gets—if you ken—as the cup will be put back into circulation and handed out to Scotland’s most promising young fighters once again.
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Multiple outlets have reported that Muhammad Ali is to be the subject of an exhibition here in the U.K. “The Greatest” will be on show once again when over 100 items go on display to celebrate the life and career of the man deemed by many to be the greatest heavyweight of all time.
It includes a full size boxing ring as well as photos and artefacts from Ali’s long and storied career, including a pair of signed gloves he gave to fellow icon Elvis Presley. Fittingly, it is called I Am The Greatest and opens at the O2 on March 24. The 74-year-old is in poor health yet hopes to attend the exhibition at some point.
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Terry Flanagan (29-0, 12 KOs) and Derry Mathews (38-9-2, 20 early) will have to wait a little bit longer for their tussle when it was announced that their fight has been moved to March 12 after WBO lightweight titlist Flanagan picked up an injury in training.
WBA World title-holder Anthony Crolla has given Flanagan even more of an incentive by reiterating that he is interested in fighting his fellow Mancunian. “Million Dollar” told Sheldan Keay of the Manchester Evening News that, should they both continue to win, an all-Manchester showdown is “inevitable”.
He said: “I can certainly see the fight happening and if it makes business sense then we can sit down and thrash out the right deal.
“We've got to be honest here though. They can offer me £500,000 or they can offer me £10m but it won't matter as I've got to fight my mandatory first. Unless I give my title up then they know the fight can't happen yet. Terry and Derry are fighting first as well so there are a few things that need to happen before we can talk.”
He added: “I fancy Terry to stop Derry between rounds six and eight. Derry is a brave fighter but I think Terry's style is all wrong for him. He beat him up in Prize-fighter and he's only got better since then so I don't see it being different this time round.”
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Success is not a given in boxing, in fact very few fighters make it all the way to the top and fewer still earn enough money to justify fighting as professionals. A lot of fighters fall by the wayside for a number of reasons.
This was the case today when Swindon’s Garvey Kelly (4-2, 1 stoppage) told Michael Reeves of the Swindon Advertiser that he has retired from the sport after only six fights, citing a recent loss to Lee Connelly (4-17-1, no KOs) as on of the reasons.
The 27-year-old’s story is a familiar one to anyone who has tried to juggle boxing with both family and work commitments.
“I've been struggling with motivation and getting up and going training was getting harder and harder,” he said. “It's really hard having a young family at home, but having to dedicate so much of my time to the gym. I love boxing and always will. I have spent at least seven years climbing uphill to get where I am.
“I started boxing at 20 and I'm 28 this year. The journey has been wicked but I feel like maybe it's time for a new chapter in my life. I would like to say thanks to all those who showed any kind of support. Swindon is a fight town and I'm proud to have been involved in such a cool group of people.”
Paddy Fitzpatrick trained the former fighter, he said: “I am extremely proud to have been involved with Garvey because I think he is an exceptional human being. He has taught me a lot about how to be a man in the eight years that we have spent together—I think that I have taught him a lot.
“When he came to me he was possibly a bit lost, he has found his way, he has got three kids, a lovely lady, he is a fantastic father, he a great example to everyone on how to conduct himself.”
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