The Punch Line

Carl Thompson retires

2006-05-02T20:30:00.000+01:00

Though not officially announced yet, cruiserweight warrior Carl Thompson HAS retired.

The 41-year-old ex-champion had become disillusioned with the sport, and, with no paydays in sight, has decided to hang up the gloves. Last week I mentioned his inability to agree terms over a rematch with rival David Haye, and now it appears Thompson has conceded defeat in the race to achieve one final (deserved) pay cheque.

A former WBO and IBO champion, Thompson leaves the sport with an impressive 34-6 (26) resume. He was renowned for being one of the most exciting fighters to ever grace a British ring, and never ducked a challenge in a career spanning 18 years.

Here is a little profile/retrospective I did on Thompson months ago.

Say it ain't so - McCullough gets ANOTHER shot

2006-04-27T21:22:00.000+01:00

Gutsy Irishman Wayne McCullough has ludicrously bene handed ANOTHER world super-bantamweight title shot, after failing in his last two attempts and being worringly stopped in his lats fight. The tough-as-nails McCullough will meet WBC champion Israel Vasquez in July, in a fight many are predicting a one-sided shellacking for Wayne.

Now 35 years of age, McCullough was stopped for the first time in his career last July, when Oscar Larios beat him like a durm for 10 rounds. The Belfast brawler broke down in tears as he was withdrawn from the fight after the 10th round.

Now, this. Let's not forget, Vasquez - the man McCullough faces next - most recently stopped Larios - the man who battered McCullough - inside three rounds last year. That puts the whole charade into perspective.

Here's a profile and interview I did with the terrific McCullough.

Thompson turns down 45K to fight Haye

2006-04-27T20:56:00.000+01:00

Here's a bit of an exclusive: Stubborn warrior Carl 'The Cat' has dug his feet in over negotiations for a rematch with European champion David Haye.

Thompson was paid over £100,000 in September 2004, when meeting Haye first time round (a fight Thompson won), and is now reluctant to reunite with the charismatic Londoner (on June 29) unless he's paid the same amount of money.

Unfortunately, the offer so far stands at around £45,000 - a fraction of what he got last time. The reason for such a drop in worth is simply because of the BBC withdrawing from covering boxing. Thompson-Haye 1 was, of course, screened live by the BBC, and as a result more money was pumped into each fighter's purse. This time round, though, Sky Sports are involved, and the money is not so readily available.

I tried negotiating with Thompson over the phone last week.

"If I'm paid £85,000 I'll take the fight," he told me. "I just want to be paid what I'm worth. This is a dangerous sport, and David would be a very dangeorus fight for me. I should get what I deserve.

"Tell them to come back with $85,000 and you've got a deal."

So I did. There was still no budge. With no BBC interest, the money simply isn't there. The current climate is completely different from two years ago. £45,000 and a European title shot is the best Haye and Sky Sports can do.

Still, Thompson will not make £45,000 anywhere else. After all, he is now 42 years of age, and is an oft-avoided campaigner who most would rather just ignore or forget about.

His first fight with Haye was one of the fights of 2004, and a signature Carl Thompson classic. He took a frightening pummelling for three rounds, before turning the tables on his inexperienced challenger in the fifth.

The fans want a rematch. David Haye wants a rematch. Carl Thompson wants a rematch. The only thing is, he wants £40,000 more and a bit more respect.

He's as stubborn as he is exciting.

Audley's Obituary - Olympian loses again

2006-04-20T14:21:00.000+01:00

One man Olympic hero Amir Khan can study and learn from is fallen Sydney Olympian Audley Harrison. The 6'5 heavyweight hope who bagged gold six years ago at the Games, and then promised world heavyweight title glory, last weekend lost his second successive professional bout.

Now 35, Harrison is potentially staring at the end of a short and wholly unsucessful paid career. Armed with a monumental reach, southpaw qualities, and enough boasts to make James Toney come over all proud, Harrison set the stall out in 2001 - when turning pro.

He rattled off 19 fairly straightforward victories, but was derided in some quarters for handpicking opponents. After all, this was a man who was paid in excess of £1 million to turn professional with the BBC - who were just getting back into boxing coverage following a lengthy hiatus.

Harrison, as anyone would, milked the cash, and got away with producing the bare minumum. The BBC were naive, and Harrison was enjoying the ride.

Then came Brixton's rambunctious, 20-stone behemoth Danny Williams. Harrison's first real step-up in class arrived last December, against Williams, and, in defeat, Audley's reputation plummeted to a new level of humiliation.

Williams wanted the victory more, and it showed. Harrison did near on zilch for the full 12-round duration, and was even dropped heavily in the 10th round. He lost on a split-decision.

Williams labelled Harrison a 'bottler' and a 'coward' after the bout, and the newspaper savages followed up with even more poisonous assaults. Audley, now tagged 'Audrey' or 'Fraudley' by most people, was effectively hounded out of the country, his reputation in ruins.

Many felt it was the end. The remaining few felt he had one last chance - the opportunity to re-invent himself in America, learn from his mistakes, and come again.

He tried to do just that. Harrison, now based in the US, trained from January onwards in Miami, in order to win his 'comeback' bout on April 14, and defy the many doubters.

However, at the Rancho Mirage in California last Friday, Harrison dropped a horribly lacklustre 10-round points decision to American Dominick Guinn. The end now looks to be near.

Despite the fact that no amount of defeats should cause someone to give up - unless you are in a worryingly susceptible state like, say Evander Holyfield or Roy Jones, Jr. - Harrison clearly just isn't cut out for the upper echelons of the professional heavyweight division.

I managed to watch the whole Harrison-Guinn bout last weekend (a fight shown nationwide in the States via ESPN), and it was all a big nothing. Two careers were supposedly 'on the line' - Guinn is, for all intents and purpose, the 'American Audley' - yet no one could tell.

Both were reluctant to let their hands go, and both seemed content to just go the distance. Whoever caught the positive end of the verdict was just picking up a bonus. It was that kind of dull, lifeless, fight.

Depressing, too. Though we now know that Harrison was never cut out to be the future world heavyweight champion he proclaimed to be, he was still a personality that injected some interest back into the sport. It came at an almighty cost (the ludicrous million pounds the BBC forked out), but he was a name, and an engaging one at that. From Sydney hero to worldwide villain in just under six years.

