Boxing News Magazine (January 2020)

DREAMING BIG BOXING vs MMA





10 FIGHTS WE NEED TO SEE IN 2020 ONCE AND FOR ALL


JANUARY 9 2020 THE AWARD-WINNING WORLD’S BEST FIGHT MAGAZINE EST. 1909
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Contents







January 9, 2020


14 THE SEQUEL


Five key questions answered ahead of next month’s Wilder-Fury rematch



Photo: ACTION IMAGES/ANDREW COULDRIDGE
UNMISSABLE HIGHLIGHTS
30
>> 16 DREAM 2020 FIGHTS >> 4 EDITOR’S LETTER
Listing the 10 matchups that we Why we need an undisputed heavy king
most want to see happen this year
>> 5 GUEST COLUMN
>> 26 GRADING THE BRITS Paying tribute to Larry O’Connell
Ranking every single British fighter –
all 1,089 of them – in each division >> 12 REST IN PEACE
Saying goodbye to two ex-world champs
>> 30 ESTEEMED COMPANY – Saoul Mamby and Carlos De Leon
Watching Ruiz-Joshua II with Roberto
Duran at the legend’s Panama home >> 20 BOXING vs MMA
Investigating the subject of crossover
>> 36 VESTED MARVELS bouts between different combat stars
Rating the top 100 amateur boxers
in the history of the unpaid code >> 34 ACTION ROUND-UP
Featuring Jacobs-Chavez in Arizona,
Dubois-Fujimoto in London and more
DOWNLOAD OUR APP TODAY
>> 40 AMATEURS
For more details visit Selecting the names to look out for
WWW.BOXINGNEWSONLINE.NET/SUBSCRIPTIONS
>> 46 60-SECOND INTERVIEW
‘I HAVE A KFC BUCKET MEAL, HOT
WINGS AND A ZINGER BURGER.
I GO THE FULL HOG AFTER A FIGHT!’
Kaan Hawes


w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 3

EDITOR’S LETTER




Photo: ACTION IMAGES/ANDREW COULDRIDGE
Coming
FINE RETURN:
Fury and Wilder are next time
set to go again in
February l WE sit down
with Kalle
Sauerland
to discuss
the latest
developments
with the World
Boxing Super
Cover photography Series.
HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES

l JAIME
MUNGUIA takes
aim at the
middleweight
division when
he takes on
Gary ‘Spike’
O’Sullivan in
Texas while
BRILLIANT START Jesse Hart and
Joe Smith Jnr
collide at 175lbs
in Atlantic City.
But imagine how much bigger Wilder-Fury II would be if it was for the undisputed title
l WELSH hero
Colin Jones
N the first issue of while doing so. It’s an infuriating process out who was the No. 1 the moment it talks us through
the year, Boxing albeit one that fans begrudgingly accept became clear they were the top two; if the a career that
I News identifies 10 while moaning amongst themselves. man facing Tyson Fury in February was the fail in brave
saw him twice
undisputed king.
However, we can be guilty of getting
fights that should
1980s bids for
Bob Arum last week made the point
be made over the
a sport that will always be full of them.
coming 12 months. too caught up in the imperfections of to the BBC’s Mike Costello that, while world titles.
For the third year After all, those faults often spring pleasant he expects Wilder-Fury II to pull in 2m
in a row, a scrap surprises: A consequence of the perennial box office viewers in the USA alone, it l AVAILABLE to
between Deontay Joshua-Wilder standoff was each of them will not draw widespread interest like download from
Wilder and Anthony engaging in bouts that spawned rivalries Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier achieved January 14 and
Joshua sits atop the worthy of the highest stage. Wilder in 1971. His reasoning? There is not a the print edition
wish list, simply accepted the challenge of Tyson Fury in human interest storyline like Ali’s refusal is in stores on
because we want a December 2018 while Joshua turned his to join the Vietnam War to heighten January 16.
true heavyweight attention to Andy Ruiz Jnr six months its appeal beyond the sporting world.
Matt leader to be later. That neither Wilder nor Joshua won Some may argue that the real allure of On the
Christie established. said plenty about waiting too long for Frazier-Ali was that they were unbeaten website
@MattCBoxingNews It’s barmy and a the perfect match but also spoke to the and unquestionably the best two
Editor little sad that the intrigue and talent that exists outside of heavyweights in the world. One should l MONTE
sport has been the heavyweight top two. also consider that there wasn’t another BARRETT on
incapable of delivering that for so long. Wilder’s controversial draw with Fury ‘world heavyweight title fight’ taking place Wilder-Fury II.
Over the past decade boxing has was dramatic and engrossing while Ruiz two months beforehand involving two
succeeded only twice in staging the upsetting Joshua in New York birthed the completely different boxers, thus making l HOW does it
year’s most desirable bout and you could following year’s biggest story. Joshua-Ruiz the whole picture very hard to follow. feel to be hit
argue that on both occasions – Floyd II being a disappointment will be a moot I accept that rivalries need some kind with loaded
Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao in 2015 point if – as we expect – the February 22 of run-up (consider how much bigger the gloves?
and Gennady Golovkin-Canelo Alvarez in return between Wilder and Fury delivers. unification showdown between Mike
2017 – the fights came too late. Two out With Wilder-Fury II in place we enter a Tyson and Tony Tucker in 1987 would l EACH of the
of 10 is a rubbish score, whichever way calendar boxing year in a rare position have been if Tucker had beforehand BN team name
you look at it. – with a fight that all fans want to see notched an impressive IBF title defence their highs and
It’s a pattern that’s unlikely to change. already secured. It may not be the fight, or two, for example). But until a true king lows of 2019.
Promoters wait until a fight will make the but it’s certainly a huge improvement on is crowned – there hasn’t been a single l THE 2020
most money (or they run out of other the status quo of recent years. world heavyweight title bout since Lennox return of Boxing
options) before they pull out all the But imagine how much more appealing Lewis’ retirement where the winner could News At Five.
stops. The boxers, too, must share the Wilder-Fury II would be if there wasn’t a claim true dominance of the division
blame. They ultimately hold the power in constant elephant in the room (Joshua – contests like Wilder-Fury, and more
negotiations so if they were to dig in their and Wilder blight each other’s events pertinently the sport as whole, will not
heels and demand that these contests simply by not being the opponent). fulfil its true potential.
occur, they would. Instead they brush Imagine how much more appealing every
Follow us and keep up to date
the fights into the future, content to wait world heavyweight title contest would
and be paid well against lesser opponents now be if Wilder and Joshua had sorted @BoxingNewsED BoxingNewsOnline


4 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

GUEST COLUMN





‘THE BEST OF MEN’



Photo: ACTION IMAGES/ALEX MORTON




THE funeral of Larry
O’Connell, who passed
away aged 81 on December
30, will take place on Tuesday
January 21 at Thames View
Crematorium, Gravesend Road,
Gravesend, DA12 3JH. It
starts at midday.
















NEVER FORGET:
O’Connell in his
Fitzroy Lodge days
[inset] and as a
referee


I owe Larry O’Connell so much, he taught me how to be a better person


ARRY He wasn’t like me; I came from a in an effort to catch the ball. It was Thomas had $7 left between us. We
O’CONNELL showbiz family and I don’t mind Larry. He misjudged it completely played slot machines with it. My
L was my best admitting I was a bit of a show-off in and ended up flat on his face, rolling money disappeared quickly. So too
the ring as I danced around but Larry
down a little slope towards a garage.
friend in boxing.
did Adrian’s. But Larry won $1,600
He helped me
enormously strolled, taking everything in his stride. Next time I saw him he was all and he insisted on sharing it between
the three of us. That’s the kind of
bandaged up! The image of him flying
Without doubt he was among the
when I first best referees the world has ever seen. through the air will always make me bloke he was.
became a He was upset when he got laugh. Not sure what his wife, Beryl, I’ll never forget him tearing into a
referee, but criticised so much for scoring the first thought of it all though. A few years fellow referee who took the p**s out
that was Larry. Lennox Lewis-Evander Holyfield fight later I went to Larry’s house and I was of my own boxing career, jumping to
He’d go out of a draw in March1999. joking about him and his infamous my honour out of the blue.
his way to help He was honest and truthful – ball-catching skills. Beryl stopped He was so talented, too. There’s a
anyone. almost to a fault – and he would have what she was doing and said to Larry, huge painting of his of a horse on the
My first scored that fight exactly as he saw it at ‘Oh, so that’s how you did it? That’s wall in a pub in York. But he was an
Mickey memory that moment. Just because few people not what you told me!’ even better engraver, which was his
Vann of Larry is agreed with him doesn’t make him There was another at the WBC business – he had a shop on Maddox
Former star- watching wrong, either. He was the only one Convention in Las Vegas. We went Street in London. He engraved for the
class referee him box Dick sitting on that stool with that view, over the there with the sole intention Royal Family, for the Pope, for famous
McTaggart in don’t forget. Too often we watch from of voicing our concerns that British people all over the world. He even
the ABA final in the 1960s on the our screens and presume we have a referees were not getting the chance designed the cutlery that was used
television. I thought he won that – but better view than anyone. to officiate in world title fights as at Prince Charles’ wedding to Diana
he didn’t get the decision. There are so many memories of often as we believed we deserved. The in 1981.
He was a lovely boxer. Even in the Larry that put a smile on my face. So day before we were due to be heard Whenever I was in London I’d
ring he was a gentleman. He could many that highlight his sense of fun we got invited out by some American go and see him at his shop. “Hello
fight but he preferred to box. Certain and what incredibly good company referees for drinks. Well, one drink led Mickey,” he’d say when he saw me,
fighters get in the ring with the he was. We were in Madrid with other to another and it’s suddenly 5am and smiling from ear to ear. How I wish
intention of having a row, but Larry referees at an EBU Convention. I used we’re stumbling back to our rooms. I could see that smile now and say
got in the ring with the intention of to take a little rugby ball with me, and Next thing we know it’s 8pm and thank you for all that he did for me.
defusing an argument. Everything Richie Davies and I were throwing we’ve completely missed the meeting I wouldn’t have been the man that
about him was elegant and classy. it to each other. All of a sudden, we went over there for! I am without him – he taught me to
He was the same as a referee. He and seemingly out of nowhere, this The next day at the airport, myself, appreciate life and all that comes
was always so smart and focused. body comes flying through the air Larry and Welsh referee Adrian with it.


w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 5

ON TWITTER ON FACEBOOK
@BoxingNewsED www.facebook.com/boxingnewsonline
LETTERS





LETTER OF THE WEEK

R.I.P RONNIE ROWE



VERY sad news to start the new training and managing the Dickinson retirement. He was a British champion
year. Ronnie Rowe passed away brothers as well as several other highly and was so unlucky not to be crowned
on Monday morning (January regarded young pros like Jamie Humble. European champion on three different
6) at the awfully early age of 62. He was When pancreatic cancer was diagnosed, occasions – all of which I was sat ringside
one of the sport’s gentlemen and will be Ronnie was laid very low and obliged supporting him. I’ve been lucky enough
a sad loss to Northern Area boxing in to close the Fighting Chance gym and to meet Lenny and get to know him. He
particular. Ronnie was a good amateur his head trainer, Gary Barr – with him was such a great professional not only
middleweight in the 1970s and ‘80s with since their Birtley days – moved to the in the ring but also outside the ring. He
Grainger Park in Newcastle and did a MTK operation at whose gym Ronnie will be sorely missed by all his fans. I wish
marvellous job building up the Birtley would frequently be found as he fought him a happy retirement.
ABC, as it then was, training the seniors. the disease so hard and, for some while, John Courtman
Among his main successes there were apparently successfully. A personal
Jon-Lewis and Travis Dickinson and piece of serendipity for me was that, the TIME TO CALL IT A DAY?
Martin Ward. Ronnie was also a decent Northern Area Council having chosen UNLIKE a lot of his fellow Cubans,
rugby player for Chester-le-Street RFC Ronnie as the 2018 recipient, I was able Yuriorkis Gamboa is offensively minded
but his boxing career was finished, along to present him with the Maurice Cullen and rarely in a dull fight. Maybe if he
with any possible professional ambitions, trophy in May of that year. R.I.P, Ronnie. had been more active in his prime he
by an off-field accident on a tour to the I and so many others will miss you. would have been touted as a potential
north west. He applied to the Board for David Venn rival to the likes of Vasyl Lomachenko.
a Trainer/Second’s licence in April 2010 He is a great fighter who I have always
and for a manager’s licence in October HAPPY RETIREMENT, LENNY enjoyed watching, but I hope he calls it HIGHLY REGARDED:
2013, setting up the excellent Fighting AS a massive fan of Lenny Daws, I was a day now. Rowe with one of
his ighters,
Chance gym in Felling, Gateshead and gutted to hear the news of his recent Jamie Ingleby
Jon-Lewis Dickinson
Photo: ACTION IMAGES/JOHN CLIFTON


















































6 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

ON INSTAGRAM EMAIL POST
boxingnewsonline letters@boxingnewsonline.net Boxing News Letters, 120 Leman St, London, E1 8EU







10 COUNT


THE PANEL
HANDS OF STONE

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN DEONTAY WILDER AND We visit Roberto Duran at home on pages
30-33. Here are 10 of his best victories
TYSON FURY FIGHT AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 22? 1. RAY LEONARD I
Leonard was undefeated in 27 pro fights the night
Duran got his hands on him in June 1980 at the
Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada. He was also
unprepared for the tenacity and spite of the marauding
Panamanian, who took a decision win after 15 rounds.
2. ESTEBAN DE JESUS II
Duran’s first pro defeat came at the hands of de Jesus
in 1972, so this revenge victory two years later marked
a real turning point for him. Duran was floored in the
first round in both fights but rebounded better in the
Mickey Callum Chris Dave
rematch, stopping de Jesus in the 11th.
Helliet Johnson McKenna Allen
Manager and Light-heavy Sports Heavyweight
3. ESTEBAN DE JESUS III
promoter contender journalist contender In this 1978 fight Duran avoided getting knocked down
Fury was coming I think Tyson Fury This time Fury I can see about
to halt de Jesus in the 12th round.
off a long break will win on points will be fitter and five different
last time and was this time around. sharper than possibilities. I can 4. KEN BUCHANAN
still schooling I expected him he was in the see Fury winning Though marred by controversy, owing to a low blow,
Wilder for long to win the first first fight to win on points, Wilder Duran’s 13th round win over Buchanan in 1972 marked
periods. I can fight but expect rounds even more winning on points, his first world title victory and began his reign as
see him keeping him to win the convincingly than Fury winning lightweight king.
Wilder at range second even more last time to ensure by stoppage,
more easily this convincingly. the judges can’t Wilder winning 5. IRAN BARKLEY
time. Wilder is There’s obviously take this one from by stoppage, or Having scaled the heights as a lightweight,
a very clever always that chance him. But he still another draw. welterweight and super-welterweight, Duran
offensive fighter of a Wilder win needs to be wary I think Fury will campaigned as a middleweight in the eighties and
and he’ll have with that power of of the right hand. win on points became WBC champion in ’89 when outpointing Iran
some new tricks his but Tyson on I believe Fury but, as a Fury fan, Barkley in Atlantic City.
up his sleeve, but points is my pick. will avoid it this I’ll be watching
I anticipate Fury time and win a through my 6. DAVEY MOORE
Duran delivered a brutal beating to then-unbeaten
winning a decision. decision. fingers.
WBA 154lb champion Davey Moore in 1983.
WHO WILL OWN THE VARIOUS WORLD 7. CARLOS PALOMINO
Palomino, a former WBC welterweight champion who
HEAVYWEIGHT TITLES BY THE END OF THE YEAR? lost his belt to Wilfred Benitez, boxed Duran in a non-
title 10-rounder in 1979 and met a man a year away
from dethroning Ray Leonard. Dropped in round six,
Mickey Callum Chris Dave Palomino was comprehensively beaten on the cards.
Helliet Johnson McKenna Allen
Because of the I expect Tyson I believe Fury I think the Wilder 8. EDWIN VIRUET II
politics involved Fury to dethrone will be the WBC vs. Fury II winner After first conquering Viruet in 1975, Duran defended
I think there is Deontay Wilder champion but cements their his WBA lightweight title against him two years later,
still quite a bit and still be the Joshua – because position as the this time beating him not over 10 rounds but 15, the
of ‘feeling out’ WBC heavyweight of the absurdity number one in the championship distance at the time.
likely between champion by of the demands division. I don’t
the respective the end of the from sanctioning think 2020 will be 9. LOU BIZZARRO
champions before year. I also think bodies – will be the year we see Bizzarro was undefeated in 22 pro fights when he
stepped up in class to challenge Duran, the WBA
they meet in the Anthony Joshua forced to drop a fight with all
ring. Providing will hold all the WBO title and four heavyweight lightweight champion, in 1976. He was also out of
his depth, knocked down twice in the 10th round and
they both stay the others. If Oleksandr Usyk titles on the line,
unbeaten I see this happens, will have that belt. but I do believe twice in the 14th, the round in which he was ultimately
stopped.
Tyson Fury and it will set up a Joshua will still Joshua and Fury
Anthony Joshua mouthwatering retain the IBF and will be the two
10. RAY LAMPKIN
meeting early next clash between the WBA after beating men holding them Duran beat up Lampkin for the entirety of their 1975
year to unify all pair in 2021. Kubrat Pulev and by the time 2021 WBA lightweight title fight, one of five defences Duran
the belts. another fighter in comes around. made in his native Panama, before bringing it to a
either America or close in the penultimate round.
Saudi Arabia.


w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 7

THE BUNCE DIARIES





A NEW YEAR IN AN OLD PLA








Photos courtesy of: ALL STARS BOXING GYM

LIFE AND SOUL:
Akay [inset] will
forever be the godfather
of the All Stars gym












































Lessons to T feels like the the shoulder of a fighter that nobody to stop his opponent. Sure, it’s old,
eternal smiling in the gym can remember. Chip and blurred by grime, but it is Akay and the
learn on the spirit of Mr Akay Colin, with me for the wander along unmistakeable face of Forbes. It could
storied walls I still walks the stairs, the walls, both shake their heads. The be the divisional championships that
kid is beaming, glorious in the All Stars
ring and the floor
year, possibly a hall in Tottenham, the
of the All at the old church red strip, a 10-inch plastic gold trophy year being 1983 and it being ‘that’ year
Stars gym in Harrow Road gripped by the red gloves he is still because Forbes was, from nowhere,
Akay’s first ABA champion. It was
where the club
wearing. No fancy shorts, boots or vest –
he had to build kit straight out of the club’s travel bag, a big news in our tiny amateur boxing
from ignorance night straight from the eighties. There are universe.
opened its doors dozens like that, pictures of boxing at a Akay would know what fight it was,
for another year. level that is too easily ignored or lost. but he died last summer and left behind
He is not the only There is even a picture of Akay a monument in that old church on that
dearly departed without his obligatory baseball cap, throwback road with the red door in a
Steve boxing soul in dressed all in white like a trainer tiny pocket of London that resists too
Bunce the hundreds of from the fifties, leaving the ring as his much change. That’s Akay’s place, make
@BigDaddyBunce
pictures on the middleweight Tyrone Forbes stands up. no mistake, the old church, the old ways
Voice of boxing walls at the All Stars I know Akay and it looks like Forbes in a road where buildings have been
gym. has just had a bollocking, perhaps made magic and now cost millions.
In one faded and curling colour told that winning the next round is Forbes won the club’s first title, but in
photograph there is Akay Isola, hand on not enough, perhaps told that he has 1987 Akay had two winners in Michael

8 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

A NEW YEAR IN AN OLD PLACE










Ayers and Big Bad James Oyebola (James the walls, it’s all on the walls. to represent All Stars. Nobody knows
had also won the previous year at super- Big Bad James rests in peace on the where Everton is now.
heavy) on ABA final night. That was a wall in other pictures. The former British Akay had been forced to start the
night, a real night. There is a picture heavyweight champion as a professional, gym the year before when Teejay, who
of Oyebola and Ayers, getting ready a lovely, gentle beast of a man and the was 12 at the time, had been told that
in a Wembley dressing room. It’s black victim of utter foolishness and cruelty he was too black to be a member
and white, but it might have once been one night in the summer of 2007 – he at another boxing club in the area.
colour. After glory (Ayers beat Alan Hall, was shot dead over a cigarette. There I’m being kind with my words. Akay
Oyebola beat John Shakespeare) there are also pictures of Akay’s son, Teejay, responded by opening up his flat on
was a caravan of cars and cabs back to on those fabulous walls. Teejay, big the sixth floor and getting some other
the gym for a celebration. The doors and smiling. A good fighter and British local kids involved; they skipped on the
opened and everybody walking by at champion as a pro. He died, Akay buried landing by the lifts, did the pad work in
midnight came in, that was Akay’s way. him in 2006. It was the biggest coffin the living room, press-ups in the hall.
A fine way and night. “There is a poster anybody had ever seen. Even Akay The council soon heard. This is not a
somewhere from that year,” remembered laughed that day. There are others on fairy tale, this happened in a block of
Colin, a fighter back then at the club the walls from a list of dead, but most flats in west London in the seventies.
and now part of KO Circuit, which was are missing. There are also some frozen That is where Akay built the All Stars.
Britain’s first structured non-contact reminders left behind from visits, lasting On the first Saturday in January KO
boxing-for-fitness programme. Akay images of giants like Azumah Nelson Circuit was open and 18 showed. I got
invented it and launched it in 1990 – he sparring in the gym (he did a few rounds there when the sweat was still wet on
had no rivals. KO Circuit had real edge with a kid called Johnny Harris, star and the floor. Chip and Colin had taken the
and a lot of the amateur fighters never writer as an adult of the film, Jawbone), session. They were each there from just
liked their gym being turned over to of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield about the start all those years and deaths
keep-fitters on a Saturday morning. The inside the gym. Teejay lost to Holyfield ago, two men in a gym of hope on a lost
lines were not so easily crossed back at the 1984 Olympics. In 1975, far from little stretch of a neglected London road.
then, but the cash injection helped keep Olympic or ABA or British title glory, All Stars has walls covered in memories
the club from vanishing. The history is on Everton Holmes became the first boxer that everybody in boxing can learn from.

