TIME FOR JAW DROPPER REFORM FEBRUARY 18 Why thescoring system simply system simply isn’t working WWW.BOXINGNEWSONLINE.NET CRAIG M CRAIG 2021THE

C EWAN AVANESYAN Who winsthislong-awaitedgrudgematch? / BERCHELT Warrington ingargantuanupset SPARRING DIARIES What it’s like togethitby Joshuaevery day Fierce Lara stuns and breaks Fierce Lara stunsandbreaks VS £3.99 £3.99 VALDEZ VOL. VS 77 77 NO. KELLY 07 / HUGH FORDE WORLD’S BESTFIGHTMAGAZINE EST. 1909 One year on from Wilder One yearonfromWilder KING FURY / OTTO WALLIN SUBSCRIBE TO NEWS PRESENTS Six brand new bi-monthly 100-page souvenir bookazines from the award-winning Boxing News team… The epic Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier rivalry… A complete chronology of … Fighting Talk, which comprises of 27 exclusive interviews with the biggest names in the sport.

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SHOCKER! 12 All the reaction as Josh Warrington suffers a sensational stoppage defeat

UNMISSABLE HIGHLIGHTS

>> 14 ROBERT SMITH >> 4 EDITOR’S LETTER The BBBofC chief responds after a Reacting to the latest controversies controversial night for British boxing >> 8 STEVE BUNCE >> 22 AVANESYAN vs KELLY One year on from in Vegas Previewing a fascinating encounter >> 10 MEDIA REVIEW >> 24 BERCHELT vs VALDEZ The Sky Sports team hit the right notes Mexican warriors get set for battle >> 16 DIAZ vs RAKHIMOV >> 26 SPARRING PARTNERS The super-feathers cannot be separated Investigating a complicated role >> 18 DAVID AVANESYAN >> 36 THE BEST OF THE 2000s 26 How the Russian ended up in Newark An all-action decade of fierce rivalries >> 32 CRAIG McEWAN SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND SAVE 37% Tales from the famous Wild Card Gym >> 40 HUGH FORDE PAY JUST £9.99 A MONTH. SEE PAGE 48 FOR FULL DETAILS Catching up with a forgotten champion Visit SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/BXN21 >> 42 AMATEURS Price and Fontijn continue their rivalry

>> 46 OTTO WALLIN The man who gave Tyson Fury a scare

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 3 EDITOR’S LETTER PUZZLED: Neither Barrett nor Martinez can fathom the judges’ scores Photo: DAVE THOMPSON/MATCHROOM

Here we go again Boxing returns to Britain and is swiftly followed by more officiating controversies

OXING is back Spanish veteran Kiko Martinez cut a fighters to this country when they get and so is the forlorn figure as his tremendous effort zero credit for their performance?” unmistakeable against the favoured Zelfa Barrett was It’s true: Britain is not widely regarded stench of rewarded with a unanimous decision as an honest fight country. But is that B controversy. Inside defeat. The general consensus was that really fair? Contentious scorecards are Wembley Arena Martinez won the fight. Our on-site nothing new but, in the age of social on Saturday night, reporter liked Martinez by 115-113. One media and with our events being three judges scored can also argue that Barrett nicked it after broadcast all over the planet, the stink a bout differently to 12. A draw would have been fair enough from ‘bad’ decisions is far reaching. The everyone else, then, as well. But two scores of 118-111 in smell seems to be getting worse in the in the main event, Barrett’s favour from Steve Gray and Covid era, too. one of those judges Bob Williams alongside a third British For the sake of balance, it’s only right to Cover photography DAVE THOMPSON/MATCHROOM became the referee tally against the Spaniard, 116-113 by point out that these kind of decisions are who was accused Howard Foster, differed greatly from less common than justice being served. Matt of allowing a fight widespread opinion. Christie They do not occur in every fight, they do to continue for too “That was a very, very close fight. not occur at every event, as much as that @MattCBoxingNews long. I thought 118-111 was absolutely might appear to be the case. Editor So here we disgusting for Martinez,” show promoter Even so, they occur frequently enough go. Instead of Eddie Hearn said in the immediate to suggest the scoring system, and the championing the return of boxing to aftermath. “We have some fantastic perception of it, needs to be addressed. Britain – and that’s what I’d prefer to do, officials but 118-111 doesn’t do anyone Hearn promised to give Martinez a believe me – we yet again start Boxing any favours. After all that effort Martinez rematch. Likewise Barrett, who was News by highlighting what appears, on may as well have boxed on the backfoot classy in the extreme. Rematches are the surface, a problem with the standard and had an easy night. costly and long-winded solutions, of officiating in this country. “How are we going to bring in foreign however.

4 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net One problem has always been what level is frowned upon yet very often in appeared – from the vantage point of the a judge ‘likes’. Yet it’s grossly unfair on a tight fight, even when rounds are too vast majority – that the Leeds man was in Time to a boxer who is not rewarded for their close to call, the need to award them no position to do so. subscribe industry purely because their style of to Fighter A or Fighter B heightens the Smith admitted to BN (see pages 12 fighting, however effective it might be, potential for erroneous – or misleading and 13) that the referee gave Warrington l THERE are does not appeal to a certain official – totals at the end. That would appear to a chance to continue while knowing of numerous ways on a certain night. Perhaps we need to be the case here: Though many of us had Warrington’s reputation as a world class to subscribe, know exactly what the judges do ‘like’ Martinez ahead, it’s only fair to highlight fighter. “I’m okay, Howard,” Warrington is including beforehand or, better still, be more that many rounds we thought he won believed to have told the referee at the special offers. confident that all judges are following the were close rounds. point of the fight in question. Foster also same guidelines (interesting to note that Robert Smith of the British Boxing reported to Smith that the fighter’s eyes l YOU can get a in the Barrett-Martinez bout, the three Board of Control told Boxing News on were clear. Between rounds, as the referee print and online judges only agreed on five rounds). Tuesday morning (February 16) that all expressed concern about a potential injury subscription for But that’s only one point of view and three of the judges’ reports from the to Josh’s jaw, the fighter remained cogent £9.99 per month arguably an elitist one. There is always the Barrett-Martinez fight were similar: They at all times, answering any questions (or £19.99 every presumption that the fans – those who recognised the accurate work of Barrett, clearly and quickly. three months), watch at home – are in the right and the predominantly from punches through The referee will also know that in or digital only judges – those at ringside and trained the middle – straight shots and uppercuts Warrington’s corner was his father. A man for just £4.99 to judge a fight – are in the wrong. The – whereas not all of Martinez’s looping who knows his son better than anyone. per month. truth might be that everyone, the fans, hooks were scoring punches, though there Rightly or wrongly, Sean O’Hagan sent journalists, commentators and even the was an acknowledgement that plenty his boy out for the fifth round after being l FOR more officials, would benefit from a broader were thrown. Many of those punches, convinced that he could defend himself information understanding of how fights are scored the judges say, were hitting the arms of and fight back. If we’re to blame the on all the and, more pertinently, why. Is it time, Barrett. referee for allowing the fight to continue subscriptions given that this problem isn’t going to What we must also remember, we must also ask questions of the corner. plus our special go away any time soon, that there is a particularly when chastising the integrity From the outside looking in, and with the bookazines, licensed official on the commentary team? of officials, is what is too often forgotten: benefit of hindsight not available in the please visit One who can perhaps inform the viewers The judges’ view is spur of the moment, www.shop. of things we might not be seeing? different to everyone Warrington should have kelsey.co.uk Whatever the solution, it might not be else’s and the way they WE NEED TO been rescued at some or call 01959- as black and white as right and wrong, record their scores is point between the 543-747. however. There’s certainly plenty to different. Now, I’m not KNOW EXACTLY knockdown in the fourth consider. saying that a judge – and the start of the fifth. l THE next Due to the private nature of scoring, confined to the same WHAT THE Of course, a issue will be boxers can go through 12 hard rounds position and handing in contentious call by the in shops on before they realise their tactics were their score at the end of JUDGE ‘LIKES’ referee is subjective February 25 not deemed effective by the judges and every round as opposed BEFORE THE in cases like this. Had and available therefore were not able to change their to keeping a running Warrington rebounded to download on approach during the fight. total – has the best FIGHT to win the fight, Foster’s February 23. It is often argued that the drama of view, or the best system, decision to allow him boxing is heightened by that wait for but it’s unique. In that to continue would The the scorecards after a close fight. But regard, any analysis (or criticism) of their have been vindicated. On this occasion, Opening when that wait is followed by almighty performance is tricky because we analyse though, it wasn’t. Nor was the decision of Bell... controversy, then by suggestions of (or criticise) without knowing exactly what his father to allow him to continue. But corruption and incompetence, it triggers they saw and experienced. Warrington, the fighter in the middle of all l THE BN drama of the worst kind. Open scoring We’ve all been guilty, and I include this, wouldn’t change anything in regard podcast has has been trialled in other countries, myself in this, of jumping on social media to when the fight was halted. been described predominantly by the WBC, and is a with a snap judgement. When we see that Foster (and Gray and Williams) are as ‘refreshing divisive system. Many who are against opinion being approved, (retweeted, liked honest men and good officials. It is not and genuinely it believe, with solid reasoning, that it etc) it magically becomes fact. The sway the aim of this column to criticise or to captivating.’ could incite the wrong reaction from of social media, where the narrative is make noise just for the sake of making There is a new the crowd, trigger a boring bout if one often to expect the worst when it comes to noise. Their job is frankly impossible episode every fighter is a long way ahead or encourage judging, is certainly something for us all to to execute correctly every time. But week to enjoy. a judge to go against their own opinion keep in mind. So too is the human instinct they need all the help they can get and l Last week we if they suddenly realise their scoring is to side with the underdog or the fighter they would, I believe, benefit from their talked to Eddie different to the rest. But the fighters would we believe won’t get any favours from decision-making progress being shared Hearn, reacted know whether they’re ‘winning’ or ‘losing’ officials. That’s not to say everyone who more readily so those of us who criticise to Wembley on and be given the chance to try and do disagrees with the judges is wrong, far from can at least be given the chance to see Sunday and this something about it. it; there’s merit in the belief that those who things from their point of view. week we hear Another thing to contemplate is the watch from home, who have the benefit of At the moment the guidelines appear from Robert complexities of the 10-point-must system. replays and various angles, actually have too blurred and therefore the margin Smith. Ten points is an awful lot to play with yet a the better view. And it’s important for the for error appears too great. The current boxer winning a close round will generally Board, when addressing these incidents, to system is long overdue, if not an overhaul l Listen (& rate be awarded the same advantage as a admit they were in the wrong when they then a rethink, because the perception & subscribe) via boxer who clearly had the upper hand. clearly were; some absolute howlers have of a result and the actual result can differ Apple, Spotify Rather than 10-9 for a clear round, why been made in recent years. wildly. That is no longer a unique selling and all major not 10-8 or 10-7? In the event of a one- The performance of the referee is point of boxing, it’s a problem. platforms. sided shellacking, is it time to consider similarly difficult to review. Foster took Follow us and keep up to date l New episode 10-5 rounds rather than the current 10-8? some stick for allowing Josh Warrington every Thursday. It’s also worth noting that scoring a round to continue in the fourth round when it @BoxingNewsED BoxingNewsOnline

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 5 ON TWITTER ON FACEBOOK LETTERS @BoxingNewsED www.facebook.com/boxingnewsonline

LETTER OF THE WEEK SMALL HALL BOXING LEAGUE

SMALL hall boxing is so , Hampshire, , the best and middleweights important for the sport. In Scotland and more. It’d be far more of the 1940s and ‘50s. I was also surprised order for it to survive during interesting than watching a local ticket- that Hart picked Carlos Zarate to KO the pandemic, I think the small hall seller win 40-36 against a journeyman. Eder Jofre – another fine champion who, promoters need to work together. It’d be Losses will happen and ‘0’s will go, but in 78 bouts, never lost inside schedule great if we could have a sort of small hall who cares? This idea is nothing new, as and fought the top bantamweights and boxing league – with a broadcaster on boxing used to have newspaper leagues of the 1960s and ‘70s. board – where teams from different parts where local towns and villages would Mike Hinton (Bournemouth EBA) of the UK face off against each other. The compete against each other. Something bouts could even be just five-rounders – like this needs to be done because two SPARRING STORY an odd number to reduce the chance of years out of the sport for small hall I ENJOYED reading the feature on draws – and the points system could be boxers, coaches, gyms and promoters is Michael Nunn in the January 28 issue. made simpler to appeal to more casual basically a death sentence. I was privileged enough to spar four fans. eg. If you win the round you get one Ben Puttock five-minute rounds with Nunn when he point, and if you score a knockdown you came to the UK in 1994 to fight Steve get an extra point. This way the more DREAM FIGHTS Little. I recall it being a baptism of fire, casual fans could connect more clearly I’VE enjoyed taking part in the Ringside with Nunn’s deceptively fast and accurate with it. eg. The London boxer beat the Charitable Trust’s ‘Dream Fights’ southpaw jab and sharp left hand. Midlands boxer 3-2. The fewer rounds competitions – they’re good fun. Needless to say, I didn’t land anything would hopefully create a ‘Twenty20’, all- I was very surprised that the esteemed significant. In fact, I was relieved to last action style of fight, and would also mean journalist, Colin Hart, picked Jose the distance. I fondly remember it as a fighters would be able to fight more Napoles to KO Kid Gavilan – a boxer who priceless experience – lumps and all. NEVER STOPPED: often. You could have a team of boxers had 143 contests and was never beaten Cassius Campbell (Stonebridge ’s durable representing Yorkshire, the Midlands, inside the distance, even when taking on Boxing Club) Kid Gavilan

6 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 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 LOS GUERREROS SHOULD JOSH WARRINGTON HAVE Listing 10 classic Mexican rivalries 1. MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA vs ERIK MORALES BEEN PULLED OUT SOONER? The Barrera-Morales trilogy is rightly regarded as one of the greatest collection of contests in history. Their bitter feud was rooted in the historic rivalry between their respective hometowns of Mexico City (Barrera) and Tijuana (Morales). After losing to Morales at super- bantamweight, Barrera triumphed at and super-feather to come out on top overall.