Khan pockets £500,000 for book deal

2006-04-20T14:00:00.000+01:00

What is the world coming to? Olympic silver medallist and 19-year-old lightweight protege Amir Khan has signed a book deal that will land him in the region of £500,000. A 'life story' that will apparently chronicle Khan's extensive, landmark-filled 19-YEARS - touching on religion, family, and his medal-winning success in Athens.

Presumably, it will also include stuff on Amir's favourite TV shows, favourite action figures, holidays and details of his 19 birthdays.

Of course, if the money is there, why shouldn't Khan go for it? The story will be threadbare, and the concept has already been widley ridiculed in boxing circles, however, Khan walks away with 500K. For any 19-year-old, that's not to be scoffed at.

There will, after all, be an audience for it. An 'Amir Khan life story' will be the kind of book parents, wives or grandparents buy 'boxing fans' for birthdays or Christmas. The kind they think is a good idea.

Books sell on names, and Khan - all 19 years of him - is a name. Funnily enough, though, we still don't know whether the wonderkid can really fight yet.

The Boxing Blog (Review)

2006-04-10T17:28:00.000+01:00

Surprisingly, there seems to be a real lack of blogs solely dedicated to the sport of boxing. I've had a look around - seen a few that dabbled slightly in it - but, on the whole, save for a few, there wasn't many about.

It is, therefore, refreshing when I see a blog like Jim Cawkell's The Boxing Blog.

It's fair to say it does what it says on the tin - or address bar. It's a meat and potatoes boxing site in which Cawkell uses his knowledge of boxing to round up most major stories that are occuring in the sport. He covers the major world title fights, he previews the mega shows, and he touches on any news snippets that are kicking around. He has a decent grasp of the subject, and covers each fight with enough detail to enable someone to appreciate his enthusiasm for the game.

There's nothing mind-blowing about The Boxing Blog, but it does what all good blogs should do. It touches on various subjects, then moves onto the next. It is regularly updated, too, which instantly scores brownie points.

If you want to read some lines on a major fight, or get an opinion on some news story, The Boxing Blog is a decent place to start. It can't hold a candle to the boxing websites out there - which cover the sport in far more depth and detail - but it is a decent snacksize take on the sport. A starting point for casual sport fans looking to read up on boxing.

So, what should a good boxing blog do?

1. Offer something different from the mainstream boxing websites. If the blog is just a half-baked version of a top-drawer website, why should boxing fans visit it?

2. Exclusives or rumours always work. If there is some inside gossip you are able to pick up, or an interview that no one else has, put it out there. Boxing websites deal with most happenings in the boxing world, but there are aspects not reported on.

3. Be controversial - but not over the top. State your opinions, and report on matters that boxing websites either don't report on or can't report on. You have no connections to anyone, so make sure you make the most of it.

4. Look for angles. Don't just offer run-of-the-mill reports or previews on fights. There are dozens of other resources where fight fans can find these. Pick an angle conerning a fight that others haven't touched on and explore it.

5. Develop a continuous style. If you're looking for a humorous hook or angle, stick with it - don't change it up and suddenly become serious on another article. That way your readers can relate to the site's content better and people will know what to expect from your blog.

Challenger Cunningham gets screwed out of title shot

2006-04-08T18:09:00.000+01:00

Shock, horror, boxing politics threaten to wreck the hopes of a young fighter. The number one-ranked cruiserweight in the world, Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham, was last week denied his due shot at the 200 lbs world titles because of money-wranglings, promotional squabbles, crafty sidesteps and extracted teeth.

It sounds beyond strange, but, hey, this is boxing. Anything goes.

The case of Cunningham surrounds the circumstances of his aborted May 6 title fight with IBF, WBA and WBC champion O’Neil Bell. I’ve heard rumblings for months now that Bell, who is also regularly short-changed by promoter Don King, didn’t fancy getting together with Cunningham and defending his belts. So, immediately, I was tuned into the situation and prepared for the worst.

Being cruiserweights, Bell and Cunningham didn’t stand to make a hefty wad of cash from their triple-title fight. Also, to add to Bell’s concerns, most insiders know how risky a fight with Cunningham is. Steve is slick, well-schooled, and super-duper fit. Bell, on the other hand, is simply a big, concussive puncher, with little skill or ring nouse.

As a result, the best cruiser in the world was facing a high risk/low reward scenario.

Bell got around $150,000 for his huge unification fight with Jean-Marc Mormeck in January. That may seem a lot, but, when compared to the other, more celebrated weight classes, it isn’t. That’s essentially peanuts for a unification fight of that magnitude.

So, anyway, Bell took the short end of the purse, and knocked out the champion Mormeck.

Now Bell is The Man, and wants to be paid accordingly. His next fight, against Cunningham, is a dangerous one and he wants a lot of money – almost an insurance cheque incase the masterplan disintegrates. Don King won the purse bids, and I’ve been told the purse Bell was receiving was in the region of $350,000. For an undisputed unified champ, that still isn’t much.

Also, to add further to Bell’s woes, he is currently breaking off from an old promoter, Warrior Boxing. Apparently, Warrior Boxing want to take $100,000 of that 350K purse, as they are due it.

So Bell feels a little downbeat with it all. A week later, Bell has had some kind of teeth extraction and is granted time-off from the ring. His fight with Cunningham is cancelled as a result. The Philly challenger is denied his world title shot – all because Bell, being a cruiserweight, wasn’t happy with his purse and didn’t fancy chasing after Cunningham for 12 rounds.

“He knew it was a real tough fight,” a disappointed Cunningham told me last week. "We sparred together years back in Atlanta, and he knew how dangerous I was. We used to joke to each other that if we ever did meet in the future it would have to be for megabucks. O’Neil obviously didn’t feel he was getting paid those megabucks, and didn’t want to risk it.”

Now, Cunningham still boxes on the May 6 King Promotions slot, but only contests the IBF portion of the cruiserweight title. He meets former opponent Guillermo Jones over 12 rounds on Showtime.

"My mindset hasn't changed at all," Cunningham added. "I'm still training like crazy and looking to pick up all these titles. Jones is a very dangeorus opponent, and a fight like this offers me the chance to prove a lot of the doubters - who think Jones beat me last time - totally wrong."

Bell, meanwhile, has cleverly sidestepped his two biggest threats at cruiserweight. After all, not only is Cunningham taken out of the equation, but Jones is, too.

