Gennady Golovkin Defeats Murata and Chases His Stolen Greatness

By Peter Silkov

Writer at The Boxing Glove

Gennady Golovkin overcame 16 months of ring rust and the encroaching shadow of father time, to stop Ryota Murata in 9 rounds on Saturday night. This win adds Murata’s WBA belt to the IBF title belt which he already held. The victory reignited GGG’s career, making him a ‘unified champion’ now that he holds two world middleweight title belts, but this fight was for a lot more than the increasingly random and frustrating world boxing belts. Murata held the ‘super’ WBA world championship belt, but then the WBA has a long record of being able to come up with seemingly never-ending variations of the world championship belt, from, interim, to regular, and silver to super. In reality, the belts were an afterthought, this was GGG making his first appearance in the ring after 16 months of inactivity, against an opponent who figured to be a worthy test. Fighting just one day after his 40th birthday, Golovkin was seeking to prove that he is still a relevant force in the division that he once dominated so thoroughly, that many top contenders spent their whole careers avoiding him. It's difficult to remember another world champion in recent times (aside from Guillermo Rigondeaux) who was reduced to chasing his challengers rather than having his challengers chase him.

Despite having a fan-friendly style, which has made him one of the most popular and exciting fighters of his era, Golovkin struggled to find big names willing to share the ring with him. Perhaps this was because, as well as being exciting, GGG was also destructive. Devastatingly destructive.

Canelo made GGG wait about 5 years before he finally agreed to face him in the ring. Following a prolonged and acrimonious build-up during which Canelo played a good impersonation of a blushing bride as he hedged and dodged fighting GGG until Golovkin was 35 and already showing some signs of slipping from his formidable peak. In his contest, prior to the first Canelo match, GGG had been taken the full 12 rounds for the first time during his title reign after a lackluster performance against Daniel Jacobs. Canelo’s management had bided their time masterfully.

The record books will tell you that on September 16th, 2017, Golovkin and Canelo fought each other to a spirited 12-round draw. Then, almost exactly one year later to the day, the two men met in a rematch with Canelo winning a majority decision, after another highly charged encounter. The truth though, as many well-versed boxing followers will tell you, is something rather different from what is on the record books.

To start with, very few, (including Canelo’s usually fanatical fan-base) believed that the first fight should have been anything other than a clear decision win for GGG. Though the fight was competitive, GGG won many rounds clearly and dominated with his heavier punching and higher activity. Yet not for the first time (nor the last, unfortunately) the fight turned out to be judged by the three blind mice. Even the one card that voted for GGG was far too close. If the judging of the first fight was bad, the rematch wasn’t much better. This time the fight was genuinely closer, with GGG’s superior strength from 12 months earlier having noticeably waned. Was this due to the encroachment of age (GGG was by now already 36 years old) was there some other reason for Canelo’s sudden increase in strength? The whole Mexican meat episode is well known now, yet safely swept under the carpet by most fans and the media, but the difference in Canelo’s performance in the space of one year may still be more telling than some would like to imagine.

The decision itself was again judged unjust by the majority of the crowd and even Canelo’s usually die-hard fans greeted the verdict with boos. Canelo had his ‘victory’ and that’s all that mattered in the history of this gravy machine. Already there were signs that Canelo could never be beaten on points. Certainly not in front of his fans at the T. Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.

Four years on, and memories fade fast in boxing, especially when they are inconvenient. The well-crafted and expertly guided cash cow has been maneuvered into world titles at two more weights since his second match with GGG and is now regularly hailed by many in the press as p4p number one in the world. He is even feted as the greatest fighter ever produced by Mexico. GGG meanwhile has been left chasing shadows, trying to recapture the glory that should have been his but was cruelly taken from him, not once but twice.

Imagine if Golovkin had officially won those fights against Canelo, imagine if he had won even one of them? His career trajectory, his standing in the sport, would be so much different today.

GGG is not bitter, he doesn’t whine about the Canelo fights, yet he has spoken strongly about his treatment by the judges of both those fights and how he believes that he was robbed of victories twice.

Canelo made GGG wait for 5 years before their first fight; he has now made him wait for four years for their 3rd meeting. Turns out GGG fans weren’t wrong when they claimed that Alvarez would never agree to a third fight until Golovkin is past his 40th birthday.

On Saturday night Golovkin entered the ring… one day past his 40th birthday, knowing that a win against Murata may well open the door for that long-awaited 3rd match with career nemesis, Canelo. Soon it became clear that with every fight he has, GGG is now increasingly fighting two opponents whenever he now enters the ring. His physical opponent and that old foe of fighters and athletes throughout history, father time.

Watching GGG now is akin to seeing a classic old rock band performing in their 60s or 70s, (athletes age faster than musicians). The brilliance, which once lit up every performance, has become more of an occasional spark here and there. This might sound harsh, but it is difficult to imagine the GGG of seven or ten years ago being troubled by Murata the way he was on Saturday night.

