Andrew Huntley, Author At Boxing News

Saturday Night’s All Right For Fighting: Hurd-Williams, Berchelt-Vargas II Preview

May 11, 2019 by Andrew Huntley

Francisco Vargas, Isaac Dogboe, Julian "J-Rock" Williams, Matt Korobov, Miguel Berchelt - If you're of a certain age, you might remember spending your Saturday watching the likes Matthew Saad Muhammad and Danny "Little Red" Lopez on network TV, as they engaged in one impossibly exciting shootout after another. Time and again, they'd endure incredible amounts of punishment in the opening rounds, and then invariably find ways to either knock their opponents silly or simply overwhelm them and overtake them on the scorecards.

If you’re of a certain age, you might remember spending your Saturday watching the likes Matthew Saad Muhammad and Danny “Little Red” Lopez on network TV, as they engaged in … Read more

Theater Of The Unexpected: A Looking at Boxing’s Weirdest Moments in 2018

December 31, 2018December 31, 2018 by Andrew Huntley

As 2018 approaches its end, the boxing community has inevitably focused its attention upon the year that’s transpired, and many of its members have debated the most appropriate choices for … Read more

Monster Mash: Inoue Ices Payano, And Wins The Weekend

October 8, 2018October 8, 2018 by Andrew Huntley

Naoya Inoue - Let's face it-unless you're a hardcore fan, you're probably not going to associate bantamweight boxers with the terms "power-puncher" or "knock-out artist". Chances are, the first names that you'll think of are heavyweights like Mike Tyson, or George Foreman. If asked to name a non-heavyweight power puncher, it's highly likely that Thomas Hearns and Julian Jackson would be among the first fighter you'd list. A younger fan might be inclined to mention Gennady Golovkin, perhaps, while someone older might consider naming someone like Bob Foster. Either way, it would probably take a boxing fan a little while before they think of including someone from the bantamweight division on a list of all time great punchers.

Let’s face it-unless you’re a hardcore fan, you’re probably not going to associate bantamweight boxers with the terms “power-puncher” or “knock-out artist”. Chances are, the first names that you’ll think … Read more

Showtime Boxing Preview: This Is Your Storm Warning

April 7, 2018 by Andrew Huntley

Caleb Truax, Erislandy Lara, James DeGale - In his most famous essay, "Ahab and Nemesis", legendary journalist A.J. Liebling chronicled the classic encounter between Archie Moore, a technically adept and tactically brilliant ring general, and Rocky Marciano, an awkward but ultra-aggressive power-house. Initially, Moore used his craft and cunning to offset his foe's single-minded belligerence and jump out to an early lead-even scoring an early knockdown in the process. But, as the bout progressed into the middle rounds, Marciano used his strength and a wide array of glancing, clubbing blows to wear "The Old Mongoose" down, before eventually bouncing Moore off the mat four time en route to a ninth-round stoppage.

In his most famous essay, “Ahab and Nemesis”, legendary journalist A.J. Liebling chronicled the classic encounter between Archie Moore, a technically adept and tactically brilliant ring general, and Rocky Marciano, … Read more

Spence-Jr. vs Peterson Preview: Sometimes Theater Of The Expected Is Still Worth Watching

January 20, 2018 by Andrew Huntley

Errol Spence, Javier Fortuna, Lamont Peterson, Robert Easter Jr. - I can't speak for anyone else, but sometimes, I find myself wanting to watch something a little predictable on TV or in the theater. Don't get me wrong-I have nothing against plot twists or character development and certainly enjoy watching shows that contain those elements. Still, I find it fun to occasionally watch something where the outcome is a foregone conclusion, just because I know it will contain enough entertaining moments to make it worth my time.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but sometimes, I find myself wanting to watch something a little predictable on TV or in the theater. Don’t get me wrong-I have nothing against plot twists or character development and certainly enjoy watching shows that contain those elements. Still, I find it fun to occasionally watch something where the outcome is a foregone conclusion, just because I know it will contain enough entertaining moments to make it worth my time.

Bullets and Butterfly Wings: A Preview of Saturday Night’s Fights

August 26, 2017August 26, 2017 by Andrew Huntley

Conor McGregor, Floyd Mayweather Jr, Miguel Cotto - On November 16, 1974, an accomplished Thai kickboxer named Saensak Maungsaurin made his professional boxing debut against a young California-based Filipino named Rudy Barro. Barro's record of 14-9 going into the bout wasn't particularly glittering, but he was on a four fight win streak, including a victory over an undefeated, highly ranked Jimmy Heair that propelled him to a top five ranking in the lightweight division. So, there was reason to believe that Saensak was taking on more than he could handle by facing Barro without any prior boxing experience; and for the first minute of their fight that very much appeared to be the case. Barro steamed forward and pelted his slower rival with right hands and combinations; after about two minutes of this, he drove his opponent into the ropes and stepped forward to finish matters off...