STAR OF ALL STARS:
Oyebola [left] defeats
Gary McCrory in the
1986 ABA super-
heavyweight inal






































w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 9





Examining the best and worst
of the sport’s weekly coverage
BOXING MEDIA REVIEW




GOODBYE, 2019












Photo: ACTION IMAGES/ANDREW COULDRIDGE
George Gigney rounds up the boxing media news
from over the Christmas period and early January



YOUTUBE The second was a much longer
discussion, with Hearn reflecting on
IN a quiet period for boxing content, 2019 and being taken through most of
unified world heavyweight champion his stable one by one to look at their
Anthony Joshua opened himself up to near futures. WBA super-flyweight
the media in the wake of his revenge win champion Kal Yafai is in talks to face
over Andy Ruiz Jnr. Sky Sports invited him former pound-for-pound king Roman
down to their studios for a rather fluffy Gonzalez, while both Callum Smith and
interview with presenter Rob Wotton, Billy Joe Saunders have been put forward
who literally started it off by describing it as opponents for Canelo Alvarez. If
as his “Christmas wish come true.” neither get the fight, Hearn will look to
This particular interview created pair them against one another.
headlines everywhere when, as things Hearn confirmed Sky Sports have bid
were wrapping up, Joshua offered to spar for the Wilder-Fury rematch, though
with Tyson Fury in order to help him Frank Warren – who is aligned with
prepare for his rematch with Deontay BT – in a separate interview with IFL
Wilder. It was a baffling thing to say – claimed that it is up to BT Sport whether
Joshua did walk it back they air the fight or
in an interview with IFL not, and expects an
the following day – but DANA WHITE announcement soon.
his reasoning was that CONFIRMED BT Sport’s Adam
he wants Fury to win, Catterall sat down
because he thinks a fight THAT HE’S with UFC President
with Tyson is easier to Dana White about his
make. MADE A impending assault on
Another interesting boxing, and straight off
comment from Joshua DEAL WITH the bat White confirmed
was how he would prefer MAYWEATHER that he’s made a deal
to enter the ring first for with Floyd Mayweather
every fight – even if he’s for the 42-year-old
the defending champion – as it allows to return this year. He says it could
him to absorb the atmosphere and get be a boxing or a “crossover” fight,
used to the ring. like his circus with Conor McGregor.
His attention was then turned to what’s Frustratingly, Catterall then asked
next, and he humorously slipped up White about KSI-Logan Paul II, rather
when looking at his two mandatories, than pursuing more details on the
Kubrat Pulev and Oleksandr Usyk; “I want Mayweather news.
opponents like Pulev [tuts] – not Pulev, However, he did get White’s views on
Usyk.” boxing broadcasts and how he will do
Joshua further confirmed this when he things differently. He pulled no punches
admitted he’s been studying Usyk for a on DAZN, describing their production the boxing world.
while – a wise move. Though it looks like value as “horrendous”. Important to note TMZ posted bodycam footage from
it’ll be Pulev next, it’s clear that Joshua that the UFC’s broadcast deal with ESPN police officers attending the aftermath of
would much rather fight Usyk. makes DAZN a direct competitor of his. Errol Spence Jnr’s car accident last year.
IFL released a couple of interviews with He also said that the shows he’ll work The two videos first show officers seeking
Eddie Hearn over the festive break, the on will be similar to UFC cards – they a blood sample from those looking after
first of which saw the promoter admit would move a lot quicker, with no long Spence in hospital, while the second
that Joshua, Wilder and Fury “all need ring walks, and he claims they’ll be a lot shows them finding a handgun at the
each other” and that 50/50 splits between “slicker” than everything that’s currently scene of the accident – however they
them could be an option. It’s the first time out there. He’s a captivating speaker and could not link the firearm to Spence so
he’s said so; a glimmer of hope for getting undoubtedly a great promoter; it’ll be he does not face any legal issues over
those blockbuster fights made. fascinating to see what impact he has on the weapon.


10 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

JOSHUA WOULD
NOW LIKE TO ENTER
THE RING FIRST FOR

EVERY OUTING SO
HE CAN SOAK UP
THE ATMOSPHERE

his relative inexperience as a pro – and
they’ve begun talks to match him with
Olympic medallist Joe Joyce this year.
However, they stuck fledgling pro
Tommy Fury before the main event
despite it being just his third fight – his
stint on Love Island in the summer has
made him a legitimate star with younger
audiences and BT are more than happy
to leverage that. His first-round win had
hundreds of thousands of YouTube views
just days after which, in this day and age,
is seemingly what it’s all about.
Sky’s offering was headlined by
unbeaten cruiserweights Richard
Riakporhe and Jack Massey clashing
for the vacant British title, with a
fairly standard undercard beneath
it. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but
these NXTGen shows serve as a useful
showcase for young fighters.

WEBSITES


THOMAS HAUSER wrote a deep dive
on the current state of DAZN for
boxingscene.com, with the first part
dropping on Sunday (January 5). It’s no
secret that DAZN has flooded the market
CHAMPION AGAIN: with cash, and Hauser raises the positives
Joshua celebrates ending and negatives of this, including how rival
the year on a high
platforms have had to fork out huge
sums as well.
“DAZN, ESPN, FOX and Showtime are
now paying Tiffany prices for boxing. But
PODCASTS BROADCASTS they’re getting Kay Jewelers diamonds,”
he writes.
GIVEN the time of year, there was a lot of JUST before Christmas, both Sky and Hauser rightfully claims that DAZN had
reflection on both the past year and the BT aired UK shows featuring their the best schedule of any one platform in
past decade among boxing podcasts. All rising young talent, though BT’s card 2019 and notes that while this is good
the usual awards were dished out – no was noticeably superior. Topped by for subscribers, it’s not good for their
prizes for guessing which fight won Upset heavyweight prospect Daniel Dubois, the investors. His view that DAZN’s business
of the Year on every pod – with Canelo unbeaten Londoner is being provided strategy isn’t sustainable in its current
Alvarez being named Fighter of the Year with an excellent platform and continues form, given how much money they’re
and Floyd Mayweather Fighter of the to impress on it. BT and Frank Warren spending, grabbed the attention of the
Decade across the board. are clearly confident in their man despite whole industry.


w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 11

Highlighting the best
of the week’s stories
NEWS AND OPINION
WWW.BOXINGNEWSONLINE.NET



SAOUL MAMBY: 1947-2019





The man who FORMER WBC super-lightweight Robert, was from Jamaica. Vietnam War.
titleholder Saoul Mamby, a fighter who Once he found boxing at the age of During his pro career Mamby plied
kept coming
defied the odds to compete until the 16, Mamby went on to compete twice his trade not only in America but also
back passes age of 60, passed away on December in the New York Golden Gloves, first in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Canada, the
away, writes 19. He was 72. 1965 and then in 1966, and compiled Dominican Republic, France, Curacao,
Born on June 4, 1947 in the Bronx, a 25-5 record. He eventually turned Indonesia, Nigeria, Guyana, Spain,
Elliot Worsell New York, Mamby’s mother, Victoria, professional in June 1969 not long after Zambia, the Cayman Islands, South
was of Spanish descent, while his father, serving in the U.S. Army during the Korea and Thailand.
Indeed, it was in Thailand where
Mamby challenged for his first world
title against WBC super-lightweight
TOP CLASS:
Mamby’s record champion Saensak Muangsurin. That
makes for fight took place in 1977 at the Open-
impressive Air Stadium in Nakhon Ratchasima and
reading resulted in Mamby going home with a
disputed decision loss after 15 rounds.
His next title shot, having won six
fights in a row, would arrive against
Muangsurin’s successor, South Korea’s
Sang Hyun Kim, in Seoul, and this time
Mamby left nothing to chance. To
conclude what was an otherwise close
and hard-to-call fight Mamby finished
Muangsurin in the 14th round.
In his role as world champion,
Mamby defended his belt against
the likes of Esteban De Jesus, whom
he stopped inside 13 rounds, and
Maurice Watkins and Jo Kimpuani,
both of whom he outpointed over 15
rounds. In 1981, Mamby also took his
title overseas, successfully defending it
against Thomas Americo in Indonesia
and Obisia Nwankpa in Nigeria.
His run came to an end the following
year, however, when, back in America,
Mamby lost a 15-round split-decision
against Leroy Haley. He then lost a
rematch against Haley in ’83, this time
over 12 rounds, before a final title shot
against Billy Costello, with his old belt
up for grabs, saw him fall short over the
same distance.
Although this defeat would signal
the end of Mamby as a world title
contender, he continued to fight on
until May 2000 when, at the age of 52,
he dropped an eight-round decision
against Kent Hardee. But even that
wouldn’t stop him returning.
Incredibly, some eight years after
losing to Hardee, Mamby, then 60,
made a comeback. Weighing 149 and
a half pounds, a mere nine and a half
pounds more than he weighed when
becoming a world champion, Mamby
lost an eight-round unanimous decision
against journeyman Anthony Osborne
in Georgetown, Guyana on March 8,
2008.
That loss marked the end, the proper
end, of Saoul Mamby’s incredible
boxing career, leaving him with a record
of 45-34-6 (18) and a remarkable body
of work stretching 39 years.


12 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

NEWS AND OPINION





CARLOS DE LEON: 1959-2020





Matt Christie half of the cruiserweights’ first true
marquee contest in 1988 as he collided
looks back on EARLY KING:
De Leon remains with the young and unbeaten Evander
the career of one of the best Holyfield, who held the IBF and WBA
cruiserweights
an underrated in history titles and was already plotting a jump to
heavyweight and a challenge to Tyson.
four-time WBC De Leon, fighting off the ropes, had
titlist some success with his counters but was
largely outfought before being stopped
in the eighth. The reports that followed
were cruel to both combatants as they
dismissed Holyfield’s chances against
Tyson due to him being extended as far as
eight by De Leon.
“De Leon was a true champion,”
Holyfield protested in the aftermath. “He
was brave and he fought with dignity.
He wasn’t going to lose on one or two
punches.”
By now past his best, Carlos recaptured
the WBC title for the third and final time
in 1989 when he outclassed and stopped
the plucky Londoner Sammy Reeson
atop a Frank Warren-promoted card in
Millwall.
He would return to the UK for his
first defence in a bout that achieved
infamy for both him and his challenger.
The tedious 12-round draw with Johnny
Nelson in Sheffield, where barely a punch
was thrown, remains the unsurpassed
benchmark for boring world title fights
staged in Britain. De Leon slipped further
out of favour in his next bout when he
was disqualified against Massimiliano
CARLOS DE LEON suffered a heart attack content to pot-shot and spoil, particularly Duran in Italy in 1990.
and died at the age of just 60 in the early in the final years of his career. After a two-year lay-off, De Leon –
hours of New Year’s Day at his home in But De Leon – who could befuddle going through the motions of a fighter
Buffalo, New York. with a double jab and a sidestep – in decline – reeled off a series of wins
The Puerto Rican is rightly regarded as played a huge part in establishing the against poor heavyweights only to be
one of the best cruiserweights in history cruiserweight division that we know stopped by Corrie Sanders and Brian
by those who know the sport. A master today. He would overpower Camel in a Neilson in his final bouts. He retired in
boxer at his best, the crafty and adaptable rematch before a shocking two-round 1995 with a record of 53-8-1 (33).
“Sugar” De Leon began the first of four loss to ST Gordon (which saw the WBC His record in world title fights
reigns as WBC champion when the then- raise the divisional limit to 195lbs) was is also worthy of attention: 11-5-
190lbs division was in its infancy. avenged in 1983. That lopsided 12-round 1 (5) highlighted his excellence at
De Leon commanded great respect points win marked the start of his second cruiserweight, where he also scored wins
from his peers though his finest stories reign though a tight loss to Alfonzo Ratliff over fighters like Leon Spinks in 1983 and
rarely grabbed the attention of the two years later would end it. anyone who remembers his blistering
headline writers. He outpointed Marvin Often used by promoter Don King as stoppage of Yaqui Lopez in the same year
Camel in 1980 to begin his first reign chief-support to his gang of heavyweights, will tell you what a talent he was. Also
on the undercard of Roberto Duran’s De Leon regained the belt again in 1986 revealing was his respectable 5-5-1 tally
infamous surrender to Sugar Ray Leonard with victory over Bernard Benton on the against future, former or current world
in their New Orleans rematch. By the end undercard of Pinklon Thomas’ upset loss titlists.
of the 15-round bout Camel looked like to Trevor Berbick. Thomas would later De Leon’s legacy must also include his
he had been shaving with a potato peeler. withdraw from a projected heavyweight work in retirement. Alongside his brothers
De Leon’s failure to win over the non-title bout with De Leon on the Mike Juan and Angel, Carlos was integral in
boxing media is partly due to the Tyson-Larry Holmes bill in January 1988, the development of Team De Leon in the
cruiserweight class in which he competed resulting in the unmotivated Puerto greater Buffalo area. Heavyweight Joe
– it was initially regarded as a needless Rican producing the kind of performance Mesi, Orlando Cruz (who challenged
steppingstone between light-heavyweight that blighted his reputation: A painfully for major feather and lightweight belts),
and heavyweight and struggled for dull 12-round points win against the light-flyweight Angel Acosta and Carlos’
relevancy. But DeLeon must also share overmatched replacement, Jose Maria son, super-middleweight Carlos De
some of the blame; his sublime counter- Flores Burton. Leon Jnr, all achieved success under the
punching ability made him lazy, too Nevertheless, DeLeon was one- guidance of the family.


w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 13

Photo: ESTHER LIN/SHOWTIME























































WILDER vs FURY II:







John HOW BIG IS THIS FIGHT? Joshua has engaged in negotiations boxing, Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum
It is huge. There are three big with Wilder’s team before, which failed. and Wilder’s representative Al Haymon
Dennen names in heavyweight boxing It is hard to be optimistic that those had to set aside their commercial
considers right now and in this fight two wouldn’t collapse again, but if Fury wins rivalry to work together. That it has
1 of them are combining. Deontay in February, a fight with Joshua might, happened now has huge implications
the major Wilder and Tyson Fury fought over a perhaps, be easier to make. Only time for making future super-fights.
issues ahead year ago for the WBC heavyweight will tell, but either way Wilder-Fury is a Veteran promoter Arum is a master
crown. That was a major event then, tremendous way to kick off 2020. at building fights. He decided that
of the but resulting in a controversial draw Fury’s rematch with Wilder
Deontay generated a even greater furore HOW HARD WAS THE BIG would be bigger if they gave
afterward, which will draw even more THIS FIGHT TO +REMATCH+ it time. With Top Rank, Fury
Wilder vs attention to the rematch. Furthermore, MAKE? fought twice in Las Vegas
Tyson Fury in another breakthrough, Fox Sports You’d think WILDER-FURY II and toured American
and ESPN, the two biggest broadcasters 2 after boxing media studios, while Wilder
rematch at in America, will work together for their once before it would fought in both Brooklyn and
the MGM first joint boxing pay-per-view. With straightforward to put Las Vegas. It also meant that
their muscle behind it that too can be together a second deal for a the bout became big enough to
Grand in Las expected to bring in a vast audience. rematch. But Fury was early into a bring the Fox and ESPN networks
Vegas on Of course, this fight will dictate the comeback when he took the Wilder together. It was a risk to wait so long,
future of the heavyweight division. If fight first time around and he emerged one of them could have lost for instance
February 22 Wilder-Fury produces a clear winner with great credit. It set him up for or the relevant parties could have
the obvious thing to happen next would a lucrative deal with promotional failed to close the deal. But now that
be for Anthony Joshua to fight the powerhouse Top Rank. To make this it is indeed happening, it looks to be a
victor for the undisputed championship. rematch the two most powerful men in promotional masterstroke.


14 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

DRAMATIC OPENER:
Fury rises from the canvas
in the last round but is
cruelly denied on the
scorecards
















































FURY II: THE KEY QUESTIONS







DOES FURY HAVE ENOUGH Steward at the Kronk gym. They will and hard to predict. It could play out in
TIME? need to gel, devise the gameplan either man’s favour.
The biggest risk to this fight together and Fury will have to stick to
taking place, or taking place his new trainer’s instructions. WHO WILL SCREEN THE
3 as soon as February 22, was FIGHT IN THE UK?
the terrible cut that Tyson Fury picked CAN WILDER KNOCK HIM When the rematch was
up in his last bout against Otto Wallin OUT? announced, the UK
in September. He should though be fit Deontay Wilder can knock 5 broadcaster was not revealed.
to fight, but it will have curtailed the anyone out. He served notice BT Sport televised the first Wilder-Fury
amount of sparring he could do in camp 4 of that in 2019. He iced fight in 2018 and through co-promoter
and could potentially re-open during Dominic Breazeale and in November Frank Warren are the regular UK
the contest with Wilder. despite largely being outboxed by Luis station for Fury. That is a well
Fury though has just recently Ortiz, Wilder had such confidence in established relationship and BT Sport
selected a new trainer. He’d only linked his power he was content to bide his hope to confirm the broadcast this
up with Ben Davison for his comeback time, waiting to set up his shot. He did week. A complication could be Sky, who
in 2018. Davison helped him get back just that and knocked Ortiz cold. Either last year screened Wilder’s two fights.
in shape and as a team they performed punch could have been knockout of Sky are bidding for the rights to show
well against Wilder first time around. the year. The intrigue though is that in this one but they will only prise this
Fury’s performance in his last outing his fight against Fury, Wilder put the bout away from BT if they fail to match
against Wallin was shakier and did Briton down, heavily. And yet Tyson still anything Sky bid. Sky and BT Sport have
attract criticism. The major change rose to continue outboxing him. Wilder no history of working together, unlike
was still a surprise decision, with Fury knows he can hurt Fury, but Fury will Fox and ESPN in other sports, so don’t
replacing Davison in his corner with believe he can take Deontay’s best shot. expect them to mirror their American
Javan “Sugar” Hill, the heir to Manny The psychological balance is fascinating counter-parts.


w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 15

Photo: SARAH STIER/USA TODAY SPORTS

DREAM
+FIGHTS+
FOR 2020





LET’S















HAVE





























. ANTHONY JOSHUA
1 VS DEONTAY WILDER
QUITE simply the biggest fight in the sport. Joshua holds three IT!
world heavyweight titles to Wilder’s one – the winner would be
the undisputed champion of the world, and we would once again
have a definitive division leader. Stylistically, it’s a dream fight.
In Wilder, we have the sport’s most dangerous puncher and in
Joshua, arguably the sport’s best finisher. Both have shown plenty
of vulnerabilities, and a clash between them would undoubtedly
result in blood and thunder. It’s a fight that would easily
transcend the sport’s usual boundaries and launch itself into the
wider public consciousness; that rare sort of fight that can have a
real, long-lasting impact on the sport as a whole.
These two have been circling each other for years – ever since
Joshua picked up the IBF title in 2016 – and while there have been
talks between both sides, nothing has come to fruition. Significant
broadcasting and political issues would need to be resolved –
based on past negotiations, this won’t happen anytime soon, George Gigney selects the 10 best
particularly as Wilder looks set for possibly another two fights
with Tyson Fury. Stranger things have happened, though. We’re
in the midst of an excellent heavyweight era, but for it to truly go bouts that can be made this year
down in history as one of the best, Joshua has to get involved with
Wilder and Fury.
LIKELIHOOD OF IT HAPPENING IN 2020: 2/10



16 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

Photo: ACTION IMAGES/ANDREW COULDRIDGE Photo: JOE CAMPOREALE/USA TODAY SPORTS Photo: ACTION IMAGES/ANDREW COULDRIDGE

WHY ME?
At irst, Sheika is
reluctant to discuss
his boxing career
Photo: ANDREAS RENTZ/
BONGARTS/GETTY IMAGES

















. ANTHONY JOSHUA . CANELO ALVAREZ VS . ERROL SPENCE JNR VS
2 VS TYSON FURY 3 GENNADY GOLOVKIN III 4 TERENCE CRAWFORD

SUCH is the nature of the heavyweight division IN America, this might well be the number one THE two unbeaten welterweight titlists are
as things stand, any fight involving the top fight to make in 2020. Their first two meetings regarded by many as top five pound-for-
three facing each other would be one of the will go down as modern classics, and Golovkin pound, and it would be deliciously difficult
biggest in the sport. While Fury doesn’t hold has been alarmingly unfortunate not to have to pick a winner. Spence – a monstrous
an official world title, he has a strong claim come out of them with a win (the first was 147-pounder with exceptional skill – has
to being the best heavyweight in the world a very controversial draw, with Canelo just unified titles and scalped some big names
and, like a Joshua-Wilder fight, this bout would nicking the return). There is serious unfinished on his side of the political divide. Crawford
produce a consensus number one. business here. has moved through the weights (becoming
The two Brits have, naturally, been on each Canelo – the biggest draw in the sport – has undisputed super-lightweight king in the
other’s radar for some time. As far as we jumped up in weight since their second fight, process) and could well be the best fighter
know, serious talks between their respective but could well be heading back to 160lbs in the world. This fight would sit alongside
teams are yet to take place, but were they again, where Golovkin holds world honours history’s great welterweight scraps.
to meet it would be the biggest fight in once more. Of course, with Crawford at Top Rank and
British boxing history. Contrasting styles, In a perfect world, this trilogy fight would Spence with PBC, it would take a gargantuan
personalities and stories, these two seem have already happened – it’s undeniable that effort to get this made. Spence is also
almost destined to collide at some point. “GGG” has slowed down somewhat since he recovering from injuries he sustained in a car
With Fury firmly tied to ESPN in the States last fought Canelo. With both fighters signed accident – he escaped with no serious injuries,
and Joshua to streaming service DAZN, this is to DAZN, and neither having anything concrete but there have been no clear-cut updates
another dream fight currently being blocked lined up yet, the chances look good for this on his immediate future, so things remain
by broadcasting issues. one. unclear. Plus, while it is an outstanding fight,
LIKELIHOOD: 2/10 LIKELIHOOD: 8/10 neither man is a proven superstar and it’s
unlikely a fight between them in 2020 would
be a crossover hit. But, for once, maybe
boxing could get out of its own way and make
the fights that need to happen – particularly
for Crawford who, at 32, is running out of
opportunities to cement his legacy.
LIKELIHOOD: 2/10

