The Panamanian puncher is the number two contender with the IBF, and is the number one contender with the WBC (a belt Bell holds). Jones was due his WBC shot after Cunningham was given his (IBF version).

By moving out of the way so that Cunningham and Jones can do their thing, Bell is given time to make money elsewhere – without having to risk his belts against the two most dangerous guys. Both of whom were booked in for their title shots.

In a way it’s clever, and in another way it stinks.

Butler gets banged up for 29 years - thank God.

2006-04-08T12:32:00.000+01:00

Ex-boxer James 'The Harlem Hammer' Butler was sentenced to 29 years in prison by a Californian court on Wednesday, after pleading guilty to the brutal October 2004 murder of Sam Kellerman, brother of boxing commentator, Max.

The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and arson.

Butler was, of course, also jailed back in 2001, when he sucker-punched a hapless Richard Grant after a boxing match.

Grant had just beaten Butler in a 10-round bout, and was attempting to congratulate his beaten opponent on his efforts when he was shockingly punched by Butler. Grant was out cold as a result. Butler was suspended from boxing and sent down for four months (released on five year's probation).

Now, Butler's gone one step further. Read Thomas Hauser's account of Butler's frightening mindset and recent crime here.

McIntosh mulls over Murdoch's MySpace mission

2006-04-06T22:24:00.000+01:00

In light of Fox mogul Rupert Murdoch making MySpace HisSpace, a debate has arisen surrounding the benefits of his new acquisition. The deputy editor of The Guardian Unlimited, Neil McIntosh, visited the Surrey Institute of Art and Design last week, and offered his view on Murdoch’s latest capture.

Unsurprisingly, despite recognising the potential of networking websites, McIntosh failed to see the method behind Murdoch’s move.

“I honestly can’t see what Murdoch can do with it,” McIntosh told an assembled group of second-year journalism students. “I can’t see him making a penny out of it. I don’t think he truly understands the whole MySpace phenomenon fully.

Few hardened media men do. After all, the MySpace communication site is a new discovery embraced by millions throughout the world. It’s increasing popularity further signals the technological breakthroughs that are happening at breakneck speed.

“It’s (networking sites) something that we are definitely considering at The Guardian Unlimited,” McIntosh went on to reveal. “A personal page for each of our readers would be a good idea, and one that we are currently looking into.”

With the way we live our lives changing almost daily, McIntosh and his Guardian outfit realise the need to adapt accordingly. Alarm bells are ringing for newspaper companies as people place more emphasis on Web-based news gathering. In time, newspapers – once the predominant source of daily information – could be as good as extinct.

McIntosh explains: “By branching out to the World Wide Web, we (The Guardian) are ensuring that we are at the centre of everything that is happening. That has always been our policy. The Internet plays a massive part in daily news now. Murdoch has been telling his editors the Web is where news is at now, and that’s part of the reason he’s gone after MySpace.”

“In the future there’s a good possibility that newspapers will not be what they once were.”

Nevertheless, McIntosh reiterated the need for core journalism skills to the listening students – despite the outbreak of web-wise types.

“If you can get a good grasp of the Web, that is great,” he explained. “If you have good Web design skills that will stand you in good stead for employment opportunities, because there are not many journalists with those skills.

“However, the basic journalist’s skills will never go out of fashion. The ability to write six-paragraphs, and write punchy news stories will always be the most important skill of a budding journalist.”

Further skills – such as radio and broadcasting abilities – are also of massive importance, McIntosh admits. The Guardian are, of course, one of the major players in the new Podcasting buzz that has presented journalists with a new method of reaching their audience.

McIntosh is excited about the future.

“The Podcasting is essentially journalism in a new form,” he continued. “It is somewhat of an experiment. It is for people who want to find out about the news, but would rather not buy a newspaper. Podcasting is all about reaching a new demographic. As far as we are concerned, Podcasting is simply an extension of the digital experiments we have tried of late.”

Though still in its embryonic phase, McIntosh admits the initial signs are positive.

“The Ricky Gervais Podcast we had at Christmas time was a major success,” he claimed. “That one pulled a record number of listeners.

“We also have a big time coming up with the World Cup. We are planning to produce Podcasts during the World Cup, reporting on various issues, in the hope of drawing a massive audience.

“We’ve set the bar very high with our first Podcast, and will be looking to continue those standards in the future.”

To read more from Neil McIntosh, you can visit his online blog entitled 'Complete Tosh'.

'You fuck my wife?' - The BEST boxing movies ever made

2006-04-05T16:27:00.000+01:00

The Magnificent Seven...

7. Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956): Paul Newman plays wild-living Italian slugger Rocky Graziano. This movie essentially paved the way for the many other 'Italian-Americans make it big' boxing fables that would follow. Sylvester Stallone must have been a big fan.

6. The Set-Up (1949): A hidden gem of a boxing film. All shot in real time, and with a brilliant realism to it. Yeah, it's black and white, and yeah, it's so old dust falls off the screen while you watch it, but The Set-Up is still great fun. There's some Film Noir qualities to it, and the fight scene (which takes up a third of the running time) is brutal, yet still realistic - a concept many present day fight-films have yet to grasp.

5. The Champ (1979): The one where Ricky Shroder cries his eyes out as his father and hero, 'The Champ', passes away after a fight. A real heartstring-tugger of a movie. The idea of a rugged, tough hardman like Jon Voight being won over by his annoying little kid makes for a great story. The growling boxer is eventually broken down by the boy's pluckiness, as movie-watchers throughout the land break down in a different way.

4. Rocky (1976): It's boxing through and through, and that's what makes Rocky a cult favourite. No other movie could make you want to run out the cinema, buy a speed bag, a hooded jumper, and a skipping rope, and start working on your biceps. The film deserves praise for launching the careers of many top professional boxers.

Not a classic in the purest sense, Rocky does still take a basic rags-to-riches fable - as first witnessed in the 40's - and makes it appeal to a massive audience. Anyone can watch Rocky and get something from it.

3. Million Dollar Baby (2004): The newest entry. Clint Eastwood's 2004 story of a woman prizefighter who was first rejected by the male-dominated boxing world, then later accepted.

Hillary Swank plays Maggie Fitzgerald - one of the most likeable cinema boxers out there - and Eastwood, her reluctant trainer. Together they form a special bond - the type that only occurs in boxing.