On November 16, 1974, an accomplished Thai kickboxer named Saensak Maungsaurin made his professional boxing debut against a young California-based Filipino named Rudy Barro. Barro’s record of 14-9 going into the bout wasn’t particularly glittering, but he was on a four fight win streak, including a victory over an undefeated, highly ranked Jimmy Heair that propelled him to a top five ranking in the lightweight division. So, there was reason to believe that Saensak was taking on more than he could handle by facing Barro without any prior boxing experience; and for the first minute of their fight that very much appeared to be the case. Barro steamed forward and pelted his slower rival with right hands and combinations; after about two minutes of this, he drove his opponent into the ropes and stepped forward to finish matters off…

Winning Ugly: “The Kapt’n” Huck decisions Kucher

November 20, 2016November 19, 2016 by Andrew Huntley

Dmytro Kucher, Marco Huck - Anyone who has followed the course of Marco Huck's dozen year, fourty-four bout boxing career is likely to say a couple of things about him as a fighter.

Anyone who has followed the course of Marco Huck’s dozen year, fourty-four bout boxing career is likely to say a couple of things about him as a fighter.

The first thing that can be said is that his style isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing to watch. In fact, I’m being charitable when I write that. Huck’s approach to fighting isn’t pretty at all. It’s actually quite the opposite. This is a fighter who often lunges in awkwardly with rainbow right hands and wide volleys of hooks, and who spends a lot of time grappling and mauling opponents in close, all the while clubbing them with whatever hand might be free at the time. He’s an unorthodox and occasionally crude brawler who doesn’t seem particularly concerned about the rules at any given point, or about where his punches might make contact on his foe’s person. Really, to say Huck (40-3-1, 27 KO’s) isn’t at all pretty is probably understating matters. To refer to his style as being “bowling shoe ugly” is much better way of describing him in action.

PBC on ESPN Preview: One Last Shot For The Road

August 13, 2016August 12, 2016 by Andrew Huntley

Miguel Flores, Ryan Kielczweski - This evening, at Verona's Turning Stone Casino, a promising featherweight named Miguel Flores (20-0,9KO's) will face against another prospect with some talent, "The Polish Prince" Ryan Kielczweski (25-1,7 KO's), in the main event of Premier Boxing Champion's latest card. Based on what I've seen of these two, this seems like a good, even match-up between two similarly talented boxers. Of equal importance, it's got the potential to be fun to watch given their respective styles. Flores appears to be the superior technician, but Kielcweski seems to have the edge in terms of speed and mobility. Neither of them possesses world ending power, but they've both proved themselves to be willing to engage in the trenches when required, and capable of returning fire after getting tagged.

This evening, at Verona’s Turning Stone Casino, a promising featherweight named Miguel Flores (20-0,9KO’s) will face against another prospect with some talent, “The Polish Prince” Ryan Kielczweski (25-1,7 KO’s), in the main event of Premier Boxing Champion’s latest card. Based on what I’ve seen of these two, this seems like a good, even match-up between two similarly talented boxers. Of equal importance, it’s got the potential to be fun to watch given their respective styles. Flores appears to be the superior technician, but Kielcweski seems to have the edge in terms of speed and mobility. Neither of them possesses world ending power, but they’ve both proved themselves to be willing to engage in the trenches when required, and capable of returning fire after getting tagged.

Rumble, Young Men, Rumble: Vargas And Salido Go To War

June 5, 2016June 5, 2016 by Andrew Huntley

This article isn’t quite what I had intended to write earlier in the week.

Initially, I had wanted to write about last night’s clash for the WBC 130lb championship that pitted the undefeated title-holder Francisco “Bandido” Vargas and the grizzled, battle-hardened Orlando “Siri” Salido. It was a match-up between two Mexican fighters with some measure of skill and an abundance of will; and I knew that all hell would break loose the moment one of them managed to land a good punch. It carried the promise of excitement and intensity, and it elicited a sense of anticipation in me that I hadn’t felt about a boxing match in quite some time.

Showtime Triple Header Preview: It May Not Be A Hell Of A Card, But it’s Still Really Good

May 22, 2016May 21, 2016 by Andrew Huntley

Austin Trout, Erislandy Lara, Jermall Charlo, Jermell Charlo, John Jackson, Vanes Martirosyan - One of the best known quotes in A.J. Liebling's immortal "The Sweet Science" concerned a tough, tricky welterweight contender from the 1950's named Billy Graham, whom he famously described as being "as good a fighter as one possibly can be without being a hell of a fighter."

One of the best known quotes in A.J. Liebling’s immortal “The Sweet Science” concerned a tough, tricky welterweight contender from the 1950’s named Billy Graham, whom he famously described as being “as good a fighter as one possibly can be without being a hell of a fighter.”

These words have resonated with me ever since I first read them, for they serve as the perfect way to characterize those boxers who lack any one outstanding attribute yet are still capable of achieving success in the ring. For me, those are the fighters who are most compelling. It always intrigues me to watch fighters who rely upon their intangibles like grit, guile, and ring generalship to win fights; and it always captures my attention when these types of boxers are pitted against those who are talented enough to be considered “a hell of a fighter”.