TAYLOR vs
CATTERALL II
And the complexities of
psychological warfare
THE ICE BEAR
IS COMING
Meet the giant who can’t
box in his own country
HAMZAH SHEERAZ / EDGAR BERLANGA /
PADRAIG MCCRORY / JUNTO NAKATANI /
ALFONZO RATLIFF
DO WE
NEED VAR?
The pros and cons of
using video replays
As he enters
camp for Bivol,
the secrets of his
success are revealed
THE TALENTED
£4.25
VOL. 80
NO. 08
Contents
February 22, 2024
18
THE SECRETS OF BETERBIEV
What makes him so special? How does still do it at 39? What is he really like?
DON’T MISS
READ ALL ABOUT IT
>> 4 TAYLOR-CATTERALL II
>> 5 EDGAR BERLANGA
The mental battle could be the hardest
Why he now wears slippers all day long
>> 10 VAR: YES OR NO?
>> 6 THE EXPERTS ON REPLAYS
As powerbrokers argue over the merits
of VAR in boxing, we have our say
Those more educated than us chip in
>> 7 WHY ARE WE WAITING?
>> 16 KOLBIN KRISTINSSON
The longest gaps between rematches
A heavyweight who can’t fight at home
>> 8 A NIGHT WITH PIONEERS
>> 20 HAMZAH SHEERAZ
Recalling a tournament from another era
Chatting with the man of the moment
>> 38 ALFONZO RATLIFF
How he won a title with a busted hand
24
>> 12 SOME PERSPECTIVE
Curious reaction to the plight of McClellan
>> 14 THE WEEK
SUBSCRIBE: SAVE 42% PER MONTH
Visit SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/BXN1323
Rooney’s invite, Hearn’s bloodied head
>> 24 ANOTHER LATE SHOW
O’Shaquie Foster pulls it out in New York
>> 30 PADRAIG MCCRORY
On Berlanga and managing a stammer
>> 32 JUNTO NAKATANI
His quest for worldwide acceptance
www.boxingnewsonline.net
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 3
EDITOR’S LETTER
BY THE THROAT:
Tensions
run high
as TaylorCatterall II
is announced
Time to
subscribe
OTHERE are
numerous ways
to subscribe,
including
special offers.
Cover photography
MIKEY WILLIAMS/TOP RANK
WINDOW DRESSING
Forget all the pushing and
shoving, the real stories lie in
the minds of Taylor and Catterall
HE early headlines
surrounding the
eagerly awaited
Josh Taylor-Jack
Catterall rematch
will be based
solely upon what
we see and hear.
The threats that
are dripping
in machismo,
the poking and
strangling, the
perceived injustices
Matt
of the first fight and
Christie
the promises of
@MattCBoxingNews war and revenge in
the next.
Editor
For now, it’s all
just noise. It’s mere window dressing.
What lies beneath is where the real
stories and most important battles exist.
And for now, those battles will only be
waged against themselves.
Full credit to Taylor, now 33 years old,
for granting Catterall this long overdue
return (on April 27 at the First Direct
Arena in the neutral city of Leeds). At
this stage of the Scotsman’s career,
with that contentious first fight and the
sobering loss to Teofimo Lopez the only
action he’s seen in the last three years,
one could classify a contest with such a
bitter enemy as the last thing he needs.
In terms of earning potential, it may
also be the only thing he could get.
Taylor, not so long ago the finest fighter
of them all in Britain, finds himself
in that inevitable and unenviable
position of being one loss away from
T
4 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
comparative oblivion. “I’ve not had the
best performances in my last two fights,”
Taylor admits. “I have to put on a good
performance here to put myself back
in the championship picture. I need to
put on a good performance, even just
having a good fight. But really I need to
win the fight and so does he.”
Life moves fast at the best of times.
One minute you’re 17 years old, proud
of that fluff on your chin for starting
to thicken, and the next you’re in your
mid-thirties, acutely aware that your
forehead is growing by the day. Getting
older can be tough, particularly during
the onset of middle-age, when the
future comes into stark focus and all
you can see is uncertainty. For the boxer
who for so long has been conditioned
to believe they’re invincible, it is
substantially more difficult.
Taylor, though we’ll no doubt
hear that he’s never felt better and
can’t wait to rip off Catterall’s head,
will unquestionably have wondered
in quieter times if his best days are
behind him. Worse, it’s reasonable to
assume that they are. A long amateur
career quickly became one of the bestmanaged rises through the professional
ranks we’ve seen in Britain. The
steepness of that trajectory means there
would have been plenty of wear and
tear endured along the way. There’s also
the psychological effects of that opening
bout with Catterall, which was followed
by the first loss of his career, to consider.
Those effects are yet to be known.
The temptation is to presume the worst.
But don’t forget how much Catterall
has annoyed Taylor in recent years.
That alone might be all he needs to
roll back the years. For some boxers of
a certain age, being written off against
an opponent they know they can beat
is all they need to rise again. Think
Carl Froch flattening George Groves or
Azumah Nelson terrorising Jeff Fenech,
for example.
Three years younger and yet to
believe that he’s lost a professional fight,
Catterall won’t have to deal with the
same demons. Consumed by injustice
and at times drunk on the widespread
belief that he was the victim of it,
Catterall himself will need to work hard
to ensure his mind is focused at the
sound of the opening bell. Last time,
he was the underdog that nobody was
picking to win. This time, the outlook is
different. There is newfound expectancy
on his shoulders. Over-confidence can
play havoc with that.
Both fighters will wonder about the
judges, certainly more so than they
would have done heading into fight
one. Given the storm of controversy
last time, Taylor will have concerns that
every close round might now go the
way of his opponent. Catterall, long
haunted by what led to that storm,
might be pressured into straying from
his normal style to make sure on the
cards.
This is one of those rare bouts that
doesn’t need selling. It’s a genuine
grudge match that can’t be called with
any confidence. Expect the animosity to
grow, perhaps to even more distasteful
levels. Ultimately, the insults exchanged
at press conference tables won’t matter.
And while we’re on that, there is no
need for managers to get in on the act
to add further spice or soundbites.
This is only about Taylor and Catterall
and who can manage the doubts
and fears most effectively. Whoever
comes out on top will have proved not
only their physical prowess but also
their mental fortitude. The latter, one
suspects, is where this will be won and
lost.
OYOU can get a
print and online
subscription
for the bargain
price of just
£9.99 per
month, which
represents a 42
per cent saving.
OFOR more
information
on all the
subscriptions
plus our special
bookazines,
please visit
www.shop.
kelsey.co.uk
or call 01959543-747.
OTHE next
issue will be
in shops on
February 29
and available
to download on
February 28.
The
Opening
Bell...
OTHE BN
podcast has
been described
as the ‘most
impartial and
informative
podcast around.’
O‘Insightful,
balanced and
informative
listen every
week. Great
content to
match the
magazine’
OListen (for
free) via Apple,
Spotify and all
major platforms.
ONEW episode
available to
download (for
free) every
Thursday.
www.boxingnewsonline.net
GUEST COLUMN
RECALIBRATED:
Berlanga is
enjoying life away
from the big city
Photo: ED MULHOLLAND/MATCHROOM
VER the past
six months, my
whole life has
changed.
I’ve moved
out of New
York and over
to Tampa,
Florida,
permanently.
I just built a
house from
scratch. We
designed
Edgar
everything the
Berlanga
way we wanted
Super-middle
it. I wanted a
contender
long driveway
and I got
that – now I can fit about 20 cars
on there. I haven’t got 20 yet, but I
always wanted a long driveway.
I’m laying down roots here. I’m
from Brooklyn, but it’s different
right now. I feel like I needed this
move for my career. Living in New
York is cool and I love New York
with all my heart, but for my career
and my son, I think right now we’ve
got to be isolated and focused.
It’s a mature move. It’s different;
I’ve got to start thinking about the
future. It’s not about me no more, it’s
about him and my family. Obviously,
I’m also setting myself up for when I
retire from boxing. Obviously, I still
have money saved, I have a house
now, so if – God forbid – anything
happens, we’re set.
It’s crazy. I lived in New York all
my life but as soon as I came out
here, boom, I got a house. I’ve been
in New York for so long. I was just
renting. I never even thought about
getting a house, but I came out here
and got one quick.
A lot of things have changed
for me. Living in New York, the
environment and lifestyle can catch
up to you. You feel like you’ve got
to keep a certain standard, how you
dress and how you look. That’s New
York, it’s like a fashion place. But
over here I’m in slippers all day, no
haircut for weeks and I don’t care.
There’s nobody to impress here.
My son is in the terrible twos
right now and he be going crazy.
He’s about to be three in June,
so hopefully sooner or later the
terrible two stage will be gone. I’ve
actually been sleeping in his room
recently, in his bed. It’s only a small
bed, but for some reason I sleep
good there. It’s kinda hard, but I
like hard beds. My fiance likes soft
beds. I feel like I sleep way better,
but it means I’m sleeping in sheets
with dinosaurs on them.
Paddy McCrory is my next
www.boxingnewsonline.net
‘NOW I’M WEARING
SLIPPERS ALL DAY’
Everything is different since making the move from New York
to Florida and I’m ready to put on a show in my new hometown
opponent and he’s my second
Irishman in a row, but I don’t got
nothing against the Irish, I love
Irish people.They got that fighting
blood, just like Puerto Ricans, so it’s
going to be something cool against
McCrory.
We liked him as an opponent
– he’s tough, he’s undefeated and
another Irishman. He’s ranked in
the sanctioning bodies, so he’s not
a guy who will just try and survive,
run around the whole ring, like a
marathon runner. I think it’s going
to be something spectacular.
For knockout artists, if we don’t
get guys out, you already know
that people will start talking shit.
If you’re a guy that doesn’t really
knock people out and you’re just
winning, then you can keep going
like that. But if you’re a knockout
artist and you’re not knocking the
guy out, that’s when the fans attack
you. I know now – you’re only as
good as your last fight.
For example, Teofimo Lopez
bust up Josh Taylor’s ass. They
were praising him then, but now
he fought Jamaine Ortiz, who ran
around the whole ring, and now
Teofimo’s a bum, they say he sucks,
and they took him off the rankings.
I’m just like ‘damn’.
This is the first of my last two
fights on my Matchroom contract.
Eddie Hearn doesn’t really want
to talk to me about who might
be next, because it’s fight week
and it’s not good to overlook your
opponent. I’m not really into that.
I’d rather handle business and then
we can sit down and talk.
Eddie has some good things
happening this year, but I just need
to make sure I look like a superstar
this week. I’m in my home town
basically – this is Little Puerto Rico
and there’s going to be a whole
bunch of Puerto Ricans.
Ever since Hurricane Maria in
2017, which damaged Puerto Rico
badly, a lot of people escaped and
came out to Orlando to live. So,
this is the 2.0 version of Puerto Rico
and I’m amped. You don’t even
understand. I can’t stop moving, I’m
anxious because it’s like I’m back
home. Now it’s on me to put on a
show.
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 5
ON TWITTER
@BoxingNewsED
LETTERS
ON FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/boxingnewsonline
LETTER OF THE WEEK
GOOD DECISION ON SHEERAZ
WELL DONE on the decision
to put Hamzah Sheeraz on the
cover last week (February 15).
Though I understand it can't be an
easy decision, particularly after reading
a rather passionate column from the
editor on the subject last year, I do feel
it's important for the trade paper, where
possible, to recognise talent as exciting as
Sheeraz. I am 56 years old so I certainly
won't be holding my breath, it might
kill me, but there's every chance that in
Sheeraz, British fans have a superstar in
the making.
It was funny to hear Alex Steedman
attempt to stifle his excitement on
the Opening Bell podcast. He started
off by saying we need context when
complimenting Sheeraz's win over
Liam Williams and ended it by saying
he could be Britain's answer to great
middleweights of the nineties like James
Toney. It really made me laugh.
Henry Oliver
WHAT'S THE POINT?
THOUGH I understand the temptation
to overhaul the current scoring system
I tend to agree with the reader who
believed that it's okay as it is.
I am not going to downplay how much
a bad decision can affect a boxer though.
Perhaps the first Canelo-Golovkin
decision is one such example. Canelo
went on to become the star of the era
and Golovkin was denied the defining
win his career deserved. But he also got
paid millions and millions to fight Canelo
on two further occasions.
I would also say that though there
is a brief period of outrage following a
controversial decision, it's not the stain
on the sport that some would have you
believe. It's sport, it happens.
The problem is, as it has always been,
is that trying to get everyone to agree
who won a close fight is impossible. The
debate will always be there.
Norman Ball
A POWERFUL ARTICLE
I WAS compelled to write in and
congratulate Oliver Fennell for his
outstanding write up on Gerald
McClellan in current issue (February 15)
of Boxing News.
I was at that fight with Nigel Benn and
didn't realise the extent of McClellan's
injury until the next day. This was before
the internet and that kind of thing.
Upon hearing about it, I became very
upset. In a strange way I felt that by
buying a ticket I'd had something to do
with it.
I didn't go to another boxing event
for years and didn't buy Boxing News for
even longer.
I have since made peace with my love
of boxing. Yet that article stirred all the
old emotions but did not make me doubt
that love I have. It was so good to read,
to know that he's found some kind of
comfort in his own skin. Thank you.
Richard Ashley
UNLUCKY LOSER:
But Golovkin
remains one of
the highest paid
fighters of his era
Photo: ETHAN MILLER/GETTY IMAGES
6 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
www.boxingnewsonline.net
EMAIL
matt.christie@boxingnewsonline.net
ON INSTAGRAM
boxingnewsonline
POST
Boxing News Letters, Kelsey Media, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Maidstone, ME18 6AL
10 COUNT
THE PANEL
PATIENCE
WOULD YOU WELCOME VAR IN BOXING?
Darren
Barker
(Former IBF beltholder)
It’s hard to answer
actually. If the
flow of the fight
is not interrupted,
and it’s done in
the break and
its ex-fighters
making the calls
that it’s a low
blow or whatever
then okay but
as long as it
doesn’t interrupt
the flow of the
fight. If there’s no
stoppages then I’d
say yeah, it’s worth
a go.
Robbie
Davies Jnr
(Former EBU
champion)
No, because it
will be good in
some ways and
bad in others. It
would be to a
fighter’s benefit
if they’re injured
or hit after the
bell when they’re
on one knee
for example but
there’s too many
instances. It’d be
like the football.
It’ll work well for
one reason, and
everyone will hate
it for another. I’d
rather keep it as
it is and let the
referee decide.
Gary
Lockett
(Leading
trainer)
It would take away
a bit of originality
from the sport.
It’s almost spoiled
football. It does
work a little bit
better in rugby
union where it’s
more prompt.
In boxing I don’t
really know. For
things that are
controversial
then absolutely.
But it has to be
discussed among
people who really
know what they’re
doing and made
clear what it’s
going to influence.
Jack
Flatley
(Middleweight
contender)
I don’t think VAR
could work in
boxing in terms
of disputing every
decision as we go.
It could mean we
stop every fight
many times which
would change
the momentum
and dynamic of
a fight. I do think
additional judges
would be good
– either five or
seven scoring a
bout with three
ringside and the
rest watching a
VAR-type system.
WHO WINS TAYLOR-CATTERALL II?
Darren
Barker
I don’t want to
get this wrong.
I like to get my
predictions right.
My gut is saying
Taylor, but I’ve
really got to look
back at the first
fight. Right now, I
don’t quite know.
If I’m honest I
think the time that
has passed favours
Jack better but
on the flip side, I
do believe we’re
going to see a
better Josh Taylor.
Robbie
Davies Jnr
In the past Josh
Taylor was the
fighter that
wowed everyone
coming through
winning all the
belts. I’m not
saying Jack’s not a
good fighter but if
the Josh Taylor of
old shows up he’s
the man to beat.
Catterall’s style
can pick away at
anyone and if Josh
isn’t at his best
then I think Jack
will pinch it.
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Gary
Lockett
I think we all
know who won
the first fight.
Jack was very
unfortunate. I
think a lot of
people thought
Josh was
weakened by the
weight in the first
fight and expected
him to move up
to 147lbs. I think
Jack is a lot more
comfortable at
140 than Josh is
so you’d have to
favour him.
Jack
Flatley
I believe it will
be a close fight
but one Catterall
edges. Myself and
many others think
he should have
got the decision
last time and all
the extra waiting
may have not
been the best for
Taylor in terms of
making weight.
It will only add
more spite to
Catterall’s punches
as well. The buildup will put a lot of
Following the announcement of Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall
II, we look at 10 examples of rivals who waited for their
rematch
1 JONES JNR-HOPKINS (17 YEARS, ONE MONTH)
It’s hard to believe there were 17 years between Jones
and Hopkins sharing the ring for the first time in 1993
and the second time, but it’s the truth. With Jones
keen to travel up the weights, and Hopkins destined
to spend most of his career at middleweight, it wasn’t
until 2010 that the pair reunited.
2 LEONARD-HEARNS (SEVEN YEARS, NINE MONTHS)
Whereas the first fight between Leonard and Hearns
in 1981 is a bona fide classic and as good as it gets in
boxing, the rematch eight years later is not so revered.
Both were at super-middleweight by then, no longer
welterweights, and the fight ended in a draw.
3 CHAVEZ-TAYLOR (FOUR YEARS, SIX MONTHS)
Given the controversial nature of the first fight in
1990, it was a surprise it took Chavez and Taylor as long
as it did to reconvene. It wasn’t until 1994, in fact,
that Chavez was able to beat Taylor more convincingly.
4 PACQUIAO-MARQUEZ (THREE YEARS, 10 MONTHS)
They fought a total of four times, yet still there was a
significant four-year gap between fights one and two;
this despite the fact the first fight in 2004 ended in
a draw. Marquez, floored three times in round one,
battled back to push Pacquiao all the way that night,
but wouldn’t get his satisfaction until fight four.
5 FOREMAN-FRAZIER (THREE YEARS, FIVE MONTHS)
Rarely do you see a fighter stopped inside two rounds
secure a rematch with their conqueror three years later,
but that’s what happened with Frazier and Foreman. In
hindsight, it was the last thing Frazier needed.
6 EUBANK-BENN (TWO YEARS, 11 MONTHS)
In a rather unusual twist on the theme, the
controversial fight in the Benn vs. Eubank rivalry
proved to be the rematch rather than the first fight.
The 1993 rematch ended in a draw, whereas the first
fight, in 1990, was finished by Eubank in nine rounds.
7 FRAZIER-ALI (TWO YEARS, 10 MONTHS)
They combined to produce arguably the greatest
heavyweight fight of all time in 1971, and yet the
world would have to wait almost three years to see Ali,
beaten first time around, and Frazier, beaten second
time around, have their rematch.
8 MCCALL-LEWIS (TWO YEARS, FIVE MONTHS)
After getting stopped by McCall in quite the upset in
1994, Lewis embarked on a period of rehabilitation,
beating the likes of Tommy Morrison and Ray Mercer
before fighting McCall again in ’97 and this time
winning inside five rounds.
9 BRADLEY-PACQUIAO (TWO YEARS)
As controversial as it was, the decision Bradley received
against Pacquaio in 2012 would not be rectified until
they met again two years later. By that time Pacquiao
had been stopped by Juan Manuel Marquez, which
made the Bradley all the more impressive.
10 FURY-WILDER (ONE YEAR, THREE MONTHS)
The first fight between Fury and Wilder in 2018 ended
in a draw and seemingly set up an immediate rematch.
However, Fury, before stopping Wilder in the return,
would fight Tom Schwarz and Otto Wallin, leaving
Wilder to fight Dominic Breazeale and Luis Ortiz.
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 7
THE BUNCE DIARIES
Photo: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM
SPANNING GENERATIONS:
Shergold was still fighting as recently
as December 2022, almost 20 years
on from the mythical Female National
Boxing Championships, which you
won’t find in any record books
NOW B
AND
THEN
Whatever
happened to the
19 dreamers from
the inaugral
Female National
Championships?
ACK when there
was not one
woman from British
amateur boxing
good enough
to be sent to a
World or European
championship,
a tiny group of
renegades gathered
one weekend.
