Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Leo Houck: The Lancaster Thunderbolt

Leo Houck stood 5’ feet 8“, and was a extremely strong and durable fighter, who fought many of the greats of the ring during his 22 year boxing career. Houck was born Leo Florian Hauck (also went by Houck), on November 4, 1888, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Leo Houck’s ring career spanned 1904 to 1926. During that time, he had an estimated 207 contests and fought in every division from flyweight to heavyweight. He was at his peak at middleweight, and fought for the World middleweight and light-heavyweight titles. In 1913, Houck fought a 6-round, no-decision contest with George Chip, who was recognized as the World middleweight champion in America, and entered the fight under the middleweight weight limit. The no-decision rule of the time meant that after 6 rounds, no decision would be given, and Chip would retain his title. Houck’s only way of winning the title from Chip was to knock him out. In the end, the fight went the full 6 rounds, and Chip retained his title.

Some months later the two men fought again, this time over 12 rounds and once more the fight went the distance, with spectators feeling that Houck had ‘won’ the fight, but once more the no-decision rule was in effect. In December 1918, Houck fought Battling Levinsky, the reigning World light-heavyweight champion, again in a no- decision match, which he could only win the title by scoring a knockout. The fight went the full 6 rounds, with Houck being judged the loser by most ringside witnesses.

During his career, Houck fought outstanding fighters such as Harry Lewis, Young Otto, Frank Klaus, Battling Levinsky, George Chip, Jack Dillon, Billy Papke, Eddie Mcgoorty, Mike Gibbons, Fay Keiser, Willie Meehan, Johnny Wilson, Clay Turner, Jeff Smith, Gun Boat Smith, Harry Greb, Al McCoy, and Gene Tunney.

Houck retired in 1926, after winning his final 11 fights. His final record was 57(21koes)-10-5 his record in no decision fights was 88-27-21.

Leo Houck died on January 21, 1950, aged 61.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Jimmy Clabby: The Indiana Wasp

Jimmy Clabby was a brilliant all-round boxer who was fast and agile, with great ring smarts, while also being tough and durable. Nicknamed ‘The Indiana Wasp,’ Clabby fought all over the world during his 17 year career against the best middleweights of his era.

Born on July 14, 1890, in Norwich, Connecticut, Clabby grew up in Hammond, Indiana, and began his professional boxing career in 1906, at the age of 16. By 1909, Jimmy was already fighting 10 and 20-rounders, and tangling with some of the top names amongst the welterweights and middleweights. The top fighters that Clabby fought during his career included Jimmy Gardner, Mike’Twin’ Sullivan, Paddy Lavin, Dixie Kid, Jeff Smith, Mike Gibbons, Arthur Cripps, Hughie Mehagan, Willie ’Ko’ Brennan, Eddie McGoorty, Billy Murray, Dave Smith, George Chip, Les Darcy, and Tommy Uren.

In 1910, Clabby traveled to Australia, and fought several fights, to great success. Over the years he would spend a lot of time in Australia and became a big attraction with the Australian fight fans. Clabby would also win the Australian Welterweight, Middleweight, and Heavyweight titles. On June 6, 1914, Clabby lost a 20-round point’s decision to Jeff Smith in Sydney, Australia, for the Australian version of the World middleweight title. The decision was so unpopular with the fans that there was a riot after the fight.

On May 4, 1915, Clabby gained recognition as the World middleweight champion in Brooklyn, New York, when he was judged to have won the 10-round newspaper decision in a no decision fight with champion Al McCoy. 5 months later, Clabby returned to Australia and lost his claim to the World middleweight title when he was out-pointed over 20 rounds by the brilliant Les Darcy. Nine months later, Clabby lost again to Darcy for the Australian World Middleweight title, being once more out- pointed over 20 rounds.

Clabby fought for another 7 years, but never got another shot at the world title. Known as a very popular and generous man. Clabby’s life unraveled tragically as his boxing career waned. Being a lover of the fast lane, and overly generous with his money, he soon had little to show for his years in the ring, after he retired in 1923. After the death of his father, Clabby’s life took a turn for the worse and two years later, on January 19, (some sources say January 19th) 1934, Clabby was found dead in a shack in Indiana. The once brilliant boxer who had earned an estimated 500,000 dollars during his career had died at the age of 43 of starvation and exposure.

Jimmy Clabby’s final record was 80(45koes)-21-23. He also took part in 160 no- decision fights during his career. Jimmy was the brother of Eddie Clabby, who had a much shorter, less successful boxing career.

