James Slater

The Truth hurts: Should Kell Brook really be called a quitter?

The Truth hurts: Should Kell Brook really be called a quitter?

It’s one of the harshest insults that can be thrown at a fighter: that of him being a quitter. Though every fighter who steps into the ring deserves immense respect, it is still considered a let down, unforgivable even, if a hero, a fighter fans have paid money to see go to war, quits during the action.

Right now, former IBF welterweight champ Kell Brook is on the receiving end, with many fans, and fellow fighters, hurling the quitter tag at him. Brook, badly busted up around the left eye, opted to take a knee in the 11th round of his thrilling fight with new king Errol Spence Junior, and though Brook says he simply could not see in that torrid round, there seem to be few people willing to cut him much slack.

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Results: Groves stops Chudinov, wins WBA title

Results: Groves stops Chudinov, wins WBA title

Tonight in Sheffield, in a great, incredibly fast-paced action fight, George Groves became a world champion at the fourth time of asking, stopping a very tough and game Fedor Chudinov in the 6th round. Groves really did hit Chudinov with absolutely everything in the 6th, giving the referee no choice but to dive in and call a halt.

The official time was 1:14 of the sixth and Groves improved to 26-3(19). Russia’s Chudinov, in being stopped for the first time as a pro, is now 14-2(10).

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Lenroy Thomas wins close 12 round decision over David Allen

Lenroy Thomas wins close 12 round decision over David Allen

Tonight on the big Sheffield bill, Jamaica’s Lenroy Thomas boxed his way to a very close, even debatable 12 round split decision win over crowd favourite David Allen. Winning by scores of 115-114 twice, the third judge scoring it 115-113 for Allen, Thomas won the vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title.

Now 21-4(10) the 32 year old southpaw boxed on the backfoot throughout, using his nice right jab as well as his sharp counter punching skills. Allen, now 11-2-1(8) was fighting his usual trundle-forward fight, forcing Thomas to work hard and a good number of people – Sky Sports pundit Carl Froch included – felt the 25 year old did more work and was deserving of the verdict.

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Amir Khan: I hope Kell Brook can win tonight; we could meet at Wembley

Amir Khan: I hope Kell Brook can win tonight; we could meet at Wembley

Amir Khan has arrived in Sheffield, a guest pundit for Sky Sports, and the former 140 pound king has said he gives a slight edge to his countryman and possible future rival Kell Brook over Errol Spence Junior. Khan, when asked who he wanted to win tonight, answered Brook.

Khan said he sees Brook winning “a very tough fight,” and that if he does so, he could then fight the IBF welterweight champ in what would be a huge British super-fight. But does Khan really, truly want to fight Brook? This question has been asked now for a few years, and still we have no definitive answer. Brook definitely wants the fight, calling “Queen” Khan out so many times as he has done. But for whatever reason or reasons, Khan has not agreed to terms and signed on for the fight.

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Vernon Forrest – would he have beaten Floyd?

Vernon Forrest - would he have beaten Floyd?

A very fine, take no prisoners welterweight who never once looked to pick and choose his opposition, the late, great Vernon Forrest more than made his mark on the sport despite his shocking and untimely passing.

Forrest, a superb amateur, was so good that twice, with both men in their prime, he beat – and beat up – Sugar Shane Mosley. These two had met at amateur level, yet despite his Sugar, Mosley never was able to get to grips with Forrest’s poison. Fast, dangerously powerful and in possession of a great chin, Forrest could have been a superstar. He wasn’t, in large part due to how one man avoided him: Floyd Mayweather Junior.

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Pre-fight pick: Spence shocks Brook with mid-rounds stoppage

Pre-fight pick: Spence shocks Brook with mid-rounds stoppage

We have, as all fight fans are fully aware, one big, hugely intriguing and potentially explosive welterweight title fight tomorrow night in The Steel City, Sheffield. In the Kell Brook-Errol Spence clash we also have a genuine 50-50 fight. Who will win – defending IBF champ Brook, or unbeaten mandatory challenger Spence?

Again, it’s a tough one.

Southpaw sensation Spence has been groomed for stardom, with many sage observers predicting superstar status. Indeed, thus far in his exciting and impressive pro career, Spence has pretty much shown it all. Pretty much. The one big question mark next to any up and coming fighter resides right bang next to his chin. Can the speedy Spence take a hard shot if he has to do so? Chances are good we will get an answer tomorrow evening.

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Golovkin-Canelo: Will it be Hagler-Hearns or Hagler-Duran; or somewhere in between?

Golovkin-Canelo: Will it be Hagler-Hearns or Hagler-Duran; or somewhere in between?

Envoking as it has, the great superfights of the 1980s, when The Four Kings – Leonard, Hearns, Duran and Hagler – led the way, this September’s Gennady Golovkin-Canelo Alvarez clash has one enormous load of expectation attached to it. Perhaps too much for the middleweight title showdown to possibly deliver?

We’ve seen “can’t miss” classics fizzle out before our very eyes a number of times; far more so than we’ve been treated to what we always want from a fight:blood, guts, knockdowns and or trading and finally a KO. But what will we get when GGG and Canelo collide?

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Shannon Briggs: Is it all over?

Shannon Briggs: Is it all over?

As fight fans have surely read by now, super vocal former heavyweight champ Shannon Briggs failed a recent pre-fight drugs test; the coming up positive ruining the 45 year old’s spurious WBA “world ” title chance of a lifetime against fellow veteran Fres Oquendo.

This title bout, though much maligned, would likely have seen to it that Briggs would win a slice of a belt; possibly getting himself into position for bigger fights down the road – and of course in line for one last big payday before the “Let’s Go Champ” chants would fall silent. But now, his career and reputation in dire straights, Briggs’ fighting days may have come to an end. Sans the last big pay day.

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Deontay Wilder-Joseph Parker: Is there only one possible outcome?

Deontay Wilder-Joseph Parker: Is there only one possible outcome?

It’s a fight that could happen this summer (although it is also possible Wilder could fight Wladimir Klitschko ) and fans would certainly tune in to see a heavyweight unification bout between Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker.

Wilder, the reigning WBC champ and unbeaten, has called out Parker, the WBO ruler and also unbeaten, a few times, and going by Parker’s recent fight – a points win over unheralded Razvan Cojanu, it’s easy to see why.

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The legendary Roberto Duran lists his top five all time fighters

The legendary Roberto Duran lists his top five all time fighters

Recently, the great, the immortal, the legendary ( and also the most down to earth boxing superstar one could wish to meet) Roberto Duran paid a visit to this writer’s home town. Duran, for many millions of fans, THE greatest living fighter (above Ring Magazine’s recent choice for the honour; Sugar Ray Leonard ) dropped in at Henry Wharton’s gym in York.

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