Issue 17 cleverly interview by Box Mad Magazine

BMM Exclusive with Matchroom fighter Bradley Saunders

NATHAN CLEVERLY: “BELLEW THINKS HE CAN BULLY ME; I’M GOING TO STAND UP TO HIM AND SMASH HIM DOWN”

The Axe Man arrives in America

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x N A T H A N CLEVERLY INTERVIEW

EDITORS N O T E S

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BMM P4P TOP 10

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

tHE AXE M A N ARRIVES IN AMRICA

BRADLEY SAUNDERS INTERVEW

MENTAL HEALTH IN BOXING

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EDITORS NOTES x

Greetings fight fans and welcome to Issue 17 of Boxing Mad Magazine, as we head into fight week for the big rematch between cruiserweight foes Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew. Cleverly took the time to talk to BMM ahead of the Sky Box Office pay-per-view clash and pulled no punches about what he intends to do to his bitter rival on fight night. Read the exclusive interview on (page 10). Meanwhile, our writer Peter Wells previews the bumper Matchroom bill, also assessing the best of the undercard action (page 28).

EDITOR JACK SUMNER

Jamaican hotshot Nicholas Walters is featured in ‘The Axeman Arrives’ (page 14 ) and David Mathews examines the often overlooked issue of mental health in boxing (page number). And following his dominant knockout victory over Kubrat Pulev on Saturday, James Bhamra takes a look at the Wladimir Klitschko’s standing amongst the greatest heavyweights in history (page 6 ).

PAGE DESIGNS CAL HARRIS

All this and more, plus news and the best of the action from around the world covered in this issue. . . enjoy reading! Jack Sumner Editor

P4P

Our pound-for-pound rankings are tabulated from our writers' individual lists and are updated every issue. Inactivity for twelve months or more automatically omits a fighter from the list.

WRITERS - PETER WELLS JACK SUMNER

1. Floyd Mayweather – Welterweight, USA. 47-0 (26 KO). WBC/The Ring welterweight champion, WBC/WBA (Super)/The Ring light middleweight champion.

DAVID MATTHEWS

2. Guillermo Rigondeaux – Super bantamweight, Cuba. 14-0 (9 KO). WBA/WBO super bantamweight champion.

JAMES BHAMRA

3. Manny Pacquiao – Welterweight, Philippines. 56-5-2 (38 KO). WBO welterweight champion.

ANSON WAINWRIGHT

4. Roman Gonzalez – Light flyweight, Nicaragua. 40-0 (34 KO). WBC/The Ring flyweight champion.

ADAM CANAVAN

5. Juan Manuel Marquez – Welterweight, Mexico. 56-7-1 (40 KO).

issue 16 cover edit by LDN _BOX

6. Timothy Bradley – Welterweight, USA. 31-1, (12 KO). 7. Wladimir Klitschko – Heavyweight, Ukraine. 62-3 (52 KO). WBA (Super)/IBF/WBO/The Ring heavyweight champion

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8. Carl Froch- Super middleweight, UK. 33-2- (24 KO). IBF super middleweight champion. 9. Sergey Kovalev – Light heavyweight, Russia. 26-0-1 (23 KO). WBA/WBO/IBF light heayweight champion. 10. Gennady Golovkin – Middleweight, Kazahkstan. 31-0 (28 KO). WBA middleweight champion. issue #15 NOVEMBER 2014

m a i n e v e n t NE W S

Chris Eubank Jr failed, yet again, to show up to a press conference to promote his upcoming fight with Billy Joe Saunders, leaving promoter Frank Warren seething with the second-generation middleweight star. Eubank Jr is due to meet Saunders on the undercard of the bumper Chisora-Fury rematch at London’s ExCel Arena on the 29th of November, but his no show earlier this month was the second time in which he missed a press conference to formally announce the fight. Saunders and his trainer, Jimmy Tibbs, both managed to attend, flying back from Marbella specifically to be there, but Eubank Jr and his team on the other hand were nowhere to be seen. Warren, attempting to promote the chief support of his show entitled ‘Bad Blood’, was left infuriated. “This really angers me,” the veteran British promoter vented, “I’m apologising to you all, but I don’t feel like I should be apologising. The one who should be apologising is Chris Eubank Sr.” Eubank Sr was getting the bulk of the blame for the incident from Warren. “I don’t think it’s the son, in fact I’m certain it’s not the son,” Warren said, “He (Eubank Sr) is the most awkward person I’ve had to deal with.” The reason given by Eubank Sr as to why his son didn’t make the press conference was that he feared that Saunders may ‘put his hands on his son’. But Warren had his own theory as to why they didn’t show up: “I do not accept what he’s saying here, I genuinely do not think he wants young Chris facing Bill before the fight. I think it has a lot to do with what happened with Chris Eubank Sr when he fought Steve Collins,” referring to when Collins got into Eubank Sr’s head with his claims of being hypnotised before their first fight. Saunders was slightly less irritated than his promoter. In response to Eubank Sr’s worries he said “I’ve never once slapped anyone. Why would I slap him now when I’ve got the whole fight to punch him? There’s no mind games, I’m in the shape of my life. I could fight tonight.” Saunders also placed most of the blame on Eubank Sr, but did not completely absolve Jr from his part in the stunt. “I think it’s his dad more than anything. But there comes a time, you’re twenty-five years old and you’re a man and start making your own decisions.”

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Both Warren and Saunders sympathised with the media in attendance and Warren asserted that Eubank Jr was contracted to attend the other press conferences that are set for the future. If he doesn’t attend them, he added, then he will be forced to take legal action. This incident didn’t shine a positive light on the sport, but the bottom line is that we hope things like this don’t overshadow what a great fight this is and we also hope that affairs like this don’t stop the fight from taking place. Adam Canavan issue #15 NOVEMBER 2014

Wladimir Klitschko: A great, but how great? T

he heavyweight division has long been boxing’s most prestigious weight class. Its fighters have been the glamour boys of their eras, and most of them have transcended the sport and gone on to become household names. Muhammad Ali is the first example to roll of the tongue, but others such as Joe Frazier and George Foreman (although a certain grill may have also played a part in his celebrity) also achieved household fame. To transcend the sport of boxing and become a well known figure to the average Joe is not easy however. A certain charisma, an ease with the media and fights with other great fighters of your time, are just some of the factors required to help a boxer become a star.

