Festivities

Okay.

It's Christmas Eve - I think it's about time to get to the shops and buy some old tat to give out tomorrow.

Just enjoy it boxing fans.

Will be back New Year with some more fight reviews.

Follow me @SteveGresty

Take it easy

Boxing Weekend 15th/16th.

Been a bit late this week with the reports.

It's one of those - only caught some highlights and the results for this one.

George Groves beat Glen Johnson by Unanimous Decision.

Billy Joe Saunders beat Nick Blackwell also by Unanimous Decision.

The main head liner of the night was the Amir Khan vs Carlos Molina by way of technical knock out in the 10th round after Molina refusing not coming out from his corner to fight on. Khan had dominated the fight from the opening having cut open below the eye of Molina in the first round. It went to show that the change of trainer for Khan worked out well - he now has his eyes set on a rematch with Danny Garcia sometime next year, but the Kell Brook fight also looks on the cards with Brook stating to "want to get it on".

For those reading this - apologies for lack of depth - just not really any eye-catching bouts this weekend I thought worth going on about.

Have a superb Christmas and remember to get absolutely smashed - and for those not buying into Christmas for whatever atheist or religious reasons - have an absolutely superb Tuesday 25th December 2012.

December 8th Fight Night

Anyone catch this weekends match ups?

Was flicking between Channel 5, Sky and even saw a couple of Jobber fights on Primetime.

The end of the Eubanks Jr fight was an absolute farce and I hope that referee get's relegated to lower events. Looked a promising brawl until he stepped in and stopped the fight in favour of CE Jr.

It was a nice come back fight by Darren Barker with a stoppage over Kerry Hope in the 4th Round of their fight. It was a fight that was dominated from the off, almost like Barker was making a point with his comeback. Will be interesting to see how he does in the new year.

The James DeGale fight went the full distance with former World Champion Zuniga - Zuniga was down in round 3 - but got up and kept getting second winds to keep DeGale on his toes. I'm still not convinced with DeGale - he lacked the finishing instinct, there was times Zuniga was rocked and with a bit more pressure would have been taken out, but, DeGale couldnt seem to kill him off. Can't see DeGale progressing any further than British / Commonwealth / European titles really at this current stage anyway - in a division with the likes of Froch, Kessler, Ward, Groves (who has already beaten him) and probably Eubanks Jr when he steps up in weight, it doesn't look too great for him.

The Brian Magee v Kessler fight was a bit of a mismatch in class really - Magee came into it as Champion, but, he'd always been known to have problems with Body Shots - anyway, it took only until the 2nd round until Kessler landed a couple of lethal body blows to Magee - it was a round that seen Magee go down twice, and only just about make the end of round bell to get back to his corner. It took just under 30 seconds in the 3rd round before Magee suffered another knockdown and the ref had to step in and say enough was enough for the Northern Irish boxer. This division could unfold like this in the next year-

Between Jan - March

• Ward will beat Pavlik in February (easily I think) to retain his WBA Super Champ status along with his WBC and The Ring Titles.
• Kessler will fight Arthur Abraham for the WBO title and hopefully beat him.
• Froch will either have a rematch with Bute in Canada or Number 1 Mandatory opponent Adonis Stevenson - hopefully beat either of them.

Between April - August

• Ward will defend his titles against another weaker opponent or continue to be injured and not fight
• Froch will fight Kessler and get revenge winning the WBA and WBO title's whilst retaining his IBF.

Between September - December

• There will be potentially one of the biggest fights of this generation - a complete title unification match between Froch and Ward with ALL 5 titles on the line (WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF and The Ring).

That'd be a decent little earner at the box office.

Speaking of box office - in the early hours of the morning we seen Pacman getting knocked the eff out in the 6th round. What a superb toe to toe fight it was as well. Both boxers delivering champion performances with a brawl-like fight. It was the 3rd round which seen Pacquiao hit the canvas for the first time in 39 rounds of fights between them - then only 2 rounds later - Marquez was put on the deck by Manny. The two were exchanging blows throughout the contest - Manny threw more than Marquez, but it was credit to Marquez who had stated he'd be the cleverer boxer in this fight - It was in the 6th round, last second of the round in fact, that Marquez landed a counter disguised knockout blow to the head of Pacquiao. This shot had Manny out completely cold for a couple of minutes before coming around to announce his intentions in an interview with Larry Merchant about a potential 5th fight between the pair.

Doesn't look like a super fight between Floyd and Manny will take place now - but, even if it did - I'm sure it wouldn't struggle with getting figures though still. A fight between Floyd and Alvarez would surely be a bigger fight now - both undefeated, and potentially the only threat out there to Floyd at the moment. Floyd has announced 2 dates for next year that he'll be fighting - you can't not think that these 2 dates will be the last times he'll be in the ring as a pro boxer.

Boxing 1st December 2012

Belfast - Channel 5 Job Lot

The Eubank fight was a scheduled 8 x 3 which went the full distance. Both boxers put up a good account of themselves with Eubank controlling the fight. The judges scored the bout at 80-73, but personally I had Pryce down to win 3 rounds, but regardless - Eubank Jr deserved winner by points.

The next 36 minutes was absolute car crash. I'll give credit to Tyson for the fact he controlled the fight and didn't let Johnson cause him much trouble, but, not a sporting spectacle in any sense. Since I have nothing more productive to say about this fight other than Tyson Fury won on a unanimous points decision (119-108, 119-108, 119-110).

Madison Square Garden

Caught up with the action from the early hours of the morning from Madison Square Garden (last 3 fights).

