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JOSH TAYLOR 16 The Scottish star is crowned the undisputed super- king in

UNMISSABLE HIGHLIGHTS

>> 12 DANIEL DUBOIS 10 >> 4 EDITOR’S LETTER Reflecting on the defeat and The precariousness of undisputed status explaining the changes he has made >> 8 STEVE BUNCE >> 22 BOOK REVIEW A long history of chaos Why Tris Dixon’s Damage is a must-read >> 10 SPENCE vs PACQUIAO >> 24 HEROL GRAHAM A fascinating fight from out of left field A revealing excerpt from Damage >> 14 FURY vs JOSHUA >> 28 DR. NITIN K. SETHI The summer superfight breaks down How boxing can become a ‘safer’ sport >> 20 SAM EGGINGTON >> 36 Carlos Molina is scalped by ‘The Savage’ The esteemed author’s days at BN >> 32 HANEY vs LINARES SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND SAVE 37% A rising star meets a decorated veteran >> 34 OUBAALI vs DONAIRE PAY JUST £9.99 A MONTH. SEE PAGE 48 FOR FULL DETAILS Can ‘The Filipino Flash’ pull this one off? Visit SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/BXN21 >> 44 BOXING CENTURIONS Celebrating the Brits in the ‘100 club’

>> 46 MIRIAM GUTIÉRREZ A woman who is fighting the good fight

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 3 EDITOR’S LETTER

Photo: DAVID BECKER/GETTY IMAGES TRIUMPH: Taylor with his Time to title belts subscribe l THERE are numerous ways to subscribe, including special offers.

l YOU can get a print and online Cover photography MIKEY WILLIAMS/ subscription for £9.99 per month, or digital only for just £4.99 per month.

l FOR more information on all the THERE CAN BE NO DISPUTE subscriptions plus our special Taylor has proved himself to be need the sanctioning bodies to tell us. We situation and recognise Teofimo Lopez bookazines, know that because the two best fighters as lightweight king – to be regarded an please visit the best on the planet, do not in the division had a fight that crowned ‘undisputed’ champion is nothing short of www.shop. let the sanctioning bodies tell a king. That was not because of the shameful. kelsey.co.uk sanctioning bodies, it was in spite of them. Again, Taylor deserves immense or call 01959- you otherwise in the future Imagine if Taylor fights Jack Catterall, credit for what he has achieved in 18 543-747. his WBO mandatory, in a homecoming fights. He has shirked no challenge and bonanza but one of the IBF, WBA or in his three biggest fights – against the l THE next issue OSH TAYLOR is the WBC decide to strip him because he’s revered Ramirez, Regis Prograis and will be in shops world’s best fighter not fighting their mandatory. Or he fights Ivan Baranchyk – his opponents came on June 3 and in his . someone other than Catterall and the defending unbeaten records as well as available to Not many boxers WBO strip him. titles. To be clear, winning all four belts download on J in the current era Bernard Hopkins, after a gruelling is secondary to beating all of his closest June 1. have been able to road to gaining ‘undisputed’ status, rivals. Yet the fact we will almost certainly make such a claim. defended all four belts for see the championship fractured within the The For that reason the second time against Jermain Taylor in next 12 months, regardless of what Taylor Opening alone, what Taylor 2005. But after losing on points, in a very does next, is preposterous when you really Bell... has achieved must tight bout, only three of the four titles think about it and the work involved to be regarded as truly were on the line in the rematch. Taylor get here. l THE BN remarkable. would eventually lose to Kelly Pavlik There was a time when the words podcast has The word who in turn would be beaten by Sergio undisputed and champion were not been described ‘undisputed’ has Martinez. Taylor, Pavlik and Martinez as mutually exclusive in boxing as they as the ‘most Matt impartial and Christie been used a lot in were each exceptional challengers yet are today. And nor should they be. The recent days and the sanctioning bodies didn’t see it that Oxford definition of champion is ‘a person informative @MattCBoxingNews Taylor’s feat is indeed way: By the time Martinez was champ who has surpassed all rivals in a sporting podcast around.’ Editor a huge one. But the in 2010, five years after Hopkins fixed contest or other competition’ whereas There is at least precariousness of a title perceived to have been broken undisputed means ‘not disputed or one new episode that status in the modern boxing era was since Sugar Ray Leonard defeated called in question; accepted.’ Therefore, every week to highlighted on BBC 5 Live when Mike Marvin Hagler in 1987, his claim to the every champion, by definition, should enjoy. be undisputed. The WBA, IBF, WBC and Costello and Steve Bunce warned that throne was only recognised by the WBC. l IN the last WBA each serve a purpose but until Taylor may not be the ‘undisputed’ super- The other three bodies defied all logic two weeks the industry collectively realises those lightweight champion in his next fight. and sound thinking by creating extra we’ve produced purposes are rooted in greed and short- The reasons for that are two-fold: one, he ‘champions’ who did not merit that status. four podcasts term thinking, the sport will always be may decide to rise in weight in his next In turn, the industry blindly recognised with behind marginalised, at least to a degree. bout and two, the real sickener, retaining those other titlists too and only the scenes What we have in Josh Taylor, should ‘undisputed’ championships is even harder heightened the problem in the process. interviews and he stick around at 140lbs and invite than winning them. Yes, we absolutely must applaud Josh’s immediate big- challengers to face him, is an undisputed That sheer impossibility of keeping all victory over Jose Ramirez, previously fight analysis. four organisations happy for longer than number two at super-lightweight to his champion. A clean slate, if you will. And a fight or two should highlight why this number one, but to get too caught up there should be no dispute over his claim l Listen (& rate notion of ‘undisputed’ is not quite the with unifying all four titles only empowers until he leaves the division or loses a fight, & subscribe) via promised land it’s often made out to be. the sanctioning bodies when it’s their regardless of what the sanctioning bodies Apple, Spotify There is indeed something magical about policies that are the root of the problems may say. and all major a fighter proving they’re truly the best on at the very top. That Taylor is just the platforms. Follow us and keep up to date the planet but now Taylor has done that fifth male boxer since 1988 – or the sixth, (by beating his closest rivals), we don’t if we ignore the daft WBC Franchise @BoxingNewsED BoxingNewsOnline

4 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net GUEST COLUMN

‘DISRESPECTFUL TO REAL FIGHTERS’ I understand why Showtime have signed Jake Paul but it’s distasteful to the sport as we know it

Photo: AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES/TRILLER

EXPOSURE: Paul hogs the limelight again

T is clear why of these people, who are sadly under as legitimate competition. Yet Paul For me, someone who is active Showtime have the impression that this is all legit, is fighting in real gloves and fighting on social media and who takes signed Jake Paul will actually turn around and become under the same rules as those who pride in the history of our sport, one on a multi-fight true boxing fans. For now there are have been doing it all their lives. of the worst things about dealing I deal. They are different kinds of fans, and a lot of These are the same commissions with all of this is that I am forced to not boxing them, who actually believe guys like who allowed a virtual novice in encounter people who rank Jake Paul people, they are Jake could beat guys like Errol Spence boxing, Conor McGregor, to fight one somewhere in the top 15 pound-for- entertainment or Floyd Mayweather. Within boxing, of the greatest fighters of all time, pound in the world already. It should people. But the we know it’s bogus, we know this is Floyd Mayweather, in an officially be laughable but I struggle to raise fact is there are not the real thing. For our own sanity sanctioned fight. We thought that even a smile at the level of insanity only a limited we have to separate these circus acts farce was the end. It was just the out there. amount of from the real fighters. beginning, it seems. Many people are going to boxing shows But as a guy who has been in The fact is it could never happen see Paul’s success and end up each year and a boxing my whole life, and recognised in baseball because a novice player even further removed from the John limited budget the struggles many endured just to cannot choose who pitches to him knowledge and understanding of Scully to stage events. get a step on the ladder, I feel like it so when he had to face a real live what real fighters actually have to go Former world To turn it all is all very disrespectful to those real major league baseball pitcher he through in order to reach anything title challenger into a sideshow fighters. Guys like Scottie Pemberton, would get annihilated at the plate. In approaching similar levels of fame and take for example, who had to endure an boxing, though, they can manoeuvre and financial success. There are opportunities and income away from career and then deal and protect a guy like Jake Paul just quite a few fighters in the world guys who are really struggling to feed with several setbacks before engaging long enough to fool a bunch of today who would line up 10 deep their families through the only means in two slugfests with Omar Shieka just people into thinking it’s all real and, in a gym somewhere for a crack most of them know, well, it’s a tough to put himself in a position to fight as a result, pay even more money to at sparring a YouTube fighter and pill to swallow. Jeff Lacy for the IBF title and make a watch him compete. In other sports showing him what real boxing is. It remains to be seen if it is true career-high $100,000 dollar payday. they would have no choice but to get Behind all the fanfare and publicity that millions of people watching Jake People like Jake Paul are able exposed immediately. Perhaps there’s and manipulation of minds, boxing Paul-type events will result in more to infiltrate our sport because the some comfort we can take from that is still one of the toughest and most people watching real boxing and commissions allow them to. No other because against real opponents and unforgiving trades on the planet, therefore create more opportunities sport would throw a complete novice in real competition, Jake Paul would regardless of what the YouTube for everyone. I don’t know how many on the field of play and dress it up get badly hurt. generation are being led to believe.

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 5 ON TWITTER ON FACEBOOK LETTERS @BoxingNewsED www.facebook.com/boxingnewsonline

LETTER OF THE WEEK WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS

BEFORE Josh Taylor’s historic MISSED OPPORTUNITY but thankfully Taylor got the nod, even win over Jose Ramirez, there WOW, what a great performance by if the scorecards were closer than they was talk about Taylor potentially Josh Taylor. And, it has to be said, by should’ve been, in my opinion. being the victim of a ‘hometown decision’ Jose Ramirez too. That’s how two guys Taylor is now the pride of Scotland. against the American fighter in Las Vegas. put it all on the line. Let’s hope that both He can deservedly stand alongside the Fortunately for Taylor, the craziness of and ’s teams Scottish boxing greats like . Vegas judging had already passed on were watching. Well done, Josh. Enjoy your history- the undercard. The judges in Vegas Even more so, let’s hope that those in making moment and have a well-earned have produced some simply mystifying charge of sport at the BBC, ITV or any rest. scorecards down the years, and it was no other major free TV channel in the UK Patch Hammond different on the Taylor-Ramirez bill. This were watching. Shame on them for not time the victim was Ramirez’s stablemate, buying the rights to show this fight. There HEAVY WEATHER FORECAST Luis Coria. The unfortunate Coria scored is a huge audience for big fights like this IT’S no surprise that is two knockdowns, while his opponent, and the mainstream TV channels have a natural artist, as he has KO Jose Enrique Vivas, was also deducted a missed out. rooted in his name. The rangy Okolie’s point. Despite Coria seemingly being in Chris Strange God-given combination of power, speed control, Vivas was given the victory. It is and timing cannot be taught. With his not the first time that Coria has been on SUPER SCOT huge frame, 6ft 5in height, 83in reach the wrong side of the Vegas judges. In WHAT a fantastic display it was from Josh and exuberant personality, the WBO October last year, Robson Conceição was Taylor in defeating Jose Ramirez. Taylor title-holder could well awarded a questionable decision against looked in control and even dropped prove to be a dominant force, and a truly Coria. Luis would be forgiven for not Ramirez twice – the for the exciting presence, in the heavyweight YOU BEAUTY! wanting to go back to Vegas for a while. second knockdown was superb. Ramirez, division in the future. Taylor rejoices after monumental James Ingleby as tough as he is, went , Gavin Littaur success

Photo: DAVID BECKER/GETTY IMAGES

6 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net ON INSTAGRAM EMAIL POST boxingnewsonline [email protected] Boxing News Letters, Kelsey Media, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 6AL

10 COUNT

THE PANEL SOUTH AMERICAN ACES WHAT SHOULD JOSH TAYLOR’S The current top 10 pro fighters hailing from South America 1. BRIAN CASTANO NEXT MOVE BE? Stocky super- Castano currently holds the WBO title. On July 17, the Argentine will get the chance to become the undisputed champion at 154lbs when he fights Jermell Charlo for all four sanctioning body belts.

2. ROGER GUTIERREZ One of the most improved boxers around, Gutierrez is a Venezuelan super- who has won six bouts on the spin. Last time out in January, he upset Rene Alvarado, who had beaten him three-and-a-half years previously. Kalle Chris Darren Paul Sauerland McKenna Barker Ready 3. JORGE LINARES Leading Sports Former IBF Boxing An esteemed Venezuelan veteran who has collected Promoter reporter titlist manager titles at featherweight (WBC), super-featherweight (WBA) and lightweight (WBC and WBA), Linares takes He’s conquered He has mentioned Move up to welter I think he on 135lb starlet Devin Haney this Saturday (May 29). the world, he’s Castle and fight Terence should have that unified the and Easter Road. Crawford. It’s the homecoming 4. CARLOS GONGORA division. He went I’m not sure biggest fight out fight against Jack Sharpshooting southpaw Gongora has been making into the WBSS as if there’s time there for him. I’d Catterall then waves in the super-middleweight division of late. The a contender, came to get a fight just steam into the Teofimo Lopez. Ecuadorian is coming off a pair of knockout victories out a champion, on there this big ‘uns. Why not? There’s a bit of a over Ali Akhmedov and Christopher Pearson. went on to capture summer but him You could say that clamour for him the last belts. He’s vs Jack Catterall it’s too soon but to go up. I think 5. OSCAR ESCANDON got a mandatory - Scotland vs he’s flying. I’m all stay at 140lbs, the The experienced Escandon halted a sequence of three defence then he’ll - up in for that, straight are inside-schedule losses by knocking out the touted Jhack be looking for Scotland would be in. His confidence going to come up. Tepora in December 2019. The Colombian featherweight those big US pay- great. If he wins is as high as it Sit tight, you’re triumphed in a mere 90 seconds. per-view names, then a huge fight could be. He’ll feel the king of the like Terence in Las Vegas next he’s invincible and division they’re 6. OSCAR RIVAS Most known for stopping and Crawford and year so his fans that’s the mindset all going to want pushing hard in a losing effort (both in maybe even a get a trip after you need going to fight you. So 2019), Colombia’s Rivas has swapped his status as a legacy fight with they missed out into a fight like keep that target heavyweight contender for a run at the WBC’s inaugural Pacquiao. last weekend. that. Why wait? on your back. bridgerweight strap.

7. ELEIDER ALVAREZ DO YOU THINK JOSHUA AND Another Colombian on the list, seasoned light- heavyweight Alvarez KO’d Sergey Kovalev to win FURY WILL EVER FIGHT? the WBO belt in August 2018, but was defeated in a rematch six months later. He was stopped by Joe Smith Kalle Chris Darren Paul Jnr nine months ago. Sauerland McKenna Barker Ready I’m sure they will Fury will be When they’ve got You’ve got two 8. PATRICK TEIXEIRA still fight. I just favourite to beat that much money additional hurdles. A gutsy and spirited Brazilian portsider, Teixeira is a think it’s the fight Wilder again but on the line, surely Fury should former WBO super-welterweight titlist who scored a that captures the American still it’s got to happen. beat Wilder. career-best victory over Carlos Adames in November everyone’s has that equaliser The worry is that Joshua-Usyk, the 2019. He lost his title to Brian Castano in February. attention inside in his right hand. it’s heavyweight mandatory, I am and outside of the Joshua against boxing, anything a bit of a fan of 9. FERNANDO MARTINEZ Martinez ventured out of his native Argentina in boxing world. It’s Usyk is a great fight can happen. I’d it happening. December 2019 to face Athenkosi Dumezweni on the a crossover fight, and not easy for like to think that There is a bit of South African’s home turf. The visiting super- it’s the biggest the Brit. Don’t be Fury can get past talk about Joshua- made his mark by securing a fine stoppage win. heavyweight shocked if you see Wilder in similar Dillian Whyte. fight in decades. Joshua vs Whyte fashion to the You’ve just got to 10. ESQUIVA FALCAO It draws huge instead, though. second fight. If it’s hope that one of It has been a case of slow and steady for middleweight numbers and it’s If both Fury and Usyk for ‘AJ’, it’s a them doesn’t lose. Falcao in the pro ranks. He upped his level of opposition the move they Joshua win, don’t very tricky fight I think it’ll happen, in February when he took on Artur Akavov, with the both clearly want get injured, then I but I’d like to think within the next Brazilian left-hander winning after just four rounds. to make. expect to see the he wins. Then we 18 months they’ll fight in December. have the big one. fight each other.