Murata started the match very strongly and with confidence, which belied his underdog status. To be fair Murata is no spring chicken himself at 36, but the Japanese-born slugger has only had 18 professional contests compared to GGG's 42, and that comparative freshness showed, at least in the early rounds of Saturday night's fight.

From the beginning, it became very clear that this was not the Golovkin of old, but rather an ‘old’ Golovkin. The old ability to take control of the center of the ring was missing as GGG found himself unceremoniously outpunched and outworked by a visibly faster, fresher, and stronger fighter. The action was intense from the beginning, but it was Murata, (who won Olympic Gold at the 2012 Olympic Games) rather than GGG who was forcing the action. When Murata landed the weight of his punches was visible, and on occasion, GGG was visibly moved even shaken, especially by some of his opponent's body shots. Golovkin’s punches on the other hand seemed to be bouncing rather harmlessly off Murata.

The first four rounds of the fight followed the pattern of both men meeting mid-ring and trying to attain domination with a continuous exchange of leather. Though GGG was certainly having his moments, it was Murata who was able to land more often and with more effect and GGG who was finding himself in the uncomfortable position of being put onto the back foot, a position which he has rarely found himself in during his stellar career.

Golovkin was being drawn into that weird twilight zone that older fighters begin visiting more and more often as their careers reach their ends. It is a place where they begin to find themselves slipping out of time with the present, as they face fighters who are suddenly faster and stronger and seem to be moving in a higher gear.

GGG has always been seen as almost the perfect fighting machine, but the GGG machine spent much of the first 4 rounds misfiring. His defense, never his strongest feature, was alarmingly porous at times, as Murata’s punches, especially the right hand, found his time and again. Golovkin's speed, once razor-sharp, has noticeably waned in recent years, but at times against Murata, he seemed a significant half-second or so behind the punching speed of his opponent. Also, of concern was GGG's movement. Though never a fleet-footed mover, GGG used to use economical and swift footwork, which always seemed to have him in the right place at the right time.

On this night though GGG started with legs that seemed almost rooted to the canvas at times. When he did move it was with the heavy hesitancy common to the older fighter.

After four rounds GGG needed to do something to turn the tide in a fight that seemed to be getting harder and harder for him. GGG found that something extra in the 5th round and showed again that extra ingredient that marks out the true champions. The ability to turn a fight around when visibly up against a faster and stronger opponent.

In the fifth round, the GGG machine finally found a higher gear, and his hands started to move with greater speed. The real turning point came midway through the round when a Golovkin punch ripped Murata’s mouthpiece from his mouth, sending it flying across the ring.

From that moment Golovkin had reached out of his personal twilight zone and turned back the clock. From the 5th round on, Golovkin began gaining the upper hand in the action. The battle was still raging toe-to-toe, but now it was GGG who was landing more frequently and beginning to display his wide variety of punches.

With Golovkin in the ascendance, Murata began to slow, as he began to take more and more punishment. Yet Murata’s courage never wavered, and at every point where it looked as if GGG was about to gain overwhelming control, Murata would come back with punches of his own. Yet Murata’s attacks were becoming more tired and desperate as the rounds flew by.

GGG may be faded and past his 40th birthday, but his fitness and determination remain impeccable. This along with his heart and granite chin has much to do with him finally overcoming Murata.

The end finally came in the 9th round, which started as a strong Golovkin round as he opened up seemingly looking for a knockout, Murata withstood a withering attack by GGG, but rather than going down actually launched a brave mid-round counterattack. At one point it looks as if GGG may have shot his bolt and punched himself out trying to finish Murata. However, Golovkin then struck back with a ….. to send Murata spinning down to the deck like a broken doll. It was at this point that Murata’s corner sensibly threw in the towel, just as the referee was waving the fight over. GGG had broken down another challenger.

One could be too critical of Golovkin’s performance, and the truth is that though he is visibly faded in comparison to the GGG of the past, he remains a formidable and brave fighter. Also, there is the aspect of his 16 months of inactivity before this fight and how much of his early frailty was down to ring rust rather than a permanent decline. Murata also deserves credit for his performance and for pushing GGG into such a difficult fight.

This fight underlined that GGG while not the fighting machine of the past remains formidable and with the kind of fitness that would still push the very best at his weight. With this win, GGG has reignited his career, and his visible vulnerability is liable to make him a more attractive prospect to many top fighters.

But what now for Golovkin?

Though there will be several options that GGG could follow right now, one looms large above all the others. As much as he might not want to admit it, and even with two world title belts to his name, GGG is still chasing. He is chasing that elusive 3rd fight with Canelo Alvarez, and a final chance to inflict an official defeat upon the man many feel he has already beaten twice.

photo: dazn

As always with Canelo, nothing is certain until the ‘Golden Goose’ of boxing decides to announce his intentions. Yet it is expected that if he gets past Dmitry Bivol on May 7th, then he will next meet GGG for their long-awaited 3rd fight, sometime around mid-September.