The gym scenes are realistic as hell, and Morgan Freeman and Eastwood work some good old-fashioned gym-chemistry. Any film that name-checks 'Hitman' Hearns as the welterweight champ of the world is alright by me. The ending is a real choker, too.

2. When We Were Kings (1996): Not a movie as such - more of a documentary. Nevertheless, it is quite brilliant.

The film was shot, and planned for release, around the time of Muhammad Ali and George Foreman's 'Rumble In the Jungle' in Zaire (1974). The footage was then saved for decades, before it was eventually produced, along with interspersed opinions from 'talking heads', in 1996. This gives the film a unique angle, and offers viewers a real retrospective feel.

Ali - the greatest sportsman that ever lived - was never better than in When We Were Kings.

1. Raging Bull (1980): DeNiro, Scorsese, Pesci and LaMotta. Those four words alone capture everything that is priceless about this classic movie.

LaMotta, the hellraising former middleweight champion who battered wives and opponents with little differentiation, offers the best director of all-time (Scorsese) his life story. Marty then rings the best modern actor of all-time (DeNiro) and asks him whether he's interested. DeNiro accepts, brings along Joe Pesci for the ride, puts on around 50 pounds, and redefines the term 'method acting'.

Not for the faint-hearted. The cinematography during LaMotta's infamous 'St. Valentines Massacre' beating at the fists of 'Sugar' Ray Robinson is incredible.

Judah's Another Brick In The Wall for amazing Floyd

2006-04-05T15:47:00.000+01:00

Prizefighting genius 'Pretty Boy' Floyd Mayweather can do as he pleases. He is that good.

The super featherweight, lightweight, and junior welterweight world champion is undefeated in 35 pro bouts, and has made each of his 15 world title fights resemble meaningless sparring sessions.

Mayweather is the kind of phenomenom that could excel in any field he put his mind to. If he'd decided to be a musician, he'd have been Prince. If he'd been born a basketball player, he'd be Michael Jordan. A golfer, Tiger Woods. A footballer, Pele. A Formula One driver, Michael Schumacher.

He happened to enjoy swinging his fists, knocking out grown men and making heaps of money. Thankfully, he picked up boxing.

Now the incredibly-talented Las Vegas-native looks to extend his unbeaten run to 36, when, on Saturday night (April 8), he meets fierce rival Zab Judah at the Thomas & Mack Center in Nevada. At stake is the IBF world welterweight title. If Mayweather should banish Judah, he will have won world titles in four different weight classes.

The 28-year-old Judah, though, is arguably the flashiest and quickest opponent Mayweather has ever faced. The brash Brooklyn banger is erratic and inconsistent, but, when firing on all cylinders, is a dangerous force at welterweight. He's a southpaw, well-schooled, and a big puncher. He's also very fast - especially with his southpaw left-cross.

Mayweather is that little bit special. While Judah's cameos of brilliance would be enough to unrest most fighters, it is Mayweather's consistency that is remarkable. After all, even the most celebrated geniuses go off the boil once in a while.

Not Mayweather. The guy is discipline and dedication personified. While other super-talents slack off training, and hope their god-given ability will see them through, Floyd leaves nothing to chance. He regularly does five-minute-long rounds in sparring. He sees every opponent - irrespective of records or stature - as his Goliath.

So, as good as 'Super' Judah is, Mayweather's just that bit more 'Superer'. You will not find a more naturally gifted athlete in any other sport. The 'Pretty One' can pretty much do anything he likes. That, balanced with extreme dedication, makes Mayweather an imposing fighting machine.

I'll side with Mayweather on points over 12 rounds.

Benefits of roadwork…

2006-04-02T21:45:00.000+01:00

Run people, run! An age-long debate has arisen again recently concerning the importance of roadwork in the noble art. Does the amount of roadwork/running performed before a pressure-filled bout affect what goes on inside the ropes on fight night?

Ask the likes of Ricky Hatton, Wayne McCullough, Micky Ward and Joe Calzaghe, and the response will be unequivocal.

Of course running makes a difference. It increases one’s aerobic capacity, releases ‘good’ and necessary hormones, and prepares a prizefighter for the long haul of a gruelling battle.

The independence of it is also invaluable. Whereas in a gym boxers will often work-out alongside others, when hitting the roads or country lanes, they’re all alone. Similarly, once the opening bell tolls on the evening of the fight, they feel the same sense of isolation.

Roadwork helps build that mental fortitude required.

Former WBC bantamweight champion McCullough told me last summer: “With the correct preparation, I can box until I’m into my 40’s. I never slack off training, I don’t live badly, and I run every single day without fail. That’s why I’m able to come back against the odds time and time again. I’m strong mentally and physically. I always know I’m better prepared than my opponent.”

McCullough, of course, is renowned for his ability to throw crazy amounts of punches round-after-round. He often chucks 1,500 blows per championship fight. The recipe for his success is plain for all to see.

Already in 2006, though, the notable exceptions to the rule have come to the fore.

First of all, in January, unified cruiserweight king Jean-Marc Mormeck attempted to trade relentlessly with Jamaican-born, streetfight-loving challenger O’Neil Bell. Mormeck was impressive early on, then faded alarmingly. A super-fit Bell lasted, and stole Mormeck’s belts in the 10th round with a stunning knockout.

It was later discovered that Mormeck had slacked on training before the fight. He had business ventures coming out of every pore in his body, and preparation took second place. He did next to no roadwork.

“You could tell from his legs that he did fuck all running,” number one contender Steve Cunningham told me after the fight. “He had the body beautiful, and was, as always, as strong as an ox, but his legs were fragile. He was fighting on chicken legs. No definition at all.”

Cunningham had shared a gym with Mormeck a few years ago in South Africa. He knew the nature of the beast.

In contrast, EVERYONE knows the nature of the beast that is James ‘Lights Out’ Toney. The former middleweight, super-middle, cruiserweight and now heavyweight great continues to sit on his backside, defy the doubters, and provide hope to the nation's obese. Toney makes it look cool to be fat.

He’s now 37, and, as his age increases, his waistline expands. In 1991, when becoming middleweight champion, Toney weighed 160 lbs (11 st 4). In March, when drawing with Hasim Rahman, Toney scaled 237 lbs. A leap of some 77 lbs.

It’s fair to say roadwork isn’t high on James’ agenda, either.