It was May
2003 and the
inaugural Female
Steve
National Boxing
Bunce
Championships
@BigDaddyBunce took place at the
Voice of boxing Metropolitan Police
College, in Hendon,
North London. It was like a secret event
and so far it has escaped all records. You
had to be there.
A total of 19 dreamers arrived that
weekend and nobody had a clue what
to expect. They lined up to weigh-in
and looked at each other nervously.
Some had never boxed, others had
8 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
fought a couple of times. One or two
had fought perhaps six or seven times.
They were a genuine mix of unknowns.
They were inheriting absolutely nothing.
The lineup included an armed
response policewoman from Leicester
called Tiffany Lynch. There was a
woman who gave out change at an
amusement arcade on Paignton pier
called Kristine Shergold. There was a
mum called Tamasin Mallia who had
fought and lost three times before
arriving in Hendon. They were all there
dreaming of something.
Shergold was the veteran in Hendon.
She had fought nine times, and she was
one of the 20 women who had been
invited to Crystal Palace, where GB
boxing was based, in 2001 to take part
in a training session. Now, this session
has become a thing of glorious myth in
boxing. Some people doubt it existed,
but it did – Shergold was there, and she
has testimony. She told me about it at
Hendon on the Saturday afternoon.
The day was officially an “assessment”
session to see if any of the invited
women were good enough to compete
at the first edition of the Women’s
World Amateur Championship in
America later that year. It was a
brutal cattlemarket, a raw day with
no camouflage for the exposed and
inexperienced boxers. It was certainly
handled incorrectly. The women
performed in front of an unimpressed
pack of men, led by Olympic coach Ian
Irwin. There was really no need for the
public workout; it was clear the women
in 2001 were not ready.
“We were asked to train to see if any
of us were good enough to go to the
first Women’s World Championships in
America, but the feedback wasn’t very
good, and it was obvious that nobody
there thought that any of us could box,”
Shergold told me. Ouch.
Shergold lost to Rhiannon Dixon on
points in her 15th pro fight in 2022; she
was 41 on the night in Leeds and has
not fought since.
In 2002, when the women’s
Worlds were in Turkey, there was
no “assessment” day. As a direct
www.boxingnewsonline.net
comparison, England, Scotland and
Wales decided to not send any boxers
to the first edition of the men’s World
Championships in Havana in 1974. They
were not good enough, was the savage
assessment. It was probably right.
Back in the Hendon ring, there was
some controversy after Friday’s semifinals. Some of the women complained
the fights had been
stopped too early.
“This is a full-contact
sport and I expect to
get hit and hurt in
there and when it was
stopped, I couldn’t
believe it,” said Rachael
Prendergast. “I was not
hurt, not even a bit.”
Prendergast was
having her first fight
at 30 and was beaten
in one round by Nichola Owens. It was
all new, especially for most referees.
Owens beat Heather Mackie in the
featherweight final.
In the very first bout, Jenny Dowell
had beaten Mallia. I took down
amazing details back then – you had
to get everything in your pad because
there were far fewer ways to check on
facts and figures and the ages of the
boxers. Dowell was a hairdresser and
would lose the bantamweight final on
countback to Tina O’Dell, who boxed
for Frank O’Sullivan’s club, Birmingham
City Police. O’Dell was part of England
Boxing for a time, one of the pathway
coaches. She still runs a gym in
Birmingham now.
It was another
tough loss for Mallia
and that meant she
still had one more
hard task to finish. She
told me about it: “I
have to call my fiveyear-old son, Tommy,
and tell him I’ve lost
again. I would never
let him see me fight
and it is hard enough
making the call.”
Mallia went on and became a boxing
judge and trained amateur fighters.
I’m beginning to wonder if there is a
simple documentary to be made about
the 19 dreamers who showed up in
Hendon chasing something. We love
pioneers in any sport and those
women were real pioneers.
It might just work, and they
‘THE FEEDBACK
WASN’T GOOD.
IT WAS OBVIOUS
NOBODY THERE
THOUGHT ANY OF
US COULD BOX’
had backstories. This is also a couple of
years before Nicola Adams and Amanda
Coulson were sent to events in Europe.
This event at Hendon is like a lost piece
of archive; the BBC filmed some of it, so
it is out there somewhere.
Lynch, the armed policewoman, only
started boxing when the police car she
was travelling in hit a tree during an
armed and high-speed chase. I’m not
inventing this, by the way. She was told
that she would be out of action for 18
months with a damaged leg; she turned
to boxing and was in the ring inside
a year. She lost in the welterweight
final, but was planning on going to the
World Police and Fire Officer Games in
Barcelona that summer. She remains a
powerful player in the police force.
From March 4-11, four women from
the GB Boxing machine will travel to
Italy for the second Olympic qualifier.
Two women, Charley Davison and
Rosie Eccles have already qualified for
Paris. Meanwhile, somewhere in Britain,
a group of renegade women and
forgotten fighters will be keeping an
eye on their progress. They made
that passage possible, and I
wonder where they all are
now?
PASSING IT ON:
Tina O’Dell won the
bantamweight final
and now runs a gym
Photo: EAMONN M. MCCORMACK/GETTY IMAGES FOR THE NATIONAL LOTTERY
www.boxingnewsonline.net
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 9
BOXING MEDIA REVIEW
Examining the best and worst
of the sport’s weekly coverage
Photo: ALEX PANTLING/GETTY IMAGES
DIFFERENCE
OF OPINION:
Fury and Usyk may
see eye to eye here,
but those who run
their sport rarely do
WEBSITES
BOXING, traditionally, has not been
one of the world’s leading sports when
it comes to innovation and adaptability.
The fragmented nature of its governance
has meant the adoption of new processes
and policies has rarely – if ever – been
universal. Different governing and
sanctioning bodies have different rules
and regulations.
So, when the topic of VAR being used
in boxing was once again raised this
week, there were plenty of questions
about how that would happen. WBC
President Mauricio Sulaiman was the first
to bring up the issue when he claimed
his organisation is pushing for VAR to be
implemented for the superfight between
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in May.
Promoter Ben Shalom told talkSPORT:
“I think for the big fights it makes a lot of
sense. You have so many decisions at the
moment that are being questioned all the
time. It’s frustrating as a promoter as well,
because you’re usually the one that gets
blamed. I welcome anything – it takes
investment, it takes everyone getting on
board with it.”
Eddie Hearn was also asked about VAR
by talkSPORT and he initially labelled it
a “terrible idea”, though he was referring
to the notion that video replays could be
used to overturn judges’ decisions after a
fight. Obviously, he’s right, and it doesn’t
seem like this was what Shalom was
talking about.
What Sulaiman and others are touting
is using VAR for incidents like a fighter
suffering a cut during a fight, or receiving
a low blow. The use of an immediate
video replay could be used to ensure the
correct course of action is followed; for
example determining whether a cut came
from a punch or a head clash, or whether
a punch initially declared a low blow by
the referee was in fact a legal one.
In theory, it’s a great idea. There are
countless examples of a referee making
a call in the moment, only for video
replays to prove their decision was the
wrong one. And that’s not a slight on
referees – it’s an incredibly hard job
and they’re not always going to see
everything that happens in the ring.
IS IT TIME FOR VAR?
The WBC are lobbying for video replays to be used at Fury-Usyk in May, but boxing’s
fragmented nature makes a wider roll-out problematic, writes George Gigney
10 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Things get sticky when you look at
how VAR in boxing would actually work
in practice. Would you stop a fight in
its tracks to review some footage? How
long would it take? If a fighter had been
hurt by what was declared a low blow,
but is then deemed a legal punch by
VAR, the effects of that shot would have
likely worn off by the time that decision
is reached. The fighter who landed the
punch would lose an advantage they
should have had.
The same issue arises if you wait in
between rounds to review VAR footage.
And, again, is the minute break long
enough for a decision to be made?
It could certainly be introduced for
cuts, though. As long as the wound
isn’t bad enough to immediately end a
fight, there is time for a clear decision to
be made on how the cut came about,
and this can then be communicated to
broadcasters, fans watching and – most
importantly – the corners of the two
fighters.
Then we come to the question of how
widely VAR would be adopted. Obviously
the WBC is keen on it, but what about
fights sanctioned by the WBO, WBA or
IBF? Is it fair that some fights could be
heavily influenced by, and maybe even
decided upon, VAR technology, while
others are not? Not to mention all of
the athletic state commissions and other
governing bodies across the world – it
would be at the individual discretion of
each of those organisations as to whether
or not they used VAR in boxing.
Meanwhile, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez –
who will next fight on
May 4 in Las Vegas – held
a broadcast on TV Azteca
in Mexico to announce…
not much at all.
All we really found out,
apart from confirmation
of the date, is that his
next fight will be against
a boxer from the United
States. That rules out
Jaime Munguia, who had
been touted as a potential opponent.
Canelo would later also rule
out probably the biggest option
commercially, Terence Crawford, stating
that it’s essentially a lose-lose situation
should he fight someone so much
smaller than him.
David Benavidez – arguably the most
compelling opponent for Canelo at this
point – also looks unlikely, as his own
promoter said Canelo does not plan on
fighting him and no contact has been
made.
Whether that means Jermall Charlo
is the frontrunner, as was widely
speculated, only time will tell.
Manny Pacquiao, now 45, was
apparently very serious about competing
at the Paris 2024
Olympic Games. It was
confirmed by AFP that
the Philippines had made
a “special request” for
Pacquiao to compete at
the Games, despite the
International Olympics
Committee (IOC) rules
setting the age limit for
boxers at 40.
The IOC rejected the
request. And so it should have – its rules
are clear and there’s no reason to ignore
them in this instance. Yes, Pacquiao
boxing at the Olympics would be
newsworthy, but other than that, there
is not much benefit to it. He’s one of the
most decorated professional fighters in
history and arguably the most famous
Filipino ever.
THE IOC
REJECTED
PACQUAIO’S
REQUEST, AND
SO IT SHOULD
HAVE
BOXING ON
THE BOX
FEBRUARY 24
CONNOR BUTLERJAY HARRIS
DAZN and
Fightzone
Coverage begins
at 7pm
FEBRUARY 25
EDGAR BERLANGAPADRAIG MCCRORY
DAZN
Coverage begins
at 1am
Photo: SARAH STIER/GETTY IMAGES
LITTLE TO SAY:
All we know about
Alvarez’s next fight is
its date and that his
three most enticing
opponents have
seemingly been
ruled out
www.boxingnewsonline.net
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 11
THE BELTLINE
Wounded Animals
HEN so much of
boxing’s intrigue
and uniqueness
is derived from
its imperfections,
it seems bizarre,
and a tad naïve,
to demand
perfection from
its participants.
At best, they can
strive to achieve a
sort of perfection
in the ring, yet to
Elliot
expect more than
Worsell
that from men and
@ElliotWorsell
women who punch
opponents in the
Online Editor
head for money
reveals an ignorance as to what it takes
to become a boxer in the first place.
Gerald
McClellan
and the
demand for
perfect role
models in an
imperfect
sport
INTO THE DARK:
Young McClellan had
his flaws, but boxing
robbed him of the
chance to learn and
grow as a person
These, after all, are not “normal” men
and women. There is a reason they,
and not you or I, do what they do for
a living. There is also a reason why,
when they retire, and when the buzz
of punching people for money in front
of a crowd wears off, they invariably
struggle to fill the void or find pleasure
in more, let’s say, human delights.
For a boxer, to punch is to
communicate. It is how they connect;
to opponents, their audience,
themselves. Without a stage on which
to communicate, they would be lost, or
so many of them say. Without punching
either bags, pads or people on a daily
basis, they would remain in search of
their identity, their purpose, and their
outlet. That’s not to say every boxer
is desperate and therefore in need
of boxing to save them, but if you ask
enough of them, and if you ever spend
time around them, you will discover
that the sport – and its violence – is
intrinsic to what makes them tick, feel
alive, and thrive.
Someone like Gerald McClellan, for
example, was never more alive or fluent
than when violence was the primary
language in which he conversed. It
was usually when violent that he felt
important, powerful, loved. It was
during that time he felt as though he
belonged and was understood.
This need to fight and communicate
in this way became clear only when
the ability to do so was sadly taken
from him. In an instant, he transitioned
from a monster, a man feared and
someone whose aura was as dark as
his intentions, to a patient, as helpless
as any opponent he had left splayed on
Photo: AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES
12 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
www.boxingnewsonline.net
the ring canvas. It was even worse than
that, in fact, for while an opponent of
his reserved the right to get up and
carry on, for McClellan there was no
such possibility or luxury. Rather, it had
been stolen from him: his career, his
livelihood, his language. He was now
not a monster, or a warrior, or even a
champion. He was a victim; a victim in
whose presence people would now cry
and express their sympathy rather than,
as before, cower or crumble.
What Gerald McClellan was and
what he is today is a cautionary tale
and one told many times. Yet never has
it been told better than in last week’s
issue of Boxing News. In that piece,
an exceptional one written by Oliver
Fennell, readers were given an insight
into not only the debilitating impact
caused by a brain injury, but also what
happens when a boxer’s identity is
stripped entirely, almost to the point
that they are reshaped, reborn.
On McClellan, once so intimidating
and terrifying, Fennell said: “I’ve never
met anyone quite so human.” Not only
that, during the time he spent with
Gerald and his sister, Lisa, Fennell
found a man who was quick to console
anyone who crumbled or cried in his
presence, more concerned, it seems, by
the sadness of others than his own.
That aspect of Fennell’s story was
truly fascinating. It was also something
McClellan’s distractors, of which there
are many, were either unwilling to read
or unable to understand. Some of these
www.boxingnewsonline.net
FOR YOUR
ENTERTAINMENT:
McClellan’s plight,
and the burden
carried by his sister
Lisa, is a sober
reminder of boxing’s
risks and costs
detractors, most of whom lurk on social
media, have suggested that McClellan’s
demise is no more than an example of
karma at work. They said, in response
to Fennell’s piece, that McClellan was
an awful human being and that he
deserved what happened to him in his
1995 fight against Nigel Benn for the
way he behaved as a young man, and
particularly for his fondness for dogfighting. That these people chose to
comment on this matter beneath an
image of a stricken McClellan and a
piece expertly detailing the extent of
his plight says a lot; both about them
and the unruly, look-at-me-listen-to-me
pitfalls of social media.
McClellan, it’s true, was a boxer who
had his rough edges. It was indeed
these edges that made him such a
spiteful and merciless puncher in the
ring and why plenty tipped him to stop
Benn, which he almost did, when they
met 29 years ago. However, these edges
– better yet, character defects – are
not exclusive to McClellan and, what is
more, to judge him for being so flawed
is to completely ignore and undermine
his upbringing, his surroundings, and
the very nature of his profession.
That doesn’t mean all boxers who
compete professionally are partial to
all types of violence, even cruelty to
animals, but boxing is in the end home
to an array of personalities, just like
any other industry. As easy as it is to
say the sport produces role models
for working-class kids, it is just as easy
to say, if you have seen all aspects of
it, that boxing welcomes and to an
extent facilitates the violent leanings of
people with a penchant for destruction;
self- or otherwise. For most of these
people, training, sparring and fighting
is enough to assuage this. But for
others, it isn’t. For others, it stays with
them, this violence, this rage, and it
is often what makes them so feared
when standing across the ring from an
opponent and so prone to unravelling
when not in a gym.
In most cases, they are to be
respected, boxers. Regardless of the
level at which they compete, they do
something the bulk of the population
would consider scary – if not stupid
– and the majority, in my experience,
are humbled and enhanced as human
beings by the profession and the
discipline it entails.
Equally, though, just as through
boxing I have encountered some of the
most honest, likeable and inspirational
human beings one could wish to know,
so too I have encountered some of the
worst. In fact, only a deep appreciation
of what it takes to become the world’s
best allows you to excuse certain
behaviours and attitudes and view
them as merely a product of their
environment. Only self-awareness,
meanwhile, coupled with the realisation
that you watch human beings punch
each other, reminds you that you are
really no better than the ones who
inflict damage for your entertainment.
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 13
THE WEEK
What’s been going
on in the boxing world
over the last seven days
B R O U G H T T O Y O U B Y DEC LA N TAY LO R
Photo: ETHAN MILLER/GETTY IMAGES
Better hate than never
Deep’ which will be broadcast on
IT was finally confirmed that 27
subscription DAZN, not pay-permonths and one day after their
view. Happy days.
first fight Jack Catterall and Josh
On the subject of all-British
Taylor will run it back.
fights, it was also confirmed that
The result of their first fight, at
Solomon Dacres will defend his
the SSE Arena in Glasgow, when
English heavyweight title
Taylor won on a split, is one
against David Adeleye in
of the most controversial
FEB
Birmingham on April 16. The
decisions. Taylor had 16
winner must then face make
months out of the ring but
his first defence against
returned with a defeat
rising star Moses Itauma.
to Teofimo Lopez in New
Elsewhere,
Rooney
York in June of last year.
confirmed that Misfits have been
Catterall, meanwhile, signed with
in touch but he insisted he is
Matchroom.
currently focusing on getting back
And on Thursday Matchroom
into management. With that being
announced that the pair will
said, he will probably fight before
meet at the Leeds Arena on April
the end of the summer, then.
27 atop a bill titled ‘Hate Runs
15
THE BOXING BUG:
Rooney is a
long-time fan
With love from me to Roo
ended up on camera - against Phil
AS forgetful partners up and
Bardsley (Google it).
down the country queued for lastMeanwhile, once the hefty pile
minute flowers and chocolates late
of anonymous cards had been
on Valentines Day, a story broke
opened and filed, The Week got an
that claimed Manchester United’s
update from Frank Warren on the
all-time leading goalscorer, Wayne
much-discussed Anthony
Rooney, was considering a
Yarde against Joshua Buatsi
FEB
boxing match.
fight. “They both want it and
Rooney is a big boxing
we’ve been talking about it
fan and used to train at an
so now we have to get it over
amateur club in Liverpool as
the line,” Warren said. “It will
a kid. And it was suggested
be in the summer.
in the piece, by Drogheda
“This fight might happen before
story-getter Chris McKenna, that
Beterbiev-Bivol. First we have to
Misfits have been in touch with
JHWWKHGHDOGRQHb,WGHILQLWHO\ZLOO
Rooney about a potential outing
not end up on the undercard in
on one of their shows. Let’s hope it
Saudi.”
goes better than his last bout that
Photo: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM
14
HOLD ME BACK:
Get ready for some
more fun and games
Photo: MELINA PIZANO/MATCHROOM
Mind your Ed
Tajikistan. When Nunez stopped
AT the Theatre at Madison Square
Rakhimov in the 11th round,
Garden, O’Shaquie Foster edged
Hearn jumped up out of his seat
out Abraham Nova on a split while
and cracked his head open on an
in Oaxaca, in Matchroom’s latest
ornamental terracotta pot hanging
Mexican sojourn, Sive Nontshinga
from the ceiling.
stopped Adrian Curiel in 10
Meanwhile, the promoter
to exact revenge and regain
FEB
of
David
Benavidez,
his IBF light flyweight title.
Sampson
Lewkowicz,
But this was a night to
painfully ruled out the
remember – or not – for
chances of his client facing
promoter Eddie Hearn for
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in
another reason as he shed
2024 during an interview
blood before a punch at
with ProBox. “His legacy will be
his show had even been thrown.
stained,” he said. “Because he did
That is because he tuned it
not face the best at this time which
to watch Matchroom fighter
is Benavidez.” The good news,
Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez take
Rooney might be up for it.
on Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in
16
KEEP CALM:
A moment of
excitement left
Hearn bloodied
14 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
www.boxingnewsonline.net
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Canelo's legacy will be stained... because he did not
face the best at this time and that's David Benavidez
SAMPSON LEWKOWICZ seems to confirm that his client David Benavidez will not be fighting Canelo Alvarez next
Photo: ANDREW REDINGTON/GETTY IMAGES
Unmasked
singer
FEB
THIS was the day
that was supposed
to end with a
new undisputed
heavyweight
champion
but
instead we were left with a
Saturday watching the final of the
Masked Singer. Appropriate really,
given Tyson Fury would probably
never have been cut if (spoiler
alert) he had been wearing a huge
papier mache Piranha head like the
eventual winner.