Saturday, January 9, 2016

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Emperor's New Clothes Award: Andre Ward

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015
Emperor’s New Clothes
Super Middleweight & Light Heavyweight
Andre Ward

Few boxers have gained so much mileage out of what they have done in the past, as opposed to what they have achieved in recent times, such as Andre Ward. At one point, Ward seemed to be on his way to being one of the best boxers in the world, pound-for-pound, and perhaps the heir to Floyd Mayweather Jr. But, that was back in 2010 when Ward emerged victorious in the Super Six World Super-middleweight tournament. Yet, that was back in 2010 and 2011, and it is now over 4 years since Ward impressively out-boxed Carl Froch. In the 4 years, Ward has fought just 3 times against mediocre opposition. Still some hail him as the best boxer in the world, for others, the veil of brilliance has started to slip. Ward himself still seems to consider himself an elite fighter who can call the shots and name his price. Too often in recent years, fights have fallen though, and proposed match-ups have failed to materialize. For a while Ward chased a fight with the smaller Gennady Golovkin. Now he is said to be inline for a showdown in late 2016 with light-heavyweight king, Sergey Kovalev. Such a fight is just what Ward needs to boost his flagging career, but no one can be certain that it will really happen until Ward gets into the ring with Kovalev. If this match up does not take place, and Ward goes another year without fighting a top level opponent, then the last threads of his reputation will surely be finally stripped from him.

Friday, January 8, 2016

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Puncher of the Year: Anthony Joshua & Jamie Cox

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015
Puncher of the Year
Jamie Cox & Anthony Joshua

Big punchers always hold a special fascination for boxing fans. A fighter who can regularly render his opponents unconscious with a few punches has the makings of being a star, as long as he can take it, as well as dish it out.

Super-middleweight Jamie Cox returned from over 2 years of inactivity to score 3 spectacular 1st round knockouts, and capture the WBO European super-middleweight title in 2015. What was most impressive about Cox’s victories was not so much ‘who’ he beat, but ‘how’ he beat them. He is a quick-fisted fighter who looks to have dynamite in both hands. There will definitely be bigger tests for Cox in 2016, but he has already shown himself to be one of the fighters to look out for in the coming year.

Anthony Joshua has ploughed through his opponents since turning professional in late 2013. He is a fighter who seems to be able to hurt his opponents with just about every punch he throws. In December, Joshua had his 15th professional contest, and was tested as never before by unbeaten rival, Dillian Whyte, who hurt him early and then took him past the 3rd round for the first time in his career. But, Joshua caught up with Whyte in the 7th round, kncoking him senseless with a brutal uppercut. Theres nothing the fans like more than a heavyweight that can punch. Joshua showed signs against Whyte that he has the tools to go all the way. He is still raw and inexperienced, but his punching power is world class.

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Archie Moore Beating Father Time Award: Muhammad Rachmann

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015
The Archie Moore Beating Father Time
Mohamad Rachman

Mohamad Rachman is probably Indonesia’s greatest fighter in the countrie’s history of the sport. He is a clever and tough minimumweight boxer who turned professional way back in 1993, and had to toil until 2004 before he finally gained his world title. Born on December 23, 1971, Rachman is still an active boxer at the age of 44, an achievement for any fighter, but especially rare in the lower weight classes. In his most recent fight on March 5, 2015, Rachman fought the talented Knockout Freshmart for the Interim WBA world minimum-weight championship, but lost on points after 12 rounds. Although he lost, Rachman still struck a blow for the oldies by showing that he is still competitive at world level even at the age of 44.

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Broken Toe Award: Wladimir Klitschko

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015
The Broken Toe Award
Waldimir Klitschko

The Broken Toe award is given for a fighter whom stumbles onto an injury at an especially interesting time. In October 2015, the build up to Wladimir’s World heavyweight title defence against was in full swing, with Tyson Fury stunning the media, and fans alike with his loud confidence. Then a funny thing happened. Tyson turned up to a press conference dressed up as Batman, and even with his own Bat mobile (although it was the wrong colour.) The resulting scene was hilarious for all concerned, except perhaps Mr Wladimir Klitschko. Just a few days later, Wladimir pulled out of the fight with a calf injury. Of course Wladimir’s injury may well have been perfectly genuine, but then again, sometimes the mind can do funny things to a fighter’s body when they are under stress in the run up to a fight.

As we know now the fight was rescheduled (Wladimir had no choice but to fight Fury or be stripped of his world titles) and Fury scored a brilliant triumph, in a fight which seemed to show that he had Wladimir’s number, both physically, and mentally.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: British Boxer of the Year: Tyson Fury

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015
British Boxer of the Year
Tyson Fury

With his sensational victory over Wladimir Klitschko to win the World heavyweight title, Tyson Fury became Britain’s outstanding boxer of 2015 by a long way.

Fury’s victory was one of the best ever by a British boxer. He beat a long reigning world champion who was still considered to be at the peak of his career. It was a performance and a result which has breathed new life into the heavyweight division, which is now suddenly more alive than it has been since the late 1990s.

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Britain's Fight of the Year: Joshua vs. Whyte

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015
Britain’s Fight of the Year

Anthony Joshua KO 7 Dillian Whyte,
December 12, 2015. 02 Arena, Greenwich, London.
British, Commonwealth, and WBO International Heavyweight titles.

Just two weeks after Tyson Fury performed his stunning upset triumph over Wladimir Klitschko, to take the World heavyweight championship, Anthony Joshua came through the first real test of his career with a stunning knockout. In facing the unbeaten Dillian Whyte, Joshua was facing a man who had beaten him as an amateur, and the fight was fueled by a genuine mutual dislike on both sides.