2. RUBEN OLIVARES vs CHUCHO CASTILLO Before Barrera and Morales, there was Olivares and Castillo. Their intense enmity stemmed from the Carl Paul Natasha Jamie fact that they were polar opposites – Olivares was Frampton Smith Jonas Sanigar the larger-than-life playboy and Castillo was the Two-weight world World title London Boxing self-effacing common man. Of their three brutal champion challenger Olympian manager bantamweight battles, Olivares won two and Castillo prevailed once. He was being I was Unfortunately I Yes. Firstly, the ref

hurt throughout commentating for have been in that Howard Foster 3. CARLOS ZARATE vs ALFONSO ZAMORA the fight. It DAZN and said position myself. should have The explosive “Z Boys” only shared a ring for a little should have been he should have I get why it was stopped the fight. more than 10 minutes, but their grudge ran far deeper stopped at the been stopped hard for those to Secondly, it was than that – they had previously been stablemates, but end of the fourth. at the start of make the decision. clear when Josh they were far from friends. On a riotous and feverish When he stood round five. He Your dad is in the stumbled back to night, Zarate stopped Zamora in their hotly anticipated up at the start of was hurt in round camp with you the corner, he was clash of big-hitting bantams, with their teams the fifth his back one and was on and wants you badly concussed becoming embroiled in a scuffle after the bell. leg still seemed a autopilot from the to win, the ref is and should have little bit stiff. That knockdown in the giving the benefit been pulled out. 4. RAFAEL MARQUEZ vs ISRAEL VAZQUEZ was another bad fourth. I feel he of the doubt and Boxers must be In the space of just over three years, Marquez and round for him. I’d took far too much has history. It’s protected from Vazquez went to war on four separate occasions. The have pulled him. punishment while hard, but I would their own bravery Mexico City men were made for each other, with their But hindsight’s a being concussed have liked it to be at times, there is a ferocious, all-action series being among the most wonderful thing. and feel he stopped. life outside of the exciting and dramatic the sport has ever produced. should have been sport. They fought three times at super-bantamweight and stopped a lot once at featherweight, notching two wins apiece. earlier. 5. LUPE PINTOR vs CARLOS ZARATE Up against another ex-stablemate, Zarate looked WHAT’S YOUR PREDICTION FOR to have done enough to comfortably retain his bantamweight title, but Pintor was awarded a highly MIGUEL BERCHELT vs OSCAR VALDEZ? controversial victory. 6. JUAN FRANCISCO ESTRADA vs CARLOS CUADRAS Carl Paul Natasha Jamie Twice these super-flyweight standouts have thrilled Frampton Smith Jonas Sanigar fans by going toe-to-toe in top-quality encounters. I fancy Berchelt Berchelt can beat Miguel Berchelt vs Two Mexican In both instances Estrada has earned the spoils. strongly in the Valdez. I think the Oscar Valdez is a warriors in the fight. Valdez bigger man, more great fight. I think prime of their 7. CANELO ALVAREZ vs JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JNR has shown a natural at the there could be an careers makes for Fighting at a 164.5lb , superstar Canelo few weaknesses, weight, having the upset here and a potential fight conclusively shut out the bad boy “Son of the Legend”. certainly against advantage in most tip Valdez to win. of the year. I’m Adam Lopez when things will win the But what a fight it picking Berchelt 8. CARLOS PALOMINO vs ARMANDO MUNIZ he fought on the fight. I think the will be. by late stoppage US nationals who were each born in Mexico, Palomino same card as me gameplan will go using angles overcame Muniz in both of their fiery welter scraps. in Vegas. Canelo’s out the window. and downhill 9. LEO SANTA CRUZ vs ABNER MARES team are trying to Two Mexicans momentum with The warring featherweights went hell for leather across change him, not won’t be able to his punches to two fights, with Santa Cruz succeeding twice. as gung ho as he help themselves! pick apart Valdez once was. But I Can see Berchelt but not before 10. RAFAEL HERRERA vs RUBEN OLIVARES think Berchelt is winning by late going through fire Herrera took Olivares’ bantamweight crown in an upset, going to knock stoppage. being hurt by an before winning again in a 120lb catchweight rematch. him out in about improved Valdez. five or six

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 7 THE BUNCE DIARIES KING OF

One year on YSON FURY had “The price is right, my son,” he said, chicanery at the weigh-in. Too heavy, been in a house Lee looked over at the screen. “This one: too light, who cares? I had a position from that epic before out on the 42-foot, Narrowbeam, 6.10 wide – I can behind the scales with a crew. Wilder Sin City event edge of town and get in there - and 24-grand. I’ll get that refused to speak to me, Fury took a T just beyond the down. I’ll offer cash. That will do.” Lee breath, happy at the centre of his storm: when Tyson stretch of endless humoured him. Then the food came and “This is it; this is what it is all about.” He lights that never I stepped away, went and found the film was right and he was on edge. Once Fury played seem to stop crew and waited. An hour later, Lee led again, I saw Wilder from two-feet as his a blinder glowing in Las Fury through. “Not too long, he’s got to people pushed imaginary people out of Vegas. sleep,” said Lee. the way and vanished. He looked vacant, This time in I left the house that night even more not animated. the city, Fury was convinced that Fury would win. He was, The clock was ticking. A few hours Steve surrounded by new it has to be said, not joking like the old later I found Lennox Lewis standing next Bunce faces in his camp, Fury. to the empty ring, alone and happy. but they were There is a lot of waiting in Las Vegas He was just living something from his @BigDaddyBunce familiar. Fury had during the week of a world heavyweight Photo: AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES Voice of boxing a link with the new title fight. I waited all week for a private men in his fighting audience with Wilder and never got it, life: Javan Sugar Hill Steward was there, but I did watch him from very close in was there and they had been the rooms behind and attached to the with him once deep inside the Kronk events. I saw an unhappy man, a man years earlier. This was Las Vegas, life was struggling with something. I thought it different. was pressure. The new faces were there after a However, every fear I voiced was bloodless coup had come and gone rejected by the men Wilder was and nobody was talking supporting: Jay Deas, about it. “I never think Mark Breland and Shelly about being on trial,” ‘24-GRAND. Finkel never flinched Steward told me that when asked if there was night. He read my I CAN GET anything wrong. They mind, that was the next all did the same in the question. “I don’t have THAT DOWN. immediate wake of their anything to prove.” disaster – and then the In the kitchen that I’LL OFFER excuses, as you know, night another new went crazy. It was a recruit rolled marinated CASH’ night and fight of denial pork, another asked for them and their Fury questions about canals and barges. increasingly isolated boss. It was a night in Fury’s home just days It should be said that nobody in before the rematch with Deontay the Fury business thought there was Wilder. It has been twelve months since anything wrong with Wilder. Well, not that classic for the old game. before the first punches started to ruin Fury had been camped twice in Las Wilder. Take a look again at Wilder’s Vegas in 2019; the food had improved, walk and run to the ring and his clumsy that is for sure, by the time he was entry. He is not right. The outfit was just hidden away for Wilder. The chef was convenient camouflage for something George Lockhart, on loan from Conor far more damaging. McGregor. He changed Fury’s shape. It was, actually, a week free of the It was Lee asking the questions usual rumours that haunt the halls and about barges – Lee had been part of aisles and bars and gyms and lifts of Las the commentary team for the first Vegas in fight week. Wilder fight. Javan had just been The narrative of the week at the a television spectator. It was all or open sessions (Fury and Wilder were nothing last February in Las Vegas, a excluded), the arrivals, the round tables, team from Fury’s history gathered like the conference, the cocktail reception pilgrims. Gypsy John had given the duo and the weigh-in was simple: Wilder his blessing and was watching from talked about Fury’s “pillow fists” and Fury . talked about Wilder “not wanting it.” There was growing pressure, but Fury One was right, one was wrong. just wanted to look at barges and find a There was a sideshow attraction or second-hand barge to take his family on two: an endless repetition of the first canal holidays. fight’s dramatic ending and then talk of

8 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net glorious history, his shoulders gently walked the corridors of Vegas laughing On the night, Fury famously arrived moving and his giant fists desperate to with Muhammad Ali. Fury knew its wearing a fake crown and a robe; he roll again. He was happy and he backed history and I’m not convinced that converted those garments to real money Fury big. Wilder had the same understanding. as casually as a high-roller cashing a Fury knew all about Las Vegas and “This will be my city – I will be king,” thousand bucks of chips. All bets were its heavyweight history by then. He had he had said. It was not just a boast, it off once Wilder had stripped bare and fought there twice in 2019. He knew it was a statement of intent. The blue dropped the dumb suit of lights. Fury was an unforgiving city, a city of ghosts lights from the pool glowed through the was the new king; he was king from very and relics and desperate heavyweights. kitchen window. I have another image, early in the opening round. He was king Joe Louis and Sonny Liston died there, Gypsy John dressed in sweaty clothing long before the excuses and stupidity. Mike Tyson had cursed the place with hitting a makeshift bag in his scrap yard Las Vegas belonged to Fury that week ONE YEAR AGO: infamy, Oliver McCall had a breakdown as small children watch. The picture is with his new chef, his new corner, his Fury enters the ring in a ring there, Buster Douglas had tinted blue in my mind and Tyson was new title - it was that simple. He never ahead of that sensational and shamed the place and others had been one of the kids. It had been a bloody did buy the barge, but for one night he unforgettable consumed by its promise. Elvis had journey, make no mistake. owned the world. performance

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 9 BOXING MEDIA REVIEW Examining the best and worst of the sport’s weekly coverage VERY Photo: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM WELL DONE

Sky Sports find the right notes to accompany the controversy at Wembley, writes George Gigney in his weekly media review BROADCASTS

IT WAS a bizarre night in Wembley when Josh Warrington was stopped in nine rounds by rank outsider Mauricio Lara, but it has to be said; the coverage was excellent. The Sky Sports Boxing team often come under fire from fans for their broadcasts, but on Saturday they seemed spot on at almost every turn. First and foremost, the main event. Adam Smith and Matthew Macklin on commentary were quick to pick up on Warrington’s stiffness early on in the bout and rightly raised the point that Josh hadn’t fought in well over a year and was not used to fighting in an empty arena. After the tumultuous fourth round they also noted how referee Howard Foster - or Warrington’s corner - could have easily stopped the fight there and then. They also didn’t fail to recognise the successful work of Lara, who was bludgeoning Warrington with both hands. Such was the drama that during the sixth, Smith asked Macklin how he was scoring the bout, but didn’t get the sort of response he expected. “I haven’t been,” Macklin said with a combination of a lack of motivation for and respect should be given for them chuckle. Who could blame him? Here this opponent and struggling without a airing their disagreement with the was an enormous underdog demolishing roaring Leeds crowd. officials. one of the best featherweights in the On punditry, Johnny Nelson and Adam The pair did the same after the chief world. Booth both made it clear they felt the support, in which Zelfa Barret earned a After the conclusive finish in the ninth fight should have been stopped in the questionable unanimous decision over and once Warrington had risen to his feet fourth, with Nelson even going so far Kiko Martinez. Booth made the point under his own steam, Smith and Macklin as to say if it were Lara who had been that he felt the right man won, but not by reflected on what happened. Smith dropped and hurt, Foster would have as much as the three judges scored it. speculated there might have been weight stepped in and ended it. He couldn’t Promoter Eddie Hearn, to his credit, issues for Warrington, while Macklin have known that but it was a question did not hold back when interviewed after - likely closer to the truth - wondered worth raising. the fight, labelling the two 118-111 cards if the problem was a mental one, a They were making hugely valid points as “disgusting.”

10 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net WEBSITES

The Daily Star – via Chris McKenna – reportedly gained insight into the extent of Warrington’s injuries after the fight. Thankfully, his brain scans were clear and he was able to return home. The report also claims Warrington suffered a fractured jaw, perforated eardrum and some form of shoulder injury. If true, those facts only further highlight how much courage Warrington showed in battling until the end of the fight. The perforated eardrum in particular would also go some way to explaining why Warrington’s balance was so off after the fourth round. The rather sad public spat between Deontay Wilder and his former trainer Mark Breland intensified this week as Breland doubled down on comments he’d made about his time with Wilder, and the former heavyweight champ responded (see YouTube below). Breland released an extended statement, stating: “I haven’t spoke [sic] to Deontay alone in years. The things that I told Deontay to do had to be ran past Jay [Deas, Wilder’s head trainer]. “Deontay had become untrainable because he was at the point of, ‘he knows more about boxing than all of us.’” It’s unfortunate that this is being dragged out, and the more energy Wilder spends on this dispute, the less focus he’ll have on his eventual return. But Breland has every right to give his side of the story after being unceremoniously fired. YOUTUBE

“It’s like, where is it all coming from? Is it because of where I am in life and your career was short?… It’s all making sense now. He’s been envying me, he’s been jealous. Now all this s*** is truly coming out,” Wilder said to 78SPORTSTV. “Oh, you wanna break your silence to the UK media, ‘Somebody else poured the water.’ Nah, you did that s***. This is the end of my career? Man, this is only the beginning of greatness. But for you, it is the end.” In the same interview, Wilder referred to himself as a “king” and TALKING POINTS: He said: “How are we going to bring actually benefits from the result given that people are expecting him to “lead” The Wembley bill triggers plenty of foreign fighters to this country when that he promotes Barrett - directly calling them, which probably gives you a good them they get absolutely zero credit for their out the injustice. indication of where his head currently is. performance? 118-111? He might as well In recent years, British boxing has had Hearn confirmed to IFL that not have bothered.” numerous accusations of home cooking Matchroom’s Fight Camp will return this He’s completely right. There was levelled at it and judging like this will summer, perhaps in a larger outdoor one, maybe two rounds in the fight and only add fuel to that fire. Attracting talent venue and with fights like Joseph Parker Martinez had a fair argument that he from overseas is essential for the sport, vs Dereck Chisora and Joshua Buatsi deserved to win. This isn’t just a case of but the more they see scoring like this, vs as potential fights fans taking to social media to berate the the less chance there is of them making to be held there. That’s exciting news, scoring of a fight; this is powerful and the trip. Like Hearn said, they might especially when considered alongside knowledgeable figures in boxing - and as well not bother. Something has to the developing schedule is one, in Hearn, who in this instance change. building for later this year.

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 11

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 Disaster

Josh WEMBLEY five times over the same period. last 23 seconds of the round were just Ring rust might have been a factor for pure survival and on another night Foster FEBRUARY 13 Warrington’s Warrington who struggled to find any might have stepped in there and then. But return to the early rhythm. He was also not helped by Warrington made it back to the corner ring goes ★★★★★ MAIN EVENT the absence of his adoring legion of fans and his father-trainer Sean O’Hagan opted ★★★★★ UNDERCARD who have become as synonymous with to send his boy back out for the fifth. At horribly wrong Warrington as he has with Leeds. This this point, it is difficult to overstate the against rank OXING returned to time, he boxed in silence. heart and resilience shown by Warrington these shores for the The first round was nothing short over the next four rounds. For the most outsider first time in 2021 but of bizarre. Warrington landed almost part he was absolutely out on his feet and Mauricio Lara the drama served immediately with a big right hand and a still trading with a man looking for the and some B up inside the empty body shot but he did not take advantage. finishing shot every time he threw. It was, Wembley Arena late Instead the plodding Lara at times, hard to watch. controversial on Saturday night seemed to have success The end came after 54 cards blight is unlikely to be topped before the year with both hands to head ‘IT NUMBS seconds of the ninth, when is up. and body. It was obvious Lara finished yet another the undercard, Josh Warrington, the previously that Warrington was YOU. I WENT vicious flurry with a right writes Declan undefeated No.1 featherweight in the failing to find a stride BACKSTAGE hook to the body and then Taylor from world, was dropped and stopped by which merely invited more a left hook to the chin, unheralded Mexican Mauricio Lara pressure from the 22-year- AND I COULD which left Warrington ringside who made a mockery of his 10/1 odds to old underdog, who was sprawled flat on his back. produce one of the bigger upsets seen in a taking part in his first ever HARDLY “That’s it,” said Foster who British ring in decades. scheduled 12-rounder. STAND UP’ did not bother with a This was supposed to be a The second and third count. straightforward victory for Warrington, followed a similar pattern Lara cut short his who vacated his IBF title in order to but everything changed dramatically with celebrations to beckon in the ringside take care of Lara and then press ahead a minute to go in the fourth. It started paramedics and doctors who surrounded with plans to fight either Can Xu or Gary when Lara landed a huge left hook which the Leeds Warrior and administered Russell Jnr this year. Instead, the fractured sent Warrington staggering back to the oxygen. In the eerie silence of the Arena, it jaw sustained at the heavy hands of his ropes. Lara, roared on by his corner team, was a stark reminder of boxing’s brutality. unforgiving visitor will keep him out for piled on the pressure and eventually “It just numbs you,” his promoter Eddie the best part of what’s left. downed the former champion with Hearn said later. “When I went backstage This was Warrington’s first fight since another left hook. I could hardly stand up. But that’s why it’s October 2019 when he blew away Sofiane Josh was on unsteady legs when he the greatest sport in the world because FULL Takoucht in a world before Covid. The rose to his feet at five and he was still in nothing can make you feel like that. RESULTS pandemic has been to blame for his serious trouble when referee Howard “People are saying it was ring rust, extended absence while Lara had boxed Foster allowed Lara back in again. The there’s no crowd... no. It was Lara. Give Mauricio Lara Lara credit. A 22-year-old man changed (125lbs), 22-2 (15), w ko 9 Josh Warrington his life. It was a devastating defeat for Josh Warrington and first thing’s first, let’s make (125 1/2lbs), 30-1 CHANCE TAKEN: (7); Zelfa Barrett (128 Lara celebrates sure he is alright. He will be back but it 3/4lbs), 25-1 (13), w his unlikely shows you how the sport can spin on its pts 12 Kiko Martinez victory head.” (128 1/4lbs), 41-10-2 Warrington was taken straight to (29); Leigh Wood (125 hospital afterwards but headed home to 1/4lbs), 24-2 (14), Leeds in the early hours after a brain scan w ko 9 Reece Mould came back clear. He arrived back home in (125 3/4lbs), 13-1 (6); Dalton Smith (142 time to celebrate his twin daughters’ third 1/2lbs) 7-0 (6), w rtd birthday. 3 Ishmael Ellis (138 In the chief support, yet more rancid 1/2lbs), 11-4; Hopey scorecards totally overshadowed an Price (122 1/2lbs), entertaining fight between Manchester’s 4-0 (1), w pts 6 Zelfa Barrett and Spanish veteran Kiko Daniel Mendoza (122 Martinez. The bull-like Martinez, the 1/2lbs), 11-12 (4); much smaller man, spent the majority of Ibrahim Nadim (123 the fight on the front foot, ducking low 1/4lbs), 3-0, w pts 6 Jonny Phillips (123 beneath Barrett’s attacks before winging 3/4lbs), 5-6 (2). over the top with counters.