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 7 THE BUNCE DIARIES COULD BE WORSE…

The Joshua-Fury chaos is hippy spiritualist. They were all messy against Frazier in 1972. It was just a endings, nasty and they were bad fights. year after the Fight of the Century and nothing compared to other One night in Moscow in 2006, at a it’s hard to believe they took place in comedies the heavyweight time when held two the same decade as the heavyweight belts and had one, Peter division’s most iconic fights. division has staged in years Okello of Kampala fought Oleg Maskaev After a long, long rest, Frazier stopped gone by for the WBC title. How? Big Oleg had Terry Daniels and Ron Stander in a busy stopped for the title and few months. The dream, by Frazier’s would lose it to Samuel Peter in 2008. team, was that would TOP moaning about This was all just a few years ago, not just vanish, start wrestling grizzly bears lost heavyweight a fight from the days of shame when for fun, get arrested for eating car or fights, please. black fighters could not get a shot or the something sinister would happen to Instead, consider days when paranoid managers simply him. S for a minute all ignored anybody with a pulse or the So, against the menacing backdrop the years when there was simply no desire of Foreman prowling angrily and calling who have been to let good fighters fulfil their dreams. for a Frazier fight, Daniels and Stander ignored, forgotten As an aside, Rahman’s rambling, walking, against Frazier are truly mystifying. Both and rejected by talking sham of a fight to Alexander Daniels and Stander were tough men, champions. And all Povetkin for the WBA title in 2012 is brave, limited and fought dozens of the men with no high on my toxic chart. really hard and seasoned heavyweights right to be in a fight Anyway, Okello, who was known as during their careers. They are the for the heavyweight The Letter O, was fresh from a win over antithesis of the cotton-wool gang Steve championship of Big Bob Mirovic; the same Bob Mirovic now; the sport could really do with a Bunce the world. who beat Joe Bugner once and was few more hardened fighters like these @BigDaddyBunce The chaos of last blasted by Matt Skelton at York Hall. At two. They never said no, won and Voice of boxing week’s arbitration the time, Scott Gammer was the British lost, got knocked out, got on the beer, knockout would heavyweight champion and I would fought again for State titles, a bit of struggle to make have backed him heavily against The pride and a few bucks. They finished my top 20 comedies, injustices and just Letter O. their careers losing a combined 51 outright acts of larceny in heavyweight , the big Italian times, including 23 by knockout, elbow, championship history. fighting hero, was the first WBO submission, loss of blood and any other Just a few hours before the news that champion, beating South Africa’s Jonny of the legal methods used in victory Tyson Fury had been ordered to fight Du Plooy in 1989, which was not a great by heavyweights in boxing’s dirty a third time, there was fight. Du Plooy had been stopped by an backwaters. the latest abomination from the WBA ancient Renaldo Snipes a few months In 1975 Stander met Daniels – no with the Lovejoy and Manny Charr earlier. Damiani would get blasted by WBC belt, which is a pity – and the fiasco in Cologne. Ian McShane would in 1991 and lose the title, Battle of the Bad Challengers finished have been a better challenger than that but not before he tangled with the pride in the first with Stander as the King. Lovejoy. of Argentina, Daniel Eduardo Neto. A decade after fighting Frazier for the Where to start, where to end with any Neto was a cruiser and it lasted just world title, Stander lost on the pirate compilation of heavyweight craziness? 64 seconds of the second round. Big circuit in to Roy Shaw. I guess it It’s not just a list of infamy, packed with Franco still looked like a Fifties film star, was pretty. undeserving, unknown and outclassed a bruising matinee idol with his wild Owen Beck losing to Nikolai boxers suddenly finding themselves in hair and open-neck shirt. I bet there was Valuev for the WBA title in 2006 is a a truly alien and hostile place. Many some party that night. contender. Ruslan Chagaev beating the no-hopers have gone down swinging, Sticking with the WBO: How about fighting pride of Costa Rica, Carl Davis having grabbed their chance with both Razvan Cojanu of Romanian? Wow, Drumond, in 2009 for the WBA belt is fists. We have the Rocky franchise for a he went 12 rounds with another contender. Before the Chagaev reason. in 2017. Herbie Hide had a couple of mismatch, Drumond was unbeaten in Tom McNeeley dropped eleven beauties in the late Nineties. Hide also 26, comic testimony to the power of times against Floyd Patterson in 1961, had two horrible hidings for the WBO matchmaking; Beck, once of Brendan Dave Zyglewicz against done in those early days and the beatings Ingle’s gym in , had lost twice in just 96 seconds in 1969 and either against and Vitali Klitschko but had wins over Luke Simpkin of Jean Pierre Coopman or Richard Dunn only add to Hide’s enigma. It was at Swadlincote and Mike Middleton. Yep, against both in 1976. about this time that simply that Mike, the man who interrupted his Not a prayer, but they each arrived in refused to accept the WBO title as career as an undercover security guard new shorts, with their loved ones, their legitimate. I think he was wrong, but I - he dressed as Mickey Mouse at Disney dreams, a magician in Dunn’s case and can see what he meant. World - to fight Audley Harrison one they went out, from the opening bell, I will take against night in 2001. like the small-town heroes they were. Anthony Joshua, thank you. So, moan if you like, but it’s really not I think Coopman had a Sharman with It was not just the WBO, look at the that bad and December will be here him, or was working with some type of duo the WBA and WBC sanctioned soon enough. Yeah, right.

8 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net Photo: HERB SCHARFMAN/SPORTS IMAGERY/GETTY IMAGES

UNDESERVING: Coopman is bashed up by the great Ali

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 9 BOXING MEDIA REVIEW Examining the best and worst of the sport’s weekly coverage PACQUIAO SHOWS UP THE Y Even at 42, As the days clicked past, it became to give ‘AJ’ nightmares, but questions WEBSITES clearer and clearer that Anthony Joshua remain over how his skills have Manny is still vs Tyson Fury is, for now, dead. As us transferred to heavyweights, particularly JUST as boxing lost one superfight, it seeking out boxing fans tend to do, we then picked against giants like Joshua. gained one it never knew it needed. Out the toughest over the carcass, trying to harvest According to Usyk’s manager, of nowhere, Manny Pacquiao announced whatever we could. Wembley Stadium is in play to host the that he will fight the undefeated Errol fights as he It now seems like we have two fights fight in August, despite the stadium Spence Jnr on August 21. He later signs to fight that will come out of this mess; Fury’s being ruled out as a venue for a potential confirmed the news to The Athletic. trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder and Joshua-Fury clash in the same month. Now 42 and having not fought in two Errol Spence Joshua’s mandatory title defence against The point is, there are two silver years, Pacquiao will be taking on the best Jnr in August, former undisputed cruiserweight king linings to the cloud which rained all fighter at 147lbs and one of the best in writes George Oleksandr Usyk. over the Joshua-Fury parade. What’s the world; if he hadn’t already solidified Those are both really more is that Fury and his his legendary status, this would do it. Gigney good fights, but in handlers have claimed The world was hoping for Spence to the nuclear winter of MANNY they still plan to face meet the other top contender for the Joshua-Fury no longer Joshua in the last few welterweight throne, Terence Crawford, happening, they’re seen PACQUIAO’S months of 2021, meaning but the sport - as it so often does - got as measly commiseration the fight isn’t completely in its own way. There was then talk of prizes. According to LEGACY IS obliterated. They would Crawford finally fighting Pacquiao (an various reports, and Tyson BEYOND both need to win their idea first floated years ago) but that too himself, both Fury and next bouts, but both will failed to materialise. So, ‘Pacman’ went Wilder have signed to DOUBT NOW enter them as betting one better and made a beeline for a man fight each other with a favourites. no one expected him to face at this stage mooted date of July 24 in If they were able to of his career. Las Vegas. sort a deal this time around (though it Pacquiao’s legacy is beyond doubt If that’s the case, both men and the did take an excruciatingly long time), now, and he further added to it when broadcasters involved have a quick logic suggests they’ll be able to do so he outpointed Keith Thurman in his last turnaround. It is, also, a really interesting again later in the year, provided there outing. Most fans figured the Filipino clash. Fury is the deserved favourite, but aren’t any curveballs in court from icon - who still serves as a senator in his Wilder’s otherworldly power means he former opponents. There is hope yet. home country - would perform a victory is always dangerous. However, he was Perhaps the most worrying sign that lap in big-money, relatively low-risk fights clearly affected by his stoppage loss to boxing is eating itself from the inside out before riding off into the sunset, but he Fury and with a revamped training team, was when ESPN confirmed the news that clearly has other plans. it remains to be seen if this pony can add Showtime Boxing have signed YouTuber Even at this late stage of his career, to its devastating one trick. Jake Paul to a multi-fight deal for an Pacquiao is proving himself one of a very STEPPING IN: Joshua-Usyk is equally as intriguing. undisclosed sum. Usyk may fight select few in boxing who actively seek out Joshua instead of The unbeaten Ukrainian looked Details of the agreement remain a the toughest challenges. Others in this Fury imperious at 200lbs and has the style mystery, as does the thinking behind esteemed group include Canelo Alvarez, the decision. The broadcasting giant Vasiliy Lomachenko and, most recently, rarely offers deals to individual fighters; Josh Taylor. The sport would be in a much the main two in recent years being healthier place if more fighters had this Floyd Mayweather and Joshua. To add urge, and had the freedom to act on it. someone like Paul to that list is a kick in Going back to Crawford and his the teeth for fighters across the planet. ongoing pursuit of a big fight, Shawn Yes, the 24-year-old clearly generates Porter was the latest potential opponent a lot of revenue, but with this move to signal a breakdown in negotiations. Showtime are now fully giving him and Speaking to Boxing Social, the former his legions of troglodyte fans to call what welterweight champion explained how he does actual, legitimate boxing. talks simply stopped with Crawford’s side, Over the past few months, many though intimated that this was because active fighters have been asked their Terence was holding out for a “big fight” views on the Paul brothers’ involvement instead. in boxing. Most have avoided It’s getting to a stage now - or perhaps condemning it, and part of the reason we’re already there - where serious is that the fighters being asked are questions need to be raised about what successful ones - they already earn a Crawford’s future looks like. He’s failed to lot from the sport. Were those same really move the needle since moving to questions put to lesser-known fighters welterweight after becoming undisputed toiling day-in-day-out to earn a spot on champion at 140lbs, and the truly big a Showtime, ESPN, DAZN, fights at this new weight seem out of or BT Sport show, they would give very his reach. different answers.

10 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net O SHOWS UP THE YOUNGSTERS Photo: CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES

TAKING AIM: Pacquiao still looks to fight the best by taking on Errol Spence

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 11 Highlighting the best NEWS AND OPINION of the week’s stories WWW.BOXINGNEWSONLINE.NET

STARTING OVER: Dubois is impressed with new coach McGuigan

12 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net ‘I know I’m not a quitter’

T wasn’t supposed Ahead of after his fight with Billy Joe Saunders [v ready to move on again. to be this way for Canelo Alvarez] and he sent me a text “Already I feel a different fighter. I’m Daniel Dubois. He his June 5 saying he had other commitments and not in the same stale mode I was before. wasn’t supposed to comeback, couldn’t train me no more,” Dubois I was going nowhere and hitting my head I be coming back from Daniel explained. “I thought, ‘Alright, that’s fine against the wall, it felt like. But now I feel a loss this early in his then.’ Going back before this, even before like I’m progressing again.” career, recovering Dubois opens I met Mark Tibbs, Shane McGuigan was The nonsensical title aside, Romania’s from a broken eye socket, nor going from up about the training my sister Caroline, preparing her Dinu, 20-2 (16), would appear the perfect trainer to trainer after making the Peacock for her Olympic journey. I saw him doing opponent at this stage. He has a ‘name’ Gym his second home. But Joe Joyce came loss to Joe some good work with her and she was of sorts but his limitations were exposed along at the end of last year and changed Joyce, the looking really good in the gym. I thought, in step-up outings against everything when he defeated Dubois subsequent ‘I want to try this guy out.’ But we went to (2018) and (2019) and, at 34, in their eagerly-awaited and punishing Jimmy and Mark Tibbs and it didn’t work he’s the older man by 11 years. showdown. decisions out. So here we are, back again. “I have seen a little bit [of Dinu],” Dubois The fallout from that defeat was vast. he made as “Shane brings a lot of youth, energy says. “He’s a standard boxer, he’s not that Dubois, blind in one eye as the skin and wisdom with his dad being one of the good nor that terrible. I’ve heard people surrounding his left optic ballooned, he twice legendary icons in the say he hasn’t got the took a knee in the 10th round and then changed sport, Barry McGuigan. ‘TITLES ARE strongest of hearts. I think the full count. He was labelled a quitter trainers and Some of that has passed I can break his will and by fighters and fans. That unbeaten, down to his son. I think FLYING ABOUT push through.” thunderous punching heir to the throne that odd that will help massively.” Dubois’ own will has was gone in an instant. interim title Dubois doesn’t like LIKE CRAZY. been tested in the last 12 Out went Martin Bowers as his head looking back to the night THERE’S months. He admits the coach, in came Mark Tibbs, before Shane that’s on the he lost to Joyce though loss to Joyce triggered McGuigan was drafted in when that initial line against he’s optimistic that ALWAYS A BELT a difficult time but he switch didn’t work out. On June 5, in a Bogdan Dinu, loss – his only defeat in did not consider walking bout that comes with the spurious WBA a 16-fight professional ON THE LINE’ away from the sport. In Interim belt attached to it, Dubois returns writes Matt career – will prove the end, now his injury to the ring against Bogdan Dinu inside Christie pivotal, in a good way. When pressed on has completely healed, it’s a fight that will the Telford International Centre. It will be the contest and asked when he could improve his career and not define it. brodcast by BT Sport. feel the fight away, Dubois said: “It’s been a learning experience about “Titles are flying about like crazy, “I didn’t. But I knew it was a hard fight, it myself,” he admits. “I know I’m strong there’s always a belt on the line isn’t was gruelling, it was give and take where enough to come back. there?” Dubois told Boxing News when no one was dominant or in front. It was “Sometimes you have to make some asked about the title on the line. “I wasn’t just one of those things. It’s frustrating hard decisions that you might not feel surprised but I’m glad to be fighting for now, I could have done some things comfortable with at first but in the long something again. It’s extra motivation.” better.” run they turn out alright. The biggest motivation, though, is to Like gaining more experience and “The end goal is still to be up there prove everyone wrong. seasoning beforehand? with the big names and fighting in the “I don’t really read the news and the “Probably. I could have had some better big events. All of this will improve me. It’s social media platforms anyway and after fights and better tests to prepare me. But different for everyone but for me, this is that fight I stayed away from it more so,” I went along with it. That’s the way it was how the script was written. It’s the way it Dubois said about the criticism that came but I don’t want to look back now. I’m was meant to be.” his way. “I just let it wash over my head. I’m ready to show all those guys that CRUSHING LOSS: I’m for real now, that I really have made Dubois takes the improvements and I’m going to come full count Photo: JULIAN FINNEY/ again and come stronger. GETTY IMAGES “It’s boxing. I’m used to being called worse things than a quitter. I know I’m not a quitter. In my mind I was just waiting to see what would be the next move. I wasn’t down for long, I picked myself up. I was anxious and hoping that I healed properly. I took the necessary time out to make some decisions.” Those decisions, which he came to after sitting down with his immediate family, included moving away from Bowers to Tibbs then settling with the McGuigans, where he has been for the last two weeks. “We only did one session with Mark Tibbs after he came back from America

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 13 Highlighting the best NEWS AND OPINION of the week’s stories WWW.BOXINGNEWSONLINE.NET

FORGETPhoto: HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES ABOUT AJ-FURY fight in boxing, much to the frustration of PLAY IT AGAIN: Eddie Hearn, particularly as Matchroom’s Fury and Wilder will current promotional deal with Joshua fight for a third only has one fight left to run. time in July That Fury-Wilder III has already been signed and sealed in a quick turnaround might speak of Top Rank investing a lot of time in this supposed fall-back option. There is some truth in that but the finer details were agreed ahead of their rematch and those same terms remain. So what next for Joshua? The WBO were quick to publish an open letter to Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, on Wednesday last week (May 19) that stated plans to stage a fight between their top two contenders Oleksandr Usyk and Joe Joyce for the Interim title will cease. Instead, Hearn and Joshua had 48 hours to open negotiations with Usyk. Joyce, meanwhile, is in line to take the Ukrainian’s position as the WBO mandatory once Joshua and Usyk have concluded their business. That bout is now being negotiated for this summer with dates of August 21 and August 28 reported to be in play and Wembley Stadium a potential host. Should those negotiations fail (surely not!) then Dillian Whyte is an easy fight to make. Andy Ruiz Jnr and have also been muted. In truth, Joshua-Usyk and Fury-Wilder III are appealing bouts. But one hopes Tyson will fight ANY hope of Anthony Joshua and the contract. It remains unthinkable that that the next set of contracts are drawn Wilder in July Tyson Fury fighting in a this such an obstacle was essentially brushed with a resolution to this whole saga in summer, as opposed to just squabbling under the carpet but BN has been told mind. All parties are thought to be in while Joshua on social media, faded completely last that Fury’s US promoter had agreement that Joshua-Fury will take looks set for week. Fury will fight Deontay Wilder been assured by his lawyer that winning place in December. Saudi Arabia are still Usyk in August for the third time on July 24 in Las Vegas the case was a formality. In turn, Arum keen to host. By then, travel restrictions following a while Joshua is in talks with Oleksandr assured everyone else of that formality. will hopefully have been lifted and the Usyk after the WBO demanded terms to The problem remained that the opposing searing temperatures in the Middle complete be finalised before the end of May. lawyer was just as confident and with East will be more suited to staging a breakdown in After news broke (May 17) of the court good reason: The worldwide pandemic heavyweight boxing match outdoors than communication, case ruling that Wilder was legally entitled meant that the original they would have been in Matt to a trilogy fight with Fury, “AJ” and dates to stage Fury- the summer. But given writes Tyson engaged in some back and forth Wilder III (written into the ‘BRING ME the mud that is currently Christie on Twitter. Joshua effectively told Fury contract of Fury-Wilder II) flying – not only between to get his house in order (‘Bring me any were simply unworkable A FIGHTER the two fighters but also championship fighter who can handle and therefore not legally WHO CAN their camps – we’ll believe their business correctly,’ Joshua tweeted) binding in this instance. it when we see it. At before Tyson responded by challenging It remains a mystery HANDLE THEIR this point, a break from Anthony to a winner-takes-all fist fight. why, just one day before Joshua-Fury will do us all Entertaining to some but to anyone truly the case was heard, Fury BUSINESS good. invested in the long overdue business of was encouraged to go CORRECTLY’ This is heavyweight matching the top two heavyweights on on social media and boxing. Anything can the planet, it was scant consolation. announce the Joshua fight happen. Upsets and new Boxing News understands, despite was set for Saudi Arabia on August 14. titlists may emerge. For now all we can do Joshua’s uncharacteristic outburst, that That would surely have done his chances is wait. We’ve got used to doing exactly all parties were aware the fight could of winning a legal battle no good at all. that – it has been 18 years since Lennox essentially fall apart if the Wilder case Despite what some reports have alluded Lewis last fought and no heavyweight ruled in favour of the former WBC to, Wilder never had any intention of since has been able to say without champion. Though financial terms had stepping aside if the case ruled in his argument they stand tall as the best in the been agreed for Joshua-Fury, nothing favour. More pertinently, Arum had no world. One hopes someone will at last had officially been signed and the desire to negotiate a step-aside fee and be able to make that claim by the end of arbitration case was named as a clause in attempt to salvage the most important the year.