The fight itself was exciting and explosive, with more drama than has been seen in a heavyweight title fight in Britain for many years. After almost being stopped in the 1st round, Whyte came back to prove himself a worthy test for Joshua. He shook up Joshua in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, and was competitive right up to the dramatic finale when Joshua koed him with a monstrous uppercut in the 7th round. This fight proved that Joshua has substance, as well as talent, he can take a punch, come back, go past the early rounds, and still retain his punching power. What this fight also proved is that heavyweight boxing is alive like never before in Britain at the moment, and that a future showdown between Joshua, and Tyson Fury could be the biggest fight that has ever been seen on these shores in a while.

Watch Anthony Joshua Vs. Dillion Whyte:

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Sweet Science Award: Roman Gonzalez

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015
The Sweet Science Award
Flyweight
Roman Gonzalez

2015 was the year when the boxing world at large finally discovered Roman Gonzalez. The diminutive Gonzalez is as close to being a complete fighter as there is in today’s boxing scene. The Nicaraguan born fighter is a joy to watch, mixing speed, and technique, with dynamite in both fists. Although still only 28 years of age, Gonzalez has already been a world champion since 2008, winning world titles at minimumweight, light flyweight, and flyweight. With an unbeaten record of 44-0 (38koes), Gonzalez could be the fighter to bring long overdue attention to boxing’s little men, his biggest problem in recent years has been finding worthy opponents willing to face him in the ring.

Watch Roman Gonzalez Vs. Brian Viloria October 17, 2015

Copyright © 2016 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Boxing Departed Warriors & Associates 2015

The Boxing Glove would like to send out our condolences to the family and friends of those who have left this world, but will hopefully live on in our memories and will not be forgotten.

Boxing Departed Warriors & Associates 2015:

2015-01-01 : James Peace
2015-01-01 : Don Kennington
2015-01-02 : Jimmy Luciano
2015-01-02 : Jose Alexander Guzman
2015-01-03 : Chris Morehead
2015-01-05 : Zulfikar Joy Ali
2015-01-11 : Bruno Visintin
2015-01-12 : Leo Nash
2015-01-13 : Jack Bagby
2015-01-15 : Vladimir Kushnir
2015-01-15 : Vinicio Ballarini
2015-01-16 : Juan Aguilar
2015-01-17 : Lefty Otero
2015-01-17 : Chic Brogan
2015-01-18 : Willie Stewart
2015-01-19 : Tommy Griffiths
2015-01-19 : Mickey Demos
2015-01-20 : Billy Gray
2015-01-20 : Dick Turcotte
2015-01-20 : Erich Walter
2015-01-23 : Carlo Maggi
2015-01-26 : James Hursey
2015-01-26 : Tom Uren
2015-01-26 : Abdeslam Joubij
2015-01-27 : Mickey Young
2015-01-29 : Cedric Kushner
2015-01-30 : Baby Kid Chocolate
2015-01-31 : Andy Kendall
2015-02-00 : Jorge Mario Torres
2015-02-03 : Bobby Keddie
2015-02-05 : Daniel Tavares
2015-02-06 : Paul Corvino
2015-02-06 : Martin Holgate
2015-02-14 : Fedor Mushtranov
2015-02-17 : Mauro Castano
2015-02-19 : Martyn Bailey
2015-02-19 : Harold Johnson
2015-02-19 : Morris Moss
2015-02-19 : Ernie Genell
2015-02-21 : Michael Graydon
2015-02-21 : Nick Mistovich
2015-02-22 : Doug Turnbull
2015-02-24 : Michel Houdeau
2015-02-24 : Kaito Hattori
2015-02-25 : Jerry Bradley
2015-02-26 : Oscar Diaz
2015-03-01 : Benny Vodegel
2015-03-03 : Johnny Peverada
2015-02-19 : Ernie Genell
2015-02-21 : Michael Graydon
2015-02-21 : Nick Mistovich
2015-02-22 : Doug Turnbull
2015-02-24 : Michel Houdeau
2015-02-24 : Kaito Hattori
2015-02-25 : Jerry Bradley
2015-02-26 : Oscar Diaz
2015-03-01 : Benny Vodegel
2015-03-06 : Bruce Damphier
2015-03-08 : Eddie Prince
2015-03-15 : Juan Luis Sanchez
2015-03-16 : Brayd Smith
2015-03-20 : Young Patsy Quinn
2015-03-21 : Dub Nabors
2015-03-21 : Orville Pitts
2015-03-21 : Kenny Barton
2015-03-26 : Grady Welch
2015-03-27 : Roger Buckskin
2015-03-30 : Walter Desiderio Gomez
2015-03-31 : Giuseppe Brandino
2015-04-06 : Danny Mills
2015-04-09 : Tom Von Hatten
2015-04-11 : Tony Sanza
2015-04-13 : Eric Gauthier
2015-04-13 : Charles Jerome
2015-04-17 : Phil Lundgren
2015-04-22 : Jay Fullmer
2015-04-23 : Jose Correa
2015-04-23 : Alan Sanchez
2015-04-25 : Bert MacIntosh
2015-04-25 : Toto Ibarra
2015-04-26 : Sauveur Chiocca
2015-04-27 : Gene Fullmer
2015-04-29 : Phil Edwards
2015-05-01 : Otto Nesladek
2015-05-02 : Joao Vitor
2015-05-02 : Al DeVito
2015-05-02 : Jimmy Longton
2015-05-02 : Al DeVito
2015-05-04 : Andrew Lewis
2015-05-11 : Oleksandr Kyrylovych
2015-05-11 : Frankie Sodano
2015-05-12 : Tony Ayala Jr
2015-05-16 : Tom Imrie
2015-05-16 : Bobby McDermott
2015-05-23 : Ali Raymi
2015-05-25 : Hans Dieter Schwartz
2015-05-28 : Larry Fuentes
2015-05-30 : Eamonn Magee Jnr
2015-05-31 : Aldo Battistutta
2015-06-01 : Andy Scrivani
2015-06-02 : Carmine Vingo
2015-06-06 : Yuji Masuko
2015-06-07 : Lee Stewart
2015-06-08 : Frank Capcino
2015-06-08 : Frank Cappuccino
2015-06-10 : Stan Lassen
2015-06-12 : Antenor Mercedes Santillan
2015-06-13 : Darius Dhlomo
2015-06-15 : Mike McKinney
2015-06-19 : Billy McCluskey
2015-06-19 : Mohammed Elomar
2015-06-19 : Francisco Carballo
2015-06-21 : Juan Jose Estrada
2015-06-24 : Richard Karsten
2015-06-25 : Matt White
2015-06-27 : Italo Sulli
2015-06-28 : Marian Guzzo
2015-06-28 : Joe Sharpe
2015-07-00 : Cliff McWhirter
2015-07-01 : Jimmy Suissa
2015-07-04 : Valdet Gashi
2015-07-11 : Rene Bossu
2015-07-12 : Nikita Tar Hocker
2015-07-15 : Robert Trujillo
2015-07-17 : John McCluskey
2015-07-30 : Duane Schwartz
2015-08-01 : Macka Foley
2015-08-02 : Anders Hugger
2015-08-04 : Francisco Fernandez
2015-08-05 : Jerome Jackson
2015-08-05 : Johnny Gardner
2015-08-11 : Franz Marti
2015-08-14 : Arzel Higgs
2015-08-15 : Chris Henry
2015-08-16 : Ali Cali
2015-08-17 : Freddy Slock
2015-08-18 : Joe Serafini
2015-08-21 : Frankie Belma
2015-08-22 : Dave Greer
2015-08-25 : Heinrich Freytag
2015-08-26 : Romeo Yulo
2015-08-28 : Jack Doughty
2015-08-29 : Walter Guernieri
2015-08-30 : Dick Bohnet
2015-09-01 : Tommy Salem
2015-09-05 : Roy Wallace
2015-09-08 : Alexander Vasiliev
2015-09-12 : Dick Wipperman
2015-09-12 : Lwando Molwana
2015-09-13 : Boitshepo Mandawe
2015-09-15 : Mzwanele Kompolo
2015-09-15 : David Browne Jnr
2015-09-16 : Sergio Salvia
2015-09-16 : Jonathan Cashmere
2015-09-18 : Roberto Angel Ale Ali
2015-09-19 : Oleg Liseev
2015-09-23 : Terry Lewis
2015-09-24 : Bas van Duivenbode
2015-09-24 : Piero Ceru
2015-09-27 : Buddy Garcia
2015-09-28 : Jimmy Flood
2015-09-30 : Juan Gomez
2015-10-02 : Steven Smith
2015-10-03 : Carlos Van Neste
2015-10-05 : Ralph Rivas
2015-10-11 : Ludovic Duval
2015-10-11 : Dean Chance
2015-10-12 : Ricardo Cardona
2015-10-12 : Sergio Caprari
2015-10-13 : Antonio Benz
2015-10-16 : Humberto Beleno
2015-10-17 : Jimmy Perrault
2015-10-21 : Frank Garcia
2015-10-25 : Sylvestre Gaviano
2015-10-27 : Elizabeth Sherman
2015-10-27 : Donnie Parks
2015-10-28 : Antonio Baker
2015-10-29 : Attilio Tondo
2015-10-30 : Sinan Samil Sam
2015-10-31 : Tom Adams
2015-10-31 : Ceddy McGrady
2015-11-00 : Pat McCann
2015-11-02 : Johnny Griffin
2015-11-03 : Frank Lannion
2015-11-04 : Amos Johnson
2015-11-10 : Terry L Carter
2015-11-12 : Tommy Leedle
2015-11-12 : Giovanni Vitillo
2015-11-13 : Giorgio Bambini
2015-11-16 : Rafael Ortiz
2015-11-20 : Roland Hanff
2015-11-21 : David Acevedo
2015-11-21 : Bob Foster
2015-11-25 : Harry Edwards
2015-11-25 : O'Neil Bell
2015-11-26 : Ivan Lorenzana
2015-11-27 : Stan Staniclasse
2015-11-30 : Lee Bohles
2015-11-30 : Joey Olmos
2015-12-03 : Wayne Heath
2015-12-06 : Jason Radebe
2015-12-16 : Harry Scott
2015-12-18 : Bob Stevens
2015-12-19 : Herschel Jacobs
2015-12-20 : Big Jim West
2015-12-23 : Hamzah Aljahmi
2015-12-24 : Romeo Anaya
2015-12-30 : Howard Davis Jr
2015-12-31 : Ronald Berti

Visit Boxrec for profiles and records of each person on list. http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Category:2015_Deaths

Copyright © 2016 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Catch-Weight King: Saul Canelo Alvarez

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015
Catch-weight King
Saul Canelo Alvarez.