One fight that has not been
postponed (yet) is the one between
Edgar Berlanga and Poddy
McCrory, which is scheduled for
this time next week at the Caribe
Royal in Orlando.
So The Week thought it was only
right to check in with Berlanga to
see how life is for the man who
once had a record of 16-0 with all
16 coming in the first round. He is
now without a knockout in over
three years.
“For all of those knockouts, I
wasnt thinking I had to do it in the
first round, they were just coming
naturally,” he said.
“I don’t feel pressure to get the
KO now but I just feel that certain
fans think I’m a bum or a hype job
because I’m not knocking nobody
out no more.”
Funnily enough, that’s exactly
what the winner of the Masked
Singer said, too.
17
Photo: EZRA ACAYAN/GETTY IMAGES
ACT YOUR AGE:
Pacquiao, 45, will
not definitely
compete in Paris
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Rules
are rules
FEB
SUNDAY turned
out to be a
miserable day for
all the 45-year-olds
out there hoping to
box at the Olympic
Games as the International
Olympic Committee rejected
an attempt by Manny Pacquiao,
who probably owns the planet’s
fastest 45-year-old hands, from
competing in Paris.
Pacquiao, who has not boxed
since losing to Yodenis Ugas in
August 2021, had hoped to make
a fairytale return to the sport
and clinch boxing gold for the
Philippines. However, the IOC
decided that they would not raise
the current age limit of 40 to
accommodate him, or anyone else
IRUWKDWPDWWHUb
Elsewhere, WBC president
Mauricio Sulaiman took a trip to
the world famous Repton Boxing
Club in London’s east end and called
for another major rule change.
Sulaiman has suggested that we
need ‘five or six’ ringside judges
when Tyson Fury fights Oleksandr
Usyk for all the heavyweight belts
in May. “That’s the only intention to
make sure there’s no controversy,”
he said. “Now we have the biggest
fight in 25 years in the heavyweight
division. So we have to try to do
our best.”
Like Pacquaio on the podium,
I think we can all safely file that
under: “Not gonna happen.”
18
MAKING PLANS:
But they may not
involve Azim-Smith
No
surprises
Boxxer
tricks
MONDAY brought
us something else
for that category
as Eddie Hearn
confirmed
that
Conor
Benn
against Gervonta Davis is Not
Gonna Happen, after the American
turned down his offer for a summer
showdown. He also revealed that
Danny Garcia has now emerged as
a more likely opponent.
The Matchroom boss was
speaking at the first of two launch
press conferences to officially
announce Taylor-Catterall II. This
one was in Edinburgh and Taylor
was backed by a noisy crowd as
the pair went back and forth on
WKHWRSWDEOHbê,MXVWGRQèWOLNHWKLV
guy,” Taylor responded. “I can’t
wait to smash his brains in, well
what brains he’s got.” Catterall
responded: “You can’t see straight,
you daft bastard.”
They also posed for their
first head-to-head photo of the
promotion but it lasted less than
a second and Taylor performed
an incredibly retro double nipple
squeeze on Catterall, who replied
by grabbing Taylor round the
throat. The Scottish southpaw
then clipped his opponent with
something of a left hand as the
SDLUZHUHSXOOHGDSDUWb
AS Taylor and
Catterall went at
it for a second day
running, Danny
Garcia opened up
on the chances of
fighting Conor Benn. “That makes
great sense,” he told YSM Sports
Media. “He wants to fight a big
name. Garcia vs. Benn. There ain’t
no bigger fight than fighting Danny
Garcia. So, I would love that fight.”
Meanwhile, The Week checked in
with Boxxer supremo Ben Shalom
to get an update on a number of
loose ends in his stable. Shalom
confirmed that Adam Azim might
not face Dalton Smith next but it
should happen this year.
He also confirmed that Chris
Billam-Smith’s rematch with
Richard Riakporhe should be
officially announced, with date
and venue, by next week with an
outdoor venue still a possibility.
Lastly, Boxxer are planning an
April homecoming show for
Lauren Price in Cardiff and a
similar one for Ben Whittaker in
Wolverhampton should he come
through his March 31 outing
unscathed.
It is likely, Shalom said, that Tyler
Denny will defend his European
title against Felix Cash on that bill
in Wolves, too.
FEB
19
FEB
20
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 15
NEWS AND OPINION
Highlighting the best
of the week’s stories
WWW.BOXINGNEWSONLINE.NET
The Ice Bear cometh
OLBEINN
KRISTINSSON wants
what any boxer
his size wants: to
be heavyweight
champion of the
world.
At 6ft 6ins and 250lbs, and with an
undefeated record, both his looks and
his stats are marketable. He has a worldclass coach in SugarHill Steward and a
respected promoter in Dmitriy Salita.
There’s just one problem: professional
boxing is banned in his country.
Iceland outlawed the sport entirely
in 1956, citing its dangers, and only
relented on the amateur code in 2002,
under the supervision of the Icelandic
Sports and Olympic Association. Since
then, the ranks of unpaid competitors
in a country with a population of just
370,000 has swelled to an estimated 700.
That may not sound like a lot, but for
perspective, that same proportion of the
UK population would give us 120,000
amateur boxers.
“Amateur boxing is popular here,”
says Kristinsson. “We have regular
tournaments and a couple of thousand
people will attend the biggest shows.”
Still, the powers that be remain
stubborn in their stance on the pro game.
“When it was voted on, no one was
in the Senate,” he says. “It was a Monday
K
16 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Kolbeinn
Kristinsson
boxes out
of a country
where it’s
illegal to do
so. But this,
he tells
Oliver
Fennell,
doesn’t stop
him aiming
for the top
TRAINING
WITH TYSON:
Kristinsson says
it was ‘more even
than I thought it
would be’ when he
sparred Fury
morning, when there’s the fewest people
there. That’s what they do when they
want something to pass – they do it
when no one’s there. It hasn’t been to put
to a vote again.”
Fellow Nordic countries Sweden and
Norway relaxed their own pro boxing
bans in 2007 and 2014, respectively,
but Kristinsson points out a distinction
which tempers hopes Iceland may
follow suit. “In Norway and Sweden, it
was not illegal, it was unlicensed,” he
says. “People could stage fights; they just
wouldn’t be recognised. Here, you can
get arrested. One time, some people here
were arrested for staging exhibitions. The
police came and sawed the ring in half.”
Sweden’s and Norway’s cases were no
doubt helped by a handful of pro boxers
who excelled even without being able
to compete in their home countries.
Swedes Armand Krajnc and George Scott
were contenders in exile during the late
1990s-early 2000s, as was Ole Klemetsen
of Norway, while his compatriot Cecilia
Braekhus had already
built a career as one of
the female greats before
boxing at home four
times in 2016-2017.
The ‘Ice Bear’, from
Gardabaer just outside
Reykjavik, believes his
own successes will be
key to overturning the
Icelandic ban.
“People are lobbying
for it, but it’s hard,” he
says. “I have to put the
pressure on by winning big fights. If I can
win some titles, that will put pressure [on
the authorities], as people will want to
see me defend them here.”
He has boxed in six countries, reaching
into his own pockets to ensure he stays
out of the ‘away’ corner.
“I pay for my opponents,” he says.
“Thankfully I have a lot of big sponsors,
because I can’t sell many tickets as a
foreigner – although I did hear after I
fought in Austria [on September 30 vs
England’s Michael Bassett] that a lot of fans
there said they’d pay to watch me again.”
Not only does Kristinsson have to
traverse Europe to get fights, he also
conducts his training camps with Steward
in Detroit. (“I go as often as I can, and if
it’s a fight camp, it’s for a month.”) At least,
as a self-employed personal trainer, he
has the freedom to take time off when
needed, and while he admits “it is hard” to
be so itinerant, he rules out a relocation.
“Sugar wanted me to move to the
States, but I’ve got a family [partner Inga
and two kids, aged 11 and two] and a
house here,” he says. “It wouldn’t be worth
it just to go through the same struggles. It
would have to be for Saudi money.”
It all begs the question as to why he
even started boxing in the first place.
“In 2009, I was working with a guy that
had been the first pro boxer here [Skulli
Armannsson, who had one bout in the
US in 2008],” Kristinsson explains. “He
said ‘you’re big, you have long arms, you
can beat someone up’. I wanted to get fit,
so I started boxing.“I started getting into
shape, started sparring, and got addicted.
I started to do well. I had 40 amateur
fights, beat a lot of the top heavyweights
in Scandinavia and was Icelandic
champion for many years. I wanted to
do more, so turning pro was the logical
next step.”
He did so, with a Swedish licence, in
November 2014, which means it has
taken him almost a decade to compile
his 14-0 (8) record – a glacial pace for a
heavyweight prospect.
But this, hopefully,
is about to change –
starting with a March 9
assignment in Tallinn,
Estonia.
“This year, I want to
fight five-six times, get
into the top 50-100 [on
BoxRec] and win a small
belt with the big four
[sanctioning bodies],” he
says. “Next year, I want
to start to challenge for
bigger titles, get to a Saudi card and get
paid properly. In the long term, of course,
I want to be world champion.”
Already 35, Kristinsson might not have
the luxury of time, and it’s fair to say
there’s not yet much substance to his
win column. He concedes this, shrugging
his shoulders and offering a slightly
embarassed smile when I ask who his
toughest opponent has been, but argues
it could be a good thing: “I haven’t had
any hard fights, so I don’t have the same
miles on the clock as the other guys in
their 30s.”
A better gauge of his standing, says
‘Kolli’, came not in competition but
in sparring several top heavyweights –
namely Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker, Filip
Hrgovic, Agit Kabayel, Jarrell Miller, Jared
Anderson and Robert Helenius.
“Fury is good. It’s strange to box him,”
he says. “He’s so big, but so nimble and
so fast. It takes two or three rounds to get
used to it. It was good; I learned a lot.
‘COPS SAWED
THE RING IN
HALF AND
ARRESTED
THE
ORGANISERS’
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Mike Durvan,
1963-2024
Philip Sharkey pays tribute to a
ĆJKWHUZLWKLQFUHGLEOHVWUHQJWK
DQGGHWHUPLQDWLRQ
“Parker is really good. I’m not surprised
he beat Wilder. He just needed a new
coach. Andy [Lee] lit a fire under him.
“Hrgovic is good at what he does,
but he’s hittable. I hit him and almost
knocked him out.
“Kabayel has very high cardio,
high volume. He’s a strong guy, very
disciplined, well conditioned.
“I sparred Helenius for three years. In
the gym, he can beat up any fighter in
the world. It just doesn’t translate to the
ring.
“You can’t read too much into it, but
sparring gives me the idea I can hang
with these guys. I haven’t felt out of place;
they were very even spars. Even against
Fury [in late 2022], it was more even than
I thought it would be.
www.boxingnewsonline.net
“The division’s wide open. In a couple
of years, I can beat most of them. My
technical skills are up there with the
top guys, I have power in both hands,
tenacity and willpower. But if you don’t
have momentum, it doesn’t matter. That’s
why I want to fight a lot more.”
Easier said than done when you live
on a remote subarctic island where doing
so is outlawed. But Kristinsson says this
is what shapes and proves his fighting
character.
“I’m not in boxing because I’m poor
and I need it,” he says. “I’m in it because
I want it.
“Fifteen years, still going strong despite
the obstacles, because of my desire – that
proves more than fighting because you
have to.”
FROZEN OUT:
But Kristinsson
hopes his successes
will thaw
anti-boxing
sentiment in
Iceland
CROYDON EBA’s former
Commonwealth champion Pat
Doherty has reported the passing
of Penge‘s former Southern Area
lightweight champion, Mike Durvan.
Living in Tenerife, where he was
a popular DJ, Durvan succumbed
to a deadly one-two of cancer and
motor neurone disease at only 60
years of age.
Let us remember that this was a
man of such strength and resilience
that even after being floored four
times by Mo Hussein and three
times against hard hitting Scot Steve
Boyle, he finished both fights on
his feet. He lost both by narrow
verdicts; only half a point separated
the two boxers when losing his title
to Hussein in 1986, and he floored
Boyle in their 10-round eliminator
for the British title.
Durvan turned pro in 1983 with
manager trainer Freddie Rix and he
was often seconded by gym-mate
Doherty.
Frequently the “away” fighter,
I first saw Durvan spoil Ronnie
Shinkwin’s showcase home fight at
Watford Town Hall in 1984.
He moved up the rankings, losing
tightly to future Lonsdale Belt-holder
Lloyd Christie, and in his next bout
captured the Southern Area strap
with a ninth round stoppage of
Finchley’s Steve Griffiths.
Losing to the aforementioned
Hussein in his first defence, Mike
went on to face many of the top
fighters of the 1980s, including
former European champion Rene
Weller (when Durvan told me
Weller’s own fans booed the
decision), Pat Cowdell, Clinton
McKenzie, Alex Dickson, Tony Willis,
Winston Spencer and he would
beat world-ranked Juan Arroyo in
Edmonton.
His last two fights, taken at short
notice for big money in 1990, saw
him out of his weight class and felled
by a body shot from Gary Jacobs and
another quick loss to Andy Holligan
really don’t paint the right picture of
Mike Durvan.
For me, I immediately recall his
York Hall war with Hussein that
saw nobbins shower the ring at
its conclusion; as Harry Carpenter
stated in his commentary, “the
strength and determination of
this man Durvan is really quite
incredible”.
And it was.
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 17
NO DAYS OFF:
Beterbiev is said to
always be in shape, so
ȴJKWFDPSVFDQIRFXV
on skills and sharpness
18 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 25, 2024
www.boxingnewsonline.net
As Artur Beterbiev prepares for Dmitry Bivol, his assistant trainer John Scully explains what makes
the light-heavyweight king so special – and why he’s not what you might expect outside the ropes
AVE preparations
begun for the June
1 showdown with
Dmitry Bivol?
Artur is always
keeping himself in
some sort of shape.
He never really takes
time off from conditioning, so that is never
a problem. Literally every time he comes
to camp, he is already in good shape, so
you don’t have to spend time getting him
in shape or getting his weight down. The
ultimate true professional.
H
With a fighter who appears so
complete as Beterbiev, what else is
there to teach him?
Personally, I spend a lot of time going
over certain things that I like to work on
in my capacity as the assistant trainer. No
matter what, you have to always focus on
maintaining the skills so, as good as he
is, he still needs to keep the tools sharp.
And, like with any fighter, when we all train
together, there is always something to
build, like a giant puzzle. Even at this stage,
we have still been able to add things to his
repertoire.
What is the secret to his success at the
age of 39?
It’s his extremely unusual devotion to
maintaining discipline. The man is different
to almost every other fighter, because
he puts everything into preparation.
Everything!
You were an accomplished lightheavyweight. How would you have
gone about trying to beat him?
That would be a huge issue, because of
his overall strength. I was a guy who came
all the way up from middleweight, whereas
he came down from being an amateur
heavyweight at the Olympics. Realistically,
if Artur was light-heavyweight champion
when I was ranked, I may have had to move
down to super-middleweight for a title.
And Bivol?
Though it’s much easier said than done,
I think the way is by putting him under
tremendous pressure. That’s the most
realistic approach. You might have some
success boxing against him and limiting
his offence, but you would have to be at
an exceptionally high level to have the
patience and skills required to do that.
How did all the talk of the atypical
www.boxingnewsonline.net
finding in the pre-fight drugs test
affect Beterbiev’s mindset ahead of
fight with Callum Smith?
Artur is a different kind of person. If
anything bothers him – and I’m not sure it
ever does – he doesn’t show it. He never
once mentioned the controversy with that
test result. It was never an issue.
that Terminator, Predator thing about him
at all times. Perhaps they think he’s like
Clubber Lang from Rocky III. The truth
is different. He is a very intelligent man
and he really does have a good sense of
humour. It’s kind of a dry sense of humour,
and you have to pay attention sometimes
to catch it, but he can be extremely amusing
to converse with. There have been several
unexpectedly funny moments together.
What is his greatest strength?
On top of his marvellous boxing skills
and super punching power, I would say
Can you share any of those moments?
his mental fortitude. That mentality, that
I can think of two straight away. I had
attitude he has. It’s the greatest I’ve ever
been working with him on throwing the
seen in all my years in this sport.
left hook to the body with extra
He is so focused and determined,
force. On the mitts, he was doing
WINNERS:
it’s almost like he’s been
it perfectly well, with really bad
Scully [middle]
with
his
star
programmed. He sets his goals
intentions, but when sparring,
pupil, Beterbiev
and will not allow himself to stop
with lots of different guys, he
until he has achieved them.
was just touching them with it
as opposed to really rotating
his body. Every day I kept
Mentally,
what
is
reminding him to get that
Beterbiev
like
at
extra rotation to do
the start of camp
more damage.
compared to the
Finally, one day, he
end?
explained why. ‘John,’
The thing about
he said, ‘if I do what
Artur is he works like
you’re asking me to
clockwork in that,
do, everybody will go
week after week
home and then we’re
after week in training
going to have a real
camp, he’s improving
problem. I’ll have no
all the time. As good as
one to spar with.’ It was
he looks at the beginning
so funny because it was
of camp, you know that
so true and that never really
within two or three weeks
occurred to me. He was serious
he’s going to be significantly
and true in what he said but, the way he
better. And then another two or three
said it, it was a funny moment.
weeks after that, the improvements are
Another thing is that Artur is not really a
immense. If something doesn’t look right
boxing fan. He doesn’t watch it, he doesn’t
on a particular day, it is never a worry,
know who all the fighters are and he
because it’s a building process in training
doesn’t know much about the history. One
camp; the pinnacle is always reached at the
day, after training, he was in the changing
right time. He has done this so many times,
room and Marc Ramsey and I were outside
and all the trainers know the schedule, that
by the ring talking boxing. Artur finally
we always build and build as we go.
came out, started walking towards us and
then heard what we were talking about.
What is Beterbiev, the human being,
Instead of stopping, he walked right past
really like?
us. ‘No, no, no. I’ve had enough of
It’s kind of funny, because I think
boxing for today. I go home.’
many boxing fans believe Artur has
IT’S FUNNY, FANS THINK HE’S LIKE THE
TERMINATOR, PREDATOR OR CLUBBER
LANG. THE TRUTH IS VERY DIFFERENT”
JANUARY 25, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 19
20 O BOXING NEWS O JFEBRUARY 22, 2024
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Hamzah Sheeraz understands the importance of
titles but, more so, realises that to be a true world
champion he has to be known to the world
By DECLAN TAYLOR
Photos: JAMES CHANCE/GETTY IMAGES
www.boxingnewsonline.net
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 21
AMZ AH
SHEER A Z
sits in a small, round
chair in the corner of
a private room three
floors up the Carlton
Tower Jumeirah hotel
in Knightsbridge
as a variety of
media outlets show up,
shake hands, ask their
questions and leave.
The
24 -year- old
barely moves for two
hours, covering similar
subjects, reflecting on
his latest victory and
discussing the same
clutch of potential
opponents during each
interview.
Boxing News has the
final slot of a busy
afternoon
for
the
puncher from Ilford,
only five days on from
the most significant win
of his career, the one-round blowout of
Liam Williams at the Copper Box.
By this point, most people would be
struggling for lucidity in their responses,
one-wording questions without even
noticing, but not Sheeraz. He is asked if
he wants to have a little break before we
speak. “Nah, I’m warmed up now and in
the zone,” he says, with a sip from his water
bottle, which he places by the leg of his
chair. “Let’s roll.”
In the week after such a big win, most
boxers would be on the beach. But for
Sheeraz, the archetypal old head on
young shoulders, it has been set aside for
strategising.
“These last few days have really made me
think about this more deeply,” he starts. “I
understand world titles are what I’m in the
game for, but at the same time I don’t want
to win world titles but not really be known.
