MONDAY, MAY 5: Bernard Inom’s upset win over Andrea Sarritzu on the weekend was the latest example of form not always being a true guide.
I mention the so-called form guide quite a lot in previews. Just because Boxer A beats Boxer B, and Boxer B defeats Boxer C, doesn’t mean that Boxer A automatically beats Boxer C. It doesn’t work that way.
Born in England in 1942. Life as a boxing writer began with a weekly column in a newspaper called the South London Advertiser in the early 1960s. Moved to the far bigger-circulation South London Press, writing a twice-weekly boxing section, in 1966. Joined the weekly Boxing News in 1970 and became editor in 1972. Moved across the pond in 1977 for marriage-related reasons and covered the American scene for Boxing News until joining Boxing Monthly in 1990. ...
MOREEmail: graham@fightwriter.com
Of all those taking pleasure in Timothy Bradley’s upset win over Junior Witter, few, I suspect, will be more delighted than Ricky Hatton. For what seems like ages, Witter has been challenging Hatton, often in an unpleasant, not to say insulting, fashion. All the while, Hatton steadfastly refused to give his British 140-pound rival what would have been by far Witter’s biggest payday.
For years now, Junior Witter has been challenging Ricky Hatton. The match of British 140-pounders, the top two in the world at the weight, would be intriguing and eagerly awaited. If there is any chance at all of it happening, though, Witter must beat Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley in their title fight in Nottingham on Saturday (ITV in Britain, Showtime delayed same-day coverage in the U.S.).
You’ve heard of the old classic sci-fi movie The Incredible Shrinking Man. In Britain on Saturday it’s The Incredible Shrinking Show. Promoter Mick Hennessy put together a terrific bill for ITV in Britain and Showtime in America, then, piece by piece, it fell apart.
Argentina’s Omar Narvaez is one of those fighters who doesn’t mind where he boxes. The unbeaten WBO flyweight champion has defended his title twice in Italy and three times in France in his six-year reign.
Time was when a U.S. Olympic heavyweight representative would attract attention in his pro career, but those days are long gone, as shown by the case of Devin Vargas. Vargas, who lost in his second bout in Athens, has won 15 successive bouts as a professional but there has been hardly a ripple of interest.
As public workouts go, it was good enough. Oscar De La Hoya got in a brisk 12 rounds against Steve Forbes, dominated the fight but never looked remotely like stopping his durable and clever opponent. It was one-sided but fairly entertaining, although a smattering of boos in the last round showed that not everyone was satisfied.
What a difference one fight can make. Andre Dirrell was roundly criticised for his ultra-careful performance in outpointing Curtis Stevens last June, but on Friday night he looked devastating in his fifth-round win over Anthony Hanshaw on ShoBox.
Once again, Ishe Smith boxed skilfully but ended up losing the verdict. It happened in his fights with Sergio Mora and Sechew Powell, and it happened again when he lost a unanimous decision to Joel Julio on the Wednesday Night Fights show from Vancouver (or more accurately just outside the city, in the suburb of Richmond).
Although Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. did what was expected of him and stopped Italian champion Tobia Loriga in Saturday’s PPV main event there was the sense of something missing. The commentary by Nick Charles and Wally Matthews made reference to Chavez seeming to lose concentration. His intensity-level lapses. When he has an opponent apparently on the verge of being stopped he backs off.
