BENN SKEETE LOMA DONAIRE

The Destroyer ‘I want justice!’ Still oozing quality Ageless and brilliant

DECEMBER 16 2021 THE WORLD’S BEST FIGHT MAGAZINE EST. 1909

WWW.BOXINGNEWSONLINE .NET

KATIE TAYLOR

£3.99 VOL. 77 NO. 50

SUNNY EDWARDS
ISAAC CHAMBERLAIN
BUNCE ON TOUR
NATIONAL AMATEUR
CHAMPIONSHIPS

UNMASKED
Derek Chisora on the pleasures and
complexities of life as a heavyweight stalwart
 just
£1 per issue

4 issues for £4 Enjoy these exclusive print subscriber benefits:

FREE delivery of every issue to your door ENJOY the digital edition of every issue
UNLIMITED online access to our content PAY a fraction of the shop price!

Order today: visit shop.kelsey.co.uk/BXIBIM21 or call 01959 543 747 and quote BXIBIM21
UK Direct Debit offer only. You will pay £4 for your first 4 weekly issues. Your subscription will continue at a rate of £9.99 per month. Discounts are calculated on the full
cover price. For overseas and UK credit/debit card offers, visit our website at shop.kelsey.co.uk. Order lines open 8.30am-5.30pm, Monday-Friday. Full T&Cs can be found
at shop.kelsey.co.uk/terms. Kelsey Publishing takes your privacy seriously and will only use your personal information to administer your account and to provide the
products and services you have requested from us. We will only contact you about our special offers via the preferences you will indicate when ordering and you can
update these at any time by emailing us at cs@kelsey.co.uk or by calling us on 01959 543 747. Calls charged at your local network rate.
 Contents December 16, 2021

18 THE THROWBACK
Derek Chisora goes deep as he discusses his life and storied career

HEADLINE GRABBERS BEST OF THE REST

>> 12 BRADLEY SKEETE

12 >> 4 WRONG MESSAGE
We talk to a furious fighter who is The Skeete ruling doesn’t add up
not willing to just forgive and forget
>> 8 BUNCE ON TOUR
>> 22 PARKER-CHISORA II When Steve took his show on the road
Who wins the heavyweight sequel?
>> 14 CALUM FRENCH
>> 26 CONOR BENN Spearheading a North East revolution
The verdict on another brutal showing
>> 16 SAM MAXWELL
>> 29 NONITO DONAIRE Why the lucrative fights have to come
It is a privilege to watch him in action
>> 24 ARTUR BETERBIEV
>> 30 VASILIY LOMACHENKO The 175lbs king takes on Marcus Browne
Ringside in New York as Commey beaten
>> 32 SUNNY EDWARDS
Dazzling display of dominance in Dubai
SUBSCRIBE FOR £4 FOR 4 ISSUES! >> 34 ISAAC CHAMBERLAIN
THEN JUST £9.99 A MONTH. SEE PAGE 2 FOR FULL DETAILS... Statement of intent from the cruiser
Visit SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/BXIBSCL21
>> 40 THE FINALS
Winners crowned at the National champs

>> 46 JOE LAWS

Get to know the down to earth prospect

www.boxingnewsonline.net DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 3

 EDITOR’S LETTER
Injustice
Skeete is the RADLEY SKEETE
was thumped three
However, Gray also came under fire
in June when he appeared to reject the
only person
being punished
by a referee’s
B times in quick
succession while on
the canvas during
the eighth round
of his bout with
towel thrown by Lewis Ritson’s corner
after he was dropped in the 10th round
of his loss to Jeremias Nicolas Ponce.
After the failed surrender, Ritson was
floored on two further occasions before
mistake Hamzah Sheeraz Gray intervened.
on December 5. Though his actions were widely
Skeete, a heavy criticised, Gray acted within the rules
underdog who when he decided not to accept the
was winning prior towel. It is not clear if the same can be
to being dropped, said of his decision to deduct one point
did not recover. He from Sheeraz before allowing the fight
Matt was stopped in the to continue when he was satisfied Skeete
Christie ninth. was in a condition to do so.
@MattCBoxingNews On Monday The crux of the Board’s controversial
Editor December 13, ruling would seem to lie in Gray’s
the British Boxing interpretation of the regulations at the
Board of Control ruled that the result time of the incident; specifically, whether
will stand, and referee Steve Gray will Skeete was deemed ‘injured’ after the
Cover photography face no punishment for allowing the illegal blows landed and if Sheeraz’s
MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM actions were ruled ‘intentional’ or
contest to continue. They added they will
support the WBO, who sanctioned this ‘accidental’.
as a European title fight, in the ordering The Boxer’s Handbook,
of a rematch. Within moments of the
Board announcing its decision, there
an official Board Official
document that is given
HOWEVER YOU
was an outcry among fans and industry to all boxers with a INTERPRET
members, including Skeete himself.
For the record, Gray – who began his
professional licence,
states: ‘If an intentional
THE RULES AS
DIFFICULT DECISION:
Gray will ultimately
officiating career in 2004 – is an excellent foul causes an injury, and THEY STAND,
allow the fight to
continue
referee and judge who does not make
mistakes often.
the bout is allowed to
continue, the referee shall
THREE ILLEGAL
notify the authorities and
deduct two points from
BLOWS
the boxer who caused the LANDED
foul. Point deductions for
intentional fouls that do not cause injury
will be at the discretion of the referee.’
It goes on, ‘If the contest continues
and at a later round it needs to be
stopped because of the same injury, the
rules in relation to accidental fouls apply.’
For a 10-round contest, and with the
bout ending early in the ninth, the rules
for an accidental foul state the result
would be determined by the judges’
scorecards at that point.
In this scenario, if Gray believed that
Sheeraz’s blows to a downed Skeete
were intentional and described Skeete’s
condition as an ‘injury’, he did not follow
the rules: It should have gone to the
cards and Sheeraz should have lost two
points instead of just one. Furthermore, if
he ruled that Skeete could not continue,
Sheeraz should have been disqualified
straight away.
However, it would appear that Gray,
after determining that Skeete could
continue, did not deem the blows caused
an injury. The solitary point deduction, as
opposed to the two that are mandated
4 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021
after an ‘injury’, would also indicate Gray
did not feel that one had occurred.
According to the Board’s Robert Smith,
talking to Boxing News the morning after
the “lengthy” hearing, said: “Steve had
three choices at the time of the incident.
One, disqualify Sheeraz immediately.
Two, allow the fight to continue after
being satisfied that Skeete could
continue. Or, three, disqualify Sheeraz
if he felt Skeete was not in a state to
continue.”
Smith admitted that referees will try
and keep a contest going if they can. That
would seem a troubling admission in a
sport where the combatant’s health must
always be the priority. It is something
Smith promises will be discussed at the
next referee’s seminar in January.
“Steve Gray acted within the rules,”
Smith said. “He gave him an opportunity
to recover, spoke to him and Brad said
he was alright. Whether we all agree
that he was alright is a
different matter; what
we had to ascertain was
whether we believed that
Steve was acting within
the rules at the time. We
were satisfied he did.
“If Brad had indicated
he could not continue,
Steve would have had no
option but to disqualify
Sheeraz. We watched the
video several times, you
can see Steve talking to
Brad as he gets him to walk across the
ring so he could monitor his condition.”
Smith went on to explain that “there
is no provision to change the result of
the contest – either to a no contest or
disqualification – once it is deemed
that the referee acted within the rules.
Though we may not necessarily agree
with the decision he made at the time,
we are satisfied he made that decision
with the best intentions and with the
rules in mind.”
He also stated that the contest was
sanctioned by the WBO, so it is down to
that organisation to order the rematch,
not the Board – unless they decide to
put the bout out to purse bids as an
eliminator for the British or English title.
For clarity, the WBO’s rules regarding fouls
are identical to the Board’s.
Regardless, Skeete is left with a loss
on his record [see pages 12-13] and the
rest of us baffled by what appears to be
flagrant injustice. However you interpret
the rules as they stand, three illegal blows
landed on the head of a defenceless
www.boxingnewsonline.net
UNJUST:
Sheeraz holds up
the hand of Skeete
but Bradley will get a
loss on his record
Photo: QUEENSBERRY

Time to
subscribe
OTHERE are
numerous ways
to subscribe,
including
special offers.

OYOU can get a

print and online
subscription for
just £4 for the
first four weeks.

OFOR more
information
on all the
subscriptions
plus our special
bookazines,
please visit
www.shop.
kelsey.co.uk
or call 01959-
543-747.

OTHE next
issue will be
in shops on
December 23
and available
to download on
December 21.

The
Opening
Bell...
OTHE BN
podcast has
been described
as the ‘most
impartial and
informative
podcast around.’
There is at least
one new episode
every week to
enjoy.
OTHIS week we
talk to Robert
Smith about
fighter. It can be argued that Sheeraz may body to clout Bradley while there, it is up his duties at the same event. On the the Sheeraz-
have won the contest anyway; Skeete disappointing the Board has not done night in question, which was no different Skeete ruling,
was originally floored from a legal shot. more. If, as Smith alludes, that is because to other cards when he has been on duty, look back on the
But nobody – not Gray, not Smith, not they could not due to their policies Gray refereed two bouts and was a judge recent action
Sheeraz – can claim that the subsequent regarding the interpretation of rules, then in four others. Given the sheer volume of and remember
volley of unseen punches was accidental a rethink is surely overdue. work, and it is fair to ask if such levels are Hamed-Kelley.
or did not discombobulate Skeete. It is of course easy to draw such sustainable, it is inevitable that mistakes
The point here is not to villainise Gray, conclusions from the outside. It is worth will occur. It is testament to the quality of OLISTEN (& rate
Sheeraz or the Board. Mistakes happen remembering the strain that officials and officials that such mistakes are rare. & subscribe) via
in the heat of battle, and decisions referees are always under. This year, there But on this occasion, there should be Apple, Spotify
made in mere seconds are always likely have been 175 tournaments (the official no question that Gray, and Sheeraz, made and all major
to differ from conclusions drawn after terminology for a boxing card/bill/event) clear mistakes and only Skeete is paying platforms. A
witnessing numerous replays. Therefore, under the Board’s authority. That was the the price. new episode is
after examining the footage, which 53rd contest Gray had refereed in 2021. free to listen to
Follow us and keep up to date every Thursday.
clearly shows Skeete hitting the deck He has also functioned as a ringside judge
and Sheeraz then repositioning his on 40 occasions, almost always doubling @BoxingNewsED BoxingNewsOnline

www.boxingnewsonline.net DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 5


LETTERS
LETTER OF THE WEEK
LOMA, THE LEGEND
I SET my alarm for 3.45 on
Sunday morning to get up and
watch Vasiliy Lomachenko
outclass Richard Commey at the Madison
Square Garden in New York, the Mecca
of boxing. Every time I watch Loma, I
simply cannot believe how skilful he
is. On this early Sunday morning I was
yet again reminded of just how good
the man they call "The Matrix" is. He
has everything – the fantastic footwork
where he combines pivoting around
his opponent and edging in and out
of distance, the quick and accurate
combination-punching that is made
even more impressive by the punch
variety and the timing. Then there's the
unbelievable angles he creates in order
to land punches his opponent cannot
see. It really is a beautiful sight. As I
watched the Ukrainian master go about
his work, it made me realise how much
I love this sport we call boxing and how
certain fighters like Loma are able to
Photo: SARAH STIER/GETTY IMAGES
6 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021
bring out my passion and excitement like
never before. Lomachenko is, without a
doubt, the best I have seen in my lifetime
and will definitely be remembered as one
of the greats of the modern era.
Calum Smith
EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY
THE chaos that exists in trying to get the
first undisputed heavyweight champion
since Lennox Lewis does not need to
be as confusing as it is made to appear.
There are two clear options in the road
to undisputed.
The first, and easiest, is for Anthony
Joshua to step-aside and allow Tyson
Fury to fight Oleksandr Usyk. That is
the quickest route to finally give us
a universally recognised champion.
Meanwhile Joshua and Dillian Whyte can
fight for the right to meet the new king.
Joshua vs Whyte II would itself be a huge
fight.
The alternative is for Joshua to have
ON TWITTER ON FACEBOOK
@BoxingNewsED www.facebook.com/boxingnewsonline
his rematch with Usyk while Tyson Fury
defends his WBC belt against Dillian
Whyte. Those fights – effectively semi-
finals – could take place early in 2022.
An agreement should be added to the
contracts for both of those fights such
that the winners are contractually obliged
to meet later in 2022.
Worst case, by the back end of
2022, we should have our first world
heavyweight king in over 22 years.
There; now isn’t that just common
sense? Or is that alarm clock going to
sound off any minute and wake me up?
Chris Strange
SKEETE SHAFTED
I AM lost for words after the Board's
ruling regarding Bradley Skeete. I wasn't
expecting the result to be overturned
but I was, and more fool me, expecting it
to be ruled a no contest with a rematch
ordered. Skeete has been shafted. MASTERCLASS:
Loma's skill is
Carl Tildesley beautiful to watch
www.boxingnewsonline.net
 ON INSTAGRAM EMAIL POST
boxingnewsonline bn.ed@kelsey.co.uk Boxing News Letters, Kelsey Media, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 6AL

10 COUNT
THE PANEL
LAST CHANCE SALOON
The winner goes on and the loser goes home when Joseph
WHO IS THE BEST LIGHTWEIGHT Parker and Derek Chisora meet again this weekend in

IN MEN’S BOXING RIGHT NOW? Manchester. Here are their 10 best wins so far…

1 PARKER VS ANDY RUIZ

A good win at the time, Parker’s disputed 12-round
decision over Andy Ruiz in 2016 only grew in
significance once Ruiz shocked Anthony Joshua in 2019.

2 PARKER VS DEREK CHISORA I

Parker has boxed better, and is capable of much more,
but his 2020 decision win against Chisora nevertheless
stands as one of the best wins of his career to date.

Anthony Matt Tony Declan 3 CHISORA VS CARLOS TAKAM

Crolla Macklin Jeffries Taylor Takam was a little long in the tooth by the time Chisora
Former WBA Former top Olympic Sports got hold of him in 2018, but that should take nothing
belt-holder contender medallist reporter away from the thrilling manner of victory, nor the
You’ve got to rate I think For me it’s Vasiliy decisiveness of Chisora’s knockout finish in round
eight.
George Kambosos Lomachenko by a Lomachenko Lomachenko is
as number one fair stretch. He got as he has by far the only genius
4 PARKER VS CARLOS TAKAM
because he’s the caught on the hop the best resumé at the weight so
Parker and Takam produced an entertaining back-and-
man who beat the a bit by Teófimo in the division I’d have to pick forth battle in 2016, with the difference in the end
man. However I López and that’s and is the most him, especially as Parker’s speed and sharpness. After 12 rounds, he took
would back Vasiliy taking nothing complete fighter. Teófimo López will a unanimous decision.
Lomachenko to away from His only loss was surely never weigh
beat all of them. Teófimo. He was to Teófimo López 9st 9lb again. That 5 PARKER VS HUGHIE FURY
slow out the gate after a long layoff said, Loma vs Far from a classic, and somewhat controversial in the
and gave himself and I believe he Gervonta Davis is eyes of some, Parker’s 12-round decision win over Fury
a mountain to wins a rematch. THE fight in the in 2017 snapped Fury’s unbeaten record and generated
climb. Then division. zero calls for a rematch.
Teófimo got
caught with 6 CHISORA VS ARTUR SZPILKA
complacency Arguably the best win of this final phase of Chisora’s
against George career, a vicious second-round stoppage of Szpilka in
Kambosos. 2019 acted as an example of what can be achieved when
‘Del Boy’ thinks before he throws.

7 CHISORA VS MALIK SCOTT

WHO HAS THE BEST LEFT HOOK The stoppage in round six may have been a tad bizarre,
but Chisora’s 2013 victory over Scott, unbeaten in 36
IN THE SPORT TODAY? fights at the time, pumped fresh life into his career
following some painful defeats.

Anthony Matt Tony Declan 8 PARKER VS JUNIOR FA

Crolla Macklin Jeffries Taylor Far from vintage Parker, a tight 12-round decision win
It’s really hard The best left It has to be For pure against countryman Junior Fa in February 2021 was
to say. So, just hook in boxing, Nonito Donaire, consistency and nonetheless vital in keeping the New Zealander’s career
because of the it’s probably and Saturday longevity it has alive.
weekend, Nonito hard to look past night against to be Nonito
Donaire. He’s Canelo Álvarez. Reymart Gaballo Donaire. The 9 CHISORA VS EDMUND GERBER
done it both to Nonito Donaire’s again showed power and This vacant European heavyweight title fight in 2013
the head and certainly in the why. His hook is a accuracy he has saw Chisora at his aggressive best, bullying Gerber and
body. There’s a conversation, weapon that has with it, particularly forcing the stoppage in the fifth round.
good few names without a doubt, won him so many on the counter,
you could throw but I’d probably fights in his long isn’t bettered by 10 PARKER VS ALEXANDER DIMITRENKO
into the hat but go Canelo. career. any active fighter. While not a world-beater, Dimitrenko had lost just
I’m going to say I still think about twice in 40 pro fights when he met Parker in 2016 and
the manner of the result – a third-round stoppage for
Nonito Donaire. his knockout of
Parker, secured by a body punch – surprised some.
He’s still showing Fernando Montiel.
he can do it to
head and body.

www.boxingnewsonline.net DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 7

 THE BUNCE DIARIES

T-SHIRTS STILL AVAILABLE!

The Bunce Live tour was
well-supported by boxers
[like Christie, Haye and
Maccarinelli] but the crowds
were variable...