“I want to be a guy who is fighting for
a world title and, as soon as tickets go
on sale, you’re selling out the O2 Arena.
That’s when you’ve really got that public
interest behind you and that’s what it
comes down to. Only then can you start
unifying divisions and fighting in big fights.
“From a business perspective, the way
I am doing things now and the exposure
I’m getting, I don’t see why that can’t be a
possibility.”
Despite his vast potential, Sheeraz is still
some way off crossing into mainstream
circles. The truth is, outside of the
heavyweights, there are very few active
boxers in Britain who even come close.
“There are so many different
opportunities and avenues to explore, but
you start understanding boxing is more of
a business than a sport,” he adds.
“Back in the day, you’d just fight, but now
I think ‘if I fight him, that will capture the
public’s interest and then that will make the
next fight bigger too’. It’s chess. It opens
your mind and there are opportunities I’ve
never thought of that now make a lot of
sense.”
H
It explains why Sheeraz has agreed
to a number of media obligations in the
week after his victory. So intense was
the adrenaline flow after the fight that
he did not sleep during the 48 hours that
followed. When he did finally crash, the
first thing he did on waking was head
back to the gym.
“It’s more for my
mental sanity and
clarity,” Sheeraz says.
“I didn’t know what to
do. I’d had 13 weeks in
camp where I’d wake
up every morning, run,
come back, gym, come
back, gym again. Now
it’s like ‘do whatever you
want’, I’m lost, I don’t
know what to do.
“Straight after the
fight we went back
to the hotel
and a few
people came
to celebrate.
I bought Liam and his family
some food just to show
appreciation. I didn’t
sleep for 48 hours,
The end
goal is to
be a threeweight
unified
champion”
22 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
it was crazy. I was trying to sleep but I was
just wide awake.
“I’m still surprised at how the fight
turned out. The dust has settled and I
can reflect on everything. I remember Taz
[Khan, manager] and Ricky [Funez, trainer]
saying to me that based on the way I was
performing that they couldn’t see the fight
going long. I kind of just brushed that off at
the time, I thought they were just trying to
boost my morale. But they know me better
than I know myself and that’s exactly how
it played out.”
The nature of the victory prompted his
promoter, Frank Warren, to once again
compare Sheeraz to Thomas Hearns, while
also suggesting that a fight with Chris
Eubank Jnr would be the logical next step.
And, given Sheeraz’s quest for maximum
exposure, a name like Eubank Jnr would
fit the bill perfectly.
“That’s exactly it,” Sheeraz nods.
“If I’m talking about trying to cross
over, Eubank is the bridge to
that. Whether he gives me the
opportunity is another matter,
but if he names his price, I’m
sure Frank can sort it out.
“If I was him, I’d ask for a
good amount of money.
www.boxingnewsonline.net
He will back himself to win and will be very
confident, but I’d still be asking for a lot of
money if I was him.
“I think what I need to do is grow the
casual fans’ awareness of me a bit more.
After a performance like that against Liam
Williams, boxing purists know all about it,
but it’s got to a point now when I’m being
linked with Chris Eubank Jnr, who has got
casual fans, so to share the ring with him
would be an honour.”
While Eubank would represent a big name
and a boost in profile, it would not provide
Sheeraz with the world championship belt
he craves. Talk, therefore, soon talks to
Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, the putative No.1
at middleweight and current holder of two
belts.
“Yes, he’s definitely No.1 at the weight,”
Sheeraz agrees. “His achievements speak
for themselves and he’s the man to beat
in the division. Personally, I’d fight him
tomorrow and back myself 100 per cent,
but it goes back to what I was saying before
about generating public interest.
“He’s one of those champions that not
many people know. A win like that, you
want everyone to know the calibre of
fighter you’ve just beaten, because you
earn a different kind of respect for that. We
will see how it all plays out.
“Whatever happens, the end-goal hasn’t
changed: three-weight unified world
champion. That’s my big, big goal, but part
one of the story is get the world title. Part
two is then the peak of my career and part
three is the last bit. From now until the end
of my career, that’s what I want to achieve.”
His hunt for hardware has taken him
to America, where he bases himself for
training camp and, after nearly four years
www.boxingnewsonline.net
of doing so, he no longer feels like a new
kid at the Ten Goose Boxing Gym, where he
works with Funez.
For his first few trips to Los Angeles,
Sheeraz would book a different Airbnb
each time and could scarcely believe the
brutality of training that he had to get
used to. Now he is far more settled in his
digs and has grown accustomed to what is
expected of him at the gym.
“It’s coming up to four years now,” he
says. “Now, when I’m there, I feel
like more part of the furniture.
The camps are very
structured. As soon as
I’m on that flight to LA,
my mind switches into
camp mode and I know
I’m going to go there
to work. Our routine is
we land, I have my last
cheat meal – normally a
big, crazy, greasy burger
with 1.5 litres of coke.
“Then we get to the
apartment and unpack
so we are ready for
the Monday start. And
that’s it. We have eight
to 10 weeks there and
it’s like clockwork. I
know what the routine
is now. You never know
what to expect in a gym in Los Angeles, but
I know the framework.
“For the last three camps we’ve had the
same Airbnb. It’s a good one, too; a nice,
cosy little bungalow up in the Hollywood
Hills. We’ve got nice neighbours and a safe
environment. Hopefully we keep getting
the same rate on it, because if she puts
the rent up, I’d have to put my whole purse
towards it. We’ve even got a local shop
who know us now – we only ever buy eggs
and veg, and that’s it.”
Amazingly, Williams was the third
opponent in Sheeraz’s last four outings
to be put down by a single jab, with
the youngster’s long, punishing lead
hand proving to be perhaps the most
dangerous weapon in his arsenal. How
much has that been down to the influence
of Funez?
“Oh, massively,” Sheeraz says. “In my
first couple of fights with Ricky, I didn’t
really use it that much, but then for the
Jez Smith fight he said to me, ‘if you’re
fighting these smaller, aggressive guys,
you’ve got a good jab, fucking use it’.
“I remember that whole camp, he
drilled me so hard on it. I would go to the
gym knowing that’s all I would do – jab,
jab, jab. But it is paying off. We’ve been
continuing that and adding a bit more.
Ultimately, it comes down to my teacher,
and that’s Ricky, so credit to him.
“He has always said to keep it basic. If
you look at Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant,
Floyd Mayweather, all these top athletes,
if you ask them for their secret, they will
say basics. Perfect the basics and keep
perfecting it and that’s the mentality that
Ricky has adopted, and now so have I.
“He feels it on the pads and knows what
I’m capable of, but I don’t even know what
I’m capable of yet. I know I can beat these
guys with a jab, but I know that the better
it gets, the more my opponents will be
aware of it. That’s why every camp it has
to be that much better.”
Given the destruction of Williams, it is
almost guaranteed that Sheeraz will face
far stiffer competition in his next fight,
whether that is Eubank or not. Another
name linked is Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams,
the Matchroom middleweight who
could hand him the opportunity to
represent Queensberry
Promotions in their 5 vs
5 showdown in Saudi
Arabia on June 1.
If that is the case,
Sheeraz will have to
burn the midnight oil
during training camp,
which would overlap
with Ramadan.
“It’s religion first,
always, so I’d tailor my
training hours so I can
continue fasting,” says
Sheeraz, of Ramadan,
which this year will run
from March 10 until
April 9. “I’d do the first
two weeks and then
start my camp halfway
through. It would be a bit difficult, but
we will make it happen. We would train
during the evening hours. If they give me
the opportunity on June 1, then I’m not
going to say no.”
After all, Sheeraz does not need a
break: he’s warmed up, in the zone and
ready to roll. bn
Ask all
those top
athletes for
their secret,
they will say
'perfect the
basics'
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 23
ACTION
+ + + + + O U T S TA N D I N G + + + + G O O D + + + FA I R + + D I S A P P O I N T I N G + RU B B I S H
Re p o r t e r s ’ s t a r r a t i n g s fo r m a i n e v e n t s a n d u n d e rc a r d s a r e b a s e d o n i n - r i n g e n t e r t a i n m e n t , c o m p e t i t i v e n e s s a n d w h e t h e r o v e r a l l e x p e c t a t i o n w a s m e t
LATE
SHOW
N E W YO R K
F E B RUA RY 1 6
★★★★★ WHOLE SHOW
IF IT were a movie it would not have
been nominated for an Oscar, but
O’Shaquie Foster’s latest defence of his
WBC super-featherweight title, against
Abraham Nova at Madison Square
Garden’s Theater, certainly had high
drama. The outcome of the Top Rankpromoted scrap was in serious doubt
until the final seconds.
Not until Foster dropped Nova with a
left hook with only 20 seconds remaining
did he seem in the clear but, even then,
he had to settle for a split decision.
Scoring for the belt-holder were Kevin
Morgan (116-111) and Mark Consentino.
John McKaie, meanwhile, dissented in
going 114-113 for Nova.
Before the match, Foster, from
Houston, boldly spoke about going up
three weight classes to take on Conor
Benn. But based on this performance he
still has some way to go to prove he’s the
best at his own weight, let alone thinking
about invading one much higher.
Albany’s Puerto Rico-born Nova
was fired up for his first chance at
a sanctioning body belt. He moved
forward and attacked, forcing Foster to
sometimes abandon his traditional righty
stance and box southpaw. Foster, 30, was
hit with some looping rights and forced
to hold, but kept jabbing and did not
allow himself to get bullied. Most rounds
were close, but Foster’s work, while not
always eyecatching, was nevertheless
impressive at times when he landed left
hooks and right uppercuts.
Though Nova was determined, he
ultimately ran out of steam. He did well
for most of the 11th round, before Foster
rallied late.
Perhaps sensing their man needed a
reprieve, there was a water bottle spill
near Nova’s corner that necessitated a
delay to the final session. As a cornerman
wiped the affected area of the canvas, an
Foster leaves
it late again to
secure victory,
writes Jack
Hirsch
SHAQ ATTACK:
Foster capitalises
as Nova starts to
fade in the final
two rounds
Photo: AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES
F U L L R E S U LT S
O’Shaquie Foster (130lbs), 22-2 (12), w pts 12 Abraham Nova (129lbs), 23-2 (16); Andres Cortes (130lbs), 21-0 (12), w rsf 4 Bryan
Chevalier (129lbs), 20-2-1 (16); Bruce Carrington (125½lbs), 11-0 (7), w rsf 4 Bernard Torres (125½lbs), 18-2 (8); Guido Vaniello
(242lbs), 12-1-1 (9), w rsf 1 Moses Johnson (249lbs), 11-2-2 (8); Isaah Flaherty (158½lbs), 7-0 (3), w pts 6 Julien Baptiste
(158lbs), 6-4 (3); Ofacio Falcon (130lbs), 11-0 (6), w pts 6 Edward Ceballos (129½lbs), 11-5-1 (6); Delante Johnson (140½lbs), 12-0
(6), w rsf 1 Paulo Galdino (142lbs), 13-8-2 (9); Euri Cedeno (159lbs), 8-0-1 (7), w rsf 5 Antonio Todd (158½lbs); Arnold Gonzalez
(150lbs), 14-0 (6) w pts Charles Stanford (147½lbs), 7-5-0-1NC (4).
24 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
annoyed referee Steve Willis firmly told
him to speed things up.
As the match was nearing the end,
Nova went down. Initially it looked
like he might have slipped, but replays
showed Willis made the correct call, as
it was a left hook that caused the fall. At
that point it was apparent the title was
not changing hands, or so it seemed.
Had Nova not gone down, he could
have salvaged a draw. But Foster, to his
credit – and not for the first time – closed
the show the way a champion should.
Bedford Stuyvesant featherweight
Bruce Carrington is being billed as
the next great fighter to come out of
Brooklyn. Certainly he looked the part
in stopping Norway-based Bernard
Torres, a competent fighter in his own
right. By the third round, however,
26-year-old Carrington was using his
hand and foot speed to force Torres, a
southpaw, to box off the back foot.
Torres’ nose was bleeding and he was
slowly wearing down when Carrington
produced the spectacular finish at 2-59
of the fourth round of a scheduled 10.
During an exchange, the favourite landed
a spectacular right hook that spun Torres
completely around. He landed face-first
and though referee Charlie Fitch started
to count, he then quickly and wisely
called a halt.
Las Vegas’ Andres Cortes kept
applying the pressure to Bryan
Chevalier from Puerto Rico. Ultimately
Cortes proved too strong, forcing the
scheduled 10 to be stopped at 2-17 of
the fourth. Chevalier was badly hurt in
the third and never recovered. When he
was reeling around the ring in the fourth,
it was stopped by referee Ricky Gonzalez.
Cleveland’s Delante Johnson, 25, is
a wonderful prospect, as shown in his
first-round stoppage of Brazil’s Paulo
Galdino. A left uppercut from Johnson
dropped his fellow southpaw who, upon
rising, was then forced to the ropes. A
frightening barrage of blows ensued,
persuading Mr Gonzalez to intervene
at 2-49. It had been scheduled for eight
rounds.
Rome’s Guido Vaniello floored Long
Islander Moses Johnson four times
in the first round of an eight before it
was waved off at 2-59. Johnson looked
most hurt on the first knockdown that
was ruled a slip, but not called because
Murdaugh felt there was an infraction.
Heavyweight Vaniello, an old amateur
rival of Frazer Clarke’s, should be fighting
at a higher level.
THE VERDICT Foster again excites
and again looks beatable.
www.boxingnewsonline.net
ACTION
WORTHY SEQUEL:
Willings scores a repeat
victory over Barton in
another thriller, this time
for a Central Area belt
WHAT A BATTLE!
Willings beats
Barton again
in an early
contender for
small hall fight
of the year
LIVERPOOL
F E B RUA RY 1 7
★★★★★ WHOLE SHOW
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ AT M O S P H E R E
HIGHLIGHTING the merits of small
hall shows featuring well-matched
contests for domestic titles, Widnes’
Leon Willings outpointed Southport’s
Jake Barton in a thrilling and dramatic
contest for the Central Area lightheavyweight championship at Central
Hall.
A rematch of their eliminator for this
title last year, when Willings won by third
round stoppage, Barton boxed from
the outside here and was ahead after
www.boxingnewsonline.net
three but, midway through the fourth,
Willings, until then content to stalk and
look for openings, landed a left hook to
the head that sent Barton down. Up at
three, Barton looked to spoil but was
dropped again by a right hand with 30
seconds remaining. Bravely, he managed
to hold on and he did his best to regroup
in the following rounds but, ever patient,
Willings dropped him again with a
flurry of shots at the end of the seventh.
Amazingly, Barton showed even more
bravery to last until the final bell. Jamie
Kirkpatrick scored 96-91 for Willings.
Ahead of tentative plans to hold
a show in his hometown, Douglas,
Liverpool-based Manxman Mathew
Rennie continued his recent run of
wins with a 60-54 win over awkward
Italian-based Colombian John Henry
Mosquera. As tidy as ever, Rennie was
often frustrated by an opponent who,
although rarely hurt, rarely showed any
ambition either. Mark Lyson refereed.
Last week in this publication, the ‘10
Count’ feature highlighted well-known
boxing sayings with the “styles make
fights” cliché topping the list. As many
have frustratingly experienced however,
styles can ruin fights too, never more so
than for Ryan Dickens in his six-rounder
against Cameroon’s Serge Ambomo.
Supposedly close to a meeting with the
Board to discuss his recent run of defeats,
Ambomo looked determined to prove
a point here and, as well as closing the
distance to negate Dickens’ advantage in
reach, he threw enough scoring shots –
including a left hook in the last that made
the crowd gasp – to impress Mark Lyson
at ringside, who scored 58-56 for the
visitor. David Mulholland refereed.
Last time out, local Jamie Devine
gained his first pro stoppage and the
confidence that breeds was evident
in his contest against Bratislava-based
Nicaraguan Engel Gomez. Always on
top and showing good movement and
swift changes of angles when up close,
Devine won 40-37 on Mr Kirkpatrick’s
card. David Mulholland refereed.
Local super-middleweight Alex
Pattison calmly walked down Grimsby’s
determined Tom Ramsden on his
way to a comfortable 40-37 win. Jamie
Kirkpatrick refereed.
Making his pro debut, ticket-seller
Louis Mullineux sent his army of fans
home happy with a 40-36 win over
Blackburn’s Naeem Ali. Mullineux did
enough without ever really getting out
of first gear and sterner tests await.
David Mulholland refereed, while Mr
Kirkpatrick scored.
Popular local welterweight Ellis Grant
was hugely impressive on his pro debut
when, with great shot selection and a
high pace throughout, he made Newark’s
vastly experienced Fonz Alexander
work for every second of their fourrounder, even rocking the visitor in the
third. Mark Lyson scored 40-36.
THE VERDICT Another cracking fight
for an Area title.
F U L L R E S U LT S
Leon Willings (174½lbs), 7-1(2), w pts 10
Jake Barton (175lbs), 9-3 (2); Mathew Rennie
(153¼lbs), 12-0-1 (1), w pts 6 John Henry
Mosquera (152lbs 2oz), 5-9 (1); Serge Ambomo
(158lbs 2oz), 12-56-3 (4), w pts 6 Ryan Dickens
(159lbs), 6-1; Jamie Devine (134¼lbs), 3-0 (1),
w pts 4 Engel Gomez (139¼lbs), 8-25-2 (4); Alex
Pattison (170lbs 6oz), 3-1, w pts 4 Tom Ramsden
(170½lbs), 3-4-1; Louis Mullineux (146lbs), 1-0,
w pts 4 Naeem Ali (154lbs 6oz), 2-120-1 (1); Ellis
Grant (148½lbs), 1-0, w pts 4 Fonz Alexander
(149lbs), 8-158-1 (4).
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 25
ACTION
WORCESTER WINNER
SIX OF THE BEST:
Scarrott is now
unbeaten in half a
dozen contests and
has his first belt
Photo: MSN IMAGES/BCB PROMOTION
E D G B A S TO N
F E B RUA RY 1 6
★★★★★ WHOLE SHOW
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ AT M O S P H E R E
THE vacant Midlands Area welterweight
title went to Worcester after James
Scarrott was adjudged a 97-93 winner
over Stoke battler Jamie Stewart
by referee Chris Dean on this BCB
promotion at the H Suite.
At the conclusion of Scarrott’s first title
bout, there was much to celebrate. It
was hard, though, to not feel sympathy
for the bearded Staffordshire puncher
who in a little over four months has been
bested over the distance in three Area
title bouts.
Still very much in the learning phase of
his career, Scarrott began with a couple
of quick rights but Stewart, working off
the back foot, was seemingly scoring the
more frequently during those early nipand-tuck stages.
Their heads bashed on a couple of
occasions before Stewart got through
with a big single right to the head. He
needed more of the same, especially
with a few of his jabs falling short and his
younger opponent pressing hard to cut
off the ring.
Scarrott wasn’t exactly setting the
world alight, but he was doing enough
by the seventh when Stewart – too reliant
on single blows – scored with a nice
roundhouse right. The pattern didn’t
really change, even after Jamie got a
rollicking from his coach Scott Lawton
prior to the last round.
Unbeaten Ledbury super-lightweight
Alex Florence was back punching for
pay for the first time since 2019 and for
two and a half rounds looked like he’d
never been away.
Setting off at a rare old pace and
working behind a jab that was often
doubled and sometimes tripled, he was
quick to open a lead against Devizes
operator Stu Greener. But there was
a tide change midway through the
third when, having picked up a slightly
bloodied nose, Florence copped for a
pair of weighty rights from Wiltshire’s
‘Little Canelo’. Buoyed by his success,
Scarrott claims
the Midlands
Area title at
the age of 20,
writes Andy
Whittle from
ringside
F U L L R E S U LT S
James Scarrott (141lbs 2oz), 6-0, w pts 10 Jamie Stewart (140½lbs), 4-6-3;
Alex Florence (141lbs), 7-0 (1), w pts 4 Stu Greener (142lbs 9oz), 4-17-1 (1);
Troy Jones (178½lbs), 9-0 (5), w pts 6 Ondrej Budera (178lbs), 18-37-2 (9);
Hamza Azeem (161lbs 2oz), 5-0, w pts 4 Shane Smith (155lbs), 0-1; Danny
Skidmore (142¼lbs), 1-0, w pts 4 Paul Scaife (144½lbs), 1-37-1 0-1; Kirstie
Bavington (221lbs), 8-5-2 (2), w pts 6 Tereza Dvorakova (198 3/4lbs), 4-10 (1).
