David Avanesyan vs. Shane Mosley: Preview & Prediction

By Stephen Donatelli

Same Story, Different Fighter?


On Saturday, May 28th, 2016,  'Sugar' Shane Mosley (41-9-1, 41 KOs) will face, the somewhat unknown, Russian David Avanesyan (21-1-1, 11 KOs) in Glendale, Arizona.

When this bout first came to fruition (and I'm not going to sugarcoat it), I said to myself NOT AGAIN. In his latest interviews, the always-articulate Mosley is starting to have a bit of a slur to his speech, whether he or his team wants to admit it. I understand the passion and loyalty professionals have for sports, but Boxing isn't a game to me, it's 'The Sweet Science.' People close to Mosley, who support his continuation for fighting, claim that he needs the money and that his ex-wife is bleeding him dry. Do they really understand that Shane is 44 years old, while his counter-part in the ring that night will be 27? Don't get me wrong, 'Sugar' Shane is still very capable of fighting at a high level, just not at a sport where his speed and defense can bail him out anymore.

Enter Mosley's opponent, Russian born David Avanesyan, who suffered his only loss way back in 2009 by way of a 6-round unanimous decision. Avanesyan knows all about the legacy of 'Sugar' Shane Mosley and what he has done on the big stage, but now he feels he's the hungry lion ready to pounce his way into the very deep and enriched 'Welterweight' division!                                                          

Something about the winner of 'Mosley vs. Avanesyan' getting a shot at the winner of the long over-due 'Keith 'One Time' Thurman vs, 'Showtime' Shown Porter' encounter just doesn't sit well with me, and I'm sure other true Boxing Aficionados agree. With so many great Welterweights we are blessed to watch, it would be nice to see the winner of this fight at least have to fight another contender. I'm not taking any credit away from the winner of the card billed, "U.S.A. vs. Russia!" The old version of 'Sugar' Shane is the one I have seen dismantle the favorite, Antonio Margarito, and the same Mosley who hurt then, pound-4-pound kingpin, Floyd Mayweather Jr.! The list of guys he defeated goes on and on; Oscar De La Hoya (twice), Fernando Vargas (twice), Ricardo Mayorga and you can make a pretty good argument he defeated Puerto Rican superstar, Miguel Cotto, when they went to war back in the end of 2007.

As for the unknown Russian David Avanesyan, hard-core boxing fans, or people in the Gym of Welterweight Champ/IBF Welterweight Champion, "Special K' Kell Brook,willsayAvanesyan is best-known as the guy who caused a rib injury to Kell Brook last October, which canceled Brook's scheduled December title defense against Diego Chaves.

This should be a tough fight for the 44-year-old Mosley, because he’s fighting one of the better-unknown welterweights in the division in the young 27-year-old but inexperienced, Russian Avanesyan. I wish Mosley would retire either way after this fight, but it won't happen, and the thought of Mosley potentially fighting Porter or Thurman isn’t good. I see Mosley doing pretty good early, but as it gets to the middle rounds, he finds himself trying to pace knowing it's 12 rounds. On the other hand, Avanesyan hasn't been under the big lights yet, and stage fright can get the best of any boxer, but I don't think so here. This fight will come down to who pulls out those close rounds when there's 30 seconds left. It tells me little when Avanesyan’s biggest fights have come against Kaizer Mabuza, Charlie Navarro, and Dean Byrne. However, it also doesn't help that since Mosley has made his comeback, he’s fought 41-year-old Mayorga, and the little known Patrick Lopez.

In any case, come Saturday night, a faded Boxing Legend that gave me tons of enjoyment will lose a somewhat clear, but at times, very competitive Unanimous Decision! Mosley will probably say (if he loses) that he still proved he can get in with a #1 contender and still NOT get beat up bad. And I'll sadly be watching the fights, and more than likely, go watch his first win over 'The Golden Boy' Oscar De La Hoya! As far as David Avanesyan, he rightfully earned a hard fought, tough victory, but next time out he'll either be seeing: 'One Time' Thurman or 'Showtime' Shawn and that can be very bad news!

Stephen  Donatelli is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and contributes to www.theboxingglove.com. If you would like to contact him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steved2012?fref=nf

Copyright © 2016 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved.