8 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net

LIFE ON THE ROAD HE last Setanta
boxing hour was
T on a Thursday in
June of 2009 and
five days later the
channel vanished.
The last guests
were – all live –
Enzo Maccarinelli,
Frank Warren, Steve
Farhood, Tony
Jeffries and Darren
Sutherland. And,
about 100 of your
Steve emails.
Bunce Less than three
@BigDaddyBunce months later, I
Voice of boxing took the show on
the road. It was a
total disaster in many ways; a comedy, a
mix of ego, dire planning, no planning,
lies, more lies, bad hotels and, in there
somewhere, some glorious nights. Late,
late nights, by the way.
The plan was for a 12-city tour, but
that shrunk a little bit when I found out
the venue in Cork was abandoned. The
man organising that show insisted that
he could get a generator, a portable
loo and get the boards down from the
doors for the night. I swerved that and
gave refunds. That sounds grand; I think
there were 17 in the end.
It started in September of the year at
the Lower Kersal Social Club in Salford.
It’s an iconic venue, a beautiful place.
Steve Foster arranged it and I went
to see him and Tony, the manager, at
the venue on the day. I had sold 40
tickets, but one of the men helping with
the tour told me about the Facebook
following. “I think about 300 will show
on the night,” he warned me with utter
confidence.
“Stevo,” I said to Foster. “You better
open the back section and get some
extra men in. I reckon about 300 will be
here to pay on the door. Maybe more.” I
even did a live hit for Granada news.
What a launch it would be. Matt
Macklin, Foster, Matthew Hatton and
Carl Thompson showed. They promised
and they delivered; the boxers never let
me down.
And this is what happened, not just
at the Lower Kersal Social Club, but at
every venue. It’s funny now, but it was
not funny at the time.
The venue was set for about 250
seated and about 200 standing. The bar
was packed on the serving side, extra
security hovered. I had the scripts in
my head. The doors opened and we
www.boxingnewsonline.net
When Setanta waited and waited. Nobody paid on the
door and only about 20 of the people
disappeared,
the Boxing
Hour went on
who bought tickets showed. Other than
that, it was a great show. I sold about 10
T-shirts and gave away another 10 and
that left me with 1,990 to sell. To cut
the T-shirt story short: If you want one,
tour. It was not there are still about 1,950 available.
a success… I have forgotten the exact sequence
of the shows, but I moved on and
did Sunderland,
Dublin, Belfast,
Leeds, Birmingham,
East London, South
‘A WOMAN FELL
London, Loughton and OVER WALKING
Nottingham.
In Sunderland I had
A DOG AND SET
been told that it would IN MOTION THE
sell-out and I should get
a bigger venue. Actually, WITHDRAWAL
somebody wanted to
buy me out, offered me
OF 90 PEOPLE’
a fortune for the 250
tickets. I said to him: “No need, I have a
good feeling about it.” Six came. I tried
to auction a Ricky Hatton-signed T-shirt;
I was offered a fiver. It was that type of
night. T-shirt sales: zero.
Leeds was great. Sure, no T-shirt sales
and only about 25 in the Irish Centre,
but great people. Qais Ashfaq and Jack
Bateson on stage, both still kids. Dave
Coldwell showed. The Q&A was about
an hour. It was perfect for boxing fans.
We had a good drink that night.
In Nottingham, Andre Dirrell joined
me on stage. Paddy Considine was in
the crowd. Well, sure, crowd might be
stretching it. Mick Hennessy was there
and I think he donated 250 quid to a
local amateur club. No idea if we even
took the T-shirts. I was introduced by
Thomas Treiber.
In Birmingham, at the Dubliner, Big
Joe Egan was in demand, Jon Pegg was
there with the Eastside Boys, Macklin
travelled down with his European
belt and the boxing crowd shared the
space with a dozen homeless people.
The governor at the pub opened his
doors once each week and fed people
who needed a meal. We were double
booked with people carrying their
sleeping bags. It was hard to tell the
difference at the end. It was a brilliant
night. I gave away a few T-shirts, that’s
for sure.
John McDonald worked wonders
in South London at a social club in
Wallington. At times, it actually felt like
we were in a big venue.
In East London, at a comedy club
near Bethnal Green, there was a
warning that 500 would show. They
never did, but David Haye, Errol Christie
and Wayne Alexander did. It was less
than 10 days before Haye’s fight with
Nikolai Valuev. As I said, the boxers
never let me down. Sweet Errol was raw
and open. I think I gave Errol a T-shirt. I
hope I did.
Maccarinelli, Jason Cook and Nathan
Cleverly all came to the show with their
belts on a Tuesday night
in a Swansea nightclub.
I held up the start
because two coach-
loads were driving over
from near Cardiff. They
never showed; I was
told that a woman fell
over walking a dog and
that set in motion the
withdrawal of 90 people
on the two coaches. It’s
hard to invent this stuff.
The shows in Dublin and at the
Dockers in Belfast had their moments.
They were busy and raucous. Paddy
Barnes was in Belfast.
And I finished in Loughton, in the
centre where Jim McDonnell trained
his fighters; I had done 10-consecutive
weeks. Loughton was golden, tight and
packed. McDonnell, Alexander, Dave
Odwell and dozens of old East End
amateur boxers. It was like a reunion. I
knew after 10 hard weeks what worked;
do the show in two segments, hold back
the best stuff and finish on questions.
Bingo.
In the shows I used some lively
language and that caused an immediate
problem when a familiar face – an
ex-amateur of about 40 – sat not four-
feet from me in the packed room. That’s
not the problem; the problem was
his 13-year-old daughter at his side. I
was uncomfortable swearing in front
of a child. The boxers, meanwhile, just
carried on talking, swearing, laughing
and occasionally somebody would ask
me: “Buncey, who did Mittee beat in
the London finals after the Olympics?” I
would be in the middle of a Joe Bugner
story and would have to stop, think and
reply: “Sid Smith at the Royal Albert
Hall,” It was nuts, but everybody seemed
very happy. At the break, after about
an hour of talking, not swearing and
answering questions, I called it off, went
to the bar and toasted the tour.
And, it turns out the girl was 38,
a health freak and certainly not his
daughter.
I gave her a T-shirt.
DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 9
 BOXING MEDIA REVIEW Examining the best and worst
of the sport’s weekly coverage
Photo: ALEX LIVESEY/GETTY IMAGES
BURSTING AT THE SEAMS
Fans are spoilt BROADCASTS
THERE was an overwhelming amount of
for choice on boxing on at the weekend across various
a weekend full different platforms. DAZN, Channel 5,
of live coverage Fightzone, Sky Sports and BoxNation/
FreeSports all aired separate shows across
and breaking Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
news, writes While this turned keeping up with all
the action into a full-time job over the
George Gigney weekend, it is a ringing endorsement
of the health of the sport as we close
out 2021. With new Covid-19 variants
popping up and worries of further
restrictions beginning to spread, it’s
heartening to see so many boxers active
and plying their trade on broadcasts.
It was also a chance for some exciting
British talent to increase their exposure.
Isaac Chamberlain looked good in the
Channel 5 main event, winning in the
first round and then speaking about his
world title ambitions.
Sunny Edwards dazzled over in Dubai,
with the card available to watch for free
in the UK. On DAZN, it was Conor Benn
topping the bill, turning in a career-best
10 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021
performance to dismantle Chris Algieri.
Overall, it was an excellent weekend
of boxing and there were some small
highlights on each broadcast. DAZN
released footage of Conor’s father, Nigel,
watching on from ringside and reacting
to the fight’s ending. The British boxing
icon was bursting with pride and literally
jumping for joy once the fight was
stopped.
There was talk of what Benn will
do next, with former multi-weight
belt-holder Adrien Broner floated
as a potential opponent. While ‘AB’
hasn’t accomplished much in recent
years, it would actually be quite smart
matchmaking for Benn. Broner still
carries name recognition, particularly in
the US, and would be a decent scalp to
claim at this stage.
Tony Bellew suggested a much
more interesting fight, though; David
Avanesyan. The European champion
might be a step too far for Benn right
now, however he’s the sort of fighter
Conor will need to face eventually.
CAREER BEST:
Conor’s demolition of
Algieri opens discussions
about his next opponent
Sky Sports were airing the Top Rank
show topped by Vasiliy Lomachenko’s
dominant win over Richard Commey,
though it was heavyweight champion
Tyson Fury who stole the show. After
serenading Bob Arum with a rendition
of Happy Birthday, he then bumped
into none other than Oleksandr Usyk at
ringside.
The pair exchanged pleasantries and
posed for pictures together, giving us
a chance to size them up against one
another. With talk of Anthony Joshua
potentially stepping aside continuing, this
meeting was not an insignificant one.
The most wholesome moment
of the week came during the final
press conference for the Top Rank
card, when Nonito Donaire and his
opponent Reymart Gaballo shared the
stage. Gaballo, who can’t speak English,
answered a question and Donaire himself
stepped in to translate it into English.
It was a reminder of why we love this
sport, and Donaire is one of the finest
exponents boxing has had in some time.
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Photo: SARAH STIER/GETTY IMAGES
TalkSPORT had promoter Eddie Hearn
on as a guest for their Fight Night show,
and he revealed that there are still
complications to resolve for a potential
fight between Fury and Dillian Whyte.
Apparently, the WBC still needs to decide
what the purse split will be if it goes
to purse bids. He also explained that
purse bids would potentially scupper
negotiations that have already taken
place.
It’s yet further evidence of boxing’s
sanctioning bodies getting in the way of
good fights. Perhaps there wouldn’t have
been negotiations for this fight without
the WBC ordering it, but it’s likely there
would have been, given that Whyte has
long been one of the leading contenders
in the division.
If Joshua and Usyk are going to
rematch each other, then Fury-Whyte
makes perfect sense. It will be a real
shame if the WBC gets in the way of that
with more of its nonsensical rulings.
Hearn also revealed that Katie Taylor is
now all but set to face Amanda Serrano
www.boxingnewsonline.net
in April at Madison Square Garden in
New York. As Taylor came through her
fight at the weekend, Serrano needs to
beat Miriam Gutiérrez this weekend and
the superfight is pretty much confirmed.
It would be an enormous fight and
one that both women deserve. Taylor
has proven herself, time and again, the
best female fighter on the planet and has
turned away all challengers to her throne.
Serrano is right up there with her and has
even extended her appeal by crossing
over into mixed martial arts.
YOUTUBE
PRIOR TO Lomachenko beating Commey,
his promoter Arum did the rounds and
spoke about potential opponents for
the Ukrainian. After telling World Boxing
News that he wanted to match him with
Shakur Stevenson, he spoke to FightHype
about a fight between Lomachenko and
current lightweight champion George
Kambosos Jnr.
Lomachenko-Stevenson would be
interesting, but it pales in comparison to
fights with Kambosos and Teófimo López, DOWN UNDER:
Arum is keen for
who beat “Loma” in 2020. The pick Loma to fight
would be for Lomachenko to get a crack Kambosos in
at Kambosos, with Arum saying they’d Australia
happily make that fight in Australia, the
champion’s home country.
Deontay Wilder, who has been much
more present in public after his recent
loss to Tyson Fury than he was after their
second fight, appeared on LOL Network
with Kevin Hart and discussed the
possibility of retiring.
He said: “I have accomplished my goals
in this sport. I told my daughter when
she was one that I’d be a champion and
able to support her beyond belief. I’ve
done that. Should I give it a go one more
time, or should I just retire and focus on
other things?”
Wilder should be enormously proud
of the life he’s built for his family through
boxing, and no one would begrudge him
for walking away now. That being said, if
he still has the itch, he can be involved
in some really entertaining fights in the
heavyweight division.
DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 11
 Highlighting the best
of the week’s stories
NEWS AND OPINION WWW.BOXINGNEWSONLINE.NET
Out for Justice
Bradley O steal a line from
the 1976 film
Skeete tells
Elliot Worsell
he is not
prepared to
T Network, Bradley
Skeete is mad as hell
and not going to take
it anymore.
Until he gets
forgive and the outcome he wants (and deserves),
the Tooting super-welterweight has to
forget when grudgingly look back on a December 3
it comes to fight against Hamzah Sheeraz with a mix
Hamzah of emotions, of which anger remains the
strongest.
Sheeraz Nailed three times while grounded
in the eighth round, Skeete was not just
beaten by his 22-year-old opponent
that night (stopped in the ninth) but
beaten at a time when he was both in
the ascendency and expecting protection
from the referee and the rulebook.
“I was schooling him,” Skeete told
Boxing News. “He was so frustrated the
round before that he pushed me down on
the floor and then in round eight he did
what he did. The initial shot he landed,
which made me take a knee, was to the
back of the head anyway. But that’s fair
enough. It’s a fight. I was rolling out. After
that, though, I’ve gone down and he’s hit
me three more times. That final hook, he
could have caused serious damage with
that. It’s disgusting. He’s done it before,
too. He has hit an opponent on the floor
before.”
Recalling the moment he found himself
on the floor, Skeete added: “I’ve gone
down and then been put in a situation by
the ref [Steve Gray]. My main focus is on
Dom [Ingle, trainer], who was telling me
to stay down. I’ve said to the ref, ‘That’s a
liberty that he’s hit me on the floor,’ and
UP OR OUT:
Skeete felt he had
no alternative but
to get up off the
canvas
12 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021
he has said, ‘Calm down, take your time,
take as long as you want.’
“He’s then come back over, the ref, and
positioned himself so I can’t communicate
with Dom and asked me if I could get up.
At that time, I was in no position to get
up. He said, ‘If you don’t get up, I’m going
to stop the fight.’ He wasn’t talking to me
like he was going to stop it for a DQ or
anything like that. If the fight was stopped,
I was losing. So, I got up. I’m a fighter. But
when he told me to walk you could see
that I was ‘gone’. It changed the whole
fight.”
Prior to the stoppage, Skeete was
outboxing Sheeraz, the heavy favourite,
and threatening to come good on all
his pre-fight predictions. He was, at 34,
feeling as good as ever.
“No one gave me a chance,” he said.
“But I knew I wasn’t done. I took a break,
yeah, and my last couple of performances
before the break weren’t the best, but the
way people were talking it was as if all my
achievements and what I had previously
done were brushed off. I was in with this
22-year-old kid with 13 fights – a novice
– and they were talking like he was going
to demolish me. I just knew they were
wrong. I said what I was going to do and
I did it.
“That was my first competitive fight in
three years. The June one against Dale
Arrowsmith was a tick-over job. My last
competitive fight was December 2018.
So, imagine what it would have looked
like if I’d had some momentum behind
me as well. I’m not finished. I’m far from
finished.”
If not finished, Skeete does admit to
being “gutted” by recent events. He says
the Sheeraz incident has left a “bitter
taste” in his mouth at a time when he
was starting to rediscover his love for the
sport, and now fears the sport’s ability to
attract controversy will mean the incident
is quickly forgotten.
“There’s boxing every weekend and
there are controversies every weekend,” he
said. “It’s easy for this – and incidents like
this – to be brushed under the carpet.”
Speaking before the British Boxing
Board of Control’s ruling [see pages 4-5]
Skeete added, “I don’t know what the
Board are doing. They say they are having
meetings, but it’s clear as day. Robert
Smith was there himself. He [Sheeraz]
has illegally hit me three times and it’s
disgusting, sickening.
“Steve Gray spoke to a member of my
team at breakfast the next day and said to
them he knows he made a mistake.
“I don’t deserve to have that loss
on my record. I’m saying it should be
a No Contest but really he should be
disqualified. This is not MMA. You can’t
ground and pound in boxing. I was
defenceless and he took advantage of
that.”
Days after the fight, Skeete’s opponent
released a statement in which he
expressed a desire to grant Skeete a
rematch in 2022. Yet Sheeraz’s statement,
though praised far and wide on social
media, was interpreted quite differently
by Skeete.
“He put out a two-bit statement
offering me a rematch,” he said, “but,
listen, everyone needs to forget about
the rematch for a minute. They need to
realise what damage could have been
caused by his actions. If I was in a coma
right now, would anyone be talking about
a rematch? No. They would be talking
about the illegal shots he hit me with to
put me in that coma.
“We all know the risks when we step
through those ropes, but you abide by the
rules and there is a referee there to make
sure you do. That night he came into the
changing room before the fight and gave
a big speech about the rules. One of those
rules was this: ‘If you drop your opponent,
do not hit your opponent on the floor’. A
rule is a rule. You can’t go around breaking
rules, hitting people illegally, and knowing
the biggest punishment is a rematch.
“That statement of his was very
calculated. It was done to make him look
good. He also knows a rematch is a good
thing for his career at this point. Instead
of being punished, a rematch gives him
the chance to earn more money from a
controversy. How is that right?”
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Photos: QUEENSBERRY

THE
BITTER TASTE:
A rematch offer RULING
doesn’t address
the issue The Board’s
statement in full

REFEREE Steve
Gray appeared
before a Sub-
Committee of the
British Boxing
Board of Control
in relation to his
performance
in the Hamza
Sheeraz v Bradley
Skeete contest on
December 4, 2021,
in particular his
actions in round
eight.
Having
considered his
explanation and
options available
to him under the
rules, the Board
accept his account
as to his actions
Whilst the Board
have accepted Mr.
Gray’s explanation,
they would support
the World Boxing
Organisation
ordering a return
of this contest
In addition,
Boxer Hamzah
Sheeraz will
appear before the
Southern Area
Council of the
British Boxing
Board of Control
at a date to be
confirmed.

O FOR more from

General Secretary
Robert Smith, see
pages 4 and 5,
and listen to this
week’s Opening Bell
podcast.

www.boxingnewsonline.net DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 13

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

Photo: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM

BUILDING ON
THE PAST:
Calum French
is establishing
his pro career
on strong
foundations

14 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net

The North East revival
ROMOTERS know
there is a hunger for
P boxing in the North
East of England.
Broadcaster Sky had
one of its last shows
with Matchroom and
one of its first with Boxxer in Newcastle.
New promoter Probellum will have its
first UK show, featuring Scotland’s Ricky
Burns, at the Rainton Meadows Arena
in Houghton-le-Spring on Saturday
(December 18).
There are enough quality fighters
coming through in the region to sustain
all this activity in the sport. If Jeremias
Ponce cut short Lewis Ritson’s hopes of
reaching world level in June, the North
East has rising prospects with real world-
class potential. Calum French made
his professional debut in Liverpool last
weekend (December 11). He would have
been a tremendous medal hope for the
Paris Olympics if he’d stayed with the GB
programme. But he decided to make the
jump.
“It’s a step into the unknown,” French
told Boxing News. “In the lighter weights,
you need to be sharp and in your prime.
It just felt like the right time to go.”
French had an excellent track record
as an amateur; a long, 35-bout unbeaten
run internationally over five years and
a winner of major medals. But when
his weight class, 60kgs, was removed at
relatively short notice he was denied his
chance to go to the Tokyo Games.
“The promoters came in with the offers
and we decided to go with the DAZN
offer,” Calum explained. “To get signed by
[Matchroom], it’s a dream come true. I’ve
just got to show I’m capable, I’m good
enough to be boxing on these shows and
ON FIRE:
Being photographed
with Eddie Hearn
generated a lot of
interest in French
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Calum I’ve got the skills and the ability to be
winning titles.”
French and
co will be
taking North
East boxing
Despite all his achievements in the
amateur vest, it was a posed picture with
Eddie Hearn, who’ll be his promoter,
that seemed to generate an unexpected
amount of interest. “I couldn’t believe it,
to another my phone set on fire,” he said.
A professional now, he’ll still train
level, writes with the coach who brought him all
John Dennen the way through the amateurs, Graeme
Rutherford from Birtley. “I think you
box your best when you’ve got one
coach, one voice telling you, who knows
you. Graeme knows me inside out. It’s
good to have his voice back leading the
way telling us what to
do,” French said. “It’s a
production line, isn’t it? ‘IT’S ALL DOWN
TO GRAEME
It’s all down to Graeme,
he’s the man behind the
magic.
“It’s building and
[RUTHERFORD],
building all the time. HE’S THE MAN
We [Birtley] are getting
more successfully BEHIND THE
internationally as well
and obviously into the
MAGIC’
pro game now.”
Rutherford also trains pros Ben
Rees and Cyrus Pattinson, who goes
into his third professional contest on
Matchroom’s Saturday (December 18)
bill in Manchester. “I’ve enjoyed it [taking
them pro], enjoy training them because
obviously I’ve had them since they were
kids and now you’ve got that affinity with
them, you’ve got that bond with them,”
Rutherford said. “I’m pleased for them
and kids can do nothing but learn off
them about how hard they train.”
He knows these boxers can sell plenty
of tickets. “The community always gets
behind people in sport,” Rutherford says.
“The club takes great pride in the
town, proud of our heritage and where
we’re from,” he added. “Birtley’s well
known all over the country because of
the boxing club. I think it gives people a
bit of a spring in their step.”
Pattinson found that when he made
his debut in Newcastle in June. “The
support just took us completely off
guard. I was preparing to hear one or
two cheers but when I was entering it
was literally the whole stadium that was
behind us and that was only a thousand
people, it felt like 8,000 people. It was
absolutely amazing. That’s why I was bit
overhyped in the first
round,” Cyrus said. “The
stoppage came in the
second.
“When I came out the
ring I just wanted to go
again the next day to
get that feeling back,”
he continued. “It was an
amazing experience.”
Pattinson’s second
fight, in Barcelona in
September, saw a tough
opponent drafted in at short notice.
Dumitru Vicol had a couple of pro bouts
but returning to the amateurs he’d been
competing with high-calibre international
boxers. “He had been really active this
year, I think he had two professional
fights a few years ago and then he went
back to being an amateur,” Pattinson said.
“He definitely came to win.
“Normally it’s the eighth or the 10th
fight [for that type of opponent]. It was
the first time I ever done six rounds,”
Cyrus said. “I’ll be going into this fight a
lot more confident.
“We’re all learning on the job because
it’s all relatively new to all of us.”
French, Pattinson and Rees aren’t the
only products of the Birtley club entering
the professional mix. Twin brothers
Pat and Luke McCormack, both Tokyo
Olympians with Pat winning the silver
medal at welterweight, have signed
with Probellum. As well as Newcastle’s
Ritson, Thomas Partrick Ward and Mark
Dickinson, who both came through
the Birtley club as amateurs, will be on
Probellum’s December 18 show. Ward is
an impressive 30-0-1 as a professional.
Dickinson, now training with Ben
Davison, won the national amateur Elite
title in 2019 and is very much one to
watch.
The North East boxing revival in short
is set to continue.
DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 15
 Highlighting the best
of the week’s stories
NEWS AND OPINION WWW.BOXINGNEWSONLINE.NET

ALL TO FIGHT FOR:

Maxwell says it’s time
to earn some proper
money
Photo: CAMERON SMITH/
GETTY IMAGES

16 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net

Time is now
ORMER amateur star
Sam Maxwell fulfilled
F a boyhood dream by
snatching the British
and Commonwealth
super-lightweight
crowns from
defending champion, Akeem Ennis-
Brown, in a close but controversial fight
in the summer. Out of action since, and
with a baby on the way next year, the
33-year-old is hoping 2022 is a successful
year both personally and professionally.
The contest with Ennis-Brown was
originally scheduled for March, then
postponed until July before eventually
taking place in August. The outcome
being that the Hackney-born and
Liverpool-based star – alongside new
trainer Steve Maylett – spent the best
part of seven months in the gym.
“With training all the way through it
was definitely a long camp but it was
worth it as Steve wanted me to be really
fit. The one thing people fear about
Akeem is that he’s got a really good
work-rate. He’s very fit, and we knew that
if I could match him there, then my skills
would be enough to win.
“I got loads of sparring in ahead of
the fight, awkward guys like Akeem. We
kept it simple; straight shots, fast feet and
a high guard. We didn’t want to try and
guess where his shots were coming from
as you can’t really predict them. The plan
was just to have a high guard, score when
I could and use my feet to get away.”
Such an approach seemed to be
working perfectly until near disaster
struck just five weeks before the contest.
“I got a bad cut, just above my right
eye. One second everything’s going great
then, Boom! It could be all over. At first I
thought it would be called off again but
I was lucky, it didn’t need stiches. It was
glued and ended up healing nicely – but I
had to stop sparring straightaway.”
Maxwell agrees that such a slowing
of his momentum in training may have
impacted his performance in the fight
but he also acknowledged the sheer
awkwardness of his opponent meant
he found it difficult to be, “as sharp as I
could have been.”
“I probably underestimated just how
awkward he could be. Early on I thought
the fight was going okay. Neither of us
were dominating but I felt the better
boxing was coming from me and I was
hoping the judges would see that.”
Having watched the fight again how
does Maxwell rate his performance?
“Whilst he was awkward, little things
www.boxingnewsonline.net
With a new Steve told me to do all through camp
I didn’t do as much as I should have. I
family to
support, Sam
Maxwell tells
Gary Shaw
didn’t have as much urgency. Maybe his
style was the reason for that and I was
too respectful of his ability. Whatever it
was I didn’t just put it on him when I got
the chance and, when Steve called for the
that it is vital shots, I was delaying or just not throwing
them. I could definitely have done better.
he gets the “The early rounds were close but I
ELJĆJKWVLQ think the turning point was the ninth,
2022 when I got cut. If it had been stopped
there then he might have got the
decision. Thankfully my cut man, Andy
O’Neil, stopped the
bleeding. The ref and
‘THIS IS MY
the doctor gave him
a chance to work on
it and from then on
I think I won rounds TIME NOW
nine, 10, 11 and 12
AND I’M NOT
GOING TO LET
and they ultimately
won me the fight.”
As British and
Commonwealth IT GO’
champion and ranked
10th by the WBO –
he also holds that sanctioning body’s
European strap – the 33-year-old feels it’s
time the opportunities now available to
him resulted in better rewards financially.
Having proposed to long-term
girlfriend, Sascha, and with the pair
expecting their first child in March 2022,
the issue of making money from the
sport is more important than ever before.
“I’ve been boxing 22 years and made
nothing really. Certainly not more than
having a decent job. I’m the champion,
I’ve got three belts, I’m undefeated and
ranked in the top 10 in the world by the
WBO so maybe I can start asking for
more money? I’m starting a family and
not just earning for myself anymore.
“I’d planned to propose not long
after the [Ben] Fields fight in March. I
used some of that money to get a ring
and then had to explain to Sascha how
we couldn’t get stuff for the house as I
didn’t have the money! I then planned
to do it on her birthday, in June, but that
didn’t happen so I thought it’d be good
to propose on the night of the title fight
itself and that stuck – even through the
postponements. Then I realised I had to
win it as, if I didn’t,
everyone would be
down and I’d be
asking her to marry
me in that sort of
atmosphere.
“After I won
everyone was
celebrating back at the
hotel and I managed
to corner her. She kept
saying she wanted to
go to bed as she was
tired, but I persuaded her to wait for
me after I’d gone into my room to get
the ring. I pretended I couldn’t open the
door and, when she opened it, there I
was, down on one knee. Everyone was
outside with her too, so we all celebrated
together. It was a great night.”
Marriage and baby on the way – and
highly ranked in a hot division – Maxwell
is understandably upbeat.
“I want to get out again as soon as
possible and work my way towards
bigger and better titles. This is my time
now, and I’m not going to let it go.”
AWKWARD:
Maxwell found
Akeem’s style
challenging
DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 17
ONE OF A KIND:
Even among other
boxers, Derek
Chisora stands out

18 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net

 ONE OF
A KIND
Matt Christie sits down with
Derek Chisora in an effort
to find out what makes the
old warhorse tick
Photo: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM

WENTY-TWO male There are fighters and then there’s the

finalists fought for rest of us. Fighters, by virtue of what they

T
ABA titles inside the
Wembley Conference
Centre on December
2, 2005. Some, like
Tony Jeffries, James
DeGale, Anthony
Crolla and Tony Bellew, would go on to win
Olympic medals and/or major professional
belts. Only one remains active today.
“They’re all pussies,” Derek Chisora says
when asked why he’s still fighting when the
rest do not. “They found a way out. All these
fighters will tell you they’re retired, thank
you very much. But they were looking for
a way out from day one. Their loved ones
will tell them to retire and they think, ‘You
know what? You’re right, I should retire.’
But that’s what they wanted from the start.
I would say the same to their faces: They’re
all f**king pussies. I will retire when I want
to f**king retire.”
That notion of retirement, or at least
being advised to, irks the soon-to-be
38-year-old contender.
“If you start thinking of retirement
while you’re still in this game, you’re
going to get injured.
You lose focus.
You’re not hungry
anymore because I WILL RETIRE
do and what they put themselves through
to do it, are different. They’re stronger,
braver, barmier. They simply have to be
to exist in such a savage and unforgiving
world. Yet even when judged against those
high standards, Chisora stands alone as
one of a kind.
He’s in a plush private members’ club in
the heart of London where he often comes
to relax. These surroundings – elegant
furnishings, high ceilings and staff who are
eager to please – are a product of his long
and lucrative career. The first time Chisora
and I had a conversation like this was 11
years ago. The public didn’t know him then.
People stared, but only because he had a
life-sized cardboard cut-out of Wladimir
Klitschko stuffed under his arm.
Today, the Londoner is instantly
recognisable and a proven box office
attraction. His days of carrying cardboard
cut-outs to get attention have long
gone. This is his career and he has
fought long and hard to be the master
of it. Del Boy has regularly butted
heads with promoters, opponents
and authorities,
sometimes creating
more enemies than
friends. He’s slapped,

WHEN I WANT TO
you’re looking for a bitten, spat in faces
way out when you’re and thrown tables at
still in it. Retirement press conferences.
has never entered
my mind.” F**KING RETIRE” He’s been fined
thousands of pounds

www.boxingnewsonline.net DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 19

 for bad behaviour by the British Boxing
Board of Control. He’s lost eight times
on points, but only Vitali Klitschko and
Tyson Fury won without debate. He’s been
knocked out twice, and stopped on his stool
once. His skull has been thudded this way
and that, yet here he is in 2021, as famous
and successful – at least financially – as
almost anyone in the sport.
Looking at him now, more content than
he’s ever been, it’s natural to wonder what
keeps this old warhorse going. The answer
is that he lives for today without a care
about tomorrow. A loss is a loss, never
a full stop or cause for concern. What
matters to Derek Chisora are not the wins
and defeats on his record or the amount
of blood and mucus he’s spilled along the
way. What makes him tick, for now like
clockwork, are two things: The status
that fighting at a
high-level brings and,
secondly, the fighting
itself. I DON’T CARE
people could only hear me if I was being an
arsehole or being violent. But now people
listen to me when I just say it how it is and
be honest.”
Does he regret those years of bad
behaviour?
“No. A lion don’t apologise for eating a
gazelle.”
That lion took his first steps at the turn of
the century when he walked into a boxing
gym for the first time.
“That was over 20 years ago, man,” he
says when asked to describe the teenage
Chisora. “You’re trying to find yourself at
the age of 16, thinking you know everything.
You think life is simple to understand but
you don’t realise there’s happiness, there’s
sadness and there’s mistakes to be made. At
16, you don’t know what life is about.
All you know about life is from your
friends, by getting on
the bus, by running
up the road, by acting
tough but, really and
thank the Lord almighty Jesus Christ for
everything but was it hard for me? Not really.
My mum worked and she always made me
work for what I wanted. I remember when
these new Nike Shox came out. ‘I need these
trainers, mum.’ They cost £130, we called
them 130s. She says, ‘Okay, I’ll buy you the
trainers.’ Then she opened the back door to
the garden. ‘You need to clear that.’ We’re
not talking about a little bush. It was bigger
than that Christmas tree.”
He is pointing to the immaculate 10ft tree
that sits in the corner of the room we’re in
today. We laugh. Albeit briefly.
“You think I’m joking? I remember that
day. I cleaned, I worked so hard. I needed
those 130s, everybody had those trainers. If
you didn’t have them, you were not flexin’.
You would wear the 130s with a tracksuit, a
three-liner by Adidas, or Nike.
“I remember working from the Thursday
in the back garden. By the Saturday, we
were done. Done. My mum counted out the
money, gave me the 130. We got on the bus,

ABOUT WORLD
“Let me tell you truly, that’s not life.” the 102 to Brent Cross and went in for my
something about Chisora sometimes trainers. [But] I would only ask for things
boxing,” he purrs. “It acts like a fool. But I felt I really needed, not PlayStations or

TITLES. I WANT
is the crème de la he’s far from it. By things like that. I would go to the £1 shop
crème of all sports. chasing big fights as in Golders Green. I’d get £1 socks, £1 boxer
Forget football and opposed to titles, shorts, things like that, I didn’t really care.
the Premier League.
You have some
players that are kings
TO SELL OUT Derek has amassed
a fortune.
weekend, on DAZN,
This
But people are born differently.”
Back then it was clearing gardens. Today
it’s punches he exchanges for cash. He
of kings but in boxing,
the moment you lace
up gloves, and you
ARENAS” Chisora will pick up
another handsome
payday when he fights
works exceptionally hard for every penny
he earns. He sits back in the chair, pushes
the phone he will intermittently check to
are a boxer, then fellow heavyweight one side and pulls the hood from his face.
you make a name for contender Joseph The head that has taken almost as much
yourself. You are a king in Parker for the second punishment as his long arms have dished
your own right. In the time. In May, behind out is freshly shaved. He glows with health.
Premier League, you closed doors, the New He’s ready to fight again.
are one of many. I Zealander edged the The contest he credits with changing it all,
love boxing so British veteran over to turning him into a can’t-miss attraction,
much, it opens 12 competitive was a hellacious slugfest with Carlos Takam
doors for me in a rounds. For the in 2018.
way that Premier sequel, Chisora “[Promoter] Eddie [Hearn] wanted me to
League players has reunited lose that fight,” Chisora says. “But that was
can’t open doors. with coach Dave when the penny dropped for me and for
“I get things I Coldwell and spent him. They wanted me to take that fight. I
want. I enjoy using his entire camp in said I wasn’t ready. They asked me later and
my status. All the Rotherham, away I walked away again. I didn’t need that fight.
restaurants love me, from family, away Then one morning I woke up and I wanted
they love my family. from London. He had the fight. I called Eddie and told him to make
Anywhere you go they ample time to reflect. the fight, but on my terms. I got the fight. I
have the respect for the “There was a school right trained like a mad man, harder than I’d ever
boxers, more than any other next to Dave’s gym and every trained.
sport.” day I would drive past these school kids,” “I remember travelling to the O2 on the
Chisora will tell you he doesn’t fear Chisora explains. “My car is tinted and train, getting there and I had a sick feeling.
anything. Except for anonymity: “I remember I would pull over and just look at them. I looked down and I thought to myself, ‘This
pitching ideas to myself in my head when I They’ve got so much brightness in their is going to be a crazy one, today.’ And it
was just starting out,” he admits. “I realised lives, so much hope but it’s all going to be was crazy. The fight was crazy. I think that’s
I wanted to be recognised. I always wanted shattered soon. Whatever they’re learning when Eddie realised what he had in me.
that more than anything.” in that school is not going to progress them That was when everyone realised that I
This lucid, more genial Chisora has been to where they need to get to. The schools could fight. Jesus Christ, did I fight.”
several years in the making. The once teach the A-B-Cs and stuff like that but it Chisora won a truly violent slugfest via KO
notorious temper is in check and he hasn’t won’t teach them the realities of life, of how in round eight. It was beyond brutal.
been fined since 2016. “Now, I talk,” Chisora hard it really is. “It was not brutal,” Derek counters.
explains. “I do it through words. If I’m upset “If your parents were middle class and How was that not brutal?
I say that I’m upset. People now realise rich you’re almost guaranteed to have a “You’re sitting there, watching. But I was
that I’ve always been saying the truth. I good childhood but if your parents are just riding those punches. I was rolling. It looked
don’t sugar-coat things, I feel no obligation trying to earn enough money to get by, it’s brutal from the outside because I was
to please the promoters. I say it how it is. different. It’s hard for most kids.” moving so much. Then I sat on the ropes.
I have to do that to be happy. From day So it was hard for him? ‘F**k it, this is how I beat this guy.’ I was on
one I used to be so frustrated. I thought “Not really, you know,” Chisora sighs. “I the ropes for three or four rounds. He kept

20 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net

on coming, kept on coming, kept on coming.
It was good, I enjoyed it.”
Was he not aware of the pain?
“No.”
Has he ever been?
“No. Because I’m so charged up. But after
the fight, when it’s all calmed down, you’re
like, ‘F**k. Jesus Christ. My ribs. My jaw.’ But
it doesn’t last long. I come out all swollen
and stuff like that. Then I have a shower, lie
on the bed and everything just goes down. I
have bruises the next day but not swelling.
There’s a mark where the swelling was, but
the swelling has gone… If I was to get a
big black swollen eye right now, tomorrow
morning it would be gone.”
One of a kind. Different in so many ways.
For example, you will never hear Chisora
– at least not now – talking about winning
belts. They don’t matter to him.
“You want to win the world title at the
start but then people put blocks on you.
You have dreams but you realise they’re not
going to happen. Look at what happened in
Helsinki [when Robert Helenius was gifted
the decision against a young and ambitious
Derek in 2011]. A black guy goes and boxes
in a blue eye city where everyone is white,
you and your coach are the only black guys.
Even if I’d have knocked him out they’d have
raised his hand.
“It’s the world we live in. I always say to
www.boxingnewsonline.net
myself if I go to another country IN CHECK:
and fight another person, I Chisora now holds his
temper and uses words
have to disrupt that harmony,”
he continues, proving that the
old troublemaker could be coerced back
at any moment. “To stop me, put me in a
body bag and send me back to my mother.
But other than that, I will mess them up the
whole day.”
If the Takam fight turned him into a pay-
per-view star, it was that Helenius fight that
taught him all he needed to know about the
boxing business.
“It becomes all about money. Is the belt
worth money in this guy’s hands or that
guy’s hands? That’s why I don’t talk about
world titles now. If I can sell an arena out
and get paid, I’m happy. I don’t care about
the world titles. I want to sell out arenas, I
want all the fighters on the bill to get paid.
That’s the name of the game.
“I’m in this for the money now, I’m not
going to lie to you.
“I have made myself available and I made
myself relevant. That was down to me. It’s
like running a marathon. You don’t want to
be number one, leading the way, yet. Stay
with the guy who is leading, stay on his
shoulder. When there’s about 30 yards of
the race left, start coming through. But for
now, stay on the shoulder.”
Chisora does not understand why other
boxers are reluctant to share
his approach.
“The boxers have so much
power,” he explains. “If the
fighters really want it to happen the fight
will happen. You’ve got two fighters, you’ve
got the managers and you’ve got the TV
rights. One fighter is signed to those TV
rights, the other has different TV rights. If
you lose, you lose the TV deal. If you lose the
TV deal, you lose all the sponsorship. But, if
you have balls big enough, knowing you’re
going to beat that guy, you say, ‘I don’t
need your deal anymore, I don’t need your
sponsorship, I’m going to go and fight this
guy, I’m going to beat him and when I come
back, I want triple pay.’ Most guys don’t have
those balls, you understand? Fighters blame
bad management but that’s not true. Don’t
worry about signing for a rematch. Just
believe you’re going to win.”
Fearless, uncomplicated, loveable and,
consequently, one we worry about as the
punches rain down. Don’t, he says. We
might fear for his future but it’s misplaced if
he doesn’t feel the same way.
“The worst thing that can happen is you
die,” he says with a smile.
“That’s the worst thing. Or, you carry on,
you keep going. You live life. I enjoy walking
around with my big balls doing what I
want.” BN
DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 21
PREVIEWS + + + + + O U T S TA N D I N G + + + + G O O D + + + FA I R + + D I S A P P O I N T I N G + RU B B I S H
Previewing the best
upcoming fights
around the world

T h e s t a r r a t i n g s i n d i c a t e h o w w e l l t h e w r i t e r b e l i e v e s t h e f i g h t e r s m a t c h u p, t h e f i g h t ( s ) ’ c o n t e x t u a l s i g n i f i c a n c e , a n d h o w g o o d t h e f i g h t ( s ) w i l l b e
Photos: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM

It won’t change the heavyweight

NO DOUBTS:
Parker’s planning a
landscape, but Chisora and
more decisive win Parker can be counted on to go
the second time
around to war writes John Dennen

+ + + + + PA R K E R - C H I S O R A
+ + + + + U N D E RC A R D

F a crossroads
fight propels the

I winner onwards
and upwards in
their career and
sends the loser
backwards, what is
Joseph Parker versus Derek Chisora
II? A ring road fight? It’s hard to see how
the victor would be able to secure a
showdown with top tier heavyweights
like Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and
Oleksandr Usyk. Equally if Chisora were
to lose, he’d still be an entertainer, he’d
still be a popular fighter, as indeed would
Parker, albeit one with a very different
style to the Briton. Yet their fight remains
compelling, particularly as it’s come
off pay-per-view and onto DAZN. The
heavyweight division is an intriguing mix
of personalities and talent, even when
it’s two boxers battling for a place at the
bottom of the world top 10.
Most observers didn’t feel their first
fight, which Parker won on points in
May, left unanswered questions. But the
fighters have a point to make themselves.
So they box again on Saturday
(December 18) at the Manchester Arena,
this time with a full crowd around them.
Chisora is a marauding force inside
the ropes. At his best he can close off
an opponent’s space and clobber hard
combinations round the body and head.
Parker by no means found him easy to
contain first time around. The Londoner
can be just as fearsome outside the ropes.
He notoriously threw a table at a press
conference with Dillian Whyte, went on
a rampage after his weigh in with Kubrat
Pulev and the list of such incidents could
go on. That potential for mayhem will
draw attention in the build up to this
fight. But Chisora is unpredictable. He’s
just as capable of being disarmingly
pleasant. Sitting down to have breakfast
with Joseph Parker before their first fight
threw the New Zealander.
“You’ve just got to be prepared for

Back once again

whatever he brings. Whether that’s being
friendly or aggressive or being angry. He
might slap me or kiss me or punch me,
I don’t know, throw something at me,”
Joseph said. “We had breakfast together,

