Hopkins – Kovalev: Hollywood Couldn’t Write it

11/08/201411/08/2014 Ryan Forde-Kelly

@FKSportsBlog – The moment it was announced the Bernard Hopkins would face Sergey Kovalev on November 8th at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, my first thought was that of trepidation for the oldest world champion in boxing history, 2 weeks shy of his 50th birthday. That’s the knee jerk reaction, which must have been experienced by almost every boxing fan and professional to such a perverse match-up when looked at with conventional logic.

Make no mistake; Bernard Hopkins 55-6-2 (32 KO’s) is taking on a challenge measurable against any feat attempted in boxing history. This is a 49-year-old man, who has not registered a knockout in 10 years (Hopkins KO’d Oscar De Hoya at the MGM Grand Las Vegas in 2004), faced with Kovalev 25-0-1 (23 KO’s) the most ferocious puncher in the world of boxing. (With the possible exception of Gennady Golovkin)

When Boxing Was Great

11/03/201411/01/2014 Ryan Forde-Kelly

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since Muhammad Ali shook the world to its boots when knocking George Foreman out in 8 in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). But nothing in all those years has come close to surpassing what is overwhelmingly recognised as the finest, most iconic night in the history of boxing. That is some feat and one that has been fittingly remembered across all media outlets this past week.

Point of No Return – Ringside Review – Coyle destroys Katsidis!

10/26/201410/25/2014 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Tommy Coyle and Luke Campbell solidified their status as treasures of the city of Hull with career best performances in front of a capacity crowd tonight, paving the way for an open air grudge match in the summer. You’ve got to think that although Eddie Hearn stood by his assertions that this fight will be made, he will be having a rethink about the timing following Tommy Coyle’s demolition of Michael Katsidis in particular.

In a night of personal best’s Gavin McDonnell was in no mood to miss out on the fun, outpointing Vusi Malinga in a display of will, determination and no shortage of skill to the delight of the Humberside crowd.

Point of No Return – Preview: Coyle vs Katsidis, Campbell vs Brizuela

10/24/2014 Ryan Forde-Kelly

The title chosen for Saturday’s Matchroom Boxing event at the Hull Ice Arena seems an apt description of differing grades for the main event and chief support bouts in what promises to be an eventful evening in Humberside.

Tommy Coyle v Michael Katsidis (12 x 3 – IBF International Lightweight Belt)

Tommy Coyle now 19-2 (8KO’s) is thrust into the biggest test of his career, on paper at least, against the Australian banger Michael Katsidis 30-6 (24KO’s) for the IBF International Lightweight title. Both fighters find themselves at a crucial stage in their careers where a defeat would be fatal to any aspirations they have of continuing to top the bill on shows such as this.

Frankie Gavin Returns Away From the Spotlight

10/22/201410/22/2014 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Both Matchroom and Warren Promotions stage rival shows this coming weekend in two of England’s fighting cities, showcasing some of the best talent these shores have to offer in their dress rehearsals ahead of enormous shows planned by each organisation for the end of November, in doing so displaying the increasing confidence they have in the British public’s appetite for the fight game.

Hull and Liverpool are the chosen venues to play host to a number of British boxing’s brightest prospects, including 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Luke Campbell, the much maligned and supremely talented Chris Eubank Jnr and recently crowned IBF Bantamweight Champion Paul Butler (Butler subsequently vacated the belt, to drop back to his more natural Super Flyweight division). All of who are beneficiaries of the increased promotional activity propelling their promising careers.

The Competitive Way Forward – Nurse V Ryan

10/10/201410/09/2014 Ryan Forde-Kelly

All British World Title fights are certainly in vogue at this moment in time, showing time and again that in terms of passion, drama and the ability to draw a crowd, there are few occasions that measure up. The success of both Froch v Groves promotions captured the imagination and paved the way for further grudge matches, with both major promotion outfits, to be made.

It would seem that finally, the landscape has changed for the better and the fans are to be treated to consistent, meaningful fights at not just World level, but European and domestic level also. With fights such as, Bellew v Cleverly 2, Fury v Chisora, Saunders v Eubank, alongside muted bouts featuring Kell Brook v Amir Khan and Carl Froch v James DeGale, the British public are salivating, with I’m sure the boxing world at large closely behind, reaching for their handkerchiefs.

Josh Warrington Incites a Riot

10/05/201410/04/2014 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Whatever it is about Josh Warrington, which inspires what I witnessed in Leeds tonight, if he possessed a pint of it, he would never have to enter the ring again, such is the sheer value it would command.

Backed by a support, more likely to be seen in a field Glastonbury, Warrington, 23, produced the performance of his career to date with a scintillating 4-round demolition of the brave Davide Dieli. Clearly carrying the sporting hopes of a City on his shoulders, you could forgive the young man for being apprehensive, nervous even.

Not a bit of it, he embraces the expectation and wears it as a badge of honour, refusing to wilt under the pressure, instead allowing it to fuel him, spurred on by the desire to please his fans. In his own word’s, “If they tell me they are going to make a day of it, it fires me up to train harder and put the graft in.”

Warrington v Dieli the Undercard

10/05/201410/04/2014 Ryan Forde-Kelly

The Matchroom promoted Battle Lines, presented a stacked undercard, which contained Ricky Burns, Callum Smith and Brian Rose no less, not to mention an all British Commonwealth title fight at Light Welterweight.

Ricky Burns v Alexandre Lepelley

Ricky Burns began his campaign at Light Welterweight in good style, knocking down the Frenchman with a hard right hand, followed by a left hook to seal the deal. Unfortunately, that is as good as it got for the 2-time former World Champion.

Although Burns was winning the rounds, the distance between the fighters reduced as the fight went on, descending into a war of attrition, which was not the order of the day. The Scotsman continued to win the rounds, but he didn’t look great in doing so.

Battle Lines – Main Event Preview

10/04/201410/03/2014 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Saturday night marks the eagerly awaited return of local favourite Josh Warrington (18-0 2KO’s), who meets Italian Davide Dieli (15-3 5KO’s) for the vacant EBU Featherweight title at the impressive First Direct Arena in the heart of his beloved Leeds.

When Eddie Hearn described Josh Warrington as “The biggest ticket seller in the country right now” he wasn’t kidding. Alone, Warrington has shifted 1500+ tickets, for what is the first fight in a bumper 5 fight deal with Matchroom, that’s no joke, in fact it’s a following that would embarrass many World Champions.

Battle Lines – Undercard Review

10/03/201410/02/2014 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Saturday night marks the eagerly awaited return of local favourite Josh Warrington, who meets little known Italian Davide Dieli for the vacant EBU Featherweight title at the impressive First Direct Arena in the heart of his beloved Leeds.

Eddie Hearn and Matchroom have taken the opportunity of what promises to be a raucous occasion to assemble a deep card, packed with notable names from their growing stable.

Returning to action in the chief supporting bout, this time at Light Welterweight is former two-weight World Champion Ricky Burns. The Scotsman contests what appears to be a routine 8-rounder against Frenchman Alexandre Lepelly (17-1-1 3KO’s). Burns (36-4-1 11KO’s) now under the tutelage of Tony Sims, comes into the fight on the back of 3 straight defeats (If you correctly count the Raymundo Beltran debacle as a defeat) and will take the opportunity to feel his way into a new weight class, against a fighter not renowned for his punching ability.