One guy I never rated was Duke McKenzie. I mean here's a boxer who, on paper, reads like a star. A three-weight world champion! But who did he fight? It just goes to show that - with the right management - just about anyone these days can get a belt of some description.
Buchanan was excellent, I really don't rate Thompson though.
His record doesn't break any eggs (largely because he lacked genuine stopping power). But he was a true warrior with good skills, tremendous stamina and he'd fight anyone, anywhere at any time.
To be honest, I have a lot of time for Carl Froch. I mean, skills-wise he's very, very limited. But unlike just about every British fighter of the last ten years he's prepared to put himself in harm's way (regardless of venue) and go up against the best. Very few fighters today show similar aspirations. They are more concerned with protecting their records (against mediocre opponents), filling their wallets and living the high life.
We can thank guys like Frank Warren for that.
Froch gets hit so often it's incredible he isn't brain damaged. Why his hands are so low I have no idea. It frustrates the life out of me when boxers fight with a low guard. It's disrespectful to the opponent and sooner or later - no matter how fast your reflexes are - you are going to get tagged. If elusive guys like Herol Graham couldn't get away with dropping their hands then Froch - with his very modest speed - must know it's a stupid idea.
That said, despite his limitations, he finds a way to win. That counts for something in my book.
Moving on, Calzaghe was a good fighter. But he allowed Frank Warren to toss away the best years of his career. I know he had problems making fights against the top American boxers. But he could have forced the issue by doing what Nigel Benn did taking them on in their own back yard. Had he despatched a few guys in similar fashion to Benn's victories over DeWitt and Barkley Roy Jones and company would have been compelled - through sheer weight of public opinion - to enter negotiations.
I thought it was a knock down. A soft one. But a knock down nonetheless.
Murray thinks he didn't do enough. But if putting the champion on his ass twice whilst taking little to nothing of substance all night - in the champion's back yard - counts as "not enough" he's setting the bar awfully high for himself.
Martinez is clearly the more talented fighter. But he's also pretty much shot. Did he land with anything like a substantial, hurtful punch all night?
Murray fought a faultless defensive performance. It's just a pity he lacks that extra bit of speed, power and guile which would have sealed Martinez's retirement.
It's not a robbery. But it was hardly a glorious affirmation of Martinez's rule over the division.
And what the **** was Martinez moaning about? And when he wasn't moaning he was acting like some kind of bizarre cross between Hollywood diva and vein-bulging nationalist who clearly hasn't gotten over losing a war.
Murray took the first 4 rounds off, you can't do that in a fight where you have to wrestle away the title.
Fighters can and do precisely that regularly. If you're inexperienced and fighting away from home in a foreign country, with a hostile crowd and facing a world class opponent it is - depending on your skillset - tactically astute to ease your way into the fight, allowing your opponent zero opportunity to pounce on you early and take the fight before its even begun.
Murray wasn't likely to KO Martinez. So the next best option is to take the championship rounds - especially as Sergio is looking increasingly fatigued in fights. Given that Murray has blown out late before it made perfect sense to conserve energy early and pile it on late. Unfortunately, Martinez had enough experience to see the fight home whilst Murray lacked the cutting edge.
Kimbo Slice is full of shit. I have NO respect whatsoever for a bully who makes a name for himself by beating up people off the street who have no business being in a fight with him.
I hate him. I hate his retinue of wannabee gangstas. I hate his incessant "Come on dawg!" taunting.
IIRC, he claimed he could KO Lennox Lewis.
I would *LOVE* to see that fight. Lewis would be just the man to nail a ****ing big full stop to the end of Kimbo Slice's career.
On the contrary - there's not ENOUGH hate for Slice.
I challenge anyone to watch his streetfights on youtube (against people who look like they've been plucked from a mall) and not think he's a cnut. It's ****ing sickening.
No disrespect intended, but I hate this cliché.
For me, it's not the fact that he beat a one-eyed, ancient fighter, nor is it the fact that he might have still won even if the cut hadn't occurred, it's how he boasted to the press afterward about "proving everybody wrong", gloating about his "win". Anyone who isn't biased can see he about performing in England again. The only way I would be prepared to do such a thing is if I could call the shots, choose the referee and judges, etc. Unfortunately, I don't think Barrera is in any kind of position to do this.
