Any cats here sparred with any good pros ?? (Iceman, Rockin, Juy ?)

[Shanus]

What did you think of Francis, then?

He was talented, but not a world class fighter.

[JuicyJuice]

He was talented, but not a world class fighter.

Go into more detail, please

Or maybe, just maybe, you've never seen him fight

[Rockin']

Where were you fighting out of and when J-J?

Rockin'

[EXIGE]

Juy, tell me a bit about your sessions with Ryan Rhodes if you have some time on your hands please.

Cheers mate.

[JuicyJuice]

explain, please

Francis was very, very good. A far better fighter than Robin Reid or Richie Woodhall. He had the best stiff left jab in Europe (in any division), and when he got into his groove after three rounds there was no stopping him, leave yourself open and he'd jump in with the big stuff (full, clubbing, beautiful shots put together, not a consussive puncher but a very full puncher when he got going).

Dean was born with a lot of ability, but didn't take his boxing seriously until after his first pro defeat. He honestly never trained hard at all in his life until really knuckling down after his first pro loss and beginning to fulfil his potential (until tragedy struck with the shoulder injury).

Francis never won a national title in the amateurs, but went to Europe and got robbed against the top guys. He did lose to Joe Calzaghe at the 1992 ABA's in a two-round shootout (gave Calzaghe his toughest amateur fight), lost to Darren Dorrington on points at the 1993 ABA's after Dorrington broke his heart (but avenged the defeat with a stoppage a few weeks later at trials for the national team), and lost to Dave Starie at the 1994 ABA's. He avenged the Starie defeat in the pro's, beating Starie far more impressively than Calzaghe later managed. He also beat Cornelius Carr far more impressively than Steve Collins had managed.

If he trained hard enough, and was in his best form, he had the gifts to go with Calzaghe all the way.

[JuicyJuice]

Nice Francis article: http://www.boxing-monthly.co.uk/content/9807/three.htm

Just found.

[JuicyJuice]

Where were you fighting out of and when J-J?

Rockin'

I fought out of the Harrow & District ABC, but sparred at the Empire in Bristol before pro bouts.

[EXIGE]

I fought out of the Harrow & District ABC, but sparred at the Empire in Bristol before pro bouts.

You were pro???????

[JuicyJuice]

Juy, tell me a bit about your sessions with Ryan Rhodes if you have some time on your hands please.

Cheers mate.

It was at Neville Brown's gym in Burton in 1994. Rhodes had some pedigree, beating a couple of very decent amateurs in Junior Witter and Clinton Woods (beat Witter in final of 1992 Junior Yorkshire ABA's in 132lb div, beat Woods in final of 1994 Senior Yorkshire ABA's in 165lb div) in recent years and I knew that he'd have the 'Herol Bomber Graham' fighting template with him coming from the Wincobank gym and so I was prepared for a useful (and unorthodox) fighter. But when I got in the ring with this ****y, blonde-haired kid, he was out of this world. He didn't bother to wear headgear because he said he didn't need it, he didn't. I could barely lay a glove on him. And his punches were more hurtful than any I've ever come across, probably because he tended to push with his punches a lot onto my headgear, but he was a very hard hitter too and his punches came from alsorts of angles that were so difficult to anticipate. He didn't really speak with me much, he just used me as a punching bag I went about four or five rounds with him before I called it to a halt.

[hotbox2316]

kelvin davis,joey gilbert,jesse brinkley all northen nevada boxers that ive sparred and a dude named ryan simpson i guess hes pro,kelvins actually got a fight next month.....

www.koncreteboxing.com thats the gym im out of