High Stakes – Manchester 18/07/15 – Perez v Crolla Preview

07/18/201507/17/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

It would be hard to recall a more deserving and popular British World champion than Anthony Crolla, 29-4-2 (11KO’s), should the 28-year old from Manchester defeat reigning WBA World lightweight champion Darleys Perez, 32-1 (20KO’s), on Saturday night.

On paper it looks a formidable task for Crolla, facing the heavy-handed Columbian, beaten on only one occasion against the talented Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa (UD12). Only to follow, with 4 straight victories, during a period of smooth success, in which he claimed the interim WBA lightweight title and defended it on 2 occasions in decent company.

Opportunity knocks for Ryan Farrag

06/30/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

“Boxing is like any industry, it can sometimes be who you know. And sometimes it’s just more of a game of chance. So when opportunities for big fights come along you’ve got to take them.”

These were the words of an elated Ryan Farrag, 13-1 (2KO’s), shortly after he learned he is set to face former world title challenger Stephane Jamoye, 28-6 (16KO’s), for the vacant European bantamweight belt, which the Belgian has held on two occasions.

All or Nothing – Ringside Review

06/28/201506/26/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Callum Smith PTS12 Christophe Rebrasse

On a night when the spotlight was firmly fixed on the youngest of the Smith siblings, Callum confirmed once more how special a talent he really is, with a 12 round unanimous decision over the teak tough Frenchman Christophe Rebrasse.

Topping a big hometown show for the first time, Smith’s performance belied his relative inexperience and lack of real championship level fights – he was just 16 bouts into his career – to comprehensively defeat a seasoned operator in Rebrasse, dropping the Frenchman heavy along the way and testing that renowned durability to its limits.

Collision Course: Smith and Fielding face biggest tests

06/26/201506/26/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Top super middleweight prospects Callum Smith and Rocky Fielding will face the biggest tests of their careers tonight at Liverpool’s Echo Arena, as they look to confirm a long awaited local showdown, already scheduled for 26th September.

Smith, 16-0 (12KO’s), tops the bill in his clash with Frenchman and former George Groves foe Christophe Rebrasse, 23-3-3 (6KO’s) over 12-rounds for the vacant WBC Silver super middleweight championship.

Broner-Porter & Ward-Smith: For Every Action

06/25/201506/20/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

(Photo credit: Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/Roc Nation Sports) Call it a cliché, Newton’s third law of motion or Karma or whatever you like; it’s a fact of daily life, in all forms, that for every action there is a reaction.

This is especially true of professional sports in which human beings have forever sought to gain an unfair advantage in a perceived fair world.

There are few sports to which this statement can be most aptly applied down the years than boxing. That’s not to say other sports don’t have their problems, corruption is of course prevalent in almost all walks of life and all forms of business in modern society.

Catching Greatness

06/11/201506/10/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

The inception of narrowed weight classes, stemming from the 1960’s, has long since occupied the list of accusations that in some peoples eyes have diluted big time boxing and the achievements of its best fighters.

The list is long and arduous, with some of its entries more valid than others and a discussion for another time. However, when it comes to weight classes, the debate is best kept to the era in which it belongs.

Khan in safe hands

05/29/201505/29/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

A good strategy is best judged by the long-term results it delivers in any form of business, boxing is no different. A solid plan can be the difference between the maximization of a fighters talents or future theoretical discussions of what might have been.

So, when Virgil Hunter spoke at Tuesday’s final press conference ahead of tonight’s clash between his improving charge Amir Khan, 30-3 (19KO’s), and New York native Chris Algieri, 20-1 (8KO’s), we would do well to listen.

“Strategy, always strategy. Success in life comes from strategy.” Proclaimed Hunter.

Jamie McDonnell: A Hero Lacking in Appreciation

05/23/201505/23/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

When Carl Froch travelled to Mashantucket, Connecticut to defend his WBC super-middleweight crown against Jermain Taylor in 2009, he exposed an embarrassing blind spot within British boxing that was in need of rectification.

Britain’s only active World champion – at the time – travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to defend the title he won on terrestrial television – when defeating Jean Pascal unanimously over 12 rounds in one of the finest super-middleweight title fights in recent memory – only to find himself without a broadcast partnership.

What transpired was a performance that would find a home in the annals of British boxing history, the only problem, no one got to watch Froch snatch victory from the jaws of defeat live – well, not in his own country any way. This could never happen again, the country was now on board and Carl Froch has never looked back since.

History in the making: 107 years of Olympic glory

05/21/201505/20/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Making history has become a common occurrence in modern day sport. Right across the board ‘records’ are broken with alarming regularity, records which have principally been created to serve the increasing demand for content from competitive media outlets.

Subsequently, the significance of such a statement has lost the gravity it once possessed, wheeled out on almost every sporting occasion to provide impetus where it doesn’t belong. We can’t help but become desensitised to the context of these achievements, what has passed before and whether or not they’re indeed worthy of our reverence.

The latest attempt at boxing history takes place within the Agganis Arena, Boston, this Saturday night when British super-middleweight James DeGale takes on American Andre Dirrell for the IBF World super-middleweight title – vacated by Carl Froch earlier in the year.

Resurrection – Birmingham – Ringside Review

05/11/201505/09/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Anthony Joshua KO2 Raphael Zumbano Love

Ever since Anthony Joshua demolished Denis Bakhtov in two disturbing rounds back in October 2014, there have been calls for the so obviously blessed heavyweight to be matched tougher.

Unfortunately for South America’s heavyweight champion Raphael Zumbano Love (donning velour shorts on the night) these calls have been ignored. In two equally alarming rounds he, just like his 11 peers before him, found out just what the fuss is all about.