Photo: ACTION IMAGES/STEVE MARCUS Photo: JOE CAMPOREALE/USA TODAY SPORTS Photo: ACTION IMAGES/ANDREW COULDRIDGE

w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 17

Photo: ACTION IMAGES/LEE SMITH Photo: ACTION IMAGES/ANDREW COULDRIDGE Photo: JON DURR/USA TODAY SPORTS


























. NAOYA INOUE VS . VASYL LOMACHENKO . OLEKSANDR USYK

5 JUAN FRANCISCO ESTRADA 6 VS TEOFIMO LOPEZ 7 VS DILLIAN WHYTE

HOW about this clash of little giants? Inoue – THIS fight wouldn’t have made this list if not HAVING completely unified the cruiserweight
a three-weight world champion – became a for Lopez’s blistering performance when he division, last year Usyk made his inevitable
star in 2019 by prevailing in the bantamweight wrecked IBF lightweight champion Richard move up to heavyweight, dominating
World Boxing Super Series tournament and Commey inside two rounds in December. unheralded Chazz Witherspoon on his
is on the hunt for more career-defining fights The unbeaten youngster has been pursuing showcase in the banner division. By virtue of
after his colossal tussle with Nonito Donaire Lomachenko for a while, and though clearly the WBO’s rules when one of their champions
in the final. In Estrada, a two-weight king and talented, it seemed a little too soon for him moves up in weight, he is mandatory
current super-flyweight champion, Inoue to be jumping in with someone like “Loma”. challenger to Joshua, who holds that
would perhaps be looking at his perfect foil. However, the way he dispatched Commey heavyweight title. However, it looks as though
An excellent boxer-puncher, Estrada fights at launched him onto the world stage and front the unbeaten Ukrainian might have to wait for
a relentless pace and has mixed with – and of the queue for Lomachenko’s next fight – the his shot – no bad thing, as it allows him more
beaten – some of the best in the world. Ukrainian even said, “See you in April,” after time to settle into the weight.
While very successful up at bantamweight, Lopez’s win. Whyte has been waiting for his crack at
Inoue’s punishing win over Donaire suggests They’re both with Top Rank, and it seems the WBC strap for what seems like a decade,
that, for longevity, he should perhaps return Bob Arum had been plotting this fight for and it doesn’t sound like it’ll come in 2020
to weight classes more suited to his smaller sometime soon anyway. Lopez’s brash either. In terms of what he’s proven in the ring
frame, so why not drop back to super-fly and personality and explosive style make him a at heavyweight, he’s arguably the division’s
face the current division leader? No, it would fascinating opponent for Lomachenko, who is standout top contender (if you’re not counting
not move the needle with casual fans, but constantly on the hunt for worthy adversaries. Tyson Fury, who sits comfortably in the top
stylistically it guarantees excitement and pits Technically, Lomachenko no longer holds three). Now, it might be harsh to pitch Whyte
two of the standout fighters from the smaller the WBC title since he became their ‘Franchise’ in yet another final eliminator, especially
weight classes against each other. champion, but it wouldn’t be a stretch to against someone as good as Usyk, but it
As far as we’re aware, there’s been no move view a fight with Lopez as one for undisputed would be a fascinating examination of just
to get this fight made, particularly as Inoue supremacy of the division. For now, Lopez, 22, how well Usyk could do amongst the giants,
may have no intention of moving down, but is certainly one of the more exciting challenges plus it would offer Whyte a route back into the
we can hope. for Lomachenko. light after a dark few months recently.
LIKELIHOOD: 4/10 LIKELIHOOD: 9/10 LIKELIHOOD: 5/10



























Photo: ED MULHOLLAND/MATCHROOM Photo: ACTION IMAGES/ANDREW COULDRIDGE Photo: ACTION IMAGES/ANDREW COULDRIDGE

18 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

Photo: JOE CAMPOREALE/USA TODAY SPORTS Photo: ACTION IMAGES/ANDREW COULDRIDGE Photo: MARK J. REBILAS/USA TODAY SPORTS


























. CANELO ALVAREZ . JOSH TAYLOR VS . FLOYD MAYWEATHER VS

8 VS CALLUM SMITH 9 MIKEY GARCIA 10 MANNY PACQUIAO II

WITH Canelo making it clear he won’t return AFTER a one-sided defeat to Errol Spence Jnr FIRST, take a breath. Resist the urge to tear up
to light-heavyweight anytime soon by vacating up at welterweight, Garcia recently signed this issue and set it on fire. Clear your mind
the WBO title he won from Sergey Kovalev, a deal with DAZN and Matchroom. Having and consider this – Mayweather-Pacquiao II
the Mexican looks set to return to either 168 won world honours at feather, super-feather, could be a lot of fun. Yes, Floyd is still retired,
or 160lbs. What seems more likely, at least lightweight and super-lightweight, Garcia but he seemingly confirmed on social media
for his first fight since beating Kovalev, is a stretched his body too far and was dominated that he’s returning in 2020. Pacquiao, as we
bout at super-middleweight, and the best by Spence over 12. Garcia recently announced know, is still fighting and seeing out the tail-
fight for Canelo there is with division leader he’ll return at 147lbs against Jessie Vargas – end of his career as lucratively as possible
and WBA champion Callum Smith. It’s been but there’s no denying Mikey is at his best – it’s also clear he won’t be going anywhere
mooted for a little while – ever since Canelo around the 135-140lb mark. It might be too near the likes of Terence Crawford and Errol
briefly stopped at super-middle to blitz Rocky much of an ask at this stage for him to go right Spence Jnr, and why should he? He’s got
Fielding – and with no standout opportunities back down to lightweight, so an ideal weight nothing left to prove. It doesn’t take a genius
at middleweight (besides the Golovkin trilogy), would be 140, where Taylor reigns supreme. to see where this is going.
Canelo will surely be looking at 168lbs, and The Scot holds two belts there, and while Mayweather isn’t coming back to take
“Mundo” is an obvious choice. an undisputed fight with Jose Ramirez is very on the best at welterweight – a Pacquiao
Since signing a record-breaking deal with appealing, Garcia is a far bigger name and rematch offers him the perfect risk/reward
DAZN, Canelo has faced decent enough much more established. Both can box, both balance. But, while Manny has been beating
opposition – the Kovalev fight was particularly can punch, and both have proven themselves the likes of Keith Thurman, Floyd hasn’t been
daring – but Smith would be a huge challenge, at the top level. Taylor’s promotional position fighting. Their first fight was disappointing,
and one that the execs at DAZN would means he can pretty much go where he but Mayweather’s hiatus won’t have helped
likely see as a worthwhile return on their likes in terms of broadcasters, and Garcia’s his reflexes or speed. And if Pacquiao was
investment. Having proven himself number reported one-fight deal with DAZN leaves his injured going into their initial bout, who’s to
one at super-welter and middleweight, Canelo options open as well. The problem lies in the say a fully-fit “Pac Man” couldn’t do a lot better
will surely be looking at the next frontier to rumours that Garcia is being manoeuvred in the return? Beside all that, it still remains a
conquer. The one man he needs to beat to into a position to fight Manny Pacquiao in late huge fight that would command an impressive
rule at 168lbs is Smith. 2020 – a hefty incentive for him to stay at 147. audience.
LIKELIHOOD: 6/10 LIKELIHOOD: 4/10 LIKELIHOOD: 6/10



























Photo: ACTION IMAGES/LEE SMITH Photo: JOE CAMPOREALE/USA TODAY SPORTS Photo: JOE CAMPOREALE/USA TODAY SPORTS

w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 19

The Mixed Zone



















Are mixed martial artists
better athletes than boxers?
BOXING
Elliot Worsell investigates +vs MMA+

SPECIAL FEATURE
IKE some terrible disease for which no
cure can be found, it’s now 2020 and
L martial happen if Random Boxer what
we’re still comparing boxing and mixed
hypothesising
arts and
would
were
to fight Random Mixed Martial Artist in
either a ring or cage.
Ten years after I first wrote about
this subject, I have again tasked myself with exploring the
similarities and differences between the sports (spoiler: there
are more of the latter than former), only this time, owing to
some outlandish comments made by UFC (Ultimate Fighting
Championship) welterweight Jorge Masvidal, there will be
fresh emphasis on the respective athletic qualities of both
boxers and mixed martial artists and an attempt to find out,
hopefully once and for all (don’t count on it), which of the two
sports comprise the superior athletes.
According to Masvidal, still running on the adrenaline
produced during a November 2 win over Nate Diaz, mixed
martial artists are better all-round athletes than boxers and
this, he said, would give him an edge in a potential boxing
match against boxer Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. But not everybody
agrees. The MMA fans back Masvidal, highlighting the need
to learn numerous disciplines to call oneself a mixed martial
artist, whereas boxing fans believe mastering one art, and
the complete immersion this requires, trumps whatever is
produced by the jacks of all trades, masters of none at the
other end of the gym.
“To be a mixed martial artist I do believe you have to be
more of a well-rounded athlete,” said Ryan Ford, a 37-year-old
Canadian who has excelled in both boxing and MMA. “You
have to focus on eight or nine different disciplines rather than
just one. Boxing is just the sweet science of the hands. So,
for Masvidal to say mixed martial artists are better all-round
athletes, yes, I can agree with that.
“With boxing, the training is repetitive. In MMA, though, you
can’t afford to repeat things. You have to work your wrestling
and your jiu-jitsu and your boxing. You have to deal with kicks,
knees and elbows. In MMA training, the only thing I would say
that is tougher is mixing all of those martial arts together.”
As for sparring, Ford opined: “Boxing sparring is a lot
harder than mixed martial arts sparring. That’s because of
the intensity and because there is no holding or grappling. In
boxing, yes, we get an opportunity to hold, but you’re holding
for maybe two or three seconds and then you break.
“In MMA, if I want to pin you against the cage and get my
breath, I’m going to do that for however long I want, and then
I can take you down and wrestle you on the ground. There’s
also kicking involved. I can throw a kick and step back and
I’m not as engaged. We get a lot of mixed martial arts guys
come to the boxing gym and they know it’s a totally different


20 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

ed Zone intensity being in the ring compared to the cage.” to stay away
record
a
As a
artist,
mixed
martial
Ford
accumulated
of
16-5, competing in all the major organisations outside the UFC
and fighting names such as Jake Shields, Douglas Lima, Karo
Parisyan and Pete Spratt. He then retired in 2014.
part of
has always been
Ford’s life.
meanwhile,
Boxing,
Canadian
lightweight champion
was a
Al,
who
His father,
shared the ring with Aaron Pryor and Ray Mancini, and often
Ryan
teach
the basics,
much
to the disapproval
he would
him
who was desperate for
of
Ryan’s mother,
from the sport and its dangers. She got her way, too. Ford’s
when
parents divorced
he was under her roof, the rules were quite clear: there was
inhabit the same dirty
as her
no way
her
world
ex-husband. boy would he was just four and, for as long as
Photos: JOE CAMPOREALE & SARAH STIER/USA TODAY SPORTS But then, in 2003, Ford participated in an armed robbery
home invasion and everything changed. First, he went to jail.
Then, while locked up, he analysed the direction in which
MONEY-MAKER:
Masvidal [left] has his life was heading and, in the process, stumbled upon
been vocal about The Ultimate Fighter reality television series. It wasn’t quite
pursuing a ight boxing, but it was close – close enough.
with Canelo “At first I wanted to box when I got out, but The Ultimate
Fighter came out as I was serving my sentence and it was
such a big thing,” he said. “I thought, ‘Man, maybe I’ll do this
instead.’
“I got out and within two weeks had my first MMA fight.
I won by knockout in the second round. It was my journey into
MMA from that point on.”
It later ended, this journey, for two reasons: one, because
Ford had broken his arm three times, twice in training and
once during a fight, and, two, because the time suddenly felt
right to continue the legacy of his father. “I just sat down with
my wife and a couple of my good friends and said, ‘You know
what? I think it’s time to go to the roots, go to boxing, what’s
in my blood,’” recalled Ford, 17-5 in his pro boxing career and
recently seen giving Joshua Buatsi a decent test in London.
Marcus Davis, a former fighter known as the “Irish Hand
Grenade”, went the other way, starting in boxing before
eventually making his name in mixed martial arts.
“MMA is the purest form of legal fighting available,” said
Davis, who turned pro as a boxer in 1993 and, competing
primarily in Boston, compiled a 17-1-2 record in seven years.
“I see myself as a warrior and fighting in MMA was the best
way to express myself. I’m not a natural boxer. I’m not a
natural mixed martial artist. I’m just a natural fighter – I was
born to fight.
“Making the transition from boxing to mixed martial arts
in 2002 was a long and arduous process. Once I identified
the issues at hand it took me about seven months of total
dedication to the training to get to where I wanted to be.
“When I boxed, I only did my boxing training and sparring
along with running. As an MMA fighter you train in several
disciplines of fighting – striking arts and grappling arts. You
also do stuff like weight training and plyometrics. It really
is the ultimate form of multitasking. If you ease up on one
aspect of training, I guarantee that’s the area that will get
exploited when it comes time to fight.”
Davis, like most who enter MMA from a striking background,
was immediately pigeonholed. He was, as far as purists were
concerned, good only for standing up and throwing hands.
Get him on the floor, they said, and the story will be different.
He will panic. He will drown. He will be choked out. But they
were wrong. Davis, 22-11 in MMA, would in fact go on to ➤
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
IS THE PUREST FORM
OF LEGAL FIGHTING
AVAILABLE”
w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 l BOXING NEWS l 21

➤ score more submissions than knockouts and would end up
being respected as a danger wherever a fight happened to go.
“The techniques are totally different,” he said. “I had to
revamp my whole punching style to survive in MMA. If I was to
just stand and punch the way I did as a boxer, grapplers would
be taking me down left, right and centre. I literally wouldn’t
have a leg to stand on.
“As time went on, I learnt to punch on the move, set for
shorter periods of time and always think about at least two
things at the same time. You can’t just think about hitting and
not getting hit in MMA. You have to think about hitting, not
getting hit, not getting kicked, not getting taken down, not
getting clinched, and so on.”
Chris “Lights Out” Lytle is another example of a former pro
boxer unfairly deemed a one-dimensional mixed martial arts
striker, based on his past, who later evolved to become quite
the grappling whizz.
“Being a former boxer in MMA was truly a blessing,” said
Lytle, 13-1-1 as a boxer. “Aside from the fact it gives you a
good grounding when a fight starts, it also helps because
people tend to underestimate your grappling. I’d been doing
this thing for over 20 years and people still didn’t think my
grappling matched up to my striking. It was only when I took
them down or pulled guard and then tapped them out that
they realised I was pretty darn good down there, too.
“My preference was always to stand and bang and put on a
show for the fans, but I also knew I had it in me to take a fight
to the ground and win it that way.”
A cursory glance at Lytle’s handiwork wouldn’t have the
casual observer assuming he was a former pro boxer. It was
famously wild and sloppy, much in keeping with what you
might expect from a developing mixed martial artist, and the
majority of his moves seemed improvised rather than taught.
Yet, as it transpired, Lytle, in staying loose, had sussed the
game long before his peers had caught up.
“Technical punching isn’t as vital in MMA because a fight
rarely comes down to two guys looking to outdo one another
with precise punches,” said Lytle, 31-18-5 in MMA. “There are
too many other areas where the fight can be decided. The key
for me was to always stay busy with my hands and make sure CROSSING OVER:
I was unpredictable, both with my punches and my movement. McGregor [right
If an opponent is unable to get comfortable with you in there, and below on left]
inds sharing a ring
they won’t take you down and they won’t trade freely with
with Mayweather
punches. Unpredictability is always the name of the game in predictably diicult
MMA.” Photos: MARK J. REBILAS/
They say unpredictability is what allowed Conor McGregor USA TODAY SPORTS
to land the odd shot – including that odd left uppercut – on
Floyd Mayweather when they met in a ridiculous boxing
match the entire world stopped to watch in the summer 2017.
Or at least that’s what the mixed martial arts advocates
say. Boxing fans, on the other hand, argue this is merely
the narrative MMA fans want to push in order to make
the whole MayMac experiment seem slightly less pointless
than it appeared in the aftermath. They suggest the truth is
something else.
Ryan Ford, having competed in both sports, is more than
qualified to comment. “I am the best mixed martial artist who
has crossed over into boxing in the entire world,” he told me,
by way of an introduction, and it’s hard to argue. There have
been others, too many others, but Ford has managed to do
both without disgracing himself in either (we’re looking at you,
James Toney).
“Conor McGregor was at the height of his MMA career





TECHNICAL PUNCHING ISN’T
AS VITAL IN MMA. A FIGHT
RARELY COMES DOWN TO
PRECISE PUNCHES”



22 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

when he boxed Floyd Mayweather, who was not even near
his prime, and he got destroyed,” said Ford. “The only time
he landed punches was when Floyd let him hit him. Floyd let
that happen because I guarantee he had money on every bet
available that night. He’s a money man, a businessman, and
I’m sure that’s why Conor was able to land the odd punch and
go some rounds.
“You’ve never seen Floyd fight like a Mexican coming
forward at somebody like that before. He doesn’t do that. He
did that because he was not threatened by anything McGregor
would do.
“But, on the flip side, you put a natural born boxer inside an
MMA cage against a mixed martial artist and the exact same
thing will happen. A boxer cannot fight off his back. Yes, they
have that puncher’s chance, but now you have to worry about
kicks, knees, elbows, wrestling, all of that stuff.”
Rico Verhoeven, the Glory kickboxing heavyweight
champion, is not only a master of feet and hands but also
has first-hand experience of what it’s like to spend time in the
ring with men fortunate enough to focus solely on one part of
their anatomy. His lesson arrived five years ago when he was
invited to do some sparring with Tyson Fury, back when Fury
was training in Belgium, and the Dutchman, being so close,
couldn’t say no. It was, he thought, a priceless opportunity to
see both what the future heavyweight boxing champion could
do with just his hands and what he, a world-class kickboxer,
could do with just his hands.
He was welcomed with open arms, too, for the simple
reason that most of the other kickboxers and mixed martial
artists the Furys had sourced from the Netherlands had
already tried and failed and been promptly sent home.
“They all thought, ‘No way, this is not for us,’” Verhoeven
explained. “You’ve got one of the best boxers in Europe
knocking their heads off with just the jab. It was crazy. They
weren’t used to it. For us, as kickboxers, it’s totally different to
what we’re used to.”
In their first session together, Verhoeven, 55-10 as a
kickboxer, stuck it out for six or seven rounds, even if by
the second both his eyes were closed. “It was quite a feat
considering we were wearing head guards,” he recalled,
laughing. “I didn’t enjoy getting my ass whooped, but it was a
great learning experience.”
Rather than discouraged, Verhoeven, to his credit, kept
going back. He went back for more punches and he went back
for his respect, which he was quick to gain from the Furys.
“I don’t want to say our sport is tougher, but when you get
kicked to the body, kicked to the leg and kicked to the head, ➤


GROUNDING:
Lytle [left] feels
that his boxing
past beneited him
hugely in MMA
Photo: ED MULHOLLAND/
USA TODAY SPORTS

➤ it’s not nice. It hurts like hell,” he said. “But you have to keep
going and go through the pain barrier. You can’t just stop. THE HUNTED:
Sant Cruz [left]
“With boxing, it’s just arms. That’s the biggest difference. tries to keep
In kickboxing it hurts when you get a kick right on your thigh; the tireless
there’s no pain like it, especially when you’re not used to it. Frampton of
That ability to fight through the pain is definitely something him
the Fury team liked about me. I’m used to being hit and hurt. Photos:
RYAN MARSDEN
It mentally makes me very strong. A strong punch to the face
means nothing to me. It just makes me go, ‘Oh, is that it?’”
Although they had engaged in a sparring session on his
terms, Fury’s mastering of these terms meant that whenever
Verhoeven wasn’t in pain he was simply in awe. Respect,
therefore, was very much a two-way thing.
“A lot of people from the outside say Tyson is too big, too
slow and can’t do this or that,” he said. “Stand in front of him,
that’s all I’ll say. Then come and tell me he’s lacking in this
department or that department. If you stand in front of this
guy, he’ll knock your head off. He’s so gifted it’s crazy.
“For a man of his size – so big, so heavy – he can move so
well. He’d be backing up against the ropes and I’d think, ‘Right,
now I’m going to take his f**king head off’, and he’d just step
to the side and I’d almost fall out of the ring. I would think,
‘How the hell does he do that? He’s leaning on the back leg and
is still able to move sideways.’ It really is crazy. He’s so skilled.
He’s a natural.”
Based on experience, Verhoeven wouldn’t be foolish
enough to think he had a chance of beating Fury in a boxing
match. However, the Dutchman, this powerful, well-schooled
striker, is presumably better equipped to try his luck than your
regular mixed martial artist distracted and preoccupied by all
that ground action. Which is to say, if Verhoeven is, by his own
admission, out of his depth when throwing hands with a pro
boxer, and Conor McGregor has already proven this to be the
case on the world’s biggest stage, what makes Jorge Masvidal
think he will be any different?
“This is entertainment. Nothing more,” said Ford. “It’s about
money. Jorge Masvidal knows if he ever got that fight with
Canelo Alvarez, he would make more money than he has ever
made in his life, just like McGregor did when he fought Floyd.
“He could not do anything to Canelo Alvarez. I don’t even
give Masvidal a puncher’s chance. It’s different. I’m living proof
of it. I did 11 years of training and fighting mixed martial arts
and now I’m four years into this boxing career. I know there’s
a difference. It’s too much of a difference for people to be
talking like this.
“There will never be an MMA fighter who can just win a BMF
(Bad Motherf**ker) belt and then go and beat Canelo Alvarez
in a boxing match. He’s the pound-for-pound best fighter in
boxing right now. It’s not going to happen.
“Masvidal wouldn’t even be able to beat the Mexican MULTI-TALENTED:
middleweight champion, let alone Canelo, a world champion Ford describes
himself as ‘the
in different divisions. It was the same with McGregor. He best mixed martial
had no chance of beating the champion of Ireland when he artist who has
fought Mayweather. If you’re a ranked boxer, these guys aren’t crossed over into
beating you in boxing.” boxing in the
entire world’
Winning, it seems, is in danger of becoming an archaic term
Photo: ACTION IMAGES/
and concept in combat sports. Not half as vital or relevant as ANDREW COULDRIDGE
it used to be, it has instead been replaced by an even greater,
more powerful term, one that supersedes risk and common
sense, one that will forever be the driving force behind
hypothetical matchups between boxers and mixed martial
artists. That term is this: earning.
So long as you earn, you stand to win even if you lose.” bn





MASVIDAL WOULDN’T
EVEN BE ABLE TO BEAT
THE MEXICAN CHAMPION,
LET ALONE CANELO”



24 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

UNFAMILIAR
TERRITORY:
The MMA ‘career’
of Toney [pictured
being pummelled]
is remembered
as a disaster
Photo: GREGORY PAYAN/
AP/SHUTTERSTOCK





































DURABLE:
Verhoeven
[pictured unleashing
a kick] is proud
that he was able
to prove his
toughness in
sparring with Fury
Photo: ROBIN VAN
LONKHUIJSEN/EPA-EFE/
SHUTTERSTOCK

