Big Write Hook November 2017

NOVEMBER 2017 EDITION

Smith

Williams

Taylor

Vazquez

Ancajas

Conlan

Parker

Kovalev

Shabranskyy

“I remember as a little boy I ate one meal a day and sometimes slept in the street. I will never forget that and it inspires me to fight hard, stay strong and remember all the people of my country, trying to achieve better for themselves.�

- Manny Pacquiao -

Child Poverty Action Group - cpag.org.uk

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46 78 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 23 25

Editor’s Letter Monthly Round Up

12 Rounds with … Brian Phillips Preview: Smith vs. Williams

Preview: Taylor vs. Vazquez

Think piece: Blood in Boxing

Preview: Ancajas vs. Conlan

Think piece: Trolling Boxers

Preview: Kovalev vs. Shabranskyy

Golden Years

Poets’ Corner

12 Rounds with … Adi Burden

Next Month’s Issue

If you would like to get involved with Big Write Hook, please get in touch via email or Twitter. bigwritehook@gmail.com twitter.com/BigWriteHook

Ring Girls: Your Number Is Up atie Taylor, Natasha Jonas and Nicola Adams epitomise everything good about boxing.

So when Chris Eubank Jr. and Lily Allen trade insults about respecting women, the popular press are quick to report clickbait headlines, but not to delve deeper into the bigger issue: does boxing really need ring girls?

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It is easy to take the Neanderthalic approach that society already stereotypes boxing fans as; aggressive, larger louts with tattoos who would claim: “Of course we need ring girls! Are you gay or something?” Okay, we get it. You’re a bloke and you’re dead hard and you shag loads of birds and you’re definitely not gay and you didn’t eye up that feller in Magaluf one time.

It is much harder to tackle a subject so close to the hearts, minds and crotches of so many men – very hard depending on how big her tits are! Am I right lads?! No. No I’m not right.

To go against popular opinion, particularly as a fledgling e-magazine which is trying to gain more followers is risky.

A poll on our very own @ BigWriteHook Twitter timeline suggested 64% of fans were in favour of ring girls. Granted, there was only 14 votes, but as I said, fledgling and all that.

If combat sports is to progress and be accepted by the masses then it must become more inclusive. Boxing has evolved from bare knuckle fighting with unlimited rounds to the more safety conscious product we have today. Which is a good thing. So surely in this day and age, we should stop the sexualisation of women. These girls are flaunted as sexual objects under the rouse of being informative timekeepers every three minutes. If it was so important the way they do, then why don’t Premier League fourth officials walk into the centre circle of a football pitch in tight dress and high heels to signal stoppage time? Well, because heels on grass is a nightmare, but also because it is not necessary.

I am not claiming that any of these young women are victims either. I’m sure a lot of them love their job, the money, semblance of fame and even the male attention. Good on them. They

Lewis Calvert - Editor Twitter: @LewCalvert91 Email: bigwritehook@gmail.com

are just making a living in what is a harder job than most people perceive; overcoming nerves or having to smile in the face of grotesque comments shouted by leery men about which body parts they would like to suck.

When the only thing they do suck is the life out of me. It must also be difficult not to crack a smile when bending through the ropes and having people make fart noises – childish, but funny nonetheless and it shows great professionalism on the l ad i e s’ pa r t .

The most annoying aspect of a ring girls work, as a viewer, is watching them trying to get their heavily make-upped face into camera shot. An instruction no doubt ordered upon them by their shirt / boob tube sponsors. When in actual fact, nobody, from the ring girls to the promoters, should be stealing the limelight of a boxer come the post fight interview. It is the fighter who makes it all happen and risks their health. They deserve all the attention. So in this sense, Chris Eubank senior can be forgiven for instructing ring girls to be out of view after his son’s most recent victory.

And just because a ring girl wouldn’t look once at me, let alone twice, doesn’t mean I have anything against them as individuals. I just think the job is defunct now; like the plague doctor or court dwarf.

Let it be known, I have nothing against little people either.

“But how else would we know what round it is?” I hear you ask, half heartedly, knowing the plethora of answers already. It could be done by the referee or on a big screen or said by the ring announcer... which already happens. Or, you could actually watch the fight and count to 12 yourself - but then I suppose we are going back to the dark ages of court dwarves there.