12 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net Photos: DAVE THOMPSON & MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM

IT’S OVER: Foster stops Warrington from trying to rise

ON TOP: Martinez takes the fight to Barrett and will soon deserve better from the judges [left] while the impressive Wood stands over Mould to win their dramatic battle for the British featherweight title

It seemed as though the former super- survived an almighty scare in the third maintained the perfect start to his bantamweight world champion’s industry round against Leeds man Reece Mould professional career by dominating and success was enough to secure a before roaring back to force a brutal Nicaraguan Daniel Mendoza over six victory against the odds but Foster had stoppage after 1-03 of round nine to rounds with Williams scoring it a 60-54 it 116-113 to Barrett while Steve Gray claim the vacant British featherweight title. shut-out while in the first fight of the and Bob Williams both inexplicably Williams waved it off without a count. night, Ibrahim Nadim of Keighley turned in scores of 118-111. Social media After three rounds of one-way traffic moved to 3-0 by virtue of Williams’ 60-55 erupted and so too did Hearn. “118-111 is from Sheffield’s Dalton Smith, the corner scorecard following six uneventful rounds absolutely disgusting for Kiko,” he said. “He of Ishmael Ellis, the Birmingham super- with Sandhurst’s Jonny Phillips. might as well have not bothered.” Plus ca , decided to pull their man out change. Boxing News scored the bout 115- to spare him any more punishment. Gray THE VERDICT One of the most 113 for Martinez. refereed. stunning results in recent years. An Elsewhere Nottingham’s Leigh Wood Earlier Leeds starlet Hopey Price upset for the ages.

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 13 Q & A

‘THERE ARE FLAWS IN THE SYSTEM’

Robert Smith talks to Matt Christie following yet another controversial night in a British ring

HERE have been suggestions that Josh Will Foster have to face any hearing? Warrington should have been pulled It’s too early to say. I’ve spoken to him but I am awaiting reports out sooner. What was your perception to come in regarding the whole tournament. But from initial of the main event from your position at discussions, he acted in the proper way. To my mind he’s a world T ringside? class official and people will say he got it wrong, people will say I’m sitting six metres back behind a perspex he gave the boy the benefit of the doubt. There are numerous screen. The people closer are the judges and examples of fighters being given the benefit of the doubt and going the referee. I spoke to Howard after the bout. In all but name, Josh on to win the fight. Warrington was a world champion. Although he was hurt, Howard What was your reaction to the scores in the Zelfa Barrett- tells me Josh’s eyes were clear and, when asked, he said, ‘I’m alright, Kiko Martinez fight? Howard.’ So he addressed the referee by his name. So I can tell you this: The closest people to the action are Howard let it continue. the judges and the referee. I am six metres back You will notice that a couple of times, Howard and I had Barrett winning by a couple of rounds. was concerned about Josh’s jaw so he’s gone to Two metres behind me is the promoters. Now, have a look in the corner and Josh was readily when I spoke to Eddie Hearn, he thought talking. Also, during the bout – after the that Barrett had nicked it by a round. The fourth – Josh was talking to his opponent. commentary teams are significantly further So Howard felt that he should be given the back - they’re in a box – and they had benefit of the doubt and be allowed to it a draw. Further back still, at an angle, continue. you’ve got the pundits like Johnny Nelson I actually thought Josh was clawing his and Adam Booth. So the further you went way back into it. So with all that in mind – back the more the perception of the result Howard’s experience, that Josh’s eyes were changes. clear, he was talking and he was fighting back My own opinion was that Martinez was full plus the fact that Josh was a world champion, of industry but a lot of the punches, his hooks it was an important fight, his qualities are well and swings, were landing on the gloves whereas known and other people have come back from Barrett was landing the cleaner shots. Now people similar situations to win – Howard made can interpret that in many ways. IT’S ALL OVER: the call to let the fight continue. Foster and Warrington after the fight You had two judges who had exactly With that in mind, that Howard the same score [118-111]. Now I’m not knows Josh as a fighter and made defending anyone but that’s a fact. So a decision because of that, would ‘I HOPE THAT IF LARA you look closer and the judges only the same chances have been given agreed on five of the 12 rounds. In the to Lara if he’d have been in similar WAS IN THE SAME remaining seven, there were three rounds trouble? where one judge scored it even and there People are assuming things. The first POSITION THE FIGHT was a further two rounds where there priority of the referee is the safety of the was a complete split – one went for the boxer. Once he’s decided that he can WOULD CONTINUE’ red corner, one went for the blue corner continue then other factors may come in. and another judge called it even. That How is he recovering? He knows Josh has an experienced corner – indicates to me that they were close rounds. now that’s not shifting responsibility, it’s a fact that has to be taken With the current system, a close round can be 10-9 and a wide into consideration. And I would hope that if Lara had been in the round can be 10-9 and maybe that’s where something needs to be same position, if he had responded in the same way, the fight changed. That’s where we get the difference of opinion. would have continued also. In your position, can you trigger a change of thinking in Were you uncomfortable at any point watching the fight regard to the scoring? develop? The whole world needs to change. I have stood up at sanctioning First of all, what took everyone by surprise, was the shock of what body conventions and said we need to consider making a wide was happening; I was shocked that Josh went over as he did. It was a round 10-8 and a round where a knockdown is scored, 10-7. But good shot and he was obviously hurt. His legs were stiff and you could just because there’s a knockdown doesn’t make it 10-8 now if it’s a see he was not his normal self but he’d just been hit with a very good flash knockdown. It’s down to interpretation but I do believe there shot. But yes, I am always concerned if anybody is in that position. is value in looking at the system.

14 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net Photo: DAVE THOMPSON/MATCHROOM

HARD LUCK: Barrett sportingly embraces Martinez

What is your opinion on open scoring? mean it’s crooked or people are incompetent. We don’t permit it here because there could be a crowd reaction. I do respect the opinion of everyone but that doesn’t mean that I also think you could get a situation where a fighter is so far ahead they’re right. I thought Barrett won by two rounds and I accept that they just get on their bike and run which would take away the people will disagree with that. endeavour. What was your reaction to Eddie Hearn saying that it will I quite like that you don’t know the result until the end. We’re be difficult to get fighters to the UK because of the ongoing not like football or rugby where you get points or goals on the controversy? board. We are the only sport where you don’t know the result until Of course it hurts. I don’t think it’s helpful that people are saying the end. that but I do understand why people are saying that. It all stems I do think that half the problem is that someone gets a feeling back to how the fight is scored. You can have a 12-rounder that’s that someone has won it and they haven’t. I think on Saturday, a rip-roarer and someone wins every round by 10-9 and it then because of his endeavour, a lot of people thought that Martinez looks on paper like it’s been a whitewash when it hasn’t been a won when I don’t believe he did win. whitewash. That’s where the problem lies. There is clearly an issue in the viewers’ perception so Are the judges encouraged, if a round is close, to score it one frequently differing from the actual result. It can be wildly way or the other rather than scoring it even? different and that is also different to any other sport. Yes. I say to people they need to find a winner from each round. I understand that. But from your position at home you can be Does that not create a problem when the best solution to swayed by the commentary. scoring a round that’s too close to call is to score it level? Is there more that the Board of Control can do, in the face I’m not going to argue with that but I do feel, in the space of of accusations of incompetence and even worse, in terms of three minutes, you can generally find a winner. I’m not saying they how you react to the controversial decisions? have to find a winner in every round. A lot of the time we can We get the reports, we read the reports and if we’re concerned forget what happened in the first minute of the round, or in the about anyone’s performance we act upon it. I do think that the first half of the fight. You know as well as I do that you can watch a current time period without crowds, where the majority of people fight at ringside, then go back and watch on TV and it looks like a who are voicing their opinion aren’t in the crowd or aren’t at completely different fight. ringside, has something to do with this. Again, those who are in the These are not crooked decisions. But I do believe there are flaws arena have different views. Some are one metre away, others are in the system that affect how the fights are scored that can be 100 metres away. Some can see replays, some can’t. There are lots looked at. The key is to ensure everyone in the world looks as well of factors why people are disagreeing with results but that doesn’t because it’s imperative that all judges score the same way.

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 15 ACTION

Photo: TOM HOGAN/HOGAN PHOTOS/GOLDEN BOY

HONOURS EVEN: Diaz [right] and Rakhimov cannot be separated

Empty throne

The IBF 130lb INDIO, CA at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, albeit found a home for his straight left hand title remains with only Rakhimov being eligible to win on more than one occasion, with the FEBRUARY 13 the championship. In the end, however, stabbing blows piercing through Diaz’s vacant as the title was left vacant, as the two well- guard and leaving him with a bloody Diaz and ★★★★★ MAIN EVENT matched southpaws fought to a majority nose. draw. A short counter right hook buzzed Rakhimov ★★★★★ UNDERCARD Despite hitting the target with a sharp Diaz in the seventh, but the 28-year-old fight to a arcing right in the second round, 2012 from Downey, California was beginning draw, writes JOSEPH DIAZ’S fight with mandatory Olympian Diaz struggled to maintain to increase his activity and up his challenger Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov any sort of real rhythm in the first half urgency. Some eye-catching exchanges Paul Wheeler was set to be the first defence of his IBF of the bout, although he did enjoy some were exhibited in round eight, as both super-featherweight strap. That was until success with single strikes. Ekaterinburg’s boxers let loose with lashing left hooks. the champion came in three-and-a-half unbeaten Rakhimov, in contrast, was able After being in the ascendancy earlier on pounds over the 130lb limit at the weigh- to string his shots together with greater in the fight, the -trained in, meaning he was stripped of his belt. frequency in the early going. Making his Rakhimov, 26, was not as effective in the Nevertheless, the contest still went ahead US debut, the Tajikistan-born Russian later rounds, whereas Diaz’s showing improved. Ultimately, it was a case of Rakhimov FULL RESULTS being the busier of the two overall, and Diaz demonstrating the better accuracy. Joseph Diaz (133 1/2lbs), 31-1-1 (15), d pts 12 Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (129 3/4lbs), 15-0-1 (12); Brian Castano (153 3/4lbs), In this sense, the draw seemed a fair 17-0-1 (12), w pts 12 Patrick Teixeira (153 1/4lbs), 31-2 (22); Ronny Rios (121 1/2lbs), 33-3 (16), w pts 10 Oscar Negrete (121 outcome. 1/2lbs), 19-3-2 (7); Azat Hovhannisyan (122 3/4lbs), 19-3 (16), w ko 8 Enrique Bernache (123lbs), 24-13 (12) 1NC; Robert Hoyle had Diaz in front by 115- Jnr (161 1/2lbs), 17-3 (10), w rtd 5 Cristian Olivas (161 1/2lbs), 20-8 (17); Bektemir Melikuziev (170 1/2lbs), 7-0 (6), w ko 3 Morgan Fitch (170 3/4lbs), 19-5-1 (8); Victor Morales Jnr (125 3/4lbs), 14-0 (7), w pts 8 Rodrigo Guerrero (125 3/4lbs), 26-10-2 113, but he was overruled by Fernando (16); Dalis Kaleiopu (133 1/2lbs), 1-0 (1), w ko 3 Eduardo Sanchez (135 1/2lbs), 2-4. Villarreal and Zachary Young, who each

16 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net ACTION

tallied 114-114. Thomas Taylor refereed. “It wasn’t my best performance,” Diaz conceded afterwards. “Obviously I didn’t POWER SURGE make weight and I vacated my title. It was a mistake on my behalf. But I’m a little upset. It was a close fight but I thought I Marinez is SMILING ASSASSIN: did enough to win. The guy was throwing Commey’s joyful blasted out demeanour belies a lot of combinations but they were just his ferocity in the on my gloves. I thought I was dictating by Commey squared circle the pace, landing the body shots, hurting him and breaking him down. I thought I should’ve won the fight, but it is what it is. I have to learn from this, take some time off and then get right back to it.” Although there was no coronation in the main event, there was a new king crowned in the co-feature on this Golden Boy promotion, as undefeated Argentine Brian Castano unseated Brazil’s Patrick Teixeira from the WBO super- throne. LAS VEGAS, NV his range, but when he did, Marinez had While the result was up in the air at no answer to the Ghanaian’s aggressive the final bell of the Diaz-Rakhimov bout, FEBRUARY 13 approach and, in particular, his vaunted there was no debate as to who had won right hand. the South American derby between ★★★★★ COMMEY-MARINEZ The Bronx-based Commey, 33, claimed Castano and Teixeira. The mandatory a knockdown in the final minute of the challenger from Buenos Aires produced AFTER Maxim Vlasov tested positive sixth when he followed up a jab with a an authoritative, full-throttle display for COVID-19 just two days before his pair of rights. Marinez, 30, made it back to dominate the defending titlist, who scheduled clash with Joe Smith Jnr for to his feet but was soon down again – in turn showcased his commendable the vacant WBO light-heavyweight title, this time definitively. A perfectly placed the contest had to be postponed. With right hand exploded off the Dominican’s a new headline bout needed for Top jaw and caused him to catapult off the Rank’s show at The Bubble inside the ropes and onto the canvas. Referee ‘I’M A LITTLE UPSET. MGM Grand, the 10-rounder between Kenny Bayless immediately waved the IT WAS CLOSE BUT Richard Commey and match off at 2-35. Jackson Marinez was bumped up to Commey (136lbs) now boasts a 30-3 I THOUGHT I DID main event status. (27) record, while Santo Domingo’s In his first fight since losing the Marinez (135 1/2lbs) has lost twice ENOUGH TO WIN’ EXPLOSIVE: IBF 135lb crown to Teofimo Lopez in against 19 wins (seven inside time). Commey’s December 2019, Commey bounced back power proves THE VERDICT bravery and mettle to last the distance. too much in fine style by powering past Marinez. It Commey shows that he Applying incessant pressure for Marinez took Commey a couple of rounds to find is still a force at lightweight. throughout, the stocky Castano was Photos: MIKEY WILLIAMS/TOP RANK completely unfazed by Teixeira’s significant advantages in height and reach as he bullied the Sao Paulo southpaw from the outset. Even when Teixeira managed to connect with clean punches, Castano remained utterly undeterred and continued to swarm forward. Making the maiden defence of his belt, Teixeira, 30, was forced to withstand some heavy punishment, especially on the inside, yet he battled valiantly until the finish. In the 12th and closing round, Castano had his opponent reeling with a sustained assault to head and body. The 31-year-old chased Teixeira around the ring, searching for the stoppage, but the gusty champion made it through to the end. Lou Moret (120-108), Mr Hoyle (119-109) and Mr Young (117-111) all scored widely in favour of Castano, who thoroughly deserved his unanimous decision victory. Jack Reiss officiated.