After the second match between Golovkin and Canelo, it was a common joke among some boxing followers (mostly those not blinded by the Canelo media machine!) that Canelo would probably make Golovkin wait until he was past 40 until he got a third match. Ironically that is what seems to be about to happen. Canelo and his team have bided their time masterfully and now GGG seems ripe for the 3rd fight. Still exciting, still a big draw, but certainly a far less dangerous proposition than he was four years ago.

Should GGG even take the third fight with Canelo? He will know now that the chances of gaining a decision over Canelo are beyond slim, even if he is deserving of it, and beyond that, there is only the stoppage route to victory, something which even five years ago GGG wasn’t able to get close to achieving. For all the hype, dodgy judges, and cherry-picking (not to mention other shady stuff) there's no doubting Canelo’s toughness. Whatever may be behind it.

If Golovkin couldn’t stop Canelo 5 years ago, it's highly unlikely that he will be able to stop Canelo today in his present reduced form.

photo: stubhub

What also needs to be taken into account is the likelihood that the 3rd fight will take place at 168 pounds, a weight that will overwhelmingly favour Canelo rather than GGG. Golovkin is currently and has always been a natural 160-pounder(who seldom gains more than ten pounds between fights) rather than someone who comes down from over 190 pounds for his fights as Canelo has always done.

The purpose of a third fight with GGG for Canelo has always been to score a definitive defeat over Golovkin. Hence part of the reason for the long wait between the 2nd and proposed 3rd fights. Canelo has only been interested in fighting GGG again if he was secure in the belief that he could score a non-controversial victory this time. Ideally, he would like to stop or knock out Golovkin.

Canelo still bristles over the controversy surrounding his two matches with Golovkin and would like nothing better than to end the rivalry with a stoppage victory over Golovkin.

Certainly, the Golovkin who struggled with Murata did not look equipped to deal with Canelo at 168 pounds. Sadly the man who was once a feared and much avoided fighting machine now seems very mortal and vulnerable. He is ripe for Canelo to pick for his much-wanted ‘definitive’ victory.

Having followed Golovkin throughout his spectacular career, and after seeing him robbed by the judges twice against Canelo, I would rather not see a reduced GGG fight Canelo a third time at a point in time where it suits no one but Canelo.

After watching Golovkin battle past Murata, even taking into account his ring rust and the ability to improve himself between now and September, it is clear that time has moved on for GGG. Those tools which once made him the best in the world will never be quite as sharp nor so deadly again. A fight between Golovkin and Canelo now would be a poor reflection upon a fair fight between the two in their primes. GGG was already past his prime when Canelo finally fought him for the first time and now he is past the point where he will be a danger to Canelo.

No one knows this more than Canelo and his team which is why the fight is finally being made.

Golovkin is a warrior and the chances are that he will still take the third fight against Canelo despite any advice he may receive to go in a different direction.

Following their fight, GGG visited Murata’s dressing room and gave him back the WBA belt. It was the kind of classy gesture that makes a true champion and gives a fighter the kind of greatness that can't be bought by a crooked judge's scorecard. GGG may never beat Canelo Alvarez officially on paper, but he holds something over Canelo which is perhaps more precious than any victory in the ring. Integrity. It is that, above all else which underlines Golovkin's true greatness.

No cherry-picking can beat that.

Follow us on Twitter: @TheBoxingGlove and  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/theboxingglove

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theboxingglove/

If you are an boxer, amateur or professional, and want us to follow you or tell your story, contact petersilkov@yahoo.com   or theboxingglove@yahoo.com

If you are an author and you would like your book reviewed, contact Peter Silkov at petersilkov@yahoo.com or theboxingglove@yahoo.com

On This Day: Robert 'Pikin' Quiroda Remembered

By Peter Silkov 

Robert ‘Pikin’ Quiroga was an all-action fighter, with tremendous heart and drive, in the ring. Every fight Quiroga was in was action-packed, and he was a great example of how some of boxing's most exciting fighters are to be found in the sports lowest weight divisions.

Born on October 10, 1069, in San Antonio, Texas, Quiroga began his professional career in 1987, and quickly rose up the rankings. On July 7, 1989, ‘Pikin’ won the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super-flyweight title, when he out-pointed Joey Olivo over 12 rounds. Five months later, he added the USBA Super-flyweight title to his collection, by out-pointing Ray Medel.

In his next fight on April 21, 1990, Quiroga won the IBF world Super-flyweight title, by out-pointing Juan Polo Perez over 12 rounds.

Quiroga’s reign as world champion saw him make 5 successful defences, including his defence on June 15, 1991, against Akeem Anifowoshe, which he won on points after a thrilling and brutal match, which was later voted fight of the year for 1991, by ‘The Ring’ magazine. Sadly both Quiroga and Anifowoshe were destined for tragic fates.

‘Pikin’ lost his IBF World Super-flyweight title in his 6^th defence on January 16, 1993, when he was stopped in the 12^th round by Julio Cesar Borboa.