RANKINGS






BRITISH RATINGS





HEAVYWEIGHT Over 200lbs/14st 4lbs 11: Damian Chambers (Manchester), 10-1 19: Alex Hughes (Maerdy), 13-0 86: Callum Ide (Bognor Regis), 0-29-2
1: Anthony Joshua (Watford), 23-1 12: Rhasian Earlington (Newc-u-Lyme), 7-1 20: Dan Azeez (Lewisham), 11-0 87: Andy Bishop (Rochdale), 0-9
2: Tyson Fury (Wilmslow), 29-0-1 13: Tony Conquest (Romford), 18-4 21: Lawrence Osueke (Newcastle), 9-1-1 88: Ryan Hibbert (Irlam), 0-3
3: Dillian Whyte (Brixton), 27-1 14: Sam Hyde (Sale), 15-1-1 22: Damon Jones (Leeds), 16-2 89: Guycha Muele (Enfield), 0-2
4: Dereck Chisora (Finchley), 32-9 15: Nathan Thorley (Cardiff), 14-0 23: Duane Sinclair (Thornton Heath), 10-1
5: Joe Joyce (Putney), 10-0 16: Nick Parpa (Palmers Green), 9-1 24: Willy Hutchinson (Carstairs), 10-0 SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT 168lbs/12st
6: Daniel Dubois (Greenwich), 14-0 17: Daniel Mendes (London), 10-2 25: Pawel Augustynik* (Taunton/POL), 10-0 1: Callum Smith (Liverpool), 27-0
7: Hughie Fury (Manchester), 23-3 18: Danny Couzens (Titchfield), 10-12-2 26: Ollie Pattison (London Colney), 10-0 2: Billy Joe Saunders (Hatfield), 29-0
8: Nathan Gorman (Nantwich), 16-1 19: Jamie Hughes (Bentley), 8-0 27: Tommy Philbin (Edinburgh), 13-1 3: John Ryder (Islington), 28-5
9: David Price (Liverpool), 25-7 20: Joe Sherriff (Coventry), 14-1 28: Sebastian Slusarczyk* (Nott/POL), 7-0 4: Rocky Fielding (Liverpool), 28-2
10: David Allen (Conisbrough), 17-5-2 21: Ellis Zorro (Bromley), 8-0 29: Diego Costa* (Manchester/BRA), 7-0 5: Martin Murray (St Helens), 39-5-1
11: Kash Ali (Birmingham), 16-1 22: James Branch (Hainault), 7-0 30: Luke Blackledge (Darwen), 26-9-3 6: Zach Parker (Woodville), 18-0
12: Fabio Wardley (Ipswich), 8-0 23: Mick Learmonth (Leeds), 9-0 31: John McCallum (Galashiels), 12-1 7: Lerrone Richards (New Maldon), 13-0
13: Robin Dupre (Dagenham), 15-2 24: Nathan Quarless (Liverpool), 6-0 32: Boris Crighton (Aberdeen), 6-1 8: Lennox Clarke (Halesowen), 19-1-1
14: Tom Little (Hatfield), 10-8 25: David Jamieson (East Kilbride), 5-1 33: Ryan Hatton (Tamworth), 7-0 9: Tommy Langford (Birmingham), 21-4
15: David Abraham (Watford), 7-0 26: Dan Cooper (Ruskington), 8-1-1 34: Jordan Joseph (H Hempstead), 8-3-1 10: Mark Jeffers (Chorley), 10-0
16: Nick Webb (Chertsey), 16-2 27: Chezerae Nihell (Aldershot), 3-0 35: Charlie Duffield (Rainham), 7-2 11: Chris Davies (Richmond), 13-0
17: Simon Vallily (Middlesbrough), 17-2-1 28: James Farrell (Liverpool), 9-1 36: Dana Zaxo (Hammersmith), 6-0 12: Anthony Fox (Westbury), 8-12-4
18: Mark Bennett (Doncaster), 7-1 29: Iain Martell (Marsham), 8-0 37: Mike McGoldrick (Barrow), 6-0 13: Jack Sellars (Halifax), 7-4-1
19: Josh Sandland (Halifax), 5-2-1 30: Andrius Ruzas* (Hull/LTU), 1-1 38: Michael Fafera (York), 6-0 14: Mickey Ellison (Darwen), 11-2
20: Ellis Machin (Huthwaite), 4-0-1 31: Mark Little (Romford), 12-1 39: Olly Newham (Nottingham), 7-0 15: Charlie Schofield (Ashton-u-Lyne), 15-1
21: Kamil Sokolowski* (Plym/POL), 8-16-2 32: Ossie Jervier (Willesden), 6-12 40: Jermaine Springer (Bradford), 6-1 16: Christian Kinsiona (Sheffield), 9-1-1
22: Alex Dickinson (Formby), 10-1 33: Jose Lopes* (Stratford/ANG), 9-2 41: Louis Lye (Iver), 4-0 17: Callum Hancock (Eckington), 10-0
23: Jay McFarlane (Glasgow), 10-5 34: Sonny Taylor (Hull), 4-0 42: Jamie Mitchell (Blackpool), 4-0 18: John Docherty (Montrose), 7-0
24: Danny Whitaker (Silsden), 3-1 35: Aron Canning (Wrexham), 4-0 43: Derek Renfrew (Fleet), 8-1-1 19: Zak Chelli (Fulham), 7-1
25: Jonathan Palata (Sydenham), 7-1 36: Paul Brown (Ramsgate), 4-0 44: Denzil Browne (Leeds), 4-0 20: Morgan Jones (Aberdare), 13-2
26: Chris Healey (Stockport), 8-7 37: Adam Gair (Durham), 4-0 45: Thomas Whittaker-Hart (Liverpool), 4-0 21: Jamal Le Doux (Hanley), 8-1
27: Robert Ismay (Newcastle), 9-0 38: Michael Webster (Middlesbrough), 3-0 46: Casey Connelly (Wigan), 6-0 22: Germaine Brown (Kingston), 8-0
28: Dorian Darch (Aberdare), 12-11-1 39: Mike McKay (Llandyrnog), 3-0 47: Idris Virgo (Birmingham), 5-0-1 23: Corey Jackson (Nottingham), 7-3
29: Dilbag Singh (Coventry), 6-0 40: Darryl Hall (Spennymoor), 2-0 48: Connor Seymour (Hull), 9-1-2 24: Padraig McCrory (Belfast), 9-0
30: Naylor Ball (Iver), 6-1 41: Michael Watson (Sedgefield), 2-0 49: Jake Barton (Southport), 4-0 25: Luke Caci (Newcastle-under-Lyme), 9-0
31: Jone Volau (Gateshead), 5-5 42: Matt Sen (Oldbury), 5-2 50: Tommy Fury (Manchester), 3-0 26: Graham Tirrell (Hitchin), 10-0
32: Lucian Atana* (Harrow/ROU), 4-0 43: Callum Beardow (Sheffield), 1-0 51: Michael Stephenson (Luton), 4-1 27: Umar Sadiq (Ilford), 9-1
33: Louie Darlin (Strood), 4-0-1 44: Tomas Ivachov* (Bradford/CZE), 1-0 52: Jamie Bates (Newcastle), 1-0 28: Jake Anthony (Ammanford), 6-1
34: Viktoras Razma* (Greenford/LTU), 1-3 45: Antony Woolery (Wolverhampton), 2-2 53: Yailton Neves* (Manchester/POR), 4-15 29: Sam Smith (Swindon), 8-3
35: Ryan Charles* (Edmonton/LCA), 7-1 46: Elvis Dube (Derby), 9-83-2 54: Harry Matthews (York), 16-47-3 30: Nicolie Campbell (Sheffield), 7-1
36: George Fox (Mill Hill), 3-0 47: Anees Taj (Watford), 1-0 55: Ben Thomas (Bolton), 2-1-3 31: Troy Coleman (Burntwood), 6-0
37: Steve Robinson (Newcastle), 2-0 48: Jamie Smith (Amersham), 1-0 56: Ian O’Connor (Glasgow), 1-0-1 32: Ryan Robinson (Plaistow), 5-0
38: Dorin Krasmaru* (Sidcup/UKR), 2-0 49: Ben Vickers (Battersea), 1-0 57: Bryce Goodridge (Basingstoke), 3-0 33: Adrian Redman (Harlesden), 5-0
39: Mohammad Saleem (Dumfries), 2-0 50: Damien Sullivan (Belfast), 1-1 58: Callum Simpson (Barnsley), 3-0 34: Charlie Shane (Chatham), 8-0
40: Omar McKayle (Bristol), 1-1 51: Aaron Gribben (Tottenham), 1-1 59: Dean Laing (Newcastle), 5-2 35: George Farrell (Derby), 4-0
41: Josh Quailey (Melton Mowbray), 2-2 52: Kieran Pitman (Burbage), 2-2 60: Chris Dutton (Sheffield), 4-7 36: Jordan Ringham (Nottingham), 2-0
42: Sean Anthony Turner (Liverpool), 2-0 53: Tyrone Williams (Balham), 1-1 61: Sebastian Eubank (Brighton), 2-0 37: JA Metcalfe (Barnsley), 1-0
43: David Adeleye (Ladbroke Grove), 1-0 54: Perry Howe (Sheffield), 0-0-1 62: Lewis Edmondson (Southampton), 2-0 38: Darryl Sharp (Middleton), 5-69-1
44: Matt Gordon (Tipton), 2-1-1 55: Michael Ibrahim (Harlow), 0-3 63: Tommy Samms (Doncaster), 2-0 39: Jimmy Smith (Slough), 7-2
45: Phil Williams (Swindon), 3-20-1 56: Zach Thompson (Newark), 0-4 64: Taylor McGoldrick (Belfast), 3-1 40: Robert Studzinski* (Llanelli/POL), 5-42
46: Ishmael Oladipo (Swanscombe), 1-0-1 57: Ben Croft (Leeds), 0-1 65: Johnny Ward (Chippenham), 2-0 41: Dylan Clegg (Worksop), 4-0
47: Shaun Duffy (Birmingham), 2-4 66: Shawn Hughes (Kirkby), 2-0 42: Bradley Spencer (Bedfont), 4-0
48: Karl Tierney (Liverpool), 1-0 LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT 175lbs/12st 7lbs 67: Ziggy Macauley (Croydon), 2-0 43: Jack McGann (Liverpool), 4-0-1
49: Franklin Ignatius (Ilford), 1-0 1: Callum Johnson (Boston), 18-1 68: Josh Breeden (Widnes), 1-0 44: Mitchell Preedy (Hayes), 4-2
50: Miles Willington (Grantham), 1-11 2: Anthony Yarde (Ilford), 18-1 69: Gianni Antoh* (Cambridge/ITA), 1-13 45: Eric Nwankwo* (Portsmouth/NGR), 1-7
51: Jamie Anderson (Glasgow), 1-1 3: Joshua Buatsi (Croydon), 12-0 70: Sam Horsfall (Frimley), 3-2 46: William Webber (Dunmow), 6-1
52: Colin ‘Butch’ Goldhawk (Hoddesdon), 2-9 4: Hosea Burton (Manchester), 25-1 71: Dylan Courtney (Penzance), 1-1 47: Geraint Goodridge (Port Talbot), 4-10-3
53: Dean Wingrove (Hemel Hempstead), 0-1 5: Steven Ward (Belfast), 12-2 72: Asad Riaz (Derby), 4-1 48: Jack Hutsby (Heanor), 3-0-1
54: Aidan Anderson (Dewsbury), 0-1 6: Liam Conroy (Barrow), 18-5-1 73: Dominic Felix (Northampton), 3-1-1 49: Paul Greenidge (Abbots Langley), 4-1
7: Craig Richards (Crystal Palace), 15-1-1 74: Darrell Church (Chelmsford), 7-4-1 50: Ermal Dida* (Bedford/ALB), 3-1
CRUISERWEIGHT 200lbs/14st 4lbs 8: Chad Sugden (Newark), 11-1-1 75: Kola Koyejo (Watford), 1-0 51: Harry Woods (Liverpool), 3-0
1: Lawrence Okolie (Hackney), 14-0 9: Bob Ajisafe (Leeds), 19-4 76: Wycombe King (Chester), 1-0 52: Jack Booth (Stockport), 3-0
2: Richard Riakporhe (Walworth), 11-0 10: Shakan Pitters (Solihull), 13-0 77: Lee-Adam Barnett (Catford), 1-0 53: James Heneghan (Liverpool), 3-0
3: Deion Jumah (Chelsea), 12-0 11: Lyndon Arthur (Manchester), 16-0 78: Piotr Gora* (Rutherglen/POL), 1-1 54: Darren Tarr (Houston), 2-0
4: Jack Massey (Chapel-en-le-Frith), 16-1 12: Dec Spelman (Scunthorpe), 16-3 79: Lewis van Poetsch (Lydney), 9-117-2 55: Ben Douglas (Nottingham), 2-1
5: Chris Billam-Smith (Bournemouth), 10-1 13: Kody Davies (Pontllanfraith), 10-0 80: Conor Doherty (Belfast), 1-0 56: Nathan Halton (Torquay), 3-4-1
6: Tommy McCarthy (Belfast), 16-2 14: Jake Ball (Lightwater), 13-2 81: Jordan Grant (Hamilton), 1-0 57: Julio Cesar* (Belfast/ANG), 3-4
7: Mikael Lawal* (S Bush/NGR), 12-0 15: Andre Sterling (New Cross), 10-2 82: Josh Chapman (Nottingham), 1-0 58: Luca Micheletti* (Inverness/ITA), 1-0
8: Luke Watkins (Swindon), 14-2 16: Kirk Garvey (Clapham), 12-3 83: Richard Harrison (Chessington), 4-42 59: Jack Owen (Bromley), 2-0-1
9: Craig Glover (Liverpool), 10-3 17: Miles Shinkwin (Bushey), 15-5 84: Andrei Sohterus* (Edmonton/ROU), 0-1-1 60: Sean McGlinchey (Derry), 2-2
10: Jordan Thompson (Manchester), 10-0 18: Ricky Summers (Wombourne), 17-2-1 85: Nathan Junor* (Derby/ESP), 0-7-1 61: Conor Hinds (London), 2-0


26 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

Compiled by Andy Whittle. As of January 9, 2020.
* = Not eligible to box for the British title.
Only BBBofC-licensed boxers have been included. Boxers who have been inactive for over a year have not been included.



62: Huzaifah Iqbal (Thornton Heath), 1-0 55: Robbie Chapman (Chalk Farm), 6-2 14: Navid Mansouri (Rotherham), 20-3-2 81: Anthony Manning (Birmingham), 6-1-1
63: Pete Nurdin (Bournemouth), 1-0 56: James Hawley (Bromley), 5-0 15: Harry Scarff (Derby), 8-1 82: Simon Henry (Leicester), 3-4-1
64: Ryan Bithell (Stoke), 1-0 57: Terry Conroy (Poplar), 4-0 16: Troy Williamson (Darlington), 13-0-1 83: Wes Smith (Launceston), 3-0-2
65: Mick Mills (Gillingham), 1-12-1 58: Ross Hollis (Swadlincote), 3-0 17: Jack Flatley (Bolton), 16-1-1 84: Ryan Copland (Ipswich), 3-0
66: Shaunn Watt (Brockley), 1-7-1 59: Dan Catlin (Fleetwood), 4-0 18: Jeff Saunders (Sedgefield), 13-0 85: Owen O’Neill (Belfast), 3-0
67: Genadij Krajevskij* (Liverpool/LTU), 0-9 60: Jack Carter (Portland), 3-0 19: Michael McGurk (Uddingston), 12-0 86: Ramon Perez* (Balham/USA), 3-1
68: Scott Williams (Manchester), 0-2 61: Josh Adewale (Slough), 3-0 20: Dean Richardson (South Ruislip), 11-0 87: Ricky Rowlands (Phillipstown), 3-1
69: Thomas Barrett (South Ockendon), 0-1 62: Donovan Mortlock (Chelmsford), 4-0 21: Craig Morris (Ludlow), 11-3-1 88: Jack Martin (Southminster), 2-0
70: Kearon Thomas (Walsall), 0-6-1 63: John Joyce* (IRL), 2-0 22: Sam Gilley (Walthamstow), 10-0 89: George Davey (York), 2-0
71: Scott Hillman (Eastbourne), 0-46 64: Vladimir Georgiev* (Weston/BUL), 3-0 23: Ryan Toms (Northolt), 16-17-3 90: Ryan Gall (Dundee), 2-0
72: Mac Pemhiwa* (Edinburgh/ZIM), 0-2 65: Ben Ridings (Bury), 3-0 24: Evaldas Korsakas* (Hull/LTU), 10-7-3 91: Randal Barlow (Crawley), 1-0
66: Billy Underwood (Islington), 4-0 25: Serge Ambomo* (Sheffield/CMR), 7-18-2 92: James Rayworth (Sheffield), 2-0
MIDDLEWEIGHT 160lbs/11st 6lbs 67: Jordan Blake (Ilford), 3-0 26: Denton Vassell (Manchester), 25-6 93: Neon Samuels (Watford), 1-0
1: Chris Eubank Jnr (Brighton), 29-2 68: Tashan Dwyer (Wembley), 3-0 27: Sean Robinson (Seven Kings), 10-1-1 94: Zygimantas Butkevicius* (Hull/LTU), 2-30
2: Liam Williams (Clydach Vale), 22-2-1 69: James Heneghan (Liverpool), 3-0 28: James Moorcroft (Wigan), 13-0 95: George Mitchell (St Albans), 1-0
3: Mark Heffron (Oldham), 24-1 70: Tom Cowling (Newark), 3-0 29: Hamzah Sheeraz (Gants Hill), 10-0 96: Paul Cummings (Warminster), 2-45
4: Felix Cash (Wokingham), 12-0 71: Ish O’Connor (Ipswich), 2-1 30: Ryan Kelly (Birmingham), 14-3 97: Max Mudway (Stroud), 3-0
5: Joe Mullender (Stondon Massey), 11-3 72: Kyle Hughes (Ilkeston), 2-1 31: John Brennan (Slough) 12-5-2 98: Cameron Kaihau (Doncaster), 3-0
6: Jimmy Kelly (Wythenshawe), 24-2 73: Dalton Miller (Acton), 8-9-2 32: Steven Donnelly (Ballymena), 8-0 99: Mark Taylor (Newcastle), 2-0
7: Andrew Robinson (Redditch), 24-4-1 74: Amar Kayani (Slough), 1-0 33: Lenny Fuller (Maidstone), 9-1 100: Jay Munn (Rhoose), 2-0
8: Marcus Morrison (Manchester), 22-3 75: Jordan Grannum (Islington), 5-68-2 34: Joshua Ejakpovi, (Marylebone), 13-2 101: Martin Jones (Wrexham), 2-0
9: Linus Udofia* (Luton/NGR), 15-0 76: Adam Farrell (Huyton), 2-0 35: Stefan Sanderson (Johnstone), 5-1 102: Simeon Preddie (Tooting), 2-0
10: Danny Dignum (Bowers Gifford), 12-0 77: Chavez Campbell (Wood Green), 3-1 36: Paul Kean (Dundee), 11-1 103: Callum Stuart (Macduff), 2-0
11: Conrad Cummings (Coalisland), 17-4-1 78: Kurt Grieve (Blackburn), 8-2-1 37: CJ Challenger (Broughton Astley), 10-0 104: Alex Farrell (Newcastle), 2-0
12: Alfredo Meli (Belfast), 17-0-1 79: James Costanzo (Bow), 2-0 38: Alex McCloy (Blackpool), 12-0-1 105: Mohammed Ali Malik* (Luton/PAK), 2-0
13: Derrick Osaze (Nottingham), 10-0 80: Michael Elliott (London), 2-0 39: JJ Evans (Cardiff), 9-0 106: Declan Cairns (Worksop), 2-0
14: Brad Pauls (Harlow), 14-0 81: Aaron Michael (Middleton), 5-1-1 40: Nathan Graham (Aylesbury), 20-10-1 107: Kieran Leinster (Teddington), 2-1
15: Tyler Denny (Rowley Regis), 12-2-2 82: Constantine Williams (Hackney), 2-0 41: Adrian Martin (Ingatestone), 11-1 108: Terry Maughan (Nottingham), 10-8-3
16: Grant Dennis (Chatham), 14-2 83: Josh Gooding (Nottingham), 2-0 42: Kyle Haywood (Earl Shilton), 8-1 109: Humzah Awan (Edmonton), 1-1
17: Jack Cullen (Little Lever), 17-2 84: Billy Stanbury (Barnstaple), 1-0 43: George Lamport (Farnborough), 8-0-1 110: Dale Arrowsmith (Hyde), 2-32-1
18: Denzel Bentley (Battersea), 12-0 85: Ashlee Eales (Nuneaton), 1-0 44: Jordan Cooke (Coventry), 12-2 111: Shafqat Khan (Aylesbury), 1-0
19: Tey Lynn-Jones (Grays), 11-2 86: Jack Simpson (Poole), 2-0 45: Konrad Stempkowski (Reading), 9-2 112: Brandon Stansfield (Leeds), 1-0
20: Mick Hall (Preston), 15-2 87: Chris Onwuegbusi (Peckham), 1-0 46: Danny Craven (Warrington), 7-2 113: Lewis Everson (Plymouth), 1-0
21: Marc Kerr (Glasgow), 13-2 88: Anton Wright (Manchester), 1-0 47: Chad Ellis (Spennymoor), 9-0 114: Sam Spooner (Nottingham), 1-0
22: Nathan Heaney (Stoke), 9-0 89: Tom Brennan (Burford), 1-0 48: River Wilson-Bent (Exhall), 6-0 115: Abie Tweedlie (Lesmahagow), 1-0
23: Tom Stokes (West Bromwich), 11-3 90: Kaylem Foreman (Carshalton), 2-0 49: Joe Steed (Wisbech), 6-0 116: Inder Bassi (Basildon), 1-0
24: Joe Hurn (Clacton), 10-1-1 91: Jordan Withers (Ystrad), 2-0 50: Kingsley Egbunike (Acton), 4-1 117: Kieren Joseph (Ipswich), 0-1
25: Macaulay McGowan (W'shawe), 14-0-1 92: Kevin McCauley (Brighton), 15-202-12 51: Corey McCulloch (Arbroath), 3-0 118: Saif Zahoor (Bradford), 0-4
26: Jack Kilgannon (Oldham), 10-0 93: Mohammed Sameer (P'borough), 1-0 52: Jake Whittaker (Oldham), 1-0 119: Adam Bannister (Torquay), 1-12
27: Bradley Rea (Manchester), 8-0 94: Cory Hardy (Pinxton), 1-0-1 53: William Warburton (Atherton), 26-164-10 120: Celal Ozturk (Hackney), 0-1
28: Shakiel Thompson (Sheffield), 5-0 95: Jan Ardon* (Manchester/CZE), 1-1 54: Dan Sarkozi (Bristol), 12-2 121: JJ Smith (Maidstone), 0-1
29: Aaron Sutton (Bristol), 9-0 96: Spencer Thomas (Llanelli), 0-2-1 55: Davis Pagan (Basildon), 10-2 122: Gary McGuire (Glasgow), 0-14
30: John Telford (Manchester), 11-2-1 97: Casey Blair (Bangor, N. Ireland), 5-53 56: Sean Ben Mulligan (Prestwich), 10-1
31: Lee Cutler (Bournemouth), 7-0 98: Victor Edagha* (Southwark/ITA), 2-70-3 57: Tony Bange (Wraysbury), 7-1 WELTERWEIGHT 147lbs/10st 7lbs
32: Drew Brown (Northampton), 12-0 99: Liam Griffiths (Bognor Regis), 5-86-1 58: Harley Benn (Hornchurch), 7-1 1: Amir Khan (Bolton), 34-5
33: Michael Hennessy Jnr (Sevenoaks), 3-0-1 100: David Thompson (Liverpool), 1-0 59: Lewis Syrett (Tonbridge), 7-1 2: Chris Jenkins (Garnant), 22-3-3
34: Alistair Warren (Huddersfield), 11-28-5 101: Brandon Perrin (Birmingham), 0-2 60: Sion Yaxley (Ruthin), 5-0 3: Josh Kelly (Sunderland), 10-0-1
35: John Harding Jnr (New Cross), 7-1-1 102: Phil Wright (Derby), 0-1 61: Muhammad Ali Zahid (Rochdale), 6-0 4: Conor Benn (Ilford), 16-0
36: Steven Mennell (Leeds), 9-0-1 103: Bryn Wain (Yeovil), 0-31 62: Kaan Hawes (Witham), 5-2-1 5: Liam Taylor (Middleton), 21-1-1
37: Kyle Lomotey (Leigh), 8-0 104: Karim Khan (Sheffield), 0-11 63: Ryan Amos (Nottingham), 4-0 6: Ekow Essuman (Nottingham), 13-0
38: Connor Wright (Milton Keynes), 8-0 105: Hassan Karim (Sheffield), 0-1 64: Cameron Halfpenny (Mold), 3-0-2 7: Louis Greene (Strood), 12-1
39: Trigger Wood (Dumfries), 7-0 106: Tim Ventrella (Nottingham), 0-1 65: Mitchell Frearson (Hornchurch), 4-0-1 8: Johnny Garton (Peckham), 24-2-1
40: Shaka Thompson (Birmingham), 7-0 66: Scott James (Bicester), 6-6-1 9: Tyrone Nurse (Huddersfield), 37-6-2
41: Caoimhin Agyarko (Belfast), 6-0 SUPER-WELTERWEIGHT 154lbs/11st 67: Chris Jenkinson (Bolton), 11-72-3 10: Darren Tetley (Bradford), 19-0
42: Fred Evans (Cardiff), 6-1 1: Liam Smith (Liverpool), 29-2-1 68: Kristaps Zulgis* (Basildon/LVA), 5-13-3 11: Freddy Kiwitt* (Islington/LBR), 17-3
43: Darren Codona (Guildford), 7-5-1 2: Scott Fitzgerald (Preston), 14-0 69: Said Eltuyev (Swindon), 3-0 12: Chris Kongo (Bermondsey), 11-0
44: Ishmael Davis (Leeds), 6-0 3: Ted Cheeseman (Bermondsey), 15-2-1 70: Mussab Abubaker (Birmingham), 4-0 13: Tamuka Mucha (Reading), 17-1
45: Sean Phillips (Gravesend), 6-1-1 4: Kieron Conway (Northampton), 14-1-1 71: Gerome Warburton (Colwyn Bay), 4-0 14: Paddy Gallagher (Belfast), 16-6
46: Kelcie Ball (Dordon), 10-2 5: Sam Eggington (Stourbridge), 28-6 72: Luke Kelly (Leeds), 3-0 15: Danny Ball (Kingswinford), 9-0-1
47: Danny Shannon (Chatham), 6-8-1 6: James Metcalf (Liverpool), 20-0 73: Stanley Stannard (Harby), 2-0 16: Kaisee Benjamin (Birmingham), 9-1-1
48: Owen Jobburn (Stoke), 5-6-2 7: Jason Welborn (Tividale), 24-8 74: Lloyd Germain (Cardiff), 3-0 17: Tony Dixon (Mountain Ash), 12-3
49: Craig Kelly (Paisley), 11-14-1 8: Kieran Smith (Greenrigg), 16-0 75: Danny Little (Driffield), 8-66-2 18: Adam Little (Kirkham), 19-2
50: Josh Groombridge (Uttoxeter), 7-2 9: Anthony Fowler (Liverpool), 11-1 76: Sam Omidi (Manchester), 6-26-3 19: Anthony Tomlinson (Sheffield), 11-0
51: Paul Allison (Stranraer), 6-5-1 10: John O’Donnell (Shepherd’s Bush), 33-3 77: Jordan Clayton (Solihull), 8-1-2 20: John Quigley (Liverpool), 17-2
52: Terry Tyers (Ferryhill), 5-0 11: Brian Rose (Blackpool), 31-6-1 78: Jordan Dujon (Barnet), 3-0 21: Shaquille Day (Bexley), 13-0
53: Rod Douglas Jnr (Bow), 3-4 12: Joe Pigford (Southampton), 16-0 79: Duane Green (Norwich), 6-47-7 22: Jack Rafferty (Shaw), 11-0
54: Robert Asagba (Chadwell Heath), 5-3-1 13: Willie Limond (Glasgow), 41-5 80: Ricky Heavens (Ealing), 8-1-1 23: Samuel Antwi (Stockwell), 11-1