“But what are they going to do for work instead?” I hear you ask again – quit butting in. Maybe they could do a job where their beauty is appreciated. I mean, what more appreciation could a girl want than Mike from accounts, belly full of ale, nose full of cocaine and mouth full of derogatory expletives showing his affection every 180 seconds?

Go into modelling. Easy.

(Much easier said than done.)

Admittedly, ring girls offer something to the “event” as a whole, a bit of eye candy which is great to look at and I only quote the word “event” because boxing has become less about the fight and more about the “show” in recent years - as if it’s an episode of bloody Bake Off! But if you accept that you can both appreciate something and know it is not good for you, much like a cake... or even watching Bake Off, then we can move forward as a society. If not, then you can stay stuck in the past, spouting the same stuff about liberalism that comes out your own soggy bottom until the day you die.

I would rather my bird or sister or future daughter idolise the women fighting in the ring instead of those parading around it. To grow up wanting to be judged on her own hard work, determination and courage, rather than her looks and appearance - which only acts to satisfy the aesthetic sexual desires of men, including me.

Anyway, I’m off to drink a Corona for some reason. Enjoy the mag.

Monthly

Round Up.. R Date: 07/10/2017 Eubank (KO 3) v Yildirim

Date: 14/10/2017 Groves v Cox

Date: 07/10/2017 Eubank (KO 3) v Yildirim

Date: 28/10/2017 Joshua (KO 10) v Takam

Chris Eubank burst open the door to announce himself as the new favourite in the World Boxing Super Series with a third round KO of Anvi Yildrim.

A short uppercut from the Brit dropped Yildrim in the first round and the writing was on the wall from there. Two more rounds of explosive, wild and flashy combinations shook the Turk from side to side as punches rained in from all angles. The third round saw Eubank put together another barrage of punches, flooring his man with a left hook and the fight was waved off.

In blasting his first opponent away, the stage was set for one of his British counterparts to join him in the semi-finals…

George Groves done what many people had expected of him by beating the game, but comparatively inexperienced, Jamie Cox via a fourth round body shot. Cox showed signs of talent as he pushed Groves back in the early rounds, unloading as and when he could, but Groves was not flustered by the brief, energy sapping attacks and moved with guile around the ring, picking his punches more accurately. Come the third, Groves began using his weight, throwing the smaller man to the floor and almost out of the ring at one point.

In the fourth and final stanza, southpaw Cox threw a right hand jab, leaving his body wide open and Groves instinctively launched a torpedo of a right into the body, stunning Cox for a second before he crippled to the floor and he was unable to beat the count. Eubank entered the ring for a face off in what is another exciting chapter in the long list of domestic rivalries featuring George Groves.

Chris Eubank burst open the door to announce himself as the new favourite in the World Boxing Super Series with a third round KO of Anvi Yildrim.

A short uppercut from the Brit dropped Yildrim in the first round and the writing was on the wall from there. Two more rounds of explosive, wild and flashy combinations shook the Turk from side to side as punches rained in from all angles. The third round saw Eubank put together another barrage of punches, flooring his man with a left hook and the fight was waved off.

In blasting his first opponent away, the stage was set for one of his British counterparts to join him in the semi-finals…

In a much expected win, Anthony Joshua dispatched of the almost unbreakable Carlos Takam in a controversial stoppage win which extends his unbeaten knockout streak to 20-0. The Brit showed his usual explosive quick one-two and though it often shook the Frenchman, it never looked like doing enough concussive punishment to knock him out cold. Swift hooks from AJ rocked Takam from left to right, but the late replacement had strong enough legs and a concrete like head to withstand the punishment. Takam’s head also acted as his main weapon with concurrent headbutts early on; Joshua done well not to be flustered by them too, in another learning experience.

The only flashes of attack the challenger did put up, didn’t phase the champion, though Joshua’s trainer will agree he got caught more often than he should have, but it did make for a more exciting fight. It was only for the referee to jump in during round ten, which saved Takam from another two rounds of punishment, to go with the previous nine. The finish was not as conclusive as some would have liked, but it does now set up a mega fight with Deontay Wilder. The Bronze Bomber got rid of an overweight and over matched Bermane Stiverne in just one round, the week later.