The hard fights had caught up with Quiroga, and he would fight just once more, two years after losing his world title he faced Ancee Gedeon, and was beaten on points after 8 rounds. Quiroga then retired with a final record of (20-2, 11koes.)

After his retirement, Robert would go on to become well-known in the San Antonio area for his helping handicapped and troubled children. In 2002, he was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Robert Quiroga life was cut short, when he died on August 16, 2004, in San Antonio, when he was stabbed to death outside a friend’s house during a party. He was 34 years old.


Watch Robert Quiroga Vs. Akeem Anifowoshe:

There is an effort in San Antonio, Texas, to have a statue of Robert Quiroda erected in the community that he was honored to be a part of, if you would like to help, please follow the link. The following information is from the Robert Quiroda website:


Robert's boxing career included the following accomplishments:

• 1st American to win the I.B.F Super flyweight Championship
• Ring Magazines 1991 Fight of the Year
• Ring Magazines TOP 10 Fights of 1990
• Ring Magazines 100 Greatest Title Fights of All Time
• Member of the San Antonio National Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame
• Member of the San Antonio Boxing Hall of Fame
• Member of the Laredo Sports Hall of Fame
• Member of the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame

Erect a Statue for Robert Quiroda



 Copyright © 2017 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com

The Boxing Glove Big Fight Report: George Groves Fulfils His Dream As Kell Brook’s Homecoming Turns Into A Nightmare

 

Photo: Sky Sports

By Peter Silkov

It was a night of conflicting fortunes for two of Britain’s leading boxers at Sheffield’s Bramall Lane Outdoor Football Ground last night, June 27, 2017. While on his 4^th attempt, George Groves (26-3, 19koes) finally fulfilled his dream of becoming a world champion. Unfortunately, Kell ‘The Special One’ Brook (36-2, 25koes) was deprived of his World welterweight title by Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence Jr (22-0, 19koesl) Today George Groves is looking forward to a wealth of possibilities, with a number of big money title defences ahead of him, on the opposite side however, Kell Brook is faced with an uncertain future in the sport.

Brook and Spence proved to be very well matched in their fight for Brook’s IBF world welterweight title, and the action, if a little messy at times, was tense and lively after a cagey first round. For the first six rounds Brook seemed to hold the edge, with his movement and strength giving Spence problems. The challenger showed glimpses of his speed and power, but at other times also seemed to show his relative inexperience at this level, compared with Brook. However the match began to turn sharply in Spence’s favour in the 6^th, when Brooks left eye began to swell. Soon the eye was swollen grotesquely, and having suffered an orbital fracture in his other eye in his last contest (against Gennady Golovkin) it was clear that this latest injury was bothering Brook, both physically, and mentally.

Photo: Reuters

Spence now took control of the fight and doubled his attacks upon a now often retreating Brook. Yet Brook would not fold easily, he kept fighting back, just when it looked as though Spence was going to overwhelm him. However, the writing was on the wall by the 10^th round when Spence floored Brook with a body shot, an area that the American had targeted from the beginning of the contest. Brook Survived the 10th, but was finding it visibly difficult to defend himself with his injured eye.

Photo: Sky Sports

In the 11^th round, with the challenger putting him under heavy pressure, and constantly landing right hands upon Brooks damaged eye, Brook went down onto one knee after a flurry of shots, and took the referee’s full count, while he blinked and rubbed at his damaged left eye.

Errol Spence is already being hailed as America’s new star performer, but while his talent is not in question, he still has some way to go before he can be labelled as truly ‘special’ at world class level, especially in such a talent-laden division. Hopefully the fans will get a chance to see Spence meet the other big names in the 147 division, if so, then boxing really could see itself on a solid upswing.

Photo: The Sun

Defeat for Brook will be a bitter pill to take, especially in front of 27,000 spectators, made up largely of his home town fans. Whether he would have prevailed if his left eye had not gone in the 7^th, is open to debate. Certainly before the injury, Brook seemed to be comfortable. Now, for Brook, the worry is whether he can come back from what has now been confirmed as another eye socket fracture, just as he suffered in his right eye in his previous fight against Gennady Golovkin. Such injuries are always serious for a boxer, and to suffer one to each eye must leave question marks against Brook's future in boxing. As might be sadly expected, there have been some criticisms for Brook ‘quitting’ in the fight, but surely a fighter has the right to decide that he has had enough when he suspects that his eyesight might be in danger. Brook’s decision to drop to his knee when he did, and take the full count, might well have saved him from further injury so that he can fight again. More importantly, it might have saved his eyesight for the rest of his life, long after his boxing career is done.

After the fight, Brook was clear about what had happened to him:

‘"I remember the surgeon saying last time after the Golovkin fight I could have gone blind if I'd had one more round so I had that in my mind.

"I had to stop. Pride was leading the way but when I got caught in the 11th and it wouldn't come back into line. He was coming on strong and I knew he is a very sharp shooter, a very good fighter and I knew it could be fatal with some of the shots he was chucking in so I went down on one knee.’