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On This Day: Tyrone Everett: The Mean Machine Remembered

By Peter Silkov

Tyrone Everett is one of boxing’s great ‘might have beens.’ He was a supremely talented southpaw boxer, with mercurial defensive skills along with excellent speed, and a dangerous punch.  Yet, because of a few cruel twists of fate, Everett was never able to fully explore his outstanding talent.  Born on April 18, 1953, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Tyrone turned professional in 1971, and quickly rose up the ratings to become a top contender at junior lightweight.

In his most famous fight on November 30, 1976, Everett challenged Alfredo Escalera for the WBC world Junior-Lightweight title. After 15 rounds, Tyrone seemed to have done more than enough to win the championship, only for the decision to go to Escalera, despite the fight taking place in Everett’s home town of Philadelphia. The verdict was highly unpopular with most observers, and regarded as one of the worst decisions of that era.  This fight was the only ‘defeat’ that Everett suffered in his professional career.

Everett was lined up to meet Escalera in a rematch for the world title when he was shot dead by his girlfriend on May 26, 1977, after she found him in the company of a transvestite.  Tyrone Everett was just 24 years old.  His final record was 36(20koes)-1.

Tyrone had two younger brothers, Mike and Eddie, who were both successful boxers.  Since his murder, Everett’s brothers present ‘The Everett Brothers Award’ every year to an outstanding Philadelphia amateur boxer.

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On This Day: Tom Sayers: The Brighton Boy Remembered

By Peter Silkov

Tom Sayers was one of Britain’s greatest ever bare-knuckle pugilists. Sayers was skilful and fast, and possessed immense heart, durability, and strength.  Although barely more than a light-middleweight in his prime, and standing just 5’ feet 8” and a half inches in height, Sayers won a series of epic victories over men considerably larger than himself in his march to the Heavyweight championship of England.

Tom Sayers was born on May 25, 1826, in Brighton, Sussex.  His earliest serious fights took place in 1844, but for some time Sayers struggled to find opponents, as those his own size were reticent about meeting him in combat, so impressive was his reputation, even at the earliest stage of his career.

By 1851 however, an impressive victory over Dan Collins underlined Sayers as a fighter to watch, but he found it even harder to get fights with men of his own size.  In 1853, Sayers suffered the only defeat of his career when Nat Langham beat him on October 18, for the Middleweight championship of England.  Sayers lost after a battle lasting 61 rounds, spread over 2 hours and 2 minutes.  This defeat only served to spur Sayers forward, and like all great fighters, he became better for his defeat. On January 26, 1856, Sayers defeated the much larger Harry Poulson, in an epic encounter that lasted 109 rounds, over the course of 3 hours, and 8 minutes.  This victory showed, beyond doubt, that Sayers was a worthy opponent for the Heavyweight championship of England.

On June 16, 1857, Sayers beat William Perry, in 10 rounds, after 1 hour 20 minutes, to claim the Heavyweight championship of England.

Sayers would prove to be a truly great champion, defending his championship five times during his reign.  By far the most famous fight of his reign, was also his last; his historical encounter with John C Heenan on April 17, 1860.  Heenan was the American heavyweight champion, and so the match was a landmark event of international proportions, which is often regarded today as the first genuine World heavyweight title fight.  The match itself took place amid huge public interest, and turned out to be a brutal encounter, which lived up to all expectations.  The action carried on for 42 rounds, stretched out over 2 hours and 20 minutes, before the fight was abandoned after members of the crowd broke into the ring. The verdict was eventually given as a draw, which resulted in both sides being dissatisfied.  Arguments raged over who was enjoying the better of things when the fight was brought to its premature conclusion, and each country sided with their countryman as being the rightful winner.  Most unbiased eyewitness reports of the fight however, tell us that while both men were badly punished from their battle, it was Heenan who had fared far worse.  While Sayers had suffered bruises and bumps around the head and face, Heenan face had been rendered a grotesque and swollen mass of broken flesh, with both eyes closed, and his nose and mouth horribly misshapen.  Heenan had to convalesce in a darkened room for some time before he could leave his sickbed.

Tony Sayers never fought again, after receiving a special Silver Championship belt to commemorate his battle with Heenan, on May 20, 1860, Sayers retired from the ring, undefeated champion.

Tom Sayers died on November 8, 1865, of consumption.  He is buried in Highgate Cemetary.  He is remembered today as one of the strongest and pluckiest fighters Britian has ever produced that also enjoyed the status of a folk hero amongst his fans.