Monthly Round Up..

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12 Rounds …

Brian Phillips wit

1. Who is your favourite all time boxer?

Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. His defensive technique was unbelievable.

2. Who is your favourite active boxer?

Just on his power alone, Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, but he has so many other traits.

3. Without naming names, have you got any examples of “politics in boxing”?

My friend was meant to box on a show but he was pulled out 30 minutes beforehand over a heart murmur that he never had.

Someone didn’t want him to box that night.

4. What is the key to beating Joe Sherriff in your next fight?

There isn’t just one thing I have to do, a lot goes into it. I have to train hard, eat good, make weight healthily and cover all aspects of what could happen in a fight.

If I do that, I should win. going to KO my next opponent.

5. What is the greatest fight of all time?

Arturo Gatti and Mickey Ward.

It’s everyone’s favourite!

6. Who do you think will win Groves or Eubank?

Eubank. He is a force to be reckoned with.

7. What are your thoughts on the World Boxing Super Series?

It’s fantastic. It’s a great platform for the top fighters at their weight and sees the best fighting the best. That’s exactly what boxing needs 8. Who is the hottest UK prospect?

Zelfa Barrett. “The Brown Flash”.

Keep your eye out for him, he’s one to watch.

9. How important is it to remain undefeated?

I think it’s very important. It makes you in demand for all the top fights and with that comes more money.

10. What is the hardest thing about boxing?

Dieting is hard and the sacrifices you have to make not seeing your family.

11. Which two fighters from any era would be your dream fight?

Muhammad Ali vs Mike Tyson it’s got to be.

12. What do you want your lasting legacy to be?

To be a unified, three-weight world champion. Dream big.

Phillips

Phillips is 2-0 and will have his third pro fight in Manchester on November 18

07/10/17

Williams

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hen you think of big boxing events in the United Kingdom, the cities that tend to attract all the big fights are London, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Cardiff. The North East has been neglected in recent years when it comes to great fights.

Frank Warren is changing this, bringing us the eagerly awaited Liam Smith vs Liam Williams 2 at The Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on November 11th, live on BT Sport and Boxnation.

This is a rematch that needed to happen, not just for the British boxing fans; but for the two fighters involved.

The first encounter was full of controversy back in Manchester in April, on the scales Liam Smith narrowly missed the weight and ended up losing out on his chance to fight for the WBO Interim Title, one he craved since losing his world title to Canelo Alvarez in September 2016.

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The fight itself a back and forth slugfest finishing with a head clash from Smith which damaged the eye of Williams.

Trainer Gary Lockett having no option but to pull out his fighter, the uncertainty comes when people ask was it accidental or not, with Smith being down on most people’s cards at this point in ninth round.

“Revenge is taking back what is rightfully mine,” said Williams.

Hence the fight was always going to be made again and social media arguments between the two ever since make it even more exciting.

This isn’t just about bad blood, though there will be blood and lots of it, there are even higher stakes available. Miguel Cotto is the WBO Champion, Williams is ranked #2 and Smith #4. With Cotto retiring after his final fight with Sadam Ali in December, providing he wins, that title will become

vacant. The winner of Smith/ Williams 2 will undoubtedly be fighting for that vacant strap, even if they don’t realise it yet.

This is a very hard matchup to predict, it comes down to who wants it more. The pace will be electric, and keeping that up for twelve rounds won’t be easy. Conditioning will be a major factor, and it’s a good job Smith and Williams have two of the best British trainers in the business, Joe Gallagher and Gary Lockett respectively.

“He’s got the demons from the last fight not me,” said Smith.

The fighters are made for each other style wise, the Liverpudlian loves coming forward and working his way in on the inside. The body is his prime target, like the way Ricky Hatton used to box when he was in big fights. This type of fighter is always good to watch, Welshman Williams is similar but uses his boxing a little more rather than bullying his way in. It won’t take long before both fighters foreheads are touching that’s for sure.