w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 27

RANKINGS





24: Jez Smith (Harrow Weald), 11-1-1 97: Michael Green (Coventry), 5-1 7: Joe Hughes (Malmesbury), 17-5-1 80: Youssef Al Hamidi* (D'bury/SYR), 16-125-5
25: Martin Harkin (Dumbarton), 12-0 98: Harry Limburn (Eastleigh), 5-0 8: Akeem Ennis-Brown (Matson), 13-0 81: Jack Newham (Hayes), 5-1-1
26: Louis Adolphe (Wimbledon), 10-2 99: Jake Best (Poole), 6-3 9: Philip Bowes (Leytonstone), 20-3 82: Rhys Saunders (Cardiff) 3-22-1
27: Siar Ozgul* (Hackney/TUR), 15-4 100: Jack Ewbank (Ashford), 4-0 10: Sam Maxwell (Liverpool), 13-0 83: Luke Cope (Hartlepool), 3-0
28: Lewis Crocker (Belfast), 10-0 101: Alex Bishop (Luton), 3-0 11: Kay Prospere (Luton), 13-1-1 84: Eithan James (Northampton), 2-0
29: Dean Sutherland (Aberdeen), 9-0 102: Dom Hunt (Wakefield), 5-0 12: Sam O’maison (Sheffield), 16-3-1 85: Lee Whelan (Liverpool), 2-0
30: Sohail Ahmad (West Brompton), 14-1-1 103: Domenic Specchio (Kettering), 3-0 13: Sean Dodd (Birkenhead), 17-5-1 86: George Pawley (Frome), 1-0
31: Mason Cartwright (E'mere Port), 16-2-1 104: Mason Smith (Hemel Hempstead), 3-0 14: Tom Farrell (Liverpool), 17-3 87: Liam Richards (Melksham), 12-62
32: Liam Wells (Rainham), 6-1 105: Simon Bowater (Wednesbury), 5-1 15: Bilal Rehman (Rochdale), 13-1 88: Barrie Mcrorie (Wishaw), 1-1
33: Ryan Martin (Swindon), 13-2-1 106: Dan Booth (Manchester), 4-0 16: Lewis Benson (Edinburgh), 12-2 89: Ricky Rose (Chatham), 3-15-1
34: Ohio-kain Iremiren (Eltham), 4-3-2 107: Nathan Bendon (Sutton Coldfield), 3-2 17: Connor Parker (Woodville), 12-1 90: Tom Aitchison (Skelmersdale), 2-0
35: Conah Walker (Wolverhampton), 6-0-1 108: Joe Ducker (Leicester), 6-7-2 18: Darren Surtees (Thornley), 12-1 91: Bobby Woods (Uxbridge), 2-0
36: Tom Young (Leeds), 8-1 109: Anth Ornsby (Wallsend), 3-0 19: Chris Conwell (Manchester), 11-3 92: Dempsey Wale (Barnsley), 2-0
37: Stewart Burt (Glasgow), 13-1-1 110: Micky Burke (Bexley), 3-0 20: Lee Appleyard (Rotherham) 16-5-1 93: Michael Hedges (Liverpool), 2-0
38: Ally Black (Kirkintilloch), 9-5-1 111: Alex Ananivi* (Edgware/GHA), 4-1 21: Sean McComb (Belfast), 9-0 94: Jake Spring (Sittingbourne), 2-0
39: Rob Hunt (Stafford), 26-6-2 112: Owen Cooper (Worcester), 2-0 22: Ben Capps (Manchester), 17-5-2 95: Sean McKiddie (Dundee), 2-1
40: Dylan Moran (Dungarven), 11-1 113: Liam O’Reilly (Keighley), 2-0 23: Kieran Gething (Pontyool), 9-2-2 96: Mwenya Chisanga* (Chich/ZAM), 1-7-1
41: Reece MacMillan (Morecambe), 11-1 114: Bernardo Marime* (March/MOZ), 1-0 24: Eddie Doyle (Glasgow), 21-5 97: Josh Thorne (Bexleyheath), 1-15-2
42: Curtis Felix Jnr (Milton Keynes), 10-1 115: Danny Evans (Leeds), 1-0 25: Mikey Sakyi (Romford), 8-3 98: Taylor Watkins (Doncaster), 1-0
43: Billy Pickles (Leeds), 9-0 116: Fonz Alexander (Newark), 7-110 26: Adam Hague (Glossop), 16-1-2 99: Aaron Prospere (Sutton, Surrey), 1-0
44: Lewis Booth (Doncaster), 11-0 117: Michael Williams (Wigston), 2-17 27: Craig MacIntyre (Glasgow), 11-0-1 100: Jahid Munim (Luton), 1-0
45: Luke Evans (Salford), 10-0 118: Jacob Farmery (Leeds), 1-0 28: Bradley Smith (St Ives, Cambs), 9-0 101: James Verbeeten (Crawley), 1-0
46: Tommy Silcox (Tamworth), 8-0 119: Steven Backhouse (Salford), 3-12-1 29: Idris Hill* (Westcliff-on-Sea/NGR), 9-3-2 102: Paul Murphy (East Kilbride), 1-0
47: Alex Fearon (Derby), 9-1 120: Billy Jackson (Bromley), 3-0 30: Kane Gardner (Manchester), 11-1 103: Jacob Gabriel (Basingstoke), 1-0
48: Damian Kiwior* (W'hampton/POL), 6-1-1 121: Shane Medlen (Paignton), 2-3 31: Daniel Egbunike (Chessington), 6-0 104: Daryl Pearce (Birmingham), 1-7
49: Levi Ferguson (Walsall), 5-1 122: Brad Price (Swansea), 2-0 32: Billy Allington (Egham), 8-1-2 105: Reece Smith (Barking), 3-4
50: Jumanne Camero (Mitcham), 10-6 123: Danny Barrett (Stoke, Kent), 2-0 33: Omari Grant (Nottingham), 8-0 106: Gary Hughes (Stevenage), 0-1
51: O’Shane Clarke (Reading), 4-2 124: Alex Bellingham (Orpington), 3-0 34: Harlem Eubank (Brighton), 9-0 107: Lee Devine (Camden), 0-4
52: Nathan Hardy (Sheffield), 9-29-4 125: James Biddulph (Biddulph), 2-0 35: Ben Smith (High Wycombe), 9-0 108: Mohamed Mahmoud* (Plym/SUD), 0-10
53: Connor Vian (Croydon), 11-2-1 126: Ryan Watson (Ulverston), 3-1 36: Cori Gibbs (Birmingham), 13-0 109: Connor Oliver (Newbridge), 0-1
54: Jamie Robinson (Bolsover), 10-4-1 127: Connor Ward (Manchester), 2-0 37: Ahmed Mweva (Glasgow), 12-2-1
55: Maredudd Thomas (Barry), 10-0 128: Norris Thompson* (Enfield/GHA), 2-0 38: Ben Fields (Birmingham), 9-8-2 LIGHTWEIGHT 135lbs/9st 9lbs
56: Ellis Corrie (Darlington), 4-1-1 129: Ruben Campbell (Dudley), 2-0 39: Callen McAulay (Renfrew), 7-0 1: Luke Campbell (Hessle), 20-3
57: Tom Hill (Redcar), 8-1 130: Jensen Irving (Swindon), 3-0 40: Terry Wilkinson (Newcastle), 8-0 2: Lee Selby (Barry), 28-2
58: Ryan Stevenson (Doncaster), 7-0 131: Jack McKinlay (Liverpool), 1-0 41: Jimmy First (Brighouse), 9-0 3: Terry Flanagan (Manchester), 36-2
59: Sajid Abid (Derby), 8-1 132: Lee Hallett (Canning Town), 1-28 42: Sonny Price (Sheffield), 8-0 4: James Tennyson (Belfast), 26-3
60: Jake James (Manchester), 7-0 133: Jimmy Peckham (Maidstone), 1-0 43: Tion Gibbs (Birmingham), 7-0 5: Ricky Burns (Coatbridge), 43-8-1
61: Luke Fisher (Scunthorpe), 5-0 134: Henry Turner (Amersham), 1-0 44: Kaash Buttery (Stoke), 7-0 6: Liam Walsh (Cromer), 23-1
62: Sean Daly (Burntwood), 8-1 135: Clay Elmes (Bracknell), 1-0 45: Alex Florence (Ledbury), 6-0 7: Tommy Coyle (Hull), 25-5
63: Bradley Townsend (Witney), 8-0 136: Dylan Draper (Braintree), 1-40 46: Martin Taylor (Livingston), 6-1 8: Craig Evans (Blackwood), 20-3-2
64: Joe Laws (Newcastle), 8-0 137: Naheem Chaudhry (Blackburn), 2-63-1 47: James Flint (Doncaster), 7-0-1 9: Paul Hyland Jnr (Belfast), 20-2
65: Basi Razaq (Newcastle), 8-1-1 138: Darren Townley (Plymouth), 10-3 48: Darren Reay (Bedlington), 7-0-2 10: Maxi Hughes (Rossington), 19-5-2
66: Nathanael Wilson (Croydon), 8-1-1 139: Luke Middleton (Worksop), 2-9 49: Louis Isaacs (Islington), 6-0 11: Gavin Gwynne (Treharris), 12-1
67: Sahir Iqbal (Bolton), 7-0 140: Jamie Stewart (Longton), 1-0 50: Levi Kinsiona (Sheffield), 6-1 12: Myron Mills (Derby), 14-1
68: Tommy Broadbent (Leeds), 8-7 141: Dan Sabastonelli (Weston-s-Mare), 1-2 51: Nathan Bennett (Liverpool), 8-1 13: Tim Cutler (Bristol), 14-0
69: Faheem Khan* (Exeter/PAK), 14-11-2 142: MJ Hall (Brierley Hill), 2-49-2 52: Irvin Magno* (Buxton/PHL), 5-3-1 14: Michael Walsh (Cromer), 12-0
70: Nathan Weise (Thamesmead), 13-6-2 143: Carl Chadwick (Hull), 5-4 53: Andrew Fleming (Wigan), 7-1 15: Abdon Cesar* (Stockton/CMR), 4-11
71: Kyle Fox (Doncaster), 7-1 144: Bailey Donald (Portsmouth), 2-0 54: Dalton Smith (Sheffield), 4-0 16: Atif Shafiq (Rotherham), 21-3
72: Ryan Oliver (Ashton-under-Lyne), 7-1 145: Qasim Hussain (Sheffield), 4-99-2 55: Robbie Vernon (Bridgend), 5-0 17: Lance Cooksey (Rhoose), 11-0
73: Ben Eland (Ollerton), 6-1-1 146: Brooklyn Tilley (Rainham), 1-0 56: Cory O’Regan (Heckmondwike), 4-0 18: Alfie Price (Hoddesdon), 7-0
74: Aaron Collins (Fleet), 6-1 147: Jake Demmery (Bristol), 1-0 57: Liam Shinkwin (Bushey Heath), 9-1-1 19: Jeff Ofori (Tottenham), 10-1-1
75: Tom Ansell (Hitchen), 8-1 148: Elliot Whale (Sidcup), 1-0 58: Paul Thompson (Nottingham), 4-0 20: Hamed Ghaz* (Bradford/AFG), 16-0
76: Thomas Dickson (Livingston), 9-3 149: Constantin Ursu* (Plymouth/MDA), 1-0 59: Regan Glackin (Glasgow), 4-0 21: Zuhayr Al-Qahtani* (Mitcham/SAU), 8-0
77: Tony Nellins (Belfast), 5-0-1 150: Tommy Collins (Birmingham), 1-0 60: Anesu Twala* (Lewisham/ZIM), 6-1 22: Craig Woodruff (Newport), 9-5
78: Dan West (Sheffield), 5-6-2 151: Ben Demmery (Bristol), 1-0 61: Chris Adaway (Plymouth), 10-63-4 23: Jack O’Keeffe (Birmingham), 10-0
79: Rylan Charlton (Norwich), 4-0-1 152: Richard Samuels (T Heath), 1-10 62: Matthew Rennie (Isle of Man), 4-0-1 24: Gerard Carroll (Liverpool), 11-1
80: Justin Menzie (Barling), 5-4-1 153: Alec Bazza (Belfast), 0-47-3 63: Khaleel Majid (Bolton), 5-0 25: Liam Berrisford (Stoke), 5-0
81: Neil Parry (Canterbury), 6-1-1 154: Paul Scaife (Sheffield), 0-3 64: Ellis Blake (Tamworth), 4-0 26: Jordan Ellison (Seaham), 11-27-2
82: Callum Blockley (Leicester), 6-0 155: Sergio Gugliotta (Lincoln), 0-5 65: Luke Gibb (Maidstone), 5-1 27: Colin Day (Skelmersdale), 6-1-1
83: Jake Tinklin (Risca), 5-0 156: Paul Ducie (Blackwood), 0-16 66: Simon Corcoran (Wembley), 4-0 28: Matty Fagan (Ellesmere Port), 13-4
84: Yaser Al-Ghena (Finchley), 4-0 157: Jay Platt (Liverpool), 0-1 67: Jonathan Walsh (Liverpool), 3-0 29: Steve Brogan (Skelmersdale), 14-2-2
85: Alan Ratibb (Colchester), 8-2 158: Michael Likalu* (Tottenham/COD), 0-1 68: Nathan Farrell-Mather (Middleton), 3-0 30: Shaun Cooper (Willenhall), 9-1
86: Ismail Anwar (Huddersfield), 6-13 159: Carl Turney (Bognor Regis), 0-11 69: Kildare Ward (Middleton), 3-0 31: Henry Janes (Cardiff), 13-24-3
87: Lee Gunter (Cannock), 4-10 160: Ilias Liokaftos* (Guildford/GRE), 0-3 70: Alex Jones (Tiverton), 3-0 32: Boy Jones (Chingford), 18-3-1
88: Harry Webb (Clyst Honiton), 6-1 161: Martyn Rowland (Sheffield), 0-1 71: Jimmy Cooper (Totton), 8-1-1 33: Lucas Ballingall (Portsmouth), 13-0
89: Des Newton (Bere Alston), 8-12 72: Atal Khan (Stoke), 2-0 34: Kieran McLaren (Stoke), 12-1-1
90: Sam Jones (Bournemouth), 6-3 SUPER-LIGHTWEIGHT 140lbs/10st 73: Ibrar Riyaz (Reading), 6-174-4 35: Kane Baker (Birmingham), 12-6
91: Dan Morley (Epsom), 6-0 1: Josh Taylor (Prestonpans), 16-0 74: Angelo Bevilacqua* (Haringey/ITA), 5-1 36: Ishmael Ellis (Birmingham), 11-2
92: Liam Goddard (Norwich), 6-0 2: Lewis Ritson (Forest Hall), 20-1 75: Denis Denikajev* (Barking/LTU), 5-0-1 37: Lee Glover (Tipton), 11-4
93: Joe Hill (Redcar), 4-0 3: Jack Catterall (Chorley), 25-0 76: Jacob Lovell (Swansea), 2-0 38: Scott Moises (Aylsham), 10-11-3
94: Micky Mills (Bedford), 5-0 4: Robbie Davies Jnr (Kirkby), 19-2 77: Kris Pilkington (Gateshead), 2-5-1 39: Justin Newell (Leeds), 12-0
95: Connor Lynch (Middleton), 5-0 5: Ohara Davies (Hackney), 20-2 78: Michael Mooney (Worcester), 9-72-2 40: Joe Fitzpatrick (Belfast), 10-0
96: Regis Sugden (Newark), 5-0 6: Stephen Smith (Liverpool), 28-4 79: Brad Thomas (Birmingham), 0-0-2 41: Jay Hughes (Trimdon), 8-0