THE VERDICT A Diaz-Rakhimov rematch is required.

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 17 David Avanesyan, with the help of Neil Marsh and Carl Greaves, has retained his focus throughout the winding saga that will at last lead him to Josh Kelly this weekend, writes John Evans

Photo: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM E’VE all seen and scrolled past them. Supposedly inspirational PARTNERSHIP: quotes and mantras, typically Avanesyan pus his laid over a moody photograph faith into Greaves of somebody looking out and vice-versa W towards a perfect sunset or a lion walking proudly beside its cub. Shared by people who want others to know that they have discovered the path to enlightenment in an internet meme, they usually stay in the mind for as long as it takes to thumb past and like the latest video of somebody falling over. David Avanesyan would rather spend his time with his friends and family than the anonymous followers who live in his phone but one slogan which recently did the social media rounds might just have struck a chord with the European welterweight champion. “Someone you met two weeks ago can have better intentions than someone you met two years ago. Don’t let time fool you.” Avanesyan lives in Pyatigorsk in Southern Russia, equidistant between the mysterious sounding city of Krasnador and the Georgian capital of . When the 32-year-old has a fight to prepare for, he places his trust in a low profile manager from the North West of England and a former British title challenger and small hall promoter from Newark in Lincolnshire. Over the past few years, “Ava”, Neil Marsh and Carl Greaves have formed one of the more unlikely teams in world boxing. “We have become a strong team indeed,” Avanesyan told Boxing News. “I have a very good relationship with every single one of them. I am learning something from them regularly and thankful for it. We listen to each other and do our respective work. It’s also worth mentioning another member of our team, my friend, Erik Teymour, an ex-boxing champion who currently lives in London. He puts a lot of effort in helping me personally and as a part of our team. “We are all different from each other in all respects but I believe boxing has made us very similar. We all love boxing. It’s our life and I am delighted indeed how things are working out so far but I’m still hungry and I’m ready to go for more.” For better or worse, boxing is a business where it is very easy to gain new friends. Promises and compliments fly around and flattery isn’t hard to find. One of the most valuable skills a boxer can acquire is the ability to quickly figure out exactly who has their best interests at heart and who is capable of delivering what they promise. “When we first started I repeatedly told my team

18 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net that it is crucial to be part of each others’ lives, not only from a business and career angle but, more importantly, as people who do care for one another,” Avanesyan said. “We should be friends. I believe we managed to grow that bond by being honest, supportive and respectful to each other. “When I received the offer to come and work in England everyone around me was sure that I should go and give it a shot. Maybe only my parents were worried about me - as most parents would be - because London and Newark are not just around the corner from my home. Prior to my decision to work with my team-to-be, I made more than 20 appearances and won most so I had a feeling that the future had something interesting in store for me and I still have the same feeling.” After spending years traipsing around Russia collecting minor titles and looking for a break, one of those strange link-ups that keep the wheels of boxing turning found Avanesyan fighting at the Titanic Hotel in . His first taste of boxing in England didn’t last long but I WAS TESTING HIM. it did bring him into contact with Marsh. Trust isn’t something that I THOUGHT IF HE RUNS OFF can be gained overnight and as much as Avanesyan WITH FIVE GRAND IT’LL needed to be certain he was handing control of his SAVE ME MORE IN THE career to the right people, before getting Greaves involved and investing time LONG RUN. HE CAME BACK” and money in him, Marsh also wanted to be sure that Avanesyan was a good person as well as a good fighter. “David came back over and we had a look at him. He was struggling financially so I gave him five grand and told him to go and look after his family,” Marsh told BN. “He was asking if he needed to sign a contract but I was testing his integrity. I thought if he runs off with five grand it’ll save me a lot more in the long term. He came back. “We made a fight with Dean Byrne and let David sleep at a friend’s hotel. I knew the owner and I knew the chef and we watched how he ate, how he lived, absolutely everything. He showed a burning hunger and desire. He was absolutely desperate for a chance. When he got in the ring with Byrne he savaged him. He was like a man possessed. I have a lovely photograph where after the fight he came over to me and although he didn’t speak a word of English and I didn’t speak a word of Russian, his body

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 19 language said ‘Give me an opportunity.’ I could read “It is much easier for me now and I consider Newark him like a book. I can feel it now. His performance and my second home. In our era of technology, you could preparation deserved it. be thousands of miles away from people and be “I knew Carl was great at getting lads fit. He’s been connected so I do not feel cut from my circles when I in the away corner a lot and his defensive coaching is am in England. great in my opinion. I knew Carl and knew he was a “I like Newark. Clean and tidy streets surrounded by good trainer but I’ll be honest, I’ve seen even more in nature and a quiet, green town with very friendly polite him than I had before David joined him.” people. I made a lot of friends in Newark and I stay in “I always dreamt to become successful in my touch with some of them when I am away.” life and I worked and still work very hard to Newark may have become a second home but make my dreams come true,” it has been little more than a Avanesyan added. base. Since joining forces the “I do not like loneliness globetrotting team have won so the only thing which was A DEFEAT IS A GOOD an interim WBA title in Monte difficult - and is still difficult Carlo and beaten Shane – was to leave my family, but Mosley in California. They I knew that it’s another step REASON TO REFLECT ON have lost to Lamont Peterson in my career and I needed to in Ohio and in early 2018 be patient. In the beginning it YOUR CAREER, TAKE AWAY they were stopped by Ejidijus was not easy to be away for “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas IN SHAPE: so long, to be focused only SOME LESSONS AND MOVE in Reno. Marsh even made a Avanesyan is on training and not be able to trip to Panama to doorstop determined that his next trip to the scales properly communicate your Mosley and secure the fight. will lead to a fight thoughts in English. ON WITH YOUR LIFE” “It’s been hard work but

20 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net David is an intelligent kid,” Marsh said. “He knew that there was danger in fighting Mean Machine but he also knew that if we won we had next. The same with Lamont Peterson. If we won we were next in line for Errol Spence. David knows the risk has always been worth the reward.” While Marsh set about plotting Avanesyan’s route back after the Kavaliauskas defeat, the fighter went home to Pyatigorsk where the physical pain inflicted by Mean Machine subsided long before the disappointment of missing out on a massive payday for the second time did. Distance can stretch even the strongest relationships to breaking point but although here have been ups and downs, at the root of everything is a tacit understanding that everybody on the team has done exactly what they have promised when they began working together. As his absence from the ring lengthened, those unaware of the ambition Avanesyan’s team still held began to see his name as a useful addition to the CV. Josh Kelly’s team were the first to take the bait – more on that later – but it was a thrilling stoppage victory over the dangerous and unbeaten Kerman Lejarraga in hostile Bilbao that re-established Avanesyan as a

force and demonstrated the importance of remaining A LONG STORY: together as a team. Marsh picked the fight, Greaves It’s fair to say that Kelly prepared him thoroughly and Avanesyan carried out and Avanesyan have history the tactics to perfection and tore the European title from the Spaniard. The whole team stood strong during an intense week in Northern Spain and repeated the feat inside a round six months later. “The defeat to Kavaliauskas was a quite dramatic turning point for me and it was very difficult for me to realise and accept that I actually lost the fight but in professional sport it is normal,” Avanesyan remembered. “I managed to find positivity in this negativity. A defeat is a good reason to reflect on your career, take away some lessons and move on with your life. It took me more than a year before I accepted the fight against Kerman [Lejarraga]. I was not favoured by the boxing world but that motivated me even more. I knew that EBU title would get me back in the rankings and here I am again. “I feel that the moment of truth is now. I’ve been reborn and I am keen to continue the strike. To become stronger, faster and wiser for everything that has come together should stay together.” That moment of truth is finally upon him. Back in December 2018, Avanesyan and Josh Kelly stepped off the scales and faced off for the cameras. Avanesyan’s team believe that the calm confidence their fighter exuded during fight week was the main cause of the symptoms which forced Kelly to pull out of the fight before the timekeeper could sound the first bell. The fighters’ teams have been in conflict ever since. So far, real hostilities have been restricted to the back rooms of a Sheffield hotel and a press conference dais but things will finally be resolved – they hope, we all hope – on February 20. Conventional wisdom would suggest that the younger Kelly would be the one who has grown and improved since the saga began but remember that internet meme? ‘Don’t let time fool you.’ “The only memory I have is that he [Kelly] pulled out of our previous engagement and it is not a pleasant memory,” he said. “You put in so much effort and make the weight for the fight only to find out three hours before that it’s not going to happen and all the effort [you have put in] is wasted. “I do not put too much attention on delays and demands. Neil is dealing with it. My job is to be ready for the fight once the agreement has been reached. My only concern is to show the best of myself in the ring and my only expectation is to win the fight.” bn

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 21 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

Photo: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM

ENTICING: This is eagerly awaited within the trade

Stand and deliver

Kelly is under ★★★★★ MAIN EVENT Until now, Kelly, 10-0-1 (6), has got by or that he will show the full extent of his on flashes of quality, and the testimonies talent when it is needed. At his best, he is ★★★★★ UNDERCARD pressure to of coaches and so-called experts, and has a video editor’s wet dream, full of moves prove his been the beneficiary of that great and looks perfect for any highlight potential HERE comes a time safety net afforded to most reel, whereas when off the in every prospect’s high-end prospects. Which is FIGHT ODDS pace he is either beatable against the career when potential to say, when he is good, he to some or an inspired threatening must become is apparently destined for KELLY starts as the narrow but unmotivated genius something tangible greatness, irrespective 4/5 favourite with Avanesyan in the eyes of others. Avanesyan, T priced at 1/1. On the undercard, and all previous of the competition, and Either way, for as long Marku is 4/6 with Charlton no rank writes Elliot performances will, as when he occasionally as he stays competing outsider at 6/5. A bigger price can Worsell a result, suddenly seem both unrevealing flatters to deceive, he be found in the Davies-Valenzuela at a certain level, and pointless. is merely a boxer for matchup with the Mexican an mixed reviews will be For Sunderland’s Josh Kelly, a former whom challenges are 11/2 underdog (Davies is commonplace and he will amateur star tipped for the top the second needed. 1/10). continue to be someone he turned professional, this moment As well as blue chip whose entire reputation is arrives on Saturday (February 20) when he sponsors, “Pretty Boy” Kelly is the based on potential and cameos of meets European welterweight champion type of prospect who receives the benefit what-could-be brilliance. David Avanesyan at Wembley Arena, of the doubt, usually on the condition Thankfully, this will all change on London. that he is all potential, or is holding back, Saturday when Kelly, having waited

22 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net patiently to prove himself, comes up two had weighed in to box (in December against Avanesyan, easily the most 2018). It has, to him at least, become threatening opponent of his career. This is personal and this, in theory, should when we will at last know whether Kelly is make him all the more dangerous for a FIREWORKS either as good as his supporters say or as challenger accustomed to being in control McComb vs Gwynne could be beatable as his detractors say. After this, and favoured and on top. a thriller, writes Matt Bozeat there will be no grey area and no ifs, buts Yet Josh Kelly, now 26, is nothing if not and maybes. After this, given the challenge confident and poised and is blessed, on the THE clash for the vacant in front of him, we will likely have seen evidence so far, with an array of skills few Commonwealth lightweight title plenty of what Josh Kelly has to offer, with other prospects possess. Better than that, between Belfast southpaw Sean nothing held back, and will have seen a there is a sense Kelly possesses a toughness McComb and Gavin Gwynne finally prospect put in a position vital in terms of he has so far not needed to call upon, a goes ahead in on Friday night their development: scared. toughness that belies his appearance, and (February 19). Kelly won’t be scared in the typical that it is this, rather than simply quick This was set for Wakefield last sense, no, but there will certainly be hands and feet, which could come as the month and then shifted to Dubai after a fear factor ahead of facing the first real surprise on Saturday night. the Board put a stop to pro boxing opponent plenty will be tipping to derail Some will of course question his punch shows in Britain. Further restrictions him. Avanesyan, after all, is a man who power and his ability to keep Avanesyan led to another delay and change of boasts greater experience than Kelly, away from him. Some will also point to venue. The Bolton Whites Hotel stages and a legitimate title to boot, and is also his draw with Ray Robinson, a decent a fight that has the makings of a someone who is in his prime and has American contender, as proof he has cracker for viewers watching on iFL TV just registered two of the best wins of already found his level. But if you are and ESPN + in the States. his career. Rather than on the decline, picking Kelly in this fight you are doing so Gwynne is a come-forward volume puncher, while McComb is a mover. Avanesyan, 26-3-1 (14), is a fighter who based as much on what is to come as what For Gwynne, it’s his third shot at has improved in recent years and, at 32, has already been and will gladly surrender major honours. The Welshman has has never been better. to the idea that a prospect is only as good missed out when fighting Joe Cordina His career, admittedly, has been an as the threat in front of him. and for the British unusual one. It began in his native Russia, In this case, with the threat in front of and Commonwealth belts and the where he boxed 20 times on the spin, him both real and considerable, the hunch vacant British title respectively. before eventually he found his way to is that Kelly will rise to the occasion and Cordina beat him on points and 12 Britain (where he is now based) and to finally become everything he has been months later, Belfast banger Tennyson America and finally to Spain, where, in waiting to become right in the nick of stopped him in six. 2019, he twice defeated the fearsome time. He will survive rough spots but will Gwynne (12-2) was in both fights, puncher Kerman Lejarraga (TKO 9 and be smart and, yes, tough enough to take a but Cordina was too skilled and TKO 1) to win his current European title. decision. Tennyson too strong. A pro for 12 years, Avanesyan has, On the Wembley undercard, some McComb’s rainer Danny Vaughan during this time, shared the ring with homegrown talent might suddenly be wary says his fighter is “the real deal,” the likes of Lamont Peterson, Egidijus of their little-known Mexican opposition though he hasn’t had things all his Kavaliauskas and Shane Mosley, whom given what happened to Josh Warrington own way since turning over around he outpointed in 2016, and has been last weekend: Liverpool’s Robbie Davies two years ago after an amateur stopped just once (against Kavaliauskas). Jnr, 20-2 (13), meets 22-2-1 (13) Gabriel career that included appearances in He has also held the WBA interim version Gollaz Valenzuela for the vacant IBF European and World Championships. McComb (11-0) has lovely skills of the welterweight title and fought for intercontinental super-lightweight title when he finds his rhythm – usually the secondary version against Peterson in while Jordan Gill, 25-1 (7), battles Cesar after two or three rounds – but 2017, losing on points. Juarez, 25-9 (13), at featherweight. he’s found some opponents hard to Even if he had not conquered Spain, With any feelings of complacency surely discourage and he was on the floor Avanesyan would still be considered removed thanks to Warrington’s fate, against seasoned Argentine Emiliano a stern test of Kelly’s capabilities and Davies and Gill should be favoured to Rodriguez in October, 2019. would be viewed as the ideal opponent win. There’s also a tasty fight between McComb wants to be pushed on this for somebody in search of both rounds unbeatens Florian Marku and Rylan year and sees himself as European and a test. Yet it is the two wins he Charlton at welterweight. champion by the end of 2021. scored against Lejarraga in Bilbao, when We know he’s skilled. As an marching into the lion’s den, which really THE VERDICT After numerous amateur, McComb was good enough signify an added element of danger where postponements we at last get the to twice beat 2015 World Champion WATCH OUT: Vitaliy Dunaystev in the space of a Avanesyan is concerned. For on both Davies goes in with excellent matchup between Kelly and occasions he was simply too much for a Mexican outsider Avanesyan. few weeks in 2017 after the Russian Lejarraga, this puncher who had finished had won Olympic bronze the previous both Bradley Skeete and Frankie Gavin summer. Ahead of this, there have to with ease. He was too tough. He was too be questions over how well McComb fit. He also hit too hard, which, given will make 135lbs. Avanesyan’s previous form, came as a He last made the weight as an amateur in 2016 – 60kgs is around surprise to all but those closest to him. 133lbs - and has only dipped under More than that, though, Avanesyan 140lbs twice in his 11-fight career. carries a spitefulness and determination We wonder how well he will last most prospects will do all they can to the pace. My guess is that at the avoid having to face. He feels slighted to end of 12 rounds, McComb will be a have lost some momentum of late, what points winner, possibly after a scare with various postponements, and has or two. never forgiven Kelly for withdrawing on the day of the fight the last time these

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 23 PREVIEWS MY PROPERTY: Berchelt [pictured] is aiming to keep the WBC 130lb title out of Valdez’s grasp Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP/GETTY IMAGES BRONER IS BACK After more than two years out, ‘The Problem’ makes his return, writes Paul Wheeler

ONE of boxing’s most controversial characters returns to the ring for the first time in just over two years this Saturday (February 20), as ex-four- weight world champion Adrien Broner headlines a TGB promotion at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut (Showtime televise). The brash Cincinnati counterpuncher is targeting his first win in four years when he takes on unbeaten Puerto Rican Jovanie Santiago in a super-lightweight 12-rounder. Dorado’s Santiago, 14-0-1 (10), is ranked at No. 15 by the WBA, but he has yet to contest a 12-round fight, nor has he ever competed in the US before. The most notable name on his CV is that of faded former WBO 140lb champ DeMarcus Corley, whom he unanimously outscored in a competitive contest in April 2017. Broner, 33-4-1 (24) 1NC, meanwhile, was last seen dropping a unanimous decision to living legend in a WBA welterweight title tilt. Both boxers may be 31 years of age, but Broner is miles more experienced than his opponent. With Santiago being a come- forward fighter, it is likely that he will walk on to a fair few potshots from Broner, who can record a much-needed victory on the scorecards.