Wladimir Klitschko, some would say, has none of these. The current heavyweight ruler does not have the charisma of someone like a Floyd Mayweather, nor does he trash talk other opponents. All of these are things he could do if he really wanted to, but instead he chooses not to. However, one thing he has no control over is the calibre of the heavyweights in his era, and unfortunately the powers that be have dealt him an underwhelming hand. Klitschko has fought in possibly the most meagre era the heavyweight division has ever known. Not so long ago, in the nineties, fighters like Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis were fighting in their primes – give or take – during the same era. Wladimir just about missed out on this party and instead, for the most part of his career, has fought in contests that were pretty much won before he entered the ring; such has been the lack of challenging opposition during his

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reign as heavyweight champion. But what if it was possible to put Klitschko in with the greats of the heavyweight division from times gone by. How would Klitschko do against Jack Dempsey, the man who had thunderous power in either hand, or a prime Mike Tyson? In reality, we’ll just never know. But it’s fun to debate, so let’s give it a go.

Wladimir Klitschko vs Jack Dempsey To win his first world title, Jack Dempsey took on the giant Jess Willard. At 6’6” and weighing in at 245lbs, Willard was huge compared to Dempsey, who weighed in at just 184lbs and stood at 6’1” – a cruiserweight by modern standards. However, from the opening bell, the rock-fisted Dempsey managed to nullify Willard with his speed and power, knocking him down on multiple occasions and ultimately knocking him out inside three rounds. With Klitschko being a similar specimen to Willard in terms of height and weight (he stands at 6’6” and usually weighs around the240lbs mark) we can assume Dempsey would not feel out of his depth against an opponent of Wladimir’s size. Klitschko however, is no Willard. His greater size and powerful jab, which would keep Dempsey at range and off balance all night, is a combination that would give Dempsey headaches. Size would matter here and it all points to a Klitschko win.

Wladimir

Klitschko

Joe

Louis

Although Muhammad Ali is the wider known name in society, Joe Louis is THE man in the all-time heavyweight discussion. He defended his title a record twenty-five times over

the course of twelve years, beating the likes of Jersey Joe Walcott and Max Baer, eventually losing his title to Rocky Marciano, in what was effectively a passing of the heavyweight torch. With power in both hands, blinding speed and an effective jab, Louis would be a formidable opponent in any era. If you want to see something really amazing look up his fight with Baer, in particular the triple left hook he throws. It’s a thing of beauty, speed and power, and enough to make any opponent think twice about facing the Detroit man. However, in this match up, the 6’2” Louis would be vastly inferior in size to Klitschko, and his style, some would say, is tailor made for someone like Wladimir. The Ukranian giant would be prepared to pump out his jab and put the crowd to sleep, whilst smothering on the inside if Louis was to somehow get himself into range. It may annoy some purists of the sport, but a Klitschko win is on the cards here again.

Wladimir Klitschko vs Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali, the greatest. Fast hands, quick feet, respectable power all combined with a jab that matches Klitschko’s for effectiveness. Whilst Wladimir would be the bigger man once again, it wouldn’t necessarily have any effect on the outcome of the fight. The ‘Louisville Lip’ would just have too much for the plodding Klitschko and he could dance circles around the big Ukrainian and fire off blistering counter right hands to nullify the jab, his opponent’s main weapon, all night long. I think Ali could thus find a way to penetrate Wladimir’s defence and expose the glaring chink in his opponent’s armour – his chin. I see an Ali knockout late in the fight, perhaps the 11th or 12th round.

Wladimir Klitschko vs Mike Tyson Wladimir’s reign has been so dominant over the last few years that we often forget he’s been knocked out three times, and to this day many believe he has a glass jaw, something that his extremely effective defence has managed to cover up, apart from a few nail biting moments against Samuel Peter in their first fight. It begs the question though, how would Klitschko do against possibly the hardest hitting and most feared heavyweight of the modern era, if the latter focused and in his absolute prime? That man is of course Mike Tyson. ‘The baddest man on the planet’ as Tyson was known, tore through the heavyweight division like a wildfire in the mid to late 80’s, knocking out opponents left, right and centre, until his career eventually came tumbling down around him. A fight between Iron Mike and issue #15 NOVEMBER 2014

Klitschko in their relative primes poses many q u e s t i o n s . How would Tyson deal with the size of Klitschko? Has Wlad’s chin matured with age? In my opinion, Tyson’s power would be too much for Wlad. Power is power, and as good as Wlad’s defence is, he is bound to get caught by the bobbing and weaving Tyson at some point in this mythical fight. My guess is Mike manages to land one on that suspect chin and once Tyson lands, Klitschko goes down and stays down.

Wladimir Klitschko vs Rocky Marciano Rocky Marciano was so good, they made a movie about him. O.K. the Rocky movies may not exactly be about him, but the character and style of Rocky Balboa is inspired by Marciano. Weighing in at roughly 185 pounds during his career at a height of 5’10, Marciano would also be classified as a modern day cruiserweight, but his times were different times. He retired the great Joe Louis and would go on to have a storied career, beating Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore and Jersey Joe Walcott (twice) by knockout and eventually retiring undefeated after 49 victories. But, with potentially as much as 60 pounds on Marciano, a reach advantage of 13 inches and a height advantage of 8, not to mention Wladimir’s superior technique, I cannot fathom anything other than a Klitschko win. Whilst Marciano was as persistent as a mosquito, and brings respectable power to the table, it’s not enough to challenge Wlad in my books. The big man uses his size advantage to bully Marciano around the ring all night and though the teak-tough Marciano survives to the bell, it leads to a competitive UD for Wladimir.

Wladimir Klitschko vs Vitali Klitschko Klitschko vs. Klitschko. A unification fight that leads to an undisputed champion and, finally, an answer to the question of who was the better brother. Whilst people have wondered what the outcome of a fight between the pair would be, there’s never really been a clamour for the fight like there has been for a

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Wladimir Klitschko: A great, but how great?

Pacquiao-Mayweather matchup. That’s because both brothers, who are extremely close, have always made it clear that they have no intention of fighting one another and understandably so. They have both said that they used to have brutal sparring sessions with one another back in their amateur days, though their mother soon forced them to stop and they haven’t traded blows since. Vitali, the elder brother by five years, has the highest knockout percentage of any heavyweight ever at 95%. Although it has come against mostly below par opposition. As the aggressor, and a come forward fighter, I can see big brother catching the judges eye’s throughout the fight, landing the more telling punches and basically making himself the busier fighter. And, assuming both men will trade big shots, Vitali is better equipped to take a punch than his brother and has greater power. With Wlad’s punch resistance known to be shaky, if anyone is going to be knocked out it would be him. However, I’ll go with a convincing, but by no means easy, UD for Vitali. Although, in my opinion, Wladimir does beat Joe Louis for example, it’s hard to see Wladimir’s career ever matching up against that of ‘The Brown Bomber’. The plain old truth is that, whilst we know Wladimir is very good, can we ever accept him as one of the true all-time greats, based on the fact that his level of opposition is inferior to nearly every fighter on the above list? For example, it’s probably fair to say that Wladimir’s greatest victory came against either Chris Byrd or David Haye. These are two men who, in the era of Louis or Dempsey, would have been one of many contenders for the title, rather than THE man. In Ali’s era, possibly the greatest the heavyweight division has seen, these two would have been in the lower top 10 of the rankings, at a push! They do not match up to the likes of George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Earnie Shavers, Ken Norton and Floyd Patterson in particular. The many other people Klitschko has defended his belts again simply don’t match up to the level of competition these other men fought in their careers, so whilst he continues to dominate the division, we can all be forgiven for wondering just how he would have fared against a real world class opponent. JAMES BHAMRA issue #15 NOVEMBER 2014