26 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Greener pressed forward. Florence was
tagged again in the last before engaging
in a little spell of trading as the final bell
approached.
Referee Mr Dean scored the highly
enjoyable contest 39-37 for Florence at
the finish.
The same official had Pensnett’s
returning Kirstie Bavington a 59-55
winner over Tereza Dvorakova of the
Czech Republic at the conclusion of a
gritty six which was a first outing in just
over two years for the visitor.
Roared on by a vociferous group of
supporters, Bavington, looking confident
and more mobile from the off, returned
to winning ways after a trio of setbacks
but Dvorakova, her nose bloodied as
early as the second, proved a stubborn
foe and was still in there battling at the
finish.
Three remaining contests were
overseen by Ryan Churchill and
produced distance victories for a trio of
home boxers.
Well-supported Tipton light-heavy
Troy Jones, busier throughout, claimed a
59-55 six-round victory over experienced
Czech Ondrej Budera who put in a
decent shift but was as good as beaten
by the halfway stage. A cut to the left
eye suffered late in the second after a
particularly strong opening couple of
rounds from Jones did nothing to help
Budera’s cause.
Tipton’s Danny Skidmore called the
shots against Yorkshireman Paul Scaife,
who boxes out of Josh Wale’s gym. It
finished 40-36. And a second debutant,
Tewkesbury’s Shane Smith, went in with
unbeaten Brummie Hamza Azeem in
the opening, sometimes scruffy, bout.
Smith won via a 39-37 score.
THE VERDICT Youth is served as
Stewart is denied yet again.
www.boxingnewsonline.net
ACTION
CAN’T SPLIT THEM
Yet another draw between Lewicki and Karami, writes Andrew Wake from ringside
MANCHESTER
F E B RUA RY 1 7
★★★★★ WHOLE SHOW
RARELY are two fighters so evenly matched that
they cannot be split over two contests, but that
is the case for Ryszard Lewicki and Bahadur
Karami.
The pair boxed to a 57-57 draw last summer
so few expected their rematch to pan out the
same way yet that’s exactly what happened.
Lewicki started the better, finding the space
to fire through Karami’s guard. However, from
the third onwards it was tussle that swung one
way and then the other with both men taking
ring centre. Darren Sarginson officiated.
Performance of the night came from Niall
Brown as he rocked Fernando Valencia with
left hooks several times before halting him in the
sixth and final session. Again, it was a left that
did the damage, dumping the Mexican on his
back and although he clambered up at “eight”,
Mr Sarginson waved it off. The time was 1-24.
Nelson Birchall could be one to keep an
eye on. The Morecambe southpaw impressed as
he launched waves of two fisted attacks against
Miguel Zamora and at 1-07 of the third
round, referee John Latham had seen enough.
Mr Latham was in charge of two fights that
were curtailed due to eye injuries. In the show’s
opener Stephen Jackson complained to the
ringside doctor about blurred vision, meaning
his clash with Ndaba Ndebele ended at 0-46
of the third, while George Rogers was halted
at 2-01 of the second against George Killeen
due to an oddly drooping eyelid sustained by
an uppercut.
Tom Rafferty dropped Serhii Ksendzov
late in the third round but had to go the
distance to earn a deserved 59-54 mark from
Mr Sarginson. The same official posted 40-37
scores in both the Adam Rasool-Michael
Mooney and George Sutcliffe-Joe Hardy
bouts. While the scores were fair, the losers gave
good accounts of themselves.
Adbul Khan had too much for Cristian
Narvaez while debutant Mohammed
Hamzah had it mostly his own way against
Darryl Tapfuma. Mr Latham scored the
contests 60-54 and 39-37 respectively.
F U L L R E S U LT S
Ryszard Lewicki (166lbs 10oz), 6-0-2 (1), d pts 6 Bahadur Karami (164lbs 12oz), 4-10-3 (1); Nelson Birchall (132lbs 11oz), 2-0
(1), w rsf 3 Miguel Zamora (132lbs 11oz), 2-5-2; Niall Brown (161lbs 4oz), 11-0 (4), w rsf 6 Fernando Valencia (163 7oz), 9-59
(5); Tom Rafferty (165lbs 10oz), 11-0 (3), w pts 6 Serhii Ksendzov (164lbs 12oz), 4-21 (2); Abdul Khan (135lbs 9oz), 11-0 (2),
w pts 6 Cristian Narvaez (143lbs 12oz), 17-73-7 (2); Mohammed Hamzah (131lbs 13oz), 1-0, w pts 4 Darryl Tapfuma (130lbs
8oz), 3-15-3 (3); George Sutcliffe (156lbs 4oz), 2-1 (1), w pts 4 Joe Hardy (159lbs 10oz), 3-17; Adam Rasool (139lbs 12oz),
6-3-1, w pts 4 Michael Mooney (140lbs 10oz), 10-100-3 (3); George Killeen (156lbs 7oz), 5-0 (1), w rsf 2 George Rogers (157lbs
12oz), 1-32-4; Ndaba Ndebele (119lbs 15oz), 3-0 (1), w rsf 3 Stephen Jackson (119lbs 8oz), 1-46-1 (1).
Photo: BLACK FLASH PROMOTIONS
ON THE ATTACK:
But Lewicki [left] will
again find Karami to be
a spirited opponent
Clegg marches on
But Matendo plays his part, writes
Simon Euan-Smith from ringside
TO LW O RT H
F E B RUA RY 1 6
★★★★★ WHOLE SHOW
POPULAR Alfie Clegg boxed his way to a
clear 10-round verdict over Tanzania’s willing
Imani Matendo in front of a roaring crowd
at Tolworth Leisure Centre.
A last-round knockdown capped off a
thoroughly satisfactory performance from the
man making his seventh appearance here in
10 outings. Judge Terry O’Connor had it 99-90,
Krzystof Bubak 98-91, Grzegorz Molenda 99-90.
Clegg (Guildford) won clearly – but, as
so often, the figures don’t tell the full story.
Matendo pressed forward constantly, trying to
pin down his elusive opponent. There were
times he got close and unloaded – notably
in the fifth and seventh sessions – but every
time, Clegg got away and resumed control. The
favourite showed good footwork throughout.
Clegg turned aggressor in the 10th, and
in the closing stages a glancing right had
Matendo over. He was up quickly, but referee
Marcus McDonnell correctly counted to eight
– and the bell rang seconds later.
The six-round show-closer left Watford’s
Anees Taj bewildered after being judged
a 58-56 loser to Poland’s Krzystzof
Stawiarski. In charge was Sean McAvoy, who
shared undercard refereeing duties with Mark
Bates. It was a blow for Taj, out since June and
coming off two losses. He came forward and
landed, and while Stawiarski showed good
defence and was always happy to hit back, I
certainly thought Taj landed more. Stawiarski
had lost his past seven going in.
There was a happier comeback for
Chertsey’s Geoff ‘Bad Boy’ Dixon, in his
first bout since May 2021. The ‘Bad Boy’ beat
the ‘Mad Boy’ over four, taking Mr McAvoy’s
39-37 verdict over Wakefield-based Pole
Marcin ‘Mad Boy’ Prostko. Southpaw
Dixon was the aggressor, and while Prostko
was happy to hit back he was generally
coming second. Prostko bled from a swelling
below the right eye.
F U L L R E S U LT S
Alfie Clegg (110¼lb), 8-0-1, w pts 10 Imani Matendo
(110½lb), 5-1-1 (2); Krzysztof Stawiarski (200lb), 3-7
(2), w pts 6 (58-56, SM) Anees Taj (213lb), 7-5 (5);
Kaylem Foreman (154¼lb), 7-0, w pts 6 (60-54, MB)
Berman Sanchez (155lb 2oz), 30-51-4 (22); Geoff Dixon
(198lb 6oz), 3-0-1, w pts 4 (39-37, SM) Marcin Prostko
(199lb 5oz), 0-3; Sherif Musah (198lb 13oz), 1-0, w
pts 4 (40-36, SM) Darryl Sharp (193¼lb), 8-122-1 (1);
Hajji Muhis (164¼lb), 5-0-1, d pts 4 (38-38, MB) Harley
Collison (169lb 2oz), 2-1-2; Liam Forrest (165lb 5oz), 1-0,
w pts 4 (40-35, SM) Allan White (163lb 6oz), 0-5.
www.boxingnewsonline.net
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 27
ACTION
FIRST TEST: Johnstone [left]
passes with flying colours
Photo: DEAN COHEN
High five
All home boxers win without ceding a
round, writes ringsider Philip Sharkey
N O RT H A M P TO N
F E B RUA RY 1 7
★★★★★ WHOLE SHOW
JOHNSTONE SHINES
McGivern doesn’t last a round in Scottish title fight, writes ringsider Charlie Tymon
GLASGOW
F E B RUA RY 1 6
★★★★★ WHOLE SHOW
IN A packed Doubletree Hilton, with the
crowd in full voice, any questioning Wishaw’s
Darren Johnstone’s ability to take on proven
toughman Ben McGivern for the vacant
Scottish super-middleweight title had their
doubts rapidly dispelled from the opening bell.
McGivern motored forward but Johnstone,
using deft footwork and his huge frame,
avoided nearly all of the Airdrie fighter’s shots
while repeatedly punishing him with both
hands. Sensing his opportunity in the final
minute of that first round, Johnstone then
turned aggressor, unloading barrage of shots
on McGivern, and dropping him heavily. To his
credit McGivern, already cut over his left eye,
took referee Kevin McIntyre’s eight count and
went straight back into battle, but his corner
had seen enough and mercifully retired him at
the break, giving Johnstone, who looks to have
considerable potential, the title.
Glasgow’s Kieran Tarleton stepped up in
class to face former Brazilian featherweight
title challenger Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de
Oliveira. It proved a step too far.
The first two rounds were close, with Tarleton
providing the volume and movement and de
Oliveira the eyecatching singles, but as the fight
progressed the Glaswegian had to work harder
as the Brazilian, bobbing and weaving, threw
vicious body shots and made room for his lead
left uppercut. The bodywork by de Oliviera paid
off in the fifth when a pair of head shots looked
to have a tiring Tarleton in trouble. From then
on, the task was insurmountable for Tarleton,
who did not possess the power to deter his rival
and looked well beaten at the close. Referee
Kenny Pringle duly scored 59-55 for the visitor.
On the undercard, debutants Lennon
Mulligan and Aidan Rodger both
impressed while seeing off Lithuanian Marius
Vysniauskas and Carlisle’s Jake Osgood,
respectively. Both are from Glasgow, brought
their own sizeable contingents, and displayed
the difficult-to-master art of hitting hard
while moving in reverse, but this is where the
similarities ended. Mulligan is an all-action,
come-forward fighter who can double and
triple with both hands and change direction in
a blink; Rodger, meanwhile, is a patient switchhitter who, due to his ambidexterity, can double
up on whichever back hand he chooses to
use. This caused Osgood, who usually clowns
around with fledgling fighters, to keep sharp
and concentrate on his own defence. Shutouts
(40-36) to both Scots were awarded by Messrs
Pringle and McIntyre, respectively.
Shotts’ Marcus Sutherland dropped
Ruslan Berchuk heavily, leading Mr Pringle to
stop the fight after just 1-05 of the first round.
Greengairs’ Ryan Clark learned a great deal
when outpointing Middlesbrough’s CJ Wood.
Wood always comes in shape, and comes
to fight, and Clark had to work for his 39-37
victory on Mr McIntyre’s card.
FORMER amateur star Ben Vaughan
predictably and comprehensively saw off the
vastly experienced Dale Arrowsmith, 60-54
[pictured below]. The Hyde centurion wisely
went into survival mode after the second
round, his face safely behind cupped gloves
as the unbeaten home boxer displayed his
repertoire of punches.
Northampton southpaw Nico Michael
went over old ground, winning every round
against Middleton’s Steve Maguire, who was
proud to notch his 50th contest and, in a nice
gesture, thanked Nico for sharing the Park Inn
Hotel ring for the occasion.
Things were slightly feistier when Yousef
Ibrahim and ‘The Batley Bulldog’ Nabil
Ahmed clashed. Starting the contest behind
a piercing jab, the well-supported Ibrahim
got involved in a dancing and showboating
exchange which seemed to break his
concentration. After that, the fight caught
fire as both put spite into their shots. Ahmed
claimed a share of a round, losing 40-37.
Luton debutant Klinton Baptiste (son
of ex-pro Alan, who was in the audience
cheering him on) decked winless Genadij
Krajevskij with a left hook at the end of
round three, but was content to work the
body in the last to take a deserved 40-35 win.
Opening the show, hometown debutant
Doina Costin outpointed unorthodox
Sheffield southpaw Sherriee Barnes, 40-36.
All bouts were handled by Ryan Churchill and
scored from ringside by Kevin Parker.
F U L L R E S U LT S
Ben Vaughan (152½lbs), 8-0 (1), w pts 6 Dale
Arrowsmith (154lbs 7oz), 6-99-4(1); Nico Michael
(119lbs 7oz), 5-0, w pts 4 Steven Maguire (119lbs), 4-461 (2); Yousef Ibrahim (123lbs 1oz), 5-0, w pts 4 Nabil
Ahmed (122¼lbs), 2-28-2; Doina Costin (128lbs 9oz),
1-0 w pts 4 Sherriee Barnes (132¼lbs), 0-4; Klinton
Baptiste(170lbs), 1-0, w pts 4 Genadij Krajevskij (170lbs
1oz), 0-67.
Photo: PHILIP SHARKEY
F U L L R E S U LT S
Darren Johnstone (168lbs), 8-0 (2), w rtd 1 Ben McGivern (167lbs) 5-3-1; Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira (131lbs), 6-6
(5), w pts 6 Kieran Tarleton (131lbs) 5-1; Lennon Mulligan (115lbs), 1-0, w pts 4 Marius Vysniauskas (118lbs), 2-21 (1);
Aiden Rodger (141lbs), 1-0, w pts 4 Jake Osgood (131lbs), 1-40 (2); Marcus Sutherland (124lbs), 5-0 (3), w rsf 1 Ruslan
Berchuk (123lbs), 14-23 (4); Ryan Clark (153lbs), 4-0, w pts 4 CJ Wood (158lbs), 5-22-3 (2).
28 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
www.boxingnewsonline.net
ACTION
QUINN A HURRY
Joe O’Neill watches one of the most exciting little men underline his potential
B E L FA S T
F E B RUA RY 1 7
★★★★★ WHOLE SHOW
CONOR QUINN again highlighted why he is
one of the most exciting little men in British
and Irish boxing with an early stoppage in the
headline fight of the latest MHD Promotions
dinner show.
The Belfast flyweight knocked out dangerous
Tanzanian Jemsi Kibazange in the second of a
scheduled 10 at the Europa Hotel to potentially
manoeuvre towards the winner of this weekend’s
British, Commonwealth and European unification
between Connor Butler and Jay Harris.
The diminutive Kibazange came with raw
ambition and tore into Quinn with wild
haymakers early on, but ‘The Magnificent’ soon
took control. The incisive Quinn countered
sharply in between the aggressive African’s
attacks before switching to the body at the close
of the opener, putting Kibazange down with
a left hook. The visitor beat the count but the
finish was not far off as Quinn surgically went
about his business with flurries in the second, a
left hook knocking the gumshield of Kibazange
out and sending him down, with referee Ron
Kearney reaching the 10-count with 1-01 of the
round elapsed.
Chief support Colm Murphy also moved into
frame for a Commonwealth title shot with an
early stoppage against another Tanzanian. Irish
champion at 130lbs, Murphy had come down
for this 10-round Commonwealth featherweight
eliminator and dwarfed veteran Julias
Kisaware. The visitor went into instant survival
mode as Belfast’s Murphy softened the body
while timing nice right hands, and the end came
in the third. Backing his foe to the ropes, ‘Posh
Boy’ teed off with upwards of 40 shots and while
the ear-muffed Kisaware was constantly bobbing,
nothing was coming back and referee Hugh
Russell jumped in with 1-49 on the clock before
any serious damage could be done. The 10-0
milestone reached, Murphy is likely to be first in
line should current Commonwealth champion
Nathaniel Collins vacate in search of sanctioning
body belts, as is rumoured.
Belfast super-bantam Connor Kerr had
an education in his first six-rounder. Having
relentlessly attacked Jake Pollard early on,
and causing the Bradford journeyman a spot
of bother in the fourth, Kerr had to bite down
on the gumshield as he went into uncharted
territory. Indeed, Pollard pushed in the final
round but got no change from Mr Russell, who
scored the bout 60-54 in Kerr’s favour.
Opening the show and returning to the
ring following a recurring hand ligament
injury, Shannon super-lightweight David
Ryan dominated Doncaster’s Jake Smith. A
journeyman of the more negative persuasion,
Smith evaded engaging for much of the contest
but was hurt by a big left hook in the sixth and
final round as Ryan ran out a 60-54 winner
on Mr Russell’s card. Previously due to face
Senan Kelly for the BUI Celtic title before injury
intervened, Ryan will be aiming to get back into
that mix following his countryman’s win over
Welsh champ Jake Tinklin last week.
F U L L R E S U LT S
Conor Quinn (112lbs), 9-0-1 (6), w rsf 2 Jemsi Kibazange (108), 20–8-3 (7); Colm Murphy (125¼lbs), 10-0 (3), w rsf
3 Julias Kisaware (124¾lbs), 34-12-1 (18); Connor Kerr (123lbs), 3–0, w pts 6 Jake Pollard (125lbs), 1-60; David
Ryan (142¼lbs), 5-0, w pts 6 Jake Smith (142lbs), 1-14-2.
Photo: BELFAST BOXERS
STATEMENT MADE:
Quinn quickly
discourages the
visitor’s fast start
Stealing the show
The two female bouts are worth the
ticket price alone, writes Gareth Jones
S WA N S E A
F E B RUA RY 1 7
★★★★★ WHOLE SHOW
PROMOTER Richie Garner reckoned the two
female bouts would steal the show at the
Brangwyn Hall. He was spot on.
The two Swansea girls, each with martial
arts backgrounds but no amateur boxing
experience, had won their debuts, but there
were mixed fortunes this time.
Ashleigh Johnson, dubbed ‘Sweet Poison’,
had a toe-to-toe war over six-twos with
Honduran Jamillette Vallejos, her better
work at distance clinching a 58-56 decision
from referee Chris Jones.
But Victoria Perkins, who had beaten
the Central American in November, found
Bolton’s Linzi Buczynskyj a tough cookie
and saw Reece Carter reward the visitor by the
same 58-56 scoreline after another cracking
encounter.
Two male prospects extended their 100
per cent records with 60-54 scorelines, but
in very different fights. Local Ben Crocker
had a comfortable evening against Swindon
trier Jensen Irving (Mr Carter officiated),
but Aaron Bird, from Port Talbot, had to
overcome a bad cut over his left eye in the
opener before outjabbing willing Bolton
boy Ben Thomas and securing Mr Jones’s
whitewash.
In a four-threes, Willy Gilheaney, from
Llansamlet, picked up a second paid success
with a straightforward 40-36 vote from Mr
Carter, stunning Mancunian Josh Cook in the
third.
Two former amateurs from Port Talbot
made their pro bows and found the transition
was no easy matter.
Josh Meli, already 32, was caught square
in the second and dropped by Harwich
journeyman Kasey Bradnum, climbing up
at nine to grind out a 38-37 win, but Morgan
McIntosh, the 27-year-old younger brother
of Welsh super-feather king Conor, tended to
stand in front of Islington centurion Jordan
Grannum, who took full advantage and
earned a 39-37 nod. Mr Jones handled both.