24 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net Mexican style

Expect ★★★★★ BERCHELT-VALDEZ Mexico at two Olympic Games (2008 and relinquish the strap. He stopped the 2012) and also won a bronze medal for outgunned Matias Rueda in two rounds action and HEN two Mexicans his nation at the World Championships to pick up the vacant belt, before excitement meet in a ring, you in 2009. Despite going on to establish proceeding to make six successful know exactly what himself as quite possibly the standout defences. The biggest name he retained when you are going to get super-featherweight in the professional against was ex-WBA super-bantamweight Berchelt W – a straight-up fight. game today, Berchelt seemingly still champ Scott Quigg in March 2018. Mexico prides harbours some resentment about the Valdez prevailed unanimously on points collides with itself on its fabled way he was overlooked as an amateur. in what was a brutal and bloody battle, Valdez, writes fistic heritage, and when it comes to the “This fight is the one that I’ve dreamed during which he suffered a broken jaw Paul Wheeler classic ‘Mexican style’ of fighting – all-out of since we were both amateur fighters,” and had a tooth knocked out. attack and non-stop aggression – Miguel Berchelt said. “I’m preparing with While Valdez has yet to taste defeat in Berchelt and Oscar Valdez are certainly everything to win by and 28 appearances (all victories, 22 inside carrying on their country’s tradition. This leave no doubt that I’m the best super- schedule), Berchelt has lost once in 39 Saturday (February 20), the two power- featherweight in the world.” contests (38 wins, 34 inside time). His punching Mexican warriors will go toe- Berchelt became the WBC boss in loss occurred back in March 2014 when to-toe inside Top Rank’s Bubble at the January 2017, when he dethroned the he was stunned by Luis Eduardo Florez in MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live on Premier previously unbeaten Francisco Vargas the opening round. A counter left hook Sports 1 (UK) and ESPN (US). via 11th-round KO. In his six defences so caught him cold and dropped him to the The highly awaited clash was originally far, the Merida man has not once come canvas, and despite making it back to due to occur in December last year, close to losing his belt. Former champion his feet, the referee waved the fight off, but it had to be postponed when Takashi Miura tried to regain his old much to Berchelt’s indignation. Berchelt tested positive for COVID-19 in title from Berchelt in July 2017, Although he has triumphed November. Fortunately, this fan-friendly but found himself on the in all of his bouts, Valdez encounter was rearranged, and the wrong end of a wide has been knocked wait has only served to heighten the unanimous decision. down a handful of fighters’ focus and anticipation. Valdez Other than Miura, times. The pressure- has described the bout as “a guaranteed no opponent fighting 30-year-old war”, while Berchelt has referred to it as has been able to fires out blistering “a great fight”. last the distance combinations to As the WBC super-featherweight with Berchelt head and body, champion and one of the longest- since he won the but under the reigning current world titlists in the sport, championship, guidance of Eddy Berchelt is determined to retain his title including Vargas, Reynoso, who for a seventh time. But keeping hold who was forced out also trains Canelo of his crown is not his sole motivation after six rounds in a Alvarez, Valdez has in this particular contest. For Berchelt, May 2019 rematch. been striving to refine his the Valdez fight has been a long time Last time out eight months defensive skills. coming. They fought in the same weight ago, Berchelt kept ticking along DYNAMIC: Like Valdez, the explosive class back when they were amateurs in with a sixth-round stoppage Valdez always Berchelt unleashes high-intensity Mexico, but they never had a chance to of the unheralded Eleazar brings the heat combos both upstairs and down, share a ring. Valenzuela up at lightweight. including hooks, straights and Berchelt enjoyed significant success on The following month, Valdez scored a uppercuts. The 29-year-old pumps out the national scene in the unpaid ranks, stoppage of his own against the tough long jabs and uses clever footwork to but internationally his path was often and gutsy Jayson Velez, whom he create openings for hurtful shots to the blocked by Valdez, who represented dispatched in the 10th. This was Valdez’s midsection. second outing since moving up from Valdez has been consistently winning featherweight to super-featherweight. fights, yet a number of them have been TALE OF THE TAPE In his first fight as a new-found far from straightforward. His power 130-pounder, the West Covina, California has been getting him through some MIGUEL BERCHELT OSCAR VALDEZ resident opposed the unfancied Adam sticky situations, but against a fighter as @AlacranBerchelt @oscarvaldez56 Lopez in November 2019. Valdez was dangerous as Berchelt, whose versatility Nov 17, 1991/29 DOB/AGE Dec 22, 1990/30 expected to sweep the late substitute is underrated, Valdez could well come Merida HOMETOWN West Covina, CA aside with minimal fuss, but instead he unstuck. It will be fiercely fought and Mexican NATIONALITY Mexican had to recover from an early knockdown action-packed, but after 12 rounds of 5ft 7ins HEIGHT 5ft 5 1/2ins before eventually coming out on top ferocious combat, the pick is for Berchelt 71 1/2ins REACH 66ins in the seventh round of an intensely to have his hand raised in victory. 38-1 (34) RECORD 28-0 (22) competitive tussle. Orthodox Prior to departing the featherweight THE VERDICT Nov 17, 2010/19 DEBUT/AGE Nov 3, 2012/21 With two attack- 87 KO PERCENTAGE 79 division, Valdez had reigned as the minded aggressors going head-to- 7 WORLD TITLE FIGHTS 7 WBO king at the weight from July 2016 head, this won’t be one for the to August 2019, when he decided to faint-hearted.

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 25 SPARRING

Investigating the complicated, painful and occasionally lucrative role of the sparring partner

26 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net Photo: ALEX MENENDEZ/GETTY IMAGES

By ELLIOT WORSELL ROLE

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 27 F there is any truth to the becoming both an issue and an excuse. It’s a balancing act tough to theory that we are the perfect, something that can also be said for the process of selecting average of the five people sparring partners. An easy spar, for instance, will boost confidence but closest to us, it is imperative will invariably come at a cost likely to reveal itself on fight night when I a boxer chooses not only the boxer realises he has for several weeks benefited from a false their coaches wisely but sense of security. Then again, should a boxer endure constant heavy also their sparring partners. sparring against high-class and heavy-handed operators there’s every These, after all, tend to be chance they will turn up on fight night a shell of their old self, confidence the people with whom a shattered and durability depleted. boxer spends the majority of their time before a fight, Twelve years ago, told I had an eye for it, I was for a couple of years at least in a competitive sense, and the people against tasked with identifying and occasionally booking sparring partners for whom their progress will ultimately be judged. They a British world champion and discovered in the process that variety are the moving, thinking, punching punch bags. They is indeed the spice of life. On the job I learned, quickly, that for every IN CONTROL: are the imitators of style. They are crucial to the dress enthusiastic up-and-comer like Deontay Wilder, or brick wall like Mariusz Cunningham rehearsal. Wach, you would find an American heavyweight who, though resilient understands Should a boxer spar too often there’s a danger of and light-hitting (two boxes ticked), would fib when asked if they were the role of a too much damage being done and too much fight in training and, for a price of 900 dollars a week, arrive two stone above sparring being left in the gym. Spar infrequently, however, and their fighting weight and fit only for three rounds. Or, worse than that, partner Photo: ELSA/ there’s a danger of them turning soft and poor timing you would get a future European heavyweight champion show up not GETTY IMAGES

28 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net wanting to throw a punch, then start questioning his decision to box literally changed the way I fought. It elevated me. From altogether. Or, worse even than that, you would get a pale-skinned that day on, after sparring Byrd, I was like, ‘That’s it. I’m Ukrainian, selected due to his stature, arrive in north Cyprus and sparring everybody’.” sunbathe all afternoon, only to realise the next day he was so severely In addition to becoming a regular sparring partner sunburnt he couldn’t wear his sparring gear, let alone face the thought for Byrd, he also worked with Wladimir Klitschko, Tyson of being punched. Fury, Oliver McCall, Jean-Marc Mormeck, O’Neil Bell The ideal scenario, I suspect, is to not take chances but instead reach and Keith Holmes, who, in 2001, offered Cunningham the point where a boxer and coach have a pool of reliable sparring an early insight into what is required from a sparring partners they have used before and can trust. These might be novices or partner. they might be seasoned contenders. They might even be career sparring “I’d had two pro fights and Holmes was about to partners, that is, boxers for whom sparring is a full-time job; boxers able fight Bernard Hopkins in Don King’s middleweight to leave their ego in their kitbag and give a bigger name precisely what tournament,” Cunningham recalled. “The guy who got it is they need for their upcoming fight. me the gig had to talk them into giving it to me because One such boxer was Sergej Rozvadovskij, a now-retired light- they didn’t think I would bring enough experience to heavyweight from Lithuania who for many years was the go-to sparring the table having only had two fights. I get out there partner for world champions like George Groves, Mikkel Kessler, and spar him one time and it was okay and the second Gennady Golovkin and Arthur Abraham. As well as reliable, both in the time I sparred him I kind of got off on him. In that sense of turning up on time and providing as many rounds as a boxer session I did well and he was a little down on himself. wanted, Rozvadovskij, 6-1-2 (5), was a gifted mimic, capable of playing His manager came to my room later that day and said, whatever role was needed, and as tough a sparring partner as I have ‘Listen, we need you to fight more like Bernard Hopkins ever watched. He sacrificed not only his own wellbeing but also his own next time.’ I understood what that was. That was my professional career to become a helping hand, a decision he made, warning. I was about to get sent home. curiously, not long after securing his biggest win. “I learned then that you have to do your job. I wasn’t “It happened probably after I beat Thomas Ulrich [in 2011],” there to beat him up unless the trainer tells me to. Rozvadovskij said of his switch from pro fighter to pro sparring partner. Some guys in training camp don’t want that kind of “All the managers in Germany said it was a very good result but, on sparring. They want to look good and feel good all the other hand, said everybody would be afraid of me now. He was a the time. I did as I was told. I toned down and we did European champion who fought for the world title twice. I kicked his some good work. I stayed there for three weeks, made ass and was told I wouldn’t get many more fights after that. The next my 800 bucks a week, and it was good for both of us.” fight was something like 18 months later and you cannot fight once a Cunningham sparred for money and experience and year and expect to survive. That’s when I decided to become a sparring was able to adapt his style accordingly, striking the partner and make money that way.” sweet spot between protecting himself and helping The switch, at the time, made sense for Rozvadovskij. He was a man in the boxer he was being paid to help. Other sparring his twenties with no partner and no children and knew, if he remained partners, though, don’t always have this luxury, both reliable and durable, he could potentially make more money going hamstrung as they are by either a lack of experience, from camp-to-camp sparring than he could boxing professionally in physical disadvantages or a style that perhaps isn’t Germany, Latvia or his native Lithuania. conducive to going round after round after round. “For the last 10 years I did mainly sparring and that was my job,” he Recently retired heavyweight Dave Allen knows that said. “I didn’t have any family other than my mother and father and that feeling. He spent many of his unfit and formative years is why I could easily just keep sparring and not think about it. I was living sparring , which is a decision he has in hotels and didn’t mind. I loved it. I had nothing to come back to. since come to regret. “I’m just a guy from Lithuania and not many people even know “I sparred at least 500 rounds with Anthony Joshua where the f**k that is. But I was able to go to other countries and meet between 2012 and 2015 and was two or three stone people I never thought I would meet and have experiences people from overweight every single time,” Allen, 18-5-2 (15), said. Lithuania don’t normally have. “If I had sparred him when I was fit, I would have got “I would have loved to have been more of a boxer, though. Being a hit 10 times less. But I was never fit. sparring partner was good but in the end you are just a sparring partner. “I tell all the kids I train now that they’re not sparring Boxers take all the glory and the money and the attention. You’re just unless they’re 100 per cent fit. You can’t spar properly some guy in the gym giving them work. It’s good to be loved by everyone if you’re not fit. You’re going to get hit anyway, even in the gym but you’re still just a sparring partner.” when fit, but if you spar when out of shape you’re just Some boxers can be both. Steve Cunningham, for example, the asking for trouble. If I could go back in time, I would former two-time world cruiserweight champion from Philadelphia, was change that. I’m not saying I would train more but I a man known to alternate holding camps of his own with stints helping would definitely have sparred a lot less. out other champions in pursuit of both money and a greater skillset. “The Joshua sparring, the [Tyson] Fury sparring, “I was signed with Don King for eight years,” said Cunningham, 29-9- and the [Oleksandr] Usyk sparring made me a better 1 (13). “Being signed with Don King, you would only fight once a year fighter and it will make me a better trainer and it gave because he had too many fighters, so I would supplement my income by me more life experience. But it definitely shortened going to people’s training camps. I’d start off getting 800 and 900 dollars my career and later on in life it could affect me in a week and then get up to 1,100 and do that for three weeks. Shoot, I’d other ways as well. It could shorten my life, too, for be at home training all the time anyway, so I might as well do it and be all I know.” getting paid for it. And I was learning. Alas, what Allen gained in experience and, to some “I sparred with Chris Byrd before I turned pro and I learned extent, self-belief, he would lose in terms of longevity. so much from sparring someone who was better than me. It He was taking more than he was giving and was rarely compensated for what he gave or what he took. “When I used to spar Joshua, I would give him free shots,” said the 28-year-old. “I let him hit me on the THE SPARRING MADE ME chin three or four times every spar. I used to tell people outside the ring, ‘He can’t punch for toffee, A BETTER FIGHTER BUT IT this kid, I’m telling you.’ But I look back now and think, Yeah, that might have been funny at the time but it COULD SHORTEN MY LIFE might not be so funny in 30 years’ time when I can’t remember my kids’ names. It is a worry, definitely. But it’s been and gone. I can’t get those brain cells back. TOO FOR ALL I KNOW” “Sparring didn’t even make me a better boxer