14 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net NEWS AND OPINION

AS he crooned the hot buns nursery Lerrone propel me into a position where I could I was getting paid nothing but I just kept rhyme into Sky Sport’s microphone, Richards was fight for a world title. I don’t look too far going because I thought to myself I’ll a dedication to his infant son, freshly ahead but when you win these big fights, get there, I’ll get there. As long as I keep crowned European champion Lerrone once earning doors open. Now I’m in a position where winning. Richards could look forward to bigger just I can mention names,” he continued. “I’ve “I’ve been given nothing, I’ve always had fights against bigger names. collected these belts moving up. I can say to earn my shots and my opportunities. The New Malden super-middleweight £50-a-fight I’d like to fight , I can say I’d I also believe in you had outscored over but now he’s like to fight Chris Eubank Jnr, whether only get one chance so I always make sure 12 rounds at the Arena on the European they want to fight me or not is entirely I do my best to get it right the first time. May 15. “I was totally switched on,” he up them. I’ve put myself now in the shop But it’s not been easy. It’s been a long, said. “I was controlling the fight and champion he’s window. long road but the journey’s not finished. dominating with the , when there ready to call “Start moving up the world rankings I’m European champion now, I’ve still got were times he tried to engage with me, and start fighting fringe world contenders a long way to go, still got a lot of learning sometimes I mixed it with him and I sat in out some and learn my craft. Fight guys at a high to do and the future’s bright.” the pocket with him as well and showed bigger names, level and see how good I am. I believe in He’s learned along the way from him that I can do it too. writes John progression and making the right moves sparing the likes of Tony Bellew, George “He was a good fighter as well, with at the right time and not skipping levels. Groves and Billy Joe Saunders. He even good pedigree so I’m very happy.” Dennen The next level now is fringe world level.” locked horns with Chris Eubank Jnr in a “I’ve always known what I can do,” he It has taken Richards years to reach sparring session. “The spar didn’t go in added. “Not only am I happy that I’m this point. Although he won the Eubank’s favour but for me sparring is European champion. I feel the way I won Commonwealth belt against Tommy about learning and developing. At the the title as well was impressive.” Langford in 2019 and secured the British time Eubank was British champion, I was He’s targeting ’s Rocky title beating Lennox Clarke that year, he a four or five fight novice as a professional Fielding, the former Canelo Alvarez turned professional all the way back in so I was going out there to get the opponent, next. “It excites me,” 2013. experience and gain some knowledge. Richards told Boxing News. “These “Maybe I should have stayed amateur But he was very disrespectful to me and I are the sort of fights that I want to be for a little bit longer but I made the choice kept it to my heart because after he said, involved in. Rocky Fielding’s achieved and it’s made me the man I am today,” he ‘You’re not going to make it.’ British, Commonwealth, he’s not won said. “It’s been very hard. I wasn’t a bad “I judge people on how they treat me. the European but he’s been a ‘world’ amateur, I was a decent amateur. I didn’t Now Eubank is just not for me, I might not champion [winning a WBA secondary get no big pro contract with anyone so I be for him but he is definitely not for me. strap]. So I’ve got a lot of respect for had to work my way up from the bottom. Hopefully one day we do fight. Rocky Fielding as a fighter and it’ll be I was under [promoter] Miranda Carter, “It’s only a matter of time before good. It’ll be a good fight, I’d really enjoy she’d put on her shows on Sundays in the Eubank will have to fight me. I just that. Winning that fight would definitely beginning, just getting paid £50-a-fight. can’t wait.” A LONG, LONG ROAD

Photo: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM

GETTING THERE: Richards has not had an easy journey so far

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 15 ACTION

★★★★★ OUTSTANDING ★★★★ GOOD ★★★ FAIR ★★ DISAPPOINTING ★ RUBBISH

Reporters’ star ratings for main events and undercards are based on in-ring entertainment, competitiveness and whether overall expectation was met

NOPhotos: MIKEY WILLIAMS/TOP RANK & DAVIDWAY, BECKER/GETTY IMAGES JOSE! also has boxing’s most basic of instincts. CLEANING UP: Taylor was hunting, make no mistake. Taylor with all the It had started with a mobile, easy 140lb belts twenty or so seconds in the first round. The body shots came early from Ramirez, who was faster than Taylor had expected. In the second, Taylor got a bit closer, Ramirez looked comfortable. Two rounds and not a lot to separate them, one each seemed about fair. In round three and four, Ramirez put the pressure on a bit more, got closer, ducked under counters, closed down the ring. Taylor caught him on the back of the head, Ramirez complained to Bayless, Taylor missed, Ramirez looked happy. He smiled at the bell to end the fourth. It could have been 3-1 to the Californian fighter. There was a real edge, a feeling that something special was happening, a sense that Taylor had to get back into the fight. Not a panic, just a need to stop Ramirez winning by hustling. Ramirez cut Taylor by the left eye in the fifth, he hit him to the body, he was busy, he was happy, he was connecting. Still no panic, but 4-1 down at that point was not cruel. It was a fight and it was going to be a hard, hard night if Ramirez kept the pressure on; Ramirez only knows how to keep the pressure on. A reminder that both were unbeaten at the Steve Bunce LAS VEGAS the round, pushing him back and then, end of round five; Taylor in 17, Ramirez under a canopy of lights, behind a wall in 26. Why did anybody doubt that there watches Taylor MAY 22 of smart seating and in the middle of would be magic? edge ever the intensity, Taylor dipped to his left, And there was, this was not going to closer to ★★★★★ TAYLOR-RAMIREZ avoided the first lazy right of the night be an ordinary fight. and put a life of boxing dreaming and In the opening seconds of the sixth, greatness as OSH TAYLOR turned fighting into the most perfect counter. It the left connected and Ramirez was he proves he’s away and raised one was textbook, brilliant, down, face and shoulder the best in his hand when Jose breathtaking. Ramirez first, falling like a man Carlos Ramirez knew, he knew he had KEEP YOUR suddenly switched off, weight class J went down in a heap the made the mistake he TRINKETS, a puppet in shorts with following a at the start of round swore he would never his strings cut; he was six. The fight was make, but it was too late I’M HERE up too quick, wild-eyed stirring war over, one had changed it all. and the left connected in confusion. It was a with Ramirez It was the type of moment, a flash of clean and he was down FOR THE moment to savour, a brilliance that never leaves the mind; heavily. moment of purity. Time Taylor was falling behind, not by much, Kenny Bayless, the QUALITY OF stopped; it always does but there were enough signs that Ramirez ageless referee, was there, THE FIGHT in fights like this. Bayless was causing Taylor a lot of problems. his hands out and his looked flustered, Taylor Five rounds down, a couple of rounds mouth behind the mask calm, real calm and behind and the bell sounded for round counting and he was too fussy, took too bouncing in the corner, Ramirez hurt, the six and the four belts, the place in history, long asking questions and keeping his cornermen screaming different songs, the fight to become only the fifth man eyes on Taylor, who wanted to leave the hitting the canvas desperately, the crowd in the modern era to hold all those titles strict confines of the neutral corner. We up. I love that moment in a big fight. was forgotten. Now, it was just a fight. had a fight. Ramirez had the wild eyes Ramirez was badly hurt, but his Ramirez came at Taylor at the start of of a frightened and confused man – he instincts took over. Taylor tried to finish it

16 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net BODY BLOW: Ramirez sends a looping right into Taylor’s stomach

MONENTUM SWINGS: Ramirez is forced to haul himself off the canvas twice but still feels like he’s done enough to win

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 17 ACTION AGREE TO DISAGREE THOUGH the judges’ score totals were the same at the end (114-112), they all agreed on only six rounds. Each scored the sixth and seventh for Taylor by dropped, Taylor two points and the first and eighth for the was smart, Ramirez Scot by one. They each liked Ramirez, recovered and they by the score of 10-9, in rounds three were close rounds. and 11. The remaining six rounds At the start of were split. round 11 the fight was in the balance still; Taylor in front with the knockdowns, but the final verdict was still not settled. Ramirez tried to put pressure on, his punches and movement a lot slower, but then Taylor was also fatigued. The pair had fought to that stage where both knew that one punch connecting clean and precise would end it. That is a heavy burden to carry with six or more minutes left and a body screaming for calm. In the last round, during a clinch, Taylor looked up at a screen, his eyes searching for the time. Both finished with a glare, a tiny moment of respect. There were no wide grins and loving hugs and kisses; they did what is decent and no more, I have no problem with that, the fight had been personal. They had their faces wiped, the bruises iced and then they joined Bayless for the verdict. I was convinced it was Taylor, RELENTLESS: clean. It was hectic stuff and then it was Sorry, but that is our business and but it was tight, real tight. The scores Ramirez and Taylor round seven, the fight was close, even. Bayless got in the way. If Ramirez was too came in fast, a combination delivered fight at a terrific pace throughout With less than 30 seconds left in the confused to fight, then it should have at a ringside table by men from the four seventh round, with both men marked been stopped – if his eyes were clear, sanctioning bodies. There was a silent and tiring, Taylor timed the most perfect then it needed to continue quicker. The moment as we waited. The MC was left uppercut and Ramirez was down, on ref is there to protect, sure, but those blunt, that is for sure. his back, out of his head. Taylor had 24 seconds could have also denied Taylor a He named the officials – Tim seconds left to finish the drama; Ramirez finish. It’s a tough debate, I understand. Cheatham, Dave Moretti and Steve was a poor sight on the canvas, Bayless When Bayless did finally let them Weisfeld – and read the scores: 114- was in again, his own eyes above his continue at the end of the seventh, there 112 times three. And all for Josh Taylor. mask wide with shock. The punch was were just a few seconds left and Ramirez Tight, make no mistake: Six rounds each exceptional, a perfect partner to the short stumbled to the ropes, Taylor tried to find and the two beautiful knockdowns won left in the sixth. one last punch. The bell sounded; the him the fight. That is boxing at its most This time, Bayless was very messy. fight had changed in two rounds. Surely, dramatic and heartbreaking. Ramirez Ramirez was up, unsteady, reeling and Ramirez had no chance. dropped his head, they finally embraced Bayless was talking to him. Taylor was Taylor tried to finish the fight in the with a bit more care. It is unforgiving, this getting closer during the slow-motion eighth, he was not settling for points, business we worship and that tiny Las ritual and the clock ticked down. Taylor not taking any risks and Ramirez was Vegas ring had every extreme of despair was losing crucial seconds; fighters certainly still hurt from the knockdowns. and joy. Two men with nothing left to like Ramirez always recover and Taylor Ramirez survived the round and Taylor give, nothing left to offer. needed to get to him and stop Bayless was tired. It had been a long and Ramirez left his loved ones in tears at holding the fight up. It was just a few emotional stay in Las Vegas, hard days, a ringside and that is never a nice sight. seconds, but those seconds, in moments lot of pressure in the isolation of camp. The few Taylor fans howled, waving their like that, can make or end a career. It At the start of round nine, Taylor was Scottish flags. He is a hero now and this might sound brutal, but Taylor needed to in front. He was marked, getting tired, week when he gets back to Edinburgh, finish Ramirez at that point, at the point but a place in history was there. He he will take the four belts for a private when Ramirez was most vulnerable. could join the four men, the four that meeting with Ken Buchanan. That is class, held all four versions of the recognised wonderful. belts: Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor, Two men with a shared history and Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk. combined devotion to a tough game. The fight was already the finest of the It’s now 6:08am on Sunday morning. six so far where the four belts had been The fight finished hours ago, it happened, the prize. Taylor and Ramirez never Taylor is the champion, the fifth man. In needed the gaudy baubles and when Las Vegas he is still up and there is no the bell sounded to start the last four chance of him closing his eyes anytime rounds, nobody was bothered about soon. He has too much to see and do their engraving duties on the latest and he might just start with a sombrero fake-diamond, fur-lined belt. Keep your sunrise. bn trinkets, I’m here for the quality of the fight. THE VERDICT Josh Taylor shows In rounds nine and 10 the pace the boxing world how it’s done.

18 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net JUBILATION: Taylor celebrates his brilliant victory

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 6, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 31 ACTION

EGGINGTON ROLLS ON

Reporting that late stage, the die was well and truly Having built an early yet narrow cast. Judges John Latham, Guido Cavalleri lead, River scored with an eye-catching from ringside, MAY 22 and Fabian Guggenheim scored 117-111, three-shot salvo at the top of the fifth Andy Whittle 116-112 and 119-109 respectively, while which rocked Farrell back onto his heels. sees the ★★★★★ MAIN EVENT Ian John-Lewis refereed. George wasn’t finished, though, and ★★★★★ UNDERCARD On the undercard of this Hennessy seemingly took the next frame, moving teak-tough Sports promotion, ’s Shakan onto the offensive and slamming home Molina BOXING returned to the Skydome for the Pitters returned to winning ways. The a pair of rights to reduce the deficit. first time since 2010 and the fans were light-heavyweight halted Bradford’s Yet the fightback proved short-lived, as succumb allowed in too – albeit limited in number Jermaine Springer in the fifth of a a sustained spell of heavy pressure on on points to just 400. But it is another step in the scheduled eight, having floored him with the back of a huge right brought about right direction. a right towards the end of the previous the finish. Referee Shaun Messer rightly Mexico’s 37-year-old former IBF session. intervened at 2-21 as Farrell crumpled in super-welterweight titlist Carlos Molina I already had Shakan two rounds to his own corner. proved game enough in the 12-round the good by the time he shook Springer Another Birmingham winner, in what bill-topper against the always-watchable with a hard right upstairs in the third. was a 10-round British welterweight title Stourbridge middleweight Sam Although Jermaine began the next eliminator, was Kaisee Benjamin. He Eggington. However, the visitor was round quickly, he was soon back on triumphed when Dumbarton’s Martin unable to prevent Eggington registering a the receiving end, losing his gumshield Harkin remained on his stool at the wide unanimous points victory. before being tagged and dropped. Just start of the eighth, still feeling the effects Bettered for the most part, yet firing when one was wondering if Springer of a belter of a right to the ribs which back whenever the opportunity arose, had sufficiently recovered, another had sent him to one knee right at the Molina was an immovable object, Pitters right sent him to the ropes and end of the seventh. There was no count despite Sam’s best attempts. With an referee Kevin Parker deemed enough was given by referee Latham, but Harkin, who eye on future title tilts, Eggington had to enough, interrupting with 58 seconds still might just have been slightly ahead on content himself with picking his shots as to run. the cards, was clearly in no fit state to he worked away, often from a distance, Popular local River Wilson-Bent sent continue. behind the jab. his supporters into raptures when he Michael Hennessy Jnr (Sevenoaks) FULL Carlos was down late in the stopped Derby’s fellow unbeaten George found Warminster’s Paul Cummings in RESULTS penultimate session but it was deemed Farrell in the seventh, and so completed combative mode, but that didn’t prevent a slip. He managed to hit home with a a first successful defence of his Midlands him from securing the 60-55 decision Sam Eggington couple of decent rights in the last, yet by Area middleweight title. of referee Messer. There were several (158lbs 6oz), 30-7 Photo: LAWRENCE LUSTIG/HENNESSY SPORTS impressive bursts from the promoter’s (18), w pts 12 Carlos son, who, at just 21, is still learning. Molina (159 1/4lbs), 37-12-2 (12); Kaisee The four-rounder between Brighton’s Benjamin (146 Tommy Welch – the son of Scott Welch 3/4lbs), 12-1-1 (3), w – and experienced Lithuanian Dmitrij rtd 7 Martin Harkin Kalinovskij lasted just 71 seconds. In (146lbs 6oz), 13-2 (5); that time, Kalinovskij was floored on River Wilson-Bent three occasions. Mr Parker officiated. (159 1/4lbs), 9-0 (5), -based Irishman Stephen George Farrell w rsf 7 McKenna completely overwhelmed (159lbs 6oz), 5-1 Damian Haus, handing out quite a (1); Shakan Pitters (178lbs 2oz), 15-1 bashing before a purposeful left to the (5), w rsf 5 Jermaine body saw the Pole drop heavily to his Springer (178lbs), 7-3 knees. Upon the resumption, Haus faced (1); Michael Hennessy another continued barrage which, to the Jnr (156lbs), 6-1-1, w surprise of no one at all, forced referee pts 6 Paul Cummings Parker to jump in with eight seconds of (155lbs 9oz), 2-49; the opener remaining. It had been set Stephen McKenna for six. (150lbs 5oz), 8-0 (8), Irishman Brett McGinty earned the w rsf 1 Damian Haus (151 1/4lbs), 3-6 (3); 40-36 verdict of referee Messer at the Tommy Welch (233 culmination of his bout against Oldbury’s 1/2lbs), 2-0 (2), w rsf Dwain Grant, who came to fight and 1 Dmitrij Kalinovskij kept it competitive throughout. (205lbs 5oz), 13-67-4 Another ever-gutsy operator, Lydney’s (5); Brett McGinty Lewis van Poetsch, came off second (158 1/2lbs), 2-0, w best against Brummie Idris Virgo. Dwain Grant pts 4 Referee Parker scored it 60-54 and (160lbs 3oz), 3-10- van Poetsch finished with a cut to the 1; Idris Virgo (178 1/2lbs), 10-0-1 (1), GAME: lower lip. w pts 6 Lewis van Eggington takes Poetsch (174lbs), the fight to Molina THE VERDICT Eggington gets the win 9-125-2 (2). and eyes big fights at 154 or 160lbs.