His trainer, Hall-Of-Famer Freddie Roach, told me: “James does do the roadwork, but just not as much as other guys. Because he’s so relaxed and at ease with what he’s doing, James never feels it (gets tired) much in the ring. So, before a fight, he spars like mad, works on tactics and that’s about it.”

It’s hard to argue with Toney. Even as a fat bastard he cracks skulls and adds the 'sweet' to 'science'. With a tyre wrapped round his waist, and multiple chins, Toney is still one of the best in the game. He can go 12 rounds, too, with little difficulty.

He is, however, the exception to the rule. Toney was also disappointing – by his standards – last time out against Rahman. A fight in which Toney reportedly did NO roadwork in preparation for. Though he went 12, it showed.

What is it with these heavyweights? I could offer a dozen more examples of heavyweights who rely more on the brute strength that comes via protein shakes and supplements than the stamina that comes with roadwork. Considering the state of the division, way too many are sitting around twiddling their thumbs. Literally, it seems.

EXPOSED! Valero ends first-round KO streak

2006-04-02T21:14:00.000+01:00

It had to happen eventually. Venezuelan puncher-of-mass-destruction Edwin Valero finally got extended past the first round.

The incredible South American had iced 18 previous victims all within the first round, and, last weekend, finally had to sit on his stool for round two.

In Kobe, Japan, the evil little lightweight demolished Mexican Genaro Trazancos in the second round - finishing the bout with a right hand to the body, followed by a merciless left hook as Trazancos took a knee.

Before Valero ran into Trazcano, no man had ever gone beyond three minutes with the diminutive destroyer. Most of the 24-year-old's beaten foes ended on their back, unconscious or transported away from the ring on a stretcher.

The boy can bang!

Haye hammers Johansen in eight - Dane needs 27 stitches

2006-03-27T16:42:00.000+01:00

Denmark's Lasse Johansen finished Friday's (March 24) European title fight with London's David Haye feeling a little worse for wear. The 30-year-old challenger required 27 stitches to a lacerated eye, had his nose broken in two places, and suffered a perforated eardrum.

As tough as the proverbial old pair of boots, Johansen stood up to the firepower of Haye for eight rounds, and had the marks to prove it.

Haye, of course, ordinarily disposes of his opponents in quick-fire fashion. The damage is often devastating, yet short and over in an instant. In 15 pro victories, Haye had ended each contest within the first four rounds.

Johansen, however, bucked the trend. He took everything Haye launched his way in the opening rounds, and then began to come on strong during the middle sessions. Haye's punch output dropped, and some of the star-studded York Hall crowd became worried.

Haye, after all, had never been accustomed to this type of battle. Johansen fancied his chances the longer the fight progressed.

Thankfully, though, Haye's handiwork carved up the rugged features of Johansen, and eventually sapped the Dane of any remaining strength or ambition.

In the eighth round, Haye connected with some massive right crosses and uppercuts, and had the granite-jawed Johansen tottering on the verge of defeat. With eyes compressed to splits, and his eardurm shattered, Johansen beckoned the referee in to stop the bout. He duly obliged.

Haye retained his European cruiserweight crown and progressed to 16-1 (16 KO's). The Johansen victory marked a seminal moment in David's three-year pro career. It was the first time he had gone beyond five professional rounds, and was also proof that Haye could carry his vaunted punch-power into the later rounds of a championship fight.

Ironically, Johansen walked away with a purse of £27,000 to soothe his damaged pride. That's £1,000 for each stitch.

Features featuring in this week's magazines

2006-03-27T16:12:00.000+01:00

As mentioned many weeks ago, my piece on convict-turned-Jewish mentor George Khalid Jones will see light in Boxing Monthly this week.

Their April edition is out on Thursday (March 30) and my 2,000 word feature on Khalid's amazing story will be in there. I'm also currently discussing the opportunity of penning a book for Khalid in the coming months.

Also, featured in last Friday's (March 24) Boxing News (the weekly trade magazine) was my 1,800 worder on Manchester prospect John Murray. The young super-featherweight is the main rival to Olympic hero Amir Khan, and can really fight.

As well as the magazine stuff, I also penned the whole show programme for last Friday's Sky Sports-televised European title fight in London. This included boxers' profiles (around eight or nine in total), promoters' views, and features concerning the show's headline boxer, David Haye. It was hectic stuff compiling it all (in the week leading up to the show!), but was worth the effort in the end.

Still no heavyweight resolution...

2006-03-27T15:51:00.000+01:00

Last weekend saw two of the so-called 'saviours' of the dire heavyweight landscape battle to a frustrating draw in Atlantic City.

Former middleweight star James 'Lights Out' Toney and WBC heavyweight king Hasim Rahman traded toe-to-toe for 12 heated rounds, only to wind up in the same positions they started in. Final scores, after 12 rounds, read 114-114 twice, and one vote of 117-111 to Rahman.

In light of the majority draw, very little changes. Toney, a fat, blown-up middleweight with more skills than salads, is still the most talented 'heavyweight' in the world, and Rahman is still a one-punch hitter who is dangerous, but no division leader.

Neither's case progressed any further. The fight was entertaining, yet hardly inspirational or enthralling. There was trading, there was the common Toney moves and ring smarts, and there were big right hands from Rahman.

Ultimately, though, Rahman never appeared sure of himself, despite being in control for most of the fight. Toney, similarly, just didn't want to work hard enough to take the win. He was content to sit on the ropes, counter beautifully, then suck up air for the rest of the round.

Likewise, the heavyweight mess continues to sit on the ropes and see out the round. Where's 'Iron' Mike Tyson, circa 1986, when you need him?

Sky Sports' March/April schedule

2006-03-17T12:35:00.000Z

Updated schedule of boxing events screened on Sky Sports in March and April.
* All shows are screened at 10 pm on Sky Sports 1.

Fri Mar 17	Commonwealth Welterweight title Kevin Anderson v Craig Dickson Fife Ice Arena, Kircaldy
Fri Mar 24	European Cruiserweight title Dave Haye v Lasse Johansen York Hall, Bethnal Green
Fri Mar 31	WBC Bantamweight title Hozumi Hasegawa v Veeraphol Sahaprom Kobe, Japan
Fri Apr 7	Commonwealth Flyweight title Lee Haskins v Zolile Mbityi Whitchurch LC, Bristol
Fri Apr 21	European Bantamweight title Simone Maludrotto v Damaen Kelly TBC, Belfast
Fri Apr 28	European Super-Bantamweight title Michael Hunter v German Guartos Borough Hall, Hartlepool

Blogging down the establishment

2006-03-17T11:48:00.000Z

A few links concerning the take-down of CNN boss Eason Jordan, following the efforts of a group of unherladed bloggers labelled 'the lynch mob'...

