The Boxing Thread

[VR46]

I think it's due to most of them starting their careers in Martial Arts, they've probably only been boxing properly for a handful of years.

UFC 94 will probably be repeated on Setanta, they seem to have a UFC show on around 11pm most nights.

Watched the Mir v Niguarna (spellingtastic) fight from UFC 92 the other night, great to see them coming together after watching the Ultimate Fighter 8 series recently.

[Shoju]

so Calzaghe has retired, as anybody who keeps up with this thread knows he's not my favourite of fighters.

can't argue with an undefeated record, I've never thought he's rubbish, I believe he had the potential to be a great but his desire to preserve his 0 meant he avoided most of his defining fights at the time that would have made his name legendary.

a very very good fighter who was over cautious in his matchmaking and thus will not be considered a true legend of the ring.

I hold Benn, Eubank & even Steve Collins in far higher esteem as they didn't really swerve people.

That might be true to an extent and I don't think Calzaghe's as great as he's being made out to be but the fact is Hopkins and Collins (twice) pulled out of fights with him. That's not his fault and had he gotten those fights earlier in his career and won he could have go on to bigger things a lot sooner. It's also a shame Kelly Pavilk lost so badly to Hopkins cause if he'd won that fight there would have been 1 more big fight left for Calzaghe.

Still he beat the 2 best fighters in his division and held all the belts. Benn and Eubank both avoided fights with some of the best fighters. Even when Benn was offered the highest pay day of his career at the time to fight undefeated Michael Nunn for his title he wouldn't do it.

[merf]

i don't know the story of Benn swerving Nunn, I remember Michael '2nd to' Nunn though, lightening fast, tall, counterpunching southpaw who made everybody he fought look terrible.

didn't he end up coke fiend or dealer ?

[Shoju]

i don't know the story of Benn swerving Nunn, I remember Michael '2nd to' Nunn though, lightening fast, tall, counterpunching southpaw who made everybody he fought look terrible.

didn't he end up coke fiend or dealer ?

It's in Benn's book "Dark Destroyer". He did at least try to get a fight with Mike McCallum but missed his chance when he lost at the wrong time.

[ShadowDancer]

so Calzaghe has retired, as anybody who keeps up with this thread knows he's not my favourite of fighters.

can't argue with an undefeated record, I've never thought he's rubbish, I believe he had the potential to be a great but his desire to preserve his 0 meant he avoided most of his defining fights at the time that would have made his name legendary.

a very very good fighter who was over cautious in his matchmaking and thus will not be considered a true legend of the ring.

I hold Benn, Eubank & even Steve Collins in far higher esteem as they didn't really swerve people.

I think Froch said as much.

[Kit]

that was cool, 2 killer ko's in there

The first KO of the evening was unbelievable ; I put the bin out, grabbed a beer from the kitchen, ordered a pizza, and when I came back he was still flat on his back.

[mikewl]

So Carl Froch behind on all score cards pulled off the KO with 14 seconds left of the 12th round against Jermain Taylor, he was floored himself in the 3rd round but got up and came on as the fight went on.

It was quite an exciting fight.

The Ending of the fight below.

[Dragon2k4]

Just watched this on ITV, that was a great ending to the fight, who'd of thought carl would come back with such fiery, a 'Rocky' comeback indeed!

[Pilotwings]

Yeah good fight, be good if Calzaghe came back to fight him!

[merf]

thanks for the linky, we had a power cut half way thru this on itv4 last night so thought I'd missed it.

interesting fight that raises a lot of questions for Froch, he did brilliantly to again overcome a decent opponent and you can't question his heart/chin or conditioning.

on the negative side :-

1 - it looked like the size of the fight got to him early on, I think he has suspect temperament and can't see him performing well in the huge Vegas fights, he may need to be a UK based fighter, if he can't get over his nerves the superfights may evade him (or he'll only have one).
2 - hold your bloody hands up mate, you go in with a puncher you won't see the late rounds to claw it back
3 - is Rob McKracken really a good enough trainer at this level ? I reckon another Hatton/Bily Graham style falling out, all well and good showing a bit of loyalty but if you want to be at the very top level he needs to learn some new tricks and get told a few home truths.

he did really well to overcome Taylor but he has to learn from this and the Pascal fight, he's not just getting by opponents on points like Eubank used to, he' has to keep going deep to the well in tear ups and whilst exciting its not good for his long term prospects at world title level.

[ezee ryder]

Anyone watching the Hatton fight later on?

[ShadowDancer]

No...and gutted. Following as much pre-fight stuff on SkySports news...wish I had Sky! (only got digital here)

[ShadowDancer]

Probably going to follow it in 5 live. (coverage around 4am) just said as I have that on at the mosie.

[ezee ryder]

Unbelievable. Hatton gets knocked out in the 2nd round. Pacquiao was just superb, so quick and accurate.

I would love to see Pacquiao vs Mayweather next!

[Pilotwings]

I feel quite in shock after that fight. Not shocked at hatton losing but just how easy it was for pac man. Hatton looked really nervous going into the ring, wonder if his legs were like jelly even before he got hit?