F U L L R E S U LT S
Ben Crocker (155lbs), 12-0 (2), w pts 6 Jensen Irving
(160lbs), 4-7; Aaron Bird (180lbs), 4-0, w pts 6 Ben Thomas
(183lbs), 5-23-4 (4); Linzi Buczynskyj (130lbs), 5-3, w
pts 6 Victoria Perkins (128lbs), 1-1; Ashleigh Johnson
(124lbs), 2-0, w pts 6 Jamillette Vallejos (126lbs), 2-12-2
(2); Willy Gilheaney (165lbs), 2-0 (1), w pts 4 Josh Cook
(166lbs), 1-35-3; Josh Meli (139lbs), 1-0, w pts 4 Kasey
Bradnum (138lbs), 1-16; Jordan Grannum (158lbs),
10-130-5, w pts 4 Morgan McIntosh (160lbs), 0-1.
www.boxingnewsonline.net
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 29
Padraig McCrory tells Shaun Brown about being cast as the opponent versus Edgar Berlanga,
the break he took from boxing and how he’s coped with having a speech stammer
HAT’S your opinion
of Berlanga?
I think he’s very
good. He obviously
beat Jason Quigley,
who I thought gave
him a few problems.
Quigley was a great
amateur and is a good boxer, so to be
able to do that to Quigley shows that he’s
good. I think Berlanga’s a good fighter.
He seems to have slowed down a bit
because in his first 16 fights he had firstround knockouts. I think that’s affected
him negatively, because he’s not knocking
people out now. He’s a good fighter, he’s
strong, he’s aggressive and I’m under no
illusion of what I’m up against.
W
Both your styles could gel and create
something of a shootout, but is
there any thought to doing anything
different and surprise him?
The fight’s getting hyped as
a shootout, but if you look at the
[Steed] Woodall fight, I
boxed, and the fight in
Germany [against Leon
Bunn], there was times
when I boxed. I can
adapt. We know there’s
going to be stages in this
one where we’re going to
have to stand and fight.
I think it’s shown that if
you try and run for 12
rounds against Berlanga,
with the pace he sets, it
can go wrong. We know I’ll have to bite
down on the gumshield at some point.
took a long break. Towards 2014, I thought
I’m going to give boxing a go and try
and qualify for the 2014 Commonwealth
Games. I won the qualifiers, but the politics
of boxing didn’t allow me to go. The fighter
I beat in the final [Sean McGlinchy] did
go and he won a bronze medal. I had to
decide “Do I stay in the amateurs and do
another four years, or do I give the pros a
go?”. At that stage, Kieran Farrell had just
started signing a few fighters from Belfast
and I thought “This is the opportunity”.
I reached out to my current coach Dee
Walsh and Kieran and the show went on
the road. Then I got married, which slightly
delayed my debut, but it fell perfectly
because I got a debut at the SSE [in Belfast]
on a Matchroom card. Things have fell
perfectly throughout my career and things
have happened for the right reasons.
What prompted you to take the break?
I started boxing when I was 14 but
dedication wasn’t really my thing.
I played many sports like Gaelic
football, soccer and
boxing. I had a go at them
all, but never took any
of them overly serious/
Even when I was fighting
at intermediate or senior
level, it was more about
going training three or
four times a week. Once
I stopped, I played more
Gaelic football, but I still
did boxing training every
now and then. There was
no real reason why I stopped boxing. I’ve
always loved it and had a massive interest
in it, but I didn’t do enough back then.
ONE THING’S FOR
SURE: ANYONE
I’VE PUNCHED
KNOWS I
HIT HARD”
Is the Berlanga fight coming at the
right time for you?
People look at my career and those that
don’t know me will look at my age. I’m 35,
but I’ve got very low mileage. In my 18 fights
there hasn’t been any out-and-out wars. I
haven’t been up and down off the canvas; I
haven’t been getting hurt. I’m 35, but I don’t
have much damage. I’m a firm believer that
fights like the Bunn fight coming about last
minute have come at the right time. Earlier
in my career, I accepted a fight with David
Lemieux, but it fell through. That’s a fight
I probably wasn’t ready for at the time. I
believe the timing of this fight is right. The
world works in mysterious ways.
You made your pro debut when you
were 28. Why did you turn over so late?
I barely boxed between 20 and 25. I
30 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Did you work during that time? How
did you make ends meet?
I worked a few retail jobs, a bit of
bricklaying and roofing and tarmacking
with a few uncles. It was a bit of a manic
time in my life where there was no real
stability. I’ve been with my now-wife since I
was 18, but I never really had a career path
and boxing was always something that I
wanted to give a real go. At the start of
2014, I thought “I’m gonna give it a real go”.
I read an article where you opened up
about your speech stammer. I’ve had
one for 40 years. What impact has it
had on your life?
I always brush it under the carpet, but
looking back it’s held me back massively.
Through school, if I didn’t understand a
question, I would never put my hand up
to speak. I’ve had mine since I started
speaking. It’s an issue I’ve dealt with my
whole life. Even when I was coming through
in boxing, I’d think about the future and a
fear of mine was standing in front of a
camera or doing a press conference. Even
now, I’ll get more nervous about a press
conference than a fight. But there was
one promise I made myself and that was
I wasn’t going to let it hold me back from
doing an interview or pursuing boxing, but
I think a stammer is a slight disability and
it does hold me back from doing everyday
things outside boxing.
I’ve worked on techniques of my own
such as finding the right pitch, not
speaking too loudly, and I work on
my breathing as well. All of that and
feeling relaxed helps me. Does any of
that ring true for you?
Exactly what you were saying, like
speaking at a much lower tone, trying to
remain relaxed, breathing better and not
trying to think too far in front. I find when
I think about too much, then things get
muddled and there are some sounds and
words I do struggle a bit more with. But I’ve
taught myself how to deal with it better. I
remember my first interview, with Belfast
Boxers back in 2017; I watched it back,
which I rarely do because I cringe a little,
but I was so much worse then than some of
my interviews I’ve watched recently.
Do you think you’ve accepted the
stammer is part of who you are, and
people can take it or leave it?
Most definitely. It’s part of me and
something that’s likely never gonna
change. In a job like boxing, where you
have to practically sell yourself being a bit
more like Berlanga doesn’t come naturally
to me. My personality probably wouldn’t let
that happen anyway. If I wanted to do that,
my vulnerabilities with my speech probably
wouldn’t allow me to do that.
Have you visualised yourself beating
Berlanga?
I’ve worked on a lot of techniques,
including visualisation. I’ve seen him
being dropped, put on the ground in the
amateurs and pros, and I’ve visualised that
on the other end it’s me doing that to him
every time. I may only have nine knockouts
from 18 wins, but there’s one thing for sure
and that’s anyone I’ve punched knows I hit
hard, and I know that I have the power to
hurt Berlanga.
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Photo: CHRIS MCKENNA/MATCHROOM
LATE STARTER:
But McCrory says he
doesn’t have many
miles on the clock
FEAST FOR
THE SENSES
Some top talent set to
get worthwhile tests on
Matchroom bill in Florida
MATCHROOM BOXING, in
conjunction with Boxlab Promotions,
hosts an enticing night of boxing in
Orlando’s Caribe Royale on Saturday
(February 24). DAZN televise.
Top of the bill is the supermiddleweight clash between Edgar
Berlanga [below], and Belfast’s
Padraig McCrory, 18-0 (9), and
it’s a huge chance for the latter to
gatecrash the title discussion at 168.
Berlanga, 21-0 (16), famously won
his first 16 by first round knockout.
Each subsequent outing, which have
seen steady rises in class, have gone
the full route. Berlanga, 26, may
need to go the distance again here
against a determined 35-year-old.
Also over the 12-round distance
is a clash between Brooklyn-based
Uzbek, Shakram Giyasov, and
Mexican veteran Pablo Cesar
Cano, 35-8-1 (25). The 34-yearold, who has been a pro since
2006, is as likely to be chinned as
he is to administer the chinning.
Always dangerous, but increasingly
flawed, Cano might hear the final
bell this time but looks likely to be
outpointed Giyasov, 14-0 (9).
The most competitive of the
headline bouts might turn out to be
the bantamweight collision between
Antonio Vargas, 17-1 (9), and Puerto
Rico-born Jonathan Rodriguez,
17-1-1 (7). This could be a cracker.
Rodriguez, based in Bethlehem,
PA, ended the career of Khalid Yafai
in November with a first round KO
but the feeling here is that Vargas, of
Florida, can grind out victory after
some exciting early rounds.
Plenty of eyes will be on the
brilliant Cuban lightweight starlet
Andy Cruz when he continues his
education against Mexico’s Brayan
Zammarripa Rodriguez, 14-2 (5).
Expect Cruz to win inside schedule
to take his record to 3-0 (2).
www.boxingnewsonline.net
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 31
FIGHTING SPIRIT:
Nakatani has already
won belts, and wants
more, but the ultimate
goal is pound-for-pound
recognition
Photos: NAOKI FUKUDA
32 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Attention please
Junto Nakatani is well-known to hardcore fans but, as he tells
Phil Rogers, he’s got a plan to reach a much wider audience
AMILIAR nations still
dominate territories
on
the
boxing
landscape but few
can stake a claim on
the lighter weight
classes quite like
Japan. Stylistically
thrilling but removed from the glare
of sport’s western
spotlight, the likes of
Naoya Inoue, Kazuto
Ioka, Kenshiro Teraji,
the Shigeoka brothers
and Kosei Tanaka
have, in recent years,
provided us with
some of boxing’s most
enthralling fights. Yet
keeping abreast of
their exploits in the
Far East isn’t always
easy, with fights
often taking place on
weekday mornings
(our
time)
and
television broadcasts
limited. Making the leap from such a cult
following to boxing superstardom isn’t
easy, but that’s exactly what Junto Nakatani
is hoping to do, starting with his fight
against Mexico’s Alexandro Santiago for
WKH:%&ȇVZRUOGEDQWDPZHLJKWVWUDSbb
“It’s like a kind of greed,” he tells Boxing
Newsb b ȊΖȇP PRUH JUHHG\ PRUH KXQJU\
I need more. I’m building up my boxing
career. It’s very cool right now, but I
want more. I feel hungry, I want more
experience, more glory. Become a world
champion but then more, like pound-forSRXQG>UHFRJQLWLRQ@ȋbbb
Nakatani’s
ascent
through
the
weights has already seen him pick up
WBO titles at both flyweight and superflyweight. Remaining at 115lbs in order
to win all the belts had appeared to be
the plan, particularly after his spectacular
performance against Andrew Maloney in
May 2023, so it was with some surprise that
the fight with Santiago up at bantamweight
ZDV DQQRXQFHGb )RU WKRVH FORVH WR KLP
however, there was little doubt that the
southpaw would need to move up sooner
rather than later, as Nakatani walks
DURXQGDWDQDWXUDOOEVbbbb
“We move into 118 because when
at 115 I was working hard to make
the weight. I just move up a 118
and directly into the title shot,”
KH VD\Vb b Ȋ6DQWLDJR KH KDV D
good pace. He throws a lot of
punches. So [if] we control the
middle of the ring, then we
F
control him. If he has his own space, then
he’s a difficult fighter, so we’ll control the
ring. When I was a kid, I always dreamed of
DELJILJKWLQ7RN\R6RΖȇPUHDOO\H[FLWHGȋbb
Essential to Nakatani’s plans is
experienced trainer Rudy Hernandez.
Demonstrating his ambition when he was
just 15 years old, Nakatani flew over to
Los Angeles to train with Hernandez
and the relationship
has continued to
blossom ever since.
Working the corner of
such a talented and
eager young fighter
is clearly a thrill,
though Hernandez
is
very
much
aware of the threat
Santiago poses up in
unchartered waters
DWEDQWDPZHLJKWbb
“I’m enjoying the
ULGHȋKHGHFODUHVbb
“Junto is now the
best I’ve ever trained.
He’s very disciplined
and eager to be the best he can be. We’re
training thinking Santiago will be Junto’s
hardest fight to date. We’re trying to be
ready for the worst. Santiago is a crafty
ILJKWHUZKRFDQILJKWLQVLGHDQGRXWȋbb
For a fighter with lofty dreams, his
brutal 12th-round knockout of the talented
In the future,
if people say
I should fight
Inoue, then
I want to be
right there”
www.boxingnewsonline.net
EYECATCHING:
Nakatani knows
knockouts are
the key to a
wider audience
Maloney out in Las Vegas was just the shot
in the arm he needed. Recently crowned
winner of Ring Magazine’s KO Of 2023,
Nakatani was delighted with the award
and hopes it will act as a catalyst to bring
more eyes to his fights, whether they be
boxing scholars or those less familiar with
WKHVSRUWbbbb
“During the fight, I never gave up on
focusing on the knockout. I was winning
the rounds, but I tried to focus on the
knockout, because that’s gonna impress
PRUHSHRSOHȋKHVD\Vbb
“I’m happy to get the Knockout Of The
Year 2023, but still I’m not satisfied. Still I
need more and more. I need to get to more
people, to show the people a good fight.
Make more [of an] impression, not just the
boxing fan. Even the regular [casual] fan.”
Nakatani is just one of a number of
Japanese fighters currently impressing
fans in the smaller weight divisions. He
puts the emergence of this current crop of
talent down to the culture within boxing
gyms in his homeland, the work that goes
into drilling the fundamentals from a very
\RXQJ DJH DV ZHOO DVb yamato-damashii,
a fighting mindset that translates as
Ȇ-DSDQHVHVSLULWȇbbbb
“They’re growing into the environment
in Japan right now, so I want to shine like
a star in the ring in front of everybody,
because there are many good fighters in
Japan. They have an amateur system, a
competition for the under-15s, so many
people are studying boxing at a young age.
Like Inoue and Ioka, everybody’s the same,
VWXG\LQJIURPOHVVWKDQ\HDUVROGȋb
His countryman Inoue, is, of course, one
of the hottest properties in Japanese sport
right now, selling out arenas and adorning
billboards as he wipes out every opponent
in his wake. Nakatani is hugely respectful
of the pound-for-pound ‘Monster’, though
his aspirations for greatness mean a fight
between the two down the line can’t be
ruled out.
“For now, however, domination at
EDQWDPZHLJKWLVWKHQDPHRIWKHJDPHbb
“Right now, I don’t deserve to fight
Inoue, but in the future, if people think,
“Oh Junto Nakatani, he should be
fighting Naoya Inoue!”, if they say that,
ΖZDQWWREHULJKWWKHUHȋKHVD\Vb
“I want the unification at 118lbs.
7KHQ ZH PRYH XS WR OEVb ΖȇP
gonna be ‘world’ champion on
February 24. Then in the future
people will like Junto Nakatani
and expect good fights
from me. I just want the
championship so that people
pay attention to me.”
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 33
PREVIEWS
Previewing the best
upcoming fights
around the world
+ + + + + O U T S TA N D I N G + + + + G O O D + + + FA I R + + D I S A P P O I N T I N G + RU B B I S H
T h e s t a r r a t i n g s i n d i c a t e h o w w e l l t h e w r i t e r b e l i e v e s t h e f i g h t e r s m a t c h u p, t h e f i g h t ( s ) ’ c o n t e x t u a l s i g n i f i c a n c e , a n d h o w g o o d t h e f i g h t ( s ) w i l l b e
Photo: NAOKI FUKUDA
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY:
Takuma makes the
first defence of a title
formerly held by his
brother Naoya
Takuma’s turn
The younger Inoue gets a tough test on a bill that features titles and talent aplenty – and one mismatch, writes Shaun Brown
34 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Photo: ESTHER LIN/SHOWTIME
★★★★★ WHOLE SHOW
T CAN’T be easy
living in the shadow
of a talented sibling.
Then again, not
everyone has a
brother like Naoya
Inoue in their family.
Takuma Inoue, 18-1 (4), has been
going about his own business quietly and
effectively while Naoya has been beating
opponents in brutal fashion and staking a
claim to be the best fighter in the world.
Now, at 28 years old, Takuma will take
to the famed Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo
Arena in Tokyo on Saturday to defend
his WBA bantamweight belt against the
Manny Pacquiao-promoted Jerwin
Ancajas, 34-3-2 (23). The fight had been
scheduled to take place in November,
but was postponed after Takuma suffered
a fractured rib in sparring.
“Though my opponent this time is
the strongest boxer in my career, I am
confident of throwing more punches in
the upcoming fight,” Takuma said during
a public workout at the Ohashi Boxing
Gym earlier this month.
The same strap was the property
of Naoya in 2018 before the 30-yearold captured the other three baubles
to become the universally recognised
bantamweight world champion. He then
vacated them so he could venture north
to super-bantam, leaving his brother
and other top contenders at 118lbs to
compete for the four belts.
Takuma claimed one of them when
beating Liborio Solis 10 months ago in
his only fight of 2023. The Japanese boxer
made good use of his left hook and
combinations to force the Venezuelan
into retreat and into the losing column
after going the distance.
Ancajas hasn’t seen 12-round
competition since dropping a points
verdict to Fernando Martinez in
their October 2022 rematch. Both
were relatively one-sided wins for
the Argentinian. Ancajas got back in
the winner’s circle with a fifth-round
stoppage in an eight-round contest
against Colombian Wilner Soto in
Minneapolis. This, too, was the only
action Ancajas saw last year.
Inoue’s sole defeat to date came
against southpaw Nordine Oubaali,
when the Frenchman put his opponent
down in the fourth round before winning
a unanimous decision on the same
November 2019 show in which big
brother Naoya was given an almighty
scare by Nonito Donaire in Saitama.
I
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Ancajas, also a lefty, is moving up from
super-flyweight, having held the IBF belt
there for six years before running into
Martinez. The 32-year-old is unlikely
to put Inoue under the same type of
pressure Oubaali managed, by forcing
mistakes and making him uncomfortable.
Ancajas’ best work comes from the jab,
which he frequently throws to the body,
but as fights progress his work can get
ragged as wild looping blows often
initiate a shootout.
“I want to convince [ judges] every
round that I am ahead, especially when
I am the visiting opponent,” the Filipino
said. “I have to be dominant every round
and as a boxer I know when I am ahead
or not.”
It seems likely Inoue-Ancajas will
go the distance, with each man having
periods of success and momentum
swings. But Inoue’s home advantage,
workrate and temperament should see
him over the line after 12 rounds.
Ancajas, however, shouldn’t be written
off.
More bantamweight business will be
handled on the same card when Mexico’s
Alexandro Santiago puts his WBC
belt on the line against southpaw Junto
Nakatani.
Fans will remember Nakatani, 26-0
(19), for his astonishing final-round
knockout of Andrew Moloney nine
months ago. That win gave Nakatani the
vacant WBO super-flyweight belt which
he successfully defended once against
Argi Cortes. But the 26-year-old soon
moved on and is now at 118lbs and a
legitimate threat to the division.
Santiago, 28-3-5 (14) record, broke
sentimental hearts last summer when he
VETERAN:
Ancajas is eyeing
another belt after a
near 15-year career
outpointed the ageing great Donaire to
deny the veteran another strap.
The Mexican will be conceding five
inches in height to Nakatani but only
two in reach. Santiago’s greatest concern
should be that his challenger carries
power from round one to round 12.
Since his first 10-round bout in 2018, the
26-year-old has stopped nine of his past
dozen opponents. And heavy-handed
fighters in smaller weight classes – where
the jump from one division to another is
contextually slight – tend to carry their
power up with them.
“I can now fight both at short and
long distances,” Nakatani said. “I need to
throw more punches if I were to attain
a knockout victory. I think I have my
Sunday punch.”
Nakatani’s long arms and ability to
hurt opponents both from distance and
up close could prove to be a nightmare
for Santiago, who won’t win this at arm’s
length. The pick is for him to get stopped
somewhere around the eighth round. The
28-year-old’s only hope is that he can
rapidly get in and get out, while taking
the required risks to actually make a dent
in Nakatani.
Another Japan v Mexico battle, this
time at super-flyweight, rounds things
off but. Kosei Tanaka, 19-1 (1), will look
to win a belt in a fourth weight class,
against Christian ‘Rocky’ Bacasegua,
22-4-2 (9).