Sayers was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. 

 

*The painting in the graphic is not a creation of The Boxing Glove it is an vintage poster. Date unknown. 

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

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On This Day: Luther McCarty: The Fighting Cowboy Remembered

By Peter Silkov

Luther McCarty had his life, and his potential as a heavyweight fighter, cruelly cut short at the age of just 21 years old. Known as ‘The Fighting Cowboy’ McCarty was a ‘white hope’ during the latter part of Jack Johnson’s reign as World heavyweight champion. There were many whom considered McCarty, not only the best of the infamous ‘White Hopes,’ but a future heavyweight great in his own right. Unfortunately, McCarty died before he was given the chance to prove just how good he could become.

McCarty was born on March 17, 1892, in Driftwood Creek, Nebraska, and started boxing professionally in 1911. Standing 6' feet 4” inches, McCarty was fast for a man of his size, and had a sound technique, along with a good jab, and a knock-out punch. Despite his comparative inexperience and youth, McCarty made impressive strides during his short, but meteoric career, that began in 1911. In this short space of time, McCarty defeated notable name fighters such as, Jeff Clark, Carl Morris, Jim Barry, Al Kaufman, Fireman Jim Flynn, Al Palzer, and Frank Moran. McCarty also drew over 10 rounds with the future World heavyweight champion, Jess Willard.

McCarty died after taking what seemed to be an innocuous punch to the side of the head by Arthur Pelkey, after just two minutes of fighting in the 1^st round of their contest on May 24, 1913. He was 21 years old. McCarty collapsed and died while been tended to in the ring. The cause death was found to be a massive brain haemorrhage. At first, Pelkey was charged with manslaughter, but the charges were later dropped, and it is thought that McCarty’s death was caused by an old, pre-existing injury, rather than any punch that Pelkey landed upon McCarty. It is thought that McCarty had suffered a recent fall from a horse. Also, some months before, he almost drowned while swimming, in an incident, which saw him lose consciousness before he was saved from drowning.

Ironically, McCarty’s nickname was ‘Luck.’

After this tragic fight, Arthur Pelkey was never the same fighter again, winning just 8 of the 31 fights that he would have after his fateful bout with McCarty.

Luther McCarty’s final record was (including Newspaper decisions) 19(15koes)-5-1. 





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

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On This Day: Teddy Baldock: The Pride Of Poplar Remembered

 

By Peter Silkov

Teddy Baldock was a brilliantly talented boxer, whose meteoric career took him from rags to riches, and then back again.  Born Alfred Teddy Baldock on May 24, 1907,  in Poplar, London,  he had boxing in his blood from the beginning. His father Ted had boxed, and his grandfather had been a bare knuckle fighter, and another relative, ‘Hoppy’ Baldock had been a second to renowned late 19th century pugilists such as Ted Pritchard, Jem Smith and Charlie Mitchell.  Baldock started boxing at school and soon started to run out of opponents amongst his peers.  Two months before his 14th birthday Baldock turned professional.  Despite his youth, Baldock made progress at a remarkable pace.  He was a very fast and technically sound boxer, with a great punch, and his busy and exciting ring style soon gained him plaudits from the fans.  Baldock quickly built up a huge following amongst the London fight followers.

Teddy shot up the bantamweight rankings, and on May 5, 1927, he beat Archie Bell on points, at London’s Royal Albert Hall, to win the British version of the World Bantamweight championship, while still three weeks away from his 20th birthday.  This made Baldock the youngest man ever to win the World bantamweight title, and an instant international star.  However, Baldock’s reign would not last long, 4 months after beating Bell, he was out-pointed by Willie Smith, losing his claim to the World Bantamweight title.

Bouncing back from what was only his 2nd defeat in 61 contests, Baldock won the British and Commonwealth Bantamweight titles on August 29, 1928, by knocking out former World flyweight champion Johnny Brown, in 2 rounds.  Nine months later, Baldock defended his British and Commonwealth titles against Alf ’Kid’ Pattenden, retaining his titles after one of the most thrilling and ferocious fights ever seen between two bantamweights.  It was the kind of fight that would leave both fighters mere shadows of their former selves.  Baldock went on to score some good victories, but he was already being plagued by hand trouble, and the ensuring spells of inactivity to rest his injured hands, began to eat away at his finely honed skills.