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NATHAN CLEVERLY: “BELLEW THINKS HE CAN BULLY ME; I’M GOING TO STAND UP TO HIM AND SMASH HIM DOWN” Anson Wainwright

Currently the Welshman is ranked WBC (No. 15), WBA (No. 9), IBF (No. 10) and WBO (No.6). As well as Cleverly-Bellew the Matchroom event will be shown live on SKY Box office with a full supporting undercard scheduled to include James DeGale vs. Marco Antonio Periban and George Groves meets Denis Douglin at super middleweight. Scott Quigg puts his WBA 122-pound title on the line against Hidenori Otake, while Jamie McDonnell defends his WBA bantamweight crown against Walberto Ramos. Callum Smith steps up to face Nikola Sjekloca and Anthony Joshua continues his development against Michael Sprott.

Anson Wainwright

the

- What are your thoughts rematch with Tony Bellew?

Nathan Cleverly

- Looking forward to it, it’s a fight I knew would happen when I moved into the cruiserweight division. It was the original plan when I first moved up to the division and its great when a plan comes together and now the fights happening.

AW - You’ve each had two fights at cruiserweight, how do you assess the move up in weight for each of you?

hree years ago Nathan Cleverly travelled to Liverpool and successfully defended his WBO light heavyweight title against Tony Bellew by majority decision. Since then Clev (28-1, 14 knockouts) has lost his title to Sergey Kovalev while Bellew was stopped in six-rounds when he challenged for a second world title against Adonis Stevenson. Both have since moved up to cruiserweight, each has won two fights since and now meet in a highly anticipated grudge match on November 29. “I think we’ve both done well in the two fights,” Cleverly told BoxingMadMagazine™ in early November. “We’ve both done everything that we needed to do. We’ve had four fights between us, four KO’s, so it’s set up the fight nicely.” There is genuine animosity between the pair which stems back to when both were with Frank Warren. “We were both light heavyweight’s, but I was the number one light heavyweight in that stable,” explained Cleverly. “He wanted that position. He wanted to be number one and I had British, Commonwealth, European and world titles, he wanted those titles, I was in his way. “He was given the chance to fight for the world title against me, (I was) 24, in Liverpool, his hometown. All of that as a package makes him very bitter. I’ve prevented him from gaining those titles, I’ve prevented him from earning a lot of money and he’s bitter from that.” If Cleverly is able to repeat his previous victory over Bellew he’ll position himself 7 within striking distance of a world title. 012 NOVEMBER 2014 issue #15

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x NC - I think he’s look pretty decent in his first two fights; I looked pretty decent in my first two fights. I think the move up has suited us both and I think it could be a better fight than the first.

person. He’s very disrespectful, loud mouth; he’s a bully-boy. He’s a big guy, he’s got a big mouth he thinks he can bully people. He thinks he can bully me, you stand up to a bully and I’m going to stand up to him and smash him down.

AW - You know each other well from having shared a ring in 2011, what will you AW - You’ll be fighting Bellew in front of his take from that fight and bring into this fight? hometown fans at the Echo Arena for the second time. It’s very commendable that you’re willing to NC - I think this fight is going to be similar but face him there, why did you decide to fight him there when you could have fought at a neutral venue? more explosive, I think because we’re bigger. I think a similar version as the first fight; we’re both have the same styles from the first fight, NC - Originally it was made for Sheffield. none of us have changed dramatically. I think it’ll Myself and Bellew and Kell Brook on the card, be a similar version of the first fight and it’s going Kell Brook got injured so that fight fell through. to go the same way and I think we’re both more I got told from good sources that Bellew was explosive and something’s got to give. I don’t sulking because it was in Sheffield, he was think it’s gonna be a 12-round fight, I think moaning because it wasn’t in Liverpool but when something’s got to give at some point at this weight. the fight fell through (because of Kell Brook’s injury) we went back to Liverpool to fight. I AW - There is no love lost between the two of you? agreed to it I’ve got no issue with it, I’ve been there before, I’ve defeated him before in Liverpool it’s just a matter of doing it again, pressing NC - Not at all, we dislike each other an the repeat button and I’ve got no problem with it. awful lot. He hates me; he wants to hurt me bad, he hates me. He hates me because I’m a big rival of his; I’ve prevented him from gaining several titles because I’ve been in his way. I prevented him, he’s bitter from the first loss. I went to Liverpool as a 24-year-old defending my title, he’s still bitter from that, he’s not got over it. He wants revenge and payback and I want to silence this guy once and for all. I hate the way he looks, I hate the way he speaks, I hate the way he sounds and I just want to silence him once and for all.

He hates me because I’m a big rival of his; I’ve prevented him from gaining several titles

Whenever you’re both AW - You’re now fighting at cruiserweight, together you seem to be more of a calm tell us about that move up in weight? individual whereas he seems quite incendiary?

- That’s just in my nature, I’m quite laid back and just calm and composed about it. I’m not going to get het up about what he’s got to say, he’s probably trying to rile me and antagonise me and probably wants a reaction but I’m not going to give it to him.

NC - It’s a big jump up in weight, you’re talking

nearly two-stone, a massive jump up but I’ve done it properly, I’ve taken my time, I’ve not rushed, I’ve done my strength training, I’ve got a good diet I’m feeling good at the weight. I’ve got plenty of energy, I feel sharp, I feel strong, my power has grown nicely and shown in my f I’m staying true to myself, staying calm being me, he can do all the talking, all the mouthing, irst two fights. Yeah, I’m in a good place the disrespecting, that just sums him up as a mentally and physically I’m feeling good.

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It’s been a good move for me so far.

NC -

All I’ll say to him is keep hating. It feels good that someone has that much hate for AW - You’ve also changed things around me because I must be doing something in your team and promotional set up? right if somebody hates you that much. I’m going to continue to be successful and the NC - I’ve changed promotional set up, I’ve next stop for me is success for me over him. changed trainer. It’s been a massive change for me the last year or so. I’ve made all the decisions myself, I’ve took it all on my own back. Ultimately, I’ve done what’s best for me.

