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Eubank Jr is green, but promoter believes he’s already better than Macklin, Barker, Murray et al

10 Nov

Ibrahim Harb – Birmingham

Acclaimed amateur standout Chris Eubank Jr has exchanged contracts with promoter Mick Hennessy of Hennessy Sports and will make his professional debut at the EventCity, Manchester card on Saturday, November 12, headlined by Tyson Fury and Neven Pajkic’s ill-tempered heavyweight feud. Hennessy boldly proclaimed Eubank Jr the best middleweight in Britain, despite never fighting professionally.

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“We are delighted to have signed such a major talent… there was a lot of competition for his signature, not only from other promoters but other broadcasters as well,” an elated Hennessy beamed today, Thursday.

Indeed, there was a promotional clamouring for Eubank Jr’s signature and there were even reports he had committed terms with Matchroom Sports earlier in the year, as reported by On The Beak here.

However, it appears Mick Hennessy now has his man. A man whom he believes is already ahead of other middleweights in Britain such as former world title challengers Matthew Macklin and Darren Barker, Martin Murray (who challenges Felix Sturm for his WBA championship in December) and fast-rising prospect Billy Joe Saunders.

“We believe that Chris Eubank Jnr has the potential to not only become an elite world champion but also transcend boxing and become a major world star on route to the titles,” Hennessy said, before concluding: “I honesty already believe he is the best middleweight in this country even without have a pro fight.”

Eubank Jr already has a slot on a high-profile card in Britain as he boxes on the undercard for Fury (16-0-0, 11ko) and Pajkic’s bad blood bust-up on Saturday, a fight that will be broadcast on Channel 5 from 21:45.

Fury had initially been a clear bookmakers’ favourite to defend his Commonwealth heavyweight strap against a man he has a well-documented rivalry with. Graham Sharpe, a spokesperson for bookies William Hill, though, has indicated that certain punters are betting large sums against Tyson. Two bets of £5,000 ($8,000) were placed this week – one in Manchester and the other in London – and Hill were forced to alter Pajkic’s odds to 11/2 as a result. Fury’s odds were also eased, from 1/12 to 1/10.

Sharpe said: “Fury’s style always gives his opponent a chance if he can get close enough to land a decent shot, and anything can happen when two unbeaten records are on the line – we are 40/1 that they both emerge unbeaten after a draw!”

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Bute v Johnson preview: Lucian to affirm status as elite operator with convincing trumping of Glen

6 Nov

Denzil Stone – Atlantic City

Athletic, hungry, a guaranteed ticket-seller and a pugilist with a double-hard bar-steward of a punch… Lucian Bute has long been the recipient of fanciful praise but, on November 5 at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, he is finally in the ring with someone with whom he can prove that those assets are transferable to boxing’s high-profile names. Glen Johnson has battle-tested armour and sterling weaponry but is unlikely to win a majority of the rounds in Canada.

Direct link to article.

Tale Of The Tape

Lucian Bute
 Glen Johnson
Stance Southpaw Orthodox
Height/Reach 6’1.5/72′
 5’11/75
Style Athletic
 Pressure
Form W-W-W-W-W L-W-L-W-L
Record 29-0-0, 24ko 51-15-2, 35ko

Analysis

On The Beak‘s three factors – 1: The ring general; 2: The outside; 3: Remembering Andrade.

A long-reigning champion of the IBF super middleweight world title, Bute’s four-year stretch as a 168lb king only lists one of his opponents as a top ten ranked fighter; Librado Andrade. During the first match (2008) between them there was a dubious count given to Bute following a knockdown scored by Andrade, but Lucian erased any doubt by scoring a fourth round stoppage in their rematch one year later.

Bute’s other victories as a champion have come against semi-respectable opponents at best… guys who would be good wins for a contender striving to make an ascent to the top of the division, but not if one is already at the peak: Brian Magee, Edison Miranda and William Joppy are the stand-outs on Lucian’s resume, coupled with a solid victory over super middle gatekeeper Sakio Bika in an official title eliminator in 2007.

Against Johnson who, as a 68-fight professional has boxed 464 rounds, Bute will be testing himself against a man with proven mettle having fought the planet’s elite: Carl Froch (L), Allan Green (W), Tavoris Cloud (L), Chad Dawson (L), Clinton Woods (1x W, 1 x L), Antonio Tarver (1 x W, 1 x L), Roy Jones Jr (W) and Bernard Hopkins (L).

The contest has an added element of intrigue as not only are Bute and Johnson friends, they also have a fistic familiarity with the other having engaged in over 100 rounds of sparring over two years ago. Positive relations will be sidelined, though, as both prizefighters will be highly-motivated to win decisively and look good doing so, for alternative reasons.

Having seen his level of competition diminished due to the participation of six well-ranked guys doing battle in the groundbreaking Super Six, Bute now feels a part of that competition by taking on one of it’s semifinalists. A stellar victory, either by shutout decision or stoppage, will aid his cause to take on the eventual winner [Andre Ward v Carl Froch, December]. Johnson, meanwhile, still showed there’s life in the old dog yet as he knocked out Allan Green last November and, following a decision defeat to Froch, will need to return to winning ways in order to retain relevancy at the top.

Both fighters are known to from their past bouts as being the ring general and, due to their contrasting styles (Johnson: pressure, high punch output; Bute: out-fighter, boxer-puncher) it will be easy to spot who has the ability to make the other box their kind fight after the chime of the opening bell.

Johnson likes to step inside, fight on his opponents toes, back guys up onto the ropes or turnbuckle, jab and send right hands in over the top. He’s a forward-stepper and will like nothing more than having Bute trade with him, but if the 31-year-old from Quebec elects to follow his machismo instead of the game-plan then he will likely lose more rounds than what he should.