An upset point’s defeat to Benny Sharkey, in September 1930, was the beginning of the end for Baldock, and a move up to featherweight failed to slow his fistic decline.

On May 21, 1931, the World bantamweight champion, Panama Al Brown, in a non-title fight, stopped Baldock in 12 rounds.  Four months later, he was out-pointed by Dick Corbett, in a fight which showed that he was just a brunt out shell of the brilliant boxer he had once been.  His hands both damaged, and suffering from increasing eye trouble, Baldock hung up his gloves at the age of just 24.

His final record was 73(37koes)-5-3. He was defeated just five times in his career, and stopped just once.  

Teddy Baldock’s post-fighting life is a sadly familiar tale of someone going from fame, and fortune, back to poverty and anonymity.  He set himself up as a street bookmaker, a job he used to do as a youth with his father, but he ended up losing money heavily, as he became hooked on gambling himself.  There were also the usual failed business ventures and the over generous nature, which saw him regularly lend money to friends and strangers alike, money which he never saw again.  By the time he was broke, most of the ’friends’ and hangers-on had disappeared as well.

Baldock kept a brave face on things by working at all kinds of jobs to make ends meet, and during WW2 he joined the RAF and boxed countless exhibitions for the troops.  He also taught physical fitness.  But during the post war years, as he grew older and found work harder to come by, Baldock’s life spiraled into further decline.

Despite the familiar story, Teddy Baldock’s fate was particularly tragic.  In his last years, he was reduced to living in shabby lodgings in the East End, and at other times sleeping rough.  When he died on March 8, 1971, his death went unnoticed by the national press, the same press that had hailed him as a hero some 30 plus years earlier.  The man who had been one of London’s most popular boxers, and Britain’s youngest world champion, died penniless, and forgotten.

In recent years, Baldock’s life has been recalled in a biography by his grandson, bringing his life and fighting career back into the public consciousness.  On May 28, 2014, a life size bronze statue of Teddy Baldock was unveiled in East London’s Langdon Park, overlooking the sight of his childhood home.  40 years since his sad death, Teddy Baldock is finally getting the recognition that he deserves, and being remembered as the mercurial fighter, who was Britain’s only world boxing champion in the 1920s. 

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

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TBG Book Review: Chatteris Thunderbolt: The Eric Boon Story

 

The Boxing Glove Sunday Night Book Review

By Peter Silkov

Chatteris Thunderbolt: The Eric Boon Story      Written by Bob Lonkhurst

Eric Boon is one of the most colourful and exciting fighters ever to come out of Britain.  He was a fighter who had it all, good looks, colourful personality, and a fighting style that seemed to guarantee drama and excitement every time he walked into the ring.  Boon was an aggressive, swashbuckling, fighter, with a knockout punch in each hand.  With his charismatic, all-action, ring style, Boon would become one of the biggest draws, and most popular ring performers of the 30s and 40s. 

When Boon fought in London, special trains had to be added on to take the thousands of fans from traveling up from Chatteris to support their hero.  ‘Boy Boon’ or ‘The Fen Tiger’ as he was called, was a lightweight with a heavyweight punch, and after turning professional at the age of just 15, he rose to fame with meteoric speed, and for a time, shone brighter than any other star in the British ring.   

In his book “Chatteris Thunderbolt: The Eric Boon Story” Bob Lonkhurst turns the clock back to the 1930s, when boxing held a far higher place in the every day consciousness than it does today, and its stars enjoyed the kind of treatment normally only afforded to movie stars.  In his heyday Boon was one of the biggest stars of the sport, certainly in this country, and was in demand all over the world, including the world center of boxing, America.  Lonkhurst traces Boon’s story, from his early days growing up in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, through to the ups and downs of his roller coaster boxing career, and his often equally colourful and dramatic life outside of the ring.

Born on December 28, 1919, in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, Eric Boon spent his youth working as a blacksmith, but from a very young age, always hankered to become a boxer.  After a short amateur career, which ended after he received payment for a fight in a traveling booth, Boon turned professional in December 1934 (not January 1935 as stated by Box Rec.) Although he was only 15 years old, he was soon fighting, and beating, battle hardened men. 