20 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net ACTION

CLOSE-FOUGHT: But Myron Mills comes through Photo: ANDREW SAUNDERS/SPORTING CAPTURES grabbing Krajevskij, while Moorcroft hit too hard and too often for Hall in a fight overseen by Mr Sarginson. After a 14-month spell of inactivity, Marsham’s Southern Area cruiserweight champion Iain Martell returned in a scheduled four against Derby veteran Elvis Dube, who is now just three bouts shy of his century. Elvis might not win too many but he does upset the applecart now and again. There was never going to be any upsetting here, though. Having been sent to one knee by a punishing body shot in the opener, Dube fell victim to the same left early in the second. This time he stayed down for the duration of referee Brook’s count, with just 22 seconds gone. Brummie novice Tommy Collins notched his third successive paid win by taking all four rounds (40-36) against ’s Clayton Bricknell. Mr Sarginson was the man in the middle for this one, which was competitive and a decent watch. A quartet of debutants went in against experienced opposition and, at the culmination of their respective four- round contests, all were able to celebrate victory. A match between Birmingham’s Katie Healy and seasoned Slovakian Claudia Ferenczi went the way of the former kickboxer and stablemate of Rachel Ball, who watched on from ringside. The score at the finish read 40-36 in Katie’s favour, RAINING CHAMPION with the visitor spending a good deal of her time trying to parry the regular jab headed her way. The referee was Mr A late rally SHEFFIELD Mills, busier and employing fast hands, Sarginson. opened an early lead. However, he was Telford’s Bradley Thompson found sees Mills MAY 21 pegged back in the third as Lucas, scoring the going against Middleton’s Steven retain his to both head and body, began to settle. Maguire to his liking. The brother English title in ★★★★★ MAIN EVENT It did look for a while in the middle of English champion ★★★★★ UNDERCARD rounds as if the challenger, confidence Liam Davies was actually aided by the the rain, growing and having made up that early inclement weather. Within only seconds writes Andy THE main event on Fightzone TV’s lost ground, might be on course to take of the bout beginning, his opponent, Whittle inaugural offering was an English the belt, yet Mills was having none of claiming a slip, was counted. By the from lightweight title clash between Derby it. A strong last couple of rounds turned third, Thompson had upped the pace ringside champion Myron Mills, looking to out to be just enough for him to hang significantly. Maguire picked up a bloody successfully defend for the second on to his title. Judges Michael Alexander nose, prior to being halted 71 seconds time, and Portsmouth challenger Lucas and Darren Sarginson both had Myron into the last, with referee Sarginson Ballingall, who had been beaten just edging it 96-95, while Terry O’Connor deciding he’d seen enough. once in 14. As expected, it proved to be a scored it a shade wider at 96-94. Mark Bradford’s Nathan Cawood, a close-fought, nip-and-tuck affair. Lyson refereed. southpaw, proved a little too much for Making the better start in the cold, Sheffield’s Anthony Tomlinson, Walsall’s Kearon Thomas and ran out a driving rain just a few hundred yards newly signed with show promoter 39-37 winner for referee Brook. Thomas down the road from , Dennis Hobson, had initially been slated finished marked below the right eye. to top this bill against Wigan’s James York’s Rob Magill came through FULL RESULTS Moorcroft, but that meeting will have against Hyde’s Dale Arrowsmith, with to wait a little while. In the meantime, referee Brook scoring 40-36. A three- Myron Mills (134lbs 2oz), 15-1 (6), w pts 10 Lucas Ballingall (134lbs), 13-2 they each ticked over in rust-shedding time Yorkshire champion as an amateur, (3); Anthony Tomlinson (152 3/4lbs), 13-0 (7), w pts 6 Genadij Krajevskij six-rounders against Liverpool-based Magill entered the ring just as the rain (159lbs 2oz), 0-13; James Moorcroft (149lbs), 14-1 (5), w pts 6 MJ Hall Lithuanian Genadij Krajevskij and began and he proceeded to call the shots Iain Martell Elvis Dube (149lbs), 2-59-2; (198 3/4lbs), 10-0 (4), w ko 2 Brierley Hill’s MJ Hall respectively. in an encounter not helped at all by the Tommy Collins Clayton (186lbs 6oz), 10-85-2 (7); (139lbs 6oz), 3-0, w pts 4 No surprise at all that Tomlinson and increasingly slippery canvas underfoot. Bricknell (139lbs 6oz), 3-5-1; Bradley Thompson (113lbs 14oz), 1-0 (1), w rsf 4 Steven Maguire (118lbs 14oz), 0-21-1; Katie Healy (120 1/4lbs), 1-0, w pts Moorcroft should register shutout 60-54 4 Claudia Ferenczi (116 3/4lbs), 20-77-8 (4); Nathan Cawood (167 1/4lbs), victories. Tomlinson eased through a THE VERDICT The awful conditions 1-0, w pts 4 Kearon Thomas (163 1/2lbs), 1-12-1 (1); Rob Magill (157lbs bout refereed by Andy Brook, despite fail to dampen the spirits of Mills 14oz), 1-0, w pts 4 Dale Arrowsmith (159lbs 2oz), 2-41-1 (1). conceding a chunk of weight to the oft- and the other winners.

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 21 BOOK REVIEW ESSENTIAL READING FOR ALL

Tris Dixon’s I CAN still remember the phone call anchored in the early days of boxing, this the thud of punches on skulls, to see from Tris Dixon, my good friend and is very much a book for the modern era. boxers knocked out of consciousness or to latest book, predecessor at Boxing News, when he told Because its purpose is not to criticise the witness furious sparring sessions, it’s never Damage: The me he planned to write a book on the sport but educate it. a stretch to envision problems in later effects of brain trauma in boxing. There That education is of course difficult years for these fighters. In recent weeks Untold Story of was as much trepidation as determination because boxers, particularly those who I sat at ringside and watched a veteran Brain Trauma in in his voice because, for those of us are still active and therefore still invincible heavyweight go to work. It was the 14th entrenched in the boxing business, it’s in their own minds, are not always in the time I’d been in that position watching Boxing might perhaps the trickiest of all subjects to business of worrying about their long- this particular fighter. In truth I found it one day be address. term futures. Frankie Pryor, the widow of difficult, purely because I could remember “It wasn’t something I felt I could the brilliant but damaged Aaron Pryor, him taking serious punishment several regarded as the do while I was still editor at BN,” he warned: “You have not met a fighter at times in the last 11 years. The fear of what most important explained back then. “I couldn’t be the Hall of Fame, and I’m talking over the his future holds was almost too much to trying to champion the sport every week age of fifty, you have not met one who is bear as he repositioned his hulking frame book in the while working on a book that might be not struggling with this. I do not know a time and again after taking yet more blows sport’s history, perceived to do the opposite. But I have to former world champion who doesn’t have to the head. Matt do this. Not for me, but for the fighters.” CTE. I don’t know one. And you’ve got to It would be tempting, particularly for writes Dixon is a man of strong principles remember that you can go through years those who don’t know Dixon or much Christie and a journalist of high standing in the and years of just being at the early stages, about the sport, to pass this off as a 277- sport. One only has to listen to his weekly and Aaron went through the early to page document outlining exactly why podcast, Boxing Life Stories, to understand middle stages for a very long time. Then, boxing should be banned. That view is his affection and respect for the boxers all of a sudden, it can just turn into late- not lost on Dixon or anyone who has who risk their lives every time they step in stage stuff real quick.” worked in boxing for any length of time. the ring. Boxing Life Stories is, I’d argue, one There might be a temptation to brush I’d suggest if you’re involved in boxing and of the finest and most thorough collections Dixon’s investigation you haven’t had at least of fight interviews in the sport’s history. under the carpet in the one moment where Before that came Road To Nowhere, a same way that smokers ‘OBVIOUSLY I you seriously struggle to terrific book detailing his experiences as a ignore the warnings justify your love for the young and penniless amateur boxer-cum- of premature death KNOW GETTING sport then you shouldn’t writer travelling the length of America on their packets of PUNCHED IN be here. Those without to track down forgotten warriors. Many cigarettes. Not every consciences are the of those ex-fighters were in a bad way, smoker will get cancer THE HEAD worst kind of people in particularly Matthew Saad Muhammad, and not every fighter our sport, no question. the former light-heavyweight king he will end up brain- ISN’T GOOD But Dixon is quite the would become close friends with and is damaged but to ignore opposite of that. What currently in the process of writing a book the evidence, as Dixon’s FOR ME’ he has created, then, is about. While still the editor of BN, Dixon book shouts from every not a book that should was the first journalist in the industry to page, is inviting serious trouble in the see the sport outlawed but a survival guide seriously address the subject of depression future. for all within it. among fighters and the connection with “Obviously I know getting punched isn’t Admittedly, it took me a long time to their brutal trade. So though it is only good for me but I’ve got nothing else to pick up this book and start reading it. I four years since Tris and I discussed what do with my life,” said Anthony Fowler in was concerned by what I’d find. I didn’t would become Damage: The Untold the book. “I’m a boxer. I am what I am, so want to face that old guilt about what I Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing, it’s hopefully I will get my money and get out do for a living and what it does to those I clear that this has been a project of many with my wits intact.” It’s a familiar gamble care deeply about. But read this book we more. Today, after a gruelling and sobering but one that never really ends. George absolutely must. journey of discovery, Dixon is the author of Groves, recently retired and for now free At its best when talking to damaged perhaps the most important book the fight of any complications, explained: “I’ve fighters, like Micky Ward and Freddie game has ever seen. been getting punched in the head now for Roach, and at its most heart-breaking How it is received by the industry twenty-plus years. I would be shocked if when talking to their families, it is also will ultimately be the measure of that, that doesn’t have a negative effect on my deeply insightful as Dixon himself reveals however. This is a book that explores the health in years to come.” the head trauma he suffered in a short history and consequences of brain damage Anyone who has attended a gathering amateur career. Though not quite a step- in boxing, which was first investigated by of ex-boxers or even just spent time with by-step on how to avoid brain damage it Dr Harrison Martland in his 1928 medical them will know how accurate the countless nonetheless delivers pertinent points and paper, Punch Drunk. That we’re nearly 100 testimonies in this book are. They will have asks serious questions of the processes and years removed from that ground-breaking seen the confusion in many ex-boxers’ habits of fighters and those around them. work, and its findings remain largely faces, the vacant eyes and the mouths The hundreds and hundreds of rounds of taboo, underlines exactly why this book hanging open for too long. To then watch sparring. The lackadaisical attitude towards needed to be written. Though the theme is boxing every week from ringside, to hear concussion. The length of careers. The

22 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net ESSENTIAL READING FOR ALL

YEARS OF WORK: Dixon flicks through the pages of his latest work

issue of alcohol and drug abuse. The duty becoming more aware than they’ve ever fighting and for those who still have their of care. Our duty of care. been about the potential harm they face. futures ahead of them and can now make I have heard some champion this book Consequently, we see them walking away some informed decisions about boxing, while resigning themselves to the futility from the game at younger ages and after training, sparring, and retirement.” of its message. Boxers will always fight shorter careers than even a decade ago. In short, this is a difficult read for too much and damage will always occur, Damage – which is wonderfully written anyone involved in boxing but is they say. I’d disagree with that, however. and contains some sumptuous storytelling nonetheless essential; for fighters, trainers, There is hope. In my six years as editor – must be allowed to shout that message. promoters, commissioners, doctors, fans of BN I have seen a shift in attitudes Dixon himself puts it best in the final and the media. Collectively, and with the and improvements in the procedures sentence of Damage when he reaffirms right attitude, the industry can learn so behind the scenes. Boxers, though they’ll the target audience of his work: “For those much from this book. Anyone who thinks always be inherent risk takers, are slowly who have struggled, for those who are still otherwise hasn’t read it yet.

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 23 *Excerpt from Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing by Tris Dixon TRAPPED: FROM THE LIMELIGHT TO THE PSYCH WARD

24 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net Herol Graham pinpoints the fight and punch that changed his life forever ARD

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 25 IT hit the side and “There was some bloody horrible places I felt a numbness and we went to but it was good fun,” Graham I remember falling recalled. “You look at them and some of and I could feel myself them were huge and looked tough with going down.” In his skinheads or whatever, but I thought the next memory, Herol people wouldn’t touch me.” “Bomber” Graham He continued: “The rules were they could was in hospital being touch me anywhere above my waist so all checked out. “After that, I watched it on I did was put my hands down and moved television and it was then I really felt it. around. But I had to be careful because Watching it, I felt it.” in prison, they will just go out to smash Now, in a very different hospital several you. They don’t care. If they can do some decades removed, Graham reviewed the damage to you, they will, and I couldn’t let fight and the punch on a mobile phone. He that happen. They were going for the face as DAMAGE: Graham tells Dixon about his problems was in a north London psychiatric ward and well—it was open sparring and I’d move out round four against Julian Jackson began. gnawed at him for years. “Of course, when the way, grab their hands, and move their Moments later, the shrieks of British boxing you walk away it’s hard,” he admitted. “But hands round so it would spin them round commentator Dave Brenner could be heard. my depression was way, way in front of and they’d get frustrated. When they got “That’s what we were worried about!” that. It must have been five, six years prior frustrated that was it, finished, I had them The rerun was paused. Graham was lifeless to that.” where I wanted them. on the canvas, having dropped suddenly. There were issues away from the ring, “Sometimes there were women doing it Graham had spent eight months on a north including heartbreak, a fallout with trainer and I remember I was moving away and— London psych unit. It was not a fun place, but Brendan Ingle, abuse he’d suffered as a bam—she hit me with a backhand. There’s he was there because he was damaged. He child, and more besides. That went with him always one. Under a photograph in the was damaged from boxing. He did not slur into the ring, and crushing losses did not paper it said, ‘The only person to hit Bomber his words, nor did he shuffle his feet. It even help. Neither did the constant references to Graham,’ and it was this woman. No one looked like he could go a few rounds now. him as the best British fighter to never win ever hit me full on. If they did, I would have In the not-too-distant past, he made a world title. What kind of honor is gone in for them…” He laughed heartily, an attempt at a marathon jump-rope that? That neither puts money in the again a mischievous smile crossing his lips. world record. But he bank or a belt on the Photo: GETTY IMAGES was told he had punch- mantelpiece—and it drunk syndrome. It certainly didn’t open was, of course, a dated AFTER I GOT any lucrative doors. diagnosis meant Then the alcohol to be consigned to came. “I did drink medical history after KNOCKED [before], but not to J. A. Millspaugh’s 1937 that extent,” he said. dementia pugilistica OUT THE “I know that drink and paper. But this was alcohol is a killer. I what Graham was told did have a drink and he had, and he was APPREHENSION more so after boxing. accepting of it, too. It nearly became a “You do get punch- STRUCK. WILL IT problem because as drunk,” he said. “It the depression kicked does do that to you.” in I was looking for a Graham’s main HAPPEN AGAIN?” shield, the shield was problems were his alcohol, and I just went short-term memory, overboard with it. I or lack of one, and a biting depression that was on medication as well and that’s how I he could not shake. It drove him to multiple ended up here because this is my third time suicide attempts, which were the primary [in the ward]. The first time was after the reason he was locked up. He could not be boxing.” trusted. When he talked about suicide, there Graham looked deceptively fit and well, yet was a devilish grin that hinted he may just said he only managed the odd powerwalk. be a little out of control. Graham never felt He wanted to do more, but the depression the same after the Jackson thunderbolt, in chains him to chairs and he sits and festers or out of the ring. Even though the damage and cries. “Being in here is like being in a did not show early, it manifested itself, along prison, but I’ve never been in a prison, of with thirty years of fighting, and resulted in course,” he continued. “But you are locked his condition today. “When I went back in up. I have leave so it’s not as bad, but the ring [after Jackson], I felt that I wasn’t all sometimes with the depression, it’s escorted there,” he said. “There was the apprehension leave only, so they will be watching over me of, ‘S**t, is it going to happen again?’ That’s in all the time. Wherever you go, they go with your head, that you don’t want it to happen you.” again, but you just think it and think it. But Graham actually has been to prison, just I wasn’t the same because that was in my not as an inmate. He practiced his moves head.” in prison, under Ingle’s watchful eye. The At the time, he believed he could carry on wise old trainer would put Graham in jails, his fine career at a decent level. All he had in working men’s social clubs, and he even to do was hit, move, and not get hit like that took them to nightspots where he let anyone again. interested try and hit his boys. His boxers But Graham was by now running on were not allowed to punch back. On Saturdays fumes, and soon the time came to call it and Sundays, they got out of the gym and quits resulted in a dark feeling that had tried to avoid being struck in the head.