Saul Canelo Alvarez’s penchant for catch-weight contests, and coming into the ring on fight night with a significant weight advantage over his opponent, has gained him significant criticism this year. Canelo’s demand for a 155-pound weight limit in his WBC world middleweight title fight with Miguel Cotto in November was just a bit too much for many boxing fans. As were Canelo’s claims that he is not yet a full middleweight, even though he entered the ring against Cotto at over 170 pounds.

This is partly the reason why despite his victory over Miguel Cotto, few people rate Canelo Alvarez as the best in the middleweight division. However, Canelo has proved himself to be the undisputed Catch-weight champion of the world.

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: The Squeaky Wheel: Ward Haye Khan

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015
Squeaky Wheel Award
Amir Khan, David Haye, and Andre Ward

The Squeaky Wheel award is won by the boxer (or boxers) who generally do more talking than fighting. A Squeaky Wheel likes to talk about the opponents he is going to face and beat, the big fights he has lined up, and yet, when it comes down to it, something invariably happens to scupper these big fights. Usually it is the squeaky wheel himself who find s a reason or a way to get out of the fights that he had seemed so intent upon taking just a short while earlier.

Amir Khan is an inveterate ‘Squeaky Wheel.’ His pronouncements upon his ‘inevitable’ showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. have become almost legendary over the past few years. Unfortunately, Khan has been doing more talking about how, when and why, he should be given a shot at Floyd Mayweather Jr., more than he has been fighting in the ring. Since his July 2012 defeat at the hands of Danny Garcia, Khan has had just 5 fights, and while he has won them all, he has hardly been impressive. While he has been so eager for a big fight (and huge payday) against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Khan has been more than reticent about a possible match up with fellow Brit, Kell Brook. With Mayweather now seemingly ‘retired’ and Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley set to fight each other (again!) rather than Khan, a match against IBF world welterweight champion Brook is far and away the biggest paying match that Khan can hope for at this point in his career, yet still Khan squeaks, rather than fight.

During the “Super Six Super Middleweight Tournament” Andre Ward proved himself to be the best Super-middleweight in the world and one of the best boxers in the world pound-for-pound. The future seemed bright for Andre. However, since his impressive December 2011 victory over Carl Froch, Ward has fought just 3 times, with his most demanding opponent in that time being a weight drained Chad Dawson.

There have been injuries, and promotional disputes, but there has also been a great deal of ‘squeaking’ from Andre Ward of late. He seemed annoyed when the much lighter Gennady Golovkin decided that the time wasn’t right to move up in weight and challenge Ward. He then talked about a late 2016 showdown with light heavyweight world champion Sergy Kovalev, but only after having a number of ‘warm up’ fights. The first ‘warm up’ fight was due to take place in November, but after Ward’s choice of opponent was widely criticized, Ward pulled out of the fight. Ward’s only fight of 2015 was an undemanding and unimpressive performance against Paul Smith in June.

Ward is scheduled to fight next in March 2016, against an opponent, yet to be named, but Wards fights have a habit of constantly falling through, and at this point, one hopes that Sergy Kovalev is not pinning all his hopes for 2016 upon a big fight with Andre Ward.

David Haye is as adept at squeaking as Amir Khan, and has managed to keep his name alive with a series of abandoned big fights and cancelled comebacks. The squeaks became louder this year, with the rise of Anthony Joshua, and Tyson Fury winning the World heavyweight title, David Haye has been finally dragged out from his semi-retirement, and is due to have his first fight in 3 and a half years on January 16, 2016. Haye is already demanding a fight with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua before he has even had his first come back fight. The guy never stops squeaking.

Monday, January 4, 2016

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015: Sour Grapes Award: Manny Pacquiao

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015
Sour Grapes Award
Floyd Mayweather Jr. W12 Manny Pacquiao
World Welterweight Championship
May 2, 2015. MGM Grand, Grand Garden, Las Vegas, Nevada.

The fight was supposed to be the fight of the year, it was the matchup that most boxing fans had wanted for years, now it was really happening. Unfortunately the fight was nothing like many fans had hoped, it was devoid of fireworks, and rather than being a close and competitive fight, Mayweather Jr. dominated it mostly with his extra skill, and speed. Manny received a boxing lesson.

If the fight was disappointing, then Pacquiao’s reaction to his defeat would cause even more controversy, and disappointment. First Manny thought he should have been given the decision, then he claimed that he had injured his shoulder. The details of Manny’s shoulder injury became quite a drama in itself, and the smell of bittersweet sour grapes overwhelming.