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 29 Photo: JAMES CHANCE/GETTY IMAGES

REGRETS: Allen accepts he had the wrong attitude at times

30 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net necessarily. It just made me a better survivor. When HEAVY I was sparring Joshua, I was just surviving. I wasn’t fit HITTER: Joshua enough to do anything else. prepares “I was also being taken advantage of, which I didn’t to unleash realise at the time. I was never being paid for any of the power those spars and I took a lot of damage in the process. I’m not a bitter person at all, but if there was one thing I am a bit bitter about, in terms of my career, it would be that. I was a young man then. It was a pride thing. “Some days I was horrifically beaten by Anthony Joshua. Horrifically. I would go from him to Joe Joyce and just wouldn’t give a f**k. I’d be in there swinging, always getting hit, and was probably too tough for my own good. I was happy to do it, though, because it was quality sparring and these kids were the next big things. I thought I was lucky at the time but now, looking back, I know I was a fool. But there was no one there to tell me I shouldn’t have been sparring Anthony Joshua at 20-plus stone. That’s why I’m getting involved with the management and training side of things now, because I would hate to see that happen to somebody else.” Rozvadovskij, who now works on wind farms in his homeland, has fonder memories of his sparring days and says, if given the chance to do it again, he wouldn’t change a thing. He counts George Groves and guy. You’re a two-time world champion but you came into my camp to his family as friends and says he misses many of the help me. That’s beautiful.’ I said to him, ‘Listen, I’m just doing what I have people he encountered during his trips across Europe. to do. I’m a two-time world champion, yes, but right now I’m just here to Of his time in London, the 36-year-old said, “It was a help you win this fight.’ pleasure being there even if I only ever went there to “That was my job for three weeks. I can humble myself like that. If they get punched in the face.” need me to circle the ring 20 times and take something off my shots, Yet he stresses, too, that sparring is a young man’s I can do that. For those three weeks I’m his sparring partner and that’s it. game and that it is only in retirement he has started to “I know some fighters who don’t want to spar other guys and go into question the damage it involved. other camps. I even saw this social media post by one fighter and it “All my joints, legs and arms are not good,” he said, said: ‘I don’t go to other people’s training camps because I’m nobody’s “and that’s all because of boxing and kickboxing. You sparring partner.’ His fans were praising him and telling him he had punch, you get punched, and there is a lot of impact on the right attitude. But he hasn’t won anything yet. I chimed in and said, the joints. But it is what it is. I never worried about head ‘Listen, look at all of the champions who were sparring partners for other impact back then but in recent times I have thought champions. Look at someone like Larry Holmes and the work he used about that a lot and it is one of the main reasons I to do with Muhammad Ali.’ I shut that down straight away. His message wouldn’t go back now. I think six or seven of my boxing was the sort of thing that sounds good for the social media crowd but friends have gone into a coma following a brain injury means nothing in the real world. This guy is then on TV for his next fight they picked up in a fight. Eduard Gutknecht is one and and gets creamed.” so is . They are both good friends of mine Cunningham says the Klitschko camps in Stanglwirt, Austria were the and so I have examples now. It didn’t scare me but it best he experienced during his 17-year professional career and agreed made me ask, ‘What for?’ to help the Ukrainian whenever he could. He also has pleasant “I’ve got a family now. One punch could change memories of the time he sparred Tyson Fury, though this has as HELL NO, I’M NOT GOING TO CAMP TO SPAR TYSON FURY. MAN, THEY’RE CRAZY. GET OUT OF HERE” everything. When I was younger, it was different. much to do with renumeration as anything else. I didn’t think about it. But now you have those other “When I went to the Fury camp for the Haye fight that never happened thoughts because of age and whatever. Erik is okay now I made the most money ever for sparring,” Cunningham, 44, said. “That but Eddy is in a wheelchair and isn’t the same, which is was right after our fight and I was still a little sour. We get a call from f**ked up. He has a wife and three kids and their lives Peter Fury asking about sparring and I was like, ‘Hell no, I’m not going to have completely changed because of one fight.” camp with Fury. Get out of here. Man, they’re crazy.’ But Brother Naazim Despite its inherent dangers, Rozvadovskij says [Richardson] was like, ‘No, hold up. See how much they’re willing to pay he misses sparring and admits he still visits the first. They need you for .’ gym from time to time because, according to him, “At the end of it all, my wife [also his manager] managed to get me “Sometimes you have to get hit to feel better. It sounds 5,000 dollars a week and I did that for four weeks. The deal included f**king crazy but it’s true.” Indeed, of all the attributes sparring with Hughie [Fury], his cousin, and it was a good camp. It was required for an ideal sparring partner, humility and boring as hell but the money was good.” fearlessness, which Rozvadovskij possessed in spades, Calling it “good” is putting it mildly. For context, Dave Allen explained: are perhaps the ones most important. “The money I got for sparring Usyk for two weeks – five spars – is the “When I first sparred Wladimir [Klitschko], it was same money you get for a four-rounder. It’s not a lot of money when right after I lost to [Yoan Pablo] Hernández the second you think about it. But I wasn’t doing it for the money. I did it for the time and this was when he [Klitschko] was fighting experience. The most I ever got for sparring was 1,500 euros a week. In David Haye,” said Cunningham. “I was stretching after England sometimes you get expenses covered but that’s about it.” one of our sessions and Wladimir came over and sat Rest assured, if only the strong survive in boxing, it is only the next to me and said, ‘Thank you, man. You’re a humble strongest of the strong who make a living from sparring. bn

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 31 ONCE UPON

HOLLY

32 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRAURY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net A TIME IN

Craig McEwan reflects on having the world at his feet and Manny Pacquiao as his right hand man By CRAIG SCOTT

Photo: HARRY HOW/ALLSPORT

“I TOLD HIM, ‘FREDDIE [ROACH], YOU OWE ME A SELFIE WITH MARK WAHLBERG.’ BUT HE NEVER CAME BACK TO THE GYM, SO I MISSED MY CHANCE. I GOT ONE WITH MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, BUT HE THOUGHT HE HAD TO TELL ME WHO HE WAS. I WAS LIKE, ‘I KNOW WHO YOU ARE, MATE...’ BUT I WANTED ONE WITH WAHLBERG, REALLY.” YWOOD

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRAURY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 33 Photo: HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES

GOOD OLD DAYS: McEwan gets the better of Hilario Lopez in 2008

S SNOW falls from the sky, glistening like shattered Given his introduction to boxing at such diamonds, ’s Craig McEwan is reminded of a young age through his father, gym owner and former fighter Rab, nothing else would warmer climates and fonder memories. It doesn’t seem have the chance of stealing Craig’s attention: A long ago he was being pestered daily by a zestful Manny “It’s just all I knew. I just boxed. I was in Pacquiao in Hollywood, with the legendary Filipino the gym every single day, we used to spar, fighter crowned in a tartan, ‘See you, Jimmy’ hat and actually I used to spar my dad. It’s just natural, it’s just all I know and that didn’t attempting his version of Mel is currently closed due to tough, national really bother me. Gibson’s Braveheart. restrictions, there was no excuse for further “I was too young to fight officially, but my But it’s been long enough for many of delay. It’s been almost five years since his dad would take me along to boxing shows in British boxing’s most dedicated fans to last fight in Motherwell, but boxing has never Scotland, just in case somebody had pulled almost entirely forget what should have been been far away. Even now he speaks about out. We’d be there, I’d have my kit and if an exceptional career. It’s been too long for sparring and the retired fighter’s recurring, anybody pulled out my dad would just shout Craig. incessant need for “one more fight.” out, ‘My boy will fight.’ He didn’t know what McEwan, 23-4-2 (12), spoke to Boxing “I always say, ‘I’ve got one more in me,’ even size or weight these boys were, we didn’t News from the Capital on a winter’s evening, now, I’m always active and sparring with the care, we just wanted to get involved. as the finds itself in the lads, just messing about. The physical training The stories McEwan tells of father and son midst of a gruelling fight with the Covid-19 was the part of boxing I really hated; the press at events across the country are like excerpts pandemic, which seems to be forever clinging ups, the sit ups, all of that stuff; the running. from a bleak indie film. Rab would get there on, spoiling, and doing enough to make it to Sparring was the key for me, so I’d just spar early, set up the ring, fight somebody of the corner and receive instructions to further all the time. I still think I’m in good shape, but equal stature and then help dismantle it torment the nation. it’d have to be at a certain level to get myself afterwards. Craig recalled winning a fight at It was a chat we’d been meaning to have up for coming back. I’m talking myself into it a young age, and when slipping out between for a couple of years, and as McEwan’s gym and talking myself out of it at the same time.” the frayed ropes, his old man was tapping his

34 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2020 www.boxingnewsonline.net shoulder, looking to borrow a mouthpiece nine stoppages, and featuring on bills in beginning of the end, I think. for an unscheduled bout of his own. Vegas, Tucson, and Quebec City. He was “Amir Khan came over [to LA], Freddie “I can remember fighting Ricky Burns on sharing the gym with some of the best was starting to get busier, James Toney was a Friday in Motherwell,” McEwan explained, fighters on the planet, making friends with there and loads of people needed him. So, “I was matched on the Sunday to fight a Vanes Martirosyan, who couldn’t speak for wee Craig McEwan who’s up and coming, different guy. I beat Burns on the Friday, highly enough of his Scottish stablemate. there’s not a big pot of money for Freddie. and then we both pulled up on Sunday and Life was good – but it was surreal at times, After that fight, I came into the gym and I the guy’s like ‘Wait a minute, you boxed on and as he approached the biggest fights of asked Freddie, ‘What are we doing today? Friday? Did you two not box each other?’ his career, Craig was lucky enough to be What’s the plan?’ And he’s like ‘Ah, just go Ricky said, ‘That was my brother.’ I working side-by-side with generational home.’ I thought, ‘Okay, this is the end, this ended up getting pulled and Ricky talent and Filipino icon, Manny Pacquiao: is how it all finishes.’ I sat there, and I still could still fight. That’s just what it trained, I just did my own thing. was like back then.” Freddie, he was still my friend, you There’s barely a GPS advanced know. There wasn’t any animosity or enough to track McEwan’s amateur MANNY WAS HYPER anything – he just had other things miles, but he is among Scotland’s on his mind.” more experienced fighters. He ALL THE TIME, A REAL Roach and McEwan’s split came estimates 378 amateur bouts, immediately before his defining representing his country at countless fight. Standing in the corner international tournaments, PRANKSTER, ONE OF opposite was Irishman Andy Lee, winning at least 10 gold medals, a student of Emanuel Steward and and continuously fighting the best the Kronk Gym, Detroit. Both men in the world. It all culminated in THE BOYS” were peers; both had left home securing a bronze medal at the 2002 after stellar amateur careers that Commonwealth games, before making the “I knew him when he had nothing; he was promised fame and fortune, to gatecrash the decision to turn professional. fighting – he was still Manny Pacquiao – but American Dream. Only one could prosper, The Wester Hailes-native decided to roll he had nothing. He was one of the boys, just and it seemed for most of the bout that it the dice but travelling Stateside in search training. We used to train alongside him, and would be the Edinburgh-native, until he was of his own Rocky story wasn’t entirely we’d run, but man, he could really run. stopped dramatically in the final round. unfounded: “At the end of my amateur “He was really good with everybody; he When asked if he still thinks about his fight career, I was lottery funded, so I had money was a prankster; he was hyper all the time. with Lee, a future world champion, trainer to go abroad for warm weather training. There was a Thai restaurant underneath and analyst, McEwan’s reply was sincere: “It There was a category for it, and I had to use the gym, and he used to go in there but at keeps me awake at night, yeah. It bothers it before it ran out. I thought, ‘Where can I the start I remember this place was really me. I knew it was over then. The bubble had go? They said I could go wherever I want,’ so run down. You wouldn’t feed your dog in burst; after that, things started to go a bit I thought, ‘Alright, let’s go to LA.’ there. But Manny started going there and distant. I know Freddie was busy with Manny “I’d known about Freddie Roach for years. they revamped the whole place, they had and Amir.” I remembered the Steve Collins fight against a TV on the wall, a karaoke machine. So, A stoppage loss to former sparring partner Chris Eubank, that was a big fight, they used after training, everybody would be there, and future WBO titlist followed, to say he was hypnotised and everything. I Manny would feed them all, he’d put the and McEwan’s career lost most of its just knocked the Wild Card door when we karaoke on like, ‘Sing us a song, Craig.’ meaning. He managed to find just four got there, and said, ‘Look, I’m over here for At times I was like, ‘Nah, people are wins from his last eight contests training.’ It was just rough and ready; it was taking advantage of you here, and ‘retired’ in 2016. Promised really tough. I caught the bug and thought, Manny.’ But he wouldn’t care. fights with John Ryder and this is where I belong. I was sparring, and He’d just be throwing water potential contracts with Freddie said ‘Look, I want to be your manager.’ over people, playing pranks Eddie Hearn or Lou DiBella “The minute I came back from the again.” never materialised. Commonwealth Games in , we Pacquaio, still fighting Overall, Craig admits he packed up what money we had in the bank and beating some of the should have done more, but and we just went for it. I chapped Freddie’s best in the world, had an his résumé still impresses door again and it just started from there. unshakeable bond with those who walk through the Sally [McEwan’s wife] got a job, she was the pair’s head trainer, doors of his Edinburgh gym, working for a lady as a live-in nanny, so I Freddie Roach. At times, so and his ambition can never could live there as well and train. did McEwan. But things started be faulted. Boxing promised him “Freddie said to me one day, ‘Right, I’ve to change following his seesaw so much, and he took the sport PAC THE JOKER: got a deal with Top Rank, we’re going to go battle with Danny Perez – a fight McEwan and Manny at its word. Hundreds of fights, with them,’ because he knows Bob Arum that he barely edged on points but enjoy a laugh thousands of miles and everything well. Golden Boy were trying to sign Manny was expected to win comfortably. together slipped away when the bigger at that time; they gave him a private jet Craig’s preparation for the fight names came calling. But he has his with money in a suitcase or something. So, I was far from ideal, having his son Cameron family, his four beautiful kids and loyal wife, signed with Golden Boy, and they said, ‘Look and marrying his wife, Sally. But Roach didn’t and those memories of sharing time with the we’ll give you a car, an apartment, money in care for sentiment; he cared for hard work. greatest of our era. the bank and your first fight is in two weeks’ “I went in there and he [Perez] just “I’ve sparred with the best in the world, time in Las Vegas.’ I thought, ‘Is this really battered me. Every punch was a knockout Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley, Ronald happening?’ shot; it was just bang, right to the soles of ‘Winky’ Wright, Gennady Golovkin, Canelo Standing over the fallen George Nicholas my feet. It was a fight where he would hit Alvarez, the list goes on. In my career, Montalvo in the MGM Grand, McEwan felt me with one big shot, then I was hitting him I trained alongside Manny Pacquiao; there’s reality give him a pinch, winning his debut with four or five. So, I was beating him to the not many people that can say that. I was inside one round. Names like Marco Antonio punch but every shot he hit me with, it was undefeated in America, 19 fights, I fought Barrera and Israel Vazquez headlined that hurting me. Freddie gave me a proper row in Vegas five times, there’s things like that. evening, but the youngster from Scotland at the end saying this couldn’t happen again, But I’ve not really done anything, I suppose. began feeling like a superstar Stateside. that if I took any more of these fights I’d have There’s no point dwelling on it now, I’ve just His professional career went to plan for to retire. So, I was a bit upset. ‘You can’t play got to be honest and say, ‘Well, I tried my the next four years, amassing 18 wins, with this game, it’s not easy,’ he said. That was the best’.” bn

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2020 l BOXING NEWS l 35 So far we have: Frazier-Ali I (seventies); Hagler-Hearns (eighties); Chavez-Taylor (nineties)… This week, Matt Christie goes back to the 2000s and reveals the fight you voted as your favourite

36 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net The premise for Desert Island Fights HERE were clear shifts came at a cost to the consumer as the business in power as we waved of pay-per-view gathered pace and became is simple: You will soon be stranded goodbye to the 20th the order of the day. Bona fide stars were born, on a desert island. To ease the century. Within the sport, like Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, boredom, you can take along one T as Lennox Lewis retired others ultimately faded, like Oscar De La and no clear successor Hoya, Felix Trinidad and Roy Jones Jnr, yet the – and only one – fight from each stepped forward, the defining theme of the decade was the rivalries of the last five decades (1970s, heavyweight division it created. 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s) lost its lustre. That was good news for the lower Think Gatti-Ward, Pacquiao-Marquez, divisions – and the fans – as a series of high- Corrales-Castillo, Vazquez-Marquez and you to watch while you’re there. Which paced slugfests stole our attention. get a taster of the furious action to choose five fights do you take? Not so good was that many of these fights from for your trip to the desert island.