BMM

I’ve been promoted by Matchroom in the last couple of fights, it’s gone well. It’s clean it’s tidy, no hassle. Hopefully it can continue.

AW champion goals do

Having been a world at light heavyweight, what you still have in boxing?

NC - You keep on setting goals in life, obviously my

goal was to become light heavyweight champion of the world and that was a dream accomplished. You’ve got to keep setting goals to keep the fire burning to keep hungry to give you targets and my next goal ideally would be to became a two-weight world champion as a cruiserweight and that would put the icing on the cake for me and I’m maybe two fights away, this next fight and getting a shot at a world title, that’s my burning ambition inside me.

When you look at the cruiserweight division, what are your thoughts on it and the current champions?

- There’s no really household names but in terms of world champions they’re very good world champions, very solid. They’re all top champions; I think they’re all good. I think Marco Huck is probably the standout in terms of the bigger name and maybe one of the better ones. Whoever you fight it’s going to be a tough fight against whoever holds the title. Marco Huck has said he wouldn’t mind the winner and that would be another big fight in the future.

AW - Lastly do you have a message for Bellew? issue #15 NOVEMBER 2014

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The

Axe

Jack Sumner

Man

America

In late summer every year, tropical storms threaten to wreak havoc on the West of the Atlantic, as devastating winds originating in the Caribbean sweep their way North to the United States. The damage is of course concentrated in the East, but this year, America’s West Coast felt the full force of a Category 5 hurricane. The eye of the storm hit the StubHub Center in Carson, California, on October 18th.

amaican featherweight sensation Nicholas Walters came of age with a sixthround knockout of f o u r - d i v i s i o n c h a m p i o n Nonito Donaire, dropping the Filipino veteran in the third round and dominating en-route to the emphatic finish. That came with a gale-force overhand right that rendered Donaire semi-conscious and face-first on the canvas; he narrowly beat the count, but staggered into referee Raul Caiz Jr’s arms and the official wisely brought a halt to the contest.

super bantamweight, was incredibly gracious in defeat and full of honest praise for his conqueror. “He knocked the f*****g sh** out of me!” Donaire told HBO’s Max Kellerman in his post-fight interview, “He’s an amazing fighter, amazing champion man, I take my hat off to him.” “I thought that I’d be good in this weight class as I’m getting older, but I’m not going to take anything from Walters, I was at my best. I’ve never trained this hard, I’ve never, ever, ever trained this hard, I was away from my family because I knew the power he has and the type of person he is inside that ring. He overwhelmed me and knocked the sh** out of me.”

Walters became the WBA “super” champion at 126lbs, having entered the bout as holder of the sanctioning body’s “regular” crown. But over-complicated boxing politics aside, there were more important reasons why the win was the most significant of the 28-year-old’s career so far. In his American television debut on HBO, the manner of Walters’ victory ushered in a new star in the talent-laden featherweight division.

Walters is no doubt freakishly big at the weight, standing 5’7” and with a 73” reach that gave him a five-inch reach advantage over Donaire, which was evident from the continued dominance he enjoyed with the jab. The man from Montego Bay landed fourty-four jabs to Donaire’s four throughout the six rounds and used that leverage to set up his concussive power shots. In the final three rounds, Walters out-landed Donaire sixty-four to twenty in total punches. Donaire had never been knocked down The writing was clearly on the wall after the first before, let alone stopped and certainly never knockdown came towards the end of the third. physically dominated like he was by Walters. In the wake of the fight many observers That was scored with a short right pointed to the former champion’s age (thirty-two uppercut that landed directly on the button and on November 16th) and his size disadvantage, dropped Donaire to his knees, to register the but Donaire himself made no excuses when first knockdown of the Filipino Flash’s fabled interviewed in the immediate aftermath. The career. Donaire’s reliable chin withstood the former flyweight, who was arguably at his dev- onslaught that followed, at least for the best astating best as a Fighter of the Year winner at part of the next three rounds, but it was only a

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matter of time. With one second remaining in the sixth and with Donaire on the attack, Walters showed great reflexes to pull back and avoid his opponent’s vaunted left hook, before delivering the fight-ending right that landed behind the ear and literally chopped Donaire down. It was an appropriate finish from a fighter who has become known as the ‘The Axe Man’, with a right hand that has been felling featherweights like Californian Redwoods. Now unbeaten in twenty-five fights, twenty-one of Walters’ victims have not survived the scheduled distance. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who co-promotes Walters with Leon Margules of Florida-based outfit Warriors Boxing, was understandably excited about the pop that his fighter possesses. “I have never seen a featherweight with as much power as Walters,” Arum said. “I’ve seen featherweights with a lot of power but nothing with the concussive power this kid has. The one question I had was could he take a punch and he proved he could.”

j Follow Boxing Mad Magazine @BoxingMadMag

Arum was referring to the one moment of vulnerability that Walters displayed in the fight, when at the end of the second round Donaire landed a left hook that momentarily staggered him. It was the kind of trademark shot that Donaire has frequently finished guys with, at least at lower weights, but by the time he returned to his stool Walters had already recovered and simply switched up a gear when the action resumed in the third.

Lee Selby scored an impressive stoppage of unbeaten Joel Brunker to become mandatory challenger with the IBF. Their champion, unbeaten Russian Evgeny Gradovich, defends his title against rising Puerto Rican Jayson Velez on November 29th, with the winner expected to defend against Selby in the new year. Formidable veteran Jhonny Gonzalez occupies the WBC crown in the midst of a career resurgence since icing the much-hyped Abner Mares in“I got a little bit confident and he caught side a round, whilst Mares himself is now on the me with a good shot,” the Jamaican said. comeback trail and targeting a rematch. Then “Boom! I recuperated from the shot but it there’s the WBO titleholder, Vasyl Lomachenko. was a very good shot. He caught me clean. But I had a job to do and I got it done.” Widely considered to be the greatest amateur boxer of all time, Lomachenko made waves in the Walters’ homeland has previous when it comes sport last October when he turned professional to producing fearsome punchers. Former three- and earlier this year challenged for a world title weight world champion Mike ‘The Body Snatch- in only his second pro bout. He dropped a close er’ McCallum hails from the island and Jamaica decision to the teak tough veteran Orlando Saliwas the birthplace of Canada’s Donovan ‘Razor’ do, but the Mexican champion lost his title on the Ruddock. For the past decade or more, Glen scales and Lomachenko would fight Gary Russell ‘The Road Warrior’ Johnson had largely carried Jr for the vacant crown – dishing out a boxing lesthe nation’s pugilistic hopes. That was at least son to the precocious American to become a titleuntil Walters arrived, and arrived now he has. holder in what was officially his third paid outing. The featherweight division is stacked. A week As the Ukrainian hotshot is also handled by before Walters cut down Donaire, Welshman Top Rank, Arum is plotting a collision course

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for Walters and Lomachenko now that he has the planet’s two most prominent featherweights within his stable. Fans have begun to salivate at the thought of the match-up, though if boxing fans know Arum, they know he’s likely to let it ‘marinate’ for a little while.