Bute fights with a sharp intelligence. His posturing is awkward enough as is due to his southpaw stance but when he flirts with the pocket, he actually leans away from his opponent which not only gives him unorthodox leverage, but also ensures his chin is further away from any potential counter-strike that could be unleashed. Much is made of the danger he poses from body-punching and, indeed, there are few – if any – pugilists in the ring today who are pound-for-pound, greater than Bute in this respect, but he also has one of the most telling uppercuts in the sport and sparked Jean Paul Mendy out in his last fight, a homecoming in Romania.

Bute is absurdly athletic, has great balance and commentators say he uses the ring well. This means he is most commonly a mover, won’t root his boots often, and moves laterally around the ring’s periphery. If this is the gameplan he will adhere to come fight night then expect to watch familiar scenes of Johnson attempting to take the fight to Bute, but Lucian picking Johnson off from the outside.

The home fighter has been rocked before – he was almost completely separated from his senses against Andrade. This wasn’t just from pressure, though, more effective aggression, timing and the ability to catch him cleanly, albeit moments before the contest’s conclusion. If Johnson is losing a one-sided fight on the scorecards he need not be disheartened should he continue to stalk Bute, however, Bute’s defensive game has improved since, he has moved on and will likely coast to victory without any notable threatening behaviour from Johnson

Prediction

Bute on points, perhaps in the region of 117-111/118-110.

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Nonito Donaire v Narvaez preview: Omar and out as Donaire will destroy

22 Oct

Alan Dawson – London

Following an eight month hiatus due to a promotional tug-of-war, Nonito Donaire has his backing sorted and makes a highly-anticipated return to the ring on October 22. His opponent of choice was limited due to the Showtime bantamweight tournament tying up the finalists, Anselmo Moreno was unwilling and negotiations with Vic Darchinyan never made it past the contractual stage so undefeated flyweight champion Omar Narvaez was drafted in.

Direct link to article.

Tale Of The Tape

Nonito Donaire
 Omar Narvaez
Stance Orthodox Orthodox
Height/Reach 5’7/68′
 5’3/Unlisted
Style Skillful
 Defensive
Form W-W-W-W-W W-W-W-W-W
Record 26-1-0, 18ko 35-0-2, 19ko

Analysis

On The Beak‘s three factors – 1: Physicality; 2: Punching power; 3: Ability to spoil.

With Manny Pacquiao (32), Floyd Mayweather Jr (34) and Sergio Martinez (36) all in the latter stages of their respective careers, the general consensus among boxing scribes is that Nonito Donaire (28) will be pound-for-pound king in the near future. His projected career path includes match-ups that make jaws slack and mouths drool as super bantamweight showdowns with Aztec warrior Jorge Arce or technically astute Toshiaki Nishioka have been mooted, together with featherweight fights with headhunting Puerto Rican; Juan Manuel Lopez, the Tasmanian devil-like Yuriorkis Gamboa, or against the iron-chinned Orlando Salido in what would be a true test of the Filipino Flash’s power.

That’s the future, but first he has to navigate his way through the present against Omar Narvaez in the WaMu Theater of the Madison Square Garden, one of the spiritual homes of boxing in New York City, New York. Narvaez is a long-reigning champion with the WBO, at super flyweight or flyweight, for the best part of the past decade. Boxing predominantly in Argentina, he has enjoyed trips to Europe but never to north America. His champion’s status would imply that he has mixed it with the world’s elite, however, whilst he has prevailed over tough chaps like Cesar Seda, Rayonta Whitfield and Adonis Rivas, he has never been aligned with Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, Arce or Darchinyan despite sharing the same division at certain points in his career. A bout against Donaire, make no mistake, is by far his most arduous examination to date.

The physical differences between the two prizefighters is notable for Donaire has at least four inches in height on Narvaez and, even though he weighed-in at a peculiar 116.4lbs compared to Narvaez’s 117lbs, he will – most certainly – be the heavier man in the ring on fight night. Narvaez, after all, was competing as a flyweight – 112lbs – just two years ago, whilst this will be Donaire’s last bout at bantamweight before he begins campaigning (albeit briefly) at super bantamweight, 122lbs, and then featherweight, 126lbs, both in 2012.

Narvaez has experience fighting taller men, however. Earlier in the year he boxed the previously undefeated Seda in Buenos Aires, obtaining scores of 117-110 (twice) and 115-112 in a bout that neutrals felt was a touch closer. Narvaez, though, showed good nous in boxing small, as it were. He kept the fight at his distance, retained a rigid guard which provided a shield against Seda’s probing southpaw shots and fought in spurts, landing three to four punch combinations when zipping into the inside. This, on top of an amateur victory over the 5’7 Joan Guzman, of the Dominican Republic (now a super lightweight), in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia – although this was 15 years ago.

Narvaez is 36-years-old and certain quarters have pointed to age and regarded it to be a pivotal factor yet the Argentine southpaw is well-preserved, has been in few – if any – career-defining fights and, judging from recent bouts, has not shown any real signs of having difficulty boxing younger fellas.

Nonito, though, is not only eight years Omar’s junior, he is also a beast. Affable, approachable and well-spoken outside the ring, when it’s time to lace-up he’s one bad dude. His most daunting punch is perceived to be his left hook – a shot that dropped Fernando Montiel in two rounds in what represented the proud Mexican’s first stoppage loss. Furthermore, it was also a punch that Raging Bull Vic Darchinyan had no answer for in a fifth round win that signified Donaire’s coming-out party.

The man has one punch knockout power (see: Montiel, Darchinyan), but has also forced referee stoppages due to his accumulative power that causes facial damage/cuts (see: Moruthi Mthalane, Hernan Marquez), sent men crashing to the canvas with body shotting (see: Luis Maldonado) and has uppercutted to great success (see: Raul Martinez, Manuel Vargas). Due to his hand speed he can even throw 14-punch combinations in an astonishing three seconds.