As a boxing fan and a long-time Barrera fan, I do not appreciate how he was used as fodder for a young, up-and-coming prospect to feast on in order to build a name for himself. It's a meaningless "win" and it hasn't gained Khan any respect.
As for Khan the boxer, no doubt he has talent, but in my opinion, people are putting way too much stock into someone who lacks one absolutely crucial ingredient -- a chin. I have no doubt that he will be knocked out by any decent lightweight pretty much as quickly as he is being hyped by the media and casual fans of the sport.
Not a hate post. Just callng it how I see it.
I don't think you are giving the kid a fair crack of the whip. Let us not forget that on the night of the fight Khan was no better than even money to win. Several bookmakers actually had Barerra as favourite. For an up-and-coming fighter on home soil those odds are pretty astonishing. And it wasn't just the bookies who were sceptical. Many journalists didn't fancy his chances either. Practically no one in here thought he had a prayer.
With the above in mind I think he has *every right* to claim he proved a few people wrong.
Barerra was a good opponent for someone at Khan's stage of development. I'm not going to suggest he was anywhere near the peak of his abilities. That would be stupid. But he did retain a massive area of advantage that Khan couldn't similarly call upon: experience.
Experience counts for a hell of a lot in a boxing ring. Especially top-level experience in the face of someone who has little of such.
I'm not going to get involved in a long and tedious debate over the fairness of boxing officials in Britain or any other country. Bad decisions happen - everywhere.
I've been sick of that stupid cliche for years. He won because he was better than everyone else. Period.
Cliche or not - it's a fact. If you don't believe so I'll refer you to the two fights against Frank Bruno. The second was a fiasco of the highest order. I've never seen a fighter so terrified.
I personally don't think he would have.
Maybe a bullshit stoppage where Khan is flurrying and Barrera is covering up so the ref decides to jump in but otherwise no.
Barrera even said Khans punches never hurt him.
Barrera would rather grind glass into his knob than admit someone hurt him.
With or without a cut - Barerra has no business being in the ring with Khan.
He can't beat him to the punch.
He can't outwork him.
In the last fight he looked a clear weight division smaller than him.
A rematch would only further tarnish Barerra's formerly glittering career.
The only decision he needs to make is retirement.
How so, Khan didn't do shit until after he cut Barreras forehead from a headbutt
Headbutt my arse. Have even watched the fight? How do you headbutt someone with the side of your head? Even an idiot can see it was an accidental clash of heads.
... and then he starting dominating a one-eyed fighter. You clearly aren't a boxer, because you need both your eyes to avoid punches and so on. Fighting a one-eyed boxer is not impressive.
You can only beat what's put in front of you. And that's what Khan did. Barerra must have known from at least round two that there was a danger the fight could be stopped. He had plenty of time to mount several death-or-glory attacks. I counted one and Khan was never in any serious trouble.
The truth is Barerra is finished. Kaput.
Tyson lasted till the 10th against Lewis when he was completly shot.
Lewis was also well past his prime.
I think he tags Lewis early and has an early night.
A prime and focussed Lewis is a formidable proposition. As for the implied assumption that Tyson only need land a big shot - I'll refer you to the youtube video (posted on the board today/yesterday) of Lewis taking enormous shots - some from harder hitters than Tyson (Vitali) - and staying upright.
There are too many question marks over whether Mike could go into the trenches and come out victorious.
There are no such doubts over Ali, Frazier and even Foreman (think of the fight against Ron Lyle).
A big part of Tyson's armoury was the intimidation factor. Most of his opponents were beaten before they even stepped in the ring by that media-generated aura of "The baddest man on the planet".
Ali, Frazier and Foreman would not be intimidated by him. Sonny Liston certainly wouldn't. Kenny Norton was not far from being a clone of Frazier - so I doubt he would fall victim also.
Larry Holmes I'm not so sure about. Doubtless he had the tools to make Tyson's life a misery, but the cojones ... ?
As for predictions - I think Tyson would lose by KO to Ali near round 9. Against Frazier he would lose by KO near round 11 or on points. Against Foreman - a pick em (it's all about whether Tyson could survive Foreman's huge bombs early on). Vs Liston - Liston by KO round 11. Vs Norton - a draw. Vs Holmes - Tyson KO round 8.