Walters would have a massive eight-inch reach advantage over Lomachenko and has a significantly longer reach than any of his other top featherweight contemporaries. His wingspan is unusually large for a man of his height; typically a man with arms as long as his would be found fighting in the middleweight division. Ring Magazine’s Doug Fischer is on record as saying that Walters is the biggest featherweight he’s ever seen. The Jamaican is somehow able to boil a solid lightweight frame into a featherweight body and at the same time maximise his greatest assets.

In the meantime however, there are plenty of appealing fights that can be made for Nicholas Walters. Argentinean Jesus Andres Cuellar – who likely sent Juan Manuel Lopez into retirement with a brutal second round knockout in September – could well be next as the WBA’s mandatory challenger, in what would pose to Can Walters go on to rule at 126? Lomachenko be exciting clash between two heavy hitters. would no doubt be the favourite, but Walters has laid a marker down as the most dangerous Whoever Walters is matched against, he’s a challenger to the Ukranian’s number one standfrightful prospect for any featherweight. His kind ing in the division. Whether the fight happens or of power has not been seen at 126lbs since Prince whether the Jamaican star takes his heavy hands Naseem Hamed in the nineties, he looks to have a up through the weight classes, ‘The Axe Man’ has reliable chin and possesses a solid defence backed certainly arrived and has a bright future in the sport. up with great reflexes that lend to his ability to counter punch. For a relatively inexperienced fighter also, at least at the top level, he attacks very patiently and rarely falls victim to over-eagerness. To magnify all of that, his sheer size at the weight is perhaps his most frightening attribute. issue #15 NOVEMBER 2014

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BMM Exclusive with Matchroom fighter Bradley Saunders

DAVID MATTHEWS

Q & A with the WBO Inter Continental Champion BMM: Are you excited at the realisation you will be fighting on bigger shows and hitting a bigger tv audience now you’re on Sky?  Brad: Yeah definitely, it was a big factor when my team and I discussed options. I want to be a household name in Britain and further along hopefully around the World, Sky is a massive platform and a great tool to help me achieve that.  BMM: I know your helps sell a lot of personally for all your she may need a kiosk garden come h o m e c o m i

Mam tickets fights, in the Aprils n g !

Brad: (Laughs) Too right, she’ll be wanting shares in Matchroom mate. You have to think of the names I’ll be sharing a card with like my pals Luke Campbell and Anthony Joshua, others like Callum Smith – there’s so much talent here and I’m sure this will help propel me onto the next level.

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BMM: Has Eddie made you city when I’m with the lads and any promises in regards have a laugh. I always sell big of title fights?  ticket numbers and it would be great to pack a big arena Brad: Yes of course, I mean all in Newcastle and headline in the title holders are Matchroom front of my Family and Friends. fighters so that in itself makes   fights easier to make. I’m a title BMM: As we know your holder myself so I’m bringing contract with Frank Warren something to the table as well. had expired, was he shocked to I’m not focused on titles but I am hear you weren’t renewing it?  focused on being number one, the rest will happen naturally.  Brad: I phoned him personally to let him know which is more BMM: At the press conference than a lot of boxers would today Eddie talked about you do, Frank has been good for headlining in Newcastle in April me up until this point and al2015, that must be one of the though he was upset I think things you have dreamed about he realises it’s just business!  having fought here a few times?   BMM: Did you feel disloyal?  Brad: Yes that is massive, I’m a North East lad from Brad: Loyalty has nothing to Durham and think Newcastle is do with it, I’ve had best friends fantastic. I don’t want people be disloyal to me but you just to think I’m jumping on the move on. It’s business and football bandwagon here as always remember as a fighter it’s not my sport, my love is for I’m one loss away from losing my value! Do you think if I’d the City. When I’m home with been no good Frank or whoever Stephanie this is where we come it was would have stood by me? for a good night out and a dance,   likewise I come out around the BMM: A very good point,

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look at your good friend Tom is saying I’ve fought no one! All Stalker and how one loss of the people saying this and he is being written off!  rubbish have had a chance to face me and ran the other way, Crazy!  Brad: Exactly, it’s ridiculous.  BMM: Will you be staying in BMM: How has Tom coped since Marbella and the loss, have you spoke with him?  sticking with MGM?  Brad: Yeah Toms fine, he was a little down because of what happened but he knows the only way forward is to work hard and try to lift his stock by getting back to winning ways.   BMM: Now you and Jack Catt would be a fight to watch, both have crazy power at the weight.  Brad: (Laughs) That would be just bombs away pal!

Brad: Definitely, I team over there family are settled. reason at all to go

be lower level just to get you started and put you out there?  Brad: We understand it’s short notice so I’ve agreed to fight a Welter if that’s all we can get, it’s my first show for them and a chance to shake off some ring rust over 8 Rounds, the real stuff starts in January.

love the and my BMM: Is it a worry that I have no Eddie could use you to fill cards elsewhere.  against lower opposition early on, and would this affect your BMM: Will your motivation and performance? Matchroom affiliation   affect sparring availability with Brad: No it’s just this first bout to Frank Warrens fighters now?  shake of the time out I had with the injury, Eddie knows what Brad: No not at all, Seamus trains I’m after and I’m confident he’ll us all and most are managed by deliver. I have no intention of Daniel – we are one big team taking backward steps in 2015, regardless of who promotes it’s forward only from there and you. We all want what’s best every fight will be for a reason.  for each other and I wouldn’t BMM even consider not sparring one of the lads because of who promoted them, it’s about the fighter and we all understand that.

BMM: Not a realistic option though as Jack currently brings nothing to the table for you?  Brad: He brings nothing full stop! Even whilst full of jubilation after his win over Tom he said “Anyone but Brad Saunders” when discussing future opponents! Nobody BMM: Looking towards the 22nd wants to fight me, yet everyone November, will your Opponent

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DAVID MATTHEWS

Mental Health: Boxing needs to tackle this together!

We cannot ignore this any longer!

oxing is a very glamorous sport upon first glance. The bright lights, the the big crowds and adoration appeal to the common man who looks on with envy at the champions of the squared circle. But when you scratch the surface, it soon becomes apparent that the reality of being a boxer is a very regimented and lonely existence, dieting and training for months at a time just to reach peak condition for that one big night.

after a significant event relating to a known name within the sport, when hushed promises of “we must do more to help” are thrown around for a week or two and then it fades back into the closet of secrets until the next unfortunate incident.