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Trainer of the Year: Peter Fury

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015
Trainer of the Year
Peter Fury

In guiding Tyson Fury to the World heavyweight title, Peter Fury proved himself to be the outstanding trainer of 2016. Like Tyson himself, Peter Fury has been too often overlooked and underrated, but Tyson’s victory over Wladimir Klitschko was a masterpiece in tactical planning by Peter Fury. Fury is also guiding his son Hughie Fury, and Tyson’s tremendous victory over Wladimir may be just the start of a long line of champions being trained by Peter Fury.

Meet the Fury family, great interview:

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015: The Fight That Never Should Have Been Award

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015
The Fight That Never Should Have Been Award
Floyd Mayweather Jr. Vs. Andre Berto
World Welterweight Championship
Sept 12, 2015. MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Following the disappointment, which was Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, Floyd staged his ’final’ fight against Andre Berto. To say that the choice of Berto as an opponent was underwhelming would be an overstatement. In fact, many pro-Mayweather fans were sure that it was some sort of bluff or joke and that as the fight approached, Berto would drop out of the match with an ’injury,’ and the replacement would be more acceptable and exciting for all concerned. Although an ex-world champion in his own right, Berto’s career has been on the wane for the last few years, with just 6 contests in the last 5 years in which he had gone an unimpressive 3-3.

Floyd’s hopeful fans waited for the opponent to change, but there was no change. September 12th came, went, and so did the fight. It was as predictable and forgettable as had been feared. Berto was brave, but no match for the far technically superior Mayweather Jr. So Floyd Mayweather Jr’s career bowed out against a man whose style was made for him, after a fight that never should have been, and that many boxing fans didn’t even bother to watch.

Watch Floyd Mayweather Jr. Vs. Andre Berto:

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Big Impact 2016 Award: Tyson Fury

The Boxing Glove Big Impact of the Year 2015
Heavyweight
Tyson Fury

In a year where many proposed big fights, such as Mayweather vs Pacquiao and Cotto vs Alvarez, which failed to deliver the kind of excitement that had been hoped, and with many of boxing’s biggest names seemed to be suspended in time, waiting for a big fight that never materialized, one fight that really stands out for its impact and reverberations within the boxing world is Tyson Fury's memorable victory over Wladimir Klitschko.

With this one performance, Tyson created more of a genuine impact in the sport than any other fighter managed throughout 2015. And Tyson's impact can continue to grow throughout 2016 if his career stays on track. He is a fighter who can make the heavyweight title and the heavyweight division an interesting and relevant place to be again.

Watch the WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO v TYSON FURY - FULL POST FIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE / FROM DUSSELDORF, GERMAN:

Sunday, January 3, 2016

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Comeback of the Year: Jamie Cox

The Boxing Glove Comeback of the Year 2015
Jamie Cox
Super Middleweight

Until February of this year Jamie Cox had only fought 4 times in the previous 5 years, and had not fought at all since 2013, due to a severe hand injury. Then in 2015, the unbeaten Cox returned with 3 fights, and 3 wins, all devastating knockouts in the 1st round. It wasn’t so much who Cox beat, but the way he was beating them. He showed speed, chilling power, and the cruel streak associated with such vicious punchers.

In his 3rd fight of the year, Cox koed Ferenc Albert in the 1st round, to win the WBO European Super-middleweight title, with one of the knockouts of the year.
Cox is now seen as one of the fighters to watch in the super-middleweight division, and is being tipped for a big fight in 2016, perhaps even a world title shot.

Watch the Jamie Cox Vs. Ferenc Albert fight:

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Highway Robbery of the Year: Badou Jack Vs. George Groves

The Boxing Glove Highway Robbery of the Year 2015
Badou Jack W12 George Groves
WBC world Super-Middleweight Championship
September 12, 2015
MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.

This was a fight, which saw Groves recover from a 1st round knockdown to seemingly dominate the rest of the fight, but the two of the judges didn’t see the fight that way. Jack was given a split decision victory after a fight where Groves had been the most aggressive fighter, the more active fighter, and the fighter that landed the cleaner shots. Unfortunately, boxing is a funny game and still Groves lost.

Watch the fight:

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Breakout Fighter of the Year: Chris Eubank, Jr.

The Boxing Glove Breakout Fighter of the Year 2015
Chris Eubank Jr.

Chris Eubank Jr started 2015 with a vicious show of boxing and punching against the previously unbeaten Dmitry Chudinov on February 28th. Eubank cut Chudinov’s face into a bloody mask and stopped him in the 12th round. After an easy ‘ticking over’ 2nd round victory over Tony Jeter in October, Eubank ended the year with a thrilling 7th round stoppage win over the highly regarded Gary ’Spike’ O’Sullivan. Despite visibly having the skills and speed to outbox O’Sullivan safely, Eubank Jr. chose to go toe-to-toe with the Irishman from the first bell, resulting in some scintillating, and savage exchanges. When the dust had settled after 6 rounds of full throttle action, it was O’Sullivan who was being pulled out of the fight by his corner, after he was battered to a standstill by Eubank Jr.