28 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

42: Calvin McCord (Ayr), 8-0 1: Carl Frampton (Belfast), 27-2 6: Leigh Wood (Gedling), 23-1 12: Josh Kennedy (Folkestone), 11-2
43: Marek Laskowski* (A'deen/POL), 9-10-2 2: Joe Cordina (Cardiff), 11-0 7: Jordan Gill (Chatteris), 24-1 13: Billy Stuart (Macduff), 10-0
44: Dean Dodge (Yeovil), 8-0-1 3: Martin J. Ward (Brentwood), 23-1-2 8: James ‘Jazza’ Dickens (Liverpool), 28-3 14: Ryan Walker (Newham), 11-1
45: John Green (Middlesbrough), 7-2-1 4: Anthony Cacace (Belfast), 18-1 9: Lee Haskins (Bristol), 36-4 15: Shabaz Masoud (Stoke), 7-0
46: Garry Neale (Portsmouth), 10-1 5: Sam Bowen (Ibstock), 15-1 10: Ryan Doyle (Manchester), 18-4-1 16: Brad Watson (Guernsey), 12-3
47: Ciaran McVarnock (Belfast), 10-0-1 6: Archie Sharp (Welling), 18-0 11: Reece Bellotti (Watford), 14-3 17: Chris Bourke (Streatham), 6-0
48: Daniel Khan (Loughton), 10-0 7: Marco McCullough (Belfast), 22-4 12: Lewis Paulin (Edinburgh), 12-1 18: Tom McGinley (Chelmsford), 6-2
49: Jake Bulger (Failsworth), 10-0 8: Zelfa Barrett (Manchester), 23-1 13: Reece Mould (Doncaster), 13-0 19: Martin Hillman (Orpington), 13-6
50: Sean Davis (Birmingham), 14-11 9: Alex Dilmaghani (Crayford), 19-1-1 14: Josh Wale (Barnsley), 30-1-2 20: Liam Davies (Telford), 6-0
51: Levi Giles (Grimsby), 8-0 10: Lyon Woodstock (Leicester), 12-2 15: Zahid Hussain (Leeds), 15-1 21: Louis Norman (Shepshed), 14-8-1
52: Jerome Campbell (Kingsbury), 6-0 11: Muheeb Fazeldin* (Sheff/YEM), 13-0-1 16: Raza Hamza (Birmingham), 14-0-1 22: Scott McCormack (Glasgow), 7-7-1
53: Tyler Davies (Bristol), 7-0 12: Jordan McCorry (Cambuslang), 18-7-1 17: Osman Aslam (Bolton), 14-0
23: Piotr Mirga* (Westcliff/POL), 5-1
54: Martin McDonagh (Isle of Sheppey), 7-1 13: Nick Ball (Liverpool), 11-0 18: James Beech Jnr (Bloxwich), 12-0
24: Lee Clayton (Heywood), 10-4
55: Nathan Kirk (Nottingham), 12-5 14: Michael Ramabeletsa* (P'ton/RSA), 18-17 19: Stephen Tiffney (Newtongrange), 10-2
25: Brad Strand (Liverpool), 2-0
56: Sean Fennell (Manchester), 6-0 15: Zeeshan Khan (Bradford), 9-0 20: Indi Sangha (Birmingham), 9-1-1
26: Arran McGarvie (Dailly), 2-0
57: Kyle Scully (Halifax), 6-0 16: Youssef Khoumari (Wembley), 10-0-1 21: Ramez Mahmood (Ilford), 10-0
27: Luke Pearson (Redhill), 2-0
58: Cole Johnson (Stoke), 5-0 17: Liam Dillon (Chingford), 9-0-1 22: Ross Cooksey (Barrow), 8-0
28: Matt Craddock (Birmingham), 2-0
59: Lewis Sylvester (Hull), 5-0 18: DP Carr (Sidcup), 11-0-1 23: Razaq Najib (Sheffield), 11-4 29: Ibrahim Nadim (Keighley), 1-0
60: Mark Chamberlain (Portsmouth), 5-0 19: Rhys Edwards (Tonypandy), 9-0 24: Jacob Robinson (Cardiff), 7-0
61: Jamie Chamberlain (Portsmouth), 3-0 20: Joe Eko (Oldham), 7-1 25: Gelasius Taaru (Reading), 7-0 30: Adam Hutchinson (Darlington), 2-7
62: Mo Gharib (Islington), 6-1 21: Lewis Adams (Basildon), 8-1 26: Jake Pettitt (Erith), 6-0
63: Dean Evans (Hereford), 8-34-3 22: Connor Coghill (Hull), 7-0 27: Brad Daws (Nottingham), 6-0 BANTAMWEIGHT 118lbs/8st 6lbs
64: Courtney Chadwick (Warrington), 4-0 23: Michael Gomez Jnr (Manchester), 11-1 28: Nathaniel Collins (Hamilton), 6-0 1: Paul Butler (Ellesmere Port), 31-2
2: Andrew Selby (Barry), 13-1
65: Meshech Speare (Liverpool), 5-0 24: Andre Grant (Farnborough), 7-0 29: Monty Ogilvie (Killin), 9-1
3: Lee McGregor (Edinburgh), 8-0
66: Conner Downs (Northampton), 2-0 25: Ryan Wheeler (Frome), 15-1-1 30: Jack Daniel (Leeds), 6-0
4: Ukashir Farooq (Glasgow), 13-1
67: Harry Fryer (Leeds), 2-0 26: Kristian Touze (Swansea), 9-0-2 31: Jack Hillier (Southampton), 7-0
5: Marc Leach (Salford), 14-1-1
68: Lee Connelly (Killamarsh), 7-54-3 27: Artif Ali (Accrington), 14-3 32: Craig Morgan (Kelty), 7-0
69: Les Byfield (Dudley), 10-1-1 28: Dennis Wahome (Northolt), 7-0 33: Fuaad Husseen (Hayes), 7-0 6: Iain Butcher (Motherwell), 19-4
70: David Birmingham (Portsmouth), 9-6 29: Angelo Dragone (Carmarthen), 5-1 34: Brian Phillips (Liverpool), 8-1 7: Kyle Williams (Wolverhampton), 11-2
71: Connor Lee Jones (Dudley), 5-0 30: Louis Fielding (Tamworth), 9-6 35: Omar Dusary* (Blackburn/KUW), 7-1-1 8: Thomas Essomba* (Ryhope/CMR), 10-5
72: Delmar Thomas (Nottingham), 4-0 31: Amin Jahanzeb (Bradford), 6-0 36: Louie Lynn (Banstead), 5-0 9: Sean McGoldrick (Newport), 9-1
73: Jacob Quinn (Huddersfield), 4-0 32: Josh Baillie (Tamworth), 6-6 37: Jack Raines (Sittingbourne), 6-0 10: Duane Winters (Bristol), 11-2
74: Bradley Haxell (Maidstone), 4-0 33: Leo D’Erlanger (Banbury), 9-3-3 38: Liam Gaynor* (Bolton/IRL), 5-0 11: Scott Allan (Shotts), 9-5-1
75: Owen Blunden (Norwich), 4-0 34: Chris Lawrence (Maidstone), 10-2 39: Brett Fidoe (Evesham), 13-58-5 12: Gary Rae (Barrhead), 10-1
76: Lewis Smith (Basildon), 4-0 35: Frank Arnold (Hackney), 6-0-1 40: Kane Salvin (Sheffield), 5-0 13: Dennis McCann (Maidstone), 5-0
77: Aqib Fiaz (Oldham), 4-0 36: George Brennan (Altrincham), 10-3-1 41: Luke Jones (Chasetown), 6-3-1 14: Sam Cox (Islington), 5-0
78: Josh Holmes (Earby), 4-0 37: Jonny Phillips (Camberley), 5-3 42: Andrew Cain (Liverpool), 4-0 15: Ryan Gibbons (Hull), 4-0
79: Mohammed Bilal Ali (Beckton), 4-0 38: Joe Underwood Hughes (Nott), 3-0 43: Jack Budge (Lambourn), 4-1 16: Reece McFadden (Motherwell), 4-0
80: Chris Ogbonson (Leeds), 3-0 39: Brandon Ball (Rochester), 6-1 44: Jack Hughes (Greenford), 6-2 17: Paul Roberts (Chard), 2-2-1
81: Andrew Smart (Elgin), 3-0 40: Sufyaan Ahmed (Sheffield), 4-0 45: Cam Shaw (York), 4-0 18: Connor Edney (Portsmouth), 1-0
82: Charles Frankham (Crowtree), 2-0 41: Diamond Oginni (Greenwich), 3-0 46: Sean Cairns (Liverpool), 6-2
83: Dylan Evans (Manchester), 3-0 42: Marcus Hodgson (Launceston), 3-0-1 47: Aaron Sinclair (Maidenhead), 4-0 SUPER-FLYWEIGHT 115lbs/8st 3lbs
84: Sean Gerard Duffy (Keady), 3-0 43: Donte Dixon (Sheffield), 2-0 48: Ismail Khan (Leeds), 3-0 1: Kal Yafai (Birmingham), 26-0
85: Connor Marsden (Chelsea), 3-1 44: Lewis Coley (Birmingham), 2-0 49: Ivan ‘Hopey’ Price (Leeds), 2-0 2: Sunny Edwards (Croydon), 14-0
86: Jamie Speight (Kingsteignton), 15-45 45: Andy Tham (Cumbernauld), 2-0 50: Aaron Hayden (Rawtenstall), 3-0 3: Ryan Farrag (Liverpool), 20-4
87: Keanan Wainwright (Sheffield), 3-1 46: Mark Butler (Brighton), 2-0 51: Mohammed Aziz (Bedford), 3-0 4: Quaise Khademi* (East Ham/AFG), 8-0
88: Stu Greener (Bath), 1-3 47: John Dring (Liverpool), 2-0 52: Ricky Starkey (Liverpool), 2-17-2 5: Marcel Braithwaite (Liverpool), 9-2
89: Clayton Bricknell (W'hampton), 2-2-1 48: Jamie Whelan (Thamesmead), 2-0 53: Connor Adaway (Plymouth), 1-0 6: Craig Derbyshire (Bentley), 7-28-3
90: Mathew Fitzsimons (West Belfast), 4-1 49: David White Jnr (Cardiff), 3-1-1 54: Joshua John (Port Talbot), 2-0
7: Nathan Reeve (Northampton), 12-3
91: Josh Padley (Doncaster), 3-0 50: Sam Larkin (Colne), 2-1 55: Jules Phillips (Islington), 2-24 8: Ricky Little (Southampton), 5-2-1
92: Jack Roberts (Doncaster), 3-0 51: Alireza Ghadiri* (Maida Vale/IRN), 2-0 56: Ricky Leach (Westbrook), 3-50-1
9: Connor Butler (Liverpool), 3-0-1
93: Sam Noakes (Maidstone), 2-0 52: Connor Burton (Manchester), 2-0 57: Jack Turner (Glasgow), 2-0
10: Blane Hyland (Liverpool), 2-0
94: Marcos Molloy (Liverpool), 2-0 53: Zak Miller (Ashton-under-Lyne), 2-0 58: Jeff Nesham (Gateshead), 2-0
11: Liam Dring (North Wingfield), 2-0
95: Joe Kavanagh (Liverpool), 3-0 54: Jordan Yates (Batley), 1-0 59: Mark McKeown (Coatbridge), 1-0
12: Oliver Simpson (Leeds), 1-0
96: Joseph Butler (Portsmouth), 2-0 55: Luke Fash (Hull), 2-58-2 60: Aadam Hussein (High Wycombe), 1-0
13: Steven Maguire (Middleton), 0-20-1
97: Jamie Quinn (Stockport), 7-98-2 56: Conner Short (Nottingham), 1-0 61: James McCann (Leeds), 1-0

98: Tony Vincent (Virginia Water), 2-0 57: Nathan Owen (Sheffield), 1-0 62: Jake Pollard (Bradford), 0-16
FLYWEIGHT 112lbs/8st
99: Kane Cantell (Hampton Court), 1-0 58: Max Brown (Chelmsford), 1-0 63: Steven White (Plymouth), 0-1
1: Charlie Edwards (Croydon), 15-1
100: Andy Harris (Gloucester), 3-73-1 59: Waqas Mohammed (Birmingham), 2-5-1 64: Lee Stevens (Newton Aycliffe), 0-2
101: Anton Haskins (Bristol), 1-0 60: Zeki Hussein (Gillingham), 1-1 65: Nabil Ahmed (Batley), 0-7 2: Jay Harris (Swansea), 17-0
3: Tommy Frank (Sheffield), 13-0
102: Gary Ducie (Glasgow), 1-0 61: Joe Beeden (Swindon), 2-74-1
103: Greg McGuinness (Ramsbottom), 1-0 62: Taka Bembere* (Oldham/ZIM), 1-15 SUPER-BANTAMWEIGHT 122lbs/8st 10lbs 4: Kyle Yousaf (Sheffield), 16-0
104: Jordan Flynn (Oxford), 1-0 63: Uzzy Ahmed (Birmingham), 0-3-1 1: Gavin McDonnell (Doncaster), 22-2-2 5: Ross Murray (Glasgow), 10-2
105: Kashif Khan (Walsall), 1-0 64: Edward Bjorklund* (L'sham/SWE), 1-33-1 2: Gamal Yafai (Birmingham), 17-1 6: Joe Maphosa (Thornaby), 9-0
106: James Roberts (Blackburn), 1-0 65: Robbie Forster (Caerphilly), 0-11 3: Thomas Patrick Ward (W Rainton), 29-0 7: Harvey Horn (Chigwell), 8-0
107: Daniel Alder (Thamesmead), 1-6 66: Kieran Holman (Sheffield), 0-6 4: Brad Foster (Lichfield), 11-0-2 8: Ijaz Ahmed (Birmingham), 7-2
108: Dean Jones (Telford), 1-23 5: Lucien Reid (West Ham), 8-0-2 9: David Seymour (Coventry), 8-1
109: Stephen Webb (Belfast), 1-1 FEATHERWEIGHT 126lbs/9st 6: Tyrone McCullagh (Derry), 14-0 10: Sheldon Purdy* (Leicester/ZIM), 5-1
110: Ben Bartlett (Dingwall), 1-0 1: Josh Warrington (Leeds), 30-0 7: Jason Cunningham (Doncaster), 27-6 11: Matt Windle (Birmingham), 5-3-1
111: Michael Horabin (Mottram), 2-13 2: Kid Galahad (Sheffield), 26-1 8: Qais Ashfaq (Leeds), 8-0 12: Neil McCubbin (Drongan), 5-0
112: RE Walsh (Slough), 0-1 3: Jamie McDonnell (Doncaster), 30-3-1 9: Ashley Lane (Bristol), 14-9-1-2 13: Benn Norman (Shepshed), 2-0
4: Ryan Walsh (Cromer), 25-2-2 10: Joe Ham (Glasgow), 16-2 14: Reiss Taylor (Birmingham), 2-5
SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT 130lbs/9st 4lbs 5: Isaac Lowe (Morecambe), 19-0-3 11: Jack Bateson (Leeds), 11-0 15: Blessed Sithole* (Margate/ZIM), 0-1
w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 29

DURÁN




























Declan Warrington ventures to Panama to watch Joshua-Ruiz II with a living legend

R OBERTO DURAN is sat barefoot, Alexander Povetkin-Michael Hunter would
have needed to return to the kitchen to hear
on the edge of a modest sofa
in his living room, surrounded
them. Until the main event BN, unable to
follow the Spanish being spoken by all, has
at any one point by 21 relatives
and friends and awaiting the
little understanding of what is being said
start of the rematch between
Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz if it does not involve hands being thrown
to demonstrate the need for increased
Jnr. So infectious and audible speed or work ethic, except when
is his enthusiasm he remains the centre of attention hearing the name “Luis Pabon” reveals
– even during what might have been the most that Ruiz-Joshua II is being broken down
significant fight of the year. before its opening bell.
Boxing News, after fearing having arrived at the It is a home, and indeed a room, that
wrong front door in Panama City given the ease absorbs visitors. One of the younger
with which it could be approached by anyone of those, Umberto, upon Duran’s
tempted to reach perhaps its most famous ROBERTO orders brings BN some of the fish
resident and then experiencing how long +DURAN+ he had just cooked in the kitchen
it took for someone inside to open it, and, as soon as he also offers cutlery,
immediately understood the delay upon KICKS BACK WITH Duran takes that cutlery out of reach
entering. If grander, flashier and colder before declaring, in one of his occasional
properties can be found elsewhere within forays into English, “In Panama we eat
the city, at that point none of them would with our hands”.
have been louder. Recognising someone on the significant
The two televisions – the bill in Riyadh is also television screen on the opposite wall, he
on in the kitchen for those watching with less interest, shouts “mother f**ker” before continuing to laugh
including Duran’s wife Felicidad – are turned up to a and joke in Spanish with his guests and then
volume that feels similar to that experienced when vigorously slapping BN – who he insists sits next to
first entering a cinema screening. If during the quieter him on that same sofa – on the back and asking “You
moments that volume initially seemed excessive, okay, brother?”. There’s no disguising his excitement:
once in the living room that rarely felt the case. The At his guests, which include his grandchildren playing
instantly recognisable 68-year-old is as animated on the floor; at the prospect of watching a live fight;
as those communicating incessantly around him above all else at having so many he can interact
– often as much with their hands as their mouths, with in his role as host.
and in smaller groups – drowning out not only the “Let’s get ready to rumble,” he shouts,
commentary but much of the wider scene. comfortably before Michael Buffer. If
Any interested in recording the scores for his bulldog, sleeping lazily outside,


w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t
30 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

H ✁





















LIVING LEGEND:
Duran remains happy
and healthy many
years after his
ighting peak
Photo:
TAYLOR JEWELL/INVISION/AP/
SHUTTERSTOCK





























were in the
same room by that
point it’d have been
at its owners’ feet, wagging
its tail and relishing his building excitement.
“I like Ruiz on points,” he informs BN, before
adding: “I also sympathise more with him. I
always back the Latin fighter.” It is when the
defending champion is walking to the ring that
Duran’s eldest son, also called Roberto and a
trainer in Panama City, leaps off of his stool to
imitate a stiff, immobile fighter, and there is little
doubt it is Joshua he is referencing.
“Ah-viva Mexico,” shouts Duran senior before
clapping, more quietly reminding BN, “He’s
a Mexican-American”, and then needlessly
apologising for his English. It remains so
raucous, and everyone is so animated, that
there’s no chance of truly focusing before
the fight’s conclusion. When Ruiz suffers a
cut over his left eye in the opening round,
Duran makes sure his English guest is
aware. “Gash”, he says. There is also
movement between rounds when ➤


w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 l BOXING NEWS l 31
w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

DURAN FINISHES A CAN
OF PANAMANIAN BEER
AND CRUSHES IT IN HIS
HAND BEFORE OPENING
ANOTHER
































HOME SWEET HOME:
Surrounded by friends
and family, Duran
happily sits on his sofa
in his living room





























TREASURE ➤ some of his 21 guests either sit elsewhere to talk approval, and a further explanation for the sake of
TROVE: to another of those present, or move to discuss what BN. “Bolo punch; very good.”
Souvenirs and
silverware they have so far seen. At no point, however, is there “The black man is nervous. The fat boy is strong.”
from Duran’s any chance of Duran moving from what is clearly his Again, Duran laughs that most liberal of laughs. “No
career are favoured seat – the one he occupies regardless of heart.” If that is the harshest of observations, it is
dotted all over whether he has visitors. also relatively consistent with those retired fighters
the house
The perception that Ruiz had a successful fourth often make. They can view a fight or a fighter through
– the closer rounds are significantly harder to judge the prism of what they once were, and therefore
than they would be even at an atmospheric arena consider the solution to be something they – but
– meant that its conclusion is celebrated. The then- not necessarily the relevant fighter – once excelled
champion then punching his challenger on the back at doing. Realistically neither Joshua nor Ruiz are
of the head as it unfolded was also met with Duran’s capable of doing much one of the very finest fighters


32 l BOXING NEWS l JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

in history once could, but that he is the one judging
them means that there is little they can do to avoid
their heart and desire coming under greater scrutiny
than anything else.
By that same token there are no complaints in
Ruiz’s favour about the size of the ring – or indeed
about the fight being staged where it is. When in the
seventh – before which further guests arrive – Ruiz
again attempted to fight dirtily, “The Hands of Stone”
again laughed his approval before insisting on again
bumping fists with BN, as he has already on multiple
occasions. It’s enough, simply, to be a new face,
and to also have an interest in the sport he once so
memorably graced.
Finishing a can of Panamanian beer, he routinely
crushes it in his hands before tossing it on to the
coffee table in front of him and opening another.
With more than a hint of mischief he then demands
his friend Jose swaps seats with another also sat on
the same sofa, so that he can translate. BN is quickly
informed that Duran wants to repeat that Joshua’s “a
big chicken”.
In case Jose hasn’t made it clear enough, Duran
then adds “Ingles”. “Ruiz’s corner is no good. He’s
not too small. He needs to be smart,” he adds, via
his translator. Easier for Duran than perhaps any
other, but, unquestionably, ultimately accurate. At
the same time, while he is contributing to a separate
conversation, the dissatisfied Roberto Jnr again leaves
his stool to demonstrate a combination he believes
would succeed. visiting the room where so many keepsakes from WHERE IT BEGAN:
It is at the end of the 10th that his father concludes one of the finest careers of all time are retained. The site where
that Ruiz has already lost, and he therefore again Among the numerous fight posters, gloves, belts and Duran was born
and raised
seeks to entertain. He explains to BN that one of his shorts are some traditional scales, a photo of Nelson
guests, sat on a further stool to his left, is a dominoes Mandela, memorabilia from Rocky and, unexpectedly,
champion; Umberto, who has largely stood in the a British police hat and a photo of Sean Connery as
corner to Roberto Snr’s left, is then asked to show the James Bond – suggesting a potential fondness for the
photos on his phone of the four members of an older UK.
generation of the Duran family – another is called Jose similarly insists on offering BN a lift via a brief
Roberto – who fought in the army for the US. tour of where his friend “El Cholo” was born
Beyond his “family” – the description and raised – no more than 15 minutes’ drive
given to all of those, even those who are from his modern-day home, in the slums of
not relatives, who evidently routinely visit El Chorrillo and walking distance from the
the Duran household for the Panama canal. If his description
occasion of a big fight – he also of the area as a “red zone” evokes
keeps a baseball cap, a bottle THE BLACK MAN visions of prostitution, he almost
of local spirit and an unusual immediately clarifies that it simply
number of television controllers IS NERVOUS... means El Chorrillo is particularly
within reach, something that unsafe; the only reason he feels
becomes apparent when the THE FAT BOY comfortable risking the visit is
11th and 12th pass with little IS STRONG... because the combination of it
incident, reflecting his declining remaining light with the next
interest in the fight as a contest JOSHUA IS A day’s Mother’s Day celebrations
and in supporting Ruiz. Even and the bank holiday that follows
within a crowd that approved of BIG CHICKEN... it guarantees a less menacing
Ruiz’s performance more than I ALWAYS BACK mood.
most, and to the extent that it Pulling up outside of a once-
threatened to resemble a more THE LATIN white, now-derelict-and-listless
competitive fight, the final bell building with an open doorway,
is acknowledged only by the FIGHTER” he confirms with one of the two
majority of those watching almost middle-aged men standing and
immediately preparing to leave. chatting within that doorway
Within minutes the sound on the television has that he has, indeed, found the property he intended.
been reduced, the channel has been changed, and A further, older man is sat to the right of them on a
the less patient guests have already left. Duran plastic chair and next to a plastic crate, watching the
remains in his favoured seat; encouraging him to world pass.
remain there – not that encouragement were needed It is in that very same building that one of the
– is a sign of respect for the decorated head of the world’s finest, and most celebrated, fighters was
house. Significantly, those that remain and who have born, and most likely on those pavements or the
adopted new seats are of the same generation – his street corner just yards away where his first punches
longest-serving friends. were thrown. Sixty-eight years later, unusually and
Before BN can leave but after a fist bump is encouragingly he shows few signs of what could have
replaced by the warmest of handshakes and followed been so taxing a career and lifestyle – his charisma
with a hug from Duran’s wife “Fula”, Jose insists on entirely intact, despite everything he once gave. bn