22 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net


McGREGOR
FIGHT OFF
EXCELLENT Scotsman Lee
McGregor was due to defend his
European bantamweight title
it was like an against Narek Abgaryan on this bill
awkward first date.” but withdrew with an injury. He’s
“I’ve never done due an enticing showdown
it before and I never with rival Kash Farooq
want to do it again,” he next year.
added. “What do you say to Tyson Fury who visits even
someone you’re going to punch while he’s out of camp.
in the face and is going to try punch Chisora has also changed his setup.
you in the face?”
Parker insists he will be more ruthless
in this rematch. “I know I can definitely
hurt him. I know if I follow up on the
good job I was doing of hurting him, I
can get him out of there,” he said. “I feel
this fight, there are no second chances. I
have to take care of business.”
“I want to show what I can do in the
ring,” he continued. “You want to look
good, you want to look exciting and
you want to stop your opponent and
I want to do that more this fight than
ever because the last fight was very close
and a lot of people said he won, a lot of
people said I won, it could have been a
draw, this and that. Obviously I know I
won. I watched the fight back, I know
I won the fight and this time I want to
make it a lot more decisive. I know I can
do a way better job.”
He’s had more time with trainer Andy
Lee, working in a talent-laden gym in
Morecambe that includes excellent
www.boxingnewsonline.net
WARMONGERS:
Chisora and Parker
in the midst of
battle
He had Buddy McGirt in his corner
for the last fight. Now he’s returned to
Sheffield trainer Dave Coldwell. The
two have worked well together in the
past, Chisora left him after a spectacular
knockout win over Artur Szpilka.
Chisora hasn’t faded without him, he put
Oleksandr Usyk under some pressure
when they fought last year but Coldwell
will understand what makes Chisora
so effective and how to approach this
fight. The Londoner promises to make it
another difficult night for Parker.
Chisora did put down Parker down
early in their first fight. Jabs set up a
clubbing right over the top that forced
Joseph to the canvas at the start of the first
round. That set the tone for the bout but
Parker is tough. He shook off the effects
of that blow and though he’s been down
before he’s never been stopped in a career
that has seen him take on heavy hitters
like Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.
What Chisora does so well is bull his
opponent across the ring, into the ropes
and into corners and attack there. He did
that at times in the first fight with Parker.
But the New Zealander also showed
how he could defuse Chisora, putting his
footwork to good use and banging in his
left as jabs or a firm hook. Chisora held
him to a split decision previously, the
pick now is for Parker to win again on
New Zealand points and maybe make it a little clearer
prospect David second time around.
Nyika, who boxes After dominating Avni Yildirim,
on this undercard, and Jack Cullen gets a shot at the vacant
heavyweight champion European super-middleweight title,
TITLE SHOT: although he gets a change of opponent.
Cullen gets to fight
for the European
Kevin Lele Sadjo comes in to replace
championship Emre Cukur. The unbeaten Frenchman
should be a tough fight for the Bolton
man, but if Cullan can box like he did
against Yildirim he should win.
An excellent super-middleweight clash
pits two unbeatens against one another.
Carlos Gongora, 20-0 (15), meets
Lerrone Richards, 15-0 (3). Gongora
has fought the higher quality opposition
so has that extra experience, he appears
to be a shade more powerful. But
Richards, superbly skilled, will be a very
tricky opponent to beat and if he forces
Gongora to come on to the front foot he
could outpoint him.
Zelfa Barrett will be in action against
Bruno Tarimo. Cruiserweight prospect
Jordan Thompson, Commonwealth
Games champ Sandy Ryan, Anthony
Crolla trained Rhiannon Dixon and
entertaining heavyweight Alen Babic
also get outings.
THE VERDICT Chisora and Parker can
be counted on to entertain.
DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 23
 PREVIEWS

Photo: VALERY SHARIFULIN\TASS VIA GETTY IMAGES

OPPORTUNITY:
Beterbiev only
needs one small
opening to turn a
fight on its head

24 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net

Artur Christmas
+++++ MAIN EVENT
+ + + + + U N D E RC A R D
UST as it is only
natural – we hope
J – that they will one
day fight, so too
is it only natural
that Russian light-
heavyweights Artur
Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will be
compared along the way.
Yet, although they share a nationality,
two more dissimilar fighters you would
be hard-pressed to find.
Bivol, who last weekend defeated
Umar Salamov over 12 rounds, is a
measured and methodical technician
who wins most of his fights wide on the
cards, whereas Beterbiev, all bowling ball
shoulders and unbridled aggression, is
considered one of the most fearsome
one-punch knockout artists on the
planet (and has yet to hear the final bell
as a pro). They are both Russian, they’re
the top two fighters in the 175-pound
division (Beterbiev is champion, Bivol
ranked number one), but they are polar
opposites in pretty much every other
regard.
This becomes all the more apparent
when they are competing in close
proximity like this – one after the other.
First it was the turn of Bivol and now
it’s the turn of Beterbiev, who this
Friday (December 17) puts his world
championship on the line against
American southpaw Marcus Browne.
It would seem, on the face of it,
Beterbiev, 16-0 (16), has the trickier
task ahead of him, for Browne, unlike
Salamov, is ranked in the Top 10 (at fifth).
At 24-1 (16), the New Yorker’s only loss
to date is a technical decision after eight
rounds versus Jean Pascal in 2019, and
there is decent win on his record, too,
against former beltholder Badou Jack
(a unanimous decision in 2019). That
victory over Jack, infamous for the nasty
cut Jack suffered during it, proved to
the world that Browne was a capable
operator and that he could, on his day,
give top fighters problems.
The fact he is a southpaw, and a rangy
one at that, also helps. His arms are
unusually long and he fights from a wide
stance, often leaping in and out of range
to take his opponent by surprise. While
not a one-punch knockout specialist, and
certainly nowhere near as devastating
a puncher as Beterbiev, Browne
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Beterbiev nevertheless carries with him some spite,
some aggression, and a willingness to
gets a stern engage, which alone makes him a threat.
test in the He went after Jack, for instance, with
no fear whatsoever, spiking him from
shape of mid-range with his left hand, a punch he
Browne,
writes Elliot
Worsell
threw repeatedly to Jack’s head and body.
Jack, remember, is no easy man to hit,
either. His defence is tight, his forearms
up by his face. Yet Browne impressed by
going after him that night and increasing
his punch output, knowing he would
make a dent in his closed-up opponent
only by remaining aggressive and active
at all times.
Against Pascal, too, Browne started
Photo: STEPHANIE TRAPP/TGB
BROWN’S RANGY SOUTHPAW
STYLE CAN CAUSE SUPRISES
well. He outlanded the Canadian through
the first three rounds but was then
knocked down in the fourth when caught
by a counter right hand in an exchange.
Up too quickly, Browne resumed the
fight on unsteady legs and found himself
dropped for a second and third time in
the seventh round. The first was from
another well-timed Pascal right, while
the second knockdown was due to an
accumulation of shots. (As before, he was
outlanding Pascal at the point of the first
seventh-round knockdown, 104 to 44.)
In the end, a cut caused by a
Pascal headbutt brought a premature
conclusion to that particular fight.
However, despite its unsatisfactory
ending, there was still much to glean
from what happened between Pascal and
Browne in New York.
From Artur Beterbiev’s point of view,
he will know he is boxing a man this
weekend with a capacity to throw plenty
of stinging punches from the southpaw
stance, with as many aimed at the body
as the head. He will know Browne moves
a lot, and has the kind of stamina that
enables him to fight as hard in the final
third of a fight as he does in the first.
Yet Beterbiev will also see in Browne
someone whose willingness to engage
invariably leaves him open and
vulnerable and whose susceptibility
to big punches has already been
established. And if this again rings true
on Friday, there are few fighters as
dangerous for someone like Marcus
Browne as Artur Beterbiev, a champion
who requires only one small opening and
one big shot to turn a fight on its head.
Whether on Friday Browne racks up
a lead with his activity or finds himself
overpowered early remains to be seen.
But the safe bet is on him at some
stage coming unstuck under heavy fire,
perhaps in the fight’s final third.
On the Montreal undercard Quebec’s
Marie-Ève Dicaire, 17-1 (0), who
earlier this year lost a lopsided decision
against Claressa Shields, contests the IBF
women’s super-welterweight title against
Cynthia Lozano, who is 9-0 (7) as a
pro but has yet to fight outside Mexico
and has fought only novices to date.
There is also a 10-round fight between
41-year-old Canadian cruiserweight
Yan Pellerin, 12-1 (5), and Mexico’s
Francisco Rivas, 15-2 (5).
THE VERDICT Beterbiev should get
the job done but Browne is a solid
challenge.
DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 25
ACTION + + + + + O U T S TA N D I N G + + + + G O O D + + + FA I R + + D I S A P P O I N T I N G + RU B B I S H
Re p o r t e r s ’ s t a r r a t i n g s fo r m a i n e v e n t s a n d u n d e rc a r d s a r e b a s e d o n i n - r i n g e n t e r t a i n m e n t , c o m p e t i t i v e n e s s a n d w h e t h e r o v e r a l l e x p e c t a t i o n w a s m e t

Destroyer
Conor Benn LIVERPOOL recover from that. Referee Bob Williams The Kazakh launched a desperate
counted him out with two seconds left in attack in the 10th and final round, boring
confirms his D EC E M B E R 1 1 the round. forward, holding Taylor in clinches and
star power and Benn’s team aren’t hopeful that he’ll driving hooks into the champion with
his punch +++++ MAIN EVENT get the winner of Amir Khan-Kell Brook, abandon, the occasional shot getting
+ + + + + U N D E RC A R D but see Adrien Broner as a potential through. Taylor couldn’t prise her off and
power against opponent for next year. while the bout finished messily, Taylor
+ + + + + AT M O S P H E R E
Chris Algieri “I’ll always be in my dad’s shadow and defended her title with a unanimous
I don’t mind that,” Benn said afterwards. decision victory, 98-92 for Marcus
ONOR BENN “I’m proud of my dad and the legacy he McDonnell, 97-92 Jean-Robert Laine and
continues his rise. left. Doors have opened, and I’ve run 96-93 for Pawel Kardyni. John Latham

C The young fighter is

increasingly popular
not only due to his
likeable personality
and legendary father
through them. I haven’t let fear hold me
back. I haven’t let doubt or the naysayers
hold me back. That’s why I am where I
am.”
On the same bill, Katie Taylor
refereed.
Taylor retained all four sanctioning
body lightweight belts. Her next defence
will likely be against Amanda Serrano
in Spring 2022. “It could be one of the
Nigel, but also his own increasingly retained her lightweight world career defining fights for me for sure. It’s
assured performances in the ring and championship with a clear victory over a huge fight, it’s a mega fight, not just in
John
crowd-pleasing aggression. He blitzed Firuza Sharipova. female boxing but in boxing overall,” she
Dennen
@BoxingNewsJD American veteran Chris Algieri in four Taylor got the measure of Sharipova said. “These are the fights that I dream of,
rounds at the M&S Arena in Liverpool on in the first round, slipping quickly back these are the fights that I live for really.”
RINGSIDE Saturday to tee up an exciting 2022. from the Kazakh’s jabs and Joe Cordina dominated
Benn began the first round with bad staying poised, ready to Belgium’s Miko
intentions. He almost leapt forward with counter. WORLD- Khatchatryan over the
his left hook, powering it into Algieri’s She began to crack BEATER? course of 10 rounds.
body. But the New Yorker still gave him flush combinations The Welshman is a
food for thought. His right missed but a of punches in, soon THERE was plenty of debate slick operator but,
hard left hook burst upwards, catching settling into a among the Transnational Boxing with his opponent
Benn flush. rhythm. A petulant Rankings Board regarding whether staying resolutely
Benn stamped his physicality on Algieri swipe of the left to include Conor Benn in the world on the backfoot,
in the second round. A cuffing hook had after the bell had top 10 or not. In the end, despite cantering from side
Algieri rolling across the canvas into the rung to the end the some objections about his level to side to keep away
ropes. It looked like a startling power third round was a sign of opposition, Benn took from him, Cordina
punch had connected, but a replay of Sharipova’s mounting his place at 10th. came forward. He
suggested that was a balance issue, with frustration. tracked after Khatchatryan,
the swing forcing Algieri off his feet. But the Irish star remained tagging him with a right
Benn showcased his defensive head sharper and cleverer. She lined up uppercut and whipping a left hook
movement in the third round, drawing a her straight right cross, arrowing those to the body. Khatchatryan took the
round of applause for his style. Struggling blows through Sharipova’s guard. Just occasional moment to hold his feet and
to land those jabs was a problem for when Sharipova was bracing for that, fling combinations of straight punches
Algieri. He couldn’t establish himself in Taylor turned a right hook in. at the Welshman, but Cordina largely
the fight, and Benn bombed forward. To rattle Taylor the Kazakh had to blocked the incoming fire. Walking
The younger man began to boss Algieri make it rough. Sharipova began to hold through the odd right hand, Joe dictated
from the centre of the ring. He slammed Taylor in clinches and hack shots at her in the course of the contest, forcing
his right hook into the American’s side. close. She went too far at times though, Khatchatryan into the ropes by the later
Algieri tapped him with his left hook but with referee John Latham taking a point rounds. He didn’t shift him but won a
didn’t keep the Briton at bay. from her for hitting on the break in the wide unanimous decision, 100-90 for
Benn found a spectacular finish in sixth round. Pawel Kardyni and 98-92 for both Jean-
the fourth round. A tremendous straight Sharipova enjoyed moments when Robert Laine and John Latham. Howard
one-two blasted into Algieri. He listed she stood off and let Taylor fall short, Foster refereed.
forward from the ropes. Benn’s right arm taking the odd round over the course of Fighting in his hometown, Robbie
was primed for a third punch but Conor the fight. But the Kazakh couldn’t shake Davies Jnr dispatched Hank Lundy as
held it back. He had already struck the Taylor’s control. Even in the ninth round soon as he landed his power punches.
finishing blow. Algieri pitched forward, Taylor kept the shape of her boxing, With a short right up close Davies had
falling to the canvas. He was dazed by moving easily, lancing in an excellent the American wobbling badly in the
the shocking force of the shot and lay straight one-two before following up at first round. In the second, he stabbed a
stricken on the canvas. Algieri couldn’t once with the same combination. flush left into Lundy. A quick right tagged

26 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net

SPECTACULAR FINISH:
Benn lands a straight
one-two, sending Algieri
down and out in round four
Photos: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM
 ACTION
IN CONTROL:
Katie Taylor holds
off Sharipova
Photos: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM

FULL
R E S U LT S
Conor Benn (146½lbs),
20-0 (13), w rsf 4
Chris Algieri (146lbs),
25-4 (9); Katie Taylor
(134¾lbs), 20-0 (6), w
pts 10 Firuza Sharipova
(134¼lbs), 14-2 (8);
Joe Cordina (129¾lbs),
14-0 (8), w pts 10
Miko Khatchatryan
(129¾lbs), 13-1 (7);
Robbie Davies Jnr
(139¼lbs), 22-3 (15),
w rsf 2 Hank Lundy
(140¼lbs), 31-10-
1 (14); Caoimhin
Agyarko (159¼lbs),
10-0 (7), w rsf 9 Noe
Larios (160lbs), 14-1
(6); Peter McGrail
(123¼lbs), 2-0 (1),
w rsf 2 Engel Gomez
(124¾lbs), 8-4-1 (4);
Jordan Gill (128¾lbs),
26-1-1 (7), d td Alan
Isaias Luques Castillo
(127lbs), 27-11-1
(1); Calum French
(140½lbs), 1-0, w pts
6 Rustem Fatkhullin
(140¾lbs), 8-17 (3);
Joe McGrail (121¾lbs),
1-0 (1), w rsf 2
Francisco Rodriguez Lundy again before Davies’ cross blasted time, counted out by referee Marcus the European featherweight title until
(117¾lbs), 0-4; Paddy into him again. The hit knocked Lundy McDonnell at 1-23. Medics had to wheel champion Karim Guerfi withdrew
Lacey (157¼lbs), 3-0, through the ropes, almost tumbling Lundy away from the ring in a chair. through illness. Argentina’s Alan Isaias
w pts 6 Vasif Mamedov onto the radio commentators. He was Belfast’s Caoimhin Agyarko won in Luques Castillo came in for a low key
(160¼lbs), 2-8-2. hurt and unable to right himself in good style too [inset]. His head movement eight-rounder, only for an accidental
kept Noe Larios missing and Agyarko head clash to badly cut Gill at the end
was soon shaking him with explosive of the third round, ending the bout in a
single shots. The Belfast man switched technical draw. John Latham refereed.
southpaw to compound the American’s Popular Gateshead fighter Calum
problems. Agyarko weakened him further French made his pro debut, slugging
with shots to the body. In the ninth game Russian Rustem Fatkhullin
round he tapped the body with hefty southpaw lefts.
with his left and then French drove him across
smashed his left hook the ring, dominating
to the head. A long even if the visitor
right set up another refused to wilt.
hurtful left hook French won a
and Agyarko had clear 60-54 from
broken through. referee Bob
He rushed in as Williams.
Larios reeled back Joe McGrail,
IN CONTROL: Cordina is too good for Khatchatryan over 10 [above], and referee Howard Peter’s brother,
while Davies Jnr surely ends the long career of veteran Lundy
Foster stepped in dropped Francisco
to save the American Rodriguez in the
at 2-08. second round and the
Tokyo Olympian Peter Spainard was retired on
McGrail showed his quality as his stool in the break. Bob
he floated round Engel Gomez, feinting, Williams refereed. Liverpool’s Paddy
drawing a response from the Nicaraguan Lacey chipped away at Russia’s Vasif
and then landing his quick counters. The Mamedov who clipped him with the
Liverpudlian lined up a flush southpaw odd, firm shot but couldn’t deny Lacey a
cross in the second round, blasting it 40-36 points win after four rounds. John
down the middle to leave Gomez flat Latham was the referee. bn
on his back, stopped by referee Bob
Williams at 2-18 of the second round. THE VERDICT Benn has been well
Luck was in short supply for Jordan built and well trained, but he’s
Gill. He was due to be fighting for growing ever more impressive.