Eric’s career was guided by Jack Solomons, who would use Boons meteoric success as a spring board to make himself the number one promoter in the country.  Boon was matched hard from the beginning, and though he bowled over most of his opponents with impressive violence, he also suffered a number of early ‘learning’ defeats. 

Boon's success quickly made him a folk hero in his native Chatteris, and with every fight his following grew.  Once he started fighting regularly in London, he was hailed as being one of the most exciting prospects ever seen in the country.

On December 15, 1938, still two weeks away from his 19th birthday, Boon won the British Lightweight championship with a spectacular, come from behind, victory over Dave Crowley.  It was Boon’s 81st contest, but he had been out-boxed for much of the fight by Crowley, and had his left eye tightly closed before he turned everything around with a late surge, which culminated in him knocking Crowley out in the 13th round. It was a victory that produced delirious scenes as Boon’s traveling fans inundated the ring in celebration of their fighter’s triumph.

Boon became a national star overnight with his victory over Crowley, and there seemed to be no limit to his future success.  With this victory, Eric Boon became the youngest man ever to win a British championship. It is a record, which will now never be broken, as the BBBC has since made a law which states that no boxer under the age of 21 can fight for a British title belt.

In his first defence of his championship two months after winning it, on February 23rd 1939, Boon was involved in perhaps the most sensational fight of his career, when he came back from what seemed to be almost certain defeat, to stop Danahar in the 14th round.  This fight was also the first British championship fight to be televised.

Ten months later, Boon defended his British title successfully for a second time, beating former champion Crowley again, and becoming the youngest man ever to win a Lonsdale belt outright, and in what was then, the shortest time. 

However despite his youth and ability, this period would prove to be the high-point of his fighting life.  A mixture of circumstance, bad luck, and the trappings of fame and success derailed boon’s boxing career.  The outbreak of WW2 would prove to be a huge hindrance and would ruin his ambitions for a world title shot.  He would never fight for a world title.

With his ring activity curtailed by the war, Boon found himself drawn into the high life, and gained a reputation as a notorious womanizer.  Having achieved such fame and success so early in life, it is perhaps hardly surprising that Boon found it hard to keep his feet on the ground, and that his early dedication to the gym and fighting waned, as the temptations of celebrity became available to him.

Boon also suffered a severe head injury in a motorbike crash during a 1941 blackout.  It was an injury so severe that it is unlikely that he would have been allowed to fight again today.  As it was, although he would carry on fighting on and off for over a decade, he would never be quite the same fighter again.

Bob Lonkhurst details the decline of Boon’s boxing career during the war years, as his out of the ring life became more and more complicated. Yet, there was a stirring comeback in the post war years, with Boon being involved in another handful of classic fights, as he sought to regain his lost ring prestige, and recover some of his already depleted earnings.   The comeback culminated in him trying to win the British Welterweight title from Ernie Roderick on December 9, 1947, and putting up a memorable display of guts and courage, before being defeated on points.  After this defeat however, it was all downhill from then on for Boon as a fighter.

Like so many of the ring’s stars, Boon saw his money soon disappear, due to failed business ventures, and a complicated personal life.  His boxing career ended with a string of defeats to fighters who would never have been matched with him in his prime, and in the end, Boon had to suffer the indignity of having his boxing license taken away from him.

Boon comes across in ’Chatteris Thunderbolt’ as a complicated man who at times struggles to deal with the various pressures and temptations that come with success and fame.  But, he is also revealed as person with an ultimately good heart, who as he grew older wanted to give something back.  In his later years, despite dealing with his own money issues, and living a hand to mouth existence at times, Boon would become a tremendous fund raiser for various charities, and was always willing to help out a fellow ex-boxer.  It was at this point in his life that Boon finally settled down and found some of the stability and contentment that had eluded him in his younger years.

At times, Boon’s life story reads like a film.  As his boxing career waned, he had a stint as an actor, and later made several appearances in a number of the famous ‘Carry On’ Films of the late 50s and early 60s.  He would even at one point manage to get himself involved in some political espionage.  Both in, and out of the ring, Eric Boon emerges as one of those people who seem to have been both blessed and cursed with a life that is seldom boring or uneventful.

This is a fast moving and entertaining book, with some vivid recollections of Eric Boon’s most famous fights.  When reading about Boon, both as a man and a fighter, you can understand why he was so beloved by both the public and the media.  The phrase ‘larger than life’ fits him perfectly.  Yet behind all the fame and glitz, which surrounded his career, was a true big-hearted fighter, who had no fear of anyone, and in his prime simply loved to fight.

