2,030 stories on BoxingScene are published under the Terence Dooley byline.
Every story follows our editorial policy. To report a mistake, use our corrections form; for anything else, contact us.
Sir Henry Cooper passed away on Sunday at the grand old age of 76. Cooper won the British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight titles during his 17-year career; he also achieved the remarkable feat of netting three Lonsdale belts outright after a 12-year period of domestic dominance – with only the world crown eluding his grasp.
George Groves and James DeGale found unlikely common ground when speaking to me ahead of their May 21st British super-middleweight title grudge match. Lonsdale belt holder DeGale gives Britain’s WBA heavyweight titlist David Haye a “puncher’s chance” going into a proposed July 2nd challenge against consensus champion Wladimir Klitschko, who is 55-3 (49 KOs) and holds the IBF, WBO and IBO belts.
David Haye has insisted that his fight with Wlad Klitschko is not in jeopardy amidst canceled press conferences, a row over ticket allocation and the type of negotiation niggles that have come to characterise the July 2nd showcase. Indeed, Haye has told told The Sunday Mirror that he is holding out for a greater share of tickets for his British fans but expects things to be smoothed over.
Carl Froch appeared on Steve Bunce's radio show on Thursday to advertise the release of his autobiography, he also revealed his regrets over a bitter war of words with former undisputed super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe. Calzaghe retired with a 46-0 (32) record, he bowed out after defeating Roy Jones in 2008, much to the annoyance of Froch, who tried to bait Joe into an all-British fight by questioning the Welshman's legacy via numerous press releases.
Stephen Smith’s rapid pro advancement was lost in the midst of quibbles over variances in scoring after last night’s British featherweight title win over defending champion John Simpson at Liverpool’s Olympia venue. The 25-year-old netted a 114-114, 115-114, 118-112 majority decision victory, with much of the post-fight talk focusing on Terry O’Connor’s six round margin yet Smith showed a lot of mettle after starting quickly, weathering a mid-stanza storm and sticking to the task over the final furlongs.
Once upon a time there were two colleagues. Training side by side at the same amateur gym. Then they clashed – one man grabbing a close victory. They became enemies – each swearing to drive the other out of town. This is not the synopsis of a superhero film; it is the backdrop to next month’s British super-middleweight showdown between James DeGale and his mandatory challenger George Groves, who posted a win over DeGale in the unpaid ranks. The two men will settle things once and for all at London’s O2 Arena in the chief support to Nathan Cleverly’s WBO light-heavyweight tussle with Germany’s Juergen Braehmer.
2010 was a turbulent year for popular British middleweight Darren Barker. The 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medalist was the victim of a cowardly street attack last June after he tried to prevent a scuffle. The fighter was left with extensive injuries in the wake of the assault and this, coupled with a longstanding left hip problem, led to fears that we had seen the last of the former Commonwealth and current British titlist.
Scotland’s John Simpson has every right to feel aggrieved after losing his British featherweight title to Stephen Smith on a majority decision at Liverpool’s Olympia venue on Wednesday night. Simpson is a tough operator, he came to Smith’s backyard seeking to avenge his September reverse to ‘Swifty’ only to lose his British belt by the most narrow of margins.
John Simpson defends his British featherweight title in a crunch rematch with current Commonwealth holder Stephen Smith at Liverpool’s Olympia venue on Wednesday night. The two men met in Glasgow in September of last year, Smith eking out a narrow split decision victory on that occasion to bring the Commonwealth belt back home to Liverpool. Simpson, though, excels when fighting for titles on the road. Going 6-3 in away day engagements with a point’s win over Martin Lindsay last December – the Greenock-based bruiser is also 3-0 (3) in rematches.
John Murray has vacated his EBU lightweight title in order to pursue a domestic showdown with Dagenham’s Kevin Mitchell. Frank Warren recently announced that Murray-Mitchell has been signed for a yet to be announced date and location. Murray would not have been able to defend the title against Mitchell as EBU rules forbid fighters from challenging for the belt when coming off a defeat – Kevin lost to Michael Katsidis last year and has not fought since.