One for the Boxing fans!

[Garveyplumbing]

Looking for a venue for a charity boxing evening hosted by a boxing legend! Anyone know of anything locally? Last one was at Oceania in Kingston and hosted by Roberto Duran and Tim Witherspoon! Had 10 local guys fight and Was a huge success!!

[KidKruger]

Carl Frampton put on an excellent display against formidable Kiko Martinez last night, to win the European Super Bantamweight title. TKO in 2nd half of bout (a short right that dropped Kiko, causing him trouble in standing up straight afterwards).

Martinez caught Frampton several times during the contest which hurt him (though Carl denies he was hurt), so he needs to look at his defence. Managed by Barry McGuigan, he's under excellent tutelage.

Check the fight on YouTube, it'd a cracker.

Frampton looks a really accomplished boxer but he's only had I think about 15-16 fights.

Scott Quigg might be next for him (the guy that beat Rendall Munroe with body shots in R2/3 recently).

One to watch in next coupla years maybe.

[david_carnell]

Anyone got any money on Gavin Rees for tonight? Big underdog but he's won at this level before (and lost too mind you).

I think he's a brave but limited fighter so will get stopped late on, probably 9 or 10. Broner, despite being unlikeable is just too good.

[KidKruger]

He's fought at 'world level' before, yes.

But never someone as gifted as Broner.

Rees could cause difficulties for Broner and in theory anyone can win a boxing match, but you have to anticipate a Rees loss.

Some say Rees has faced better opposition but I disagree, Broner's last contest against De Marco was impressive - I like Rees but this fight is a much different prospect than fighting Derry Matthews for a domestic title !!

I think Rees is at best European level, but it'd be interesting not see him against Kevin Mitchell or Ricky Burns.

If you're a betting man than ?10 could reap returns for a Gavin REES win I suppose.

Also, I thought the contest was Sat in USA ?

[Otta]

Yeah, it's tomorrow night (well Sunday morning). Expect him to show heart but be outclassed, like Hatton Vs Mayeather a few years back.

[KidKruger]

Would be cool if he 'did a Honeyghan' though - that'd be SOOO sweet.

Broner's remarkable but acts like a twat.

[Jeremy]

I think this will be even more one-sided than Hatton/Mayweather.

Still, Rees is a plucky little guy and I hope he gives a good account of himself.

[KidKruger]

You were right Jeremy, it finished earlier than Hatton/Mayweather.

Rees did get through to Broner in Rds 1 & 2 quite a bit, but in Rd3 it was all change and Broner dished-out some harsh punishment. Rees down in Rd4 from a great right uppercut, following which Gary Lockett the trainer (himself well beat by Kelly Pavlik a few years ago) told Rees he was pulling him out of the fight. Rees contested and was allowed out for the 5th, but it was, sadly, a one way street and well-timed left to the front body dropped Rees before the demolition proceeded and trainer Lockett threw in the towel.

Early on, Rees had prospects in the fight but Broner adjusted and closed the show with scary precision.

Broner's antics are sickening though, still pretending he didn't know Rees' name post-fight is plain bad taste.

[Jeremy]

Yep, Rees had a great start. But great fighters know how to adjust to their opponent, and change tactics.

Think it's fair to say that Rees has found his level, but hopefully he can pull himself together and we'll see him string together some more decent wins and brit/euro level.

[KidKruger]

Watched David Price get KO'd by Tony Thompson last night.

Some say it was a lucky punch or that Price has no chin.

I think Price just got too close and didn't have the experience (enough fights where he's tangled up-close) to deal with TT.

The people who've been saying Price is 2-3 fights away from facing one of the Klitschkos are crazy, why would a 15-0 professional fight a 50-3 champion ? That's sick in anyone's book surely ?

The punch didn't look that strong, which will fuel the comments about Price being weak-chinned.

Although Price's chin is arguably untested before last night, that blow to the neck could have disabled many a big fighter.

Price sure was a wobbly spectacle though when he stood up for the count, his balance was GONE !

[Otta]

It perforated his ear drum, so his balance would have been shot.

[KidKruger]

Bernard Hopkins, who many have said should retire due to his age at 48, beat Tavoris Cloud to win the IBF Light-Heavyweight world title. The win was emphatic and legitimate. Oldest world champ ever, apparently.

He beats a 31 year old world champion who's previously unbeaten with a high KO percentage, a strong punching athletic boxer.

I think if you're performing at that level without being dominated then regardless of your age people should respect your ability.

The guy's a testament to hard work and dedication, and should be an inspiration not only to novice boxers but to established veterans too.

On another note, on Friday Magomed Abdusalamov vs Viktor Bisbal was a cracker. Mago demonstrated weak defence again, but he will insist on keeping his feet within distance at all times, always within reach of his final KO punch. He also proved he has a good chin though I wish he'd learn some more movement, because he's limiting his chances at the the highest levels of HW boxing.

Continues to be an entertaining prospect though. A lit of leather exchanged in this contest.

This was the first time Magomed had been into the 5th round, having KO'd every single one of his previous 16 opponents inside 4 rounds. There's a decent youtube clip of the contest on-line.

[Otta]

Respect to Hopkins!

Looks like Frank Warren is on the decline. Groves left to go to Hearne, Burns has left and looks like going to Hearne. All he has is Cleverly, and to be honest, Cleverly's career so far hasn't exactly been well managed.

Is Frank's time up? Lets hope so!

[KidKruger]

Don't forget Frank's also got Chisora !!!