28 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net

 ACTION
EVERGREEN
Donaire keeps CARSON, CA
rolling back D EC E M B E R 1 1
the years and
+++++ MAIN EVENT
rolling over his
+ + + + + U N D E RC A R D
opponents,
writes Sean IF there is nothing sweeter in boxing than
when the underdog defeats the favourite,
Nam then consider that a close second is when
an ageing veteran, deep into the winter
of his twilight years, gets the better of
his younger cohorts. In recent years,
the examples of Bernard Hopkins, Floyd
Mayweather Jnr, and Manny Pacquiao
spring immediately to mind. But the
undeniable posterchild for defying Father
Time currently is 39-year-old Filipino-
American Nonito Donaire, whose left
hand is possibly the surest thing in a
volatile sport.
At the Dignity Health Sports Park,
Donaire unsheathed his vaunted weapon
in the waning moments of the fourth
round of a bantamweight title bout (set
for 12) that struck his Filipino countryman
Reymart Gaballo – 14 years his junior
– to the liver and had him reeling on the
canvas. Gaballo managed to beat referee
NOT ENOUGH:
Ray Corona’s count, but he immediately
Gaballo had his dropped to his knees again, prompting
moments but Corona to put a halt to the bout. The
Donaire wows again official time of stoppage of 2-59.
Photo: ESTHER LIN/
SHOWTIME
“My wife and my dad were telling me
F U L L R E S U LT S
Nonito Donaire (117 1/4lbs), 42-6 (28), w rsf 4 Reymart Gaballo (117lbs), 24-1 (20); Cody Crowley (145 1/2lbs), 20-0 (9), w pts 10 Kudratillo Abdukakhorov (146 1/4lbs), 18-1 (10); Brandun Lee (140lbs),
24-0 (22), w ko 7 Juan Heraldez (144lbs), 16-2-1 (10); Marlon Tapales (121 1/2lbs), 35-3 (18), w rsf 2 Hiroaki Teshigawara (121 1/2lbs), 22-3-2 (15); Custio Clayton (151lbs), 19-0-1 (12), w pts 10 Cameron
Krael (150lbs), 18-20-3 (5); Andrew Tabiti (200lbs), 18-1 (14), w rsf 5 Mitch Williams (197 1/4lbs), 16-9-3 (11); Bryan Roberto Flores Favela (141 1/4lbs), 31-2-1 (18), w rsf 1 Tyrone Luckey (141lbs), 15-16-4
(11); Jesus Silverya Carrillo (139 1/2lbs) 10-6-2 (4), w rsf 2 Miguel Angel Perez Aispuro (138 1/2lbs), 12-11-2 (8); Gurgen Hovhannisyan (277 1/2lbs), 2-0 (2), w rsf 2 Nick Jones (206 1/4lbs), 9-4 (6).
www.boxingnewsonline.net
to go to the body,” Donaire, a native of
California, said post-fight. “I had to set it
up by bouncing up and down to open up
that shot. I was throwing the right hand
in the earlier rounds and then he didn’t
expect the left hook to the body.
“I thought he was going to get up
because I know he has a lot of heart, but
that was a tremendous punch that landed,”
Donaire continued. “I just told him after
the fight not to be down. Because he’s a
great fighter. I had trouble figuring him out
and I’m here to help him with anything he
needs the rest of his career.”
The ever-charitable Donaire, who has
won belts across four weight divisions,
defended his WBC 118-pound strap for
the first time since winning it last May
against Nordine Oubaali. As with Gaballo,
Donaire obliterated Oubaali in the fourth
round, courtesy of his left hand.
Gaballo had his moments, especially
with the uppercut and straight right,
catching Donaire as he marched forward.
Donaire acknowledged afterwards that
Gaballo took away his left hook early on,
which forced him to rely on straight rights.
But Donaire remained undeterred: “I’ve
been in this game for such a long time and
I’ve had so many fights, I didn’t think I was
going to have to feel him out,” Donaire
said. “But he came out differently than I
thought he would. He tried to nullify my
left hook, but I just had to have no mercy.”
Afterward, Donaire expressed his desire
to have a rematch with bantamweight
leader Nayoa Inoue, who won a
unanimous decision in their barnburner
in 2019.
“It’s my team’s job to work on the
rematch with Nayoa Inoue,” Donaire said.
“I believe my team is going to make it
happen. I’m able to keep fighting at this
age because I just have faith in myself and
have a lifestyle that’s good for me. There is
no such thing as a cheat day. It’s a choice
day, and it’s my choice to train and to be
me.”
In a minor upset, Canadian Cody
Crowley outpointed Kudratillo
Abdukakhorov in a 10-round
welterweight bout. Crowley worked
behind his southpaw jab and maintained
a high workrate over the relatively timid
Abdukakhorov. He was rewarded on the
scorecards: 97-92 (Alejandro Rochin),
95-94 (Pat Russell), and 98-91 (Fernando
Villarreal).
Crowley encountered a hiccup in the
second round, when Abdukakhorov
caught him coming in with a left hook
that dropped him for the first time in his
career. But Crowley was hardly shaken
up. In the next round, he started to walk
down Abdukakhorov and land punishing
combinations. In the fifth round, Crowley
connected on a left hand that opened up
a bloody cut on Abdukakhorov’s ear. Jerry
Cantu refereed.
Crowley enters the welterweight
rankings at eighth (ahead of David
Avenesyan and Conor Benn).
Hard-hitting super-featherweight
prospect Brandun Lee made mincemeat
of his toughest opponent to date – on
paper — to extend his unbeaten record to
24 wins.
The Coachella Valley native of Mexican
and Korean descent patiently bided his
time for six rounds before he drilled Juan
Heraldez with a booming right hand
in the seventh that dropped the veteran
and prompted referee Gerard White
to halt the bout at 2-11. Lee set up the
pivotal punch with a one-two to the body,
followed by a decoy left hook.
Lee is the managerial stablemate of the
dazzling up-and-coming welterweight
contender Jaron Ennis.
THE VERDICT Donaire again defies
his middle age.
DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 29
 ACTION

Lomachenko N E W YO R K division after he roughhoused the By the third round, Lomachenko was
durable Richard Commey over 12 in free-flowing motion: ducking under
proves he D EC E M B E R 1 1 rounds in front of a reported crowd of wide hooks, flitting in and out of range,
remains a 8,555 at Madison Square Garden in New firing jabs, and connecting with left hands
supreme and +++++ MAIN EVENT York City. on the heels of one of his trademark
+ + + + + U N D E RC A R D After being on the cusp of a stoppage pirouettes. In one instance, he drilled
formidable in the middle rounds, Lomachenko had Commey with a left hand smack dab in
+ + + + + AT M O S P H E R E
lightweight, to settle for a comfortable decision: the Adam’s apple. Commey, to his credit,
Judges Tony Paolillo (117-110), Eric handled the blows well and continued to
writes Sean N a topsy-turvy, Marlinski (119-108), and Tom Schreck stalk after his elusive opponent.
Nam from three-week span (119-108) all had the Ukrainian winning The end seemed apparent in the
ringside
I that saw virtually
every top lightweight
in the world step
into the ring, it
may have been the
wide.
Giving up advantages in size and
length, Lomachenko relied on feints
and nifty footwork to get the better of
his Ghanaian adversary. But Commey,
seventh round, when Lomachenko
dropped Commey with a hard left hand
during the clinch. Commey seemed
slightly unsteady, but he was able to beat
the count administered by referee Steve
veteran who put on the most convincing ranked as the sixth-best lightweight Willie. Sensing that Commey was too
performance. at the opening bell, stymied some of battered to continue, Lomachenko, in a
Former world lightweight champion Lomachenko’s movements early on by surreal exchange, began motioning with
Vasiliy Lomachenko inched closer repeatedly firing right hands to the body. his glove at Commey’s corner to stop the
to reclaiming his former perch in the He could not keep this up, however. fight. After landing another of pair of left
Photos: SARAH STIER/GETTY IMAGES

BRUTAL:
Loma connects
with a hard left

Still oozing quality

30 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net

hands on Commey, Lomachenko again
implored Commey’s corner to throw
in the towel. But the suggestion went
unheeded. It turned out to be the right
decision, as Commey managed to regain
his senses and survive the round – and
the remainder of the fight.
Despite the somewhat anti-climactic
ending, Lomachenko showed once more
why he remains one of the division’s
most formidable fighters. This was
his second victory since dropping his
championship to Teófimo López last
year. The Commey bout was supposed
to serve as a launchpad for an enticing
rematch, but López suffered one of
the year’s biggest upsets against Aussie
George Kambosos in late November. A
week later, top talents Gervonta Davis
and Devin Haney took to the ring in
separate bouts, but both had their
hands somewhat full against Isaac Cruz
and Joseph Diaz, respectively. Postfight,
Lomachenko expressed his eagerness to
get into the title mix again.
“We have in this weight division, we
have a lot of great fighters,” Lomachenko
said. “We have a lot of top fighters. So we
can organise a lot of great fights in the
future.”
Asked if he would be interested in
challenging Kambosos in his hometown
of Australia, Lomachenko did not
hesitate to respond in the
affirmative.
“Yes, of course,” he said.
“I need this chance. If he
‘WE CAN
gives me the chance, of ORGANISE A
course I will take it.”
Jared Anderson LOT OF GREAT
continues to tear through
his opposition.
FIGHTS IN THE
The flashy, 22-year-old
blue-chip American made
FUTURE’
short work of Ukrainian
Oleksandr Teslenko with a second-
round stoppage in an eight-round
heavyweight bout on the undercard (Top
www.boxingnewsonline.net
PUNISHING:
Lomacheko uncorks
a perfect right hook
Rank promoted).
After fighting mostly in the southpaw
stance in the opening round, Anderson
switched back to
orthodox in the second,
whereupon he continued
to pummel Teslenko from
pillar to post. He finished
the job with an overhand
right that caught Teslenko
on the temple. Although
Teslenko beat the count,
referee Danny Schiavone
determined he was on
unsteady legs and waived
off the bout. The official time of stoppage
was 1-33. Anderson has knocked out
every single one of his 11 opponents.
OVER IN TWO:
Anderson stopped
Teslenko with an
overhand right
Keyshawn Davis showed why he
might be the best American prospect
FULL
in the sport. The 22-year-old Olympian
R E S U LT S
used every punch in the book, dropping
Vasiliy Lomachenko
Jose Zaragoza twice en route to a (134 1/2lbs), 16-2
dominant second-round stoppage.
In the second round, Davis cracked
(11), w pts 12 Richard
Commey (134 1/4lbs),
Zaragoza with a left hand to the liver that 30-4; Jared Anderson
sent the Mexican crashing to the canvas,
writhing in pain. Referee Charlie Fitch
(240), 11-0 (11), w rsf
2 Oleksandr Teslenko
promptly stopped the fight at 2-51.
Nico Ali Walsh – the latest nepotistic
(213 3/4lbs), 17-2
(13); Keyshawn Davis
marketing concoction in boxing – went
the distance for the first time in his
(137 3/4lbs), 4-0 (3),
w rsf 2 Jose Zaragoza
(136 1/4lbs), 8-4-1
career, picking up a majority decision (2); Nico Ali Walsh
over undistinguished but game Reyes (159 1/4lbs), 3-0 (2),
Sanchez in a four-round middleweight w pts 4 Reyes Sanchez
bout. (161 3/4lbs), 6-1 (2);
Scores were 38-38 (Allen Nance), Xander Zayas (152
40-36 ( James Kinney), and 39-36 (Robin 3/4lbs), 12-0 (9), w rsf
Taylor). 1 Alessio Mastronunzio
(152 1/4lbs), 9-2 (3);
The grandson of Muhammad Ali
Pablo Valdez (146lbs),
hardly looked the part of his namesake. 6-0 (5), w ko 4 Julio
Late in the second round, it looked as Cesar Sanchez (149
though Ali Walsh, a native of Chicago, 1/2lbs), 11-4 (6);
would make it a short night after John Bauza (140
connecting on a looping right hand that 1/4lbs), 16-0 (7), w
wobbled the Californian. But Sanchez ko 4 Michael Williams
would respond in the third round, Jnr. (138 3/4lbs), 19-1
landing two straight right hands on the (12); James Wilkins
(127 1/4lbs), 10-2 (6),
inside.
w pts 8 Juan Tapia
Moments later, Sanchez landed yet (129 1/2lbs), 10-4 (3);
another pair of right hands while Ali Kelvin Davis (144lbs),
Walsh was on the ropes. Sanchez closed 3-0 (2), w rsf 2 Ryan
out the round strong with another flurry Schwartzberg (144
that had Ali Walsh’s head snapping back. 1/2lbs), 1-4-1 (1); Joe
Ward (175 1/4lbs),
THE VERDICT In this form, 6-1 (3), w rsf 1 Britton
Lomachenko will be very hard to Norwood (176 1/2lbs),
10-4-1 (7).
beat.
DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 31
 ACTION
Sunny Shines
Photos: FRANCOIS NEL/GETTY IMAGES
Edwards DUBAI 118-109, 118-109) and retaining his No.2
world ranking and IBF flyweight belt in
outclasses the D EC E M B E R 1 1 the process.
plucky Mama A great performance, as opposed to
+++++ MAIN EVENT a great fight, Edwards will be relieved
but there’s
+ + + + + U N D E RC A R D to have brushed aside his mandatory
dismay for challenger but could have done without
Butler as T is a testament to the cut he picked up along his hairline
Sunny Edwards’ in the second round. That soiled an
Casimero pulls
out, writes
Elliot Worsell T adaptability and
boxing brain that a
mandatory defence
against Jayson
Mama in Dubai
otherwise smooth display and owed as
much to Mama’s dabbling in the dark arts
– headbutts, shoulders and elbows were
commonplace – as it did the Filipino’s
punch output.
(Saturday, December 11) got easier and Early on, especially, Mama proved a
easier with each passing round. What handful in every which way. At times, he
started uncomfortably soon became belligerently charged towards Edwards
manageable and eventually became so with no fear of what might come back.
straightforward for Edwards that the only Eyes on corners, he wanted to bully
discomfort was watching Mama still try. the champion with long right hands,
In the end, despite a competitive first which he threw over and over again,
couple of rounds, Edwards ran away with though rarely had much success with
it, taking a unanimous decision (117-110, them. Often, in fact, all these right hands
32 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021
OVERMATCHED:
Mama was never really
in the running
achieved was to put Mama in a clinch,
or instigate a messy exchange inside. It
was there of course he bloodied Edwards
in the second round and it was there he
momentarily looked to be a threat.
Yet Edwards is nothing if not ring
savvy and it didn’t take long for him to
adjust to Mama’s single form of attack.
Watching Mama raise his hands in
celebration at the bell to end round two,
the belt-holder perhaps decided, there
and then, to bring an end to any illusion
his challenger had of success.
From that point, the Croydon man
took over, peppering Mama with jabs
thrown from both the orthodox and
southpaw stance, and spearing him with
crosses whenever Mama got lazy with
his feet. He would seamlessly switch
styles, as is his custom, and grew more
and more in confidence when it became
apparent all Mama had to offer was a
right hand and a big heart.
www.boxingnewsonline.net
 WHAT NEXT?
By the halfway mark, Edwards had RHYTHMIC:
EDWARDS is a sublime talent
found his rhythm and this rhythm – this Edwards just got
better and better who deserves to be seen. In an
pattern of movement – is one historically ideal world, he will next fight in
hard to shake for opponents. Lulled into the UK against an opponent worthy
it, they find that once they are moving of his considerable ability.
the way Sunny Edwards wants them to Mexico’s Julio Cesar Martinez
move, it becomes increasingly difficult fits the bill perfectly.
to stop.
That was again the case with Mama,
who was not only beaten to the punch
repeatedly, but was finding his own
aggression and desperation used against
him in the cruellest of ways. The more he
tried, the more he fell short. The more
he gritted his teeth and bit down on his
gum shield, the easier he was for Edwards
to hit.
To compound matters, Mama was
putting everything into his shots whereas
Edwards, utterly relaxed, mixed up the
power and speed of his punches like
an old pro. This difference showed in
the seventh when Mama, enjoying little
success, became excited after landing
a right hand only to immediately be
spun and countered by Edwards in the
exchange. Too quick, too fluid, and far
too good, Edwards was never going to
fall for the traps of a man who was all
headbutt and right hand. He seemed, by
that stage, in control not only of his own himself on the canvas for the only time (Butler was then supposed to fight
actions but also those of his opponent, in the fight. He disputed the knockdown Ghana’s Joseph Agbeko for the interim
not far off a boxing ventriloquist. but it was counted nonetheless and it title, yet that too was scrapped at the
That said, there is a tendency sucked from him his final bit of hope. 11th hour.)
whenever watching a boxer as dominant After that, Edwards, 17-0 (4), was What fans did get to see, however, was
as Edwards to overstate the victory or willing to put himself in harm’s way just a super-flyweight fight between Donnie
prematurely announce his arrival as to have some fun, his boredom peaking Nietes, 43-1-6 (23), and Nolberto
a ‘star’. Rather than do that, we must in rounds 11 and 12. Matador-style, he Jimenez, 30-9-6 (16), which ended in a
instead remember that Mama, though postured, he dropped his hands, and 10-round draw, and also a second-round
his mandatory challenger, had beaten he toyed with Mama, this bull without stoppage for Jono Carroll, 21-2-1 (6),
absolutely nobody of note coming into horns, until his dominance was ultimately against Aelio Mesquita, 20-6-1 (18), at
the fight and, while determined, was confirmed by three ringside judges. lightweight. Carroll has now won three in
also painfully limited. Moreover, his style The Dubai undercard was meant to a row since an upset loss to Maxi Hughes
appeared almost designed by Edwards feature a WBO bantamweight title fight last year.
for him to look good. between John Riel Casimero and Paul
Which, of course, Edwards did. He Butler only for the fight to be cancelled THE VERDICT Edwards again shows
looked good early on, when under due to Casimero’s weight-making issues. how difficult he will be to beat.
pressure, and he looked better and better
once what was taking place started to
resemble less of a fight and more of a
10-ROUND DRAW:
lesson. By then Edwards had become so
Nietes connects
bored of exposing Mama’s limitations with Jiminez
with the jab he would elect to exchange,
albeit briefly, and would get the better of
those moments, too, with Mama’s eighth-
round Ali shuffle a demonstration of
frustration rather than success.
In terms of approach, it was quite
the contrast: one fighter was desperate
for the knockout and the other content
to cruise to a decision. The result,
therefore, was pretty much inevitable: the
desperation of the aggressor played into
the hands of the boxer content to cruise,
with their aggression and desperation
counterintuitive in the end.
Mama, 16-1 (9), knew this when, in the
10th, Edwards followed a left cross with
a right hook to either the side or back of
Mama’s head and the challenger found

www.boxingnewsonline.net DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 33

 ACTION

It’s Chamberlain in one

Photos: AMES CHANCE/GETTY IMAGES

BODY SHOT:
Ref Williams rushes to
Prasovic, on his knees
after a left hook from
Chamberlain

TURN IT OFF
THE music as Chamberlain came in
added colour – but it continued, non-
stop, until he returned to the dressing-
room. It continued during the ring
announcements (before and after – making
them impossible to hear), during the
fight, during Chamberlain’s post-fight
interview and (in very poor taste)
while PrašoviÉ was being treated
by medics in the ring.

Simon C RY S TA L PA L AC E wins) was when he challenged Okolie for
the WBO title – and lasted into the third.
Euan-Smith D EC E M B E R 10 Resplendent in a red imitation grass
is ringside skirt over his trunks, Chamberlain (Brixton)
+++++ WHOLE SHOW entered the ring to an accompaniment
to watch
+ + + + + AT M O S P H E R E of drums and a trumpet, played by an
Isaac send ensemble in African dress. After which the
a message SAAC start of the bout was rather an anti-climax
CHAMBERLAIN – there was a lot of tangling, and referee
to former
conqueror
Okolie I sent a warning to the
top cruiserweights
by wiping out
Montenegro’s Dilan
PrašoviÉ in the first
Robert Williams spoke to both.
Then, suddenly, PrašoviÉ dropped to his
knees, rising just as Mr Williams counted
him out after 2-58. It happened so
quickly that many didn’t see the finishing
of a scheduled 10-rounder at the National punch – replay showed it was a left hook
Sports Centre. to the body. Any doubts that PrašoviÉ
It was Chamberlain’s fifth straight was genuinely hurt were dispelled when
win since losing his unbeaten record to he quickly sank down after Mr Williams
Lawrence Okolie – the last four inside the signalled the finish – and needed attention
distance, the last three in the first round. (including being sat on a stool in mid-
And what was all the sweeter was that ring) before he could leave.
PrašoviÉ’s only other defeat (against 15 A great end to the year for
Chamberlain, and he looks forward to big
things in 2022. Unrequired judges were
Diana Drews-Milani, Phil Edwards and
Jean Pierre van Imschoot.
Aaron McKenna (Monaghan)
unanimously outpointed Mexico’s Carlos
Gallego in an eight-rounder handled by
Ian John-Lewis.
Judges Phil Edwards, Lee Every and
Kieran McCann turned in identical 80-72
scorecards, but Gallego played his part.
He was always looking to counter as his
taller opponent bored in, and McKenna
finished with a swelling below the right
eye.
The problem was, McKenna was
landing while Gallego generally fell short
– McKenna was picking his punches from
the outset, and Gallego was outworked.
But Gallego was in there, trying, up to
the final bell. Gallego was beaten by
Josh Taylor in three rounds in 2018, and

