Boxing Chat & Discussion

Tony Bellew secured a split decision points win in his grudge match against Nathan Cleverly on Saturday night.
In truth he deserved the verdict from all three judges, I don't really know what the one judge was watching .

I really hate they way boxing is going in terms of contrived grudge matches. I remember the first fight between Bellew and Cleverly both boxers were very gracious about each other as soon as the fight finished. Leading up to the second fight surprise surprise both boxers rubbished each other's efforts in the first fight.

Even less of a surprise the fight was a total let down fought between two very average fighters desperate not to risk leaving themselves open for a knockout punch by their opponents.

The way Groves behaved in the lead up to the second fight with Froch and combined with the Bellew and Cleverly fight, is making me feel that boxing is going down similar road to wrestling in terms of hyping the bouts, with the exception being the outcome is in general not fixed. I find the excessive build up to fights nauseating and does nothing to wet my appetite for the fights. I like boxing despite the hype not because of it.

I can only assume Khan doesn't want to fight Brook as he knows Brook will knock him out.
And after the Groves- Froch fights and Bellew - Cleverly fights, this would be a good domestic match up and one IMO that may never happen. What does brook have to do to convince Khan it's best option for him? And Khan must be nuts agreeing to a fight with a total unknown US fighter.

As for Mayweather - Pacqauio dust up I think it would be too close to call but I firmly believe it'll end after 8 or 9 rounds with either knocking the other out and if it goes full distance it will be a controversial split decision.

As for David Haye making a comeback I firmly he has a slim chance of getting into the world heavyweight scene but again will he look to shutting up Tyson fury for good this time? If Haye is going to get back into the reckoning for a shot at a world title it'll take him a year or more to get back anything like where he was before.

Looking forward to Mayweather v Pacquaio.
I find it difficult to see anything other than a Mayweather victory on the basis that he is the master of avoiding punches.
So quick and fleet of foot.
For me it could go the distance with the American winning on points.

I pretty much agree with yuou snookered if it goes the distance then Mayweather on points yet I'm amazed that the fight is even happening given how the negotiations have gone. Bob Arum says the fights for Frazier - Ali, Hagler V Hearns was far easier than this one!! Expected to probably gross around
$!40m on ppv which is staggering!! yet you think how hard it was to even put fights out live 30 years ago very few satellites were around then. Many still see the Hagler Hearns as one of the best fights of all time and I think this would have to go some to match the ferocity of it.

Very true, Hagler-Hearns was as good as it gets, and none of the manufactured intensity that is the norm today. To many reputations made outside the ring by the money men now.

Of topic, came across an old article about Chris Eubank. Seems he was easily wound up by other fighters. Story goes that for one of his fights, his opponent cracked a joke about Chris being stuck in Amsterdam Airport for 3 weeks trying to buy a "super saver single to Stanstead". It kinda backfired, as Chris knocked the shit out of him when they met in the ring

I'm willing to bet I wasn't Benn who said it. I remember him head butting the Canadian guy he fought which was pretty controversial

(28-04-2015 10:35 )SOCATOA Wrote:  Very true, Hagler-Hearns was as good as it gets, and none of the manufactured intensity that is the norm today. To many reputations made outside the ring by the money men now.

When you look back to that era the top guys weren't afraid to put their reps on the line when it mattered. I watched that Hagler fight again and he caught Hearns cold with one punch an a good follow up
Even now I think Hagler or Hearns could take on Mayweather or Pacquiao and neither would have been afraid of either of them or too scared to rip it up with them if they had to.
Somehow I don't think Froch would even be scared of either of them too. All I hope it is a good fight and a good tear up between them and the only other thing that is lost on the night apart from one losing the fight is one of them losing their unbeaten record.
so, will it live up to the hype and build up? I sure hope it does...

Hope The Pacman beats Mayweather but suspect the ref will favour Mayweather