It is time to do something proactive and educate sportsmen about the signs of mental illness. We need to create avenues that sufferers can access confidentially and all join together to create a recognised support structure which the BBBofC will adopt as their flagship. “When your fighting career is over it’s like your life is over, we live for boxing” – Glenn McCrory. “In boxing the highs are much higher than normal, but the lows I want to look at an area of boxing that gets are much lower” – Jazza Dickens. little if any recognition and try to bring it the fore, attempt to break the stigma and look at ways to Big names in boxing that have been affectcreate a structured support system going forward. ed by mental health issues include Herol GraThe area to which I refer is mental health and ham and Frank Bruno – both of whom had depression. For many years the matter has been no available support and struggled alone highlighted intermittently but only discussed until they reached crisis point. Surely this is wrong 022

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in a sport that has advanced so much with regard to physical safety in recent years, yet has nothing in place when it comes to matters of the mind.  Why can no one see the necessity for a mental health awareness programme, counseling and advice and monitored allowances on drug tests for prescribed anti depressants?

more we talk about and accept that these things are affecting people within boxing the better. By opening the closet door and exposing this to be a very common illness in all walks of life, we can eradicate the stigma that prevents sufferers seeking help.

“I think it’s a great idea to highlight it. Big reason being that in boxing we are all supposed to be tough, but this isn’t physical” – Dennis Hobson. What about an education project visiting gyms to make young fighters aware of the risks involved with being a full time sports person, focusing on lifting the stigma and creating avenues of help for those unfortunate enough to be affected later in life. Sports people focus 100% on getting their body right and until recently were unaware of the importance of a healthy mind. The issue #15 NOVEMBER 2014

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x “Depression in any walk of life is a serious subject. But boxing is a sport where one may feel to show any emotion is a sign of weakness. It’s important for people within the sport to accept that people do become depressed, and cannot help the way they feel, yet talking to someone about it can make all the difference. A support system is a great idea. We should all be there for each other in this sport” – David Price. The Dean Powell Foundation are a new but determined group that are already making a difference in a lot of young people’s lives through their work, but with a gaping void that affects so many people in everyday life, they are setting out to gain support and ideas to form a multi disciplinary team to affect the issue positively within boxing. “More needs to be done to help, starting with awareness” – Ed Robinson.  The foundation’s co-founder Darren Hill said, “We really need support getting our message out there and to raise funds, a priority is to be able to afford our own premises. The British Boxing Board of Control need to be open to ideas and allow groups like ours the opportunity to help educate them in this area, focusing on a structure that is supportive of sufferers within the sport.”   “There should be a fund every promoter pays three percent of his shows earnings into, then retired boxers that have served the sport well should be able to access it for help after boxing” – Kofi Yates.  024

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We need funding to put together a team of experts to tackle every angle of this issue and educate boxing trainers on how to identify the early signs of depression in their fighters. An overall approach is the only way to do this.  Counseling hotlines manned twenty-four hours a day, a drop in centre and a mobile team visiting gyms around the country to offer support and education to young people within the sport. We would actively involve retired fighters to help with the education side of things and utilise their experiences to forewarn up and coming youngsters of the dangers. Before any of this can take place however we must raise our profile in order to have a voice that the higher authorities will listen to. I can’t thank all of the people who have helped us so far with donations and publicity, but I urge everyone else to get on board and make this happen.  BMM

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The Alien is brought crashing down to Earth!

Adam Canavan reports as living legend Bernard Hopkins fails in his latest bid to make history . . .

is career has run like the script of a movie, but on Saturday, November 8th at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the latest instalment of the Bernard Hopkins story placed the leading man at the heart of a painfully difficult scene. We perhaps witnessed the final sighting of ‘The Alien’ in the ring, as unbeaten light heavyweight star Sergey Kovalev won each and every round en route to a unanimous decision, in what was one of the most eagerly anticipated fights in recent years.

The narrative of the IBF, WBO and WBA unification bout would become apparent very early on, in the first round in fact, as Kovalev knocked the ageless wonder down in the opening stanza. A clean right hand towards the end of the round sent Hopkins to the canvas for only the fifth time in his sixty-six-fight career and those who’d tuned in hoping to watch the 49-year-old make history – again – were immediately filled with dread about what was coming next. They could take solace however in the fact that Hopkins wasn’t badly hurt; his 31-year-old opponent had been advertised as a destructive puncher, but there’s whole lot more in the

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arsenal of the ‘Krusher’ from Russia. It wasn’t as though Kovalev had just overwhelmed Hopkins with his size or power; the Russian had outsmarted him to get the knockdown, trapping Hopkins in the corner and not letting him out, waiting patiently and forcing the old man to make a move. When he did, Kovalev was ready and pounced with a perfectly timed shot to knock him over. It wasn’t as explosive a start as we usually see from Kovalev, more a composed, patient opener, but even then he was landing some huge bombs. The fight never got better for Hopkins, who went into his shell a bit, but Kovalev still found the openings when he needed them and completely nullified the Hopkins offence. Before the fight, the perceptions of this being a 50/50 fight were based on Hopkins’ boxing ability and that he would be able to ‘outbox the puncher’ as he’d done so many times in the past. But it was Kovalev who was outboxing ‘The Alien’, who was far from a puncher, although at 2 months shy of his fiftieth birthday showed that he still had a fantastic chin as Kovalev caught him with heavy shots.

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The Alien is brought crashing down to Earth!

Throughout the twelve rounds Kovalev showed an excellent control of the distance and his boxing intelligence shone through everything else. His use of feints and his ability to cut off the ring kept Hopkins mind engaged through the whole fight and, though his power certainly helped keep Hopkins from engaging at times, that was the most important element. It seemed pointless for Hopkins to continue to be in there in the middle rounds and there were conversations in his corner of whether they should let it continue, but the veteran has never been stopped in his hall-of-fame career and it would have been sad if he hadn’t seen the final bell. Many people were willing Hopkins on to go and make history, to show why he’s an all time great, so it was quite hard to see him looking completely lost in the ring, something rarely seen throughout his long career. The twelfth round in particular however was quite brutal. Hopkins showed that, despite the beating he was taking, he still had spirit and a sense of humour as he stuck his tongue out at Kovalev, but this seemed to flick some sort of switch in the Russian, like some sort of sleeper agent that just heard his