Nine of Nonito’s last ten fights have all ended the same way – by knockout, only one; Rafael Concepcion, survived the 12 round distance. That ability to hear the final bell was because Concepcion was the larger and heavier man, was fined for coming in over the weight limit and, if it was not for the obvious difference in size, could have gone the same way as the aforementioned nine; swift defeat. Narvaez does not have that size advantage. He has the disadvantage.

What he does have, is defensive capability. He uses a combination of evasive maneuvering (upper body movement, head movement) as well as shielding (stiff upright guard to block shots on his gloves/forearms) in order to thwart oncoming shots. He will need to be at his defensive best if he is to see it past, say, the half-way stage.

Donaire has some detractors who claim he could have questionable stamina, so Narvaez may elect to force Donaire into missing with his power punching in order to enhance the chances of him tiring out (when it comes to throwing fists, it takes more energy out of oneself to throw and miss than it does to throw and connect with a shield). With nutritionist and conditioner Victor Conte on board, Nonito’s endurance will not be in question, though.

Conte is an advocate of the innovative hypoxicators, an apparatus that replicates the benefits of high altitude training at a sea-level base. The main point is that high-altitude training is good, but sleeping at altitude is not, according to Conte. This is because the heart-rate remains high and, in effect, mass can be jeopardised throughout the night meaning the good work achieved when training during the day is countered by night. The hypoxicators remedy this.

Narvaez does not have the knockout power to even trouble Donaire, let alone knock him down or stop him. His boxing skills are not on the same level as Nonito’s and even if he was to employ spoiling tactics, box in an ultra defensive manner, Donaire’s skill set is so impeccable that he will catch up to him. With Robert Garcia in his corner, who implores his athletes to get the kayo when he sees the opportunity (and with Donaire that can be early, very early) it is tough seeing this fight last.

Prediction

Donaire by stoppage (rounds 3-5).

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Nathan Cleverly v Tony Bellew preview: Sparring David Haye stands Clev in good stead

15 Oct

Alan Dawson – London

After months of bad-mouthing, defending WBO light heavyweight world champion Nathan Cleverly and challenger Tony Bellew finally meet to settle their differences the old fashioned way in front of 10,000 pro-Bellew fans on October 15 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool. Not only is a major title at stake, but so too is British pride and a potential shot at the winner of Bernard Hopkins’ and Chad Dawson’s bout in Los Angeles, later.

Direct link to article.

Tale Of The Tape

Nathan Cleverly
 Tony Bellew
Stance Orthodox Orthodox
Height/Reach 6’1/74′
 6’2/Unlisted
Style Pressure/In-fighter
 Banger/Boxer
Form W-W-W-W-W W-W-W-W-W
Record 22-0-0, 11ko 16-0-0, 10ko

Analysis

On The Beak‘s three factors – 1: Activity; 2: Distance; 3: Punch resistance.

Make no mistake, this fight deserved as much mainstream attention as James DeGale and George Groves, if not more, for this contest has a world title on the line. Behind the championship status, though, is a rivalry filled with bad blood… there is genuine animosity.

Cynical quarters may have deemed Bellew’s notorious May media attack “let’s have it then you f***king rat!” as an expletive-laden rant aimed to build hype for their fight while the cameras were rolling – it wasn’t. The media lenses merely caught one moment of many where these two fighters wanted to take each other’s block off. The interest that was generated was a by-product of their hatred. It isn’t just exclusive to the two boxers as the respective entourages clashed, repeatedly, during the British press tour. Police were called at the Cardiff leg with Cleverly’s father and trainer, Vince, perturbed at “being called a w**ker” while getting stared at.

Cleverly fights in one style. He loves a ruck. When the opening bell goes, he’s looking for the fight straight away (see: Karo Murat). And, when it comes to high profile domestic showdowns, his dust-up with Bellew could go one of two ways depending on the tactics adhered to by The Bomber and his corner. It could play out like David Haye and Enzo Maccarinelli’s cruiserweight unification… savage, unrelenting abuse where one man falls early as a stoppage is secured. Or, it could end up like the aforementioned DeGale and Groves where a tactical battle ensues. It depends on whether Bellew comes to bang (see: Ovill McKenzie the first) or to box (see: Ovill McKenzie the second).

What is for certain is that there will be three obvious keys to success. For Cleverly, his blue-collar work-rate, pressure and ability to let his hands go could sway the ringside judges’ ten scores in a round where Bellew opts to box. Cleverly has a wise shot selection, too. He has an acute left jab, a snappy left uppercut, good hook shots and varies his attack to both the head and to the body. During a fight’s genesis, Cleverly dispatches single shots, but his reloading is only brief which means the solitary fire is a consistent pap, pap, pap. Few fighters have succeeded in punching the Welshman out of his early rhythm and, when the contest reaches it’s middle and latter stages, Cleverly starts introducing combinations.

Distance will also be a factor. Both in terms of range, and how long the fight lasts. The battle for range will be an intriguing one. Cleverly, with just 22 professional bouts behind him, has an excellent knowledge of distance and use of range. He’ll use his left arm and shoulder to push and nudge an opponent who has closed the gap back to a distance he is comfortable with. Cleverly is able to box forwards and also on the backfoot, but, so too is Bellew.

In the Commonwealth and British titlist’s last outing he was criticised for a ‘boring’ performance. What was impressive, though, was the self-restraint and discipline that Bellew showed in the rematch against McKenzie. Considering his temperament and previous fighting style – that of a banger – to box so effectively showed that Bellew has different dimensions to his game and, if he can incorporate that stick-and-move style where he fought on the outside into his every fight repertoire but, this time, without jeopardising his natural desire to be a headhunter, then he could make things very interesting against Cleverly.

Punch resistance could end up separating these two Brits. Earlier in the week, James DeGale – who boxes Piotr Wilczewski for the EBU super middleweight belt on the undercard – shared his thoughts on Cleverly/Bellew. Having sparred both fighters, DeGale was in a unique position to provide insight and his main point was that: “Bellew hits very, very hard. Very hard“.