Eubank Jr. has a tough act to follow in his father, Chris Eubank Sr. In 2015, Eubank Jr. showed that he had the physical talent, and mental toughness to bounce right back from his only career defeat (to Billy Joe Saunders in late 2014), and show marked improvement in each of his 3 outings in 2015. Eubank Jr. has already shown that he is a real world class talent, who could follow in his father footsteps, and win a world title. He is now the number one challenger for WBA world middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs, but has already been talking about taking on the undisputed number one 160-fighter in the world, Gennady Golovkin. One thing for sure is that, 2015 saw Chris Eubank Jr. prove himself to be far more than just the son of a famous ex- champion. He is now a rising star in his own right.

Watch Chris Eubank, Jr. VS. Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan fight:

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Upset of the Year: Tyson Fury W12 Wladimir Klitschko

The Boxing Glove Upset Of The Year 2015
Tyson Fury W12 Wladimir Klitschko
November 28, 2015, Espirit Arena, Dusseldorf, Germany.
Won IBF, WBO, WBA World Heavyweight Championships

No one gave Tyson Fury a chance of unseating Wladimir Klitschko and becoming Heavyweight champion of the world, no one that is save for a small collection of fans, Fury’s family, and Fury himself. Tyson had actually spent the past few years telling people that he would beat Klitschko, and not just that he would beat him, but that it would be one of his easiest fights. In the end, that’s just what it was for Fury, who didn’t just win, but won with ease over the long-reigning Klitschko in what was the biggest upset in the heavyweight division since Buster Douglas beat Mike Tyson.

Watch the fight:

Saturday, January 2, 2016

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: The Rocky Award: Nathan Cleverly

The Boxing Glove Rocky Of The Year 2015
Nathan Cleverly L12 Andrzej Fonfara
October16, 2015. UIC Pavilion, Chicago.

11 months ago when Nathan Cleverly lost s 12-rounds point’s decision to Tony Bellew, many questioned whether he had a future in boxing. Cleverly’s performance against Bellew had been listless and enigmatic, like someone who no longer wanted to fight. It looked like the end of the road for Cleverly, who had moved up to the cruiserweight division in the wake of losing his WB0 world light-heavyweight title in a crushing defeat to Sergey Kovalev in August 2013. The loss to Bellew at cruiserweight, seemed to expose Cleverly as a spent force, a fighter who had been permanently damaged by his traumatic defeat at the hands of ‘The Krusher’ Sergey Kovalev.

On October 16, 2015, after moving back down to light-heavyweight, Nathan Cleverly traveled over to Chicago to meet Polish hardman Andrzej Fonfara. At the end of 12 bruising, brutal rounds, in one of the fights of the year, Nathan Cleverly was adjudged the point’s loser. But, as always with the strange game, which is boxing, Nathan Cleverly had won far more than he had really lost in the course of this fight. Cleverly went toe-to-toe with Fonfara for 12 rounds, at times fighting with the mad abandon of someone who had suddenly rediscovered his hunger for fighting.

In the 7th round, Fonfara unleashed a sizzling attack upon Cleverly, forcing the Welshman to cover up as Fonfara threw punch after punch upon him. When it looked as if Cleverly must break and go down under the prolonged attack, Cleverly suddenly retaliated with an attack of his own, grinning as he did so through a mask of blood that was caused by a badly injured nose. The round summed up the fight and Cleverly’s attitude throughout the match. It was a performance worthy of the name ’Rocky.’

Sometimes in boxing you don’t need to win the fight to come out the winner. Despite losing to Fonfara, Nathan Cleverly re-ignited his career with one of the gutsiest performances of the year. It was the type of performance which will almost certainly guarantee Cleverly some important fights in the near future, perhaps even a shot at the World light-heavyweight title.

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Round of the year: Edwin Rodriguez KO 3 Michael Seals

The Boxing Glove Round Of The Year 2015
Edwin Rodriguez vs. Michael Seals
Round 1
November 13, 2015. Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi.

This 1st round of what was also The Boxing Gloves ‘Fight of The Year.’ It had everything that a classic round needs three knockdowns, with both fighters hitting the deck, and several changes in fortune, it was a great round and a major part of what was the fight of the year.

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Knockout of the Year: Vincente Ko 3 Dominguez

The Boxing Glove Knockout Of The Year 2015
Yenifel Vincente KO 3 Juan Dominguez
December 8, 2015, Sun National Bank Center, Trenton, New Jersey.

In a fight that pitted two Dominican Republic born 122-pound, super-bantamweight, fighters against each other, for the main event of this televised Premier Boxing Champions show, both these fighters had a lot on the line going into this fight. Firstly, both fighters had been born in the Dominican Republic before settling in America, (Dominguez in Brooklyn, New York, and Vincente in Miami, Florida) so there was a lot of personal pride at stake between these two boxers. Dominguez went into the match unbeaten in 19 fights, with 13 koes, while Vincente entered the match with a 28(20koes)-3-2 record.

The action was frenetic from the start, as both men bombarded each other with shots, Dominguez throwing straighter more deliberate punches, while Vincente threw his punches in more flashy clusters. The 1st round ended about even, and the fighting continued at the same breathless pace in the 2nd round, with the only break in the action coming when Dominguez was warned twice by the referee for punches that were straying low. Both times Vincente was given some time to rest and recuperate from the low punches. To be fair, Dominguez did not look like he was hitting low purposely, rather he was being over-anxious in his efforts to land his body shots. At the end of the 2nd, there was still little in it, and much depended upon whose work you liked best, Dominguez’s more rangy punch-picking, or Vincente’s explosive combinations.