This could be the second in a trilogy between the pair, if it’s close or a Williams win, people will want to see the third. There comes a point though when the world title fight must be the priority over the domestic matchup. Although, with them being ranked as highly as they are in the WBO. A third fight could be mandated for the World Title, but that’s way off yet and maybe wishful thinking.

Smith and Williams are without doubt the best 154 pounders in the UK, and with the styles they both have, they could have fifty fights and it would always be entertaining. This one surely cannot go twelve rounds.

Someone will be trying to make a statement on November the 11th, so make sure you don’t miss a tear up on the Tyne.

“He’s got the demons from the last fight not me“

Written B y: Connor Hu tton @CanvasBo xing

“Revenge is taki ng back what is rightfully mine”

07/10/17

Tinkerin Taylor

ng

osh Taylor is looking to take one step closer to a world title shot when he takes on Miguel Vazquez at the Royal Highland centre, Edinburgh on 11th November in what looks an intriguing contest.

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07/10/17

Taylor is currently 10-0 (9 KO’s) since switching to the professional ranks back in 2015, the same year his rival suffered his last defeat. The Tartan Tornado may be relevantly inexperienced, although he had a fantastic amateur career with a number of international bouts including when he was Commonwealth games gold medalist back in 2014.

The Scot is the current undefeated WBC silver super lightweight champion after an outstanding display back in July when he handed O’hara Davies his first defeat, as well as a boxing lesson, with a 7th round stoppage. Taylor put the London man down with a ferocious right hand in the 3rd round then dropped him twice in the 7th before referee Howard Foster stepped in to stop the contest.

Controversy still surrounds the stoppage with many critics claiming Taylor forced his outspoken opponent to quit.

Having said all that, Taylor faces a different and more difficult looking task when he meets the former IBF lightweight world champion. The Mexican is 30 years old and has been on the professional scene since 2006, he boasts a credible record of 39-5 (15 KO’s) and is showing no signs of stopping

with this fight scheduled to be his fourth of the year.

Vazquez hasn’t lost since 2015 and will also see this as a chance to put himself right back in the mix on the world scene with a win that would surely see his ranking improve significantly. tThat experience may come in handy when he is thrown into the Scottish cauldron.

Vazquez is a good boxer tactically who will give Taylor an idea as to where he is at with regards to world level. If Taylor can come through this fight unscathed there is no doubt in my mind he will learn a hell of a lot from it, which will stand him in good stead for the future.

Taylor has moved through the ranks at a rate of knots and is now ranked 12th in the world

by Boxrec, which is some going only 10 fights into his career and I’m sure he will be looking to carry on with the head of steam he’s built up come November 11th.

The Scot will have to be patient and take his chances when they come but he mustn’t get carried away with the loud home support he will receive as The Puppet is a great defensive fighter and will look to capitalise on any mistakes. But then it all comes down to whether the risk is worth the reward.

Written By: Scott Milner @scottmilner88

ritten as plainly within the pained grimace of a concerned fan as on the damaged face of a cut fighter, the importance of blood in boxing can be strikingly obvious. A fight will be transformed completely by its sudden introduction. In a ruby flash, the atmosphere is altered.

Boxers of equal standing can quickly become predator and prey, with temperament largely dictating how the roles are fulfilled. Because if boxing is supposed to ask questions of character, a cut creates an interrogation. Some will be galvanised, while others will flounder. Yet the significance of blood in the sport is in no way diminished during the times it flows, as it is supposed to, inside, rather than out. Without the graphic vision of brutality, but potentially more dangerous, familial ties within boxing can dramatically determine the direction of fights, fighters and entire careers. Either way, this one is not for the squeamish…

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When a fighter is cut and the blood starts dripping, a curious scene develops. A second battle emerges within the extant first.

One boxer is given a target, the other a task to protect it from

deterioration. But it is not always the matador versus the raging bull, with the wounded face acting as the proverbial red rag.

Sometimes, the stricken fighter is snapped out of one gear and launched into a higher one, whether through desperation or renewed focus. In other instances, the unblemished fighter takes for granted the damage caused and steps back, or becomes too obvious in their efforts to make the injury worse.

How each fighter responds is determined as much by disposition as their respective positions on the scorecards.