A pro since he was 18, Tanaka has
risen through the divisions winning
belts at strawweight, light-flyweight and
flyweight. But it was at super-fly that
the 28-year-old suffered his first loss,
on New Year’s Eve 2020 to Kazuto Ioka.
The modern-day great dropped his
compatriot twice before stopping Tanaka
in the eighth round.
This time Tanaka has a less challenging
assignment on his hands, on paper at
least. Bacasuega will be fighting outside
of his homeland for the first time in his
nine-year career. And only the WBO
would be able to justify how he should
be their number two contender at superfly one place below Tanaka.
At world level, the 26-year-old could
be described as limited. In truth, it’s
a mismatch that the WBO should be
questioned about.
“It would be best if I could get a KO,”
Tanaka said at his gym in Nagoya. “I don’t
want to win in an anticlimactic showing.”
Tanaka will surely get his wish.
Bacasuega will do well to last three
rounds.
THE VERDICT Two out of three ain’t
bad on this triple-title bill.
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 35
PREVIEWS
I’LL GET YOU, BUTLER
Harris
confident
he knows too
much for
a young
and fresh
opponent
in flyweight
scrap for all
the domestic
marbles,
writes Matt
Bozeat
★★★★★ MAIN EVENT
IT IS 72 years since the British,
Commonwealth and European flyweight
titles were contested in one fight. On
that occasion, Teddy Gardner outpointed
Terry Allen over 15 rounds in Newcastle.
The three belts are on the line again on
Saturday at the Olympia in Liverpool.
The home crowd at the atmospheric
fight venue will be hoping to see Connor
Butler, a boyish-looking former quality
amateur from Kirkby, add Jay Harris’s
British title to the Commonwealth and
European belts.
Fightzone televise what has the
makings of a quality fight between the
proven Harris and the talented Butler, the
younger boxer by seven years at 26.
Harris has held all three belts in the
last, though never simultaneously. The
Welshman claimed the vacant British title
last May by breaking down Sheffield’s
Tommy Frank in 10 rounds. That win
meant the high-tempo box-fighter from
Swansea emulated his father, Peter, who
held the British featherweight title (1988).
Harris has an uncle, Michael, who also
challenged for the Lonsdale Belt.
Peter coaches his son, along with
Gary Lockett, while Butler is with
Derry Mathews, so both have plenty of
knowhow in the corner.
Harris, 20-3 (11), and Butler, 11-0-1
(1), are fighters at different stages of their
careers.
“I’m 33 and he’s coming through,” said
Harris, adding that Butler is “good on the
back foot, a nice mover. I know what it
takes to win. I don’t think he’s been in
many hard, hard fights and I’ve been in
many.”
Butler has had wins over Craig
Derbyshire and Matt Windle – both a
hard night’s work at domestic level – for
the vacant Commonwealth and vacant
European titles, respectively, and Harris
says he’s been in with better opposition.
Harris has a disputed points win over
Thomas Essomba, now the European
bantamweight champion, and took
rounds off Julio Cesar Martinez in a
challenge for WBC honours four years
ago.
Harris hasn’t lost to domestic
opposition yet and if the suggestion
was stoppage losses to Ricardo Rafael
Sandoval and Hector Flores Calixto
had softened him up, he responded by
outlasting a fresher, bigger opponent in
Frank in front of his Sheffield supporters.
Boxing with a wound over his right eye
from the third, Harris grew into the fight,
repeatedly landed his left hook and
unravelled the Yorkshireman, forcing
towel to come in.
Butler is unlikely to meet Harris in the
centre of the ring the way Frank did. The
likelihood is Harris will have to get on the
front foot more this weekend and he can
keep coming for 12 rounds. Harris has an
impressive engine.
Butler does look like a quality operator
– he boxed in the 2016 World Youth
Championships in Russia – but for us,
Harris has enough left to beat him on
points.
THE VERDICT Seasoning could prove
the difference in an intriguing
crossroads encounter.
TANTALISING:
Harris [right] has
been to the highest
levels of the sport,
but Butler [above]
is a very highly
touted rising talent
36 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
www.boxingnewsonline.net
PREVIEWS
ON HOME TURF:
But Sutton faces the
biggest threat yet to
his unbeaten record
Small hall classic?
Bethnal Green readies itself for
another quality night of domestic
dustups and two Area titles
★★★★★ WHOLE SHOW
TOGETHER AT LAST
Sutton and
Warburton
set to do battle
in British title
eliminator in
Bristol
★★★★★ WHOLE SHOW
THE Sanigars’ show in Bristol on Saturday
night features a pair of 10-rounders,
including an eliminator for the British
middleweight title between Aaron
Sutton and Gerome Warburton.
They were set to meet last June before
Sutton pulled out through illness. It’s a
good fight at The Galleries and there’s
a subplot because Warburton was with
the Sanigars for his first six fights before
joining Kieran Farrell.
Warburton, a 28-year-old southpaw
from Colwyn Bay nicknamed ‘The
Breadmaker,’ has a couple of blemishes
on his 13-1-1 (2) record, both occurring
in Spain. He looked unlucky to only
draw with Jeffrey Rosales over six and
enhanced his reputation in a competitive
points loss to banger Jhon Jader Obregon
in December 2021. Obregon has won all
eight by knockout and, after surviving the
early storm, Warburton started to grow in
confidence and put his punches together.
Harshly docked a point in the fifth for
rabbit punches, Warburton stood and
traded with him until the final bell. In
another ring and without the deduction,
Warburton may have got a draw.
He has won all five since, including
a career-best points win over Morgan
Jones for the vacant Welsh title in May
2022.
Sutton has won Southern Area
honours in his 16-0 (3) pro career.
www.boxingnewsonline.net
The 26-year-old was too strong for
Danny Shannon and stopped him in four
for the vacant belt and made a successful
defence last March, outpointing Liam
Wells by a 98-96 score, claiming the last
round to be sure.
From a kickboxing background,
Sutton has long levers, a good jab and
looks strong at the weight. Sandwiched
in between his two Southern Area title
wins is an eight-round points win over
Colombian veteran Joel Julio, who had
fought at world class a decade earlier.
It’s a hard to pick a winner, but with
Sutton having only faced one southpaw
in his pro career and Warburton looking
a shade tidier and sharper, we go for the
Welshman on points.
In a clash of unbeaten lightweights,
Bristol southpaw Anton Haskins, 9-0
(1), the son of former IBF bantamweight
belt-holder Lee, steps up to 10 rounds
against India’s single-named Lovepreet.
The visitor’s 5-0 (1) record shows
Loverpreet has yet to go past four
rounds, with this being his first bout
outside his home country. He has wins
over a pair of novice left-handers and
looks technically sound, but Haskins is
surely levels above anyone he’s faced.
The long-limbed Haskins has had
things all his own way so far, prodding
and poking away at journeymen and
then letting fast combinations go when
the openings are there. He could stop
Lovepreet in the second half.
THE promoter, the fighters and
Boxing News are agreed that the
top of the bill fight at York Hall on
Saturday night has the makings of a
small hall classic.
Louie O’Doherty and Marley
Mason meet for the vacant Southern
Area lightweight championship on
Mo Prior’s show.
They meet early in their careers
– both are having their sixth fight
– and might have met sooner,
according to Mason, a chatty
24-year-old from Southend who’s
trained by ex-pro Gareth Lawrence.
He claims O’Doherty, 5-0 (1), turned
the fight down three times before
accepting it for the belt.
They were on course to meet
as amateurs, at the 2022 Haringey
Box Cup. Mason lost to Anthony
Malanaphy and O’Doherty and then
beat the Irishman on his way to gold,
adding to the NAC title he’d won a
couple of months earlier.
From Braintree, O’Doherty, a
former gymnast, has boxed under
the radar since turning over with
former amateur coach Gordon
Charlesworth and he suffered a flash
knockdown last time out, against
Miguel Zamora, a Nicaraguan who
had drawn with 2016 Olympian
Muhammad Ali.
On the same night, Mason drew
with Jeff Ofori, the proven North
Londoner. Mason, 4-0-1 (1), was
happy to jump up a level or two
and go toe to toe with the former
Southern Area lightweight champion
in a fight cut from eight rounds to
six after crowd trouble. The referee
scored 57-57.
Former kickboxer Mason is
confident, full of fight and promises
to box smarter this weekend.
Because neither has been past six
rounds, we have no way of knowing
what happens if this goes into the
second half.
We will go for the better-schooled
O’Doherty to pull through.
We still pick Chatham’s Robert
Caswell, 8-0 (2), to outpoint Great
Yarmouth’s Michael Webber-Kane,
11-0 (1), for the vacant Southern
Area super-featherweight title,
as we did when they were first
matched last October.
Credit to Prior and matchmaker
Edward Muscat for this bill, which
looks solidly matched throughout.
There’s also a match between fellow
5-0 prospects Oliver Duffy and Louis
Horn over eight at super-lightweight.
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 37
THAT man hit me so
hard with a left hook,
it felt like my head and
my brain was on fire.
I can’t even explain it.
It messed up all the
vertebrae in my neck,
so after he hit me with
it, I couldn’t turn my head back round. I been
hit hard by some of the best, but I never
been hit like that. That was unbelievable.
38 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
It took me six months before I got my neck
back right and my head facing forward.”
Alfonzo Ratliff’s vivid description of facing
a young Mike Tyson 38 years ago goes a long
way towards explaining his tactics on the night,
which were decried by the commentators
who mocked him for “running”.
His counter: “I don’t hang on other people’s
opinions about me because – would you
have got in the ring with Mike Tyson back
then? Or even now?
“You know what, though? It’s not me
being cocky or anything like that, but if I had
two good hands, Mike Tyson wouldn’t have
beat me.”
That’s not the typical excuse of a sore loser
blaming a defeat on an injury. Ratliff really
didn’t have two good hands – still doesn’t,
and never did throughout his entire boxing
career. It’s something nobody noticed while
he was wearing boxing gloves, but it’s the
first thing I notice when I arrive at his house
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Alfonzo Ratliff
was dealt a bad hand
– literally – before
his boxing career
had even begun.
But he still won a
world title and
fought some of the
best heavyweights
of the ’80s
BY
OLIVER
FENNELL
PAW PATROL:
5DWOL΍FDQPDNHD
ȴVWEXWWKHGDPDJH
WRKLVKDQGLVREYLRXV
ZKHQLWȇVDWUHVW>left]
www.boxingnewsonline.net
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 39
NO HARD FEELINGS:
Tyson embraces a man
he’d almost decapitated
just minutes before
in suburban Chicago and he extends his
right for a handshake: it’s not so much a
hand as a claw.
Yes, he can make a fist with it, but at rest
the hand is crooked; bone jutting out above
the wrist and tendons pulling the fingers
into gnarly positions. Ratliff says it’s been
like that since he was a teenager, when he
intervened in a street fight and got stabbed
in the arm for his troubles, causing the nerve
damage that gave him what would be a
handicap in any circumstances, and a huge
one in a fighting sport – which makes it all
the more bizarre that he didn’t even start
boxing until after that happened.
“I was always a good street fighter, so
when I saw this situation where a guy was
killing a guy, I jumped in,” he says. “I didn’t
know them, but this guy was getting stabbed
up. I was a little tipsy, too. He stabbed me
in the arm and it messed all my nerves up.
That’s how I got this claw hand. I was like 16
or 17, before I started boxing.”
40 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
“I was into basketball back then.
I became world champion in boxing,
but I was a better basketball player
than I was a fighter.
But after I got stabbed
and this happened [the
damage to his hand], I
couldn’t dribble the ball
no more.”
It might not have been
the most obvious switch,
taking a handicapped
hand into a new sport
in which the hands are
just as important as
they are in basketball,
but Ratliff already had
a love for boxing, so to
him the transition came
naturally.
“Back then, we had a black and white
TV,” he says. “I used to watch Sugar Ray
Robinson, Jake La Motta, Muhammad Ali.
Those were my heroes. I said to myself: ‘One
day, I’m gonna do the same things they did.’”
Ratliff may not have hit quite those heights,
but he did win a world championship,
reigning as WBC and lineal cruiserweight
king in 1985, as well as going back and forth
to heavyweight, where he battled several
of the biggest names of the time in a nineyear career in which he had 34 bouts (25
wins) and weighed anything from 186lbs
to 222lbs, against opponents ranging from
177lbs to 239lbs.
Of how this misshapen hand affected
his boxing, Ratliff explains: “My hand hurt
in every fight, and hurt worse afterwards.
My hand had to be specially wrapped, but
even so, the gloves don’t fit; they’re too
small. I was hurting my hand in training,
then fighting with a hurt hand. I’d hit a guy,
and this part would be up like that,” he says,
gesturing to the wrist bones and indicating a
couple of inches. “It would take three or four
months to go down.
“I wasn’t able to manage my ability as a
fighter. Really, I shouldn’t have even been
in the ring. Every time I fought, my hand got
worse. But I loved boxing, so I was willing to
take that pain.
“Getting stabbed was a blessing and
a curse. It was a curse to me because I
wasn’t as good [at boxing] as I could have
been. With two hands, I would have been
devastating. With one hand, I did the best
that I could. But it was a blessing because
I might not have started boxing without it.
Boxing saved my life. It gave me something
to do; a dream to fulfil. It kept me focused.
When you’re not focused, when
you’re on the streets out there,
especially here in Chicago, you
can get into something real
quick. And even though
I was in a handicapped
position, I still became
world champion.”
Another handicap, if it
can be seen as such, was
a mental one. Perhaps in
a subconscious effort to
make up for his damaged
hand, Ratliff says he was
prone to overtraining. “I’m
obsessive,” he says. “If you ask me
to do 10 rounds, I’ll do 200 rounds; I’ll
set out to run five miles
and I’ll run 60 miles. It
does more damage than
it helps. I need someone
to watch me.
“Back then, we didn’t
know about rest days,
we thought you should
just train as much as
you can. I was in a rush,
because I knew my
career wouldn’t last so
long, physically. I was
doing damage to myself
because I was always
overdoing it.”
He blames this for his
first defeat. “Tim Witherspoon was my first
loss [rsf 7 in December 1981]. He was a
heavyweight and I was a cruiserweight, but
TYSON HIT ME SO
HARD WITH A LEFT
HOOK, I COULDN'T
TURN MY HEAD
BACK ROUND FOR
SIX MONTHS''
www.boxingnewsonline.net
it really didn’t make no difference to me.
If I was a flyweight, I still would have tried
it. Heavy or light-heavy, cruiserweight, it
didn’t make no difference. Short, tall, heavy,
skinny; I just wanted to fight.
“I got called up for Witherspoon on the
[Atlantic City] Boardwalk. I ran up and down
that Boardwalk over and over again; I was
running the whole ocean, looking out at
all this water, then going down to run on
the sand. I overdid it; I had nothing left; I
was defeated before the bell. I hate to say
it, but I left everything in that damn ocean.
Sometimes a person can be doing certain
things, but they don’t get the truth until
certain things happen to them.”
Ratliff did manage to curb his enthusiasm
a little, to learn to not simply train hard
but also train smart, in the wake of what
happened against Witherspoon, but always
ranked his conditioning as one of his best
attributes. Still, this calorie-burning work
ethic was perhaps counterproductive to his
ultimate ambition.
“I wanted the heavyweight championship,
but I just couldn’t put on the weight,” he
says. “I never could put no weight on, and I
ate like a pig.”
That didn’t stop him trying
several times to gatecrash
the heavyweight top tier,
though each attempt was
met with defeat, with
Pinklon Thomas (rsf 10,
March 1983), Tyson (rsf
2, September 1986) and
Gary Mason (rsf 6, February
1988) also proving too big
and too strong.
At
cruiserweight,
though, Ratliff was,
as a 6ft 4ins upright
box-fighter with
long arms and fast
feet, a different
proposition. Wins
over the likes of
Elijah Tillery, Craig
Bodzianowski
(twice) and Ricky
Parkey
attest
to
this, and his signature
success came on June 6,
1985, against cruiserweight
great Carlos De Leon, who saw
the second of his four WBC
reigns ended by an inspired
Ratliff.
The Chicago man made the
most of his height and reach
advantages against the favoured
De Leon, his long jabs and
scything hooks and uppercuts
catching the eye as the shorter
champion sought to counter
with speed and volume. While
De Leon was the superior talent
and more experienced operator,
Ratliff’s desire was palpable, and
his endeavour was rewarded
with a split decision after an
entertaining, back-and-forth bout.
“Everybody had all this confidence
in De Leon,” he says. “It was all De
www.boxingnewsonline.net
I'M THINKING ABOUT FIGHTING AGAIN RIGHT NOW.
NO, I'M SERIOUS. IMAGINE ME IN THE RING WITH THESE
YOUNG GUYS? MAN, I'D RUN RIGHT THROUGH 'EM!''
Leon this, De Leon that. I felt in my heart
that if I gave everything to it, stayed focused,
I could do it – and that’s what I did. I did all
the right things a good fighter should do to
win a fight: I trained good, ate good, rested
good and stayed focused.”
Inevitably, a hard fight like that came
at a cost, with Ratliff as usual left nursing
that sore hand, but then having to make an
immediate mandatory defence. Noticeably
lacking the desire he had shown against
De Leon, Ratliff was often outworked by
underdog Bernard Benton and surrendered
the title via unanimous decision, little more
than three months after winning it.
“Benton caught me at the right time,
because I defended my title too fast,” he
says. “I don’t make excuses. Mike Tyson
beat me because he was Mike Tyson.
Nobody else ever done that against
me. But [against Benton] I wasn’t
healed, but they forced me to fight
him. But then I look at it like, if
you’ve got a mandatory fight, you
should give him his chance the way
someone gave you your chance. It was
his turn and I wasn’t going to deny
him the same opportunity I
had.”
Ratliff’s next notable
outing was that painful
night against Tyson,
two months before
‘Iron’ Mike won his
first ‘world’ title,
and from there
he fought on for
another three
years, winning
four and losing
five against a
good level of
opposition at
both cruiser and
heavyweight,
before
finally
bowing out in 1989,
when a knockout
defeat to Lee Roy
Murphy ended his
hopes of returning to
title contention at 33.
“I was just having
physical problems catching
up with me by then,” he
says. “When you’re younger,
you can work through it, but
as you get older, it gets worse.
READY TO RUMBLE:
5DWOL΍DWZDQWVWR
JHWEDFNLQWKHJ\PȂDQG
PD\EHHYHQWKHULQJ
I just wasn’t supposed to be boxing anyway.
If you have any kind of disadvantage going
into that ring, you should think twice. But
sometimes people love something so much,
they have to take a chance. But by then [after
fighting Murphy], I was slowing down, so I
knew to leave it alone.”
Like most ex-fighters, Ratliff knew boxing
would try to tempt him back – and it still
does, even at 68. “I’ve forgotten about it
mostly,” he says. “I worked several jobs
[since retiring from boxing]. I was an
Amtrak mechanic and I worked on the GSK
production line for bottles of medication.
I’ve trained some kids; I still do when I run
across guys who need help, who want me to
show them some different things.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been in the
gym, but I’m thinking about getting back
there. At my age, when you sit down too
much, it’s not good. But I need to be careful
– I’m still compulsive. I don’t move a lot,
because when I start, I don’t stop. If I go out
that door for a run now, you won’t see me
again today.”
And that compulsion manifests right in
front of me, as Ratliff talks about training
and then, with apparent seriousness, about
fighting again.
“I’m thinking about it right now,” he
says. “A lot of these guys coming up, I
could whoop. No, I’m serious. They’re not
conditioned at all. What kind of chance
would they have against someone with my
attitude, my gumption?
“I might not take a punch to the solar
plexus, as I haven’t been doing too much
ab work, and my knees are gone, but I’ve
never had my teeth knocked out, never
had a swollen eye. Boxing costs you a lot of
brain cells, and the way I fought, the guys I
fought, I really should be punch-drunk, so
I’m very, very thankful God sheltered and
protected me.