You have to go through Cleverly’s fights with a fine-toothed comb to find evidence where he has been bitten hard enough to be genuinely troubled… against Aleksy Kuziemski, his first defence of the WBO title, he appeared staggered but that was because he was so determined to put in a champion’s performance that he went face first into the action looking for a swift victory (which he achieved). Against Bellew, he won’t be so reckless. Also, as part of his training camp he has been sparring against big hitters: David Haye and George Groves at the Hayemaker gym in south London. Not only can Haye and Groves throw heavy leather, but they can do so from the outside. So, whether Bellew bangs on the inside or boxes on the outside, Cleverly – in theory – will be ready.

There is a perception that thunderous punchers are vulnerable when getting hit hard in return. Whilst Bellew has suffered flash knockdowns in the past (see: McKenzie the first where he was dropped twice, as well as Bob Ajisafe where he was felled in the fourth). However, while he has kissed the canvas, he has always risen to his feet to finish the dance. Bellew is very much from the school of get the win or die tryin‘ as is evidenced by his oft-made statements that he is willing to die in the ring. If Bellew succumbs to a stoppage loss, it won’t be because he’s out on his feet but, rather, a result of referee or corner intervention.

Prediction

Cleverly by late technical knockout (rounds 9-12).

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World Amateur Championships Medal Table: Ukraine, Cuba, Kazakhstan and UK clean up

10 Oct

Alan Dawson – London

If amateur boxing were a baton, the Cubans have been running with it since the 1972 Olympic Games when bantamweight Orlando Martinez, welterweight Emilio Correa and heavyweight Teofilo Stevenson all scooped gold in Munich. However, the Ukraine boxing programme is currently so extraordinary that – in ten weight classes – they officially produced four gold medalists in the World Amateur Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Direct link to article.

WEIGHT
 GOLD SILVER BRONZE
Light Flyweight
 Zou Shiming (Chn)
 Shin Jong-Hun (Kor) P. Serdamba (Mon)David Ayrapetyan (Rus)
Flyweight
 Misha Aloyan (Rus)
 Andrew Selby (UK) Rau’shee Warren (USA)Jasurbek Latipov (Uz)
Bantamweight
 Lazaro Alvarez (Cub)
 Luke Campbell (UK) John Joe Nevin (Ire)Anvar Yunusov (TJK)
Lightweight
 Vasyl Lomachenko (Ukr)
 Yasniel Toledo (Cub) Domenico Valentino (Ita)Gani Zhailauov (Kaz)
Light Welterweight
 Everton Lopes (Bra)
 Denys Berinchyk (Ukr) Tom Stalker (UK)Vincenzo Mangiacapre (Ita)
Welterweight
 Taras Shelestyuk (Ukr)
 Serik Sapiyev (Kaz) Egidijus Kavaliauskas (Lit)Vikas Krishan (Ind)
Middleweight
 Yevhen Khytrov (Ukr)
 Ryota Murata (Jap) Esquiva Florentino (Bra)Bogdan Juratoni (Rom)
Light Heavyweight
 Julio Cesar la Cruz (Cub)
 Adil Niyazymbetov (Kaz) Egor Mekhontsev (Rus)Elshod Rasulov (Uz)
Heavyweight
 Oleksandr Usyk (Ukr)
 Teymur Mammadov (Azr) Siarhei Karneyeu (Bel)
Wang Xuanxuan (Chn)
Super Heavyweight
 Magomedrasul Majidov (Azr)
 Anthony Joshua (UK) Erik Pfeifer (Ger)Ivan Dychko (Kaz)

On The Beak‘s tournament picks

Anthony Joshua – Silver medalist at super heavyweight (UK)

Beaten by a single point in the final against Azeri Magomedrasul Medzhidov – number two in the world – in what his only his second senior competition, Anthony Joshua, a 6’6 big man, exceeded expectations in a thrilling run that culminated with a war in the tournament’s concluding bout.

Joshua exercised an authoritative jab throughout the finals and, en route to the battle for gold against Medzhidov, he disposed of renowned Italian; Roberto Cammarelle, a former gold medalist at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, as well as the 2007 and also 2009 world championships. At the semifinal stage he secured a stoppage victory over German contestant Erik Pfiefer as the referee was unhappy with Pfiefer’s bloodied nose and grossly cut eye. This, after forcing the ringside physicians to withdraw Trinidad and Tobago’s Commonwealth Games silver medalist Tariq Abdul-Haqq from the action of his curtain-raising fight.

Considering that just six months ago Joshua was not even considered a member of Team GB’s podium squad, he has taken his shot and emerged as a medal favourite at the 2012 Games in London. Joshua has great physical attributes, a commanding lead punch, solid left hooks, right cross shots and possesses sterling combination skills.

Oleksandr Usyk – Gold medalist at heavyweight (UKR)

Oleksandr Usyk won a lop-sided points triumph over Siarhei Karneyeu, of Belarus, when the competition had been whittled down to four but the silver medalist of the European championships was no match for an in-form Usyk.

During the quarterfinal stage, Usyk engaged in what is a consensus nominee for fight of the tournament as a back-and-forth erupted with Artur Beterbiev – the defending world champion, from Russia.

Like his medal-winning Ukrainian peers, Usyk is highly-speculated to make the step to the paid ranks following the Olympic Games in London and the 6’3 heavyweight will certainly be one to watch whether in the amateurs or as a professional. His footwork is well-practiced, his reflexes are intuitive and his hand-speed is straight out of the textbook.

Yevhen Khytrov – Gold medalist at middleweight (UKR)

In the final, Khytrov – a European Cup winner with Ukraine – edged Ryota Murata, the man who scored one of the upsets of the competition by dismantling a former world champion, Abbos Atoev in the opening bouts.