The 3rd round started off just like the first two rounds, with both men taking turns to unload their shots, while looking for a crack in the armory of their opponent. That chink in the armor finally showed itself a little after 10 seconds of the rounds beginning, when a sudden, vicious, overhand right from Vincente that caught Dominguez flush on the jaw, just as he was throwing a punch of his own. Dominguez fell to the canvas face first, landing on his side, before toppling onto his back. Dominguez was out cold before he even hit the deck, prompting referee Earl Brown to stop the fight instantly, without a count. It was a spectacular, but scary knockout. As Vincente jumped high into the air, and let out a victory cry, Dominguez lay unconscious, being attended to by his corner men and several medics. After some minutes, Dominguez was taken from the ring on a stretcher as an elated yet concerned Vincente looked on. Once more boxing’s power to be bitter sweet had been savagely displayed. One mans triumph was another’s defeat.

Friday, January 1, 2016

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Fight of the Year: Rodriguez vs. Seals

The Boxing Glove Fight of the Year 2015

Edwin Rodriguez KO 3 Michael Seals

November 13, 2015, Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi.

This was a short, but sweet fight for any boxing fan that appreciates the rougher, more basic side of the sport. This fight wasn’t about the scientific side of the sweet science. Look instead under the heading of “sweet brutality” for this fight. Light-heavyweight Edwin Rodriguez’s nickname is ‘La Bomba’ and it was ‘bombs away’ from the first bell as Rodriguez (28-1, 19koes) went after the unbeaten, but largely untested Michael Seals (19-1, 14koes) looking like he wanted to end the fight with his first punches.

The sudden attack had an instant result, as Seals stumbled to the canvas after just 20 seconds of the 1st round. After Seals beat the count, Rodriguez went after him, looking for the finish, only to run into a counter by Seals, which had him falling to the floor. Rodriguez seemed noticeably hurt by the knockdown, and took a long count upon one knee before rising. With both men knowing that they had the power to hurt the other, the round continued on even terms, and at a slightly calmer pace, as Seals showed a good jab, and Rodriguez continued to come forwards, and lash out with wilder, yet more powerful looking shots of his own. In the last 10 seconds of the round, Seals, after having been forced back to the ropes, caught Rodriguez with a short and sharp right hand. Rodriguez fell to the canvas, like he had been shot, turning as he fell, so that he landed flat onto his face upon the canvas.

Few fighters beat the count when they suffer such knockdowns, and Rodriguez almost didn’t make it either. Stumbling back onto his haunches at his first attempt at regaining his feet, Rodriguez still didn’t know where he was when he finally got back to his feet and had to be helped back to his corner by his corner men when the bell sounded to end the round moments later.

Amazingly, Rodriguez had made a remarkable recovery by the start of the 2nd round, as both men tried their best to take out the other with one punch. Seals using his slicker counter-punching, while Rodriguez came forward, with his do or die, caveman-like approach. In the last 30 seconds of the round Rodriguez had cornered Seals on the ropes, and sent him down to the canvas with a series of chopping punches. Seals staggered to his feet looking like a Friday night drunk, as he pulled himself upright with the help of the ropes. In fact, Seals was so out of it after he regained his feet, that he turned his head, and seemed to be having a conversation with someone outside the ring while he was taking the mandatory 8 count. But just as Rodriguez had been saved by the bell at the end of the 1st round, Seals was saved by the bell to end the 2nd.

The 3rd round found Rodriguez looking for the finish once more against Seals, who had not recovered fully from the knockdown in the previous round. After driving Seals back onto the ropes with a series of heavy jabs, Rodriguez landed a right-hand that sent Seals flying into the ropes, and then down onto the canvas upon his back. Seals drunkenly regained his feet once again, but this time the referee called a halt to this amazing contest, as Seals was apparently out on his feet.

Five knockdowns in three rounds, with each of the knockdowns a spectacular one, this was one of those fights which will be remembered as the kind of classic slug-fest which captures the imagination of the boxing fan.

The 2015 Boxing Glove Awards: Fighter of the Year Tyson Fury

The Boxing Glove Awards 2015

Fighter of The Year!

Tyson Fury!

Tyson Fury became The Boxing Glove’s 2015’s “Fighter of the Year” by producing the year’s biggest upset with his point’s defeat of Wladimir Klitschko. The fight itself might not have been to everyone’s taste, but few of Klitschko’s fights have been thrillers. Fury’s achievement was in beating one of the heavyweight division’s longest ever-standing champions, with a fight plan, which totally nullified, confused, and frustrated Klitschko. Fury’s victory was the most outstanding performance by a fighter in 2015, and by winning boxing’s most prestigious title he made himself one of the sports biggest stars.

Other fighters that stood out in 2015 were Gennady Golovkin, Roman Gonzalez, and Sergy Kovalev, but none of these fighters pulled off an outstanding a performance as Tyson Fury did against Klitschko.

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