This is Bob Lonkhurst’s 6th biography of a fighter from British boxing’s glory days, with previous books on Jack Peterson, Tommy Farr, Terry Spinks, Danny Clark, and Dave ‘Boy’ Green (also from Chatteris.)   In “Chatteris Thunderbolt” Lonkhurst has brought Eric Boon back to life in great style, with a vivid and honest account about the trails and triumphs of a fighter who lit up the British boxing scene, and is still fondly remembered today, even by people who never saw him fight, but just heard or read about his ring exploits.

This book is a great read for any follower of boxing, especially those interested in the fighters of yesteryear, when boxing was one of the most socially important, and popular sports of all. 

‘Chatteris Thunderbolt’ was originally published in 2012, and has a nice collection of photographs, and a full rundown of Eric Boon’s boxing record.

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

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Does "Superman" Keep Flying from Kovalev?

By Stephen Donatelli



Speaking for myself and others, I think the Boxing World knows that it is about time that 'Lineal WBC & The Ring Light-Heavyweight' Strap holder, Adonis 'Superman Stevenson (27-1, 22 KOs), start backing up his talk and get in the ring with the active (Top #5) Pound-4-Pound, undefeated, Sergey 'The Krusher' Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs.)

It was just a few Years ago that 'Superman' Stevenson was named 'Fighter-of-the-Year’ by Ring Magazine, until a very strange thing happened. Enter matchmaker extraordinaire, Kathy Duva, and a string of vicious stoppage victories (Jean Pascal [twice], Gabriel Campillo, Nathan Cleverly, & Cedric Agnew) by Sergey Kovalev. In between those fights, Kathy took it up a notch, and stuck 'The Krusher' in with master craftsman & future first ballot Hall-of-Famer, Bernard 'The Alien' Hopkins.

Kovalev defeated Bernard Hopkins by unanimous decision on November 8, 2014, in a unification bout in Atlantic City to retain the WBO Light Heavyweight title and win the IBF, and WBA (Super) Light Heavyweight titles. In a one-sided encounter, Kovalev surprisingly knocked Bernard Hopkins down in the first round. After that, Hopkins fought very cautiously, as Kovalev won every single round on all of the three judge’s scorecards. The aged, but formidable, Hopkins, tried his best & made no excuses. The score totals of the fight were correctly scored: (120-107, 120-107, and 120-106) in favor of Sergey 'The Krusher' Kovalev.

On the other hand, the Canadian Champion, Stevenson, has been feasting on a lower level of opposition than Kovalev. In his last two matches, Adonis fought & defeated an overwhelmed and blown-up super middleweight, Tommy Karpency, and Sakio Bika, who's tough & rugged, but has seen his better days. With Stevenson's inactivity issues (in spurts) does he really want to fight Sergey Kovalev or continue milking money from his pretty wide Haitian / Canadian fan base? Stevenson's only blemish was a stoppage defeat all the way back in '2010' against Darnell Boone that 'Superman' comfortably avenged by KO in round 6 in '2013.

While Kovalev has an upcoming bout with the sturdy 'NABF' Light-Heavyweight Champion, Isaac Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs), the decision is clearly upon Adonis to start shifting gears to give us fans a crystal clear Light-Heavyweight World Champion! If this fight comes off, look for the jab to the body from 'The Krusher' to not only keep Adonis at bay, but start grinding him down.

I've noticed a lot of boxing fans think Sergey will roll over Stevenson quick & early. Well, I beg to differ. Adonis was one of the last fighters who were trained by the Legendary Trainer Emmanuel Steward (R.I.P.) before he passed away. I think any fighter with the type of one-punch power like Adonis has to be given a decent chance to be the victor. However, Sergey Kovalev seems to have some sort of psychological edge over Stevenson. In a sense, Kovalev feels that Adonis needs him based on the fan’s perception. While on the other hand, 'Superman' feels that, because he's "The Ring" & "Lineal" Champion, the scrap should be on his terms. Kovalev showed against Hopkins, and Pascal (twice), that he's so much more than a 'One Trick Pony.'

I'm NOT so sure we've seen Adonis in some of the situations the crafty Kovalev has been in. If, or when, this fight ever takes place, watch for the first (2-3) rounds to be fun, then 'The Krusher' Kovalev takes over and starts really picking apart a very gutsy, but out-gunned, Stevenson.