26 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net “In the nightclubs there were some big was one Sunday morning. I’m going to start about it, I sometimes think, actually, it’s boys, there were fighters in there, and they’d crying again... I went to Brendan’s house the best place for me in a sense that the come out to destroy you. We had to be [he recalled both his and Brendan’s postal medication...” He tailed off, talking about his on our best behaviour and on our best addresses from the time], he lived at the access to therapists and antidepressants. form, otherwise you’d get caught. They’d bottom right-hand side of the road. I went One wondered if he was not becoming [announce where we were going] on the to his house, had a hot drink, and we went institutionalized. Even though he seemed radio, they would say ‘Bomber Graham will to the gym. I remember looking at everyone so different from the people around him he be at Pine Grove Country Club,’ that sort and thinking, ‘Oh, I wonder what they’re felt he belonged there. Asked whether he of thing, and we did it all over Sheffield. like?’ He introduced me and said I was going believed he could cope in a halfway house, a Sheffield’s quite big. And sometimes the to do some sparring, told me to get my gear stepping-stone back into society, he sighed. places were packed and Brendan would say, on. There was a guy there, Mick ‘The Bomb’ “I was anxious to get out, but what’s going to ‘Herol, don’t get hit. But don’t go too hard Mills, and he threw some heavy shots, and happen? Will I be okay? on them.’ They could hit me but I couldn’t there was some other guy, Robert Wakefield, He paused and looked around at the go hard on them, and it was good for my and Brendan said, ‘You have to move with eccentric cast of supporting characters boxing. They were good days.” them.’ At the end Mick says, ‘F**k me, I can’t around him. Some gave the impression of The Sheffield “Bomber” was a slick and f**king hit him.’ I was just moving, moving being on the edge; others were lost, staring quick mover. He owned a jerky style and was out the way. And he was shouting, ‘Stand still into parallel universes. Graham allowed nearly impossible to hit. There is more than you b*****d!’” himself a moment to believe he was not one story of a top sparring partner throwing “Listen,” Graham said tearfully. “I can one of them. “I hope they don’t get out down his gloves unable to strike anything remember all these things from back in before me,” he said. He nodded toward a and storming from the ring. those days.” resident. “That one, I feel for him. He can’t And those memories, in his long-term Those days have gone, slipped away, communicate with anyone. He doesn’t know memory bank, still linger. He can recall replaced by a barren nothingness, an what he’s doing.” © Tris Dixon, 2021. his first day in the Ingle gym more than existence where fame, skill, and being the Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma forty years ago in great detail. “It was a best British fighter never to win a world in Boxing is released in the US on May 25 Sunday morning,” he reflected. title counts for nothing. Graham and in the UK and Rest of the World on May “This is what I mean... You see paused to look around at the 27. It is published by Hamilcar Publications – HAPPIER DAYS: how my brain goes. All those Graham at the peak ward’s brick walls. “It’s no life,” visit www.hamilcarpubs.com/damage for more years ago and I remember it of his boxing career he said. “But when I think information.

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 27 MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Sethi is calling for uniformed regulations across the sport

28 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net Q & A

‘THE BOXING CULTURE NEEDS TO CHANGE’

Dr Nitin K. Sethi outlines the steps he believes boxing needs to take to be safer. The fight doctor talks to Phil Rogers

HERE is always one figure at ringside who her career is over. People now talk about CTE (Chronic Traumatic never hopes for fireworks. The , the Encephalopathy – a progressive degenerative disease of the brain punishment, and the back-and-forth drama found in people with a history of repetitive brain trauma) even all create a heady cocktail for the assembled though CTE is not a new disease. T throng come fight night. One essential seat, Apart from that the chronic post–traumatic headache, chronic however, that’s always allocated at the post–traumatic cognitive problems, chronic post–traumatic coalface of the action is reserved for the doctor dizziness, Parkinsonian-like syndromes; all of these things are what responsible for the welfare of those in battle. I say are the part of the iceberg that is hidden but which if you feel For the ringside physician the stakes could not be higher. Crucial, passionate about boxing, and about trying to make boxing safe, we and potentially life-saving, decisions are required to be made in should talk about. an instant, judgments that have to be entirely removed from the The issues that underpin this ‘iceberg’ analogy – can you pressures of a crowd baying for blood and a fighter too brave for his expand on these? Are we talking about changing how a own good. The fact that Dr Nitin K. Sethi - who was interviewed by fight is conducted? Or monitoring fighters in the periods of Tris DIxon for his book, Damage - fulfils this role while operating as time after sparring and training, and even after retirement? a highly respected neurologist places him in a unique and invaluable I actually mean you protect the brain health of a boxer. And position when discussing the brain health of boxers. He spoke to the way you protect the brain health of a boxer is not just when Boxing News about his work to create a safer sport. he’s fighting. Yes, sure, you protect the brain health of a boxer How did you become connected with boxing in the first when he’s actually fighting. Whether that involves better screening place? procedures, MRIs of the brain, EEG (a recording of brain activity), I’d just reached City, I was actually born in Buffalo, making sure fights are closely supervised. I devised a lot of New York, but was raised in India and I protocols designed to make safe. came to New York for my residency in Standardising medical stoppages in neurology. I didn’t really know anybody ‘TOO MANY THINGS the ring. It’s unfortunate that after so so I happened to pass by a boxing gym, many years there’s still no standardised and that’s how I found boxing. ARE HIDDEN THAT medical stoppages in the ring. Some I started boxing myself and in my role boxers are allowed to continue. A boxer as a neurologist I was very passionate WE SHOULD BE is clearly concussed but allowed to about Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) and continue but another boxer is stopped. concussions. So at some point I wanted TALKING ABOUT’ So standardising medical stoppages in to mix my love for boxing with my the ring. And it can be done. passion for Traumatic Brain Injuries so I For example, I recently came out with applied for to the Athletic Commission and started an article where I tried to devise ‘No Go’ neurological criteria in working as a ringside physician. And in 2015 I was appointed the boxing. And the idea was that if any of these neurological criteria Chief Medical Officer for the New York City Athletic Commission, were met during the course of a fight then the fight should be and that’s the position I serve in right now. stopped on medical grounds. For example; a boxer goes down. It’s I can see from articles you’ve had published and previous a knockdown. And he clearly has a loss of consciousness. It might interviews that you hold some strong views about making be very momentary, it might be only a few seconds, but there’s boxing safer. a clear loss of consciousness. That fight should be stopped, no I do, because as I see boxing I look at an iceberg. And people matter even if the boxer gets up, beats the count. That fight, in my think an iceberg is what you see out of the water, and that’s opinion, is a medical stoppage on ‘No Go’ criteria. probably the Acute Traumatic Brain Injury. Everybody talks about Another ‘No Go’ criteria - for example; a boxer is knocked down, it, every so often you see a tragedy in the ring, either a huge he gets up but he’s clearly got what I call ‘gross motor instability’. Subdural Hematoma (bleeding between the skull and brain), He clearly doesn’t have his legs under him, he’s staggering around. an Epidural Hematoma (bleeding between the tough outer He might have beaten the count but you and I both know he’s membrane covering the brain and the skull), or a boxer collapses clearly concussed. And that’s why the fight should be stopped. and dies and suffers a devastating neurological injury. And So what I was saying was that one way you make boxing safer everyone seems to talk about it. is by standardising medical stoppages, coming out with ‘No Go’ What is far more hidden is probably the base of the iceberg. It’s criteria, having good interaction between the referee and the the chronic neurological results of boxing which remain hidden ringside physician. because they don’t come to medical attention during the time I personally feel that every boxer should have an MRI at the the boxer is actively fighting. They present clinically after his or start of his or her career that serves as a baseline. Let’s assume that

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 29 Q & A

the boxer will fight for about 10 years, he or she should undergo they want to have a CAT scan, they want to make sure the brain is an MRI every three years. So once at the start of their career, one healthy. Now contrast that with the ringside setting. You get up to in the middle, and one at the end of their career. If in any one ask the boxer, “Are you hurt? Is your head hurting?” of these MRI scans a concern is raised, whether it’s evidence of “Oh, why are you even asking me that?! Why are you even traumatic brain injury, a small micro-bleed, some scar tissue here stepping up to the canvas?!” and there, then that fighter should be red flagged, have a more The boxer will deny, deny, deny. His team, which I think of as thorough examination, referred to a neurologist. Then on a case- his family, will deny, deny, deny. So how can a doctor make the by-case basis a decision is made on whether to continue with their sport safer? There’s so much riding on this. These are subjective career under close observation or hang up their gloves. complaints, so when you say whether someone should have a The second thing would be something called a ‘neuro-cognitive 45-day medical suspension or a 90-day suspension, or more or examination’. You get this in the NFL. It’s a test to look at attention, less, there’s no way you can prognose it. That’s where it becomes concentration, memory, short-term memory, verbal memory. very hard. So you get baselines on these athletes. And let’s assume he gets So you wouldn’t want to standardise a suspension in the concussed. That NFL player’s not allowed to return to the game same way you’d like to standardise a stoppage? That you until he meets the neuro-cognitive examination and he’s back at should have ‘X’ amount of time off? his baseline. So you can imagine this is one way to track the brain No, I feel that’s a great point you make. It should be health of these elite athletes. If we see a boxer’s neuro-cognitive standardised. This is the amount of time. You need to take time scores are declining over the years we might counsel him and say, off. All studies show that after a head injury you need a period “Listen, I think you should hang up your gloves.” of cognitive and physical rest for the brain to recover. There’s no So what I propose is the same thing. Do a formal neuro- doubt about that. All of the data on Traumatic Brain Injuries that cognitive evaluation at the baseline when he or she is applying has come from the battlefields of Iraq, Afghanistan, WWI, WWII, for licence. Get the baseline cognitive function; attention, says the same thing. So you’re right, that’s an excellent point. You concentration, memory, short-term memory, verbal memory. standardise that this is the time you need off, a medical suspension And then repeat that every three years. Once in the middle, once after a fight. towards the end of the career. And then you prognosticate. Much has been made of the risks that weight cutting pose In terms of what’s neurologically more damaging for a to a fighter’s brain health, specifically that they’re more boxer, are you able to say if a really tough 12-round fight is likely to be badly hurt if they’re very dehydrated on the worse for the brain than a one punch knockout? scales. I wondered what your thoughts are on this. That has also been debated a lot. You might say, ‘Is a slugger If you look at the MMA, this weight cutting is such a more at risk of getting Acute Traumatic or Chronic Traumatic Brain big problem, trying to make these weights, at times really Injury versus a boxer?’ You know, the unreasonable weight cuts. They clearly guys who just stand there in the pocket come in really dehydrated. As I see it you and trade punches. ‘THERE SHOULD cannot separate the brain from the body The danger of Acute Traumatic Brain and the body from the brain. You have Injury is always there. We all have BE A CENTRALISED a fighter coming in dehydrated. Is their witnessed some tragedies in the ring in reaction time is off? There’s no scientific the last few years. That too I am very MEDICAL THAT WE certainty, a few articles here and there, passionate about. For example, I was but if you were to put my back to the giving a talk and I said: “You’re in New CAN ALL ACCESS’ wall I’d say a dehydrated boxer is more York, you’re walking across 6th Avenue likely to be concussed. There is some and somebody assaults you. You go data to say that a dehydrated boxer is down, you’re knocked down, you dust yourself down and you say probably going to feel a concussion more. to yourself, ‘I’m gonna continue’.” You go up to 7th Avenue and at In boxing a tragedy isn’t going to occur because of a 7th Avenue you’re again assaulted, you again go down and you cardiovascular cause. These are young athletes. Their hearts dust yourself off and you walk across to 8th Avenue and you’re are in pretty good condition. They can take that dehydration again assaulted. At some point you’re not gonna be able to get up also. A tragedy in the ring is always going to occur because of a and dust yourself off.” neurological cause, it’s always going to be the case. For boxing to be made safer the culture needs to change. The There’s always one immediate question whenever major boxing culture needs to change. The NFL culture has changed. The changes are called for, or further research is suggested… football culture has changed. The boxing culture needs to change. Who pays for it? And that change in culture comes when people understand that Who pays for the research? And, more importantly, the thing the risk of acute TBI is there with every punch. is that there is no centralised commission or medical agency How long should a fighter rest, sparring or fighting, after that is tracking the brain health of these athletes. Someone fights they’ve suffered a knockout? in England, he or she gets an MRI of the brain before the fight, When you suffer a concussion or a KO the symptoms are all that same athlete fights in Kansas City and they don’t ask for any subjective. So what I call ‘post-concussion symptoms’ or ‘post- imaging. And nobody’s talking, the commissions aren’t talking to concussion syndrome’ the person will have a headache, called a each other. post concussive headache, he or she will say, “I’m slightly dizzy So I also feel there should be a centralised medical, even if the or off balance”, they might feel after the concussion, “lights used sport’s different governing bodies should actually get together to bother me, bright lights, loud sounds used to bother me, I’m and form a central agency where the MRIs of these fighters are feeling nauseated, foggy in the brain.” tracked. Everybody has access to them, where their cognitive score All these symptoms are subjective. There’s no way you or I can is tracked. Just like you have Box Rec you should have data driven figure out whether he’s back to baseline or not. So that’s when research. That’s how you’re going to generate the data, that’s how things get even harder. you’re going to make the sport safe, that’s how you’re going to Because boxers need to be honest. Their teams, their families, protect these athletes. need to be honest. It’s a very strange sport. I have patients who Danny Williams still very recently acquired a licence to box come to me in the ER and they’ve suffered a concussion. They in Eastern Europe despite having shown worrying signs of come into the emergency department and they’re very worried cognitive damage for many years now… that they’ve suffered a head injury, they tell me all about how they You are aware of the fight we had between Magomed fell off their scooter or whatever. Their family members are there, (Abdusalamov) and in 2013. A heavyweight fight

30 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net Photo: AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES

TRAGEDY: Perez pounds Abdusalamov

goes the distance. As I was told, Magomed didn’t appear to be himself might have the highest threshold for stopping a fight, he experiencing any acute sort of problems during the fight. The fight might respond with “I’m fine, let the fight go on.” gets done. He clears the post-fight protocols, steps out of Madison But what I’m trying to say is, I strongly believe that when Square Garden between 12.30 and 1am and collapses. So that’s tragedies occur in the ring and somebody dies it’s a systematic why I came up with, and we do it in New York now, it’s called the failure. It’s not just a failure of one doctor or one referee or the Red Flag Policy. corner. Multiple people fail in their job and this tragedy occurs. What it was, let’s assume we have a fighter. During the fight Do you think it’s possible to standardise how a referee itself, let’s assume the fight goes the distance and during the decides whether or not a fighter can continue? course of the fight no concern is raised. Immediately post-fight I believe that needs to be looked at too because in many the fighter looks stable. Now I have two options. Option One is I countries only a referee can stop the fight. So I feel a referee can just discharge him from the venue. Or Option Two is I can say should have a knowledge of concussions. It’s really important “Listen, it was a tough fight. A lot of blows were exchanged. I want that a referee is highly knowledgeable about concussions. Like I to observe you for about 15-20 minutes.” So we Red Flag these already said, a referee and a doctor may have different thresholds fighters. for stopping a fight. A referee might say a fight can continue and He stays in the commission room for 15-20 minutes, he’s a doctor might say “No, I’m stopping the fight.” That can happen, observed by a doctor, serial neurological examinations are done, and when it happens and a doctor stops the fight, fine. A decision and then a decision is made on whether he’s discharged home or was made, a medical professional made a decision and he or she whether he’s sent to the hospital if his condition changes. But this stopped the fight. was my way of trying to prevent what happened with Magomed, a Like, for example, in New York we have also standardised a little fighter who clears everything but then collapses. of how the referee assesses for concussion after a knockdown. So, I can see that the pressure on you as a doctor at ringside for example, in New York he would allow the fighter to get up, he’ll must be immense. ask the fighter to move towards him, he’ll watch the fighter walk In New York either the referee or the ringside physician can stop in a straight line so he can do a quick heel-to-toe test. He might the fight, so there’s a lot of responsibility on the ringside physician. ask the fighter to step to one side, the left side or the right side As I see it the ringside physician should have the lowest threshold to see if he staggers rather than just walk in a straight line, and he for stopping the fight. He’s there as a doctor and no doctor likes can make him do a two-step command. “Take your right hand, the brain or the athlete to get injured. He or she should have the touch your left ear.” Is he there again? Is he there or is he all glazed lowest threshold. If they have a very high threshold they’re there as up? And then you have to have the courage, the moral courage, to a fan. A referee will have a different threshold for stopping a fight. do the right thing when you feel you cannot guarantee the health The referee is looking at the fight from a different angle. The boxer and safety of the fighter. bn