Lets see about Cleverly, I'm just not convinced (cos of who he's faced so far) that he's top tier. I'm think Dawson, Beibut Shumenov, Tavoris Cloud (and therefore Hopkins) would handily defeat Cleverly. Would live to be proved wrong though.

[KidKruger]

If you want to see a decent contest, YouTube the Tim Bradley v Ruslan Provodnikov contest from last weekend.

FoY candidate, loads of heart, two different styles, total war.

Both men came out with fans' respect I would think.

[KidKruger]

1. Gennady Golovkin is fighting Nobuhiro Ishida in Monte Carlo this Saturday, you'll probably be able to watch it free on p2p4u.net (good free streaming of sports) then on youtube from Sunday. He's got HEAVY hands. However, Ishida KO'd James Kirkland in R1 a couple of years ago, so he's no dud. GG is a feared middleweight, no other world champ at that weight wants to face him, which shows how pathetic the multi-belt situation with the numerous governing bodies is.

2. Audley Harrison is lined-up for Deontay Wilder on the Amir Khan undercard in Sheffield next month. DW is 27-0 (with 27 KOs !). DW is I think limited in style but was an Olympic medallist I believe (bronze). The USA think DW's the next big thing. But so was Seth Mitchell until a couple of months ago when Jonathan Banks did a KO Rd2 on him. I predict Harrison gets splatted in RD1-2. Harrison can beat DW easy, but because he freezes when the bombs come, he surely has no chance. If the best Audley turns-up, this is a walk in the park for him.

3. Haye finally lining up some fights for summer / autumn because he's finally realised you hav to EARN your shot, not just blag on telly to get it.

[Otta]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/22091309

"This is the door I must walk through," said Harrison. "Lose and it's over."

Lets hope so Audley for your own sake!

[Jeremy]

One part of me really admires the way he's managed to stretch out his career like this.

But as a (casual) boxing fan, there's little to admire. He has absolutely no business being in the ring with this guy.

[KidKruger]

To be fair to Fraudley, he's beaten better opposition, even recently, than his opponent Deontey Wilder has ever faced.

Deontay has not yet faced a top 90 opponent.

Harrison has the skills to KO Wilder, no doubt about that. There's even stories that each has dropped the other during sparring (Wilder helped Harrison prepare for the David Price contest, he's 6'7").

What will let harrison down if anything will be the ring fear once he gets clipped.

But if the Harrison that won the HW prizefighter tournament recently turns up (lightest weight ever and looking mean), then Wilder is gonna get KO'd.

Wilder is 27-0 (27 KOs) but he's literally been fighting guys with full-time jobs. He talks about fighting the K brothers but has not even fought people with the caliber of Michael Sprott or Matt Skelton yet.

If Wilder wins this bout he actually won't be much better-off than if he'd duffed-over his grandma, but he will have broken past the top 90 mark, something which harrison did years ago, well before his 28th fight.

This does not detract at all though form the crap that Harrison spouts year after year about redemption, last chance saloon, got my mind right, in the zone, realise my mistakes, and all the other feeble dribble he comes out with !

[KidKruger]

Just seen the BBC website, Harrison said "Win and I'm in the top 10 for sure, eligible to challenge for the world title. Biggest risk, for the biggest reward - it can't get any better than that."

Beating a guy who's never beaten anyone of note will not get you in the top 10 (unless the governing bodies are bent).

To get in the top 10 (again, all belts have a different top 10) he'd need to beat Kubrat Pulev, Povetkin, Fury, Tomas Adamek, Jonathan Banks, Robert Helenius.

Wilder is a bum, or a very talented boxer masquerading as a bum.

[Jeremy]

Have to admit that I hadn't looked up Wilder on Boxrec, I'd just read that he was a promising, unbeaten prospect. His record doesn't look so glorious when you look at the records of his oppponents.

I'll be glad if Audley really does "turn up" and put in a decent performance. But I'd also bet money against it.

[KidKruger]

Yes I'd bet money against it too, but when he does turn it on you wish he could bottle the stuff and take a dram before every contest.

I haven't checked Wilder on Boxrec yet, but from what I've read about him on the boxing sites the last year or two there's no point - I'd recognise virtually none of the names and the opponents are apparently unremarkable.

Nonito Donaire is fighting on Saturady in USA, he's Filipino, amazing left hook - watch the way he switched-off (I think it was) Abner Mares a couple of months ago. He's fighting Rigondeux, one of the best ever Cuban (therefore world class) amateurs, Rig is in like only his 13th fight or something crazy like that and on paper should lose - but he's full of surprises..

[KidKruger]

Did anyone see Tyson Fury lean, hold, butt and elbow his way to a victory last weekend ? oh yeah there wa sthe knockout punch too, but man was he dirty dirty in that contest. He was 44lbs heavier than opponent Steve Cunningham and used his body weight to stress Cunningham's legs whenever he could. Nevertheless Fury was dropped in the 2nd, before squashing Cunningham against the ropes, holding Cunningham's head in position with his left elbow, then KO'ing the poor opponent with his right. Shameful. Tyson's size and size only are his USP, not his boxing skills.

Cleverly also won against solid but limited (and smaller) opposition.

Scott Harrison lost on points, but against a very talented Liam Walsh (was scheduled to fight Ricky Burns last year).

This weekend it's Audley versus Wilder, Martin Murray versus Sergio Martinez (Middleweight), Khan(t) versus Diaz the soft puncher. I think we'll get one British win, just can't decide who.

[Otta]

Audley is back on the hunt for a title... According to Audley.

[KidKruger]

I'd love to see him waste Wilder in like 2 rounds..