Romania’s Bogdan Juratoni emerged as a swift boxing scribe’s favourite but Khytrov was as unforgiving as he was unrelenting and showed just why his power is a notorious asset around the world as he bulldozed through Juratoni. Khytrov was 14:9 up when the referee stopped the contest in the second round. Aleksandar Drenovak, a 28-year-old from Serbia, was also out-muscled by the brutally strong Khytrov, who remains unbeaten throughout the whole year.

Khytrov’s ability to counter sets him apart from other competitors… Juratoni felt the full brunt of it as he was clobbered out of the ring with a jaw-denting left hook. Khytrov’s initial reaction was telling; he did not instantly celebrate, he just walked to his corner as if it was something he had seen many times before.

Serik Sapiyev – Silver medalist at welterweight (KAZ)

Denied the chance of becoming a three-time amateur world champion by Taras Shelestyuk in the welterweight final, Serik Sapiyev still boxed a good tournament, particularly against US competitor Errol Spence where he displayed accurate punching and good timing whilst fighting to his physical advantages.

In his opening bout he stopped Carlos Sanchez of Ecuador, an Independence Cup winner, in scintillating fashion as Sanchez failed to hear the final bell. At the semifinal stage he overcame Egidijus Kavaliauska with ease as the Lithuanian’s corner were forced to throw in the towel in a much-needed act of surrender.

Zou Shiming – Gold medalist at light flyweight (CHN)

Shiming’s honours roll is beginning to require paragraphs… his gold medal in Baku adds to his previous two golds at Chicago in 2007 and Mianyang in 2005 (he also won silver in Bangkok in 2003). The 30-year-old Chinese fighter, registering a 5’5 height, is also a gold medal Olympian having won the ultimate prize in front of his home fans in Beijing, 2008.

By obtaining a further gold this year, Shiming extended an unbeaten run that stretches back as far as June, 2007. David Ayrapetyan, a European champion with Russia, was out-hustled by Shiming in the semifinal stage while the experienced amateur trumped Korean hotshot Shin Jong-Hun in the final.

Shiming will be highly fancied for another gold at the 2012 Games.

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Exclusive: Harold Lederman on the issue of reforming the judging system

5 Oct

Alan Dawson – London

Questionable judging has long dogged boxing. It is almost common to see at least one high-profile contentious decision a month; one that arouses the ire of the defeated fighter, the boxing industry and fight fans in general. Last weekend was no different as Steve Cunningham and Gabriel Campillo were dubiously out-pointed by Yoan Pablo Hernandez and Karo Murat. On The Beak caught up with renowned boxing judge Harold Lederman to debate the issue of reform.

Direct link to article.

HBO's ringside judge Lederman at the Khan - Judah bout in Vegas. Credit: S. Verbeek - Maple Avenue Boxing Gym, Dallas

In an official capacity, Lederman has provided the scoring for world title fights involving Vitali Klitschko, Marco Antonio Barrera, Nigel Benn, Evander Holyfield, Julio Cesar Chavez, Larry Holmes, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali. In 1999 he retired yet continues to work for HBO where, for over 575 televised prizefights, he has broadcast his score and take on the night’s action speaking in his distinctive New York accent that was made to air.

What are the main things Lederman, an experienced amateur and professional judge, looks for in any fight?

“You want to see who landed the clean punches – that’s 90 percent of scoring,” he said, concisely. “If you can punch you have an advantage over a boxer. Paul Malignaggi is a boxer, Yuri Foreman is a boxer… they have to win decisively and not get hit to win a fight against a guy who is a big banger. You want to see who is the more effective aggressor, who showed better ring generalship and defence, who blocks more punches and who slips more punches, but clean punching is 90 percent.”

Easy to talk to, I got the impression that Harold could have chatted boxing all night with me. A clear lover of the sport, Lederman had no qualms on providing me with an education on why it is not the judging system that needs to be reformed but, rather, the actual appointment of scorers at ringside.

“I don’t see how much more they can do, except… it’s the appointment of officials that is very important,” the World Boxing Hall of Fame inductee said exclusively to On The Beak. “When you have a high profile fight whether that’s Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury or Victor Ortiz and Floyd Mayweather, you take the best three judges. In boxing, they do the opposite! They sometimes have inexperienced guys [at world championship fights].

“They need to be more careful about who you put in. You can give new guys a chance but you have to work your way up. Inexperience can lead to bad decisions. If they watch the appointments more carefully, they’re made because the sanctioning bodies [WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO] want to use their people. With high profile fights, like Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye, you have the three best judges regardless of sanctioning bodies they are affiliated with and that’s the end of the story. Controversial fights are scored because of the appointments.”

Controversial scoring is not exclusive to one country. While Cunningham and Campillo appeared to be duped out of a deserved win in Germany, there have been just as questionable decisions scored in England (Obodai Sai versus Jamie Cox), Northern Ireland (Breidis Prescott against Paul McCloskey) and the United States (Lucas Matthysse versus Devon Alexander and, most infamously of late, Erislandy Lara against Paul Williams).

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Lara 22/47 17/39 20/47 13/44 21/50 23/48 26/50 15/38 14/27 19/48
 18/48 16/44
Williams
 12/57 13/68 17/80 21/96 23/97 24/108 17/93 17/93 14/77 19/104 13/89 10/85

Key – Total punches landed/thrown per round. Source: Compubox


 Total Punches Jabs Power Punches
Lara
 224/530 

42%

 46/167

28%

 178/363 

49%
Williams 200/1047

19%

 39/281 

14%

 161/766

21%

Key – Final Compubox stats.

In each of those cases, it was the home fighter who benefited from the decision. I asked Harold whether factors such as crowd noise can affect the judging: “Let me tell you something… judges are human,” he said. “There’s no doubt that judges hear the crowd. Any judge that says they don’t hear it – they’re lying!

“You’re always going to hear the yelling and the screaming, it’s close, they might lean toward the home name… it’s part of the game. Judges try like heck to be honest but the truth of the matter is you’re always subject to what’s going on in the background and it may take some effect but will they effect the judge to make a really bad decision, you follow what I’m saying? [Regardless of the noise level it] shouldn’t sway the judging from making a good decision to a bad decision.”