Easongate: A retrospective
Michelle Malkin's blow-by-blow account of Jordan Eason's demise at the hands of various worldwide bloggers.
Rony Abovitz' blog
Abovitz was the blogger who originally broke the Eason story and reported on the comments made in a closed-circuit, off-the-record news conference. Here's his blog.
Easongate blog
A blog set up by the hounding journalists who sought to end the career of Eason Jordan.
Instapundit
The leading weblog organisation that reported on Rony Abovitz', Hugh Hewitt's, La Shaun Barber's and Jim Geraghty's findings. The exposure the story got from being re-produced on Instapundit alerted the world media.

London 2012 – Is it worth the effort?

2006-03-09T17:35:00.000Z

Newsflash: Britain have six years to construct a multi-medal-winning team, full of world-class Olympians, to score at least fourth place in London’s 2012 Games.

Such a feat is placed in context when you consider the fact that Britain only garnered 30 medals in Athens, 2004, and finished in 10th place. Moreover, Britain’s Greek goldmine of nine golds, nine silvers and 12 bronzes, was seen as the utmost possible achievement at the time. A sign of the UK’s improving facilities, coaching, and funding. Athens was considered a success.

Yet, national pride has punched Britons in the face again, and the country is all set to get carried away when the Olympics come to town in 2012. Just as every year the nation waxes lyrical about the England football team’s destined World Cup glory, or Tim Henman’s chances of winning Wimbledon, Britain will be captivated and deluded by the dream of sporting triumph.

Which, overall, is a positive thing. After all, nothing comes close to sport. Success in sport has twice the effect on a nation than any political rally or campaign. It unites the country, and through the duration of a competition or tournament lifts Britain to a new level of community and patriotism.

Nobody has ever doubted the positive vibe a sporting event produces. That is why, of course, the hosting of the Games in London was announced with such a delighted response from the nation. It really is that big of a deal.

So when the British team’s expectations for London 2012 were announced - a surge of collective national pride soared through the country’s vein.

Fourth place, they say, is obtainable with sufficient funding and standout talents in 2012. Though that placing – in light of so many lacklustre efforts over the years – seems extremely ambitious, it is the effect of such a target that could be a good thing for British sport.

The fourth place target is almost redundant. It’s unlikely to happen, and, even if it does, will bring the country little more than should it finish 10th or 20th.

With the likes of America, Russia and the many Asian nations dominating the Games in recent years, it isn’t simply a case of trying harder to hit fourth spot. The bigger picture tells us those countries are larger – open to a more substantial talent pool – and have experience at the top level which Britain’s athletes are simply without.

Yet, it is a nice idea.

We’ve already learnt about the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) and the extra £1 million funding a year it is receiving. Over 130 of the nation’s leading young sports stars – those that will likely represent Britain in six years time – will benefit from the Nation Lottery’s funding. Moves like that can only be positive for the country, and act as small steps in bridging the gap between us and the elite sporting nations.

Without any kind of belief that success can be achieved in 2012, moves like this are unnecessary. Therefore, irrespective of how realistic the expectations are, it is vital to have some kind of target. Just as it is beneficial for a teenage athlete to have an annual target that they aspire to reach, the country needs some kind of guideline to follow.

Some targets will be unobtainable, but by virtue of setting them, there will be an effort to obtain them. That alone will result in a better performance from our nation’s team in 2012, than a team with no goals.

The politicians that doubt the effect of sport and the advantages of funding millions into the country’s sporting programme, need to realise the implications, and look no further than the so-called ‘obesity epidemic’ that is presently sweeping the country. With healthy eating and healthy living being promoted heavily nowadays, a successful sporting system would only further the work being done.

More youths would be urged to pick up sports, excel in sports, and ultimately score more medals in future Olympic Games. There will always be a limit to Britain’s achievements, but, if we don’t start now, any dreams of even playing fields, let alone fourth place, will forever remain a pipe dream.

Calzaghe clinic continues British boxing’s resurgence

2006-03-09T15:57:00.000Z

In recent times, one mention of ‘boxing’ in any form was generally greeted by a frown and disgruntled look. Express a liking for the sport, or, god forbid, a desire to watch a ‘boxing match’, and you’d be thrown a blank stare, as though you’d just asked someone to join you for fun times in Soho.

For too long has boxing been viewed as the sporting equivalent of pornography. Some dirty, guilty pleasure that everyone wants to be a million miles from. As a mainstream sport, it has been taboo for long enough.

Boxing will, perhaps, never reach the heady heights it did in the 1970’s and 80’s, when the surnames of Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Hagler, Hearns, Duran and Leonard rolled off the tongue and were regularly uttered in homes the world over. Those days are long gone.

Nowadays, we have neither the media coverage, the boxing stars, or the same social factors that were present in the so-called ‘glory days’ of the noble art.

The sport is still thriving, but it is doing so in the background. It’s a long way down the pecking order. Hidden away for years on cable television, and garnering minimalist page space in national newspapers hasn’t helped.

There have been stars in recent years – the incredible Roy Jones, Jr. and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to name only two – and hundreds of thrilling battles, but few, aside from boxing’s unwavering hardcore fanbase, have witnessed them.

Shut off the sport long enough from mainstream consciousness, and it is easily forgotten. There’s no longer a scramble to catch up with every fight, and even locate a radio to, shock, horror, LISTEN to a fight – as was commonplace in the days of Rocky Marciano, Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis. Boxing has simply lost its relevance.

As Sam Cooke predicted, however, a change is about to come.

Domestically, the sport is as good as it has been since the days of Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Steve Collins and Michael Watson. Arguably, it is even better.

After all, in Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe, we can boast the talents of two top world-class talents, both at the pinnacle of their weight classes. Draw up a list of the top 10 boxers in the game, worldwide, and Hatton and Calzaghe slip cosily into the line-up, and unquestionably occupy the higher reaches of the 10. It is a monumental achievement for a country like Britain to have two recognised global superstars in the boxing field.

