Bellew-Chilemba and Crolla-Mathews both end in draws

YouTube video
In one of the worst decisions I’ve seen in a while, WBC Silver light heavyweight champion Tony Bellew (19-1-1, 12 KO’s) was given a 12 round draw against challenger Isaac Chilemba (20-1-2, 9 KO’s) tonight in Bellew’s home city of Liverpool, at the Echo Arena in the UK.

Chilemba completely controlled the last 9 rounds of the fight, and deserved a clear win by making the 6’2″ Bellew miss again and again with his shots. At the same time, Bellew got away with an awful of fouling in the fight in terms of holding and hitting, throwing a shot after the bell, a head butt and push that occurred after the 1st round had ended, and a handful of rabbit shots.

It look like the referee was just there to watch the fight instead of controlling it. The final judges scores were 116-112 for Chilema, 116-115 for Bellew, and 114-114 even. I scored the fight 117-111 for Chilemba.

continue

Amir Khan – Divided Opinion

khan11It can be difficult to talk about Amir Khan (27-3, 19KOs) in neutral terms, especially being of the same ethnic background. As a slightly more serious boxing fan than most, I expected great things from the man hailed in my community as a fantastic role model, “Finally!” Parents exclaimed around the country and indeed, possibly in South-Asian neighbourhoods around the world, “our boys and girls have someone to look up to!”

This was true; those who understand why Joe Louis was so celebrated for beating Max Schmeling and its wider context in that era noticed the uptake of the sport in our community and across the wider populace in general; culminating in a triumphant return for British boxing at the London 2012 Olympics. Khan was the sole representative for the Union Jack in Athens in 2004 and his silver medal, if one can look objectively, created a revitalized interest at amateur level.

continue

Thomas Stalker Plays Down Reputation

YouTube video
London 2012 Team GB captain Thomas Stalker has played down his remarkable reputation as a box office sensation despite selling over 1,000 tickets for just his second professional fight.

Although he is buried on the undercard of fellow Scouser Tony Bellew’s big fight in Liverpool tomorrow, a huge portion of the 12,000 crowd will be there to watch Stalker compete in a low-key four-round fight against a journeyman.

Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, who promotes the show, spoke this week of his astonishment at Stalker’s popularity as he starts off on the road to professional glory.

continue

Audley Harrison: I have agreed to the terms for Deontay Wilder fight

harrison323Heavyweight Audley Harrison (31-6, 23 KO’s) says he’s agreed to all the terms for his April 27th fight against unbeaten American heavyweight Deontay Wilder (27-0, 27 KO’s) at the Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Audley is now ready to sign the contract to get the fight confirmed.

Audley said on his twitter: “My side has agreed all points. Waiting to sign on the dotted line. Here is my logic for accepting this fight. Take the biggest risk, 4 the biggest reward. Lose 2 any1 from this point on it’s over. Here we go.”

It’s a win-win situation for the 41-year-old Audley in taking this fight with the 27-year-old Wilder.

continue

Price-Thompson II on 7/6 in Liverpool, England

price46Heavyweights Tony Thompson (37-3, 25 KO’s) and David Price (15-1, 13 KO’s) will be doing it again in four months for a rematch on July 6th at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, UK. Price and his promoter Frank Maloney didn’t walk away from Price’s February 23rd 2nd round TKO loss to the 41-year-old Thompson without trying to avenge the defeat and show that it was just a fluke thing and not a true indication of how strong Price’s chin is.

Price and Maloney blame the loss on Thompson landing a shot to the side of Price’s head in an area that he’s not used to getting hit. The punch, a fight hand, dropped Price to the canvas, and he was too hurt to continue fighting despite getting back to his feet.

continue

David Haye to announce comeback on Thursday in London press conference

haye2222Former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (26-2, 24 KO’s) will be holding a London press conference this Thursday at which time he’s expected to announce his comeback, and his two-fight plan to get himself locked in as the mandatory challenger for IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

The 32-year-old Haye, who hasn’t fought since last July in beating 2nd tier heavyweight Dereck Chisora by a 5th round TKO, has given up trying to talk WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko into fighting him. Haye now wants to force the issue on his brother Wladimir by fighting two quick fights against top tier opposition to get himself locked in as Wladimir’s mandatory while at the same time putting him in a better spot to get more money than he would if it were to be an optional title defense.

continue

Tony Bellew vs. Isaac Chilemba this Saturday, March 30th in Liverpool, UK

bellew45 WBC Silver light heavyweight champion Tony Bellew (19-1, 12 KO’s) will be taking on a tough opponent in #3 WBC Isaac Chilemba (20-1-1, 9 KO’s) in defending his title at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, UK. Bellew, 30, needs to win this fight to keep his #1 WBC ranking and to stay in line to challenge for the title against the winner of the June 8th fight between WBC light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson and Adonis Stevenson.

Chilemba, 25, has got a great chin, and he’s five years younger than Bellew. He’s also around the same height at 6’1”. Bellew has grown accustomed to being the bigger guy in the ring, but he’s not going to have that advantage on Saturday night.

continue

Audley Harrison: I have agreed to fight Deontay Wilder

harrison4 Former 2000 Olympic Gold medalist for Britain Audley Harrison (31-6, 23 KO’s) has agreed to face unbeaten American heavyweight contender Deontay Wilder (27-0, 27 KO’s) on April 27th on the Amir Khan vs. Julio Diaz card at the Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

The card will be televised by Showtime in the United States, but it’s still unclear whether the Harrison-Wilder fight will make it on the televised portion of the card. You would have to figure it would be because it’ll likely be the co-feature on the card.

continue

Saunders easily defeats Hall

YouTube video
By Kevin Chittenden: British/Commonwealth middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (17-0, 10 KO’s) proved tonight that he’s good enough to beat a domestic level junior middleweight fighting out of his weight class in beating Matthew Hall (25-7, 17 KO’s) by a 12 round unanimous decision at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom.

The judges scored it 120-108, 120-109, 119-110. After the fight, Hall said he’s retiring from the sport. He doesn’t want to take punishment needlessly. Someone should have told Hall ahead of time that it’s not a good idea for him to be fighting at middleweight, and definitely not against a fighter like Saunders. The fight was one-sided in every round with Saunders working Hall like he was a punching bag.

continue

Menay Edwards Prepares for Latvian invasion

Menay “the emperor” Edwards fresh from a shut out win over former British Champion Shane McPhilbin takes on his toughest test to date on April 5th in the Goodwin Promotions promoted “Its Banjo time” show at Grays Essex when he takes on World ranked number 77 (Boxrec) Arturs Kulikauskis (9-15-3).

continue