"I tried to get the eye back in line, but it wouldn't, and I knew the fight was over."

Photo: The Telegraph

Spence was happy with his victory, yet refreshingly critical of his own performance:

“I came out and I tried to do my best tonight. I’m happy I won, but I’m critical of my performance. I was overshooting my left. I give myself a B minus. I had a little trouble overusing my counter left.

‘Brook is a great fighter, a true champion, but also a tricky fighter. He finds you from tricky angles, and he can fight.’

“I came here to his back yard in front of 30,000. That’s what real champions do. I fought a real champion tonight and I proved non-believers that I can fight. I’ve proven I have a chin and I have true grit.

“This fight was tougher than I thought it was going to be. I showed I can take a punch and I can throw a punch. I can face adversity and I can win.

“Brook went to America to take the title from an American, like a true champion. I came here to his home town to get that title back from him. I wanted to win like true champion, and I did because that is what champions do.

“He was hurt. He was tired. He came firing shots, I came firing shots. But there was a moment I realised I had to step up my game and I did.”

Photo: CBS Sports

Spence will now look towards what could be some huge fights at 147 pounds, with the likes of Keith Thurman, Shaun Porter, and Danny Garcia, and even Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford.

For Brook, the future is much less clear, and looks to be at 154 pounds, if he does fight again. Which is no certainty after the injury he has suffered.

While the fickle hand of fate seemed to have abandoned Kell Brook last night, earlier on the bill, George Groves finally made the break through that he has been striving for all his career, when he won the vacant WBA world super-middleweight championship after a bruising encounter with Russian iron man, Fedor Chudinov (14-2, 10koes).

Anyone who has followed Groves' career will attest to the fact that fortune has never seemed to smile upon him during his career. Despite the fact that he has done things the hard way during his career, by facing top quality opposition and scoring notable wins over top fighters, George has always been out of luck when fighting for a world title. In his previous three attempts to capture and world championship, Groves has been beaten twice by Carl Froch in two epic bouts, and then narrowly out-pointed by Badou Jack, after seemingly doing more than enough to take victory.

In his last fight Groves' career has been struck by tragedy, after opponent, Eduard Gutknecht, suffered severe injuries in losing on points to Groves, and is still struggling to recover.

Last night though, it finally all came together for Groves against Chudinov.

The match started at a fast pace, with both men landing some brutal punches from the start. Groves had entered the ring visibly keyed up. This was a fight he had said that he couldn’t afford to lose. Perhaps a last chance at winning a world title. This tension seemed to carry on into the fight, as Groves started the match fast, fighting perhaps a little too much with his heart, rather than his head. Chudinov was constantly coming forwards, with hands high, looking to drag Groves into a brawl. Over the first two rounds Groves was landing more punches, but finding himself constantly pushed onto the ropes by his tank-like opponent. By the 3^rd round, the fight had developed into a toe-to--toe slugfest, with both men looking to break the other man down.

Groves better variety of punches helped him edge the 4^th round, but by now, he was cut over the left eye. For the first half of the 5^th Groves showed some signs of tiredness, and the old questions about his stamina started to resurface. Yet Groves finished the round strong, underlying his determination to win this fight.

In the 6^th round Groves stepped up several gears, unleashing a prolonged attack of brutal punches upon Chudinov. Although the Russian didn’t go down, he failed to punch back for a prolonged period of time, and took several tremendous punches to the head and chin, until the referee had no choice but to step in and halt the fight.

Photo: Reuters

George Groves had finally done it and won a world championship. Despite the proliferation of world titles in boxing today, winning one is still an achievement, and few fighters today deserve it more than George Groves, who has proved his world class credentials repeatedly for more than half a decade. Now finally he can call himself a world champion and look towards some big fights.

Following his victory, it was an emotional Groves who declared:

“I’ve got no words,” Groves said filled of joy. “It’s a lifetime’s work achieved. I’m over the moon. I want to thank everyone who made this happen, Shane McGuigan who has resurrected my career, and now I’m mature enough to admit that he brings the best out of me. In the end, I would have carried on punching until everyone had left and they kicked me out. I wasn’t going to let this belt slip. [Chudinov] was catching me around the back of the head from the start, he has really devastatingly long arms, but I found my feet.”

When asked what he would like to do next, Groves replied:

Photo: Getty Images

“Who wants to fight me? I’m sick and tired of chasing people. I’m sure there’s people that want to have a crack at me now. I’m really looking forward to seeing Callum Smith win a WBC belt, truly believe he’s going to do that. Maybe Paul Smith will pick up a world title, maybe me and him can do it again but right now I’m going to savour my win and spend quality time with my family, and celebrate with my wonderful team.”

Groves victory was very popular with the crowd, and one of those cheering the loudest, and standing on his feet, was Groves' old foe, Carl Froch.

There are a number of possible options open to Groves for future opponents, but perhaps the most tantalizing fight would be a rematch with his old rival James Degale, whom he beat in 2011, and who now holds the IBF world super-middleweight title. Their first fight, for the British and Commonwealth titles, was huge, and this time, with world titles at stake, it would be even bigger.