34 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net

outpointed by Josh Kelly in 2019.
Aaron’s brother, Stephen McKenna,
continued his trail of destruction, halting
Ashford’s Jack Ewbank in the first of
a scheduled six. It was McKenna’s 11th
straight win, the 10th inside-schedule and
seventh in the first round.
The taller McKenna attacked from
the outset, and Ewbank was simply
overwhelmed. Jack had a respite when
referee Every took him to the corner for
the tape on his right glove to be adjusted
– but once they resumed a right to the
head put Ewbank down on one knee for
eight. Then a barrage dropped Ewbank
in a neutral corner – the towel came in,
and Mr Every signalled the end. It was
announced as a stoppage after 1-08.
The McKenna team publicly thanked
Ewbank for accepting the bout the
previous day.
Birmingham’s Idris Virgo turned back
a brave challenge from Spain’s Adam
Trenado, who finally succumbed in the
seventh of a scheduled eight. Trenado was
put down three times in the seventh – the
third time the towel came in, and referee
Kieran McCann called a halt after 2-52.
Trenado came to fight, hit back when
he could and drew blood from Virgo’s
nose in the second – a session that saw
Trenado wrestled down twice. There was
no argument about the right to the head
that dropped Trenado, face-first, early
in the third, and it looked as though this
might end soon – but Trenado was up at
seven, fought back, and even had Virgo
on the ropes a couple of times. There was
a swelling over Virgo’s right eye.
Virgo stayed on top, switching to
southpaw in the fifth – and finally caught
Trenado with a big left hook in the
seventh. Trenado hit back, but a similar
shot dropped him for two – when they
resumed they both fell over, and were
warned by Mr McCann.
Trenado stood up to Virgo’s attack, and
landed a right – but then a right to the
side of the head dropped him for three.
When a final right put him down again
his corner – and the referee – had seen
enough.
Kaisee Benjamin (Birmingham) KOd
Nicaragua’s Wiston Campos in the
second of a scheduled six.
A right to the head dropped Campos,
and he took referee McCann’s count on
one knee – but he was badly hurt, and
needed treatment in the ring (including
oxygen) before happily leaving unaided.
The end came at 2-34.
Southpaw Campos moved, poking out
jabs, but couldn’t keep Benjamin off. A
glancing right floored Campos in the first,
and when he got up he was quickly under
more pressure.
Campos was forced on the retreat
in the second, and now there was real
weight behind Benjamin’s punches. Then
came the right that finished it.
www.boxingnewsonline.net
Out since January 2020, Iver’s Naylor
Ball wasted no time in despatching
fleshy Italian Andrea Pesce in the first of a
scheduled four.
Pesce was quickly down for two, then a
right to the body dropped him again. He
took the eight-count on one knee – but
Ball went on the attack with both hands,
and referee Every waved it off after 1-09.
Popular Alfie Clegg (Guildford) won
his debut at Tolworth last month without
much difficulty – but he caught a Tartar in
Bellingham’s Josh Anderson, and had to
get off the floor to gain referee McCann’s
38-37 verdict over four.
Clegg began as a southpaw (he would
switch repeatedly), circling as Anderson
came forward, looking to counter as
Anderson threw long lefts. Then a right
counter put Clegg down – the bell rang as
he got up at eight.
Clegg’s corner told him in the interval
to stick to his boxing, and he did.
Anderson kept up the pressure, and Clegg
held as Anderson unloaded – but by the
end of the second there was a swelling
under Anderson’s left eye, and he bled
from the nose in the third.
Clegg moved well in the fourth as
Anderson tried to press, and Clegg’s face
was bloody at the finish. His better boxing
saw him through, but it was a fine show
from Anderson.
Nathan Mizon (Tadworth) bloodied
Bulgarian Petar Aleksandrov’s nose in
the third, dropped him for eight in the
fourth and took referee Every’s 40-36
verdict over four.
Heavyweight Tommy Welch was due to
appear but withdrew with illness.
Hennessy Sports promoted.
THE VERDICT Chamberlain can
target big fights in 2022.
UNANIMOUS: McKenna outpoints the plucky Gallego
F U L L R E S U LT S
Isaac Chamberlain (200lbs), 14-1 (8), w ko 1 Dilan PrašoviÏ (199
1/2lb2), 15-2 (12); Stephen McKenna (146lbs 11oz), 11-0 (10), w rsf 1
Jack Ewbank (155lbs), 4-5; Kaisee Benjamin (144lbs), 15-1-1 (6), w
ko 2 Wiston Campos (153lbs), 33-9-6 (19); Idris Virgo (174lbs), 12-0-1
(2), w rsf 7 Adam Trenado (174lbs), 6-3; Aaron McKenna (159 3/4lbs),
14-0 (7), w pts 8 Carlos Gallego (163 3/4lbs), 8-2 (6); Naylor Ball
(259lbs), 8-1 (3), w rsf 1 Andrea Pesce (256lbs), 7-16-3 (2); Nathan
Mizon (145lbs), 3-0 (1), w pts 4 Petar Aleksandrov (147lbs), 3-14 (2);
Alfie Clegg (117lbs), 2-0, w pts 4 Josh Anderson (124lbs), 0-3.
TOP NOTCH
Highly entertaining event is watched
by Roy Kelly ringside at the Hilton
G AT E S H E A D
D EC E M B E R 9
+++++ WHOLE SHOW
+ + + + + AT M O S P H E R E
ADAM GAIR provided a knockout conclusion
to a highly-entertaining debut event from
promoter Matty Jobes at the Gateshead Hilton
with a stunning first-round stoppage of Fijian-
born Gateshead-based member of HM Forces,
Jone Volau.
There appeared to be no love lost between
the North-East cruiserweight rivals following
a prickly weigh-in and so it proved in the 137
explosive seconds in the ring. Volau set out
to decapitate the undefeated Hetton boxer
with booming overhand right after booming
overhand right.
A clubbing right to the head drove Jone
back into the neutral corner, where referee
Ron Kearney, wisely jumped in at 2-17. Brief
but violent, it was scheduled for six. 
The other derby Jobes Boxing staged
in association with Phil Jeffries was just as
fiercely contested.
Horden’s Greg O’Neil, back after a three-
year absence, began the super-middleweight
affair with Matt McCallum strongly and was
just equally aggressive in the second too. But
the Newcastle southpaw established control
with some superb work, close in and on the
back-foot, to win 39-37 from Mr Kearney,
with Neil Close refereeing. 
South Shields prospect Sam Menzies
opened the show in style with some lovely
boxing to gain a shut-out 40-36 scoreline
(from Kearney) against competitive Middleton
southpaw Steve Maguire.
How nice it was to see both boxers appear
happy with a share of the spoils after Jobes’
Newcastle debutant Enrico Samba and
Airdrie southpaw Ben McGivern took a
38-38 draw from Kearney after an exciting
contest.
Birmingham’s Waqas Mohammed spoiled
the party in the other Jobes debut, putting
down Newcastle’s lively Sam Wallace in the
fourth and final round before a follow-up
barrage prompted the correct intervention
from Mr Close on 1-27.
F U L L R E S U LT S
Adam Gair (207lb), 6-0 (1), w rsf 1 Jone Volau (202lb),
5-7 (2); Matt McCallum (168lb), 2-0, w pts 4 Greg O’Neil
(169lbs), 6-6 (1); Sam Menzies (118lb), 4-0, w pts 4
Steven Maguire (121lb), 1-23-1; Waqas Mohammed
(136lb), 3-6-1 (1), w rsf 4 Sam Wallace (136lb),
0-1; Enrico Samba (167lb), 0-0-1 d pts 4 Ben McGivern
(173lb), 2-0-1.
DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 35
 ACTION ROUND-UP
Photo: RCC BOXING
BIVOL MARCHES ON
Dmitry wins D EC E M B E R 1 0
his sixth BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
Somewhat of an upset in domestic
consecutive terms as in a super-middleweight clash
12-round ABRAHAM BUONARRIGO, 10-2 (7),
stopped EZEQUIEL MADERNA, 27-7 (17),
points in four rounds. Maderna was forced to
decision, take a standing count in the third and
writes Eric was floored by an uppercut in the fourth
with the fight being stopped.
Armit in his
latest BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
Unbeaten super-welterweight
worldwide ALEJANDRO SILVA, 18-0-1 (13), handed
round-up out strong punishment for three rounds
bonanza with Venezuelan YEISON GONZALEZ,
15-6 (11), deciding he had suffered
enough and he did not come out for the
fourth round.
M O N T E B E L LO , U S A
Kazak super-middleweight ALI
AKHMEDOV, 18-1 (14), wiped out PAUL
VALENZUELA, 26-11,1NC (17), in one
round. A single left hook put Valenzuela
down heavily and the referee waived the
fight over without a count
D EC E M B E R 1 1
Y E K AT E R I N B U R G , R U S S I A
Another classy display from No. 1-ranked
light-heavyweight, DMITRY BIVOL,
19-0 (11), as he takes a wide unanimous
decision over UMAR SALAMOV, 26-2
(19). Bivol’s jab was the key punch. He
used it with surgical skill penetrating
Salamov’s guard and using clever
movement to avoid Salamov’s attempts
to counter. When Salamov did get
36 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021
JARRING RIGHT:
Bivol spears Salamov during
routine points victory
through with a big punch Bivol was quick
to fire home shots of his own, putting
together some classy combinations. After
an even first round, he was in control,
boxing coolly, working his way around
the longer reach of Salamov and taking
no chances with the bigger puncher.
Salamov could not get into any rhythm
and although he connected with some
good punches over the middle rounds,
he was always second-best. Salamov
put in a big effort in the last round and
perhaps the first and last round were the
only ones he won, but Bivol was never
in any danger and won on scores of
119-109, 118-109 and 118-110. Should
175lbs world champion Artur Beterbiev
win this coming weekend, one hopes a
clash with Bivol comes next year. In an
all-Russian fight at super-featherweight
RUSLAN KAMILOV, 12-0-1 (6), dropped
DIMITRI KHASIEV, 12-3-2 (6), in the
opening round. Khasiev survived but that
only delayed the inevitable and a body
punch put Khasiev down and out in the
sixth.
H E R M O S I L LO , M E X I C O
Super-bantamweight TOMOKI KAMEDA,
38-3-0 (21), the only member of the
great Japanese fighting family still active,
was too quick and strong for experienced
Venezuelan YONFREZ PAREJO, 24-5-1
(12), and took a 12-round unanimous
decision on scores of 118-110, 117-111
and 116-114. Kameda built an early
lead then seemed to coast through the
middle rounds before sweeping up the
late rounds.
N AG O YA , J A PA N
In a clash of two world class fighters
bantamweight KOSEI TANAKA, 16-1 (9),
only just edged past SHO ISHIDA, 29-3
(15), on a split decision. Ishida went
ahead early using his edges in height and
reach to score at distance and countering
Tanaka as he tried to get inside. Gradually
Tanaka managed to work his way past
Ishida’s reach and his body punches wore
Ishida down over the second half of the
fight but it was close with Tanaka getting
the nod 96-94 and 96-95 on two cards
with the other scored 96-95 for Ishida.
L I È G E , B E LG I U M
Kyrgyzstan-born Belgian FAROUKH
KOURBANOV, 19-3 (3), won the vacant
European super-featherweight via a
majority decision over Italian NICOLA
HENCHIRI, 10-6-2 (0). The scores were
116-112 and 115-113 for Kourbanov
and 114-114 with the Henchiri team
protesting the result.
HARRISBURG, USA
Outstanding French super-middleweight
hope CHRISTIAN MBILLI, 20-0 (18),
proved too strong and used relentless
pressure to take a wide points verdict
over RONALD ELLIS, 18-3-2 (12). From
the first bell to the last Mbilli was in
charge and took the decision by 100-90
twice and 99-91.
PHILADELPHIA, USA
Just an easy pay day for JESSE HART, 28-3
(22), as he stops DAVID MURRAY, 10-3-1
(6), in the third round of their super-
middleweight contest. Murray survived
a first round knockdown but was floored
again in the third. He beat the count but
Hart had him pinned to the ropes taking
punishment and the referee stopped the
fight.
TA S H K E N T, U Z B E K I S TA N
A disgraceful mismatch saw local star
SHOHJAHON ERGASHEV, 21-0 (19),
flatten Thai AEKKAWEE KAEWMANEE,
23-14 (11), in the first round. Kaewmanee
was driven to the canvas by a series of
punches early in the round. He made
it to his feet and then tried to take the
fight to Ergashev only to be put down
and out by a fearsome right uppercut.
The Detroit-based Ergashev was five
inches taller than the 40-year-old Thai.
Disgraceful. The ugly face of boxing.
SZELIGI, POLAND
A bad night for elderly Uruguayans
in Poland. Local super-featherweight
RADOMIR OBRUSNIAK, 5-0 (2), stopped
41-year-old CARIL HERRERA, 41-6,1NC
(25), in the fourth round and Cuban
OSLEYS IGLESIAS, 4-0 (4), took just 72
seconds to halt RAFAEL SOSA PINTOS,
61-17 (24). Sosa is also 41.
www.boxingnewsonline.net
 ACTION
CHRISTMAS CHEER
Philip Sharkey is ringside to see four
fights all follow the desired script
N O RT H A M P TO N
D EC E M B E R 8
+++++ WHOLE SHOW
+ + + + + AT M O S P H E R E
DEMPSEY MADDEN notched his second
win while topping BCB Promotions ‘Fight
Before Christmas’ four-bout dinner show at
Northampton’s Park Inn Hotel. The shaven-
headed local kept things at close range as he
landed body shots and occasional uppercuts
to leave Tredega debutant Phil Price on
the wrong end of a 40-37 scorecard. The
Welshman, seemingly relishing his harsh
introduction to the pro ranks, hit back when
the opportunities arose as he tried to contain
the surging attacks of the well-supported
Madden.
Torquay super-feather Kristine Shergold,
back after 30 months following her
sensational victory over “Pink Tyson” Kalliopi
Kourouni, needed a round or two to shed the
rust and get inside Vaida Masiokaite’s long
jab. A case could be made to give the opener
to the tall Lithuanian, who has had all but one
of her bouts in the UK, but referee-for-the-
evening Shaun Messer scored their four-twos
a landslide 40-36 to the Devonian, no doubt
rewarding Shergold’s busier work.
Opening the show, another local also
recorded their second victory by the same
margin. Ryan Conway, brother of super-
welter contender Kieron, boxed intelligently
behind his accurate jab leaving Lithuania
centurian Simas Volosinas breathing heavily
by the end. Ryan’s confidence grew as the
contest entered the final rounds, mixing in
bolo shots as he closed the distance.
Returning after two years and now with
Northampton’s Team Shoe-Box, Bedford
super-middle Michael Stephenson found
Slovakian Pavol Garaj willing to punch with
him for the duration of their four-threes.
Stephenson frequently had the last word
in exchanges and this was reflected in Mr
Messers’ 40-37 decision.
F U L L R E S U LT S
Ryan Conway (129lbs 4oz), 2-0, w pts 4 Simas Volosinas
(132lbs 6oz),7-98 (1); Michael Stephenson (176lbs
12oz), 5-1, w pts 4 Pavol Garaj (168lbs 6oz), 7-26-3 (3);
Dempsey Madden (150lbs 10oz), 2-0, w pts 4 Phil Price
(154lbs 6oz), 0-1; Kristine Shergold (136lbs), 7-6-1 (1),
w pts 4 Vaida Masiokaite (133lbs 6oz), 2-13-4 (1).
www.boxingnewsonline.net
LATE, LATE SHOW
Moorcroft impresses but length of
show – finishing after 1am – does not
MANCHESTER
D EC E M B E R 1 2
+++++ WHOLE SHOW
WHEN a show comprising 12 bouts doesn’t
get underway until 7.30pm, as with this Black
Flash promotion, you wouldn’t think there’d
be time for an interview with the winner
after each contest, a break for a singer and a
fairly lengthy interval, but that’s exactly what
happened at Victoria Warehouse, resulting in
the farcical situation whereby the final result
was announced at nearly half past one.
One suspects that had Liverpool middleweight
David Thompson not blasted out Russian
Vladimir Fleischhauer with a huge left just
119 seconds into the first of a scheduled four
in the bout immediately prior to the main
event, the Board officials at ringside might
have decided that it was too late for the eight-
round main event to begin.
Victorious by an 80-72 shut-out on the
card of Darren Sarginson (who shared
refereeing duties with Jamie Kirkpatrick) at
the conclusion of that eight-round bill-topper
was Wigan’s James Moorcroft. Though
given a few things to think about in the early
rounds by ultra-resilient Liverpudlian Andy
Colquhoun, Moorcroft increasingly shone
and from the half-way point never looked like
letting things slip.
The only other bout to go early saw
Stockport’s Niall Brown floor Scott
Williams twice with body shots, the second
occasion resulting in the Trafford man being
counted out despite rising with 50 seconds of
the second session still remaining.
Middleton’s Liam Taylor was rewarded
with a 60-54 win at the conclusion of a one-
sided six against reluctant to engage Russian
Evgenii Vazem.
F U L L R E S U LT S
James Moorcroft (147 1/4lbs), 16-1 (5), w pts 8 Andy
Colquhoun (148lbs 2ox), 16-3-1 (2); Liam Taylor (156lbs),
24-2-1 (11), w pts 6 Evgenii Vazem (152lbs 1oz), 9-21 (4);
Amin Jahanzeb (133lbs 10oz), 9-1 (2), w pts 6 (60-51)
Taka Bembere (135lbs 13oz), 1-21 (1); Marcel Braithwaite
(128lbs 5oz), 11-3, w pts 6 (60-55) Brett Fidoe (125lbs
3oz), 15-68-5 (7); Jack Rafferty (156lbs 7oz), 17-0 (9), w
pts 6 (60-54) Alexey Tukhtarov (153lbs 3oz), 4-22-6 (3);
Lewis Wood, 2-0, w pts 4 (40-36) Mohammed Al-warith,
0-1; Mike Minard (206lbs 10oz), 2-0 (1), w pts 4 (40-36)
Gary Stables, 0-3; Connor Ward (144lbs 10oz), 5-0 (1), w
pts 4 (40-36) Steven Floyd (146lbs 6oz), 1-2; Tom Rafferty
(159lbs 15oz), 3-0, w pts 4 (39-37) Seamus Devlin (162lbs
9oz), 0-16; Adam Rasool (134lbs 1oz), 2-0-1, w pts 4 (40-
37) Michael Walton (137lbs 2oz), 1-2; Niall Brown (163lbs
7oz), 4-0 (2), w ko 2 Scott Williams (170lbs 14oz), 0-21;
David Thompson (160lbs 15oz), 4-0 (2), w rsf 1 Vladimir
Fleischhauer (157lbs 9oz), 1-12.
TALENT SHOW
Local prospects get the chance to
shine, writes Jon Bruce from ringside
INVERNESS
D EC E M B E R 4
+++++ WHOLE SHOW
INVERNESS got its first taste of professional
boxing in several years as the Northern
Sporting Club rolled into town at the leisure
centre. This was a showcase of mainly local
talent and a taste of what could be to come.
Popular Dingwall resident Ben Bartlett was
the feature event in a four-round welterweight
battle against Rustem Fatkhullin from Ufa.
Bartlett used fast hands along with slick head
and foot movement to dance around the
Russian, and his spearing jab was causing
problems throughout the fight. This could
have been a tricky night but Bartlett made it
look comfortable, winning every round on
the 40-36 scorecard of referee for the night,
Kenny Pringle.
Andy Smart from Elgin was the
co-headliner and over four welterweight
rounds he exchanged blows with Jake
Osgood who had come looking to upset the
local favourite. Using clubbing head shots,
Smart ultimately outworked his Carlisle
opponent without having everything his own
way, but did enough to win with a 39-37 score
in his favour.
Jason “Hard Hitter” Harty was having
his first fight since moving over from Frank
Warren’s stable and the Limerick man seemed
determined to live up to his nickname. He
had his Russian Vladimir Fleischhauer
opponent down twice, once in the first and
again in the third, and although the tough and
game Russian heard the final bell, the result
was never in doubt as his arm was raised
40-34 in this middleweight clash.
Macduff ’s Calum Stuart was also in action
in a super-welter contest against Evgenii
Vazem from Serov. Despite keeping his right
hand too low and getting caught more times
than he should have, he cruised to a points
win over four rounds with a score of 40-36.
F U L L R E S U LT S
Ben Bartlett (141lbs) 3-0, w pts 4 Rustem Fatkhullin
(141lbs), 8-16 (3); Andrew Smart (145lbs), 5-0, w pts 4
Jake Osgood (143lbs), 0-1; Jason Harty (160lbs), 2-0,
w pts 4 Vladimir Fleischhauer (161lbs) 1-11; Callum
Stuart (155lbs) 4-0-0, w pts Evgenii Vazem (156lbs)
9(4) – 20(5) – 0.
DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 37
 ACTION
REAVELL RETURNS
Simon Euan-Smith sees Asagba
stopped in the Circus Tavern
PURFLEET
D EC E M B E R 1 1
+++++ WHOLE SHOW
+ + + + + AT M O S P H E R E
SHOCKED here last time by Jan Ardon, South
Ockenden’s popular Kevin Reavell returned
to the Circus Tavern with an impressive
fourth-round stoppage of Robert Asagba.
After three rounds (of a scheduled six)
Reavell looked well ahead, but the ending was
unexpected. A two-fisted attack had Asagba
under pressure on the ropes – and triallist
referee Sean McAvoy waved it off after 1-22.
Grant Dennis (Chatham) beat Walsall’s
Kearon Thomas over four, Lee Every scoring
40-36 while Mr McAvoy officiated.
The margin was fair, but Thomas played his
part, always hitting back.
Ipswich’s Angelo Antonio made a
successful debut, clearly outscoring George
Rogers over four. Referee Mark Bates scored
it 39-37.
Antonio showed fast hands and a good
variety of shots, but Rogers stood up to
everything, occasionally switching to
southpaw, and hit back when he could. It
was good to see a contingent of Antonio
fans – but the booing for Rogers during the
pre-fight announcement was unpleasant, and
unsportsmanlike.
Balraj Singh (Seven Sisters) took just 1-39
of a scheduled four to beat Ian Morrall, who
was overwhelmed from the outset and finally
took a knee to be counted out by Mr Bates.
In other fours, Mr Bates had Newark’s Chad
Sugden beating Willesden’s Ossie Jervier
by 40-36, while Mr Every handed 39-37
verdicts to Chatham’s Gideon Onyenani over
Islington’s Jordan Grannum, Hove’s Navid
Iran over Bolton’s Ben Thomas and debutant
Luke Ransley over Lydney’s Lewis van
Poetsch (the last handled by Mr McAvoy).
Victor Smith Promotions promoted in
association with Scott Calow for Boxing
Connected.
F U L L R E S U LT S
Grant Dennis (163lbs 5oz), 17-3 (3), w pts 4 Kearon
Thomas (167lbs 7oz), 2-19-1 (2); Navid Iran (174lbs
9oz), 5-1 (1), w pts 4 Ben Thomas (181lbs 5oz), 2-12-3
(1); Kevin Reavell (160lbs) 2-1(1), w rsf 4 Robert Asagba
(161lbs 2oz), 6-4-1; Balraj Singh (159lbs), 1-0, w ko 1
Ian Morrall (157 1/4lbs), 0-2; Gideon Onyenani (165lbs 2
oz), 1-0, w pts 4 Jordan Grannum (163lbs), 6-84-3; Chad
Sugden (199lbs), 17-2-1 (4), w pts 4 Ossie Jervier (195lbs
5oz), 6-18 (5); Angelo Antonio (150lbs 3oz), 1-0, w pts 4
George Rogers (152lbs 9oz), 0-3-1; Luke Ransley (177lbs
9oz), 1-0, w pts 4 Lewis van Poetsch (179 1/2lbs), 9-137-
2 (2).
38 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021
GERT LUSH
Sutton lives up to his nickname,
writes Gareth Jones from ringside
C H E P S TO W
D EC E M B E R 1 1
+++++ WHOLE SHOW
+ + + + + AT M O S P H E R E
“GERT LUSH” is Bristolian for “very good”.
And city boy Aaron Sutton lived up to
that nickname with his best performance to
date, halting seasoned Hungarian Gabor
Gorbics in the fifth of a scheduled eight at
the Racecourse.
Promoter Jamie Sanigar brought pro boxing
back to the Wye Valley border town for the
first time since 1945, with the intention of
attracting fans from each end of the Severn
Bridge. Both battalions went home happy.
The ever-improving Sutton unleashed a
series of solid shots to drop Gorbics twice in
his own corner, referee Chris Dean jumping to
the rescue as he rose for the second time, still
wobbly, at 1-52 of the session.
“The Welsh Canelo”, Jordan Withers,
claimed the night’s other stoppage, dropping
Croatian Frane Radnic three times in quick
succession to prompt Chris Jones’ intervention
at 2-22 of round two in a planned six. The
Rhondda redhead, from Ystrad, his low-held
hands unleashed with lightning speed, is one
to keep an eye on.
When Tyler Davies, returning from his
first loss, was dropped heavily in the opener
by Nicaraguan Brayan Mairena it seemed
another early finish was on the cards. But the
Bristol super-feather bravely reached the bell
and from then on outboxed the Spain-based
visitor to take a 58-57 verdict from Mr Dean,
who deserves credit for allowing him to get
through the early storm.
In the other six, Mr Dean gave Basingstoke’s
lanky Bryce Goodridge a 60-54 win over
Slovakian survivor Michal Gazdik, while
three four-rounders brought 40-36 cards
from Mr Jones for Bristol duo Ash Lane and
Jake Demmery over Hartlepool’s Luke Fash
and Sheffielder Qasim Hussain respectively,
with Newport’s Nathan Howells dominating
Hereford veteran Dean Evans, to the joy of
his raucous followers.
F U L L R E S U LT S
Aaron Sutton (159lbs), 12-0 (2), w rsf 5 Gabor Gorbics
(159 1/4lbs), 26-23-2 (16); Tyler Davies (131 1/4lbs),
8-1, w pts 6 Brayan Mairena (128lbs), 10-21-1 (4); Jordan
Withers (170lbs), 4-0 (1), w rsf 2 Frane Radnic (169
1/4lbs), 11-30 (10); Bryce Goodridge (173lbs|), 5-0, w pts
6 Michal Gazdik (171 1/4lbs), 6-18 (4); Ashley Lane (113
1/4lbs), 15-10-2 (1), w pts 4 Luke Fash (124lbs), 2-72-
3; Nathan Howells (131lbs), 2-0, w pts 4 Dean Evans
(133lbs), 8-38-4 (4); Jake Demmery (151lbs), 3-0, w pts
Qasim Hussain (158 1/4lbs), 4-112-2.
RARE DUST-UP
Two prospects clash after withdrawals
hit bill, writes Andrew Wake
CO L N E
D EC E M B E R 1 2
+++++ WHOLE SHOW
PROMOTER Frank Duffin and matchmaker
Kevin Maree endured a nightmare before
Christmas in the run up to Sunday’s show as a
number of withdrawals reduced a nine-fight
card to five. Topping the bill was a rare dust
up between unbeaten prospects as Burnley’s
Reece Farnhill took on Rob Magill from
Ripon.
The bout only lasted 40 seconds into the
second round, but even in defeat Magill
deserves credit for his display. Farnhill took
the centre of the ring from the get-go and
used his jab to get inside. Magill, however,
did well with counters and there wasn’t much
to split them until the closing seconds of the
stanza.
There was also a swift end to the match-
up between Liam O’Reilly and debutant
George Sutcliffe.
Sutcliffe fought bravely but his mistake was
fighting with his chin in the air and O’Reilly
took advantage, dropping his foe in the dying
embers of round one and finishing things with
a left in the next session. Sutcliffe got up, but
again Mr Kirkpatrick had seen enough. The
time was 1.07 of round two.
Halifax’s Joe Garside used his jab to
control affairs against Newark’s Fonz
Alexander and picked up a 40-36 verdict on
the card of John Latham.
Omar Dusary defeated Jake Pollard
40-37. Dusary switch-hit and worked the body
well but Pollard stepped-up in the second
round with a 20 second burst of punches. Mr
Latham officiated.
Dale Arrowsmith lost his grandfather,
Stockport-based trainer Roy Richardson, in
the week and he surely did him proud with
a 38-38 draw against Irishman Dominic
Donegan.
Donegan bossed the opening two sessions
with a commanding jab. Arrowsmith became
the aggressor in the third. The final round was
close and difficult to score. Mr Kirkpatrick
thought Arrowsmith had done enough to earn
the round and a share of the spoils.
F U L L R E S U LT S
Reece Farnhill (165lbs), 3-0 (1) w rsf 2 Rob Magill
(165lbs 4oz), 2-0; Joe Garside (150lbs 4oz), 3-0 w pts
4 Fonz Alexander (150lbs 8oz) 7-119 (4); Liam O’Reilly
(149lbs 6oz) 4-0 (1) w rsf 2 George Sutcliffe (149lbs 6oz)
0-1; Omar Dusary (124lbs) 8-1-1 (1) w pts 4 Jake Pollard
(128lbs 4oz) 0-28; Dominic Donegan (161lbs) 5-2-1 (1)
draw 4 Dale Arrowsmith (156lbs 6oz) 3-52-2 (1).
www.boxingnewsonline.net
 ACTION