w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 33

ACTION






+++++ OUTSTANDING ++++ GOOD +++ FAIR ++ DISAPPOINTING + RUBBISH

Reporters’ star ratings for main events and undercards are based on in-ring entertainment, competitiveness and whether overall expectation was met
Photo: ED MULHOLLAND/MATCHROOM
Chavez has poked fun at boxing
SEASONAL
RESULTS for too long, writes Matt Christie BLOODIED:
Chavez will
soon want
O RICHARD no more
RIAKPORHE dropped PHOENIX,AZ
Derbyshire’s Jack DECEMBER 20
Massey in the 12th
and final round
to secure a points + MAIN EVENT
victory (115-113 +++ UNDERCARD
twice and 117-111)
and the vacant JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JNR opting to wear
British cruiserweight yellow boots, blue shorts and matching
title inside York Hall hair was the only brave decision he made
on December 19.
in Phoenix. Such garishness made him hard
O ON the same to miss as Daniel Jacobs out-landed the
bill, there were Mexican and short-changed fans pelted
also victories for him with food and beer as he scurried to
welterweight Luther the changing room after he suddenly quit
Clay over Freddy before the sixth round.
Kiwitt (ud 10), Comparisons were drawn with the fate
super-welterweight his father suffered in the same Resort CLOSE THE DOOR
Kieron Conway Arena in the aftermath: In 2005, the then-
(who outpointed
Craig O’Brien over 43-year-old called time on his career after
five rounds of his bout with Grover Wiley.
10) while light- start and finish with their bloodline; Senior ON YOUR WAY OUT
heavyweight Craig But any link between the Chavezes should
Richards was forced
to settle for an eight- crafted a Hall of Fame career long before
round draw against realising he didn’t have the tools or hunger this kind of outing? No, those who should He bullied Rosales to the ropes and
Chad Sugden. anymore whereas Junior has greedily be held accountable are the promoters – plunged a right hand and left hook into his
feasted on his father’s reputation ever Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn is just the latest man. Defenceless and victory long beyond
O TWO days later since. Senior shaking his head in disgust at in a long line – who clutch at straws by him, Rosales was rescued by referee Raul
in Ontario, CA,
Jermell Charlo ringside should be the final act of his son’s selling Chavez Jnr as a viable attraction and Caiz Jnr at 1-19 of the session. Swansea’s
regained his WBC perennial con job. ensure the fans are pulling the shortest unbeaten Jay Harris is next for Martinez in
super-welterweight The story of this bout was among 2019’s straw of all by paying for such nonsense. Frisco on February 29. The Welshman faces
title when he gained worst. Chavez – who had done zero to In fairness, the undercard was better. a gargantuan mission.
revenge over Tony merit this multi-million-dollar opportunity Mexico’s Julio Cesar Martinez underlined There were useful victories for two
Harrison, stopping – refused to oblige when the Voluntary his potential when he overran Nicaraguan British fighters. Liverpool’s Liam Smith
him in round 11. On Anti-Doping Association (VADA) requested Cristofer Rosales in nine rounds to win closed his solid 2019 campaign at 3-0
the undercard in a a sample from him in October. It resulted the vacant WBC flyweight title. when he outpointed veteran Roberto
light-heavyweight in the fight being moved from Las Vegas to Martinez courted controversy in 2019. In Garcia over 10 rounds (scores were 99-91
bout, Andre Dirrell
returned after a Phoenix and a Nevada judge only granting August he struck the fallen Charlie Edwards twice and 98-92). Weighing 159 3/4lbs
21-month lay-off to the suspended fighter an injunction and the announced third round KO was for the second successive bout, Smith
halt Juan Ubaldo four days before the contest. The farce immediately changed to a no-contest by – who has only lost to Canelo Alvarez
Cabrera in five snowballed at the weigh-in when Chavez the watching WBC president Mauricio and Jaime Munguia – again showed
rounds. turned up five pounds over the 168lb Sulaiman. The ordered rematch came to off his considerable class to stifle the
super-middleweight limit. He would lose nothing when Edwards – then WBC 112lb effectiveness of his opponent. With the
O ON December $1m from his purse; chump change when champ – announced his intention to move right opportunity, Smith can claim a major
23, in Yokohama, compared to what he’s fleeced from the up in weight. The Mexican’s positive test belt in 2020.
Japan, Ryota Murata industry in recent years. for clenbuterol also disappeared when the Josh Kelly was criticised in June
capped a fine 2019
when he defeated For the sake of balance, we should WBC declared they were bringing their when he was held to a draw by the wily
Steven Butler via mention that Chavez had been battling rules in line with new World Anti-Doping “New” Ray Robinson on the Andy Ruiz
fifth-round stoppage solidly before his surrender, but that Agency (WADA) guidelines regarding the Jnr-Anthony Joshua undercard in New
in a middleweight admission only makes the ending even fat-stripping drug: Due its widespread use York. The Sunderland man claimed to
bout scheduled for worse. We should also highlight his in Mexican and Chinese livestock, athletes have banked valuable lessons from the
12. Moruti Mthalane reasons for quitting – he claimed he was from those countries with small traces experience but there was evidence during
successfully struggling to breathe after taking headbutts of clenbuterol in their system can claim a points win over Wiston Campos that
defended his IBF and elbows – contradicted the official innocence due to accidental ingestion. his hands-down style needs further work.
flyweight strap when announcement of a broken hand. Trainer But Martinez ended the year on a high A last round knockdown cemented Kelly’s
Akira Yaegashi
was thwarted in the Freddie Roach, who need not be criticised with victory over Rosales. The underdog victory – he won unanimously via two
ninth, and WBC light- for jumping on the money wagon, backed had some success when he rallied in the scores of 99-90 and a third of 98-91 – but
flyweight boss Ken up his fighter’s story of a broken nose. eighth, briefly stemming the tidal wave projected next rival, rapidly improving
Shiro blasted out Jacobs, who boxed competently, doesn’t of power punches that had come his European welterweight boss David
Randy Petalcorin merit any criticism either. Who can knock a way from the start. It only encouraged Avenesyan, might prove a step too far
in four. fighter for accepting millions of dollars for Martinez to find a new gear in the ninth. at this stage.


34 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

ACTION





CHRISTMAS FEAST SEASONAL
RESULTS

O GERVONTA DAVIS’
Photo: ACTION IMAGES/PETER CZIBORRA move to lightweight
Dubois chews up the hapless was designed to
Fujimoto but his progress in MISMATCH: ease the struggles
Dubois thunders he’d endured on
2019 was impressive into Fujimoto the scales at super-
featherweight. But
before he fought
HACKNEY WICK Yuriorkis Gamboa
in Atlanta, it was
DECEMBER 21
the same old story.
He came in above
++ MAIN EVENT the divisional limit
+++ UNDERCARD but the WBA, who
had kindly created
FIFTEEN seconds were on the clock when it a nonsensical belt
became apparent that Kyotaro Fujimoto for him to fight for,
was woefully out of his depth. Suitably gave him an extra
encouraged he could land cleanly, Daniel two hours to get to
135lbs. Gamboa,
Dubois dispensed with the feeling out 38, showed flashes
process and scored with a jab that almost of his peak but was
dropped the Japanese fighter. ultimately dropped
Fifty seconds had elapsed when Dubois’ three times and
right hand scored for the first time. stopped in the 12th.
The flapping and wide-open Fujimoto to go far. What he needs now are rounds. Braithwaite, although he had to survive a
swallowed it whole, the effect racing down Tough and taxing rounds. Rounds that are brief scare. O THE December 28
to his legs before he regained control just not effectively over as soon as they begin. Regarded as one of the top prospects in undercard was not
before they collapsed. Despite the by now Joe Joyce is reportedly in negotiations as a the lighter weight classes, Edwards worked without controversy,
either. Badou Jack
obvious danger signs, the huge underdog potential opponent and that, already, is one effectively from range in a competitive looked to have done
– as much as 33/1 in some markets – of the must-see events of the year. opener. Braithwaite, though, managed more than enough
continued to box like someone with a On the undercard, the in-form Liam to close the distance more in the second to beat Jean Pascal
death wish. His hands were positioned out Williams impressed once again by halting round, which enabled the Liverpudlian to over 12 rounds,
wide, his footwork all over the show and Alantez Fox in a final eliminator for demonstrate his strength on the inside, only for the light-
his herky-jerky head movement borderline Demetrius Andrade’s WBO middleweight where he scored with hooks to the body. heavyweight veteran
comical. belt. Exhibiting impressive feints and to be awarded a
Fujimoto somehow fiddled his way Clydach Vale’s Williams – a two-division footwork, Edwards picked his opponent off split decision. The
through the opener, but his bizarre British titlist who made significant progress with some sweet single strikes in the third, pair exchanged
knockdowns, with
approach would have only one ending. in 2019 – started brightly in the opening and Braithwaite’s face began to mark up Jack going down in
Another jab, which slammed into Fujimoto round by dominating his American from the shots coming his way in round the fourth and Pascal
as he bumbled into position, dropped rival with quick, forceful jabs and heavy four. The fifth was a scrappier session but hitting the mat in
him for the first count before backhands. Yet it was Williams who the classier work came from Edwards. the last. Two judges
a beautiful overhand right finished the session with a nick Braithwaite’s use of increased upper-body favoured Pascal 114-
knocked him out at 2-10 of PREVIEWS... by his left eye. movement stunted his adversary’s success 112 while the third
the second. The 6ft 4in Fox began somewhat in the sixth, yet the young went with Jack by the
An undisputed ...for this weekend’s major to settle into the contest Croydon talent was still able to force the same margin.
mismatch, yes, but the bouts (Claressa Shields-Ivana in the second, with his issue and remain in the ascendancy.
Habazin, Jaime Munguia-Gary O JAPAN’S
finishing blow will play jab and strikes to the After a slow start to the eighth,
O’Sullivan and Jesse Hart-Joe traditional New
on highlight reels for midsection coming Braithwaite – the reigning English
Smith Jnr) can be found in the Year’s Eve fight
many years to come into play. Williams, champion – connected with a clean right-
December 19 issue and on night saw WBO
as Dubois’ education our website. however, was still punching left combination out of nowhere to drop super-flyweight
continues. And despite all with dangerous intent, as Edwards and take a much-needed 10-8 titlist Kazuto Ioka
the hype and expectation that evidenced by a solid right that round. The unbeaten favourite regained outscore Jeyvier
inevitably surrounds a promising landed in the third. Fox walked his composure in the next stanza to hit Cintron over 12
heavyweight these days, it’s important to back to his corner at the end of the round the target with jabs and follow-up rights, rounds (116-112
remember that Dubois is still just 22 years sporting a gash on the bridge of his nose. as Braithwaite failed to maintain his twice and 115-113).
Kosei Tanaka is
old and only 14 fights into his professional In the fourth, Williams broke through to momentum. Braithwaite was warned for another Japanese
career. His progress in 2019, in which he deck Fox with a perfectly placed right hand using his head in round nine, and it was a fighter to watch. He
went 5-0 (5), was impressive. The likes of down the middle. The menacing Welshman clash of heads that left Edwards with a cut defended his WBO
Fujimoto appearing with glossy records and continued to attack the visitor with gusto above his right eye. The stocky Merseysider flyweight belt when
getting swiftly knocked out is all part of the in round five, and things got worse for had his moments in the 10th, but Edwards he knocked out
process. the Marylander when he was deducted continued to rack up points with his fast Wulan Tuolehazi in
The starlet’s promoter, Frank Warren, will a point for holding. The deduction was fists. three rounds inside
continue to progress and showcase Dubois then rendered irrelevant by Williams, who Braithwaite searched for right hands the Ota-City General
in 2020 with the intention being that he is battered his foe with a vicious two-fisted over the top in the 11th, but Edwards Gymnasium.
on the cusp on the world title picture by salvo to necessitate the stoppage at 2-59. nimbly avoided the incoming fire. Sunny O OUR usual ringside
the end of the year. Also on the bill, Sunny Edwards picked then navigated through the final frame coverage will return
Dubois, such is technical excellence and up the vacant British super-flyweight title successfully to triumph by tallies of 118-109 next week.
obvious punching power, looks destined by unanimously outpointing Marcel and 117-110 twice.


w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 35

100. ALEKSANDR LEBZIAK

RUSSIA
Olympic light-heavyweight gold, 2000
World light-heavyweight gold, 1997

99. HECTOR VINENT
CUBA
Olympic light-welterweight gold, 1992, 1996
World light-welterweight gold, 1993, 1995
98. MANFRED WOLKE

EAST GERMANY
Olympic welterweight gold, 1968
97. FRANCESCO MOSSO

ITALY
Olympic featherweight gold, 1960

96. CHRIS FINNEGAN
ENGLAND
Olympic middleweight gold, 1968

95. FRANCISC VASTAG
ROMANIA
World welterweight gold, 1989
World light-middleweight gold, 1993, 1995
94. ALEKSEI TISHCHENKO

RUSSIA
Olympic featherweight gold, 2004
Olympic lightweight gold, 2008
GREATEST World featherweight gold, 2005

93. FREDDIE TIEDT
IRELAND
Olympic welterweight silver, 1956
92. OLEKSANDR USYK

UKRAINE
Olympic heavyweight gold, 2012
World heavyweight gold, 2011
AMATEURS 91. OLEG SAITOV


RUSSIA
Olympic welterweight gold, 1996, 2000
90. GYULA TOROK
Malcolm Meredith has seen HUNGARY
Olympic flyweight gold, 1960
more than most when it 89. JAN ZACHARA

comes to amateur boxing. CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Olympic featherweight gold, 1952
Here he ranks the best ever 88. SERGIO CAPRARI

from the vested code, from ITALY
Olympic featherweight silver, 1952
100 down to 1 87. AURELIO BOLOGNESI





36 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

ITALY
Olympic lightweight gold, 1952
86. ERNESTO FORMENTI

ITALY
Olympic featherweight gold, 1948
85. CARMELO BOSSI

ITALY
Olympic light-middleweight silver, 1960
84. WOLFGANG BEHRENDT

EAST GERMANY
Olympic bantamweight gold, 1956

83. TIBOR CSIK
HUNGARY
Olympic bantamweight, 1948

82. LEONARD LEISHING

SOUTH AFRICA
Olympic featherweight bronze, 1952
81. LENNOX LEWIS

CANADA
Olympic super-heavyweight gold, 1988
80. TADEUSZ WALASEK

POLAND
Olympic middleweight silver, 1960
Olympic middleweight bronze, 1964

79. LESZEK DROGOSZ
POLAND HIGH JUMP:
Olympic welterweight bronze, 1960 Usyk scrapes
into the 100
78. WILFREDO GOMEZ Photos:
ACTION IMAGES /
MATTHEW CHILDS
PUERTO RICO
World bantamweight gold, 1974
CUBA CUBA
77. FERNANDO ATZORI Olympic super-heavyweight champion, 1992 Olympic welterweight silver, 1992
World super-heavyweight champion, 1989, World welterweight gold, 1991, 1993, 1995
ITALY 1992, 1993
Olympic flyweight gold, 1964
68. PABLO ROMERO
72. IVAILO MARINOV
76. MARIAN KASPRZYK CUBA
BULGARIA World light-heavyweight gold, 1982, 1986
POLAND Olympic light-flyweight gold, 1988
Olympic welterweight gold, 1964 World light-flyweight gold, 1982
Olympic light-welterweight bronze, 1960 67. ARIEL HERNANDEZ
75. BOHUMIL NĚMEČEK 71. SERAFIM TODOROV CUBA
Olympic middleweight gold, 1992, 1996
BULGARIA World middleweight gold, 1993, 1995
CZECHOSLOVAKIA World bantamweight gold, 1991
Olympic light-welterweight gold, 1960
World featherweight gold, 1993, 1995 66. GYORGY GEDO
74. JÓZEF GRUDZIEŃ 70. ISTVAN KOVACS HUNGARY
Olympic light-flyweight gold, 1972
POLAND HUNGARY
Olympic lightweight gold, 1964 Olympic flyweight bronze, 1992
Olympic lightweight silver, 1968 65. KOSTYA TSZYU
World flyweight gold, 1991
RUSSIA
73. ROBERTO BALADO 69. JUAN HERNANDEZ World light-welterweight gold, 1991




w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 37

64. JOSEPH VENTAJA 50. JOHNNY RYAN 36. EMILIO CORREA

FRANCE WALES CUBA
Olympic featherweight bronze, 1948 European welterweight gold, 1947 Olympic welterweight gold, 1972

63. JANOS KAJDI 49. EDDIE CROOK 35. STANISLAV STEPASHKUN
HUNGARY USA RUSSIA
European lightweight gold, 1963 Olympic middleweight gold, 1960 Olympic featherweight gold, 1964
European welterweight gold, 1971
48. ED SANDERS 34. DANAS POZNYAK
62. VLADIMIR SAFRONOV
USA RUSSIA
RUSSIA Olympic heavyweight gold, 1952 Olympic light-heavyweight gold, 1968
Olympic featherweight gold, 1956
47. BRUCE WELLS 33. ANGEL HERRERA
61. ROBEISY RAMIREZ
ENGLAND CUBA
CUBA Olympic light-middleweight gold, 1953 Olympic featherweight gold, 1976
Olympic flyweight gold, 2012 Olympic lightweight gold, 1980
Olympic bantamweight gold, 2016 46. TOMMY NICHOLLS 32. MATE PARLOV

60. ROLANDO GARBEY ENGLAND
Olympic featherweight bronze, 1956 YUGOSLAVIA
CUBA European featherweight gold, 1955 Olympic light-heavyweight gold, 1972
Olympic light-middleweight silver, 1968 World light-heavyweight gold, 1974
Olympic light-middleweight bronze, 1976 45. NATHAN BROOKS
World light-middleweight champion, 1974 31. YURIORKIS GAMBOA
USA
59. CHARLES ADKINS Olympic flyweight gold, 1952 CUBA
Olympic featherweight gold, 2004
USA 44. NORVEL LEE
Olympic light-welterweight gold, 1952 30. GENNADI SCHATKOV
USA
58. KAZIMIERZ PAŹDZIOR Olympic light-heavyweight gold, 1952 RUSSIA
Olympic middleweight gold, 1956
POLAND 43. JOE FRAZIER
Olympic lightweight gold, 1960 29. NICKY GARGANO
USA
57. PENTTI HÄMÄLÄINEN Olympic heavyweight gold, 1964 ENGLAND
Olympic welterweight bronze, 1956
FINLAND 42. GEORGE FOREMAN European welterweight gold, 1955
Olympic bantamweight gold, 1952
Olympic featherweight bronze, 1956 USA 28. RANDOLPH TURPIN
Olympic heavyweight gold, 1968
56. ZYGMUNT CHYCHIA ENGLAND
41. ANDRE WARD Youngest ever ABA champion, 1945
POLAND
Olympic welterweight gold, 1952 USA 27. FLOYD PATTERSON
Olympic light-heavyweight gold, 2004
55. VYACHESLAV LEMESCHEV USA
40. ROY JONES JNR Olympic middleweight gold, 1952
RUSSIA
Olympic middleweight gold, 1972 USA 26. OSCAR DE LA HOYA
European middleweight gold, 1973, 1975 Olympic light-middleweight silver, 1988
USA
54. TAKAO SAKURAI 39. MICHAEL SPINKS Olympic lightweight gold, 1992

JAPAN USA 25. ISTVÁN ÉNEKES
Olympic bantamweight gold, 1964 Olympic middleweight gold, 1976
HUNGARY
53. BEP VAN KLAVEREN 38. MARK BRELAND Olympic flyweight gold, 1932

HOLLAND USA 24. PERNELL WHITAKER
Olympic featherweight gold, 1928 Olympic welterweight gold, 1984
World welterweight gold, 1982 USA
52. HENRY MASKE Olympic lightweight gold, 1984
37. DUANE BOBICK
EAST GERMANY 23. HOWARD DAVIS JNR
Olympic middleweight gold, 1988 USA
World light-heavyweight gold, 1989 Pan-American heavyweight gold, 1971 USA
(Beat Teofilo Stevenson, Larry Holmes, Mike Olympic lightweight gold, 1976
51. JOHNNY WRIGHT Weaver)

ENGLAND
Olympic middleweight silver, 1948

w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t
38 l BO XING NEWS l JANU AR Y 9 , 20 20 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t
36 l BOXING NEWS l DECEMBER 19, 2019

22. VINCE SHOMO 10. CASSIUS CLAY 5. PASCUAL PEREZ

USA USA ARGENTINA
Pan-American light-welterweight gold, 1959 Olympic light-heavyweight gold, 1960 Olympic flyweight gold, 1948
21. FELIX SAVON 9. WILBERT McCLURE 4. TEOFILO STEVENSON
CUBA USA CUBA
Olympic heavyweight gold, 1992 Olympic light- middleweight gold, 1960 Olympic heavyweight gold, 1972, 1976, 1980
World heavyweight gold, 1986, 1989, 1991, Pan-American light-middleweight gold, 1959 World heavyweight gold, 1974, 1978
1993, 1995 World super-heavyweight gold, 1986
8. RAY LEONARD
20. MARIO KINDELAN 3. JERZY KULEJ
USA
CUBA Olympic light-welterweight gold, 1976 POLAND
Olympic lightweight gold, 2000, 2004 Pan-American light-welterweight gold, 1975 Olympic light-welterweight gold, 1964, 1968
World lightweight gold, 1999, 2001, 2003 European light-welterweight gold, 1963, 1965
7. RONNIE HARRIS
19. ADOLFO HORTA 2. JÚLIUS TORMA
USA
CUBA Olympic lightweight gold, 1968 CZECHOSLOVAKIA
World bantamweight gold, 1978 Olympic welterweight gold, 1948
World featherweight gold, 1982 6. DICK McTAGGART European welterweight gold, 1949
World lightweight gold, 1986
SCOTLAND
18. GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX Olympic lightweight gold, 1956
Olympic lightweight bronze, 1960
CUBA European lightweight gold, 1961
Olympic bantamweight gold, 2000, 2004
World bantamweight gold, 2001, 2005
17. NINO BENVENUTI

ITALY
Olympic welterweight gold, 1960
16. VLADIMIR YENGIBARYAN

SOVIET UNION
Olympic light-welterweight gold, 1956
15. HARRY MALLIN

ENGLAND
Olympic middleweight gold, 1920, 1924
European middleweight gold, 1924
14. VALERI POPENCHENKO

SOVIET UNION
Olympic middleweight gold, 1964
European middleweight gold, 1963, 1965
13. BORIS LAGUTIN

SOVIET UNION
Olympic light-middleweight gold, 1964, 1968
European light-middleweight gold, 1961, 1963
12. VASYL LOMACHENKO

UKRAINE
Olympic featherweight gold, 2008
Olympic lightweight gold, 2012
World featherweight gold, 2009
World lightweight gold, 2011

11. ZBIGNIEW PIETRZYKOWSKI LASZLO PAPP
HUNGARY
POLAND Olympic middleweight gold, 1948
Olympic light-heavyweight silver, 1960 Olympic light-middleweight gold, 1952, 1956
Olympic light-heavyweight bronze, 1964 European middleweight gold, 1949
Olympic light-middleweight bronze, 1956
European light-middleweight gold, 1951




w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 39

AMATEURS

VESTEDINTEREST Meet the personalities
at the heart of the sport
With JOHN DENNEN





13 OF THE BEST








Photos: ACTION IMAGES/REUTERS/IVAN ALVARADO

PURE QUALITY:
Andy Cruz will be
hard for anyone to
beat in 2020










































MEN They’ll be led into the campaign by the time for Walker now to take the limelight.
In every reigning Olympic and World flyweight
champion Shakhobidin Zoirov. 63kgs: ANDY CRUZ (Cuba)
Olympic 52kgs: SHAKHOBIDIN ZOIROV While some of Cuba’s excellent team are
category, John (Uzbekistan) 57kgs: KURT WALKER (Ireland) getting increasingly long in the tooth for
THE boxers listed here are the men and The weight divisions changed between the electric pace set over three rounds
Dennen picks women who could shape the amateur the European Games and the World of amateur boxing, Andy Cruz is coming
out the boxers boxing year ahead, the ones that we’re championships last year, incredibly late into his own. He is a brilliant talent to
who could picking to watch through the Olympic in the Olympic cycle for such a major watch; fast, clever and hard to hit, as well
qualification events over the coming alteration. Kurt Walker, after winning the as performing with complete confidence.
shape the year months and ultimately at Tokyo 2020. European Games at 56kgs had to move In the new 63kgs division he will be the
ahead The first qualifier is the Asia/Oceania up for the Worlds. The new division man to beat.
event in Wuhan, China, that begins on will have a select few moving down
February 3. For the last decade or so from lightweight, so bantams have to 69kgs: SEWONRETS OKAZAWA
Kazakhstan have been particularly strong make adjustments. Ireland have a proud (Japan)
in this region. But the Uzbek team was Olympic tradition, but with stars like The host nation does get a set number
highly impressive at the last Olympics. Michael Conlan excelling in the pros, it’s of places so there will be Japanese