Follow us on Twitter: @TheBoxingGlove and  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/theboxingglove

If you are an athlete and want us to follow you or tell your story, contact petersilkov@yahoo.com   or theboxingglove@yahoo.com
If you are an author and you would like your book reviewed, contact Peter Silkov at petersilkov@yahoo.com or theboxingglove@yahoo.com

The Big Fight Preview: Kell Brook Vs. Errol Spence, Jr. at Bramall Lane Football Grounds

By Peter Silkov

Boxing has been threatening to make a comeback to credibility recently with some genuinely well matched big fights. Most recent of these was Anthony Joshua’s war with Wladimir Klitschko. Tomorrow we have the latest of what has been a series of encouraging matchups, both here, and abroad. Top of the bill, at the Bramall Lane Football Ground, in Sheffield, England. Kell Brook (36-1, 25koes) takes on his number one challenger, the undefeated Errol Spence Jr.(21-0, 18koes) in what will be the 4^th defence of his IBF world welterweight championship. It will also be Brook’s first outing in the ring since his brave, but ultimately losing effort against world middleweight kingpin Gennady Golovkin, last September. In that match, Brook won praise for his bravery after being one of the few challengers to actively take the fight to the fearsome Golovkin. Yet, his bravery had a price, and he was eventually pulled out of the fight, battered and bloody, and with a broken right eye socket that required delicate surgery. One of the biggest questions ahead of his fight with Spence Jr. is how much of a mark has the Golovkin fight left upon Brook. Although we have been told that the eye injury has been repaired and is as good as new (albeit now with a titanium plate) there always has to be a question mark over a fighter when he is coming back from such a serious injury. The biggest question will be is the eye vulnerable to being re-injured, plus how will Brook react if the eye is injured again, even if only moderately. In facing Spence Jr., Brook is taking on one of the best prospects in boxing, a fighter who has had big things predicted for him. Spence has a similar box-fighting style to Brook, and the two should produce an interesting and exciting match. The biggest question with Spence Jr, is just how good is he, he is undoubtedly a talented boxer, but this fight will go a long way to telling us just how deep Spence Jr talent really goes.

With two fighters who are well matched, both physically and talent wise, this match has all the marks of being a very close and entertaining fight. I see this fight going the distance, with Brook winning a close and maybe controversial points decision.

The main fight on the undercard, is George Groves (25-3, 18koes) against Fedor Chudinov (14-1, 10koes) for the vacant WBA world super-middleweight title.

This will be Groves 4^th attempt at winning a world title, after failed attempts against Carl Froch, (twice) and Badou Jack. This is a fight which Groves should win, Chudinov is very tough, but lacks the higher boxing skills of Groves. He also lacks the greater talent and experience of Groves.

Groves has said that this is a fight he must win, and if he can box to the best of his ability he should be able to claim a close but clear points win over Chudinov, and finally claim that elusive world championship.

Follow us on Twitter: @TheBoxingGlove and  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/theboxingglove

If you are an athlete and want us to follow you or tell your story, contact petersilkov@yahoo.com   or theboxingglove@yahoo.com
If you are an author and you would like your book reviewed, contact Peter Silkov at petersilkov@yahoo.com or theboxingglove@yahoo.com

Big Fight Report: Anthony Joshua Knocks Out Wladimir Klitschko and Brings The Heavyweight Division Back To Life

Photo: Tout-sur-la-boxing.net

By Peter Silkov

Last night at London’s Wembley Stadium (April 29) a post-WW2 record crowd of 90,000 watched, and were enthralled, as Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19koes) overcame Wladimir Klitschko (64-5, 53koes), and crowned himself the new king of the Heavyweight division. While the enigmatic Tyson Fury remains the ‘linear’ champion due to his November 2015 defeat of Klitschko, there can be no doubt that Joshua is now clearly the champion in the eyes of the general public. In beating Klitschko Joshua added the vacant WBA world title belt to his IBF strap, but most importantly, in this era of multiple titles, which can befuddle even the most die-hard boxing follower, Joshua gained victory with a truly championship performance.

Once the leading beacon of boxing, with champions who basked in worldwide acclaim, the heavyweight division has struggled with mediocrity and a lack of competition for the past two decades. Yet, Joshua’s defeat of Klitschko has sparked off renewed interest and excitement in boxing's heaviest division, the kind that some had doubted we would ever see again. It is not simply that he won, but how he won, and just as importantly, how Klitschko lost.

Photo: Proboxing-fans.com

The fight itself lived up to all expectations, and then surpassed them. We saw a duel between two highly-conditioned athletes. There was skill, heart, and brutality, all the ingredients that make boxing such a challenging, exciting, and unique sport.