Finally a bit of boxing that delivered good contests! First I seen was Daniel Jacobs vs Chris Fitzpatrick - This was Jacobs' second fight since recovered from Cancer. Jacobs dominated every round landing some good combo's - but to be fair to Fitzpatrick, he kept on his feet. Fitzpatrick failed to return to ring from his corner after the 5th around after deciding he'd taken enough of a beating (probably a wise move). Looks a decent super middleweight boxer and I'd imagine he'll work away some more in the US before coming over here to probably give a new up and comer a fight (James DeGale or someone similar).

Next up on the bill involved a Miguel Cotto Prodigy fighter in Jayson Velez taking on a guy who's Uncle had appeared at the MSG 30 years ago, won the title, and died 30 days later in a car crash - Salvador Sanchez. Sanchez even turned up in his uncles old Robe and Trunks - needless to say. his performance was nothing like that of the man who worn the trunks 30 years ago. Velez's power was too much for his Mexican opponent and went down in the 2nd round just before the bell. Sanchez got knocked down again in the 3rd, and got back up again, but, after another barrage of attacks the ref stood in and stopped the fight. This win sets up a title fight now for Velez.

The main event of the night at MSG was certainly worth a watch - Miguel Cotto vs Austin Trout - As the "Champion" Trout controlled the fight quite well, but both fighters went toe to toe pretty much the whole 12 rounds and it was a good brawl. Both fighters were rocked by exchanging blows - Trout was working the uppercuts well whilst Cotto used his powerful Jab to create gaps. The fight went the distance with the announced winner of Austin Trout by unanimous decision with the score cards of 119-109, 117-111, 117-111. Personally, I had it a closer fight than those score cards, but, with the same end result. Congratulations to Austin - sets up a possible fight with Saul Canelo Alvarez as I can't see Floyd taking a fight any time soon.

30th November Boxing

Just a quick summary really of what I seen tonight.

Started off the night watching Joe Selkirk vs Ruslans Pojonisevs - Selkirk won on points in what turned out to be a bit of a jobber fight really. Certainly no spectacle.

Next up was Steve Williams vs Kirk Goodings - Williams dominated the first half of the fight, Goodings finished the second half of the fight quite strong. The fight went the distance and finished 116-115 in favour of Williams.

Over at the MEN, we seen the fight of Denton Vassell vs Ronnie Heffron - Both undefeated boxers coming into this contest for the Commonwealth welterweight title. Vassell went on to force a stoppage in the 6th Round after landing a devastating uppercut to Heffron which left him unfit to continue. I expect to see bigger things opening up in the future for Vassell - he looks a powerful boxer in really top shape. Currently boxing under Hatton Promotions too.

Back to Main Event of the night at Aintree - David Price vs Matt Skelton - Skelton came out quick from the first bell and it didn't look Price was expecting the early barrage - Price handled it well though, and started to land some heavy blows of his own, but, Skelton is a tough cookie and managed to stay on his fight. As expected though, Price didn't hang around too long and got the job done in the second round - a move which started off with a right hook to the head which forced Skelton upon the ropes - Price continued to work the head of Skelton until a gap opened on the body, and Price delivered two devastation left hooks to the body which caused the knockdown - Skelton's team threw the towel in, but the referee didn't see this and counted to 10 anyway. David Price is scheduled to be back in the ring in February rumoured to be against the American guy who lost to Klitschko in the Summer (Tony Thompson). Tyson Fury was mentioned again, and Maloney put in an offer of £650k for the fight (even tho Fury bottled accepting £500k last time - lol, jobber). It looks like Price has his sights set on a future fight against Dereck Chisora though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Nw6RfoQS8 Catch the full fight here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHgZLYXr1gk Post Fight Interview with iFilm London

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aQzYuck88Y Post Fight Press Conference


After Jim and Buncey had their little says on Boxnation - we moved straight back to the MEN for the final 2 fights of the night.

First up was Bradley Saunders vs Peter McDonagh - sorry fans, didn't really take much notice of this fight, didn't take any interest in it, arguably one of the worst I've seen in a while. Anyway, Saunders won on a points decision 78-74.

The night of boxing ended for me by watching some more car crash boxing. Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff vs Richard Dawson. Main event of the night - 4 x 2 Minute Rounds. For those who hadn't been following, but Flintoff has been on a 5/6 month training programme in effort to become a Pro Boxer (the series on Sky they put together following him - From Lords to the Ring - is a decent watch by the way). Obviously nerves got to Flintoff a bit, with this being his first fight, but he got off to a decent attacking start and the boxers exchanged blows/slaps (however you want to describe it ha). Flintoff suffered a flash knock down in the second round having been caught with a left hook whilst off-balance. The final 2 rounds were pretty much a mixture of flurries of messy attacks and a lot of holding between the two men. Flintoff was declared the winner by way of points. 39-38 being the points score. I would be surprised if he was to fight again, but, I suppose I can't not give credit to the man - considering his well documented lifestyle of food and booze - to turn it around and have a pro fight is nothing short of superb. He certainly won't be in the ring with anyone good though any time soon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX8Ue50vmko Full Fight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUOBHvi2mjs Post fight interview

Saturday 1st December brings us the live fight on Channel 5 between Tyson Fury and previous world title challenger Kevin Johnson (went a full 12 rounds with Vitali Klitschko in 2009, only to lose on points). Worth tuning into even if you aren't a fan of either - better than any reality TV garbage that maybe on instead. It also features a decent undercard too which contains Chris Eubank Jr (looks to be a big prospect, just like his old man). Later on around 2/3am onwards, there's a big fight involving Miguel Cotto taking on Austin Trout in battle for the WBA World light middleweight title.

Steve.