My Final Prediction, as of right now, would be: Sergey 'The Krusher' Kovalev to get his chin tested, but pass that test, and starch 'Superman' Stevenson in the 8th round, respectively!

Stephen  Donatelli is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and contributes to www.theboxingglove.com. If you would like to contact him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steved2012?fref=nf

Copyright © 2016 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved.

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De La Hoya's 10 Year Plan for Alvarez Revealed

Click to see larger version of blueprint

By Peter Silkov

Supposedly, negotiations are in the works for an Alvarez Vs. Golovkin fight for the fall of 2016, but a secret 10-year plan by De La Hoya has been discovered that reveals the future of WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, and the direction Goldenboy wants to lead his career. Earlier in the year, Oscar laid out a plan in which he wanted to make it clear that, for the next 10 years, Cinco de Mayo belonged to the talented Mexican boxer. Now that the WBC has ordered the fight to happen and the Alvarez camp has 2 weeks to cut a deal or vacate, these plans might not come to light as De La Hoya had planned!

According to the blueprints, which are very detailed, the Cinco de Mayo's, from 2017-2026, give prospective opponents that Oscar would like to see his 'goldenboy' fight. 

The list, which consists of flyweights, up to welterweights, to finally, GGG, who is a middleweight is a chance for Canelo to develop into a true  middleweight:

• 2017: Donnie Nietes
• 2018: Roman Gonzalez
• 2019: Diego De La Hoya
• 2020: Juan Francisco Estrada
• 2021: Leo Santa Cruz
• 2022: Nonito Donaire
• 2023: Lucas Martin Matthysse
• 2024: Terence Crawford
• 2025: Keith Thurman
• 2026: Gennady Golovkin
•  There might be a possibility of Rigondeaux replacing Matthysse if he is unable to fight. 

Whether the blueprints will be of any use all depends upon the on-going negotiations between the Alvarez and Golovkin camps, but judging from the tension and fear in De La Hoya's face when asked about the imminent fight, his future plans for Canelo might go up in smoke. If GGG refuses to accept a catch-weight of 155lb or a low-ball purse, then Oscar will be sure to celebrate, and his fighter will remain protected.

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

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TBG Book Review: The Golborne Blacksmith: The Life and Times of the amazing Peter Kane

The Boxing Glove Sunday Night Book Review

By Peter Silkov

The Golborne Blacksmith: The Life and Times of the Amazing Peter Kane.

By Brian Hughes

In the 1930s and 40s, Peter Kane was one of Britain’s most popular and exciting fighters.  He was a flyweight with an aggressive, all-action style, and a tremendous knockout punch in both hands.  In “The Golborne Blacksmith: The Life and Times of the amazing Peter Kane,” author Brian Hughes tells the story of one of Britain’s greatest champions who is, unfortunately, too often overlooked today.

Hughes takes us through the dramatic and action-packed life and career of Kane.  From his early days as a teenage sensation who was knocking out opponent after opponent, onto his rise to the titles.  Kane had a career, which ran at breakneck speed, from beginning to end, with many ups and downs along the way.  In his prime, he would win the British, Commonwealth, and World flyweight titles, and then later, the European Bantamweight crown.

Peter Kane was born Peter Cain on April 28, 1918, in Heywood, Lancashire, and began his professional career as a 16-year-old.  From the start of his career, it was clear that Kane was a special fighter, and his rise to the top was meteoric.  This was a time when boxing was flooded with talent in just about every division. The lighter weights, especially, where a boxer had to fight often and hard, if he had any hope of making it to the top.  He would reach the pinnacle of his career, when he won the World flyweight title, while still only 19-years-old.

 Yet despite all of his successes, a mixture of career threatening injuries, and bad luck also plagued Kane.  Like most fighters with a big punch, Kane suffered from hand injuries for most of his career, and eventually he ended up having the little finger on his right hand amputated.  In addition to this setback, Kane suffered a freak injury to his right eye during his time in the RAF in the early 1940s, which resulted in a detached retina.  The break out of WW2 also proved to be a huge hindrance to Kane, coming as it did, just after he had won the world title.