Wladimir Klitschko, so often maligned in some quarters, for his perceived lack of durability and heart (even after a decade long run of beating the best which the division had to offer) produced a performance at the age of 41, that should finally silence the insults. Although he was beaten, Klitschko displayed the kind of heart that many have for so long claimed he did not possess. Wladimir also displayed the boxing skills that he ruled the division for well over a decade, until his November 2015 foray against Tyson Fury.

The story of this fight is not that of a faded, former champion losing to a younger, but more powerful novice. To say this would be a slight upon both boxers. At the age of 41 Klitschko is a prime example of how a life of dedication to his sport can preserve an athlete's skills. Technically it was hard to fault Klitschko last night. What he might have lost in the freshness of youth, he more than makes up for with his wealth of experience, earned with a record breaking, 29 world title fights. Yet to the naked eye, Klitschko is as good as he has ever been. In last night's defeat, he produced one of his finest performances.

As for Joshua, viewed by some as a product of media hype and strategic match making at its best, in victory, he proved himself to have the kind of qualities that only the genuine champions possess. In many ways he is still a novice, after 40 amateur, and only 19 professional fights, however, he has revealed something against Wladimir that no amount of experience can give a fighter, the ability to comeback from the brink of defeat. As the legendary world heavyweight champion of the 1920s, Jack Dempsey, once said, “A champion is someone who gets up when he cant.” Last night saw both boxers get up from knock-downs when they seemingly should not have, but in the end, Anthony Joshua got up the better.

The fight started off cagily, with Klitschko looking sharp and showing good movement, while Joshua steadily stalked his elusive foe. Both men used their jabs well, with Joshua’s being slower, yet heavier, while Wladimir’s was faster and more accurate.

Joshua had a better round three, as he looked to exert more offensive pressure upon Klitschko, who was still looking to work behind the jab, and connect with harder pot-shots. The action really started to simmer up in the fourth round, with both looking to land more telling punches, but Wladimir being the more active and accurate, and his extra speed and mobility, gave him a distinct edge.

Photo: Round by Round Boxing

In the fifth round the simmer finally started to boil, as Joshua came out with the intention of trying to take control of the fight, and finally began to unleash his full strength upon Wladimir. Suddenly the former champion was having trouble holding Joshua off and a prolonged barrage of punches sent Klitschko to the canvas.

Wladimir rose from the canvas slightly unsteadily, and with a severe cut over his left eye but, what followed was perhaps the bravest and most memorable minutes of the Ukrainian’s long career. Despite being bloodied and hurt, and with Joshua trying to finish him off, Wladimir launched a fight-back that turned the round onto its head. Several sharp blows to Joshua’s face, including an uppercut to the chin, suddenly took all the steam out of the British fighter. The final half minute of the round saw Joshua flop backwards onto the ropes, where he was forced to take several punches before being saved by the timely bell ending the round. As both fighters returned to their corners, after what must go down as top contender for ‘round of the year’ it was Joshua, rather than Klitschko, who looked the more worse for wear.

Photo: Reuters

Joshua still hadn’t fully recovered by the six round, and it was Klitschko who was now the hunter, rather than the hunted. Midway through the round he dropped Joshua onto his back with a huge right hand. Although he beat the count, Joshua looked ready for the taking. As Klitschko pressed his advantage, and tried for the finishing shot, Joshua showed his own steely resolve and heart as he stood his ground, held and fought back, and lasted the round. Klitschko, perhaps feeling the effects himself of the high voltage action, also missed with some shots in this round, had they connected, may well have ended the fight there and then.

In rounds seven and eight Klitschko seemed more circumspect, as he seemed content to out-box Joshua, who was still showing the effects of the previous rounds. In the years to come, Klitschko may well ask himself what might have happened had he forced the action more in these rounds, especially in the seventh, with Joshua still looking vulnerable in the extreme. As he was to say later, Klitschko felt that he could bide his time and that the longer the fight went, the weaker Joshua would get. Certainly this is how the contest seemed destined to go at this point.

Photo: Round by Round Boxing

However, the ninth round saw Joshua recovering his composure and the strength in his legs, as he began to fight back again, rather than just surviving. By the tenth round the fight was there for either man to take, as each seemed to be both dangerous, and weary in equal degrees.

It was Joshua who finally showed that decisive spark that is often the difference between victory and defeat in such bitterly fought fights. Starting the eleventh round the aggressor, he put Klitschko onto the retreat with his biggest attack since that tumultuous 5th round. Wladimir looked to ride out the storm, but once again, could not contain Joshua. The courage of Wladimir’s performance on this night was encapsulated by a huge uppercut that caught him squarely under his jaw, and seemed almost to take his head off, yet this man, who has for years been labelled as ‘heartless’ and ‘weak chinned,’ kept his feet, and attempted to fight back. However, Joshua was relentless, and several more punches to the head finally put Wladimir down. Wladimir beat the count, only to be floored again, seconds later, by another brutal barrage of head punches.