JIMMY RETURNS POINTS MADE CAVEMAN VICTOR

Dan Etchells watches Kelly Nine of 10 bouts go to the Dan Mole watches Osbourne-Williams
end his long hiatus with victory cards inside the Leicester Arena impress in five-knockdown first round

ECC L E S L EC I E S T E R W O LV E R H A M P TO N
D EC E M B E R 1 2 D EC E M B E R 1 2 D EC E M B E R 1 2

+++++ WHOLE SHOW +++++ WHOLE SHOW +++++ WHOLE SHOW

+ + + + + AT M O S P H E R E + + + + + AT M O S P H E R E
JERMAINE OSBOURNE-EDWARDS
FORMER WBO title challenger Jimmy PROMOTER Carl Greaves closed out 2021 at produced a Christmas cracker of a
“Kilrain” Kelly marked his first fight for Leicester Arena, where Kevin Parker and Chris performance in his hometown of
more than two years with a knockout win Dean refereed five bouts each. Wolverhampton as he topped the bill in only
over Pocklington’s Harry Matthews in the Mr Parker saw Harby southpaw Stanley his second professional fight. “The Caveman”
bill topper at the AJ Bell Stadium in Eccles.  Stannard maintain his 100 per cent record blew away Bulgarian Krasimir Vasilev inside
The 29-year-old Mancunian claimed the with a one-sided 60-54 victory over Sheffield’s a round at a packed Hangar Events Centre. 
25th victory of his career after referee Andy Serge Ambomo. The same official was in The 32-year-old ticket seller had his
Brook reached a 10-count after 23 seconds of charge of a gritty six between Loughborough’s opponent down five times in the opening
the third round.  Joe Ducker and Sheffield’s Paul Scaife, which stanza before referee-for-the-evening
Matthews managed to survive the second finished 58-56. Shaun Messer has seen enough and waved
round, having taken a knee from a fierce body A trio of fours left the home corner the contest off after two minutes and 33
shot, but he was beaten when another one celebrating as Humberstone’s Kenan Brown- seconds. Every time Osbourne-Edwards
came his way at the start of the next stanza.  Wingfield, St Ives debutant Ben Lilley and landed, Vasilev looked pained before an
Earlier on the six-fight show presented by Coalville’s Ellis Hopkins all triumphed. accurate body shot dumped him to the canvas
Manchester 31 Boxing Promotions, Keighley’s Middleweight Brown-Wingfield proved for a final time to take his ledger to 2-0. 
Ibrahim Nadim overcame adversity to too strong for Blackpool’s Craig Sumner There were four home wins on the
move onto 5-0 with a 60-54 win over Ghana’s and deserved his 40-36 victory, and first- undercard of BCB Promotions’ Season’s
Raymond Commey.  timer Lilley won by the same margin in Beatings show. Stablemates of Osbourne-
Nadim, coached by former two-weight the bantamweight show opener against Edwards, Ollie Cooper and Alex Round,
world champion Ricky Hatton, jarred his knee Birmingham’s Reiss Taylor. made it a hat-trick of victories for Richie
late in round five when completely controlling Ellis Hopkins had lost her mum earlier in Carter’s Wolverhampton Boxing Club. Ollie
the contest.   the week and dedicated her 39-38 win over Cooper dispatched Paul Cummings 40-37
Following an examination, the 22-year-old Czech Ester KoneËná to her memory. while Alex Round also edged past Kevin
insisted on continuing and, despite clearly Two sixes refereed by Mr Dean reaped McCauley 40-37. 
being in some discomfort, he managed to distance wins for Leicester super-welterweight Cannock’s Cooper picked his shots well
finish the bout unscathed.   Callum Blockley and Shepshed flyweight against a similarly tall and rangy opponent in
Rochdale’s James Albert produced Benn Norman, the former outscoring Cummings to move to 2-0. Wolverhampton’s
arguably the most impressive performance of Driffield’s Danny Little and the latter winning Round also moved to 2-0 but certainly didn’t
the afternoon, totally overwhelming Belfast’s 59-55 against Chorlton’s Stephen Jackson. have it all his own way against the teak-tough
Karl Dobbin to record a stoppage victory Whitwick new-start Brad Bethell McCauley. Round, as with Cooper, will have
after 2-19 of round one.  outpointed Middleton’s Dean Wilkinson learnt much from the fight. 
Joining Albert in moving onto 2-0 were 40-36 and there was a shut-out win over Richie Ghent-trained duo, Ruben
Salford’s Lerone Harrison and Oldham’s six-twos for Leicester’s Paige Murney who Campbell and Oli Cassidy were also
Leyton Collymore, with the former beating inflicted a 46th career loss on Poland’s Karina successful. 
Carlisle’s Jake Osgood 39-37 and the latter Kopinska. Campbell squeezed past Sean Davis 39-38
defeating Lithuania’s Genadij Krajevskij An early finish came in the penultimate and Cassidy recorded a shut-out 40-36 win
40-36.   round between Northampton’s Conner over MJ Hall. 
Salford’s Luke Vaughan was stopped by Downs and Manchester’s John Spencer, who Campbell blew off the ring rust after almost
Latvia’s Kristaps Zulgis after 39 seconds of was halted with 62 seconds of the session left. three years out of the ring to claim the scalp
round two, to fall to a second loss in as many of Davis while Cassidy moved to 3-0 with a
outings.  F U L L R E S U LT S routine win. 
Having already been knocked down in
Callum Blockley (155lbs 3oz), 8-0 (1), w pts 6 Danny
round one and earlier in round two, Vaughan F U L L R E S U LT S
Little (155lbs 1oz), 8-75-2 (1); Stanley Stannard
got no reprieve from Brook for a third time. (155lbs 5oz), 6-0 (2), w pts 6 Serge Ambomo (156 Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards, 2-0 (1), w rsf 1 Krasimir
1/2lbs), 7-26-2 (3); Benn Norman (112lbs 1oz), 5-0, Vasilev, 0-6; Ollie Cooper, 2-0, w pts 4 Paul Cummings,
F U L L R E S U LT S w pts 6 Stephen Jackson (114lbs 9oz), 1-9 (1); Paige 2-55-1 (1); Alex Round, 2-0, w pts 4 Kevin McCauley,
Murney (136lbs 1oz), 1-0, w pts 6 Karina Kopinska 15-219-12; Ruben Campbell, 3-0 (2), w pts 4 Sean
Jimmy ‘Kilrain’ Kelly (169lbs), 25-2-0 (10), w ko Harry (136lbs), 14-46-4 (3); Joe Ducker (143 1/2lbs), 9-8-2 Davis, 14-18; Oli Cassidy, 3-0, w pts 4 MJ Hall, 2-70-2.
Matthews (171lbs 2oz), 16-50-3 (2); Ibrahim Nadim (2), w pts 6 Paul Scaife (140lbs 9oz), 0-11; Conner
(129lbs 2oz), 5-0-0, w pts 6 Raymond Commey (122lbs), Downs (130lbs 7oz), 4-0 (1), w rsf 3 John Spencer
19-18-1 (10); James Albert (179lbs 2oz), 2-0-0 (1), w rsf 1 (131lbs), 0-4; Ben Lilley (116 1/4lbs), 1-0, w pts 4 Reiss
Karl Dobbin (177lbs 6oz), 0-3-0; Lerone Harrison (143lbs Taylor (117lbs 3oz), 3-13 (1); Kenan Brown-Wingfield
4oz), 2-0-0, w pts 4 Jake Osgood (151lbs), 0-2-0; Leyton (160lbs 9oz), 2-0 (1), w pts 4 Craig Sumner (161 1/4lbs),
Collymore (165lbs 4oz), 2-0-0, w pts 4 Genadij Krajevskij 1-5; Brad Bethell (144lbs 9oz), 1-0, w pts 4 Dean
(165lbs), 0-26-0; Kristaps Zulgis (171lbs 4oz), 6-23-3 (3), Wilkinson (149lbs 9oz), 0-5; Ellis Hopkins (158lbs 9oz),
w rsf 2 Luke Vaughan (170lbs 2oz), 0-2-0. 3-0, w pts 4 Ester Konecna (153lbs 5oz), 1-12 (1).

www.boxingnewsonline.net DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 39

 AMATEURS

AMATEUR SCENE The very best action, previews and

news from Olympic-style boxing
With JOHN DENNEN | @BoxingNewsJD

SEND us your club's news, results or upcoming events to john.dennen@kelsey.co.uk or 01959 541 444

Bowen is best Photos: ANDY CHUBB/ENGLAND BOXING

And Musah shines as many
new champions are crowned

B EC K TO N
TITLE AND TROPHY:
D EC E M B E R 1 1 Bowen’s defeat of
Augustine [right]
saw him named
HE finals of the 2021 Boxer of the
England Boxing Tournament
National Amateur
Championships
were held at the
SportsDock on the
University of East
London campus, and
light-heavyweight
produced the bout
of the day.
Victory for Aaron
Bowen earned him
the Mickey May
Daniel trophy for Boxer Of
Herbert The Tournament
RINGSIDE and also saw him
retain the title
he won in April 2019, the last time
these championships were held to a
conclusion. (The COVID pandemic
caused the 2020 event to be scrapped
during the early rounds).
Yet Bowen was pushed all the way
by Earlsfield’s Omar Augustine, who
had beaten him twice and wasn’t far off
making it three times. Instead, after nine
minutes of non-stop action, Bowen won
a 4-0 split decision (meaning one of the
five judges had them level).
At times, especially in round two,
it seemed Augustine’s aggression and
strength on the inside would tip things
his way. But Bowen stood off and boxed
more than normal – and that proved the
difference as he let his hands go to good
effect in both the first and the last.
Bowen’s previous NAC title came
with Triumph, after which he moved to
another Coventry club in Christ The King.
He is now with Walsall outfit Box Smart
Elite.
Classiest male performer of the day
was middleweight Ramtin Musah
from the Beartown club in Congleton,
Cheshire. Beaten in the 2019 final by
Mark Dickinson (now pro), Musah
unanimously outpointed Billy Le
Poullain of Guernsey’s Amalgamated
outfit in a contest that was clear-cut yet
entertaining.
The bigger-looking Musah used his

40 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net

 long arms to control things at range,
and Le Poullain struggled to get in close
without being tagged. Yet Billy never
stopped trying, not even when a right
cross brought him a standing eight-count
in round two, or when a right uppercut
nailed him in the last.
Musah was one of 10 first-time senior
NAC winners on a day that underlined
how the senior amateur ranks have been
depleted by COVID and the pro sport.
The day started well with a bright
light-flyweight contest that saw southpaw
Ellis Trowbridge unanimously outpoint
Ibrahim Kola of Metro (Manchester).
Trowbridge, formerly with Guildford
but now with Hoddesdon, was the
sharper throughout, moving in and
out to score, while Kola couldn’t get
untracked. Kola did land some good
rights in the last, but Trowbridge hit
back in exchanges and used his superior
footwork to stay ahead.
The next weight up, 52kgs, was one of
several tight finals that could conceivably
have gone the other way without serious
complaint. Fenland Sparta switch-hitter
Eryk Ciureja proved just a little bit
too nimble for Haringey’s taller Yusuf
Thahmin, taking a 4-1 split decision in a
good battle.
A cagey opener went the way of
Ciureja, who stood off and used fast
hands to beat Thahmin to the punch,
with a left flooring the Haringey boxer
for a count. Thahmin came into things in
round two, forcing Ciureja to exchange,
and Yusuf kept attacking in the last,
looking the stronger in the closing stages.
It was probably the cleaner punching
of Ciureja that enabled him to take the
title back to Chatteris.
Dagenham southpaw Billy Adams
once again showed his promise as he
tamed the rushes of Josh Babb (Ward
Degnans, Darlington) to win their 56kgs
final unanimously.
Babb ploughed in throughout but the
taller, long-armed Adams used his better
skills to land most of the quality shots
– especially the left, to both head and
body. Babb’s cause wasn’t helped by a
public warning for low head late in round
two, and in the last Adams stayed on top
to become his club’s first senior national
male champion since 1951.

www.boxingnewsonline.net DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 41

 AMATEURS

Best display among the heavier doctor’s inspection in the first but things uppercuts, while Durnan piled in and
weights came from Moss Side Fire’s seemed to be going his way when a left thumped the body relentlessly.
Patrick  Brown, who unanimously hook brought Hewitt a standing eight- There was a lot of action in close,
defeated Thomas Pogson (Skegness) at count late in round two. with many punches being blocked, so
91kgs. But when Rees’ injury was looked at one always had the feeling the judges
Pogson lasted the distance – in the again in the last, it was ruled bad enough would have different interpretations.
2019 final he was stopped by Natty to stop the bout. As it was caused by Perhaps the closing stages of the last,
Ngwenya. A repeat early ending never an accidental clash of heads, we went when Sulaimaan changed tactics to move
looked on the cards, although to the scorecards – which had and pot-shot, tipped the balance for the
Brown, after edging the first, Hewitt winning unanimously, judges who crowned him.
grew in confidence in presumably thanks to his Revenge was sweet for Ike Ogbo
round two when he THE future of boxing in frequent left-jabbing. (Border City, Carlisle) as he unanimously
banged home solid the Olympic Games remains Owen thus fell short beat southpaw Harvey Dykes to lift the
left hooks and hard in real jeopardy. We look at in his bid to emulate super-heavyweight crown in the last bout
right crosses. the issue in greater depth in next older brother Ben of the day.
By the last it week’s edition as the international Rees, who won In October 2019 Dykes, then with
was proving one governing body rebrands and gives the national light- Moulsecoomb, beat Ogbo in the final
of the day’s better their reaction to trying to keep in heavyweight title in of the Class B Developments. Now with
finals, with Pogson the sport in the Olympics for 2018. Newhaven club Hillcrest, Dykes did his
fighting back to land the 2028 Games. The previous men’s usual thing of moving, prodding and
useful rights but Brown final, at 64kgs, was also clutching – but Ogbo forced persistently,
doing enough to secure a a slippery vs aggressive cut his right eye in round two and made
victory that pleased son/father style contrast – and also went him trade more than he wanted to.
coaching team,Nigel and Kelvyn Travis. the way of the elusive type as Eastside’s Ogbo’s celebration upon the
There was a real clash of physiques Ibrahim Sulaimaan won a 4-1 split announcement of his victory was
and style at 69kgs, where long-limbed decision over Owen Durnan (Manor, something to behold.
OUTSTANDING Patrick Hewitt (Leigh) met Birtley’s Sheffield). Closest decision among the men’s
PERFORMER: compact Owen Rees. In an all-southpaw encounter – finals was at 86kgs, where the Army’s
Musah [left] wins Hewitt jabbed and moved while Rees although Sulaimaan constantly switched Carnell Brown edged a 3-2 split verdict
the middleweight
title he missed out chased, with both having their successes. – the Birmingham boxer spent a lot of over Sheffield City southpaw Joel Aminu
on in 2019 A cut on Rees’ right eye survived a time boxing off the ropes, using left in a bout marred by far too many tangles.