One only needs to see Liam Smith almost revelling in the gore against Liam Williams or Julio Cesar Chavez’s controversial withdrawal in the Frankie Randall rematch, to see this point starkly highlighted. The sight of blood adds another element to the violent chess match, and ratchets up the tension in the room. Blood equals excitement, one of the cruel truths of boxing.

Just as scar tissue leaves its permanent mark, a perceived tendency to bleed can lead to impressions of weakness within a fighter, which remain resistant to being reversed.

Jorge Linares is a recent case of

this characterisation, though the example is trite and inaccurate.

The image of his bloodied face in defeat to Antonio DeMarco has allowed Linares to have the attributes of vulnerability and ‘paper skin’ attached to him, alongside more favourable ones.

Perhaps this gave the likes of Anthony Crolla false hope, when the Venezuelan’s immense skill is disregarded and the thought that it only takes one punch to cut him is adopted and the result will soon follow. The visual presence of blood helps create such strong reactions and perceptions from fan and fighter alike, but the blood of kin can be just as important when shaping the career trajectory of a boxer.

Family affairs in boxing are a wild assortment of successes and failures. The strong bond through bloodline can provide the unique alchemy for a fighter to reach the highest echelons of the sport, exemplified by Enzo and Joe Calzaghe. Floyd Mayweather would not be the icon he is now without being a part of the eponymous clan, even if he has explosively proclaimed that he is ‘not no ‘Junior.’’ The list is almost endless the Klitschko, Fury,

Smith and Eubank family names all immediately spring to mind.

But disaster can also strike when family and boxing mix.

Jim Lampley commented on the peril of having a father in the corner, during the ill-fated Leavander Johnson/Jesus Chavez bout. His words would become prophetic when Johnson, trained by his father Bill, tragically passed away five days after the fight. The love and good intentions can sadly be a detriment, as the will to see their progeny succeed may result in letting them take too much punishment. Whether spilling down the cheek or as a genealogical tie, blood plays a crucial role in what happens between the ropes.

Blood unties and unravels as much as it unites and underpins.

A fighter can choose to wither in its presence or let it invigorate them. Within a family, the influence is just as potent. If blood is what separates boxing from show business, then it is not just an addition of real brutality to the pageantry, but at times the foundation of the entire story.

Boxing is just show business with blood�

-Frank Bruno

Just as scar tissue leaves its permanent mark, a perceived tendency to bleed can lead to impressions of weakness within a fighter, which remain resistant to being reversed.

Written By: Liam Lawer @longcountboxing

Ancajas v Ancajas lan

v Conlan 18/11/2017 n 18th November, at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Carl Frampton returns to action in his first outing under Frank Warren against Horacio Garcia. While much has been said about the choice of Frampton’s opponent, the chief supporting contest, which features another Belfast born fighter, has drawn no such criticism and has fight of the night stamped all over it.

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The contest pits the hard hitting, reigning IBF Super Flyweight champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas (271-1, 18 KOs) against former Commonwealth champion Jamie “The Mexican” Conlan (19-0, 11 KOs), brother of famed Olympic medalist Michael. This promises to be a tremendous gelling of two all action styles.

“It’s a big stage, a big atmosphere and the biggest audience I will have ever fought in front of with BT Sport, so it’s a dream come true” said the Northern Irishman.

A native of Cavite City in the Philippines, Ancajas will be making the third defence of the belt which he won against unbeaten McJoe Arroyo in September 2016, although he will be having only his second fight outside of Asia when he steps through the ropes in what is sure to be a hostile environment.

While southpaw Ancajas has made two successful defences so far, both 7th round stoppage wins, he remains pretty much anonymous. Although, he did have a breakthrough performance on the Manny Pacquiao v Jeff Horn bill in Brisbane in July, when, after dominating the solid Tiera Kinoshita, he stopped him with a single devastating short right hand to the body. So while he may not be well known outside of the Philippines, Ancajas, 25, is a solid and very dangerous champion who at times, due to his footwork, actually resembles his more famous compatriot.

“It’s a big stage, a big atmosphere and the biggest audience I will have ever fought in front of with BT Sport, so it’s a dream come true”

Written By: The Sweet Scientist @boxingbloggerUk

Jerwin has, over the last few years, evolved into a compact, pressure fighter and is now beginning to mature, picking his punches better than at any other time in his career. Early on he was so eager to land, that he often threw himself off balance and missed the target.