“I’m a lot more experienced and
knowledgeable now. The older you get,
the smarter you get, but you tell that to
these young guys today, they wouldn’t even
understand it.
“Imagine me in the ring with these young
guys? Man, I’d run right through ‘em!”
Ratliff needn’t be reminded that even in
his athletic prime of 38 years ago a young
guy by the name of Mike Tyson ran right
through him.
“Even now I have problems with my neck;
it came from that punch,” he admits.
As fanciful as it may be for him to talk of
beating today’s young contenders, at least it
shows Ratliff is now able to do something he
couldn’t as a 30-year-old after facing Tyson:
He can look forward. bn
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 41
AMATEURS
AMATEUR SCENE
The very best action, previews and
news from Olympic-style boxing
SEND us your club's news, results or upcoming events to bn.ed@kelsey.co.uk or 01959 541 444
ROT H E R H A M
F E B RUA RY 9
OPES AND GLORY
featherweight
Adam Maca came
through the best
fight of the Youth
Championships in
Rotherham on the
way to winning another title.
Maca, silver medallist at last year’s
World Junior Championship when
representing Albania and the winner
of back to back European Junior titles,
started his bid for more honours at the
Magna Centre with a one-punch KO.
R
Adam wins a
thriller en route
to glory at the
National Youth
Championships
Shay Renwick (North Road) was on
the receiving end of Maca’s right hand
to the jaw. The punch sent him lurching
into the ropes and then crashing to the
canvas. It was waved off instantly. Maca
had dropped Renwick in the opening
10 seconds with a right to the chin and
given him another count later in the
round.
That set up a semi-final against
Jennings southpaw Leighton Birchall,
the 2022 European Junior silver medallist.
Birchall had also taken the short route
to the semis, stopping Abdul Rehman
(Lion) in the second. He had Rehman on
his knees with a body shot in the opener
and then set about him in the second to
force the stoppage.
Maca the cracker
Maca-Birchall promised to be a
memorable bout – and it was. The master
of ceremonies described it as “one epic
contest” afterwards and there was warm
applause for both. Maca edged it on
a 3-2 split by putting more into every
round.
Birchall landed hard singles on the
counter, but was outworked for much
of the fight as Maca stayed in front of
him, from first bell to last, churning out
punches to body and head.
Maca ignored whatever was thrown
back at him and kept punching. He
put everything into every punch in the
last, knocking Birchall on to his heels
with a sweeping right to the chin that
brought gasps from the crowd. Birchall
GOOD BATTLE:
Maca attacks but Smith
[right] is competitive
until the final bell
Photo: ANDY CHUBB/ENGLAND BOXING
42 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
www.boxingnewsonline.net
shipped another right, then tightened
his defences and when he spotted the
opening, he cracked Maca flush with a
southpaw right hook. Maca took it and
kept pumping out punches.
Maca came out for final against Paul
Smith (Rotunda) looking to box – for
two minutes. For the final minute of the
round, they waded into each other. Maca
took a couple before having the final
word, a clobbering right knocking Smith
off balance.
Smith struggled to stay with Maca
in the second and was docked two
points for holding. The spirited Scouser
landed left hooks and Maca responded
by loading up on a huge right that
connected flush, stunning Smith and
leading to an eight count. The bout was
beyond Smith, the son of the former
world title challenger of the sane name,
on the cards, but he kept pushing Maca
until the final bell.
John Tom Varey, the 2022 European
Junior silver medallist, made an early
exit, outpointed unanimously by The
Ring southpaw Mohammed Safari. The
long-levered Safari never strayed far from
the centre of the ring, pecking away with
fast jabs and counters.
Safari was straight down to business in
his semi-final against Declan Wakeman
(Coastal) and gave him a count in the
first before a more competitive second.
Safari went up a gear in the last, handing
Wakeman a count in the opening
seconds after smashing a huge left off his
chin and dishing out another count to
force the stoppage.
Safari had a scare in the semi-finals
when the bigger Harry Hall (Croxteth)
gave him an eight-count in the second
after a perfectly timed right sent him
reeling across the ring and into the ropes.
Safari did most of the scoring after that
to win a unanimous decision.
At 54kgs, Joe Turner, the quality
southpaw from Jennings ABC, was
crowned champion after a second-round
stoppage of Tom Jones (Lions).
The shorter boxer by a couple of
inches, Turner kept his guard tight, got
close and dug in in some hard body
shots before switching orthodox in the
final minute and planting a right on to his
jaw for an eight count.
Jones took the fight to Turner at the
start of the second and clipped him with
a couple of rights. The next time he tried
it, Turner knew it was coming, shifted his
feet and walked Jones on to a clean left
for another count. Turner gave him two
more counts before it was waved off.
There was a surprise when the superheavyweight final went the distance. Leo
Atang (Legions) and Kevin Mascaetta
(Clifton) had both reached the final with
quick wins. Atang, up at 92+kgs only
seven months after winning European
Junior silver at 80kgs, opened up on
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Kaden Lawson (Nxt Generation) in their
quarter-final after shipping a right early
in the second, driving him into a corner
with left hooks to force an eight count
and then sickening him with body shots
to prompt the stoppage.
Atang had a bye in the last four and
watched Mascaetta stop Ethan Mager
(New Welfare) in the second. After an
even opener, Mascaetta found a righthand counter to give Wager a count in the
second and another pinpoint right down
the middle was the finishing punch.
In the final, Mascaetta’s chin didn’t
crack when Atang smashed left hooks
and rights off it and when Atang fell
into a left hook in the second, he barely
blinked and kept unloading heavy shots
to win unanimously.
Others to impress included Aaron
Fletcherman (Technique). He was
crowned champion at 67kgs with a 4-1
split victory over Mason Fury (Rough
and Ready). Shorter by a couple of
inches, Fletcherman was loose around
the shoulders and started landing his jab.
He stepped in behind his punches to give
Fury a count in the dying seconds of the
opener before Fury made the second
closer. Fletcherman was more purposeful
in the last and kept his boxing together
after Fury landed his best punch of the
bout – a long right to the jaw – and
jabbed his way to victory.
Torbay southpaw Boyd Chapman
became his club’s second national
champion this season, outpointing
George Foggin (Benwell Victoria) in the
80kgs Cadet final. Throughout the bout,
Chapman kept his cool when Foggin
unloaded and had the last word with
precise combinations to bring another
title back to Torbay after Jed Baker won
the NABGCs last year.
Ruby Else-White extended her
winning run to 34 bouts with a pair
of wins to take the 48kgs title back to
Sturminster Newton.
Darcy Munday (Wearmouth) looked
disappointed after the 4-1 decision
went against her in the final, but White
had been on the front foot throughout,
making her punches count before a
grandstand closing few seconds when
Munday came down off her toes and
traded with her.
There was good action in the Youth
Cadet category at 54kgs. In the semifinals, Lexi Phillips (Mackenzies)
outpointed Megan Pain (Guildford City)
unanimously after giving her a count
in the second with a right hand, while
Lehanna Smith (Track & Fitness) came
through a gruelling bout against Alysa
Radescu (Chalvedon) with a unanimous
decision. Phillips was too big and strong
in the final, walked through Smith’s left
hands to give her two counts in the first
and the referee stepped in after a fourpunch combination found the target.
Pacquiao
too old for
Olympics
The IOC won’t let 45-year-old
Filipino legend compete in Paris
MANNY PACQUIAO’S hopes of
competing in the Paris Games this
summer have been dashed by the
IOC, who have refused to change
their rules to accommodate the
45-year-old.
The current age limit for boxers at
the Olympics is 40, leaving Pacquiao,
who retired as long ago as 2021,
five years beyond the entry limit.
The IOC told Olympic officials in
the Philippines of their decision on
Sunday.
It’s understood that Pacquiao
hoped the IOC, who raised the
limit from 34 to 40 in 2013, would
consider changing their stance. As a
consequence of the previous change,
Pacquiao was eligible for the 2016
Games but chose not to enter at a
time when he was elected to be a
senator.
Pacquiao, 62-8-2 (38) as a pro,
last fought in the summer of 2021
when he lost to Yordenis Ugas over
12 rounds. He’s not won a fight since
July 2019, when he outpointed Keith
Thurman via split decision.
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 43
YESTERDAY’S HEROES
A proud and honourable man
IN HIS BLOOD:
Dennis Avoth was one
of three celebrated
fighting brothers
Welshman
Dennis Avoth
wore his
national
heavyweight
title with great
pride – he will
be missed
Miles
Templeton
Boxing
historian
X-REFEREE Wynford
Jones, like me an
Area Representative
on the Board of
Control, told me
last week about
the passing,
on December 20, of Dennis Avoth.
According to Wynford, the funeral was
exceptionally well attended.
Dennis was one of three boxing
brothers, with Eddie, British lightheavyweight champion between 1969
and 1971, the best known. Les was a
decent welter and middle in the early
1970s and Dennis became Welsh
heavyweight champion in 1971, a title
he defended twice, before he bowed
out of the game in 1973. Dennis, like his
brothers, was very popular in Cardiff, his
native city, and he will be much missed.
Dennis was an Army Cadet champion
in 1965, the Welsh amateur heavyweight
champion in 1967 and a competitor
in the European Championships later
that same year. He also represented his
country against Holland, France and
Scotland. He turned pro in 1967, signing
up with Eddie Thomas and joining a
stable that included Howard Winstone,
Ken Buchanan and brother Eddie. Carl
Gizzi, from Rhyl, was also under contract
to Thomas and with Roger Tighe, the
stable was not short of heavyweights.
By the end of 1970, with Avoth’s career
E
A PAIR OF BILLYS
Conn and Aird
were worlds apart
but they shared the
same first name
Simon
Euan-Smith
simonoldtimers
@googlemail.com
EBA
correspondent
TWO very different heavyweights called
Billy are featured in articles in the
Scottish EBA’s current newsletter.
American Billy Conn was better-known
as a light-heavy (he won the world title,
and never lost it in the ring) – but in
June 1941 he challenged Joe Louis for
the world heavyweight crown, and very
nearly won it. After 12 rounds he was
ahead on two cards, by three and two
rounds, while the third official had them
level. But in the 13th, to quote the article:
“For some reason Conn had abandoned
his bewildering evasive tactics and his
pesky left jab, which had so frustrated
Louis. Now he was laying down the
gauntlet, challenging Louis to a slugfest,
and Joe was happy to oblige.”
Conn was knocked out two seconds
before the end of the 13th – and a 1946
rematch saw Louis, well ahead on points
44 O BOXING NEWS O FEBRUARY 22, 2024
this time around, prevail in the eighth.
Billy Aird, the ‘Liverpool Lip’ (now
a member of the London EBA, and a
regular at meetings), is interviewed in
depth by author (and fellow member)
Melanie Lloyd. Billy boxed pro from 1969
to 1983, winning 26 and drawing 5 of 46
outings.
Unusually, early in his career Billy
decided to go it alone, without a
manager, and he’s never regretted it.
“I probably did better on my own
than I would have with any managers,
because I always spoke up for myself and
I worked for who I wanted to work with,”
he said.
He won the vacant Central Area title
in 1970, halting perennial rival Richard
Dunn in six rounds (“probably my
favourite fight”) and boxed twice for
the vacant British belt, losing to John L
Gardner (five rounds) and Gordon Ferris
(points).
About the Gardner bout, at the Albert
Hall in October 1978, Billy recalls: “I
put him down in the first round. But
when I came out for the second I could
hardly hold my hands up … I’d opened
a sports shop and a pub … I should have
forgotten about all the other stuff and
just concentrated on the fight, but I
took too much on. When I was going to
the weigh-in, I was worrying about the
sandwiches for the next day.” A salutary
lesson, indeed.
Prior to that, Billy went to Spain to
challenge European champion Alfredo
Evangelista, losing a 15-round decision
which he disputes. (BN editor Harry
Mullan, at ringside, had Billy winning by
two rounds.) “There were three judges, so
that was 45 rounds of boxing, and they
www.boxingnewsonline.net
TRAVELLING CHAMP:
Gizzi defended his
Welsh title in London
showing signs of a stop-start nature, he
had won only 14 of his 29 contests and
was nestling just outside the UK top 10,
Dennis left Thomas to be managed by
his father Jack. The following year, 1971,
turned out to be his most successful in
the game, with five straight wins and the
Welsh title secured, and it wasn’t long
before he was matched with both of his
previous stablemates, Gizzi and Tighe.
While under contract to Thomas,
Dennis twice went in with Bunny
Johnson, future British heavyweight
champion, and he came
out on the wrong end of
two lopsided decisions. A
third fight was therefore
a priority for his Jack, and
after matching his son
with Dartford’s Brian Hall,
a contest that Avoth won
clearly, the two men met
for their rubber match at
Solihull in September 1971. Johnson,
fighting in his hometown, was expected
to win easily but Avoth shocked him by
taking a tight decision after eight rounds
of competitive boxing. Despite having to
weather a tough final round, Avoth kept
busy throughout, always working at close
quarters, to gain his revenge.
This win brought him a contest with
Gizzi for the Welsh title. It says a lot
about the sad state of small hall boxing
at the time that this contest took place
at the World Sporting Club in London,
rather than in Wales. Gizzi was admittedly
on the slide but a man who had been in
with four British heavyweight champions,
and he was expected to win this one.
Dennis had other ideas and after 10
rounds of give-and-take, a controversial
decision went his way. BN reported that
“Avoth, giving away height reach and
nearly eleven pounds in weight, put up
the fight of his life to win. His persistency
was commendable. Gizzi, who boxed for
the British title in 1969, had a terribly
jaded look. Avoth pulled out
everything in a last-round
rally but could only share
the round on our card.” Like
many other observers, BN
thought the decision harsh.
Nevertheless, Dennis went
on to defend his title in 1972
against Del Phillips, once
more in London, and in
1973 against Gene Innocent, this time at
the Top Rank Suite in Swansea.
Avoth worked extremely hard to
win his title against Gizzi and he put
everything into these two defences. He
was a very proud champion. He was
also proud to box on a show in the
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, the day after the
investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969.
Dennis wasn’t the greatest heavyweight
to have come out of Wales, but he was
one of the most respected.
BUNNY WAS
EXPECTED TO
WIN EASILY,
BUT AVOTH
SHOCKED HIM
HIS OWN BOSS:
Billy Aird made a success of being
self-managed at a time when it was
rare for boxers to attempt it
made nearly 30 even. So those ones that
were even, they would have been mine if
the fight had happened back here. I really
believe I would have stopped him back
here. His shorts were up to his chest, like
a bra! I mean, where are you supposed
to hit him when he’s wearing shorts up
to there?”
Another fine ex-boxer from Liverpool,
Johnny Cooke, is featured in the current
Mug’s Alley, the monthly newsletter of the
Merseyside Former Boxers Association.
Cooke lost to the late Brian Curvis in
his first British welterweight title bid –
but when Curvis retired as undefeated
champion, Johnny was matched with
www.boxingnewsonline.net
unbeaten Brian McCaffrey for the vacant
title. And Cooke came through, winning
a thrilling 15-rounder on points. He
followed that up with a clear win over
Shaun Doyle in a title defence (Liverpool
Stadium’s “Graveyard of Champions”
curse didn’t work that time), lost a
European title challenge in Italy to
Carmelo Bossi (later to win a version of
the world light-middleweight crown), and
outscored Guyanese Lennox Beckles for
the vacant Commonwealth belt.
Johnny lost his titles to Ralph Charles
at the Albert Hall in February 1968,
but carried on boxing until late 1971.
His brilliant defensive skills made him
a tough proposition for anyone – in
successive bouts he clearly outpointed
Don Davis and Peter Cragg. Both
were noted punchers, but Cooke was
notoriously hard to tag.
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 O BOXING NEWS O 45
SIXTY SECONDS
TOM WELLAND
Andrew Fairley meets a teenager who’s eager for the duration of rounds to be extended
Photo: BRYN LENNON/GETTY IMAGES
‘I CRIED WHEN
MY LOCAL SHOP
STOPPED SELLING
MY FAVOURITE
SWEETS’
a world-class athlete and can do
anything.
Who would play you in a film of
your life?
Jackie Chan because my friends say
I look like him!
One thing you would change
about professional boxing:
I’d like to fight over longer rounds
so you can work more.
Have you ever been starstruck?
Loads of times, especially when
I spent a Saturday night at the
boxing with Jermain Defoe. This
was so special to me, as I’ve been a
Spurs fan my whole life.
Last time you cried:
Probably about a year ago when
my local supermarket stopped
selling my favourite sweets!
Best advice received:
Being a boxer is a pleasure, but it’s
your job to make weight.
Tell us something not many
people know about you:
Not many people know that I’m
actually left-handed but I box out
of the orthodox stance.
FAST FACTS
When and why you
started boxing:
I started boxing at 13 with the
objective just to get stronger
to help me when I was playing
football for Cambridge Youth
Academy. After my first session
boxing, I didn’t go back to football!
Favourite all-time fighter:
Manny Pacquiao. Being Filipino
myself, he’s a national hero and an
inspiration to everyone.
Best fight you’ve seen:
Nonito Donaire vs Naoya Inoue I.
This fight just had it all!
Personal career highlight:
My best achievement in boxing so
far is travelling to the Philippines
to live and train with the
Olympic squad and represent the
Philippines.
Toughest opponent:
Definitely Yuri Zanoli in my second
professional fight. Everything I
threw at him just didn’t faze him
and he kept coming.
Best and worst attributes as a
boxer:
My boxing IQ, my power and my
accuracy. However, my weakness
is taking shots on the way out of
clinches or exchanges.
Training tip:
Stay consistent and trust the
process. Good things come to those
who wait and keep grafting.
Favourite meal/restaurant:
A good steak. It must be medium
rare.
Best friends in boxing:
Giorgio Visioli. We’ve spent a long
time training alongside each other
as amateurs on the England setup
and at our clubs. We’ve shared many
great rounds and he’s a great lad.
Which other athlete would you
like to be?
Vasily Lomachenko, as he’s just
Age: 19 X: @tomwelland04 Nationality: English/Filipino From:
Wickford, Essex Stance: Orthodox Height 5ft 6ins Record: 2-0 (1)
Division: Super-bantamweight Next fight: Welland is due for his third
professional outing on the Wasserman card in Telford on March 1.
[ NEXT ISSUE ON SALE FEBRUARY 28, 2024 (DIGITAL) AND FEBRUARY 29, 2024 (PRINT) ]
ESTABLISHED 1909 BOXING NEWS iD Sports Media, 105 Mare Street Studios, Mare Street, London, E8 3JS
EMAIL info@idsportsmedia.com DIGITAL & PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS https://help.kelsey.co.uk / +44 (0)1959 543 747 / www.shop.kelsey.co.uk/boxingnews
EDITOR Matt Christie HEAD OF DESIGN Nick Bond ONLINE EDITOR Elliot Worsell SENIOR REPORTER Declan Taylor SUB EDITOR Oliver Fennell REPORTER Shaun Brown DESIGNER Harry Pain
MANAGING DIRECTOR Rob Tebbutt PUBLISHER Oswin Grady SUBS MANAGER Oliver Jones HEAD OF CONTENT Jordan Pollock HEAD OF DIGITAL Ben Farooqi
ADVERTISING keir@360publishing.co.uk PRINTING William Gibbons & Sons Ltd DISTRIBUTION Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT, T: 020 7429 4000,
www.seymour.co.uk; Distribution in Northern Ireland and the Republic Of Ireland – Newspread +353 23 886 3850 PUBLISHED BY iD Sports Media 2023 © all rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden except with permission in writing from the publishers.
On Twitter
@BoxingNewsED
46 O BOXING NEWS OFEBRUARY 22, 2024
Find us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/boxingnewsonline
www.boxingnewsonline.net
BRITISH BOXING
BOA RD OF CONTROL
Silver Table - £1700
. Table of 10 in a
preferred location
IN
A S S O C I AT I O N
WITH
£140
/ £1300 for a table 10
All tickets include a three course meal,
half a bottle of wine and the awards ceremony