Ian McNeilly - name for the future

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 04 Mar 2004, 11:48

Check out Ian's piece on Adam Booth on http://britishboxing.net.
The man is undoubtedly a name to watch in the field of boxing journalism.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 04 Mar 2004, 11:54

Yeah, I agree - although I'm sure Danny won't like being called a veteran.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 04 Mar 2004, 11:56

stujones wrote:Yeah, I agree - although I'm sure Danny won't like being called a veteran.

Ian was being generous. I would call him a washed-up veteran.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 04 Mar 2004, 11:58

bennie wrote:
stujones wrote:Yeah, I agree - although I'm sure Danny won't like being called a veteran.
Ian was being generous. I would call him a washed-up veteran.

Can't say your not wrong on recent performance - but the guy is 29, not 35 the technical age of a veteran.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 04 Mar 2004, 11:59

stujones wrote:
bennie wrote:
stujones wrote:Yeah, I agree - although I'm sure Danny won't like being called a veteran.
Ian was being generous. I would call him a washed-up veteran.
Can't say your not wrong on recent performance - but the guy is 29, not 35 the technical age of a veteran.

I'm sure Danny is older than 29. Check that again, Stu.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 04 Mar 2004, 12:03

bennie wrote:
stujones wrote:
bennie wrote: Ian was being generous. I would call him a washed-up veteran.
Can't say your not wrong on recent performance - but the guy is 29, not 35 the technical age of a veteran.
I'm sure Danny is older than 29. Check that again, Stu.

Okay, he's 30 - still not 35.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 04 Mar 2004, 12:04

stujones wrote:
bennie wrote:
stujones wrote: Can't say your not wrong on recent performance - but the guy is 29, not 35 the technical age of a veteran.
I'm sure Danny is older than 29. Check that again, Stu.
Okay, he's 30 - still not 35.

Are you Danny's PR man?

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 04 Mar 2004, 12:10

bennie wrote:
stujones wrote:
bennie wrote: I'm sure Danny is older than 29. Check that again, Stu.
Okay, he's 30 - still not 35.
Are you Danny's PR man?

Sure, his PR man would have known his age. Its just I did find it odd that Danny is now been classed a veteran when just over a year ago he was labelled a prospect - prior to Sam.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 04 Mar 2004, 12:19

He's been fighting almost a decade now, which makes him a veteran in most people's eyes.

Most people have written Danny off, not because of his losses, but also his wins, he mentally seems too unpredictable, I wouldn't call him brittle, but he lacks focus, and at times his heart seems not to be in it.

Fighters with that sort of background never become world champion, it takes incredible self-belief and focus to become a world class fighter, and whilst Danny does have some tremendous physical attributes, I don't think he has the mental components to make the most of those gifts, and will sadly always fall short of his potential.

He looked good in spurts against Sprott, but threw away the fight with his stupid antics and spending whole rounds doing nothing. He also looked badly shaken up by Sprott, and a more ruthless and mentally strong fighter than Sprott would have pulverised him at that point.

I would never say Danny couldn't turn his career around, but he's had so many new starts that it's impossible not to be skeptical about him.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 04 Mar 2004, 12:27

Agreed James, I didn't think this one term would cause so many posts. I just personally think veteran should be used for the over 35's. Holyfield, Tyson, Francis, Skelton, they are veterans for me.

I think you could call Williams something like and "old pro", or experienced.

Just my opinion.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 04 Mar 2004, 12:36

Doesn't the "veteran" status have more to do with experience than age?

I'd class many under-30 fighters as veterans.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 04 Mar 2004, 12:43

Stu, I think you are mistaking the terms 'senior' and 'veteran'

Medina is definetly a veteran, although he's under 35, he's been boxing since he was 15...

35 or over is the definition of a senior in many sports, for instance it's the cut-off date for the seniors tennis tour.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 04 Mar 2004, 12:45

Medina was nothing less than a 60-fight veteran when he fought Naz, and was only 26.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 04 Mar 2004, 12:54

Different sports use different phrases, for athletics they use Veterans for the over 35's races. Your right about the tennis using seniors.

I suppose I was influenced by a sport magazine that I collected as a kid which highlighted sporting stars - those writers who point out if a boxer (Andries being one of them) had just turned 35 that "he's just entering the veteran stage" - this is how I viewed it.

Nothing technically wrong with calling Williams a veteran, just I don't class him as one.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 04 Mar 2004, 12:56

Excellent article Ian. Gym in Soho?! I've been working around here for over seven years and had no idea there were any gyms in the area.
Maybe I'm spending too much time in the pubs!

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 04 Mar 2004, 15:19

Thanks for the confidence booster lads! Adam Booth was a lovely bloke - one of those you know you would enjoy a pint with and could talk the fight game all night.

I nearly did - had to quickly end things when I realised I'd been talking to him on his mobile for 50 minutes!

His gym in Soho (I double checked!) is called 'The Third Space' if you want to check it out MW. Recently retired Gary Logan works there, taking one-to-ones.

Stu - re 'veteran'...to be honest I thought Danny was older than 30 which should tell you something! He's also a bloke I can never work out and I know I'm not alone in that.

I totally agree with James which is why in the article I called him 'mentally suspect' which is rather vague, purely because I can't work out what's up with his head - but it's obvious he hasn't fulfilled his potential. Adam Booth's reasoning was sound enough - if he manages to beat Hide and Krasniqi he's back in the mixer. You never know...can't see it myself though.

I definitely don't think you can equate age with 'veteran' status in boxing as you can in say, football. The Medina example is a great one. Weight class has a lot to do with it too, as we all should realise.

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 04 Mar 2004, 16:19

Yes, BritishBoxing.net have got a Gem in Mr McNeilly! :-)

Kev

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 04 Mar 2004, 17:04

Cheers Ian, I'll have to take a look at the place.

As for old DW, well anything is possible at heavy these days, just take a look at Golota: talk of an IBF title shot and he's not even rated!

Desperate times......

Matchfixer · Post by **Matchfixer** » 04 Mar 2004, 17:18

Good interview Mr N,

You obtained quite a bit there from a telephone interview.

I'm always happy to read about David Haye. Like somebody said about Audley in a different thread I will be able to follow Haye's career right from the beginning which I haven't been able to do with boxers before (owing to the fact I'm not an old granddad.)

P.S. I see the rankings date has been put back

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 04 Mar 2004, 17:20

Yes, sorry a few teething troubles with the site :-)

Kevin (Webmaster)
http://www.britishboxing.net

adamiw · Post by **adamiw** » 04 Mar 2004, 17:31

Good Stuff Ian! There's a few of us coming through, and it's great to see! Out of interest Ian, how old are ya!?

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 04 Mar 2004, 17:40

We're always looking for new writers to help out around the country so that we cover every card