Brian Hughes obviously has a great respect for Peter Kane and recounts his boxing exploits in great detail, from his early contests, to his most important championship fights.  In his post WW2 boxing career, Kane surprised the boxing world, who had thought he was washed up, by returning to the ring as a bantamweight, and winning the European Bantamweight championship, and coming close to gaining a shot at the World bantamweight title.

Despite all of his achievements in the ring, Kane will perhaps always be most remembered for one of the few fights that he lost his first fight with the great Benny Lynch, on October 13, 1937.  Kane ,who was still 6 months away from his 20th birthday, was challenging Lynch for the European and World Flyweight title. He would taste defeat for the first time in his 43 professional contests, when he was knocked out in 13th, after a fight which was later described as the greatest flyweight title bout ever witnessed.

Hughes gives a great build up to Kane’s meeting with Lynch, in what was one of the biggest and most anticipated fights ever seen in this country, and despite being defeated, Kane gained great prestige in defeat against the legendary Lynch. 

This is a fast-moving and engrossing read for anyone who has an interest in Britain’s great champions of the past, and Kane emerges as one of the greatest.  Despite his aggressive, all-action fighting style, Kane was a quiet, down to earth, and unpretentious man outside of the ring, who mainly fought because of his genuine love of boxing, rather than just for the money or a wish to be a public celebrity.  Indeed, its astonishing to find out that for most of his career Kane never even had a formal trainer.  Kane never became arrogant due to his successes, and he did not feel sorry for himself when things went wrong for him.

Peter Kane is a champion who deserves to be remembered, it is also fascinating to recall the times in which he lived, fought, and learn about his opponent’ lives and careers, and the world of boxing in general during his era.  This was a time when boxing was at its peak in terms of popularity and social importance, and every champion was a household name.

Hughes has previously written excellent biographies on ring greats Jock McAvoy, Johnny King, Jackie Brown, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Willie Pep.  He has produced another work with  “The Golborne Blacksmith: The Life and Times of the amazing Peter Kane,” which is to be recommended for any boxing fan who wishes to delve into the sport’s rich history and find out the life and career of one of the greatest of all flyweights, Peter Kane. 



*Book available directly from the author:


 http://www.brianhughesmbe.co.uk/Boxingbooks.html
 

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

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On This Day: Tommy Burns: World Heavyweight Champion Remembered

 

By Peter Silkov 

Tommy Burns is one of the most underrated boxers to have worn the World heavyweight championship. Born Noah Brusso in Ontario, Canada, Burns started his fighting career as a middleweight and never weighed much more than a light heavyweight, yet, he often fought fighters far bigger than himself. Standing just 5' feet and 7" inches, Burns was a strong and clever fighter, who fought out of a crouch, and offered his opponents an elusive, busy target. Despite his lack of size, Burns had a decent dig in his punch, along with good hand speed. Unfortunately, Burns’ career will always be marked by the fact that he lost his championship to Jack Johnson on December 26, 1908, making Johnson, the first man of colour to win sports greatest prize. It was a defeat that Burns was never truly forgiven in many quarters. Yet, he deserves credit for being one of the few white champions of his time who was willing to defend his world title against a black man, rather than continue to hide behind the 'colour bar' as previous champions, from Sullivan to Jeffries, did before him.

Burns won the world title after beating Marvin Hart on February 23, 1906, and went on to make an impressive 13 defences of his title over the next two years. Throughout his time as champion, Burns was continually hounded and challenged by Jack Johnson. Johnson followed Burns through out America, then to Europe, and finally to Australia, where Burns finally agreed to put his title on the line against the determined Jack Johnson. The match was no match at all, as Johnson played with Burns, before the police stopped the one sided beating after 14 rounds. After losing his title, Burns had a few more fights and even made a short comeback in 1920 at the age of 40, but could never escape the name of Jack Johnson. Although Burns was not a great heavyweight, he was undoubtedly an outstanding fighter to have spent most of his career fighting men so much bigger than him and only being outclassed when he came up against one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Had Burns stayed at the lighter weights of middleweight or light heavyweight, he may well have gained recognition as one of the greats. Tommy Burns’ final record was 46(34koes)-4-8.

After retirement, Burns would have many different professions. He was a manager, promoter, owned a clothing store, ran a speakeasy, insurance salesman, and at the end of his life, he had become an evangelist. At the age of 73 years old, Burns died from a heart attack in Vancouver, British Columbia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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