Working alongside the upward surge of talent in the British Isles, is the reappearance of live boxing on terrestrial television network ITV. A former broadcaster in the 90’s, ITV are now at the centre of British boxing once again, and are intent on showing competitive boxing at a healthy hour to a nationwide audience.

It is the kind of exposure Sky Sports have tried diligently to replicate in recent years, but, ultimately, can’t produce. Unless a taboo sport like boxing is thrust into the faces of the population, they sure as hell aren’t going to seek it out voluntairly. It needs to be present, and unavoidable. Boxing on Sky Sports is merely one option amid thousands of others for satellite surfers. It’s hidden. Chucked into the wilderness, the way many would like to see it.

By realising the potential of the sport, ITV have essentially changed that. Though their presenting format often leaves a lot to be desired (it’s fair to say they’re still a bit ring rusty in that department), the very fact that they are headlining the renaissance of boxing in this country is good enough.

Last Saturday’s epic duel between world super-middleweight champions Joe Calzaghe and Jeff Lacy was broadcast live by ITV at 2 am on Sunday morning to accommodate American TV arrangements, yet still hooked over two millions viewers. An astonishing amount given boxing’s recent decline, and the ungodly hour the bout was being broadcast at.

Last December’s anticipated, yet ultimately, dreary heavyweight bout between Audley Harrison and Matt Skelton drew a staggering eight and a half million viewers. That 12-rounder was forced into the nation’s television sets at 9 pm on a Saturday night, and racked up more than enough watchers to prove boxing still has its place.

If the bout is promoted properly, and the fighters are given personas – the kind Benn, Eubank, Naseem Hamed and Frank Bruno thrived upon, and played to a tee – the sport can be reacquainted with its golden period. The audience, as proved in recent ITV successes, is still very much there.

Calzaghe and Lacy lock horns in Manchester

2006-03-02T22:33:00.000Z

This Saturday, live on ITV, domestic boxing fans will witness one of the top fistic spectacles to hit the British Isles in the last decade.

Welsh southpaw Joe Calzaghe and Floridian wrecking-ball Jeff ‘Left Hook’ Lacy have traded verbals, and boasts of divisional supremacy, for the best part of two years - and, within the next 48 hours, the consensus top dog in the super-middleweight division will be declared.

Calzaghe, the long-reigning WBO champion will draw battle lines with IBF champ Lacy at around 2 AM British time. An unusual slot, which signifies an unusual happening in British boxing – a highly-anticipated, double world-title dual, with the world’s eyes watching on.

Along with last year’s mega showdown between Manchester body-blaster Ricky Hatton and the legendary Kostya Tszyu, Saturday’s 168 lb championship fight marks one of the seminal moments for British boxing.

Not only does the scheduled 12-rounder combine two reigning world-champions, it also features two unbeaten stars of the game. Lacy – unbeaten in 21 pro starts – and Calzaghe – without a blemish in 40 – are two men who haven’t even come close to adversity thus far in their careers. Lacy has never been floored. Calzaghe has only ever been floored twice. Neither have ever been within reach of defeat.

Enticingly, those facts will alter in the early hours of Sunday morning.

I fancy Lacy – the younger, fresher, threshing-machine – to bulldoze his way to a stoppage victory. He’s tough, rugged, holds a good shot, and believes he’s unbeatable. Comparisons have been made between him and a young Mike Tyson.

Calzaghe can give ‘Left Hook’ problems with his lefty-style, and handspeed up close, but, ultimately, Lacy will find a way to catch up with him.

Either way, with both men adept at brawling inside, the fight should provide plenty of fireworks – even at gone two o’clock in the morning.

The Hayemaker Hits London - Ticket Details

2006-03-02T22:15:00.000Z

If you want to purchase tickets for European cruiserweight champion David Haye's first defence of his title - against the unbeaten Lasse Johansen in Bethnal Green - you can do so from here.

Or, alternatively, you can ring the Box Office on 0871 226 1508, or contact me on 07932 952666.

Tickets are priced as follows:

Standard - £35
Ringside - £60
VIP - £75

The scheduled 12-rounder takes place on March 24, live on Sky Sports, at Bethnal Green's legendary York Hall.

Blogs as money-making machines

2006-02-17T13:53:00.000Z

An interesting story in the New York Metro has opened the blogging-world's eyes to the possibility of making money from their online exploits. Titled 'Blogs to Riches', the article deals with the many success stories of Internet blogging and how novice writers have traded mindless ramblings into well-paid careers.

In some cases - notably the situation of millionaire David Hauslaib - first-time bloggers have discovered a niche, exploited it, and wound up with endless amounts of $$.

Hauslaib, creator of the gossip blog 'Jossip', isn't even at the top of the pile where his field is concerned - that distinction belongs to the likes of Gawker - but he's still made enough from his blogging revolution to set him up for life.

So has the founding editor of Engadget, Peter Rojas. Rojas struck the jackpot last year when the company that owns his gadget blog - Weblogs, Inc. - was bought out by AOL for $25 million. Rojas admits in the article he doesn't have to work another day's graft in his life. He still does, though, of course. Like the many other worldwide bloggers, for Rojas, blogging is a religion.

To aid one's attempt to hit the WWW bag of gold, the article also outlined three basic type of bloggers that have garnered success:

The accidental tourist - The common route followed by bloggers. This is where a first-time blogger is simply out to produce a blog for their own personal enjoyment, and yet end up in a goldmine. They essentially get lucky. Through either a talent for writing, producing blogs, or an eye for a market, a writer manages to gain enough hits and popularity to make a success of their blog.

Liberal journalist Joshua Micah Marshall followed this path to riches. His 'just for fun' web log went from zilch readers to 8,000 to 40,000 and now to a daily amount of 150,000, thanks to some well-timed breaking stories Marshall managed to crank out.

The record label approach - Where blog after blog is churned out by a producer, in the hope that one finds its niche and strikes it rich. Johan Calacani, the man behind Weblogs, Inc. followed this strategy, and ended up with rewarding results. His company, as previously stated, were recently approach by AOL. Calacani walked away a substantial millionaire.

The boutique approach - A magazine-esque take on the blogging world. A blog is set up to target a wide-range of people who share common likes, and then engages them with regular updates or editions. Advertising is also a major part of the boutique way of blogging.