In the cases of the aforementioned contests, despite winning by a tight or sometimes just an inaccurate score, the victor is elevated to a healthy position in the global rankings while the recorded loser has to go back to a position where they are, effectively, pushed back one year, perhaps two. In that space of time they have to take a fight, two fights, maybe three, taking 200, 400 or 600 clean punches in the face or body in order to get back to the position they were in – that high profile fight.

The fact that incompetent judging can send a fighter through an unnecessary physically grueling schedule is one of the main catalysts for the calls of reform and, with the rise of technology, scoring systems like Compubox have become increasingly popular as a way of determining who was the more effective puncher in terms of punches thrown, landed and accuracy – but not in terms of damage.

“Let me tell you something… HBO uses Compubox,” began Lederman in response to whether boxing would miss the human element of judging if it was replaced with technology. “It’s fun for fans watching the fight at home but it shouldn’t effect the scoring of the fight.

“Paul Williams is gonna throw 100 punches every round but the question is: do his punches really mean that much? Do they do that much damage? Against Lara without question, anyone at ringside or at home could tell that Lara was landing the cleaner, more effective and the more solid shots. He did more damage for nine out of the 12 rounds and, at the end of the day, that’s what you’re there to judge – who hurt who more in that round? And that’s who you give the score to.

“Compubox systems are fun but their statistic doesn’t necessarily provide you with who won that round,” warned Lederman.

“I don’t see Compubox numbers until the start of the next round,” added Harold. “It’s a tremendous addition to the sport, though. Everyone can appreciate them but, you gotta remember, the guys who count the punches are subject to the same thing the judges are. The ref may get in the way and the guy might have his back to you. The aggressor… you can’t count what you can’t see. You have to take that into consideration. Compubox is really good but it shouldn’t replace the judge.”

Harold was equally opposed to a compromise of two human judges and a computer: “I like what we have now,” he maintained. “Three human judges.”

He concluded: “The situation is… the way we have it now is the best way.”

The three judges' scorecards for Williams/Lara. Credit: Mariano A. Agmi

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Tarver trashes Haye, Green and says Wladimir Klitschko won’t touch him in a heavy fight

29 Sep

Ibrahim Harb – Birmingham

Recently crowned IBO cruiserweight world champion Antonio Tarver will continue to back up his strong words by attracting accolades and collecting wins, unlike Britain’s fallen heavyweight David Haye whose star stock crashed with an insipid performance against Wladimir Klitschko earlier in the year. Wladimir tagged Haye with a repeated right cross; something the Ukrainian would not be able to do against Tarver, the American claimed.

Direct link to article.

Tarver and his missus ringside at Mayweather Jr fight on Sept. 17. Credit: Stacey Verbeek - Maple Avenue Boxing Gym

“I want the heavyweight title,” Tarver, a bronze medal Olympian at the 1996 Games in Atlanta and an undisputed champion at light heavyweight as a professional, boldly proclaimed to Fight Hype.

Tarver (29-6-0, 19ko) is at odds explaining dominant heavyweight Klitschko’s decision to follow his Haye victory with a defence of his unified titles against Jean-Marc Mormeck, especially when Wladimir had given an indication of his interest in boxing Antonio as early as last year.

“Wladimir Klitschko called me out last year and he’s now fighting Mormeck? I’m here,” said the veteran. “These guys know I have skills and know I can fight. I ain’t gonna be a target for nobody. I’m a southpaw – his right hand won’t touch me. I wanna turn the boxing world upside down.”

Tarver talks a big game but insists he can back his mouth up with his fists, something Haye failed to do in Germany when he was reduced to throwing hail Mary’s from the outside as Wladimir dominated their highly-anticipated match-up.

“They can hear me loud and clear but nobody is stepping up. I’m bringing the title back to America. I’m not going to walk around with tee-shirts with decapitated heads on them. I’m not going to talk [faeces] I can’t back up like David Haye.”

Tarver blasted his way back to significance at the 200lb weight limit by snatching Danny Green’s IBO cruiserweight title away from him in his own backyard in Australia. Tarver, 42, trumped Green, 38, by way of ninth round retirement. A rematch was mooted, but never materialised as Green instead elected to challenge Krzysztof Wlodarczyk for the WBC title – a decision that has irked Tarver.

“I resent the way Danny Green went about his business. The only rematch clause was we go where the most money was to be made. I don’t think anybody in America would be interested in that fight. [It was] in his hometown where the fans were looking for redemption – they support him. Danny Green chickened out.”

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Victor Ortiz v Floyd Mayweather Jr preview: After early success Vicious could end up Gatti’d

16 Sep

Alan Dawson – London

The regeneration of a fighter was witnessed in April, earlier this year, as Victor Ortiz overcame mass censure to rise from the canvas, out-bully Andre Berto and silence his critics. The WBC welterweight championship changed hands and, after such a grueling display, most fighters would take on a lesser opponent as reward… not Ortiz, he booked himself a fight against an undefeated defensive master; Floyd Mayweather Jr, who returns on Saturday, September 17 in a casino that is near enough his fighting home – the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas.

Direct link to article.

Tale Of The Tape

Victor Ortiz Floyd Mayweather Jr
Stance Southpaw Orthodox
Height/Reach 5’9/ 70
 5’8/ 72
Form W-D-W-W-W W-W-W-W-W
Record 29-2-2, 22ko 41-0-0, 25ko

Analysis

On The Beak‘s three factors – It’s a case of A: Attack versus defence, B: Blood and C: Confidence.

Victor Ortiz is not known primarily for any defensive nous, but rather his ability to bulldoze through his opponents. It is no secret that he is alleged to have knocked down all of the opponents he has gotten into the ring with as a professional as he has the power in either his right or his left fist to turn the lights off.