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 31 Previewing the best upcoming fights PREVIEWS around the world

★★★★★ OUTSTANDING ★★★★ GOOD ★★★ FAIR ★★ DISAPPOINTING ★ RUBBISH

The star ratings indicate how well the writer believes the fighters match up, the fight(s)’ contextual significance, and how good the fight(s) will be

Linares will provide a HEADSTRONG: stern assessment of Linares’ belief in Haney’s credentials, himself is unwavering writes Paul Wheeler

★★★★★ MAIN EVENT ★★★★★ UNDERCARD

HE biggest test of Devin Haney’s career so far awaits the gifted youngster T this Saturday (May 29). At the Michelob Ultra Arena (formerly the Mandalay Bay Events Center) in Las Vegas, the locally based lightweight risks his unbeaten record against vastly decorated veteran Jorge Linares. A professional for more than 18 years, the 47-5 (29) Linares started out as a super-bantamweight, before going on to win a WBC belt at featherweight and a WBA strap at super-featherweight. Two separate title reigns followed at lightweight (WBC and WBA), where he cemented himself as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world from around 2017-2018. In January 2019 up at super-lightweight, a shocking opening-round upset defeat to Pablo Cesar Cano saw his stock take a serious hit, but he has since won two on the trot, albeit in relatively low-key contests. Although he is 13 years older than the 22-year-old Haney, and he has hasn’t competed in over 15 months, Linares is no mere stepping stone – class is permanent, as they say. Losing to Cano in the manner that he did was a severe blow, yet he has proven in the past that he can bounce back from significant setbacks. All five of the Venezuelan’s losses have been via stoppage, but his strength of character has remained undimmed. Like Linares, Haney turned pro at the tender age of 17. A precocious talent, the San Francisco native has not come close to being beaten in 25 fights, with 15 of his wins occurring inside schedule. Last time out in November, he dominated Yuriorkis Gamboa over the distance, though didn’t set pulses racing in the process. The skilled but faded Gamboa is the standout name on Haney’s résumé, but the American prodigy has made no secret of his desire to take on the likes of Teofimo Lopez, Gervonta Davis, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Ryan Garcia. First he Exam period must get past Linares.

32 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net Haney’s WBC title will be on 13-0 (7), is set for her maiden appearance two stylish boxers share similar strengths the line this weekend, yet with the outside of Britain. The undefeated (, combos, body blows, movement aforementioned Lopez being the WBC’s 30-year-old, who claimed the vacant and counters). ‘franchise champion’, just what all these WBC super-lightweight belt in October, An ex-British, Commonwealth and belts mean any more is anyone’s guess. defends against seasoned Puerto Rican European champ, Ward, 29, has not seen These days, titles are no longer a valid Melissa Hernandez, 23-7-3 (7). action in nearly 16 months, while East measure of a boxer’s credibility. True A 41-year-old who fights out of London’s Fuzile, 24 – who is coming off respect and standing can only be earned Beach, the well-travelled Hernandez a controversial loss – has been inactive by defeating quality opponents. A victory returned from a near-three-year hiatus for four months longer. This will be the over Linares would certainly enhance with a win in April 2019, yet hasn’t first stateside outing for either man. Haney’s burgeoning reputation. performed since. The former WBC Both have been stopped, but this one Having completed just 13 rounds in featherweight titlist can box and brawl, should go the full 12 rounds. In a closely the past two years, compared to Haney’s but Cameron is an accomplished contested chess match, the tentative pick 34, ring rust could be an issue for Linares. operator who couples astute footwork is for the quick and tricky Fuzile to defy However, after a long, hard career, during with spiteful salvoes. The well-rounded the oddsmakers by prevailing on points. which he has fought in eight countries Brit can triumph clearly over 10-twos. , 18-1 (14), from and met luminaries like Lomachenko The IBF super-featherweight title Ballybofey in Ireland, can record an (l rsf 10 – May 2018), a prolonged period eliminator between Brentwood’s in-form important 10-round decision victory over of rest may prove Martin J. Ward, Pomona, California’s Shane Mosley Jnr, to be just what 24-1-2 (11), and 17-3 (10) – the son of the Hall of Famer – he needed at this TALE OF THE TAPE South African in a clash of 30-year-old . stage. southpaw Azinga PROVING GROUND: Naturally lean DEVIN HANEY JORGE LINARES Fuzile, 14-1 (8), Haney wants to THE VERDICT An intriguing matchup demonstrate that but with broad @Realdevinhaney @JorgeLinares is a tough fight he is a force to be between two fine fighters at shoulders and Nov 17, 1998/22 DOB/AGE Aug 22, 1985/35 to predict, as the reckoned with different stages in their careers. a big frame, Las Vegas, NV HOMETOWN Tokyo, Japan the athletic and American NATIONALITY Venezuelan adaptable Linares 5ft 8ins HEIGHT 5ft 8ins is comfortable 71ins REACH 69ins fighting on the 25-0 (15) RECORD 47-5 (29) front foot or using Orthodox his technical Dec 11, 2015/17 DEBUT/AGE Dec 15, 2002/17 smarts to connect 60 KO PERCENTAGE 56 with clever WWWWW LAST FIVE FIGHTS WWLWL counterpunches. 138-8 AMATEUR RECORD 89-5 Boasting swift, educated hands and feet, he thrusts out jabs to the head and body, before unleashing ferocious flurries consisting of , straights and hooks. The quicksilver Tokyo resident attacks the midsection with precision and spite, but he has been dropped on numerous occasions and he is also susceptible to cuts. A sharp and accurate puncher like Linares, Haney possesses a level of composure and maturity that belies his youthfulness. The lightning-fast prodigy shoots out snapping jabs, supplemented by vicious hooks and overhand strikes. Mixing his shots upstairs and down, he demonstrates his impressive variety through blazing combinations, backed up by a strong defensive acumen. As the far fresher fighter, and one who is fiercely focused and intent on exhibiting his improvements, it is difficult to look past Haney in this bout. Linares will be able to hold his head high after testing his touted rival and showing flashes of brilliance, but at the end of 12 competitive rounds it will be Haney who deservedly receives the verdict. For the rising starlet, the experience gained will be invaluable going forward. On the undercard of this Matchroom promotion, televised live on DAZN, Northampton’s Chantelle Cameron,

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 33 PREVIEWS

Donaire ★★★★★ OUBAALI-DONAIRE was a points winner over , seven years, but not only did Donaire Naoya’s younger brother. make 118lbs, he shocked ’s WBA and Oubaali THE remarkable Nonito Donaire bids The French southpaw had Inoue over champion Ryan Burnett (19-0). Donaire engage in to take the WBC bantamweight title from in the fourth and went on to win by was competitive before Burnett’s back fellow veteran Nordine Oubaali at the scores of 115-112, 117-110 and a too- injury forced his retirement and “The fascinating Dignity Heath Sports Park in Carson, wide 120-107. Filipino Flash” then turned back the clock California, on Saturday night (May 28). It Oubaali was a quality amateur, to flatten Saint Louis southpaw Stephon scrap, writes is broadcast in the USA by Showtime. competing in the 2008 and 2012 Young, a late replacement for the injured Matt Bozeat Four-weight belt-holder Donaire is Olympics, before turning over at 27 , with a trademark left to now 38 years old, the French champion and he was 32 when he won the vacant reach the final. is 34. They were around 18 months WBC title in Las Vegas with a points win There he met Inoue and in a quality younger when the fight was first mooted. over Rau’shee Warren in January 2019, fight of numerous twists and turns, Donaire was made Oubaali’s mandatory repeating a victory he scored at the 2012 the final twist came in the 11th when challenger in December, 2019. The fight London Olympics. Donaire was dropped for only the third was eventually set for last December, Oubaali has made defences against time in his career by a body shot that put but Oubaali was ruled out after testing Filipino veteran Arthur Villanueva a gap between them on the scorecards. positive for coronavirus. The WBC made (32-3-1) in Kazakhstan and Inoue in In Oubaali, Donaire faces a busy Oubaali “Champion in Recess” and paired Japan. The win over Inoue was his 17th southpaw with fast fists and feet and Donaire with Puerto Rico’s Emanuel straight as a pro, while Donaire has had a high punch output. Of Moroccan Rodriguez. The fight was only nine days 20 sanctioning body ‘world’ title fights, descent, Oubaali, the 13th of 18 children away when it was announced Donaire winning 16. who grew up in the Paris suburbs, had had coronavirus. Filipino puncher Oubaali was still an amateur the first a lengthy amateur career that included Reymart Gaballo stepped in to time Donaire won world honours at World Championship bronze in 2007. Rodriguez for the interim WBC title and 118lbs, his whipping left hook counter He was beaten by China’s Zou earlier this year Oubaali was reinstated as sending Mexico’s Shiming and he also pipped Oubaali full champion by the WBC. on the way to a two-round defeat in on countback in the last 16 at the 2008 Oubaali (17-0) and Donaire (40-6) February, 2011. There were constant Olympics. last fought on the same show, in Japan rumours Donaire would be unable to Four years later, Ireland’s Michael in November, 2019. Donaire lost the get back down to 118lbs for the World Conlan denied Oubaali a medal with a consensus fight of the year to Japanese Boxing Super Series when he was 22-18 win. Oubaali is unbeaten since idol in the final of the announced in the line-up three years ago. turning pro in 2014, but Inoue did have World Boxing Super Series and Oubaali He had not made the weight for him looking ragged in the final minute. The punch that did the damage was a left hook, a shot that worked for Inoue throughout and has brought Donaire some spectacular knockouts. Oubaali was still a clear winner on the scorecards and deservedly so. VETERANS BALL He started the fight beating Inoue to Photo: ALEXIS CUAREZMA/GETTY IMAGES the punch from the outside, then started stepping in behind his shots. Oubaali scored a knockdown late in LEGACY: Donaire is looking the fourth and kept the punches coming to cement his place in twos and threes until the final bell. in history At 5ft 4ins tall, Oubaali is three inches shorter than Donaire and will know that one mistake when he’s darting in or out could end his reign. The Frenchman will surely be unable to shake off the Donaire left hook the way he shook off Inoue’s left hook. Oubaali has stopped six of his last eight himself. He gets his early wins by breaking opponents down. Against Villanueva in his first defence, Oubaali put his challenger under pressure with his feet, countered every punch thrown at him and after six rounds, Villanueva had been dropped and decided he didn’t want anymore. There’s a chance, a good chance, that Oubaali will be too fresh and too busy for Donaire. It’s equally likely Donaire will be too big and punch too hard. It’s Donaire, in a fairytale showing, to win by late stoppage for me.

THE VERDICT Donaire can cement his place in boxing history with another title at the ripe old age of 38.

34 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net PREVIEWS

SECOND CHANCE: But last time Ali has an opportunity CHANGE OF IMAGE like this, he blew it Photo: SCOTT HEAVEY/GETTY IMAGES ★★★★★ WHOLE SHOW

THINK of Rotherham heavyweight Kash Ali and you doubtless think of him biting David Price. The red tops rounded on him and the British Boxing Board of Control banned him for six months after he was disqualified in the fifth round of that fight in Liverpool in March 2019. Ali is determined that incident won’t define his career. He’s rebounded with three low-key wins and Fight Academy have given the 29-year-old the chance to push his career on as part of their link up with the FightZone App. On Friday night, he tops the bill in the car park of the Sheffield Arena when he faces limited Czech puncher Tomas Salek. “I sparred David Price a lot and the fight was going how I expected,” said Ali of the only defeat on his 18-1 (9) record. “I knew if it went past three or four rounds I had a chance and I had him ruffled in the fifth. “It was getting hard for him, but my head wasn’t in the right place. Six months Ali punching and couldn’t see where Sour’s four-round level. before I lost my dad. That’s not why I did shots were coming from as he got around The step up came when he met what I did, but I’m going to make it right determined the sides. Sheffield’s David Howe (14-7) for the and I would be up for a rematch. If I get to make fans Kadiru needed more room to work vacant Central Area belt in March, 2018. myself into a good position perhaps he and was able to walk Salek onto punches, By then Howe’s vulnerabilities were well might consider it.” forget his drop him twice and stop him in six. known and a couple of rights polished For that to happen, not only does Price “He’s knocked a lot of people out,” him off in the second. have to signal he wants to fight again, past when said Ali, “and you can’t fluke knocking “I’ve been learning my trade,” said Ali, Ali has to get past Salek, a 22-year-old he takes on people out. But I’m a bigger puncher and “and now I’ve got a massive opportunity.” whose 15-2 record shows 13 inside-the- a superior boxer as well. I’m not going to The last time Ali was handed this sort distance wins. The opposition hasn’t been Salek, writes stand there and get hit.” of opportunity, he blew it. the stiffest. Matt Bozeat Ali is a couple of inches taller, does The fight with Price raised questions Most of Salek’s wins have come against indeed appear the sharper boxer and about Ali’s character. Will he always look fighters with losing records and, as both punch their weight. for a way out when it gets his last fight proved, having a winning Most spectacular of ‘I’M GOING tough? The irony is, he record doesn’t mean you can fight. Alain Ali’s early wins was a had Price in discomfort Banongo was a blubbery no hoper with fourth-round stoppage TO MAKE IT earlier in the round, but it a deceiving 3-1 record who fell apart the of Melton’s Paul Butlin looked as though once he first time Salek’s fists went anywhere near (16-23-1) at York Hall RIGHT. I’M realised his best punches his . in June 2016. The right- UP FOR A weren’t going to get the The results that reveal most about hand finisher convinced reaction he wanted, Ali Salek are his losses. As an amateur, Butlin to never fight again DAVID PRICE took the easy way out. Daniel Dubois stopped him in two and put a smile on Tim He’s not proud of that rounds and defeats in his pro career Witherspoon’s face. The REMATCH’ and can have a happier came against Pavel Sour (10-1) and Peter former WBC and WBA ending on Friday night Kadiru (6-0). British fans remember Sour heavyweight titlist had been teaching Ali and he can make up for it here, if only being bombed out by and, the shot he used to finish slightly. Ali can beat Salek on points. more recently, , but he and lay out Anders Eklund in his own Also, Wolverhampton’s all-action outpointed Salek by scores of 98-94, career. Conah Walker (8-0-1) finally fights for 99-94 and 99-90 in April, 2019. Former heavyweight Richard Towers is the Midlands Area title. Three times his Salek started brightly behind a double with Ali now. chance has fallen through and eventually jab, but after the opening couple of They have known each other since Ali he meets sparring partner Levi rounds, he just walked straight at Sour turned over with the Ingles as a 19-year- Ferguson (5-1) for the belt vacated by with his gloves up and chin down, old in November, 2011 after a handful of Kaisee Benjamin and can win on points. shipped uppercuts and then found amateur bouts. himself too close to do his own work. There have been several changes since THE VERDICT Ali must answer the There were times when the head- then and it ended up taking Ali more questions about his character that down Salek wasn’t looking where he was than eight years to compile 11 wins at came after the bite fight with Price.