He can however, telegraph his shots and this is where the Conlan camp must expose a weakness in the champion, who has yet to touch the canvas in the professional ranks.

To stand any chance in this fight, Conlan, 31, must get inside the sharp, stinging southpaw jab and avoid the power of the straight left hand which almost certainly always follows - reviewing footage of Jerwin, it is immediately apparent that this is his favoured punch combination - I lost count of how many times he would throw the jab and immediately follow it with a straight left, often using the same combination multiple times in a row. At times he is almost rhythmic in the way he puts together this two punch combination and having a defence strong enough to withstand this constant attack must be a worry for Conlan, especially given the power which is evident in the back hand.

In Jamie we pretty much know what we are going to get; his style is non-stop all-out action, although he can at times

smother his own work. He loves to back up his opponents to the ropes and throw left hooks to the body from his orthodox stance, working strongly on the inside using short uppercuts.

With his face first style, it’s often forgotten that Jamie was an All Ireland amateur champion, with 118 unpaid bouts and as such, he does have under appreciated boxing skills. However, he is vulnerable and sometimes easy to hit both upstairs and down, as his fight of the year battles with Junior Granados and Anthony Nelson have highlighted.

Conlan was down twice in both fights before rising to secure victory. Heart is not something which the Belfast man lacks.

Ancajas is the man in form going into this fight, coming off that career best win in Australia. Whereas Conlan had a desperate battle against Yader Cardoza in March, in a fight which was seen as little more than a mark time bout.

The pick therefore is for Jamie to box well in the opening rounds, keeping away from danger before Ancajas begins to close the range with that vicious straight right-left combination, prior to breaking Conlan down on way to a mid to late round stoppage somewhere around the 9th. While this one lasts it’s going to be a battle - gloves up.

v Con-

v sevor xo

s an

suspect I’ve been asked to write this as a result of various angry outbursts online. I’m Glaswegian, please forgive me.

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It’s true, I may have been partial to a mild overreaction.

Although, where do we draw the line on ‘trolling’? When does it become bullying? When does a ‘troll’ transition from ‘joker’ to ‘fair game’? It’s something I have often pondered.

I have met Dereck Chisora a number of times. I promise you, he is the most intimidating man I have locked eyes with. He’s not a bad man, but he glares at you intensely enough that you wonder whether you’ll get that hand back, before you even shake with it. He’s a very real man. I like that.

I bet you everything I own and everything my Dad owns (because I am broke) that you wouldn’t insult Dereck to his face. I know it, for a fact.

Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day... but give a man a keyboard, he’ll throw insults at genuinely hard men all day long!

Tony Bellew has been vocal on the subject, as have various personalities in the sport. Paul Smith Jr has had comments thrown at his young children, as has Dave Coldwell. But why?

What drives these people?

Are they real? I suspect we’ll never know, deep down.

Curtis Woodhouse handled his ‘troll’ with infamous savagery.

He hunted down his postcode, got in the car and provided commentary on the whole affair. He turned up at the ‘troll’s’ house, prepared to offer him a resolution. What happened?

A pathetic, embarrassing, keyboard written apology from a shell of a human being, wasting time and oxygen.

Athletes and celebrities have removed themselves from Social Media as a result of the constant flow of nonsense they receive. Ohara Davies and Spencer Fearon have shared racist messages they received. However, in a time where boxers of a lesser reputation rely on social media exposure to generate ticket sales and a fanbase,

can they literally AFFORD to shut down accounts?

PR companies are running Twitter accounts for boxers now. While this removes the boxer entirely from any abuse, it can also detach them from the fanbase they are seeking to entice.

Running a website that has posted some controversial pieces in recent months, I have received some thinly veiled threats. Some not so thin. My response has always been the same; come to a show and find me. I’ll be there, literally with a t-shirt pointing me out.

If you would like to move your internet beef into a 3D realm, come to a show. And if you look like you could beat me up? I’ll charm you and buy you beer.