He’s an unrelenting fist-thrower. An astute puncher who can string shots together… in particular the one-two, the left cross attached to the southpaw jab which is a move that has reduced numerous opponents to their knees or put them flat out on their back. It is also a simple combination that Ortiz unleashes from a number of different positions; whether he is flat-footed and right in front of his opponent, or crouching low having just slipped a head-bound shot before firing upwards himself.

He also has a strong right hook, normally an inside punch, that he can launch from mid-range to devastating effect. He’s got great snap to his punches, even if he’s getting jabbed to the head he can fire out a brutal close-range hook to the body, causing an opponent to grimace in agony for a split-second which is his cue to then follow-up with another hook to the temple or an overhand left, before flurrying until a stoppage. He dropped Marcos Maidana thrice in the opening two rounds, felled Hector Alatorre in the tenth, knocked Nate Campbell down in the opening round, twice introduced Lamont Peterson to the deck in a single round and twice dropped Berto.

Floyd Mayweather Jr, though, is a guru when it comes to taking an opponent’s aggression away from them. There are two types of defensive boxers… evaders and blockers. Floyd’s armour has elements of both but he mostly aims to block or parry punches away from his frame. In his younger years he employed lots of lateral movement, but at 34-years-old, he is beginning to show signs that he is less busy with his feet and instead blocks, uses his guard and also retains his intuitive head movement.

Mayweather Jr has effectively perfected the Philly-shell guard and shoulder-roll technique. When the right hand comes in over the top, this is when Mayweather Jr rolls the lead shoulder (his left) to his right so the shot misses it’s target. Whilst barely moving his feet, if the opponent’s left hand comes in head high, Floyd protects his chin with his right glove, while his left arm protects his chest and is parallel to his shoulders. Ortiz is an aggressive fighter, and Mayweather Jr’s defensive ability has frustrated aggressive fighters in the past, such as Diego Corrales, Jesus Chavez and Arturo Gatti.

Ortiz has struggled with defensive boxers. He managed to twice locate the targets that dropped a tentative and thinking fighter in Peterson as early as the third round, but by the contest’s conclusion, Ortiz had landed a paltry two jabs – one in round seven and another in round eight, out of 121 thrown. His accuracy was only bolstered with the success of the heavy hits, but even then he only connected – in total – with one in every five of his punches. Peterson’s defensive ability is sound, but pales in comparison to Mayweather Jr’s.

There is also an issue of blood, cuts and swelling. Mayweather Jr is the older fighter by a decade, he may have changed his nickname to “Money” but he is still “Pretty”. He has never been beaten-up. Ever. And, aside from being drenched in sweat, he often leaves the ring in the same condition he enters it – with no facial blemishes. Ortiz, on the other hand, has suffered multiple cuts, most notably a bleeder on his hairline against Peterson. When he fought Maidana, he lasted six rounds but he had ghastly blue swellings under his eyes.

Because of Mayweather Jr’s fragile hands, he tends to not go headhunting or secure the stoppage like he did ten years ago, however, the accumulative effect of his timing, accuracy and counter-striking has taken it’s toll on fighters who come-forward like Ortiz does. See: Ricky Hatton.

Confidence is also key. Floyd has enough for an army of fighters, let alone a solitary boxer: “Fuck fighters, no athlete works harder than me!” He loudly proclaimed on the curtain-raising episode of the HBO 24/7 reality series dedicated to this promotion. Ortiz, too, is not short on self-assurance. He has a disdain for the media doubters who attempted to rubbish his name post-Maidana and gave him no shot against Berto, and he has seemingly used that as motivation. He’s stated before that when he was growing up as a teenager he’d see Mayweather Jr on television and say to himself that it would be who would be the first to defeat him.

That kid is now a man, but Mayweather Jr could take Ortiz’s confidence away from him before the chime of the opening bell is even heard. Floyd has intimated that the story Ortiz has sold to the public is littered with falsehoods – that his father did not estrange the Ortiz children, Victor and Temo.

Mayweather Jr has also alluded to having a further ace card up his sleeve as he has invited people close to Ortiz’s past to join him on his ring-walk: Robert Garcia, who spotted Ortiz as an amateur and brought him to Oxnard to develop as a professional, and Brandon Rios, who has a genuine beef with Victor. The presence of both men will have an effect on Ortiz’s trainer – Danny Garcia – too, for Danny and Robert are brothers. Siblings who live within spitting distance from one another but have not spoken for a number of years.

Ortiz may have planned physical warfare, but Mayweather Jr countered that tactic with some potentially debilitating mind games before a punch had even been thrown.

Prediction

Mayweather Jr to win by way of late technical knockout. Floyd may even be knocked down as early as the second, but will have figured Victor out by the third or fourth round and proceed to pick up every ten score from then on.

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Klitschko and Adamek’s trainers break down each other’s fighter

9 Sep

Petra Kirsch – Gelsenkirchen

Roger Bloodworth and Fritz Sdunek, the respective trainers for Tomasz Adamek and Vitali Klitschko, have talked tactics ahead of the WBC heavyweight world championship fight at the Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw, Poland, on Saturday, September 10. Movement will be an essential asset for both fighters… as Adamek will “not be a stationary target” while Vitali has been “working on endurance“.

Direct link to article.

Picture: Vitali (left) trying to intimidate Tomek? Credit: KMG/Dmitriy Abramov

“I’m expecting Vitali to attack from the first round,” Bloodworth informed Fight News before indicating that the defending champion has become complacent in his approach to taking on a game contender like Tomasz (44-1-0, 28ko). “I think that he’s taking Tomek lightly, probably hopes that he can just walk over him. He would like to get a quick knockout and I will be surprised if Vitali would decide for controlled, technical fight against Adamek.

“[Vitali] tried [to intimidate Adamek],” said Bloodworth, speaking about Klitschko’s declarations that heavyweights are born and athletes cannot eat their way to boxing’s premier weight division like Adamek has done. “He’s a smart man, has a psychology degree, is bigger and wants to use all of his assets to impose his will on Tomek but Adamek didn’t react – he knows that’s just part of the game.