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 35 LONG LIVE

Norman Giller is an esteemed author of 114 books, he worked as Muhammad Ali’s European publicist, he was a scriptwriter on THIS IS YOUR LIFE and he was a chief sports writer at THE E XPRESS. But some of his fondest memories originated from his spell as a BOXING N EWS reporter. He is talking to Alex Daley

OW did you first come to work small team at 92 Fleet Street, bang opposite the for Boxing News? Black Lubyanka Daily Express building that was an I was assistant sports editor anthem to the best and the worst of art deco when of the Stratford Express in East built in the 1930s. Little did I know that before the London (staff of two), and 1960s were halfway through I would be looking out H boxing was then my first love. on to the Boxing News office from the Express. We’re talking late 1950s. I’d had the dream to become a Was it a huge salary rise that took you to Boxing British champion like my hero and near neighbour in News? Stepney, Sammy ‘Smiler’ McCarthy, but brittle wrists Oh yes, I was lured to boxing’s famous trade meant I could only pound a typewriter keyboard. paper by a weekly wage of £8.10s (£8.50), and the I was a walking record book on the sport and I jumped at the chance to join the Boxing News staff in 1958 when they had a shuffle following the departure of Editor Jack Wilson. Tim Riley took over as Editor, and we knew and respected each other from covering the London amateur boxing scene. The Boxing News staff was then just three full-time in editorial: Tim, king of the records Ron Olver and myself, with South London freelance Dave Caldwell working as a regular contributor for us. Michael Taub, a talented young writer with good boxing knowledge, joined as a junior soon after me. Happy as I was on the Stratford Express, I just couldn’t resist it when Tim invited me to join his MUTUAL RESPECT: Ali and Giller share a moment together

36 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net ANOTHER ERA: The Boxing News office in 1951 with Ron Olver [left] and Cyril Tiffin [centre]. The unknown man on the right occupies the seat where Giller would later sit

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 37 promise of projection as a columnist on my even knew of his existence I became a Clay coming manager called Terry Lawless and favourite sport. These were the days when watcher and, later, an Aliphile and also, we worked closely together over the next 20 staff bylines were considered pretentious, briefly, his European publicist. Sorry, racing years, with me as a quiet advisor to Terry and and I was given the nom de plume Ross ahead of myself. his boxers on matters of PR and projection. Martin, taken from an empty Martini Rossi Under his wing were future world champions box resting under Tim’s desk. ‘Around the What was the boxing scene like at that Charlie Magri, Maurice Hope, , John Gyms with Ross Martin’ became my passport time? H. Stracey and the unique Frank Bruno. to drop in on all the major gymnasiums and Hustling and bustling. Correct me if I’m get to know just about every major boxing wrong, but there were more than 10,000 Can you recall any of your early Boxing personality of the time, including the visiting registered amateur boxers in London and News articles? overseas champions. The most awe-inspiring the South alone, and the professional One of my first Boxing News assignments of them was Sugar Ray Robinson, most game was booming as the likes of Mickey was an early morning meeting with a boxer modest Floyd Patterson and most moody Duff, Harry Levene, Jarvis Astaire and Mike who was to become the most popular of all Charles ‘Sonny’ Liston. Barrett moved in to challenge the one-man British sportsmen. I clearly recall that it was Editor Tim Mocock, aka Riley, wrote promotion domination of Jack Solomons. 5.15am on a freezing December morning under the pseudonym of Broughton (Jack Jack hated his territory being invaded and and Henry Cooper was standing alongside Broughton, a bare-knuckle fighter, the first started a years-long verbal, and often legal, me stark naked, apart from a pair of heavy- to introduce boxing rules in the 18th century) battle with his one-time friend Harry Levene. duty size eleven army boots. and was a world authority on amateur Boxing News was dragged into the war and No, I am not uncovering a sordid, kinky boxing. He was first to say the name to found itself being sued by Jarvis Astaire for secret from Henry’s past. I had asked for an me, Cassius Clay. He had just won a Golden suggesting he was the ‘Mr X’ of boxing and interview for a feature I was writing as Ross Gloves title at light-heavyweight in the United running a ‘Syndicate’ against Solomons. We Martin, and Cooper’s manager Jim Wicks told States. It was the start of my fascination had to run a full-page apology. Oops. me in raw, unadulterated Cockney: ‘The only with the greatest sporting personality of my I stayed well clear of the politics and time Our ’Enery’s got to rabbit to you, my son, lifetime, and before most people in Britain was best friends with a young, up-and- is when he goes on his early morning gallop.

STREETS OF LONDON: Young Muhammad Ali enjoys life in the capital ahead of his first fight with Henry Cooper in 1963

38 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net So get a pair of strong daisies and join ’im on heavyweight title fight against the old frog if you want any nannies.’ It was his old foe Brian London. like listening to my Dad, who spoke fluent I had just stripped off Cockney. So I got my daisy roots (boots) on and was about to pull on a and joined Henry on the frog and toad (road) tracksuit when The Bishop to get some nanny goats (quotes). arrived, looking immaculate This, of course, was The Bishop – Jim as if he were on his way to Wicks, the most influential and important morning prayers. A smart, man in Henry’s life and boxing career. Jim grey trilby protected his bald was not just his manager. He was his minder, head from the cold morning mentor and best mate, and an unknowing air and he was sheathed in a master of malapropisms. Very misleadingly, fine-check Crombie overcoat. he was called ‘The Bishop’ because of his He had probably just come distinguished, benign looks and bald dome from a Mayfair casino or an that would have fitted perfectly into a mitre. all-night card school. But ex-bookmaker Jim’s church was the ‘Bleedin’ ’ell,’ he said, betting ring and his altar rails were at the catching sight of my skinny- racecourse. My Dad had run street bets for as-a-pipecleaner, nine-stone him and Jack Solomons when they were featherweight frame. ‘I’ve got operating as bookmakers before the war. greyhounds fatter than you. My meeting place with Henry for the You need a good meal rather early morning road run was the Thomas à than a good run. For gawd’s PARTNERSHIP: Wicks and the injured Cooper pose for a photo in 1969 Becket gymnasium, deep in Del Boy territory sake, Enery, don’t let him fall down the Old Kent Road, where Henry was down any drains.’ magazine. They could never hide the surprise training for an upcoming British and Empire Henry came to my defence. ‘Don’t listen on their face that we operated in just one to him, Norm,’ he said. ‘You can’t fatten editorial room about the size of a couple thoroughbreds.’ of boxing rings. I can recall meeting Cus From that day on it was a catchphrase D’Amato, Angelo Dundee, Rocky Marciano between the two of us, as what started out and Carlos Ortiz before his 1958 fight with as a working relationship blossomed over Dave Charnley in the final show at the old the next 50-plus years into strong friendship Harringay Arena. I’ve got a lovely story to and encompassed four books together. share with you about that promotion. The ‘can’t fatten thoroughbreds’ line Only one person in the land could match came back to me when I got the exclusive Ron Olver for statistical and historical ring story that when he first fought Ali in 1963, knowledge, and that was former Editor crafty Jim Wicks slipped racing handicap Gilbert Odd, who became a role model for weights into the soles of Henry’s boots for me in the way he freelanced after leaving the weigh-in. He didn’t want Cassius to have Boxing News. the psychological advantage of knowing that He had nostalgia columns syndicated in Cooper weighed just 12st 12lb. That was more than 30 newspapers in the days when the fight when he knocked Ali down and Saturday classified evening papers were scattered his senses with his famous left massive sellers in every major town. This all hook ’ammer. ‘Hit me so hard,’ Ali later told brings me to a warning to any sportswriters me, ‘that he shook up my kinfolk in Africa.’ who might be reading this of how what you Henry’s official weight for the fight was have written can years later come back to announced as 13st 4lb. ‘It was just a case of haunt and, in Gilbert’s case, hurt you. self reservation,’ said Jim, whose delightful, My tale of the unexpected revolves around unintended malapropisms deserve to be Jock McAvoy. His real name, of course, was preserved for all time. Joe Bamford. He fought under an assumed The Bishop took it upon himself to offer name so that his mother did not know he me advice about my new Ross Martin was a professional boxer. column. ‘You’ve got to be bold and write Many good judges rate him the greatest what you think, son,’ he said. ‘No good being middleweight we ever produced. He was a shrinking violation in the old pen and ink nicknamed the Rochdale Thunderbolt, and business.’ after he had won the British and Empire ’Enry and Jim, a priceless pair of characters. titles in the mid-1930s, he put out a challenge to the then world champion Ed “Babe” Risko. I’ve heard that in times past, boxers, The American’s management would only managers, etc, would frequently pop into agree to a non-title fight, and when they the Boxing News office. Was that still had picked Risko off the floor after being happening in your time there? flattened six times in the first round, they There were frequent visits by overseas decided that the thunderous-punching managers and boxers, who believed the McAvoy would be avoided at all costs. slogan that Boxing News was ‘the Bible of Jock moved up to light-heavyweight and Boxing’, and Britain’s answer to The Ring campaigned in the United States, finally

“THEYWOULDTHINKNOTHINGOF POLISHINGOFFA BOTTLE OFWINE A DAY BEFOREMOVINGONTO THE HARD STUFF”

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 39 HUSTLE AND BUSTLE: How Fleet Street looked in the 1960s when it was the home of Boxing News earning a title tilt at exceptional world the ringside when introduced. The veteran punch, Jock.’ champion , who outpointed Odd, on reporting duty for Boxing News, was He then made as dignified an exit as he the Lancastrian at Madison Square invited by one of McAvoy’s entourage to visit could, with McAvoy’s wild eyes burning a Garden in 1936. Gilbert Odd was less than Jock in the hospitality room. hole in his back. ‘I went to the nearest toilet,” complimentary when reporting McAvoy’s Gilbert duly paid homage to the old Gilbert later told me, ‘and sat in a cubicle later performances during defeats by Len champion, and as he bent down to shake his for 10 minutes while I recovered. Jock had Harvey and . hand, McAvoy half rose from his wheelchair not lost his , but I was not Fast forward 20 years to October 1958, and and threw a right hand that landed on Odd’s going to give him the satisfaction of knowing the final boxing show at the old Harringay chin and sent his spectacles spinning across that. It had been years since I had criticised Arena. Promoter Jack Solomons invited a the room. ‘That’s for saying I was rubbish his performance against Mills, and it had gathering of old champions to parade in against Freddie Mills,’ McAvoy snarled. festered with him all that time.’ the ring, including McAvoy, who was by Gilbert was badly shaken as he picked up So, you sportswriters out there, when you then confined to a wheelchair suffering from his glasses, but managed to say as hurtfully are penning criticism of today’s heroes, think polio and could only wave to the fans from as possible: ‘So sad to see you’ve lost your of Gilbert Odd and the way his words came

40 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net Ali was like away from the ring, and the “WHEN ALL THE HULLABALOO AND HYPE answer is the complete opposite to the public performer. He was quietly spoken, IS OVER, WE TURN TO BOXING NEWS polite, very inquisitive with more questions than answers, and he was ultra sincere in his religious beliefs. Put a camera or microphone TO FIND OUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED” near him and he quickly changed back to the back to haunt him. miserly wage structure. They decided to quit showman and braggart. It was all an act. and start a rival paper called Boxing World, I was a scriptwriter on This Is Your Life What are your outstanding memories of in which I had a regular ‘Boxing Corner’ for 14 years, including among the subjects your time at Boxing News? column. But the venture flopped because I brought to the screen Jack ‘Kid’ Berg, Reg I was lucky to be there at a very exciting they had done such a great job over the Gutteridge, Harry Carpenter, Jim Watt and time for the fight game. Tim Riley was previous decades establishing Boxing News the one and only Frank Bruno, with whom devoted to his amateur boxing, so gave me as the newspaper to trust for the best in I was brotherly close all the time he was my head to write about the up-and-coming ring reports and balanced news items. And it under the caring, careful management of champions of the time, including Henry, Joe remains so, even in this often surreal digital my dearest friend, Terry Lawless. Between Erskine, Dave Charnley, Peter Waterman, world of ours. us, Terry and I worked on Frank to always my good mate Terry Spinks, the intelligent be a gentleman and in all my years around and dignified Bobby Neill and another close What happened to you after Boxing News? sportsmen I’ve not met anybody who could pal, Terry Downes, who loved Boxing News I had two enormously happy years at match Frank for an obsession with physical because we helped him get exposure in his Boxing News before going off in another fitness and self improvement both inside early days after his return from the United direction as sports editor of the Stratford and outside the ring. Our major challenge States, where he was known as the Fighting Express sub editor at the London Evening in the early days was to stop him saying Marine (long after Gene Tunney, of course). Standard and Daily Herald and then 10 heady ‘y’know’ at the end of every sentence. One It was 1959 when Boxing News celebrated years as chief football writer for the Daily day he arrived at the Royal Oak gym in its 50th year of publication, and I worked on Express in the golden age of the 1960s, Canning Town all smiles. ‘I’ve cracked it,’ he the special souvenir edition. We had scores with the highlight covering the 1966 World announced. ‘I no longer say y’know at the of goodwill messages, and one I recall from Cup finals. I was the only reporter to get end of my sentences … know what I mean?’ Reg Gutteridge (for whom I worked as a copy into the dressing-room after the final until Frank was a diamond of a man who boy on the London Evening News in the mid- England manager Alf Ramsey turfed me out performed beyond his limits as a boxer. 50s) summed up the omniscient presence because even in that moment of euphoria he I continue to be a full-time author and and status of Boxing News when he wrote: considered the dressing-room as private as a have just completed my 114th book, My 70 “When all the hullabaloo and hype is over woman’s boudoir. Years with Spurs. Ron Olver would hate it! and the fighting done, we turn to Boxing For the next 10 years I was fairly prominent It just so happens that I have some of News to find out what really happened.” in the fight game as PR for Harry Levene my Ali Files books left, which is distinctive Our huge best-seller every year was the and Mike Barrett, and for Jarvis Astaire on in that it is the only one that tells you Boxing News annual that was mainly Ron his ViewSport satellite shows. This took in what happened to each of Muhammad’s Olver’s baby. In all my time in the journalism working with Muhammad Ali as one of his opponents. By all means contact me by game – 65 years and counting – I have PRs for his European fights. That lovely email at [email protected] if never come across a more conscientious and big man needed a PR like Einstein needed you wish to ask any questions. dedicated man than Ron, a shy, courteous a calculator. People always ask me what Long live Boxing News. bn Devonian whose only major weakness was an unfathomable love for the Arsenal (I have Tottenham Hotspur leanings). Ron’s encyclopaedic knowledge of boxing records was staggering, and he used to spend hours and hours working on his cards and keeping up to date with boxers in every weight division and in every country in the world where they staged professional boxing. They were lovely relaxed times at Boxing News. Ron was an amateur singer with the famous George Mitchell choir and we used to sing harmonies on duets in the middle of a working day. Tim used to use it as an excuse to go out for ‘a quick snifter’ at the nearby Punch Tavern. These were the pre- KEEPING TOP COMPANY: Giller with Downes breathalyser days when Fleet Street was as [above] and Dempsey and Carpentier [below] much the Street of Drink as Ink and iconic sports columnists like Peter ‘The Man They Can’t Gag’ Wilson (Daily Mirror), Des ‘The Man in the Brown Bowler’ Hackett (Daily Express), Tom ‘I put my shirt on’ Phillips (Daily Herald) and the ‘Man at ’ Geoffrey Green would think nothing of polishing off a bottle of wine a day before moving on to the strong stuff. At the Telegraph Don Saunders was nicknamed ‘Saunders of the Liver’, and Laurie Pignon and Roy Peskett at the Mail could drink most people under the subs’ table. It was another age. Another planet. Tim and Ron gave their heart and soul to Boxing News and it was so sad to see them fall out with the management over their GRUDGE: McAvoy didn’t take kindly to a bad report

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 41 AMATEURS

The very best action, previews and news from Olympic-style boxing AMATEUR @BoxingNewsJD SCENE With JOHN DENNEN | SEND us your club's news, results or upcoming events to [email protected] or 020 7618 3478 PURE PASSION

