Nigel Benn v Chris Eubank. Over the years I've heard a lot about this clash in Birmingham in 1990, but I'd never bothered chasing down a replay. Silly me. The WBO World Middleweight Champion Nigel Benn had just come off the back of a monster win over Iran Barkley, dropping him 3 times in the first round, and went into the Eubank fight as the favourite to defend his title. It was though that Chris Eubank's only chance against the fearsome power of Nigel Benn, was to stay on the outside and use his speed and reach. Boxer v fighter. Few expected what was about to unfold. The Eubank ring entrance was something else.
We finally get the chance to see Chris Eubank Jr in the ring again. This weekend he steps up against the Turk Avni Yildirim in what is a Quarter Final of the Super Middleweights of the World Boxing Super Series. Eubank is a fives on shot and Yildirim is five to one. Yildirim's manager made a spectacle of himself at the final presser.
WBC has withdrawn it's sanctioning of the Wilder - Ortiz clash and ordered Wilder to fight Bermane Stiverne on November 4.
It's beginning to like like Dominic Breazeale will be Dillian Whyte's dance partner on the Joshua - Pulev under card. I hope it happens, it should be an interesting old affair.
So have we now seen the last of Ricky Burns after last nights defeat to Anthony Crolla? The answer should be yes but I think Eddie might eke out one more money spinning fight for him in the form of a rematch in Glasgow. I've never taken to Burns, he seems a down to earth likelable bloke but how on earth he managed to become a 3 weight world champion is beyond me. He'll go down in history as such and you can't take that away from him but it just highlights that there are too many world titles out there. What next for Crolla? Another world title shot?? I think if Hearn and Warren can put there difference aside the only right that makes sense is Crolla vs Flanagan for the WBO title. Old school friends, both local lads, would be huge for Manchester. Crolla isn't good enough to take a title from the other lightweights in my opinion an Flanagan needs that big fight and some recognition. In other divisions Eubank Jnr scored an impressive win last night in the World Boxing Super Series. Stopping an unbeaten fighter in the 3rd round to defend his (cough) world title and advance to the semi finals of the tournament. This now sets up a potential clash with actually world champion George Groves and what an intriguing fight that could be. We still don't know how good Eubank is, he's been very very well looked after to this point so to go in with Groves should give us the answers. Whether this fight actually happens is another thing altogether, personally I wouldn't be surprised one bit if Eubank pulled out of the tournament with an 'injury' of some description to yet again avoid a big fight. We will see
Cracking night of boxing all over. Crolla and Burns was a good scrap between two decent fighters but I also think Burns was a mediocre enough world champion and any proper world Champion usually took care of him. The fact it was an even enough fight to my eye, though Crollas far busier workrate and fast flurries definitely entitled him to the win, probably tells us Crollas level too. I expected him to make easier work of the fight than he did, Burns carried more potent power and being the naturally bigger/stronger man did tell in some later exchanges but Crollas work was very good throughout and the fact Burns is in his veteran stage at 34 told a bit too. Two decent fighters but neither really proper world / very top level fighters. Can definitely see the grounds for a rematch and the demand will be there for it too. Eubank Jr looked immense and sent out a message to the division. Have to say I’m liking him (as a fighter) the more I see of him. Personally I don’t think there’s many will fancy it against him now, he always had the skill set but now his punch selection and more crucially punch power seems up a good few gears from his early career. He’s starting to look an actual savage, I really rate Groves, but I’d fear for him now against this beast. The rumour mill, believe of it what you will, was that last nights opponent gave de Gale plenty to handle in sparring, and I know sparrings very different from fighting, but he went in there 16 and 0 looking a decent prospect and he’s been destroyed in a handful of rounds...
I'm not too sure about Eubank just yet. There is some really nice stuff in him, but he has a few bad habits that could come home to haunt him against a quality fighter. He took a few decent blows to the head, but what's new there? It happens to the best of them. The one thing I didn't like though, was his habit of carrying his left hand near his waist. Cockiness can be a killer. Still, that was a pretty impressive win against a man rated 3, 3, 5 & 7 by the sanctioning bodies.
I agree Cyc, I'm just not sure about him yet. I'm by no means writing him off as a hype job but I'm still not convinced he's the real deal either. Obviously he has ability and he can only beat what's put in front of him but for me he's dodged too many fights for me to be convinced he's got what it takes. I really hope the Groves fight happens i really do but I just think something will happen and Eubank will end up pulling out of the tournament and avoid the showdown
The WBO have ordered Billy Joe Saunders and No1 ranked David Lemieux to enter into negotiations for the Middleweight belt. They have 30 days to get their acts together or a purse bid will be ordered. The minimum acceptable bid for the WBO middleweight division is US$200,000. Is Billy's title at serious risk?
No. Well not in my opinion anyway. Lemieux has some serious power but I think Saunders will quite comfortably outbox him
I'd love the fight Smoke, I hope it happens. Saunders with limited power but good boxing skills up against Lamieux with no defence and poor footwork, but outstanding power.
not a fight I would watch. One dancing around trying not to get hit and one trying to hit the other but can't find him. It sounds as though it's all about can one catch the other. If L doesn't have to worry about getting hit then he can forget his defence and keep attacking until he gets lucky. Sounds like it won't go the distance
According to the express.co.uk, Joshua is up for 15 million pounds for his clash with Pulev, while the latter will get 4 million.
Maybe it says something about the lack of real depth in the division DB. The media is doing it's best to make us believe we're in some kind of golden age when it comes to the heavyweights. Actually I think it's pretty poor. If I have the rankings right, Pulev is listed as 2, 3, 7 & 10, so he's better than we think, or he's ok. His only loss was when he was bashed by Vlad, but as horrible as the loss looked, I think he's a bit better that that fight showed. Still, people are ****ting on Wilder for his well padded record and Parker isn't all that much either, and Joshua for all the hype has only beaten a 40 year old man. Hearn is trying to tell us Whyte is a future champ, but he's limited in ability. The old Cuban Ortiz, who some are say must be 40, is for mine much over rated. And then there's Big Baby Miller. True, we will get some exciting fights in the future, but **** me .... if that's all we have, then I'm calling **** for trumps.