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FELIX TRINIDAD w rsf 12 FERNANDO VARGAS (2000) incensed by referee Jay Nady asking him if he’s okay. As Nady grabs his arms, Trinidad screams that he’s alright, just resisting the urge to shove THE last great performance of Felix Trinidad’s career saw him emerge the official out of the way. The desire to win – from both combatants – is from a see-saw slugfest with Fernando Vargas not quite unscathed but awe-inspiring throughout. with his arms aloft. Vargas still being around in the last round, when he was eventually rescued, seemed unlikely in the opening seconds as Fernando DID YOU KNOW: went down twice – briefly but heavily – from Trinidad’s booming left hook. Vargas didn’t fly from Oxnard, California – where he was from – to the Las The high pace remained; particularly in a dramatic fourth, as Trinidad’s Vegas fight site (Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino), he was driven there eye swelled, his right hand plunged into Vargas’ groin and, when he took a inside his brand new customised SUV which measured an impressive 30ft short sharp left, his backside hit the mat. and was described by Jim Lampley as a ‘rolling disco’. His entrance to the ring was similarly high-key as he punched his way through a wall of plastic WATCH OUT FOR: bricks before strutting to the battleground. Trinidad’s reaction to being dropped in the fourth. As he gets up he’s

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 37 CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR ISRAEL VAZQUEZ w pts 12 RAFAEL MARQUEZ (2008) PERHAPS the fiercest series of the decade was rallying hard, is arguably the best, but asking a OTHER FIGHTS RECEIVING VOTES shared by Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez. fight fan to name their favourite round of this Somsak Sithchatchawal w rsf 10 Mahyar Between 2007 and 8, the Mexicans fought three scrap is like asking a meat-eater to pinpoint the Monshipour; Lennox Lewis w rsf 6 Vitali times in a trilogy so savage it essentially finished tastiest mouthful from their mixed grill. Klitschko; Joe Calzaghe w pts 12 Jeff them both; their fourth fight in 2010 (won by Lacy; Floyd Mayweather w rsf 10 Ricky Marquez in three) was nothing compared to DID YOU KNOW: Hatton; Manny Pacquiao w rsf 12 Miguel what came before. Marquez rose from the floor Vazquez would fight only twice more, the injury Cotto; Manny Pacquiao d pts 12 Juan to win their first bout, Vazquez then levelled the to his right eye he suffered in this bout proving Manuel Marquez; Jamie Moore w ko 10 rivalry before winning this incredible humdinger irreparable. He now has an artificial eye and, Matthew Macklin; w pts on points. When naming the best fights of the through a mixture of boxing and bad luck, is in 10 Micky Ward (II & III); Marco Antonio decade, all three deserve to be included. poor health. BN caught up with him last year Barrera w pts 12 Erik Morales (III); Rafael and asked him if it was all worth it. “I always Marquez w rtd 6 Israel Vazquez; Israel WATCH OUT FOR: gave my best in every fight, no matter what Vazquez w rsf 7 Rafael Marquez; Michael The fourth round, when WBC super- price I had to pay, so that people would leave Gomez w rsf 5 Alex Arthur; bantamweight boss Vazquez is dropped before happy to have seen a fight.” w rtd 11 Kostya Tszyu; Cory Spinks w pts 12 ; Roy Jones Jnr w pts 12 John Ruiz.

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EDITOR’S CHOICE My personal Top 5 for the 2000s: ERIK MORALES w pts 12 MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA (2000) 5) Bernard Dunne w rsf 11 Ricardo Cordoba TWO local rivals who didn’t like or respect After Morales obeys the referee’s instructions 4) Israel Vazquez w pts 12 Rafael Marquez each other, the two best super-bantamweights to touch gloves ahead of the final three minutes 3) Diego Corrales w rsf 10 Jose Luis in the world and two of the finest in the sport he then shoves Barrera in the throat. Morales, Castillo full stop, this all-Mexican war oozed savagery perhaps sensing he’s behind, goes all out but 2) Jamie Moore w ko 10 Matthew Macklin from the moment it was signed. If you want to he’s hurt in the final minute before being shoved 1) MICKY WARD w pts 10 ARTURO watch a thrilling, technically brilliant scrap, one to the mat. With the knockdown called, Morales GATTI where no inch was given or effort withheld, this then runs at Barrera to make amends. There were better technical fights than is for you. In the end, there was controversy Ward-Gatti, perhaps even fights offering as Morales got the split nod after Barrera had DID YOU KNOW: more sustained action and drama, but for seemingly done enough – many would argue Four days after the bout, the WBO – in another that ninth round alone, this has to join me the roles were reversed in the return – but this nod to sanctioning bodies doing whatever on the island. It’s not just watching the was no robbery. they like and to hell with the consequences – supremacy shifts in those three minutes decided they didn’t agree with the decision and that fill me with joy, it’s listening to WATCH OUT FOR: reinstated Barrera as their super-bantamweight Emanuel Steward – a man still so sorely The barbaric fifth session is one to savour but champion. Morales, the WBC boss, moved up to missed – on co-commentary losing his the 12th round is perhaps the most dramatic. featherweight. cool, as he gets swept up in the action, that always brings a smile to my face.

THE HIPSTERS’ CHOICE You know the type. They know more about boxing than you… DANNY WILLIAMS w rsf 7 KONSTANTIN AIRICH (2008) An oft-forgotten contest that is scarcely believable. Williams not only has to deal with Airich, he also has to 3 cope with some seriously shady work by promoter, Ahmet Oner, who, amongst other things, rings the bell when his fighter is in trouble to end a round early.

38 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net a narrow 6/5 favourite but boxing insiders were split down the middle in their opinion. And the fight played out in exactly that way, with the outcome in the balance right until the end. Fought at close quarters, Castillo looked to have made the defining breakthrough in the 10th, dropping Corrales twice, only to be socked out of contention with a stunning and brutal retort.

WATCH OUT FOR: 2 You’ve no doubt seen it countless times but the astonishing events of the 10th round will always amaze.

DID YOU KNOW: Though some were keen to paint Corrales in a villainous light for the manner in which he bought extra time by spitting out his mouthpiece at the end of this one, it would be Castillo who trumped the foul play stakes. Ahead of the rematch, and knowing his charge was overweight, Armando Barak, Castillo’s DIEGO CORRALES w rsf 10 JOSE LUIS CASTILLO (2005) physician, was caught putting his foot under the scales to alter the reading. Barak and Castillo were fined but the fight, won by the IT says it all about this decade when a fight like second in the voting. In Las Vegas, where the Mexican, went ahead. When Castillo missed Corrales-Castillo – which contained a finale fight was staged inside a (far from sold out) weight ahead of their projected rubber match, as dramatic as any in history – only comes Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Corrales was the contest was cancelled.

1

MICKY WARD w pts 10 ARTURO GATTI (2002)

ROUND NINE. Two words that can be applied wonder and clap your hands in respect. celebrate. “Woah, woah! The fight ain’t over! to countless boxing matches yet say those two This is the last round!” he yells at Ward. words to a serious boxing fan, and nothing else, WATCH OUT FOR: and their minds almost inevitably conjure images The work of referee Frank Cappuccino. Was it DID YOU KNOW: of Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti in the thick of brilliant or flawed? He stayed close throughout When Gatti was first shown a tape by his combat. The other rounds are all special in their but not too close, often choosing to yell manager Pat Lynch of Ward in action, he was own way but the penultimate session stands tall instructions in the midst of exchanges rather not overly impressed and figured it was a fight as the greatest three-minute advertisement for than getting in the way. There’s an argument to he would win easily. “Gatti took one look at the boxing at its most exhilarating. Even now, even be made he should have stopped it in the ninth, tape and said, ‘No problem’,” Lynch said. “Like it after watching it countless times before, it still yet what transpired hands him a pass. Also, was a cakewalk, basically.” makes you draw breath, it still makes you ‘ooh’ listen to Cappuccino ahead of the 10th as Ward and ‘aah’, it still makes you shake your head in – thinking Gatti had been pulled out – starts to NEXT WEEK: 2010s

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 39 THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN

N the days deprived of Mike Lockley catches up with at super-lightweight before being bludgeoned dieticians, nutritionists by a sledgehammer left hook in the seventh. and day before weigh- former British champion Hugh YouTube footage reveals how close Hugh ins, when removing Forde who used to work feats of came to an upset victory. Hale was rocked and I stubborn pounds was a magic to boil down in weight unsteady before dramatically ending matters. slog of starvation and Hugh and world class Tony Pep waged war saunas, not a science, until the Canadian prevailed in the ninth. Hugh Forde somehow peeled off 19 straight wins, including a two But the flame of hunger and ambition was managed to boil his long body down to super- round stoppage of Gary Maxwell for the fading fast. featherweight. Midlands belt, before facing Jacobs for the “My first child was born and that was a The sacrifices were torturous, draining and, title at Wolverhampton Civic Hall. He made the turning point,” Hugh shrugged. “It’s strange - frankly, dangerous. Yet Hugh, near freakishly most of the opportunity, prevailing in the 11th. and sad - to step in the ring and not have that tall for the 9st 4lb division at 5ft 10ins, retained “Reaching that pinnacle was surreal,” said passion and desire. the skills and strength to win British and Hugh. “You spend a lifetime trying to achieve “You’re on your own in the ring thinking, Commonwealth titles. something and it happens. Not many can say ‘Do I really want this any more?’ You have to Harrowing stories about Hugh’s struggle they achieved what they dreamt of. be sensible - you’ve achieved something, what with the scales still abound in Birmingham “People see you in the ring for that one else do you want?” boxing circles. Hugh, now 56 and a Royal Mail night, but it’s the four or five years leading up Hugh, a grounded family man, is rightly worker, is not a part of the current fight scene to it.” content with - and proud of - his achievements. and, to an extent, is Birmingham’s forgotten A glorious, golden career beckoned: there In his 1995 swansong, the Birmingham British champ. were heady plans for Hugh to gain ownership boxer was stopped in six by Shamrock Express That’s an injustice. Long limbed and sinewy, of the belt in record time. Shea Neary, who would become one of the Hugh was a fine, tough competitor who But, back then, the super-featherweight best in the world. seemed to have the world at his feet when division appeared cursed. It passed from one Hugh bowed out with 24 wins - 11 by stopping Joey Jacobs for the in champ to another like a hot potato. stoppage - in 31 bouts. 1990. No one appeared capable of defending “My only regret is not saving the money,” he He hit the heights despite never being a full- the crown - 13 tried, but failed. Five fell at said. “I had an office job, so I had an income, time pro. By day, the champ earned a crust as the very first hurdle following Hugh’s four so what came in from boxing could’ve been an office worker. round knockout defeat to Kevin Pritchard in his saved, but it got spent. In terms of weight-making, Hugh, a father of inaugural defence. “When you’re young, you think it will go on five, suffered more than most for his success. “I was always well above 10 stone in between forever. “The training took off some of the weight fights and making 9st 4lb was a struggle that “I enjoy spending most weekends socialising and not eating got me there,” said Hugh from drained my resources. In the end it took its with my family, watching the lads playing his Kings Heath home. toll,” he admitted. football - Alex in a Saturday league and Paris “As the years added up, it got harder, I “In today’s world it would still be tough plays on Sundays. thought, ‘hang on a minute’. But we’re getting to the weight, but it would’ve been done “The footie’s been a welcome distraction professional people who do things that, more sensibly with the correct diet instead of due to the pandemic. It’s the only thing that physically, are not right. You push your body jumping in and out of saunas wrapped up in feels normal at the moment, especially at grass to the limit. Your body says no and you still plastic bin liners. roots level.” push it to the limit. “The only thing I can liken it to is jockeys - Hugh added: “I can’t really be too “It was more the fluids, the fluids were a and they don’t have to go out and do battle.” disappointed about my career. It gave me killer - not being able to have a full cup of tea. There were other big fights, other nights of a great lessons in discipline and respect for Even now I can’t drink a full cup of tea. I’d have glory. Hugh’s slippery southpaw skills and long others in life. a small spoon of ice-cream just to keep my limbs continued to test the best in the brutal “Stepping into a boxing ring is not a place mouth moist.” business. for the faint-hearted, but if you have the A product of Birmingham City ABC, Hugh He claimed the Commonwealth crown and ability and dedication that can be coached and turned pro without fanfare in 1986. Guided gave Bristol’s big hitting Ross Hale all the nurtured the right way there’s no reason not by the Lynch brothers and Barry Hearn, he trouble he could handle in a British title bid up to pursue a unique experience.”

40 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net FORGOTTEN CHAMPION: But Forde looks back on his time in boxing with pride and few regrets. He can be seen here with his belts, trophies and alongside the likes of, among others, Pat Cowdell, Chris Eubank, Barry McGuigan and Ronnie Davies (who only smiles when he likes the person he’s stood next to)

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 41 AMATEURS

The very best action, previews and news from Olympic-style boxing AMATEURSCENE With JOHN DENNEN | @BoxingNewsJD SEND us your club's news, results or upcoming events to [email protected] or 0195 9541 444

just to reach the final, beating TOP OF THE GAME: Hungary’s Milan Horvath and Algeria’s Fontijn [left] wins Chemseddine Kramou on unanimous on this occasion decisions before outpointing France’s Berrouiguet Yahia on a split. Lewis Richardson was one bout into the European qualifier last year when it was suspended. In Hungary he continued his preparations for when it eventually resumes. He did well to win the gold medal at 75kgs, outscoring Croatia’s Jezek Noa on a split to win their final. “Five fights in five days is a tough ask and today was pretty heavy going but I managed to grind my way through. It’s an amazing feeling to win,” Lewis said. Through the tournament southpaw Richardson was at his best when using fast, straight shots from range, while staying active and keeping mobile. Welsh 69kgs Rosie Eccles came back from suffering defeat in the European qualifier with a good win over Italy’s Angela Carini. After beating Hungary’s Nora Halasz, she met eventual gold medallst, Busenaz Surmeneli, in a close, hard-fought semi-final, losing on a split decision. England’s Nico Leivars also secured a bronze medal. He slammed flush head shots fully into Hungary’s Zoltan THE RIVALRY CONTINUES Siroki, forcing a stoppage in the first round of his first bout at the Bocskai. He unanimously outscored another Welsh star WELSH star Lauren Price and Nouchka by unanimous decision and then in the Hungarian, Laszlo Bernath before Lauren Price Fontijn have a rivalry that spans semi-final took a split points win over coming up against top French 57kgs European, World and now Bocskai finals. Turkey’s bustling Berat Acar. Samuel Kistohurry, who subjected him meets an old In Hungary on Friday (February 12) “I have had so many ups and downs to three rounds of sustained pressure to foe in the final the Netherlands’ Fontijn scored a split in the last 18 months and to finally be take a unanimous decision. decision revenge win over Price, who back in the ring, doing what I do, has GB 91kgs Cheavon Clarke began of Bocskai had beaten her (after a scoring recount) been brilliant. It has really brought the brightly. He boxed well in his first two tournament, at the last World championships in love back,” Frazer said. “The whole thing rounds with France’s Wilfried Florentin. writes John Russia in 2019. It will be interesting to has been a great experience and it has But in the third Clarke held his ground see their series continue at the upcoming made me realise how and continued to trade Dennen European Olympic qualification event much I missed every with Florentin. Errors once it is rescheduled. aspect of going away ‘IT MADE ME crept into his work. In the semi-final Price had taken a to tournaments and He let through some split decision win over Italy’s Assunta competing. Training REALISE HOW of the Frenchman’s Canfora, a contest that was scrappy and sparring is great, MUCH I MISSED booming shots. at times but the Welsh middleweight but you cannot beat Florentin handed him was nimble on her feet and picked out competing.” EVERY ASPECT two standing counts in shots to land. Lauren had begun her Harvey Lambert the last round, taking tournament with a unanimous win over beat Israel’s rough OF GOING TO over the bout. Wilfried’s Lithuania’s Gabriele Stonkute. Miroslav Kapuler TOURNAMENTS’ dominance of the While Price had to settle for a silver Ischelenko in the session tipped the split medal in Debrecen, three of her GB team 69kgs final. Lambert decision his way. mates did secure gold medals. outboxed, outfoxed and frustrated Young GB 60kgs Gemma Richardson Frazer Clarke, after three wins, took Ischelenko, who got away with throwing unanimously outscored Lenka victory in the super-heavyweight final a blatant elbow into Lambert’s head with Volejnikova of Czech Republic and by walkover. Clarke picked up a cut in only a point deduction. Lambert danced Hungary’s Aliza Doka, before meeting his second bout, against tall French beneath Ischelenko’s legitimate punches the division-leading Mira Potkonen. southpaw Mourad Aliev. But he was and, even though the decision was split, The strong Finn won a unanimous shaking off ringrust and handed Aliev Lambert deservedly won. decision but the future is still bright a count in their last round. Clarke won Lambert chalked up three victories for Richardson.