Photo: GB BOXING outpointed GB’s Niall Farrell on VICTORY: a split decision in the 57kgs final. This gold Middleweight Taylor Bevan medal delivered a strong sequence of means a lot performances as he took 75kgs to French gold. Welsh twins Ioan Croft and Garan Croft secured silver medals and Scotland’s Reese Lynch also earned a gold medal, beating Ukraine’s Danylo Lozan on a in his final bout. RESULTS 52: Kiaran MacDonald (England) outpd Lennon Mulligan (Scotland) unan, MacDonald outpd Marius Vysniauskas (Lithuania) unan, Ibrahim Boukedim (France) outpd Ryan Carlin (Scotland) split, MacDonald outpd Boukedim unan. 57: Niall Farrell (England) outpd Vasile Usturoi (Belgium) split, Billy Unsworth () outpd Farrell split. 60: Edgaras Skurdelis (Lithuania) outpd Charlie Doig (Scotland) unan. 64: Reese Lynch (Scotland) outpd Eduardo Bajak (Germany) unan, Danylo Lozan (Ukraine) outpd Luke Bibby (Scotland) split, Enrico Lacruz (Netherlands) outpd Robbie McKechnie (Scotland) split, Calum French (England) outpd Lukas Pusvaskis (Lithuania) unan, Lynch outpd Modestas Calum French gets back in to us winning that. After 18 months big, tall, strong and gangly. He’s Zmuidina (Lithuania) split, French outpd Lounes action and Rosie Eccles gets out with the injury, with the Covid awkward to fight against as well Hamraoui (France) split, Lynch outpd Lozan [situation], winning that tournament because he’s quite scrappy. You’d unan, French outpd Lacruz unan. 69: Tyler revenge at the Socikas in meant something to us,” French think with him being such a long- Jolly (Scotland) outpd Mykola Keush (Ukraine) Lithuania told Boxing News. limbed kid he’d box at long range a split, Sebastian Terteryan (Denmark) outpd After getting his eye in against lot but he gets in to fight a lot. He’s Harris Akbar (England) split, Stephen Newns Lithuania’s Lukas Pusvaskis, quite awkward to fight against. He (Scotland) outpd Cas van Peer (Netherlands) A PROMISING squad of new winning unanimously, he outscored probably hates me now. I’ve beat unan, Rosie Eccles (Wales) outpd Saadat British boxers impressed at the France’s Lounes Hamraoui by split him three times. Dalgatova (Russia) split, Ioan Croft (Wales) Socikas tournament that finished in decision in the semi-final. Then he “My reaction after I won the outpd Jolly unan, Hugo Grau (France) outpd Lithuania on May 15. GB had five took on seasoned final, it was pure Newns split, Eccles stpd Augustina Markelionyte boxers secure gold medals: Kiaran international passion. It was (Lithunia) 2nd, Filip Wachala (Poland) outpd MacDonald at 52kgs, Calum medallist Enrico ‘YOU DON’T an unbelievable Croft unan. 75: Iveta Lesinskyte (Lithuania) French at 64kgs, Rosie Eccles at Lacruz of Holland, feeling getting back outpd Kerry Davis (England) unan, Taylor Bevan 69kgs, Conner Tudsbury at 81kgs outpointing him REALISE amongst it. Getting (Wales) outpd Anton Embulaev (Finalnd) unan, and Scottish heavyweight Scott unanimously. HOW MUCH back amongst the Zenfira Magomedalieva (Russia) outpd Davis Forrest, all ones to watch for the “[Hamraoui] is a golds as well. When unan, Garan Croft (Wales) outpd Lukasz Zygula next Olympic cycle. good kid, southpaw, YOU LOVE I first got on GB I (Poland) unan, Bevan stpd Oleksandr Shytyi Rosie Eccles’ triumph at the he had good was winning gold (Ukraine) 2nd, Moreno Fendero (France) outpd tournament was bittersweet. In her footwork, razor WINNING medal after gold Ramtin Musah (England) split, Vytautas Balsys first bout she got revenge on the sharp jab. But once GOLDS’ medal and you (Lithuania) outpd Croft unan, Bevan outpd Russian boxer who had eliminated I started going don’t really realise Fendero split. 81: Conner Tudsbury (England) her from the Olympic qualification through the gears how much you outpd Pal Kovacs (Hungary) unan, Tudsbury event in 2020, beating Saadat with him he couldn’t go with us. love winning them gold medals outpd Monny Raphael (France) unan, Tudsbury Dalgatova on a split decision. Lacruz is Lacruz obviously, he’s until you’re sat on that second tier outpd Rick de Nooijer (Netherlands) unan. In the final she comfortably beat always game. That was the third or even the bronze medal. To get 91: Scott Forrest (Scotland) stpd Krisztian the host nation’s Augustina time I boxed him.” back on top of the podium was an Kovacs (Hungary) 1st, Avton Borzsei (Sweden) Markelionytevia. “He’s experienced, he’s been in unreal feeling.” stpd Samson Leyson (Wales) 3rd, Forrest stpd Calum French returned to action there with a few good fighters. He’s Welsh and Scottish squads also Simonas Urbonavicius (Lithuania) 2nd, Forrest for the first time in 18 months. “I got good wins over [Lazaro] Alvarez. impressed in the tournament. outpd Oleksandr Pylypchuk (Ukraine) unan. 91&: know it was just a little tournament He’s got a few major medals to his Wales’ Billy Unsworth Jonas Jazevicius (Lithuania) outpd Delicious in Lithuania but it meant everything name,” French continued. “He’s secured a good result when he Orie (England) split.

42 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net AMATEURS THE FUTURE OF AIBA

The new president of AIBA welcome the ideas of all those Olympic sport is vital to amateur at the recent championship in Umar Kremlev speaks to who are involved in boxing and boxing. A major task for Kremlev is Kielce, Poland. The scores of each then work on delivering them to reform AIBA so that the IOC will round by each judge were publicly John Dennen strategically and methodically.” allow the beleaguered federation displayed at the end of the round. A partnership with Gazprom, to resume control of the boxing at We are reviewing the system’s Russia’s majority state owned Paris 2024. “The return of AIBA to success and public reception,” the RUSSIA’S Umar Kremlev assumed energy company, he believes the Olympic family is one of the AIBA president noted. “Regarding the presidency of AIBA last year, at will settle AIBA’s financial key purposes for my presidency. the past concern over the Rio a time of ongoing turmoil for the position. “We’ve already taken a Boxing has a very rich history in the 2016 judging and refereeing case, international federation. Currently tremendously significant step in Olympic movement and it is truly we have launched an external the IOC has suspended AIBA from that direction. Teaming up with a shame that the boxing governing investigation and will be taking administering the Olympic boxing Gazprom has ensured AIBA’s body has been declared unsuitable appropriate action based on what tournament, amid profound financial stability. to organise the is found. I assure you, AIBA is concerns about the organisation’s But beyond that, tournament during committed to shedding a light on, finances, governance, officiating Gazprom has been ‘IT IS the Olympic and taking positive actions in order and other issues. heavily involved in Games,” Kremlev to eradicate such practices moving But Kremlev maintains that he is the development of IMPORTANT said. “It is important forward.” the man to solve these problems. world sports, and THAT AIBA for us that AIBA AIBA has launched an “My main priority is seeing AIBA now supports the proves its integrity investigation into the terrible death become a transparent, stable, values of boxing,” he PROVES ITS and trustworthiness of Rashed Al-Swaisat of Jordan, the welcoming home to all boxers and said. “Thanks to this to the IOC and young boxer who died in Poland. those who support them,” he said. partnership we will INTEGRITY TO the entire sports “AIBA is determined to ensure that “First of all, we have taken care of be able to offer the THE IOC’ community. There we learn every possible lesson from the financial issue. young generation is a relationship to Rashed’s tragic death,” Kremlev “We have also introduced a new of athletes an repair, and we are stated. “Boxing has made huge constitution that has strict eligibility opportunity to grow and evolve, set on doing so. progress in terms of safety and we criteria for all members. This means as well as to continue supporting “A lot of reforms are required are fortunate that such injuries that we are finally able to move our current champions on all to ensure governance, sports and are extremely rare in our sport. forward in a bold and thoughtful continents.” financial integrity of AIBA. We have The wellbeing of boxers is our top way. And we have opened our Some innovations can be seen, started working with international priority and we are grateful to have doors to independent experts to AIBA for instance is providing prize specialists who will help us reach the support of independent experts help us. In particular, the strategic money at the Asian championships, excellence in these areas.” in protecting boxers’ health.” plan we are working on will provide $10,000 for a gold medallist, $5,000 Fair judging of bouts has been a The organisation is ambitious a clear roadmap for the future of for a silver medallist and $2,500 for major issue of concern, especially for its World championships in AIBA and boxing. each bronze medallist. since Rio 2016. “A new live-scoring October and other tournaments. “It is very important that we But a long term future as an system has already been tested “We had to cancel and reschedule Photo: AIBA a number of spectacular events. But now we are doing everything possible to facilitate a safe IN CHARGE: AIBA’s Kremlev environment for more tournaments wants to ensure to take place and for the sport to boxing’s continue to develop further,” said Olympic future the AIBA president, who already is a lively presence on social media himself. Kremlev explained his own vision for the sport: “To me boxing is beauty, intelligence, manners, a rich history, and defined, clear rules. I love the intense, awe-inspiring spectacle that it is. I love the athletes that serve as ambassadors for our sport with such discipline and respect. And I have the greatest respect for the amazing people that support boxers and boxing. “I was drawn to boxing by the thrill as a young athlete, but I stayed for the community. “As president, my vision for AIBA goes beyond championships and prizes. I see AIBA as a welcoming, stable, reliable home. A home to boxers and all who support them.“

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 43 YESTERDAY’S HEROES The 100 club

Celebrating N November 7, them having 200 fights or more. In the The first 100-plus professionals 1975, Boxing News period from 1975 to now, but especially started to appear by the first few years British published an article since the mid-1990s, many fighters of the 20th century, with most of them boxing’s about Battersea’s became centurions, with Peter Buckley having had long careers in the small centurions O Ray Fallone under and Kristian Laight both having 300 halls around London. I have records of the heading: “Ray contests or more. This group of boxers more than 1,000 British and Irish fighters – the aims to go out with was spearheaded by Seamus Casey and who have managed to join this club, backbone of a win.” Three days later, Ray stepped Dean Bramhald. and the very great majority of them into the ring for an eight-rounder with Nobody back in 1975 would have won far more fights than they lost. Their the sport Mick Hampston of Lewisham, at the predicted that this could happen. The real heyday was in the 1930s, when 740 Greyhound Hotel, Croydon, for his 100th reason it did is because of the advent of boxers who fought during that decade professional outing. Despite giving young ‘the ’ – the ring-wise veteran, had 100 bouts or more, with 546 of Mick plenty to think about, Ray was frequently boxing week after week, and them having winning records. Many of outpointed. BN reported that “Ray was there to test the potential of the ‘home’ them became British, European and even never hurt, and, true to form, boxed for fighter. I have seen most of these lads world champions. The most famous of most of the contest with a broad grin on myself, usually from ringside, and I can them is probably Len Wickwar, for whom his face. He finished the fight unmarked.” attest to their ringcraft. Most of them are I have traced 471 contests. At the end, Ray sportingly clapped far better than their record suggests, and I will pick just one of these boxing his opponent before he himself was readers of Peter Buckley’s recent book, centurions at random to demonstrate rewarded with a warm tribute from King of the Journeymen, will appreciate the type of boxer that we had in those Board Secretary Ray Clarke. At the just how much is needed to be able to days. Arthur “Boy” Edge of Smethwick, a time, it was widely acknowledged that play this role. flyweight and bantamweight, was active Ray would be the last of the 100-bout In football, to join a ‘100 club’ is for just seven years between 1928 and professionals, such was the state of usually reserved for the very best – 100 1935, losing only 37 of his 150 contests. the game. There were some excellent Premier League goals or 100 England He fought two British title eliminators, fighters around, but there were simply caps, for instance. In cricket, to score a held both the Southern Area flyweight not enough shows being staged for first-class century is the mark of a very and bantamweight titles, and beat anyone to be able to have so many good batsman, and only 25 players in champions galore, before retiring in his bouts, especially as boxers tended to the history of the game have scored 100 mid-20s, complete with a cauliflower ear. have shorter, and tougher, careers back centuries. In boxing, the reverse is true, Every single member of this Miles then. as it appears that only the journeymen, honourable club deserves great credit Templeton Fast forward to 2019 when, in the the perennial losers, manage to have – Buckley, Edge, Fallone and all the annual British rankings, BN listed the 100 contests. The most successful boxers rest of them, be they champions or Boxing names of eight boxers, then active, who rarely get close to that number, but this journeymen, winners or losers, for they historian had joined the ‘100 club’, with two of was not always the case. are the sport’s backbone. HARD-HITTING SOUTHPAW Brighton take a BRIGHTON are the latest EBA to be as usual – and it’s hoped that the British a piece on a former boxer by Leigh look back at the planning to start meeting again. In their Ex-Boxers Hall of Fame will still be going Crompton, and this month it’s on Bristol’s career of Nick current newsletter, Secretary Jane Davison ahead in September. Jane reports having Nick Wilshire, a hard-hitting southpaw reports that they aim to meet on July 11. been sent the nominations sheet for 2022, who missed out on a medal at the 1980 Wilshire “We should be allowed inside by then,” and asks BEBA members to read these and Moscow Olympics, and turned pro the Jane says, “but still abiding by the one- inbox her on Messenger (Facebook) with following year. He won 36 of 40 paid way system, and wearing masks when preferences. Jane would like to send these bouts, 31 inside schedule. He was a moving about.” That’s good news, and I back to Dave Harris by July. regular on major London bills – Wembley hope it comes off. Jane goes on to report that on and the Albert Hall – and also had eight Jane goes on to give some more November 7, Vince Campbell has bouts in the USA, winning them all. important dates. The following Sunday organised an “Afternoon with Legends” The two men Nick couldn’t get past (July 18), the Ringside Charitable Trust Luncheon at The Irish Centre, York were fellow Brits Jimmy Cable and Lloyd presents “A Celebration of Greatness” at Road, . Parties from Hastings and Hibbert. In May 1983, Cable surprisingly the Azur Marina Pavilion, St. Leonards- Brighton will be going, and former world snapped Nick’s winning streak at 19, on-Sea. The day is in honour of the late champions , Duke McKenzie coming through a horrendous spell when Simon Alan Minter, Johnny Clark, Geoff Hopcraft and John H. Stracey have confirmed they he was dropped twice by Nick’s wicked Euan-Smith and Vince Heckman, and all proceeds will will be there. It is a three-course luncheon body shots and taking control in the simonoldtimers go to the Ringside Charitable Trust. “Will – 1pm to 6pm – casual dress, and tickets second half to win a 10-round verdict. @googlemail.com be a great day,” Jane says, and I hope it is. at £40 per head can be obtained by They met again the following year, for the EBA In August, Brighton plan to go ahead contacting Vince on 0771 424 7827. vacant British light-middleweight (now correspondent with their Summer BBQ – £5 entrance The BEBA newsletter normally includes super-welterweight) title, and again Cable

44 l BOXING NEWS l MAY 27, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net BACKBONE OF THE SPORT: Fallone [left] had 100 fights by the end of his career in 1975, while Arthur Edge [above] had even more between 1928 and 1935

IN FOCUS: Wilshire was a regular on major London bills in his 40-fight pro career

won on points. at least 22 times at the Great Boxing Wilshire beat Ken Salisbury on a Booth at Tottenham Court. This was only two-rounds cuts stoppage to take the the second purpose-built boxing venue in Australian’s Commonwealth title, but the world, and fighters appeared there by surprisingly lost to Birmingham’s Lloyd invitation only. Hibbert in a non-title bout – a lethargic- I was sorry to read of the death of looking Wilshire pulling out after eight Manchester’s Nat Jacobs, who boxed at rounds. That set up a return, involving welter and middleweight between 1960 both Wilshire’s title and the vacant British and 1970, winning 28 and drawing two belt, and after dropping a very close of 56 bouts. Nat won the vacant Central verdict (one round in it) Nick called it a Area middleweight title in 1965, with a day. two-round knockout of Jim Swords, and Manchester EBA also have a resident went on to challenge British champion scribe – Lawrence Yearsley – who Johnny Pritchett, losing in 13 rounds. regularly provides fascinating pieces on On a happier note, congratulations past fighters, and this month he goes to MEBA President Neville Tetlow, who back to the 18th century to tell the story celebrated his 90th birthday this month of Benjamin Boswell, the “Gypsy Prince”. (May 9). Boswell was a real character – how many fights he had isn’t known, but it’s recorded EMAIL [email protected] that between 1737 and 1748 he appeared with your ex-boxer association news.

www.boxingnewsonline.net MAY 27, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 45 SIXTY SECONDS

MIRIAM GUTIÉRREZ Paul Wheeler talks to a woman who does invaluable work outside of boxing

Photo: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM When and why you started Favourite meal/restaurant: boxing: I like to get a tomahawk steak from I started doing full contact karate Dabiz Muñoz’s GoXO. when I was 14 years old, but I had Best friends in boxing: to stop when I tore my abductor Eva María Naranjo and [kickboxer] muscle. After this, I decided to Iman Chairi are like sisters to me. start boxing because I wanted to And I’m a great admirer of Soralla continue doing a . Sánchez’s career. I was a bit embarrassed at the Other sportsperson you would beginning because all of the other like to be: people at the gym were male, but Rafael Nadal because he enjoys I soon got over it! every match that he plays. Favourite all-time fighter: Who would play you in a film of Mike Tyson. His upper-body your life: movement was incredible, as was An actress with charisma who his punching power. enjoys what she does. Someone like Best fight you’ve seen: Maggie Civantos, for example. Claressa Shields vs Hanna Gabriels Have you ever been starstruck: was a war. Both fighters gave it I was starstruck when my two everything and I’d love to see a children were born and I got to see rematch one day. I also loved my their faces for the first time. fight with [l ud 10 – Last time you cried: November 2020]! I get emotional when I see my Personal career highlight: children overcome challenges and Outside of boxing, I work in the achieve their goals, especially when municipality of Torrejón de Ardoz they say that I’ve inspired them in as a councillor. I’m proud of the some way. They know that if their work that I do in the Women’s mother can do it, they can too. Council for Women’s Rights. I offer Best advice received: help, support and guidance to Don’t let anyone tell you that you women who are suffering or who can’t do something. have suffered from gender violence. Worst rumour about yourself: Toughest opponent: Some people think that I’ve I’ve always had a lot of admiration changed, but I’ll always be the for Katie Taylor, so I was very same, no matter what. nervous when I fought her. Her Something not many people speed is brutal. know about you: Best and worst attributes as a It’s a secret! boxer: My best attributes are that I’m committed and persistent – I never Age: Twitter: Nickname: give up! My worst is that I can get 38 @miriamlareina83 ‘La Reina’ (‘The Queen’) Height: Nationality: From: Stance: angry very easily, including with 5ft 7 1/2ins Spanish Madrid Orthodox Record: Division: Titles: Next fight: myself. 13-1 (5) Lightweight European After Training tip: losing her ‘0’ to Katie Taylor six months ago, Gutiérrez is aiming to return Fight for what you want, as you can FACTS FAST to winning ways this year. achieve anything that you set your mind to.

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