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trigger word. All of a sudden he turned up the pace and really started to batter Hopkins, perhaps suggesting that he showed the old man too much respect earlier in the fight. Referee David Fields could have stepped in and put an end to the action, but didn’t and Hopkins took shots that no man his age should have to be taking. Kovalev was rightly given a shutout unanimous decision (120-106, 120-107 x2) to retain his WBO title & also rip the IBF and WBA titles away from the 49-year-old legend. He surely extinguished all notions that he was ‘just a puncher’, as he comprehensively outboxed & beat up Hopkins in a way that we had never seen before. Kovalev will surely be a star now and hopefully we can finally see the Stevenson fight, although Stevenson moved networks to avoid him before it’s doubtful that he’s going to change his mind at all after that display. If the Stevenson fight continues to elude Kovalev then there are still plenty of good fights in the division, such as his IBF mandatory Nadjib Mohammedi, former

titleholder Jean Pascal, WBA ‘regular’ titlist Jeurgen Braehmer or maybe fellow countryman Artur Beterbiev. If the latter continues to look impressive and destructive, then down the line that could develop into a real mega fight. However, the real question is ‘What next for Bernard Hopkins?’. He hasn’t made his mind up yet, but he doesn’t strike you as the type to retire on the back of that kind of performance. Perhaps Hopkins could still secure a fight with someone like a Stevenson, which is arguably still a very winnable fight for the man who’s defied the odds so many times before. Maybe he could also fight Braehmer for his lesser WBA strap and lay claim to another title, at fifty. Whatever he decides to do, Bernard Hopkins remains an inspiration to everyone in boxing. As the oldest champion in the sport’s history and at the age at which it was accomplished, he has already achieved something that will probably never be achieved again.

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future opponent confidence that they can carry Matthew into the late rounds with an opportunity to finish him off. Talk of Andy Lee and Martin Murray will be the only real fights out there that will be worth considering but even at that, it would be hard to see Macklin being either of them two guys after last nights performance.

MACKLIN STOPPED IN DUBLIN RINGSIDE REPORT In a sold out 3Arena in the docklands of Dublin, Matthew “Mack The Knife” Macklin’s (31-6, 20 KOs) career certainly took a deadly knifing from Argentine WBC International Champion opponent Jorge Sebastian Heiland (25-4-2, 13KOs). For both fighters it was a chance to become mandatory for the WBC World Title which is currently held by Migel Cotto.

Macklin was a massive favourite going into the contest but promoter Eddie Hearn had been very vocal about the tough test that was ahead for Matthew. The fight opened up with Macklin having success working Heiland’s body but the younger Heiland was keeping Macklin at distance with his superior jab and movement. From a relatively good start, things began to slowly change for the worse for Macklin as he began to lay against the ropes and let Heiland tee off on him. Heiland repeatedly catching him with hard straight left hands. The third was more or less a carbon copy of the second round except with the last 30 seconds seeing Macklin unleash a barrage of shots that stopped Heiland in his attack. This from my point was when the fight took a major

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downward spiral from Macklin. It was obvious from the fourth round that Mack the Knife was beginning to tire and Heiland was still as relentless as ever, pushing Macklin onto the ropes constantly and catching him with combination after combination. As each round passed from the fifth to the eight it was becoming a complete disaster and it was only a matter of time before Macklin could take no more. He did however rally back in the eight and you could make an argument that he won the round but it was really the last of the energy in the tank as the ninth round was hard to watch as Heiland bossed almost every second and really couldn’t miss as Macklin lay against the ropes and tried to hold on. Then the tenth round, a round that was not to last very long. Around 22 seconds in Macklin was forced into his own corner where Heiland once again unleashed a wicked cluster of shots leaving Macklin in a heap after a straight left followed with a perfect right hook right on the tip of the chin. Macklin will have to seriously consider where he goes from here because the fact that he was so spent after four or five rounds will give any

On the undercard we didn’t have to wait long to see the start and end of the much anticipated grudge match between Gary Spike O’Sullivan and Anthony Fitzgerald. The fight opened up with Spike keeping his hands low and showing he was the harder puncher. With his hands low he also had no respect for Fitzgerald’s power either. After a few left hooks that had Fitzgerald moving back, O’Sullivan landed a left uppercut that shook “The Pride of Dublin”, a few seconds later he landed the same punch and that was all she wrote as they say. A first round KO and a good statement from the Cork native. O’Sullivan called out Macklin after the fight but this has since been brushed off by Matthew who said “I would rather retire than to drop back down to that level”. Khalid Yafai put on a dominant performance against Everth Briceno in a twelve round contest. Yafai showed great composure and the body work he put on Briceno was incredible. The fifth round had Briceno down and hurt as the body shots became too much for the tough Nicaraguan. He got on his feet and went on to be put down another two times in the later rounds but all in all a great fight for Yafai as he was made to work very hard to earn this win. The scores ending with 119-106, 118-105 and 120-104.

DAMIEN McKINLEY

with and had Fiko hurt in the fifth round but Fiko was never really in the fight and the classier work came from the Irishman. A finishing score of 80-82 was exactly right. Luke Keeler, John Joe Nevin and Sam Eggington all scored first round knockouts. With John Joe Nevin it was an amazing atmosphere for the Irishman to actually walk, never mind get into a boxing ring after his horrific assault with left him with two badly injured legs back a number of years ago. Other results on the card included: Tommy McCarthy (4-4, 4KOs) vs Martin Horak (3-6, 2KOs) – McCarthy Win TKO2 Kofi Yates (9-1 (1KO) vs Oisin Fagan (27-10, 16KOs) – Yates Win RTD2 David Maguire (3-0, 1KO) vs Paul Morris (5-242, 3KOs) – Maguire Win TKO2 Ian Tims (10-3, 4KOs) vs Paul Drago (6-0-1, 1KO) – Drago Win RTD1 Declan Geraghty (6-1, 1KO) vs Jono Carroll (3-0, 1KO) Carroll Win DQ4

Anthony Crolla won all six rounds in his fight against Gyorgy Mizsei Jr in a pretty forgettable fight. Mizsei Jr was an awkward opponent and made Crolla work but thankfully Anthony made it through the fight unscathed because straight after the fight it was announced by Eddie Hearn that he will challenge Richard Abril on 23rd January 2015. Patrick Hyland Jr also won a landslide points in a good tough fight. Hyland Jr was expected to fight John Simpson but instead had to face off with Oscar Fiko. Hyland clearly won every round issue #15 NOVEMBER 2014

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MALEVOLENCE ON MERSEYSIDE

Both the headline acts are vulnerable and they both possess qualities that have taken them to become a world champion and a two-time world title challenger respectively. Cleverly (28-1, 14 KO’s) holds the upper hand, snatching the first