42 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net REMEMBERING A WELSH GREAT

Gareth Jones pays MALCOLM COLLINS, one of the greatest final by South African Leonard Leisching. REST IN names in the history of Welsh amateur Four years later the Games were tribute to the exceptional boxing, died at his home on staged in his home city, Cardiff, and Malcolm Collins February 4. He was 85. Malcolm, widely tipped for success, was PEACE An exceptionally skilful southpaw, chosen to carry the national flag in the he claimed silver opening ceremony. The Boxing coaches medals in successive hosts underperformed Pete Holmes and Empire Games, as the COLLINS’ FIVE in other sports and Charlie Lawson Commonwealths were WELSH ABA were still without a have passed away then known, but was gold when the event also the owner of a CHAMPIONSHIPS reached its last evening concussive punch, and the boxing finals RESPECTED coach demonstrated by the WERE ALL at Sophia Gardens Pete Holmes has fact that his five Welsh Pavilion. passed away. Holmes ABA championships WON INSIDE Three home boxers served Staffordshire were all won inside a A ROUND - flyweight Don club Burton ABC for round. Braithwaite, light- more than 50 years, His ability was so middle Billy Brown producing many exceptional that he was the only boxer and heavyweight Roger Pleace - had champions over STAR MAN: included in the Wales team for the trip struck bronze, while three more were those decades. One Collins carries to Vancouver in 1954. Still a teenager, he still in the hunt for the ultimate prize, the flag for Wales of whom was Frazer halted Trinidadian Hollis Wilson in two, including Collins, who had overcome Clarke, Great Britain’s at the Games in Cardiff in 1958 but was outpointed in the featherweight New Zealander Morrie Purton and South super-heavyweight African Bert Coetzee to reach that stage. Olympic hopeful. That he was even competing was “Devastating news something of a miracle. He had broken today, about an hour before I boxed his left hand in his ABA semi-final victory [in his first bout at over Sheffielder Billy Calvert, a future the Bocskai] I was British and European pro challenger, and informed that Peter then fought one-handed to outscore RAF Holmes has passed man Roy Beaman and take the title. away,” Frazer said. Despite having the fist in plaster “I just want to say a until a few weeks before the Games, he massive thank you had been passed fit to take part. But to him and everyone then Ernie Hurford, who had guided at the club. Without Malcolm’s career from the start, suffered you guys I wouldn’t a heart attack shortly before the final be in the position and, as if that was not distraction I’m in today. Forever enough, there were arguments over who grateful for your should replace him in the corner. support and for At least the pressure was eased when looking after myself the brilliant Merthyr youngster, Howard and so many other Winstone, saw off Australian Ollie Taylor lads that walked at bantamweight to claim that elusive through the doors Welsh gold. Next up was Collins, against at the gym… Your memory will live on Ollie’s younger brother, Wally, and, forever. despite dropping the 20-year-old in the “I’d like to dedicate last, he had to settle for second place today’s victory to you again in what proved to be the final act my friend, thank you of a 250-bout career in which he lost just Pete.” eight times. Halstead and Essex There might have been further glory University Boxing had National Service not ruled him out Club has been also of contention for the 1956 Olympics. been greatly saddened Britain’s representatives at feather and to lose coach Charlie lightweight, Tommy Nicholls and Dick Lawson. “It is with McTaggart, returned from Melbourne extreme sadness that with silver and gold respectively. Collins we have to report the had beaten both. passing of club coach Malcolm, with a well paid job Charlie Lawson,” the as a linotype operator at the South club stated. “Charlie Wales Echo, spurned offers to turn was a former Army pro, and earned a few extra bob boxer and coach at covering the local amateur scene for Sudbury before joining us here at Halstead. his employers and for Boxing News. Our thoughts are with He also served his sport more directly, his three boxing sons managing the Welsh team at world and Jordan, Zak and Mitch. European championships and at the Rest in peace Charlie.” Commonwealth Games in 2006.

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 43 YESTERDAY’S HEROES Lost treasures

Footage N a recent article GONE FOREVER: on Alan Richardson, Wood clouts of 1970s I commented that Martin in their he “is another of 15-rounder fighters like I those champions Tim Wood and from the 1970s Chris Martin that is in danger of being forgotten.” I do not know the exact is hard to reason why the 1970s, considered by so come by many to be a golden age, produced so many good scrappers that rarely get a mention today, but I suspect that it may be because so little of what they achieved in the ring is readily available on film. The BBC and ITV destroyed much of their archive in the early 1980s. They appear to have preserved many of the top-of-the-bill contests that were broadcast on Sportsnight with David Coleman the day after the bouts, but the undercard fights that were shown on Grandstand the following Saturday have, I suspect, fallen victim to the great purge. It is therefore possible to watch Alan Minter vs Kevin Finnegan on YouTube, but you won’t find Mark Bliss vs Tommy Wright, almost certainly filmed and, no doubt, televised on Grandstand. I shudder to think how many scraps involving Jimmy Flint, such an exciting man to watch, have been destroyed, or Miles for that matter, Jimmy Batten, Vernon Templeton Sollas and Gary Davidson. Boxing These days, boxers are spoiled in the historian amount of footage that exists for their LOOKING FOR INFORMATION

A mini- SOME time ago I announced the and how Don fared): Fred Powney – d I forwarded Dean’s email to Ricky, documentary on happy news that Scottish EBA member pts 8, Leeds, 1966 & w rsf 7 (cut eye), and he said he would be in touch. Ricky Don McMillan is in (and former Scottish middleweight Bedford, 1968; Tommy Bell – d pts 8, also gave me the very sad news that he champion) Don McMillan, from Stoke-on-Trent & w pts 8, Derby & w recently lost his beloved wife, Angie. “I the works Glasgow, had successfully recovered pts 8, National Sporting Club (all 1971) met her when she was 16,” Ricky said, from an attack of COVID-19. This week & w pts 8, Stoke-on-Trent, 1972; Don “and next month we would have been I heard from Don’s grandson, Dean Davis – w pts 10, Glasgow, 1966 & w rsf married for 58 years.” I’m sure everyone McMillan, who plans to put together 2, Kensington, 1968; Chris McAuley – w will join me in sending condolences to a mini-documentary on Don’s life pts 8, Glasgow, 1966. Ricky and his family. and career. “I’m looking at gathering Dean also mentioned Ricky Porter Maxie Smith never boxed Don, but information from other ex-boxers, and and Maxie Smith. Don and Ricky sat next to him on the flight back from others involved in boxing, that he fought clashed in Bedford in 1968, and Don Zambia after Don’s last outing – a fifth- or trained with, or just knew him,” won on points. Ricky (who later became round KO of local Hugo Chansa in April Dean said. “So I’ll be looking at possibly Southern Area welterweight champion) 1974. Tragically Chansa died after the recording some conversations via phone is a good friend of mine, and before bout, and Don was taken off the plane Simon or video calls.” the lockdown would regularly come up for questioning. A horrible experience – Euan-Smith Dean would love to hear from from Swindon to attend London EBA’s and Don never boxed again. simonoldtimers anybody with any information. He did monthly meetings. (Incidentally, I can Don’s pro career began in 1963 and @googlemail.com list a few names he’d be particularly confirm that LEBA will definitely NOT be he won 30 and drew five of 53 bouts. EBA glad to speak to, and here they are meeting in March, as was hoped. They’re He started at welterweight but was correspondent (with details of their fights with Don, now looking at April 11.) turned back in a Scottish title bid by

44 l BOXING NEWS l FEBRUARY 18, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net contests. It isn’t the same though, for the and Tim quickly reverted to light- families of Tim Wood and Phil Martin, heavyweight. for instance. Sadly, neither of these Phil Martin, who boxed John Conteh fine fighters are still with us, for they in the final of the 1971 East Lancashire both died young. They were not world- Championships, had turned pro in late beaters but they both came through to 1974 and had won 10 from 11 when the top of the British light-heavyweight he was matched with Wood to contest division when it was crammed with very the British light-heavyweight title at the hard men, including Johnny Frankham, World Sporting Club, in Mayfair, in April Johnny Wall, Phil Matthews, Pat McCann, 1976. The two were competing for the Roy John and Rab Affleck. I can find no vacant title, held beforehand with such footage for the many bouts that took honour by Chris Finnegan. place between these fighters. At the time, Conteh was world Tim Wood was born and bred in champion at the weight and neither London but moved to the Midlands Wood, nor Martin, were anywhere near in his teens. He joined the Keystone the class of either Finnegan or Conteh. ABC, based in Kettering, pretty much Roy John, the number-one-ranked as soon as he arrived. After moving to challenger, had been due to fight Martin Leicester’s Belgrave club, he became the for the vacant title but had pulled out ABA heavyweight champion in 1972 by with an eye injury and so Wood, who hammering Les McGowan, of Speke, had been beaten by John in a title in one round. He then beat him again, eliminator just five months before, was two months later, in an Olympic trial, lucky to get the chance. but was not selected for the GB Olympic Wood grabbed the opportunity with team because, at little over 13 stone, both hands, outscoring the Manchester it was felt that he was too light to take man over 15 hard rounds. Tim lost his on the mighty Eastern Europeans and crown early the following year after being Americans, let alone the eventual gold flattened in a single round by Bunny medallist – the Cuban Teofilo Stevenson. Johnson. It is a shame that he is now He went pro straightaway after this largely forgotten. The memory of Martin snub and after being unbeaten in nine he remains crystal clear, however, following BOXING MAN: suffered three straight defeats, including the fine work he did subsequently with Martin in his fighting days a bad knockout at the hands of Eddie the ‘Champs Camp’. But try finding some before he became a Neilson. This proves that the Olympic footage of him in the ring – it won’t be respected trainer selectors had probably been correct, easy.

DON McMILLAN: Did you fight or spar the former champion?

former conqueror Andy Wyper. He was her uncle Samuel Abrahams’ boxing far more successful as a middle, beating career. “I guess he would have been Andy Peace for the Scottish title in May boxing around the 1930s or 1940s,” 1971. In 1972 he scored back-to-back Lesley said. “He died in September stoppages over quality opponents 1989 in Forest Gate. He always lived Howard Sharpe and Pat Dwyer – the in the East End of London, probably latter in a British title eliminator, which in or very close to Forest Gate/West led to a final eliminator against Kevin Ham. I am pretty sure he was a porter Finnegan. Don won that, too, on a cut, at Billingsgate fish market (I know my and duly challenged British champion grandfather was). It would be great to Bunny Sterling, but was halted in 11 find out more about him, and of course rounds, again on a cut. Don later scored magical if anybody has any stories or a an eighth-round cuts stoppage over photo of him.” future world champion Alan Minter. Neither I, nor leading historian Harold If you’d like to help Dean, you can Alderman MBE, can trace any paid bouts email him (deanmcmillan16@gmail. for him – most likely he never went pro. com) or ring him (0744 743 7998). “Any Can anyone – maybe from LEBA, or the help will be greatly appreciated,” Dean London area – shed any light? said. Good luck with your project, Dean. Someone else after information is EMAIL [email protected] Lesley Edgar, who wants to know about with your ex-boxer association news.

www.boxingnewsonline.net FEBRUARY 18, 2021 l BOXING NEWS l 45 SIXTY SECONDS OTTO WALLIN

Paul Wheeler talks to a man who is going to be a real threat on the golf course one day

Photo: DAVID BECKER/GETTY IMAGES When and why you started boxing: ’I’M BECOMING I started boxing at 15. I was drawn to it because my father and brother OBSESSED WITH used to box. THE AMERICAN TV Favourite all-time fighter: Muhammad Ali. He wasn’t only a SHOW, SURVIVOR’ great fighter but he was also a great person who always stood up for his My childhood idols were the ice beliefs. hockey player, Peter Forsberg, Best fight you’ve seen: and the soccer player, Zlatan Ali vs George Foreman. Ali was a Ibrahimovic. huge underdog but fought a smart Last film/TV show you saw: fight and won by KO to become I’ve recently discovered an world champion once again after American show called Survivor that some difficult times. I’m becoming obsessed with. Personal career highlight: Who would play you in a film of Fighting as a pro in my hometown your life: of Sundsvall in Sweden for the Dolph Lundgren! first time in April 2017. Performing Have you ever been starstruck: in front of my friends, family Yes, when I went to see Mike Tyson and hometown fans was a great make a speech when I was living in experience. in Denmark. Toughest opponent: Last time you cried: Tyson Fury has been my On my birthday in November when toughest opponent so far [l ud my girlfriend gave me a big framed 12 – September 2019]. He’s a good picture of my late dad and I. fighter and a world champion for Best advice received: a reason. Always give it your all. Best and worst attributes as a Worst rumour about yourself: boxer: I don’t know. Ask around and dig My best attribute is that I’m always something up! trying to develop. As for my flaws, Something not many people I want to keep them to myself! know about you: Training tip: I love playing golf. Unfortunately No matter what you do, you have I don’t have enough time to play to be consistent to become good at much, but one day I’ll be a real it. It takes time and effort to master threat! anything. Favourite meal/restaurant: My favourite meal is a good steak with fries and Bearnaise sauce. Age: 30 Twitter: @OttoWallin Nickname: ‘All In’ Height: 6ft 5 1/2ins Best friends in boxing: Nationality: Swedish From: Sundsvall, Sweden Stance: Southpaw My trainers, Joey Gamache and Record: 21-1 (14) 1NC Division: Heavyweight Titles: European Union & Rune Fog Brix, and my managers, WBA Continental Next fight: Wallin takes on Dominic Breazeale over 12 Zach Levin and David Berlin. FACTS FAST rounds in Uncasville, Connecticut this Saturday (February 20). Other sportsperson you would like to be:

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