Banter is banter. Just ask yourself one thing. When the screens are gone and the keys are broken, when the wires are torn and the internet is down... when the tap on your shoulder grabs your attention; was it all worth it?

Written By: Craig Scott @craigscott209

Written By: Paul Daley @TopClassBoxing Written By: Paul Daley @TopClassBoxing Written By: Paul Daley @TopClassBoxing

Kovalev v Shabranskyy 25/11/2017

“you can’t blame me for your loss when you quit. He quit!” he career of former Light Heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev looks, from the outside, as one in disarray. Two losses to Andre Ward, followed by a split with trainer John David Jackson, casts a different picture than the one which before 2016 seen ‘Krusher’ portrayed as one of the baddest men on the planet.

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The trajectory of his apparent downfall was a steep one; his first controversial loss to Andre Ward on points was followed by a second loss to SOG in the rematch which saw Kovalev unwilling to continue after what he thought was a low blow (not a fight ending shot), leaving fans with the feeling that he had quit, much like Roberto Duran did in his infamous “no mas” contest with Sugar Ray Leonard.

Jackson who has since left Camp Krusher claimed afterwards that Kovalev had no motivation at this juncture of his career: “I knew that we could have won the rematch but Sergey started making money, getting

big headed and he didn’t want to train hard anymore. Every camp was worse and worse...”

“I was doing some body work on Sergey, I made him fold up. I’m 54 years old and he couldn’t take it. I told Don, if Ward can get inside, withstand his early shots then he (Sergey) is in trouble and that is what happened. He proved me right.”

“Sergey likes to talk trash. He said a couple of things. He’s blaming me for the loss but let me tell you this: you can’t blame me for your loss when you quit. He quit!”

Both men have laid blame at the feet of the other, but even Sergey concedes that he needs to change if he is to become a world champion again.

Since losing the three 175-pound division titles, Kovalev spent time at home in Russia before visiting a monastery in Greece to clear his head and prepare mentally and spiritually for his return to boxing, according to Main Events.

“First of all, I understand that I

need to change my lifestyle,” Kovalev went on to say. “I should spend more time in the gym, not flying from here back to home, to Russia. I lost my shape.”

One things for certain, he will need to be at the top of his game next month. Redemption can be a long road, which will start with a testing fight in the shape of Vyacheslav Shabranskyy.

The once beaten Ukrainian will look to further heap misery on Kovalev’s broad shoulders when the two meet, looking to follow the blueprint that Ward has left in the wake of his retirement.

Shabranskyy’s only real rise in competition led to him being beaten, quite comprehensively, en route to a seventh round stoppage by Sullivan Barrera but he remains confident of putting together a performance which could come with a sting in the tail, especially when you factor in the fragility of Kovalev’s mindset.

“I’ve been waiting for this fight a long time. I will take this chance to show everyone my abilities and qualities in

the ring,” Shabranskyy said.

“My coach, Manny Robles, and I have been working on movement and defense, which together with my natural power will be more than enough to defeat a great fighter such as Kovalev. I’m proud to represent USA and Ukraine at this fight.”

Shabranskyy comes into the bout with confidence following back to back victories, the last being against Todd Unthank-May in August.

Any mishaps from Krusher could signal the end of a myth that has seen him portrayed as the big, bad wolf in the light heavyweight division. Yet, if he takes these losses in his stride, we could see a more vicious, wounded animal re-emerge with a point to prove and that could spell danger for Shabranskyy.

The wolf is at the door, huffing and puffing, and on November 25th at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, we will see if he is ready to blow Shabranskyy’s house down.

1962

Cassius Clay vs Archie Moore (1962)

Golden Years

Since turning professional shortly after winning the 1960 Golden Gloves and Rome Olympics, a young man named Cassius Clay had already gone a long way to establishing himself as one of the top contenders to Sonny Liston’s heavyweight crown. Modelling his cocky persona on the wrestler Gorgeous George and with the immense ability to back up his boastful talk, Clay was a promoter’s dream.

By November 1962 he had beaten all 15 of his opponents, 12 inside the distance. The Louisville Lip, as he had been christened by the press, was matched with veteran Archie Moore. Ageless Archie turned pro seven years before his younger adversary was even born and in the 27th year of his career had only recently been stripped of the world light heavyweight title after a decade as champion.