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Since that night three years ago both men have improved, Tony taking the WBC route to a world crown, a path that was derailed by a tough draw at home to Isaac Chilemba and a first round shock knockout of Chad Dawson by the new kid on the block, Adonis Stevenson. Bellew highlighted further improvements in his game, this time beating Isaac Chilemba in London, setting up a shot at the WBC king Stevenson. Meanwhile Cleverly came through three relatively routine defences of his WBO Light Heavyweight strap. But disaster struck in August 2013 when he was crushed by Sergey Kovalev

There may not be a world title on the line – or any title to be exact – they may have both been found wanting at the highest level and they may both be relatively new to the cruiserweight division. Yet this rematch between Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew has captured the imagination of casual and hardcore British fight fans alike. A hatred that broke out prior to their first meeting has exploded into life again, to a point where Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn has elevated this show to pay-per-view status. Justifiable or not, this event will draw good numbers and entertainment will not be lacking.

encounter by the tightest of margins; 114-114 and 116-113, 117-112 to the Welshman. ‘The Bomber’ Bellew (22-2-1, 14 KO’s) however was a sixteen-fight novice at the time and hadn’t stepped beyond domestic level, recording his best wins against Bob Ajisafe and Ovill McKenzie (twice). Nathan – making his first defence that night – made hard work of the contest. Many had expected his superior skills and speed to prevail, but Bellew dragged Cleverly into a war.

O 10%

athan Cleverly and Tony Bellew once again lock horns in the latter’s backyard, with the grudge rematch headlining a stacked show on Sky Box Office. ..

COMBAT. COMFORT. STYLE .

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@Knockoutclothin issue #15

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inside four rounds in his own backyard. There was no shame in that defeat, and there was no shame in Bellew’s failed attempt to topple Stevenson. ‘Superman’ soared to victory in six rounds, blitzing a worthy effort from Bellew in Canada.

be more up the Scouser’s street. Once ground is lost, it’s never easy to regain it and the Welshman may have to once again tough it out for the remainder of the contest. The former world champion has been there before though and has the goods to triumph again in similarly close Both set their sights on a new challenge, taking fashion. the leap up from 175lbs to cruiserweight. Cleverly has enjoyed two dominant victories It may not settle the dispute but this battle will while Bellew had to fight tooth-and-nail against once again provide fans with an entertaining the tough Valery Brudov – eventually prevailing contest, with fireworks almost guaranteed in the final round. That directed Tony to wiping between two evenly matched British fighters. out Julio Cesar Dos Santos, leading to heated Whoever comes out with their hand raised, both words between the pair at the Echo Arena in men are sure to feature with the cruiserweights Liverpool, the venue that will now once again be elite, but neither man can think about losing this host to the two bitter enemies. one. Nothing is staged about this rivalry, but it seems that Bellew has become more emotionally involved in the fracases. Cleverly has remained cool, while Bellew has told it how it is – making it clear on Sky Sports’ Ringside that he wasn’t thrilled about being present to help further promote the event. However Cleverly is just as bent on victory as Bellew, and it doesn’t take a psychologist to tell you that.

THE SUPPORTING CAST

That will be the case on November 22nd. Expect a gritty encounter with Cleverly gaining an early advantage, using range well, while Bellew is happy to bide his time, not rushing in to force the heat upon the away fighter. The home fighter will look to disrupt Cleverly’s rhythm so as not to take any consistent punishment that could hinder him later on in the contest.

DeGale, off the back of a career best win over Brandon Gonzalez, should have too much for his largely one-dimensional opponent.

The pick of the bunch on the undercard should be Olympic Gold medallist James DeGale (19-1, 13 KO’s) in arguably his toughest test to date against former world title challenger Marco Antonio Periban (20-2-1, 13 KO’s) of Mexico. DeGale looks unlikely to be on the path to a shot at a reluctant Carl Froch, but keeps himself in the world title picture in A knockout seems highly possible; Bellew has a dangerous contest he did not need to take. recognised his defensive weaknesses while Cleverly has learnt his lesson about trying too hard The Harlesden stylist will have to be at his best to tough it out when in deep. Cleverly has been a to see off the Mexican, but if he is on song gifted boxer from the start and a natural athlete, then he should come out victorious. Former while Bellew has perfected his trade – taking an WBC titleholder Sakio Bika was pushed to a education in the school of hard knocks before majority decision triumph over Periban, and injecting a tactical side to his game. Whichever Badou Jack was held to a draw. J’Leon Love way one learns the art, it makes not one ounce triumphed on points against Periban however of difference, because when they both reach the before he was taken out in three same level it’s anyone’s game. by Rogelio Medina.

Rising super middleweight star Callum Smith (14-0, 11 KO’s) takes a big step up in class against recent world title challenger Nikola Sjekloca (28-2, 8 KO’s). Another stoppage win would be mighty impressive for Bellew can force a shift in momentum in the the Liverpudlian, but the pick is for middle rounds, with body punches and educated Sjekloca to be crafty enough to take Smith the pressure edging him into mid-range where his distance, though losing in similar fashion to his work is most effective. Cleverly will still have the only defeats against Bika and Arthur Abraham. chances to take rounds, but the fight will likely

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PETER WELLS

x WBA super bantamweight titleholder Scott Quigg (29-0-2, 22 KO’s) will be looking to set up his own huge domestic clash with Carl Frampton should he live up to expectations against Japan’s Hidenori Otake (22-1-3, 9 KO’s). The Japanese super bantamweight champion takes a huge step up in class at far from ideal notice and Quigg, who ran through Stephane Jamoye last time out, should be looking to stop a brave Otake in the final third of the contest. Jamie McDonnell (24-2-, 11 KOs) also has plenty at stake against Walberto Ramos (23-62, 16 KO’s) as he looks set to challenge WBO bantamweight ruler Tomoki Kameda. Ramos however is nowhere near the level that Kameda resides at having already been stopped on four occasions below world level. He went the distance at flyweight against Omar Narvaez and may well do so again here, but the pick would be for McDonnell to make a statement inside the distance.

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Denis Douglin (17-3, 10 KO’s), known as ‘Momma’s Boy’, will find it tough against European super middleweight champion George Groves (20-2, 15 KO’s) who outpointed Christopher Rebrasse last time out and should halt the American, who was stopped in five by light middleweight Jermell Charlo in 2012. Finally, man of the moment Anthony Joshua (9-0, 9 KO’s) should make light work of veteran heavyweight Michael Sprott (42-22, 17 KO’s). The 39-year-old former British and Commonwealth champion was stopped inside a round in his last bout and will likely be defeated in a similar amount of time against the huge-punching Joshua. Sprott has been a great servant to the game, but this encounter will serve as a definitive reminder of who is taking over the domestic heavyweight scene.

BMM

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