Photo: Daily Mail

Once more Klitschko defied logic, regained his feet, and walked again into the firing line. Joshua showed himself to be a merciless finisher, as he drove Wladimir onto the ropes, and landed several more punches upon Klitschko, who now appeared to be defenceless. Referee David Fields (who did an excellent job throughout the fight) finally stepped in and called a halt to the action at 2:25 of the 11^th round.

It can be a cliché to call a fight a ‘classic’ or ‘thriller’, yet this match was worthy of such a label. While it did not contain the full-on ferocity of an Ali vs Frazier, or Bowe vs Holyfield, it was a heady cocktail of skills, mixed with violently swaying fortunes, and underlined with a slam bang brutality, plus as much heart as you can rightfully demand from two courageous warriors. This match was a throwback to the great days of the division. The hope is that we also saw a promise of things to come in the future.

Photo: Irish Mirror

As refreshing as the action inside the ring, was the mutual respect from both men during the build up, and then the aftermath of their classic fight. This was a match that has really underlined that boxers can treat their opponents with old fashioned humility and respect, and still attract the crowds to watch them fight. When the top fighters meet in the ring there should be no need for the kind of crude, and often distasteful, build-ups which so many recent fights have seen.

The mutual respect continued in the aftermath of the contest. With both men voicing their respect for one another, and recognising what they had both put each other through.

Joshua was impressively eloquent in the ring, straight after the hardest won victory of his career so far.

“I’m not perfect, but I’m trying. I got a bit emotional because I know I have doubters. I’m only going to improve. Sometimes you can be a phenomenal boxer, but boxing is about character. When you go into the trenches, that’s when you find out who you really are. I came out and I won, that’s how far I had to dig. I came back and I fought my heart out. As boxing states, 'you leave your ego at the door and you respect your opponent.' A massive shout out to Wladimir Klitschko for taking the fight. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t know if he wants to come back and fight me. He’s a role model in and out of the ring.”

The defeated Klitschko was upbeat in his post-fight press conference interview.

“I think we both did great, Joshua and I… I think we did a lot for the sport, the way we promoted this fight. How we respectively treated each other and it was a great night. A great night for boxing, for the fans, and it was exciting, an exciting fight. So I am happy about that and that’s what I’m taking with me. You will probably be surprised by my statement, but I don’t feel like someone who has lost. I feel tonight we all won, even if I didn’t get the belts, but I don’t feel that I lost, my name, my reputation, my face. I definitely gained rather than lost. Even if the result was not on my side.”

Photo: Global Publisher

While there is no doubt that this is not the golden era of the 70s, or even the 80s, revisited, this is a new era for the heavyweight division that promises to be exciting while it lasts. For the first time in many years we have a collection of young heavyweights with diffuse characters and differing styles and skills, and now one has emerged from them all with the potential to be an outstanding champion.

It is perhaps a too easy after such a fight, to get a little carried away, and over enthusiastic about the future. Yet historically, boxing has always thrived during the times when it has had an exciting heavyweight division. In Anthony Joshua, the division has the promise of an extremely marketable, and charismatic, champion whose strength and punching power is tinged with a rawness and vulnerability. As a fighter, he is everything boxing fans want to see from their heavyweight champion, something which can be pared down into one simple word. Excitement.

Photo: Mirror.uk

Joshua can only improve from last night's experience, and he will need to improve if he is to clean up the division, and remain champion. Although he showed great qualities by coming back from the brink of defeat like he did against Wladimir, there are only a limited number of times that a fighter can turn defeat into victory, before eventually they are finally faced by the reality of defeat itself. Joshua needs to improve his mobility, and his defence, and look at not coming into fights as heavily muscled as he was against Klitschko. That said, despite his weaknesses, Joshua still looks to have an edge over his main rivals, Joseph Parker, Deontay Wilder, and Luis Ortiz. The main threat to Anthony looks to be from Tyson Fury, who if he can get into physical and mental shape again, has the kind of size, speed, and style which could give Joshua fits. Joshua has proved now that he can end a fight at any time between the first and last bell of a contest, so even if Tyson Fury was to out-box him for 10 rounds, it would only take one punch to turn the contest onto its head.

Little wonder then that a proposed Joshua vs Fury match is already being talked about as developing into the biggest fight in British boxing history. It could also be the biggest fight the division has seen for decades. It would be a fascinating clash of different characters and fighting styles. The knockout bomber against the elusive boxer.

Ironically, the rebirth of boxing’s once most popular division, is taking place in the country which has over the past 100 plus years been ridiculed for its ‘horizontal heavyweights.’ The heavyweight division has returned to the place where boxing was born and a new era has began not just for the division itself, but the sport as a whole.

The indications are already that Anthony Joshua’s next fight may well be a rematch with Wladimir. No one who saw last night's fight would make any protest against such a match taking place.

Follow us on Twitter: @TheBoxingGlove and  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/theboxingglove

If you are an athlete and want us to follow you or tell your story, contact petersilkov@yahoo.com   or theboxingglove@yahoo.com
If you are an author and you would like your book reviewed, contact Peter Silkov at petersilkov@yahoo.com or theboxingglove@yahoo.com