So, are domestic superfights important?

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 09 Mar 2008, 15:19

Post Haye-Macca, I am hoping more major domestic fights will happen. Ok, you all know I'm thinking of Hatton-Witter. In lieu of Haye-Mac's atmosphere, sense of spectacle, brutal KO, pre-fight mind games all of which got us talking, does anyone want more big events like this between 2 Brits?

The Setanta hype asked "what makes British rivalries so great? / The fans." Don't want to start another Hatton-Witter thread, though this would be more of a grudge match as well as qualifying as a "unification" of sorts.

I can envision a few big world class domestic bouts in about 3 years time, from the current crop of lightweights and super feathers when they peak. Khan, Murray, Truscott, Fewkes, Mitchell, are all very promising. The lightweights have been busted wide open after Nate Campbell (!) beating the supposedly unbeatable Juan Diaz last night.

What does anyone think? Can anyone think of any others (Calzaghe-Woods, I suppose), and does Haye-Mac make this more relevant?

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 09 Mar 2008, 15:42

Calzaghe v Froch if we wins against Inkin and Moore v Pryce spring to mind.

Khan v Thaxton.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 09 Mar 2008, 15:52

Or would we rather perhaps see our fighters beating top international opposition? Rather than domestic superfights.

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 09 Mar 2008, 15:56

We just want to see good fights, more competitive undercards. Prospects need competitive fights.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 09 Mar 2008, 16:00

I agree leforge, it was so necessary to have a thrilling undercard, while we are waiting for the main fight. With a big fight liek Haye-Mac, you need a good undercard to get your adrenaline up. A bad undercard does nothing but frustrate and make ppl impatient.

Anyway, re the need for domestic superfights: maybe it was a bit of Frank/Setanta rhetoric, to justify Enzo's big-fight-at-the-right-time?

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 09 Mar 2008, 16:06

I think its not good for a channel to have exclusive contract with one promoter, they should just show good fights. Last nights bill I would like to see better undercard fights than all the talking

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 09 Mar 2008, 19:38

yeah, when they're not telling you how to subcribe to Setanta their coverage is very hermetically sealed in favour of Warren fighters. Was good to see the rug get pulled from under everything so the layman viewers learn not to take it all as gospel.

Maybe this will teach Setanta that Warren promoting and Enzo Cal training does not a win guarantee.

jeej · Post by **jeej** » 09 Mar 2008, 22:37

I don't really know if I DO want to see Calzaghe VS Froch. After the Hopkins fight I think he will be spent, and although I'm sure he would still be able to deal with most opponents, for me personally, there wouldn't be much honour in taking out a spent man.

Ironically a bit like what Calzaghe is going to do to Hopkins. I'm sure lots of people will argue that Hopkins is still good, and that Calzaghe will still be good post Hopkins - but I would rather see fights between top contenders in their respective primes.

However, I do see the whole "passing of the torch" theme and do understand why it does happen. But you'll always get the excuses, i.e. Hatton VS Kostya, Hatton VS Castillo, Calzaghe VS Eubank. "He was spent, so it isn't that special."

STP · Post by **STP** » 09 Mar 2008, 23:22

Joe and Hopkins are BALDING (Eubank was when he fought Calzaghe, too). They should retire after their 'superfight', and should be ashamed of themselves for not fighting when they had hair.

But yeah, I like 'domestic superfights'.

Glyn Leach · Post by **Glyn Leach** » 10 Mar 2008, 04:11

Would be nice if they were on at a "British" time though. I think the 3am starts alienate a large percentage of the domestic TV viewing audience, who would pack out the pubs for a 10pm start

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 10 Mar 2008, 05:33

No doubt Glyn, I know a lot of non boxings who were talking to me about the Haye v Maccarinelli fight before hand but I don't think any of them actually watched it. 10:00, on in a pub, excellent.

Also spot on Leforge, and Adam Booth said it really well after the fight, there is no shame in losing whilst taking a risk. Whilst i'm not saying prospects should be put in with Roman Karmazin at a weight they really shouldn't be fighting at, the examples of a John Fewkes and Craig Watson are what our prospects should really be aiming for.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 10 Mar 2008, 07:21

Glyn Leach wrote:Would be nice if they were on at a "British" time though. I think the 3am starts alienate a large percentage of the domestic TV viewing audience, who would pack out the pubs for a 10pm start

Im a huge fan and I almost went to sleep on Saturday night. Mitchell-Johansen woke me back up though

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 10 Mar 2008, 08:25

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:Calzaghe v Froch if we wins against Inkin and Moore v Pryce spring to mind.

Khan v Thaxton.

I will second those choices but top of my list is still Hatton/Witter

Glyn Leach · Post by **Glyn Leach** » 10 Mar 2008, 11:05

Lenny wrote: Also spot on Leforge, and Adam Booth said it really well after the fight, there is no shame in losing whilst taking a risk. Whilst i'm not saying prospects should be put in with Roman Karmazin at a weight they really shouldn't be fighting at, the examples of a John Fewkes and Craig Watson are what our prospects should really be aiming for.

Very impressed by Booth's positive manner - some may view him as an outsider but I think he has a fresh approach and a welcome one.

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 10 Mar 2008, 15:33

Domestic!!

Witter Vs Hatton ( Shame on Hatton)
Calzaghe Vs Froch
Macklin Vs Duddy
Alex Arthur Vs Kevin Mitchell

Domestic fights are great and when one f them has a World Title - it is even better.

Shame on Hatton, but I understand he is scared.l

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 10 Mar 2008, 15:35

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 10 Mar 2008, 15:55

Glyn Leach wrote:Would be nice if they were on at a "British" time though. I think the 3am starts alienate a large percentage of the domestic TV viewing audience, who would pack out the pubs for a 10pm start

Great point.

I'm fed up of domestic battles being put on at times to suit another country that might not even be that interested in the 2 combatants.

I yearn for the days of Benn, Eubank & co, when their mega battles were screened a a decent time & benifitted from massive viewing figures.

The thing is, it's never going to change, as we have started down this road & there's no way back.

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 10 Mar 2008, 15:57

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:Calzaghe v Froch if we wins against Inkin and Moore v Pryce spring to mind.

Khan v Thaxton.

All great shouts.

I'm dying to see Calzaghe - Froch; just to see how good Froch really is.

He looks a great prospect, but JC is the best; so it would be a great test of his mettle.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 11 Mar 2008, 07:00

Nothing captures the imagination like a domestic superfight, in general I prefer them more than an international superfight, but there's definately room for both.

Hatton - Witter is obviously at the top of my wish list, closely followed by Calzaghe - Froch, then Amir-Thaxton and a round-robin between Scott Harrison - Alex Arthur - Kevin Mitchell and Moore-Pryce.....

.....so if the promoters could see their war to arranging all these for me by the end of the year, I'd be very appreciative

el_grande_mauro_mina · Post by **el_grande_mauro_mina** » 12 Mar 2008, 13:18

Domestic superfights are not THAT important. They are only superfights in the country of origin of the fighter - we all should know by now that Hatton will not fight Witter and his legacy is not going to be tarnished on a worldwide level.

South Korea had two outstanding world light flyweight champions (that I got to know about in the world scene in both the ring magazine and boxing news) Myung Woo Yuh who was the WBA champion and made about 18 defences and Jung Koo Chang who was the WBC champion and he made about 22 title defences - all against good challengers - and they never fought each other! Amazing!

And then you had Jun Hwan Choi hold the IBF light flyweight title for 2 years thus South Korea held all the versions of the world light flyweight title and no-one ever thought about making a unification match!