“Every fighter is different. Some talk because they need to put themselves in the fighting mood. Another wants to intimidate you and some just want to get into the ring and fight. Like Adamek,” mused the trainer.

“When [Vitali] is saying that he’s better than ever, does he wants to convince us, or himself? I learned long time ago that fighters have their own truths, something they believe in, even if in the reality, what they believe in, has nothing to do with truth. Only when they are in the ring, we can see clearly what’s what.”

On how the tactics his ward will adhere to come fight night, Bloodworth said: “Adamek will not be a stationary target – not anymore. He used to have this problem, even when he defended his title against Jonathon Banks, when he went straight forward, knocked Banks out, but also was hit a lot.

“I’m expecting Vitali to attack from the first round. I think that he’s taking Tomek lightly, probably hopes he can just walk over him. He would like to get a quick knockout and I will be surprised if he will fight a controlled, technical fight against Adamek.”

Sdunek, meanwhile, commented on Boxing Scene: “This time Vitali had to lose weight because he is going to fight against a very fast boxer. We worked a lot on endurace. Vitali is in great physical and psychological condition. We worked with five sparring partners who were very fast.

“Adamek will rely on his speed, and he’s going to move quickly around the ring and try to swoop in on Vitali with punches, but we are ready. Our task is to apply constant pressure – and in doing this we will make Adamek slow down.”

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Video Preview: David Haye has been stunned by the right cross before, and it’s Wladimir Klitschko’s most powerful asset

1 Jul

Alan Dawson – London

WBA heavyweight belt holder David Haye labeled WBO/IBF/IBO/The Ring champion Wladimir Klitschko a “robot” and a “control freak” in the build up to their highly-anticipated duel on Saturday, July 2 in Hamburg’s Imtech Arena but come fight night, the division’s consensus number one has a chance to not only teach Haye “a lesson” but also discredit the robot claim while retaining as much control as possible.

Direct link to article.

Tale Of The Tape

Wladimir Klitschko
 David Haye
Stance Orthodox Unorthodox
Height/Reach 6’7 / 81′ 6’3 / 78′
Form W-W-W-W-W W-W-W-W-W
Record 55-3-0, 49ko 25-1-0, 23ko

Analysis – Wladimir Klitschko

Key factors:

  1. Right cross
  2. Battle for control
  3. Balance

DAVID HAYE ANALYSIS IS HERE.

All of Wladimir Klitschko’s challengers in recent years have entered the ring preparing to find a way around the jab and the right cross and all have left flabbergasted at how the 35-year-old two-belt world champion was still able to find success with both punches despite all the work they had done in training camp in preparing for it.

Klitschko’s trainer, Emanuel Steward, recently told The Ring at a public workout in Hamburg that, contrary to David Haye’s criticisms in recent years, Wladimir is more unpredictable than robotic. He varies the jab, sometimes flicking out a half-jab in order to make the opponent flinch before following up with a heavier jab.

The opponent is so engrossed in trying to block or parry the jab that the right cross is often overlooked. The right cross is a crucial weapon should he be able to land that power punch onto Haye’s button. Steward said: “You get so busy watching for the jab and all of a sudden you’re on the floor. Wladimir pushes the button on the missle and it goes right to the target.”

How, then, can Klitschko land the jab and the right on a constantly moving target like Haye will almost certainly be? The answer, quite simply, is footwork. Again, contrary to popular opinion, Steward believes Wladimir’s footwork is one of his greatest and most underestimated assets. He even likens it to the movement of pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao: “The only fighters in [current] boxing that do this [move] effectively off the top of my head are Manny Pacquiao and Wladimir. People don’t see Wladimir’s footwork.”

The right cross will be influential in thefight’s outcome and, interestingly, it is a punch that Haye has a history of experiencing difficulties in defending. Against Carl Thompson in 2004, he was dropped due to a stiff right (his sole loss on his resume) and, despite foiling Jean-Marc Mormeck in 2007, the Frenchman troubled Haye a number of times with the right hand.

Footwork will also be key in the battle for control. Throughout the build-up to fight-night, Haye has done all he can to take control away from Wladimir. When it comes to round one, it is the Ukrainian behemoth’s chance to restore the control. Wladimir had it during negotiations by choosing the red corner and by having the second ring walk but then Haye stole it by refusing to enter the same room as him on British television and ignoring Klitschko’s pleas for handshakes and gentlemanly conduct during press conferences.

Klitschko will certainly control the centre of the ring while Haye employs lateral movement… dancing around Wladimir, throwing a jab, a hook to the body and/or a head-bound one-two before moving away from danger. Where Haye will not want to be is on the ropes and backed into a corner. Wladimir can maintain control if he is able to put his foot skills to good use and cut the ring off, forcing Haye into avenues he won’t want to be in.

Foot skills can also be key when avoiding blows. Steward also said this week that blocking punches only gets you so far. Yes, it provides a cushion for the intended target for the punch, but the greater defensive nous comes from avoiding the shot entirely.

Momentum is fundamental in this. By throwing a shot that is blocked, you maintain your balance, however, by missing the target altogether, you lose the balance. For someone like Haye who throws a lot of wild, unpredictable haymakers, catching the opponent off balance can ruin their self-control and leaves them vulnerable to counters: “Haye gets off balance when he throws his right,” Steward said.

In the embedded video below, credit – Youtube, KlitschkoTV, some of the traits Steward notes are on display. Wladimir fought Samuel Peter in his last professional bout, September 2010. Wladimir has been knocked down numerous times in his career, yet, in modern times, fights more defensively, he keeps his chin tucked awayand protects it – albeit loosely – with a right glove. Only when he is fully confident he has found an opening does he unleash the famed right cross. The variety in jabbing is also highlighted – from the opening bell – against Peter. Some jabs measure distance, some are feint shots, others are m0re forceful.

Video

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