40 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

ON TWITTER ON FACEBOOK ONLINE
@BoxingNewsJD www.facebook.com/boxingnewsonline www.boxingnewsonline.net
















representation at their home Olympics. WOMEN Delfine Persoon is expected to attempt
But it always helps to bring the to qualify for the Olympics. If she can
tournament to life if the host nation make lightweight over the long course
boxers do well enough to generate 51kgs: MARY KOM (India) of an amateur tournament, there are still
excitement. Welterweight is an India’s Mary Kom is one of the remaining no guarantees that she’ll enjoy success.
extremely tough division, with England’s superstars of women’s boxing. Nicola Tough veterans like Mira Potkonen,
Pat McCormack and Russia’s Andrey Adams has now retired, Katie Taylor is who eliminated Katie Taylor at the last
Zamkovoy, a London 2012 veteran, the a unified professional world champion. Olympics, will prove formidable.
global leaders at the moment. Okazawa Kom, an icon in her homeland, however is
will be a wildcard but he has power, is working to see if she has one last Olympics 69kgs: OSHAE JONES (USA)
difficult to box and entertaining to watch. left in her. Although she holds a record- America had a quality team at Rio 2016,
breaking number of World gold medals, it Claressa Shields and Shakur Stevenson
75kgs: EUMIR MARCIAL (Philippines) will be tough for her to excel outside of her the stars then. Now the US does not
The Philippines is looking for the next natural weight. Her progress through the have any returning Olympians. New
Manny Pacquiao. It’s far too early to be qualification events early in 2020 therefore contenders will have to come through
doling out that kind of praise to Olympic will be fascinating to watch. as their squad takes shape at the recent
prospects, however the heavy-handed trials (see page 43). Oshae Jones, the
Eumir Marcial could be a future star. He 57kgs: KARISS ARTINGSTALL PanAmerican Games gold medallist could
is an exciting talent and impressed at the (England) be one of their boxers to break through.
recent World championships, going far This division is a new category being
enough to secure a silver medal. introduced into the next Olympic 75kgs: LAUREN PRICE (Wales)
Games. There is all to play for in the There is only one way for Lauren Price
81kgs: BEN WHITTAKER (England) weight class. This time a year ago Karriss to top her outstanding 2019, and that’s
England has more established names, Artingstall was not on the radar, but after winning an Olympic gold medal this
the McCormack twins for instance or a sequence of stellar performances she year. In 2019 she did the double, winning
Liverpool’s Peter McGrail are better is very much a contender at 57kgs. Clean gold at the European Games and World
ONE OF THE HOPES:
known and more seasoned medal- straight punching and real power for her championships. It, almost, doesn’t get
Oshae Jones could
winners. But often a less heralded GB weight mark her out. better than that. But she will need to be a potential
boxer comes to the fore at an Olympic maintain her form in the coming months medal winner for
Games, think of Joshua Buatsi at Rio 2016 60kgs: MIRA POTKONEN (Finland) and be ready once again for bitter rival the United States
or even James DeGale at Beijing 2008. Former professional world champion Nouchka Fontijn.
Whittaker has slick skills, can certainly do
well in Tokyo and is the right age, only 22,
to set himself up for a very bright future.

91kgs: DAVID NYIKA (New Zealand)
The New Zealander is a fine boxer and
can turn on the power too. He has
though had no luck. The two-weight
Commonwealth Games gold medallist
ran up against the Russian in Russia at the
last World championships. He hasn’t got
a major medal yet but in 2020 he could
come through.
91&kgs: BAKHODIR JALOLOV
(Uzbekistan)
Another quality Uzbek, Bakhodir Jalolov,
like Zoirov (above), has taken advantage
of the new ruling that allows national
federations to select professional boxers.
Jalolov has dabbled in pro boxing and
made headlines when he knocked the
USA’s Richard Torrez cold. He was callow
at the last Olympics but has matured into
a force in the division now.


w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 41

AMATEURS

AMATEURSCENE The very best action, previews and
news from Olympic-style boxing
With JOHN DENNEN | @BoxingNewsJD

SEND us your club's news, results or upcoming events to john.dennen@boxingnewsonline.net or 020 7618 3478


Pete Love bounces back
from defeat to record two HOME SIDE: The Army team at the
round robin event hosted in Aldershot
wins in the Army’s round
robin tournament

THE Army Boxing Team finished
their busy year with the second
edition of their round-robin
invitational tournament held
at the Combat Sports Centre in
Aldershot. The event took place
from December 13-15 and saw
four teams; British Army, Southern
Counties, London and the
Belgium national team involved in
competitive action across the three
days.
The Belgians brought a full
team, with two catching the eye LOVE FINDS A WAY
in particular. Nabil Messaoudi
moved up to 75kgs but never
struggled with the naturally bigger
opposition. The Army’s Pete Love Shamim Khan and Pete Love. turning his overall result for the RESULTS
did force him to work on the Friday, Khan was his usual unorthodox weekend positive, with two wins 56: Amin Ameziane (Belgium) outpd by FRANCIS
but he followed up with a slightly self as he bamboozled the smaller and a loss. STOREY (Finchley), SHAMIM KHAN (Army) outpd
more straightforward win over Amin Amaziane, from the At 91&kgs, surprise package Ameziane, KHAN outpd Storey. 60: Yasine Arafa
Faith Ofolorun (Croydon) on the Belgium team, in his first bout. Harvey Dykes (Moulscombe) has (Bel) outpd by ROSS DRISCOLL (Finchley),
Saturday. On the Sunday Francis Storey fast hands and can move well. He SYDNEY DRISCOLL (Army) outpd Arafa. 64:
At 64kgs Diallo Ibrahima (Finchley) was game and gave beat both Jamie Tshikeva (White Numan Hussein (Haringey) outpd by DIALLO
made the most of his long reach Shamim plenty to think about but Hart Lane) and Josh Woods IBRAHIMA (Belgium), Harry Condren (Army)
to handle Haringey’s Numan it was the 35-year-old Khan’s hand (Army) impressively. Other notable outpd by IBRAHIMA. 75: NABIL MESSAOUDI
Hussein on the Saturday. Having that was raised after three rounds. boxers on display included current (Belgium) outpd Pete Love (Army), Romauld
had the opportunity to watch Pete Love did brilliantly to 86kgs Elite champion Kheron Collard (Belgium) outpd by FAITH OFOLORUN
Diallo already, the hosts’ Harry bounce back from defeat to Gilpin (Miguel’s), who cruised (Croydon), Joe Lowery (Army) outpd by SONNY
Condren started brightly, using Masaoudi on day one to secure to victory over Belgium’s Sasha PARKINSON (Hill Crest), MESSAOUDI outpd
sharp counters to frustrate him. two wins at his new weight of Lelievre and Ziad El Mahor. Ofolorun, LOVE outpd Collard, LOVE outpd
But the Belgian, aged just eighteen, 75kgs. He had too much for Sonny Parkinson (Hill Crest) Ofolorun. 86: Sasha Lelievre (Belgium) outpd
showed his class; he adjusted and Belgian Romuald Collard on boxed very neatly against Joe by KHERON GILPIN (Miguel’s), LUKE MCWHINNIE
increased the work rate in the last Saturday before taking on Faith Lowery but unfortunately didn’t (Southampton) outpd Lelievre, GILPIN outpd
two rounds to take the decision. Ofolorun, with both boxers in their get the opportunity to box again Ziad El Mohor (Belgium). 91&: HARVEY DYKES
The Army had notable success third bout of the weekend. Love due to an injury to his next (Moulscombe) outpd Jamie Tshikeva (White Hart
with double wins for both had to dig deep to get the win, opponent. Lane), DYKES outpd Josh Woods (Army).


LA CRUZ CONTROL


Cuban national championships see familiar faces at new weights

THE Playa Giron, Cuba’s national to 91kgs. He did so with aplomb, Cuba’s leader in the new division,
championships, concluded in winning the final against Angel unanimously outscoring Jorge
Camaguey on December 18. Napoles on a unanimous decision. Moirant in their final.
Some of the country’s most well Another Olympic champion, In the welterweight final
known boxers were in action Arlen Lopez moved up to 81kgs Kevin Brown upset London 2012
but at unexpected weights. Only successfully, beating Raisel Poll gold medallist Roniel Iglesias,
in September the great Julio La in the final also on a unanimous defeating him via split decision.
Cruz [pictured] was boxing at his decision. Yariel Areu won the OTHER FINALS RESULTS
familiar light-heavyweight, the 75kgs title, edging out Yoenlis 49: BILLY RODRIGUEZ outpd Alibel Poll split. 52:
division where he captured the Hernandez on a split decision. YOSBANY VEITIA outpd Damian Arce unan. 57:
Olympic gold medal and his four The brilliant Andy Cruz, the OSVEL CABALLERO outpd Osvaldo Diaz unan. 60:
World championships. But for this reigning World gold medallist DARIELKI PALMERO outpd Rafael Joubert unan.
event he moved all the way up at 63kgs, confirmed his place as 91&: DAINIER PERO outpd Yoandy Toirac unan.


42 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

AMATEURS





AMERICA’S OLYMPIC HOPES




Photo: ACTION IMAGES
USA Boxing hold trials for
their Tokyo 2020 team IN FORM:
Oshae Jones is the
PanAmerican gold
OVER eight days in December medallist
the USA boxing held trials for
their Olympic squad. The top two
boxers in the trials advance to
the next stage of the US’ selection
procedure. That starts with their
squad assembling in training
camp at Colorado Springs in
January. The process will include a
multination training camp, before
they go to Bulgaria for the Strandja
Tournament.
The final three box-offs took
place on December 16 at Lake
Charles. At 57kgs Lupe Gutierrez
took a split decision victory
over Andrea Medina. Javier
Martinez avenged a split decision
loss to Joseph Hicks, returning
the favour on a split too in their
final 75kgs box off. At heavyweight
Darius Fulghum unanimously
outpointed Jamar Talley, who’d
beaten him on a split decision
the previous day. Fulghum had an
impressive tournament, beginning
with an upset victory over top seed
Adrian Tillman.
The rest of the finals took
place on December 15. At
flyweight Virginia Fuchs secured
a unanimous decision victory
over Christina Cruz to take her
second Olympic Trials title, a
championship in which she won
every bout unanimously.
In the men’s 52kgs
division, Abraham Perez beat
Anthony Herrera by unanimous
decision victory. “I’m happy,” he
said. “There were a lot of sacrifices
that I made. I’m glad those winning all her contests by decision to win their final. “My honoured to have a chance with
sacrifices weren’t for nothing.” unanimous decision, including in confidence is very high,” Johnson the U.S. Olympic team.”
Brooklyn’s Bruce the final against Amelia Moore. “I said. “I’ve trained hard for this and A new super-heavyweight
Carrington didn’t lose throughout just had to push myself harder,” Ellis it finally paid off. I’ll be ready for rose. Antonio Mireles secured
these Olympic trials, winning the said. “I’ve fought most of these girls, our next tournament. I don’t think his Trials title with a unanimous
men’s featherweight division. In the I just had to pick it up a little more.” any achievement tops this. This is decision win over Jeremiah
final he unanimously scored David A walkover brought Keyshawn the biggest thing.” Milton. “He caught me off guard in
Navarro, after starting off the Davis his lightweight title. At middleweight Naomi the first round,” Mireles admitted.
tournament with an impressive split 69kgs PanAmerican Games Graham unanimously “He was more collected. I had to
decision win over top seed Duke gold medallist Oshae Jones was outscored Morelle McCane. “It think more. I just tried to push the
Ragan. a convincing unanimous victor feels amazing to be at this point,” pace.”
“Nobody worked harder than over Briana Che in their final. “My Graham said after the final. “I’m at a Richard Torrez, the American
me,” Carrington said. “Nobody dealt confidence was already on ten,” loss for words. I knew I could do it, super-heavyweight who was
with the things I had to go through. Jones said. “I was excited, I had my I believe in myself. To actually do it infamously knocked cold by
There were a lot of obstacles these family with me. I’m on cloud nine, is a whole other feeling. Bakhodir Jalolov, an Uzbek who
last four years. No matter the seed, I’m on cloud on hundred right Atif Olberton could not get has also boxed professionally, did
nobody had anything for me in this now.” the better of Rahim Gonzales, not feature in these Olympic trials
weight division.” In the men’s 69kgs losing on a split in the 81kgs final. due to a medical exemption but
Rashida Ellis was the top division Delante Johnson fended “I’m tired but I pushed through,” he will still have a stake in the
female lightweight in the trials, off Freudis Rojas on a split Gonzales said. “I’m just excited. Very selection process.


w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 43

YESTERDAY’S HEROES





THE BUSINESS







Pat McAteer OXING is so beset Pat turned pro alongside club mate Stadium. It was there in June 1955
with tragedies and Joe Bygraves, and Johnny Campbell that he wrested the British and Empire
was a success hard-luck stories left the amateur ranks to become their middleweight titles from Preston’s Johnny
both inside B that it’s pleasing to manager. McAteer made his paid debut Sullivan, albeit in less-than-ideal fashion,
and outside write about a fighter in September 1952 with a second-round with Sullivan disqualified for an alleged
who found success
low blow. In fight number 41, Pat’s
KO of Arthur Lewis of Oswestry. Instead
the ring in an entirely new of handing Pat his £10 purse money, remarkable unbeaten run was snapped
sphere after leaving the roped square. Campbell placed it in a savings account by South Africa’s Jimmy Elliott, who
Birkenhead-born Pat McAteer emigrated and gave his charge the book. He was won a 10-round decision in London in
to America in 1957, founded a successful steering Pat in the right direction and April 1956. McAteer avenged the loss 13
business there and enjoyed a sumptuous the young man took the hint. Aside months later on Jimmy’s home turf. But it
lifestyle, after winning a Lonsdale Belt from buying his parents their first TV was a fight the Liverpudlian would gladly
outright. set following his fifth fight, McAteer was have lost to change its tragic aftermath.
Liverpool fight fans who are in their frugal with his ring earnings. After a fiercely contested Empire title
twilight years will not need reminding One obstacle Pat would need to bout, Elliott was knocked out in the sixth
that McAteer was a quality boxer overcome – in common with other and died hours later from a blood clot to
who only lost to top-class men. Long British boxers of his generation – was the brain.
unbeaten runs were rare in the 1950s, National Service. This meant two years’ McAteer made the middleweight
but “Pat Mac”, as he was known, stormed compulsory armed forces service and Lonsdale Belt his own with successful
to 40-0 before tasting defeat as a pro. another four years as a reservist, with defences against Lew Lazar and Martin
Part of a well-known Liverpool fight the possibility of being asked to serve. To Hansen. He failed in a European title bid
family, several of Pat’s relatives punched avoid the call-up, McAteer worked as a when stopped in eight rounds in Paris by
for pay, including his cousin Les, a fellow gym instructor aboard the Britannic, the Charles Humez in 1957, and he lost his
British and Empire middleweight titlist. ship’s former instructor, Liverpool ex-pro Empire title to future world champ Dick
More recently, the McAteer sporting Dom Volante, kindly stepping aside to Tiger the following year. Pat’s next and
name was kept alive by Pat’s footballing allow Pat to take his place. “When we as it turned out final fight was against
nephew Jason, the former Liverpool and docked back at Liverpool my father was another future world titlist – a points
Ireland midfielder. on the quayside, waving and telling me defeat to Terry Downes in June 1958.
Pat’s first taste of pugilism arrived not to get off as there were two guys After moving to the US, Pat used
through a local boys’ club, after which waiting to grab me for National Service,” his ring earnings to set up a plumbing,
Alex he joined the Provincial ABC under recalled McAteer, who managed to heating and air-conditioning business
Daley trainer Johnny Campbell. As an amateur repeatedly miss the call-up. in Fairfax, Washington. By the 1980s the
@thealexdaley McAteer reached the 1952 ABA light- Unencumbered by military service, business was thriving and he had 30
Historian middleweight semi-finals, losing to Pat went from victory to victory, fighting employees on his payroll. He died, aged
& author the brilliant Bruce Wells. After that, almost exclusively at the Liverpool 77, in April 2009.



HAPPY NEW YEAR!



Best wishes to MAY I wish a very happy New Year Restaurant – and in respect of service the good crowd from Brighton – James Cook
all EBAs in 2020 to everyone connected with boxing, Association would like to thank Sheila came, and Ross Minter, and Gary Dunks,
including, of course, all EBA members. at The Cricketers on Windham Road for who’s just joined us. And there were quite
I hope all EBAs continue to thrive in hosting us throughout 2019.” a few from local amateur clubs, such as
2020. Many had highly successful That’s all good to hear, and I’m very Bushey and Harrow.”
Christmas ‘dos’. For instance, I was pleased there was such a good turn- That’s all good, too. EBAs need new
delighted to receive the following from out from Bournemouth. I’m constantly blood, and many actively support their
regular correspondent Richard Vaughan: stressing the importance of EBAs local fighters, pro and amateur – and if
“Bournemouth EBA enjoyed their supporting one another – but it’s also vital current boxers reciprocate, and attend
Christmas Dinner at the Bates Restaurant, to support one’s own Association. EBA functions (and hopefully join), that’s
Charminster, on Wednesday December Home Counties Membership Secretary wonderful.
11, and with very few exceptions, owing Terry Clarke described their party on Leicester’s current newsletter publicises
to illness, there was a full complement December 15 as “brilliant.” There was the recent session at Abbey Road, when
of members in attendance. In particular “a good turn-out – I’d say between 150 a number of boxing people (including
it was very pleasing to welcome our and 200,” Terry said. “The place was yours truly) turned up to record Simon
Simon Honorary Vice-President, Sparrow heaving! The raffle and auction went well Block’s song, Never Give Up, Never Give
Euan-Smith Harrison MBE, and his partner, Gemma, – Bob Williams, our Chairman, did his In, due to be released as a charity single
simonoldtimers who had travelled all the way from usual great job as auctioneer, and really to raise money for the Ringside Rest &
@googlemail.com Denbigh in North Wales. The food was drew the crowd out! And there was great Care Home. The newsletter has a photo
EBA of the highest quality, with excellent entertainment from singer Mick Mancini of former champions Jimmy Batten,
correspondent service provided by the staff of the Bates and DJ, The Pink Panther. There was a John H. Stracey, Duke McKenzie and


44 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t

Photo: ANL/SHUTTERSTOCK

POPULAR:
McAteer is
remembered as
a irm favourite
on Merseyside





















































Photo: ACTION IMAGES/SPORTING PICTURES
John Conteh on the famous zebra boxed at lightweight between 1976 and
crossing, recreating the cover of The 1982 – he always put up a good show,
Beatles’ Abbey Road album. win, lose or draw. Harvey campaigned
Essex EBA held their Christmas party between 1989 and 1994, winning 16
the same day as Home Counties – and (10 inside schedule) and drawing one of
that, too, was a great success. “It was 22 outings. In November 1991, he KO’d
brilliant – the place was packed out,” Hugh Forde in three rounds to win the
Secretary Ray Lee said. Commonwealth super-featherweight
Among those there was former two- title – and less than a month later he
weight Southern Area champion Johnny successfully defended against ex-British
Kramer. Essex EBA have produced several champion Sugar Gibiliru, winning
scrapbooks detailing fighters’ careers on points over 12. Claydon boxed at
– and their latest, on Johnny, is now lightweight between 1973 and 1980,
available. Johnny fought some of the best, winning the Southern Area lightweight
and it should be a good read. title and twice challenging for the British.
The members raised £200 for the He also beat reigning British (and future
Charlie Wynn Fund, which was a great world) champion Jim Watt in a non-title
effort, and the raffle raised £265. Also, bout, albeit on a cut.
there were new members, Johnny
Claydon, Paul Harvey and Kevin Doherty, EMAIL simonoldtimers@googlemail.com
GOOD CAUSE: Stracey lends his vocal talents to the RR&C charity single all of whom I remember well. Doherty with your ex-boxer association news.


w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t JANUARY 9, 2020 O BOXING NEWS O 45

SIXTY SECONDS





KAAN HAWES




David Wainwright talks to the ‘King of Kings’



Photo: ACTION IMAGES/ANDREW COULDRIDGE
When and why you started ‘I MET JOSE
boxing:
I was 26 when I started. I suffered MOURINHO AT
a bad injury playing football, so
I got into boxing basically for a bit THE LOWRY. I WAS
of fitness. It just went from there. GOBSMACKED’
Favourite all-time fighter:
Miguel Cotto. I really liked his style
when he was boxing. England cricketer, Ben Stokes. I’ve
Best fight you’ve seen: been to Australia and the West
Arturo Gatti versus Micky Ward – Indies to watch England play
I love all three of those fights. Or cricket.
Cotto’s revenge win over Antonio Last film/TV show you saw:
Margarito. I’ve been watching Power recently.
Personal career highlight: Who would play you in a film of
Turning professional is my your life:
biggest achievement so far, as it’s Cristiano Ronaldo could play me!
something I never thought I’d get Have you ever been starstruck:
the chance to do. Taking part in I met Jose Mourinho at The Lowry
two Ultimate Boxxer tournaments Hotel in Manchester before going
[in May and September 2019] is to watch Manchester United play
another thing I’m proud of. at Old Trafford. I don’t normally
Toughest opponent: get starstruck but this time I was
Kieran Conway. He was a different gobsmacked.
level to all my other opponents. Last time you cried:
I don’t think I looked out of place I’m not a big crier if I’m being
though, despite losing to him on honest.
points in my first Ultimate Boxxer Best advice received:
appearance. ‘Hard work beats talent if talent
Best and worst attributes as a doesn’t work hard.’ My coach told
boxer: me that.
My main strengths are my fitness Worst rumour about yourself:
and determination. My weakness I haven’t got an answer for that
is that I sometimes fight with my one!
heart and not my head. Something not many people
Training tip: know about you:
Don’t cut any corners and always I’m half-Turkish. My name, Kaan,
give 100 per cent. means ‘King of Kings’.
Favourite meal/restaurant:
I have a little bit of everything
at KFC – a bucket meal, mixed
with some hot wings and a zinger Age: 33 Twitter: @kaanhawes Nickname: n/a Height: 5ft 11ins
burger. I go the full hog after I’ve Nationality: English From: Witham Stance: Orthodox Record: 5-2-1
had a fight! FAST FACTS Division: Super-welterweight Titles: n/a Next fight: After suffering two
Best friends in boxing: losses while competing in Ultimate Boxxer last year, Hawes is aiming to get
My trainer, Billy Long. back to winning ways next time out.
Other sportsman you would
like to be:

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