Of the modern fighters - prime vs prime:
Tyson beats Bowe (KO round 6).
Tyson loses to Lewis. (KO round 10)
Tyson beats Wlad (KO round 4)
Tyson loses to Vitali (KO round 8)
I used to be a fan of khan's since his fights were shown on tv, but when he got KTFO by Prescott, I have started to really dislike him and wanting him to lose.
Why?
Even more so after the MAB fight, where he's claiming how great his win was!
He's just beaten a legend. Of course he's going to big it up. What do you want him to say - "Yeah, I beat a shot fighter"?
Up to the big cut , MAB was landing effective punches which were winning him the round - even rocked him once.
You must have watched a different fight.
From the cut on, it was not a fair fight, so how am i supposed to give me credit for fighting and beating someone with ONE eye!
Why is that Khan's problem?
Of course till an interviewer asked if he would want to fight JMM, to which he pussies out and says hes not ready!
Of course he's not ready. Marquez is right near the top of the P4P table. Khan hasn't even established himself yet.
Its weird from being such a fan of khan this time last year to now wanted him to get KTFO!
Yes. It is weird that you only root for fighters who never lose. Are you a ManU fan also?
In short and schematically:
1: Kessler had handsurgery following the Calzaghe fight.
2: After that a fight with Miranda for the vacant WBA fell through for various reasons.
3: Then Kessler fought the no.3 ranked WBA contender for the WBA title.
I get it up to this point. But surely Kessler's high share price in the wake of the Calzaghe defeat warranted an opponent of similar worth (with a warm-up match prior to shake off the cobwebs)?
If Kessler was ... say ... 23 I could accept the Sartison match. The belt would open up doors for his ambition. But Kessler's 30. He's running out of time. Right now he needs names more than he needs belts. Praise is transitory. That which he received in the wake of the Calzaghe match has all but seeped away and if he is serious about cracking the coconut he needs to make the best use of every last ounce of whatever remains. If he doesn't he'll have to start all over again and he's probably too old for that.
I still can't understand it. I mean, there are fighters who would kill for the opportunity he had 18+ months ago. Certainly, they would not have looked twice at Sartison.
If Sartison was the only fight available for Kessler he should have refused it and gone over to the states for a couple of months to keep his profile up. Make some noise. Annoy some big names. Anything but Sartison.
B-Hop and Dawson would beat him for sure. I think Taylor would beat him too.
The Kessler that fought Calzaghe was superior to Pavlik in just about every area. Whether he's the same fighter now I don't know.
I don't know what game Kessler is playing. He was given the golden opportunity of showcasing his skills to the major TV networks, took it (okay, he lost - but his performance was universally praised) and then vanished off the face of the earth.
It's total madness. By now he should have at least fought one of Taylor, Hopkins, Pavlik, Dawson or even Froch - perhaps two (as a headline fighter). Instead he's pissing his career away fighting nobodies to an audience of a farmer, his dog and two chickens.
There has to be an explanation. Does he have some kind of problem with fame? Is he reluctant to leave home? Has the Calzaghe defeat blown a fuse in his head?
For a guy who's "irrelevant" Haye sure seems capable of generating endless discussion in here.
At times it's like the broom sequence from Fantasia. Chop one thread off the page and TWO MORE spring forth carrying buckets of water.
I remember watching that fight. Ward was getting his ass kicked and Roy Jones and the other HBO commentators were saying how Mickey really didn't want to be in there and the ref should just stop the fight, then........BOOM.....Ward nails Sanchez with the left to the liver. Sanchez went down like he was shot and you knew he wasn't getting up by the expression on his face.
I just can't believe that that's the same Micky Ward that went to war against Gatti. It's astonishing.
If you model yourself around a "pretty boy" image in boxing there's a good chance you'll annoy a large chunk of fans. It's the whole macho bullshit thing.
But hair extensions or no - Paulie's a brave, tough and skillful fighter. It's a pity his hands keep letting him down.
http://www.welt.de/multimedia/archive/00520/abrahamottke_DW_Spo_520111g.jpg
Here he is with a REAL German fighter.
No - here is a REAL German fighter
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0viO-Dm52sM/Rzr8xAWxsqI/AAAAAAAAD7Y/IZB6HCP5yiU/s320/rommel4.jpg