Nick Denton rose to prominence via this approach. He targets high-spending, well-educated readers and offers them Internet doses of scandal, gossip, sex and politics. It's turned out to be a winning combination for Denton.

Internet popularity continues to soar

2006-02-17T11:22:00.000Z

According to the Oxford Institute's latest Internet survey findings, the use of Broadband in British homes has increased by 40% since 2003. Two years ago 19% of homes had a Broadband Internet service, while today 59% have an established Broadband connection.

In light of such a massive jump in merely two years, these findings are a clear indication that the popularity of the Internet is on a massive increase. With the World Wide Web vital for work and entertainment purposes, and a means of collating information and news, those figures will seemingly continue to rise as the technology of the Web increases.

Nowadays, it is assumed most households have an Internet connection. It is only the older generation that have openly expressed their refusal to 'get with the times' and install the Web into their homes.

According to the Oxford report, 51% of retirees were not at all interested in the idea of gaining Internet access. In contrast, only 3% of children opposed to having the chance to log on. Only 12% of retirees showed any kind of interest in the Internet, while 58% of the children surveyed wanted a continuous Internet service.

A staggering 94% of 14-17 year-olds used the Internet, according to the same research. Only 20% of those over 75 did the same.

Salam's Story

2006-02-16T22:42:00.000Z

Salam Pax's topical blog 'Where is Raed?' is a vivid and human account of a distant and inhumane subject.

In balancing hard-hitting stories on the Iraq war with offbeat humour and side-notes, Pax is able to identify with the reader no matter how clued up they are on the events in Iraq. He makes it personal, and allows for those viewing it to experience some of the situations through his words. Pax paints a colurful picture that would accurately represent Iraq to someone, irrespective of whether or not they'd been there before, or seen it on television.

The off-topic ramblings work well, too. They act as a good contrast to the more serious and long-winded material Pax posts. While reading his blog you get the impression Pax is just writing whatever slips into his mind. He has no barriers or restrictions. He says what he thinks and doesn't have to live with the consequences. Quite often he's very cutting on various issues surrounding the Iraq war, but, given the freedom provided by the Internet - and especially via weblogs - Pax can write with no agenda. He can deilver an honest, heartfelt opinion without having to worry about any repercussions.

Ultimately, though, Pax's blog is an accessible take on a matter that is, for the most part, inaccesible for us. The beauty is in the minor details - his dicussion on millitary radio, for example - as this allows us to relate to Pax's words and descriptions better.

Khalid's Story

2006-02-16T17:06:00.000Z

A couple of weeks ago I spoke at length to light-heavyweight contender George Khalid Jones, and am moved to briefly go over his life story. Khalid's currently back in New Jersey after visiting Boston in order to arrange his next bout in March. He's off the cortisone shots that riddled his body in the lead-up to his last fight in September against Glencoffe Johnson.

His story - which he ran over with me for the best part of an hour - was something I'd heard before, but never in such vivid detail. I knew Jones had killed a man (Beethaeven Scottland) in the ring in 2001, and had various problems growing up - but I never realised the scope of Khalid's troubles.

Growing up in Paterson, Khalid was raised purely by his mother, while his drug-dealing father did his own thing. A directionless youth, Khalid started robbing at seven years of age, and was on probation at nine. He had a shotgun forced down his throat at 14.

While visting his father, Khalid was quickly drawn to drugs. His father was dealing from home, and Jones was privvy to it all. He was even introduced to the buying and selling process by his bugged-out father.

At 18, Khalid was sent to jail for the first time for drug trafficking. He was a continuous visitor to New Jersey jails for the next 11 years. Some convictions were for drug misdemeanours, others were for shooting people. He was arrested 19 times in total.

He dabbled in excessive gambling while in jail - in order to pay off drug debts - and was involved in a ton of hit-and-run incidents round the Paterson area.

In the end, a boxing career saved Jones. He realised that, while behind bars, he had to use his fists in order to obtain a decent way of living. The prison guards would inform him that if he declined to fight he would end up with the smallest portions of the nastiest food. The good fighters got the good food. He heeded the warnings, and begin knocking grown men out, left, right and centre.

He then channelled this bloodthirsty desire into a paid boxing career, upon release from jail. In 1994, fighting for no more than $400 a time, Khalid beat a few unbeaten white prospects in places like Minnesota, and was then quickly on the boxing map. The more white hopes he beat, the bigger his own name became.

In June 2001, Khalid - undefeated in 15 pro bouts - boxed Scottland on ESPN in the States. It was a crossroads fight between two ambitious young fighters harbouring big dreams.
Khalid came away victorious, Scottland slipped into a coma and died six days later. Jones had knocked Scottland out with 37 seconds of the contest remaining.

The tragedy hit Jones hard. Despite once being a baaaaaaaad man with numerous convictions, Khalid was turning his life around - thanks to boxing. He'd visited jails to speak to inmates. Helped out within his community. He'd been off drugs for 12 years. Now, though, he believed his boxing career was over. No way could he carry on having killed another man.

A day or so after Scottland's passing, Beethaeven's wife, Denise, rang Jones. Khalid expected a tirade from an emotional woman. What he got, however, changed his life. She forgave him for everything and offered to become friends. Jones couldn't believe a woman could forgive such a thing.

His life, from that point onwards, did a complete U-turn. His fights were hard to begin with - he has never fully gotten over killing Scottland. He's still somewhat gunshy when fighting. But away from the ring he's a changed person. He's almost adopted the Scottland family, and taken them under his wing. He sends them gifts every year, and has offered to pay for the Scottland kids' college education.

Khalid now has a Jewish mentor, and is learning from the mistakes he made whilst growing up. He doesn't want his kids to lead the same life he did. He hasn't cursed for years he said. His children are not allowed to swear in the house.

He sees Denise Scottland as his fallen angel. His hero. He says without her, he'd be dead.

It's an amazing story. My full feature on Khalid will be in Boxing Monthly magazine's April edition. It clocks in at around 2,200 words, but that's simply scratching the surface with this incredible man.

At one point, Khalid said to me: "I tell my story to old ladies in the community and they hug me and cry. They can't believe I'm the same person I once was. These are the same kind of ladies I was pistol-whipping, robbing and terrorising as a youth."

Hollywood's calling.

Journalism course link

2006-02-10T11:30:00.000Z

Course link