42 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net

When Brown received a public warning
for holding in the last, his chances must
have been hanging by a thread – but
presumably his constant attacking
counted with the judges who sided with
him. And he was also hampered by a
cut right eye in round two (it survived a
doctor’s inspection), so one cannot doubt
his fighting spirit.
Aminu, far less experienced at this
level, could never break free from the
clinches long enough to make tell any
port-sided awkwardness.
Lightweight was decided without any
action when Joe McGuinness ( Jimmy
Egans) tested positive for COVID the
day before the final. That left Patris
Mughalzai (Powerday Hooks) to win the
title by walkover.
Pick of the seven women’s contests
was the 57kgs affair that saw Sameenah
Toussaint take a 4-1 split decision over
Roni Dean from Thetford.
Toussaint, from the new Kings
(formerly Northolt) club, was taller and
had longer arms, meaning she needed
room to get her punches off. Dean tried
her hardest to deny her that space,
marching in and forcing her into corners
and onto the ropes.
The action continued unabated for
CHAMPIONS: Trowbridge beats Kola [above left]; Stubley overcomes Rushton [above right]; Wilkinson drops down in weight to win a second title
against Kisielewska [below left] this time and Ngamba wins the middleweight title inside the distance as she halts Palmer [below right]
www.boxingnewsonline.net
the whole nine minutes, but in the
end, cleaner punching won it for the
Londoner.
Remarkably, three 2019 champions
won again, but at the weight below.
Islington’s Jem Campbell, winner at
69kgs last time, triumphed at 64 here
courtesy of a 3-2 split decision over
Sarah Dunne (Metro). Taller Campbell
tried to keep things at range with her jab,
while Dunne was slower on her feet but
did connect with some solid right crosses.
Southpaw Jodie Wilkinson (Tigers),
the 2019 champ at 75kgs, dropped
down to 69kgs and unanimously beat
Army’s Lucy Kisielewska in a one-sided
contest. Kieiselewksa couldn’t make tell
her height advantage, allowing Wilkinson
to pile up points with her left cross.
The third winning weight-dropper was
Cindy Ngamba (Halliwell), a stoppage
victor at 81 two years ago – and also an
inside the distance success here, halting
Jerry-Lee Palmer (West Warks) in
round three at 75kgs.
The gap in class was evident from the
off, with Ngamba’s greater speed and
power proving too much. Palmer was
game but took a count in round two
and another early in the last before yet
another big right prompted referee Ray
Morley to call a halt.
At 51kgs, Savannah Stubley from
Empire School of Boxing proved too
good for Tayla Rushton (Box Smart
Elite), taking a unanimous decision.
More complete and more enterprising,
Stubley mixed in good body shots with
rights to the head against an opponent
who was willing but just couldn’t get
anything going. Rushton was counted on
in the last after absorbing a combination.
There was never much between two
neat-boxing finalists at 54kgs, with Olivia
Holmes (Rotunda) edging a 4-1 split
over Hall Green’s Holly Heffron. Both
moved and picked their shots well before
things became a bit scrappy in the last as
they tired.
By contrast, there was a clear-cut
victory at 60kgs for Hannah Robinson
of PS Boxing (Darlington), who
unanimously beat Jessica Barry from
Christ The King.
Poised Robinson looked a level above
an opponent who proved too easy to hit,
as evidenced by a bloody nose suffered
in the last. Oddly, Robinson had received
a count earlier in the session when she
appeared to slip down and copped a
left as Barry followed through. No harm
done, though. bn
DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 43
 YESTERDAY’S HEROES
The Gun
Remembering OOD gyms are the
lifeblood of any
a gym that
emerged in the
right place at
the right time
G thriving boxing town
or city, and in the
late 1940s and early
‘50s, the town of
Croydon more than
held its own in that respect.
The area boasted various top-notch
boxers – Mark Hart, Albert Finch, Pat
Stribling, Ron Pudney, Emlyn Jones and
the Toohig brothers among them – and
they all trained regularly at a gym at the
rear of the Gun pub on Church Street.
The gym was started by former
Croydon pro Tom Fisher, who boxed
between 1926 and 1935, appearing
at such venues as the Blackfriars Ring,
Greenwich Baths and Croydon Stadium,
before becoming a matchmaker, second
and manager. Fisher had a gym on
Gloucester Street, but it was destroyed by
a Luftwaffe bomb in the autumn of 1944.
Upset but determined to carry on,
Tom searched Croydon for new premises.
After sounding out the licensee of the
Gun – a Mrs Mary Miles – he was offered
the hall and gardens as a gym on Tuesday
and Thursday evenings and Sunday
mornings. It was an instant success and
Alex soon had over 50 active members.
Daley More than just a place for fighters to
@thealexdaley work out, it was a social hub for fans and,
Historian inevitably, various ex-fighters, who were
& author made very welcome. Onlookers would
BATTEN STEPS IN
Jimmy takes to AS always, the London EBA December
the mic at the meeting was also their Christmas party
LEBA Christmas – and again it was a great success, with
good food, good company and good
party entertainment.
In fact, there was nearly a problem with
the entertainment – our regular singer had
to cancel at very short notice. But member
and former British light-middleweight
(now super-welter) champion Jimmy
Batten stepped in and did a great job, and
several members also stepped up and sang
(including Claudia Keston, who treated us
to several numbers). Jimmy does a great
deal for charity, and is always ready to
Simon help ex-boxers and anyone in the boxing
Euan-Smith fraternity. Someone else who does a lot for
simonoldtimers charity is LEBA Vice-President Peter Kent,
@googlemail.com 97 years young – as always in December,
EBA Peter was there with his collecting box,
correspondent raising money for St. John’s Hospice.
44 O BOXING NEWS O DECEMBER 16, 2021
congregate on seats placed around every
wall of the hall or in the pub garden
where boxers trained in milder weather.
The gym was at its busiest and most
atmospheric on Sunday mornings. The
promotional duo of Bill Goodwin and
Alf Hart were often there, along with the
well-known matchmakers Jack King and
Eddie Derfield, who would visit on talent-
scouting missions (no YouTube in those
days!).
In his autobiography, Boxing Was My
Sport, Tom Fisher recalled
one particular occasion
at the Gun with fondness: THE GYM WAS
“The most famous
personality to visit the AT ITS BUSIEST
Gun was Don Cockell
from nearby Battersea.
AND MOST
Having knocked out ATMOSPHERIC
both of Croydon’s
stars, Albert [Finch] and ON SUNDAYS
Mark [Hart], in British
championship contests, this alone earned
him great respect in Croydon. However,
Don’s fame in defeating the American,
Harry Matthews, both in London and
his home town of Seattle, USA, and in
consequence fighting the undefeated
heavyweight champion of the world,
Rocky Marciano, was worldwide. Don
got a great reception from us all when he
visited the Gun – a rare event to meet a
man who had stood up so well against
the legendary Rocky, who later retired
The meeting wished a happy 83rd
birthday to committee member Chas
Taylor, who’s also Home Counties EBA
Treasurer.
In his Secretary and Treasurer’s Report,
Ray Caulfield reminded the meeting that
LEBA had booked three tables for next
year’s British Ex-Boxers’ Hall of Fame
(which now has a different venue – the
Thistle Hotel, Heathrow) and invited
members to book places. And members
need to complete their booking forms
for LEBA’s 50th Anniversary Lunch at the
Connaught Rooms on February 20th – at
£30 per head for paid-up members and
£65 for guests, this really is superb value.
A minute’s silence was held to mark the
passing of Danny McCarthy, an excellent
cutsman who had worked with many
top fighters. Several LEBA members had
attended his funeral, and Vice-President
undefeated world champion.”
The training fee at the Gun was a mere
shilling (5p) per session. But as some
of the local fighters progressed into
championship class they were expected,
or instructed by their managers, to
train at the more select London gyms
– places like Jack Solomons’ famous
Great Windmill Street establishment.
With rising rent and the loss of the
bigger names, the Gun gym temporarily
closed in the late summer of 1948,
but afterwards it was
reopened by the classy
Croydon ex-pro and
first-rate trainer Johnny
Toohig.
The Gun emerged in
the right place at the
right time. As well as
an abundance of fistic
talent in Croydon and
the surrounding areas, it
could count on the local Goodwin-Hart
promotional team – who staged regular
shows at venues such as Beckenham
Baths, Croydon Baths, Croydon Civic Hall,
Selhurst Park football ground and the
Davis Theatre – to provide regular work
for its patrons.
Today, there is nothing left to remind
us of this once-important fistic landmark.
The Gun pub closed in October 2012,
long after the gym had vanished, and
today a restaurant stands in its place.
Charlie Wright read out Mick Grimsdell’s
eulogy.
Someone I’m always glad to see is
member Ivor “The Engine” Jones, whom
I remember as a good-value pro bantam
between 1979 and 1985. Ivor’s non-stop
style made him a big favourite with the
fans. He won 15 out of 24, with one draw.
He never won a pro title, though he
did get a crack at the vacant Southern
Area bantamweight belt – against Johnny
Dorey, whom he’d previously outpointed
over eight. But this time the verdict, and
the title, went to Dorey.
Ivor was trained by another LEBA
member and ex-pro, Colin Lake, who
hasn’t enjoyed the best of health recently
and so can’t attend meetings. My good
friend (and occasional BN contributor)
Chris Kempson contacted me to say that
Colin turned 80 last month (November
www.boxingnewsonline.net

SHOWMAN: Batten [with Ernie Price and Dave Harris] is not shy
23th) – so belated congratulations, Colin,
and hope to see you soon.
Colin boxed as a featherweight
between 1963 and 1969, winning 20
and drawing one of 30. His biggest
win was a sixth-round disqualification
over reigning British junior-light (now
super-featherweight) champion Jimmy
Anderson. That earned him a quick
return, with the title at stake – but
Anderson wasn’t about to make the same
mistake twice, and Colin was halted in
seven rounds.
Another crowd-pleaser Colin trained
was another LEBA member – Rocky
Munday, whom I saw several times on
London small-hall bills in 1975 and 1976.
There’s a feature on Rocky in the latest
Seconds Out (LEBA’s monthly newsletter),
by author and member Melanie Lloyd.
Rocky had nine pro bouts, winning
www.boxingnewsonline.net
LOCAL TALENT:
Don Cockell [left],
beat Croydon
fighters Mark Hart
[far left] and Albert
Finch [below] but
was most celebrated
for his subsequent
fight with Rocky
Marciano
eight and drawing one – but kept getting
cut and decided to retire. He went on
to establish a very successful building
firm - but sadly, like his former trainer,
he is suffering from health problems (a
neurological condition that has robbed
him of the power of speech). I’m sure
everyone will join me in sending best
wishes to both Rocky and Colin.
Another article, by author Mike Taub,
deals with the fascinating subject of pre-
fight contracts prior to the formation of
the BBBC. Boxers would be sent postcards
detailing where, when and whom they
would be fighting! Two are reproduced in
the article.
The LEBA meet on the first Sunday of
the month at Sports Bar and Grill, Old
Street – but, owing to the New Year,
January’s meeting will be on the second
Sunday ( January 9th).
DECEMBER 16, 2021 O BOXING NEWS O 45
 SIXTY SECONDS

JOE LAWS
John Dennen speaks to a down to earth fighter

Photo: IAN MACNICOL/GETTY IMAGES

When and why you started You always want more and more so
boxing: it’s not about the final destination,
I watched my brother, Jason, it’s about enjoying the ride.
box his first fight. It was proper Favourite meal/restaurant:
childhood beef and they fought Now we’re talking! You can’t beat
their hearts out. I watched a full a good old stodgy pizza. But I love
arena go absolutely wild for them. the cookies, cheesecake, ice creams.
From that day I just wanted to be I literally love everything unhealthy.
a boxer. Best friends in boxing:
Favourite all-time fighter: My strength coach, my boxing
It’s got to be Ricky Hatton. From coach and my training partner
this era it’s Tyson Fury. They’re Tommy [Hodgson]. I train twice a
local lads, they’re down to earth, day every day and I don’t really see
especially Ricky Hatton. His style’s many people apart from them.
exciting, outside the ring he’s never Other sportsperson you would
changed. like to be:
Best fight you’ve seen: I’d really love to be good at football
I was in Las Vegas for the first and not get punched in the face.
Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito Last film/TV show you saw:
fight, where Cotto got stopped. It Transformers. I watched Optimus
was out of this world. Prime and Bumblebee kick off.
Personal career highlight: Have you ever been starstruck:
As an amateur it was reaching the The first time I was in Las Vegas, I
final of the ABAs and boxing for saw Mike Tyson in the carpark.
my country. As a professional it was Last time you cried:
when I first boxed at [Newcastle] A few days ago, it was one year
Arena, that was just absolutely since my nan passed away.
electric. That first Sky show I was Best advice received:
on, that feeling I got was just Treat people the same on the way
something else. up as you do on the way back
Toughest opponent: down. Treat everyone with respect.
As amateur I fought the likes of Josh Worst rumour about yourself:
Kelly, Harris Akbar, the list goes on. I saw something saying that I’m
As a professional, I’d have to say stuck up. People who have got
Rylan Charlton because he lamped an opinion mostly don’t know us,
us, didn’t he? because if you do, I’m the most
Best and worst attributes as a down to earth kid there is. That one
boxer: hurt us!
I’m dedicated, I live the live and I
give it 100 per cent. I’ve got about
as much skill as a tin of beans but
FAST FACTS

I listen to my coaches, I train hard.

I’m fit and I’m strong. Age: 27 Instagram: @lawzzy7 Height: 5ft 7in Nationality: English
Training tip: From: Benwell Stance: Orthdox Record: 11-1 (5) Division: Welterweight
You’ve got to enjoy the ride Next fight: Laws boxes on December 18 at the Rainton Meadows Arena.
because there’s no destination. All
I want is the British title. I get the
British title and then I’ll want more.

[ NEXT ISSUE ON SALE DECEMBER 21, 2021 (DIGITAL) AND DECEMBER 23, 2021 (PRINT) ]
ESTABLISHED 1909 BOXING NEWS Kelsey Media, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 6AL
EMAIL firstname.surname@kelsey.co.uk DIGITAL & PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS https://help.kelsey.co.uk / +44 (0)1959 543 747 / www.shop.kelsey.co.uk/boxingnews
EDITOR Matt Christie ART EDITOR & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Nick Bond ONLINE EDITOR John Dennen SUB EDITOR Rachel Graham
SENIOR WRITER Elliot Worsell MANAGING DIRECTOR Kevin McCormick PUBLISHER Oswin Grady SUBS MANAGER Oliver Jones ADVERTISING Tandem Media / 01233 228 750
PRINTING William Gibbons & Sons Ltd DISTRIBUTION Marketforce (UK) Ltd, 3rd Floor, 161 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9AP / 0330 390 6555;
Distribution in Northern Ireland and the Republic Of Ireland – Newspread +353 23 886 3850 PUBLISHED BY Kelsey Media 2021 © all rights reserved.
Kelsey Media is a trading name of Kelsey Publishing Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden except with permission in writing from the publishers.

Incorporating
On Twitter Find us on Facebook
@BoxingNewsED www.facebook.com/boxingnewsonline

46 O BOXING NEWS ODECEMBER 16, 2021 www.boxingnewsonline.net

 RINGSIDE
Charitable Trust
www.ringsiderestandcare.com

A WORLD LEADER IN CARING FOR OUR OWN

THE RINGSIDE CHARITABLE TRUST
HELP AND ADVICE SERVICE

WILL OPEN ITS PILOT PROJECT

FROM 8AM TIL 6PM, MONDAY TO FRIDAY
FROM 4TH OCTOBER FOR ALL BOXERS SEEKING
SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE.
MONDAY 07437 868720
TUESDAY 07437 868724
WEDNESDAY 07437 868723
THURSDAY/FRIDAY 07437 868726
THE PHONE LINE WILL BE ATTENDED BY
EXPERIENCED FORMER BOXERS WHO WILL
SIGN POST THOSE REQUIRING SPECIFIC HELP.
WE HAVE LINKS TO THE SAMARITANS,
DEMENTIA UK, MIND, A.A. AND MANY OTHERS.

PLEASE NOTE: WE DO HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY.

WE RECORD EVERY PHONE CALL FOR QUALITY AND TRAINING PURPOSES.

THIS IS A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT. OUR ADVISERS ARE NOT

PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED, BUT WILL GUIDE YOU TO THOSE THAT ARE.
WE WILL ALWAYS BE A LISTENING EAR IN DIFFICULT TIMES.

Registered charity number 1185462

 BRITISH BOXING
BOARD OF CONTROL
ARDS LUNCHEO
W N
A
2022 I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

SUNDAY, 30TH JANUARY 2022

Royal Lancaster London, Lancaster Terrace, London W2 2TY
COMMENCING AT 1pm

PLATINUM TABLE £2700 GOLD TABLE £2000

O Table of 10 in a prime location O Sponsorship
of an award - to include guest member of table
presenting award O Full page advert in the
evening’s brochure O Souvenir digital photo
SILVER TABLE £1600
O Table of 10 in a preferred location
O Table of 10 in a premium location O Full page
advert in the afternoon’s brochure O Souvenir
digital photo
£130 per head/£1250 for a table of 10
All tickets include a three course meal, half a bottle
of wine and the awards ceremony

EVENT SPONSORSHIP
O Two platinum tables O Two full page adverts in the afternoon’s programme
O Sponsorship of ‘Boxer of the Year’ award - to include guest of table presenting award

To book, for more details or to advertise in our awards programme

contact awards@bbbofc.com