Frank Warren column

A rich man from the East named Dr. Wu wants to rule the world of boxing. Dr who?

He’s Dr. C K Wu, the 68-year-old  English-educated billionaire from Taiwan who has just been re-elected for his third term as president of AIBA, aka the International Boxing Association, which controls what used to be called amateur boxing and is responsible for the sport in the Olympic Games.

Now we hear he is determined to fulfil his long-held aim to govern boxing in all its forms, including us professionals, under his personal umbrella. Good luck with that.

The whole concept is ridiculous. Crazy. It is neither practical nor feasible. What we will end up with is just another label in an overcrowded alphabet soup. Or a monopoly.

Does sport need another Fifa?

Dr Wu should be content that under his governance AIBA’s branch of boxing is now arguably in a better state than it has ever been. Leave the pros to fight their own battles.

There is no way AIBA can logically embrace the established professional bodies or superstar boxers such as Wladimir Klitschko, Floyd Mayweather Jnr. and Manny Pacquiao. I doubt, for example that the British Boxing Board of Control would want any part of such an arrangement. As a promoter I certainly wouldn’t, nor, I know, would leading fight American fight figures like Bob  Arum or Golden Boy Promotions.  Dr. Wu’s grand plan to overlord it would  swiftly be kicked into touch.

There is no doubt that since his initial election in 2006 Dr Wu, a former architect and construction engineer, who I am told was responsible for the design of Milton Keynes, has kept his promise to make what used to be amateur boxing more honest and transparent, restoring its credibility

Many of his reformist ideas, such as introducing pro-style punch-for-pay tournaments and less suspect scoring systems, abolishing headguards and vests in major men’s tournaments, and bringing women’s boxing into the Games, have revived a sport once so riddled with corruption that it was in danger of losing its Olympic status.

But one of his previously mooted notions I sincerely hope will not be implemented is allowing fully-fledged pros, including established world champions, to compete in the Olympics.

Those of us who watched the current multi-world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko's destruction of leading contender Kubrat Pulev, a hitherto undefeated bruiser from Bulgaria, in Hamburg last Saturday night, will testify how foolhardy and dangerous this is.

Letting even less accomplished pros loose on comparative tyros even under restrictive Olympic regulations would be courting potentially disastrous mismatches.

It would be unfair and unworkable. Imagine a club tennis player getting through to an Olympic final to face Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer or Andy Murray. It would be the same in boxing. Only far more hazardous.
 

Dr. Wu I hope will tread warily lest he takes professionalising his sport too far. For there are still those on the International Olympic Committee who do not share an enthusiasm for boxing and would happily see it ditched, especially in the event of a series of ring mishaps or, heaven forbid, a fatality.

AIBA’s venture into ‘professional’ boxing will struggle to capture a global audience unless they can unearth a superstar. They hoped they may have had one in our Olympic champion Anthony Joshua but he eventually took the much better rewarded route as is always likely to be the case with young prospects who have world title aspirations.

Dr. Wu should concentrate on what he does best, invigorating and growing amateur boxing under dynamic leadership, and leave the professionals to concentrate on their business.

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Floyd Mayweather Jnr. versus Manny Pacquiao, the ultimate mega-bucks ring showdown the world has been wanting to see years, seems closer to happening than it has ever been.

The well-chronicled hostility between their respective promotional organisations has noticeably thawed. I was on the same table as Pacquiao’s mentor  Bob Arum, and Golden Boy’s Oscar de la Hoya, who works with Mayweather, at the recent WBO convention in Las Vegas, and there clearly was a will to get it on. In the end it may be Mayweather’s call but there’s no doubt the Pacman is up for it

So it seems ironic that he’s taking a huge risk by facing an opponent who could put a fist through what could be boxing  biggest bonanza.

The phenomenal Filipino defends his world welterweight title against Chris Algieri, a decent New Yorker of Italian-Argentine descent, in Macau, the fight game’s latest fiscal mecca, this weekend.

Unbeaten in 20 contests, will the tall and rangy 30-year-old Algieri offer a worrying threat to Pacquiao?  He has heart and determination, coming off the canvas twice in the first round to defeat tough Russian Ruslan Provodnikov to claim the WBO light-welterweight crown in June.

I personally don’t see him winning but at 35 Pacquiao has been showing signs of decline of late and as we know boxing history is steeped in  upsets. Can Algieri be a the new Cinderella Man?

He is also something of brain box, having already acquired a BA in health care science and a Masters in technology. He eventually plans to become a doctor specialsiing in cardiovascular medicine. Another thick fighter, eh? 

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Talking of educated fists, Klitschko, who like his brother Vital holds a doctorates in philosophy, gave one of the most impressive  performances of his career in despatching Pulev in his 17th successive heavyweight title defence.

Tomorrow night in Liverpool, it is the turn of another graduate, Nathan Cleverly, to try and look smart. His return with Scouser Tony Bellew is a decent domestic dust-up that has sold out the Echo Arena even though little more than pride is at stake.    

When they fought for me there three years ago both were undefeated and it was was for Cleverly’s WBO World Light-Heavyweight crown. Now both have grown into cruiserweights, and genuinely retain an intense dislike of each other.

Last time I thought Cleverly clearly won, as did everyone except Bellew. Subsequently both have had demolition jobs done on them in  world title fights which cannot have helped the confidence of either.

However provided he doesn’t get clipped early on I see Cleverly using that grey matter to outwork and outscore the ever-blustering Bellew again.

Punter’s dismay at having to fork out PPV for the contest has seen countless reputable names in British boxing added to help bolster sales.  But according to the bookmakers, none are in any real danger of losing.

If you were to back either Cleverly or Bellew and the remaining six ‘home’ fighters to win their contests, the bookies are offering a paltry £2.67 return on a £1 accumulator.  It’s safe to say the bookies aren't expecting any upsets.

Compare this BoxNation’s mammoth bill next Saturday at the sold out ExCeL in London.  Odds on a Chisora, Eubank Jnr. and Gavin treble are paying 9.5/1 and a treble on Fury Billy Joe Saunders and Bradley Skeete is a near identical return.  It goes to show there is a real value in 50/50 match ups!

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I can sympathise with the organisers of the ATP World Tour Finals over the withdrawal of  Roger Federer  at London’s O2 on Sunday night.  We took similar stick when Tyson Fury pulled out of of his original return date with Dereck Chisora. But these things happen in all sports and at least boxing can call up substitutes or refund ticket money to the punters.

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Manny Pacquiao, one of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters returns to BoxNation screens tomorrow night, live and exclusive from the Cotai Arena, Macau, when he defends his WBO World Welterweight title against against the unbeaten American challenger Chris Algieri.

An action-packed card includes two further world title fights with Ukrainian ace Vasyl Lomachenko defending his WBO World Featherweight title against Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo, plus American star Jessie Vargas puts his WBA World Light-Welterweight title on the line against Antonio DeMarco.  Chinese sensation Zou Shiming also features in a twelve-round bout on the show.

Live coverage will start at 2am on Sunday morning.

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