The two men had crossed paths when Clay’s management sent him to Moore’s training camp but after refusing to sweep the kitchen floor, Clay soon left.

“Don’t block the aisle and don’t block the door. You will all go home after round four.” proclaimed the precocious 20-year-old who had already earned a reputation for correctly predicting the round in which he would dispatch his opponents.

The equally confident Moore told the press, “I’ve developed a new punch…it’s called The Lip Buttoner.” Soon after the opening bell rang in front of the 16,000 strong Los Angeles crowd, it was clear why the younger man had been installed as favourite. Using his trademark lightning fast feet Clay danced in and out of range popping in rapier-like jabs through Moore’s

cross armed defence. Any attempt from the older man to close the gap were thwarted by punches from all angles and as the first round ended the supremely confident Clay raised his arms as if he had already won.

Moore’s attempts to control the centre of the ring in the second were to be in vain as a barrage of stinging pot shots staggered the veteran. Using all his experience Archie stooped low and covered up using his famous crab-like defence in an attempt to weather the storm. The relentless left and blistering combinations continued in the third.

Moore looked out of ideas as he watched his own shots easily evaded with seemingly effortless footwork. Clay, in total control, looked capable of ending it whenever he pleased but in order for him to maintain his 100% prediction record Archie’s torment was prolonged for one more round.

Moore stumbled forwards, still looking for the elusive Lip Buttoner as Clay circled backwards forcing him on to shots and a left-right combo saw Moore tumble to the canvas.

Up at eight he courageously continued but was down again almost instantly. He rose once more, but the writing was on the wall and after one more blistering combo Clay fulfilled his prophecy of a 4th round win.

Moore fought just once more, stopping wrestler Mike DiBiase on his boxing debut, before retiring with 186 victories and a record 132 knockouts.

It hardly needs mentioning, but The Lip would go on to become the first 3-time heavyweight champion in history under the name Muhammad Ali and few would disagree, the most famous athlete of all time.

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poet

Poetry should be like boxing, Short, swift, and powerful.

corner

corner poets ’ R To the point and presented so that you never see it coming.

A hook, a jab, a firm right cross.

Hard hitting and unforgiving, Never what you are expecting.

Watch it on your cable boxes, Cheer and scream till you’re obnoxious,

Like Boxing

Because poetry should be like boxing.

Written By: Sean Scribbles twitter.com/joshuadedricks • hellopoetry.com/seanscribbles/

B

s 12 ’ Rounds …

Adi Burden

12 wit

2. Who is your favourite active boxer?

Vasyl Lomachenko - the guy is incredibly talented.

3. Without naming names, have you got any examples of “politics in boxing”?

As we have seen in recent weeks, judges can ruin good fights.

4. What is the key to beating Joe Sherriff in your next fight?

To stay busy with my jab and to put the pressure on from the first bell.

5. What is the greatest fight of all time?

It’s not the greatest fight ever but the best fight I’ve seen live was Matthew Chanda vs Duke Micah. It was great fight which Micah won by a split decision.

6. Who do you think will win Groves or Eubank?

Groves on points I think.

7. What are your thoughts on the World Boxing Super Series?

It’s great for boxing! It means no one can duck anyone that way.

8. Who is the hottest UK prospect?

Josh Kelly is looking really promising. Adam Booth is doing a great job with him as you would expect.

9. How important is it to remain undefeated?

It’s not that important to stay unbeaten. You never lose, you always learn.

10. What is the hardest thing about boxing?

Easy. Being away from my little girl.

11. Which two fighters from any era would be your dream fight?

Floyd Mayweather vs Ray Leonard

12. What do you want your lasting legacy to be?

To be known as the guy who would fight anyone, anywhere, anytime and that I’d never to duck anyone.

Burden

1. Who is your favourite all time boxer?

Floyd Mayweather, for obvious reasons.

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Next Month’s Issue: December 1st

Next Month’s Issue: December 1st Preview: Lomachenko vs. Rigondeaux (Dec 9) Billy Joe Saunders vs. Lemieux (Dec 16) Bellew vs. Haye (Dec 17)

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