Fewkes blows it on the scales

[Poncey]

I agree the gold was some justification, but the World Championships are like the Euros compared to the World Cup when it comes to the Olympics. That surely must've been the ABAs main objective set?

My only bug bear is the money he was paid past the World Championships (£2k a month) for a weight division he was never going to be able to make. Boxing, compared to most Olympic sports, was very well funded.

A lad at my gym has already won an Olympic medal and gets nowhere near the the amount the Boxers get from UK Sport (and that doesn't include the funding they've made to the foundations of Amateur Boxing, ready for 2012) and has to train in a public pool and work there sometimes just to be able to go to Beijing.

[dondada]

Ian,
For obvious reasons I'm gonna keep out of the way, but am I correct in saying Glyn blames Fewkey 100% for this ?

All I'll say is John passed his final weight check no problem earlier this week. He's not a baby - he's 23 years old and 17-0.

I've followed John since his pro debut. He's a mate of mine. I'm gutted for him. In saying that, if he wins tonight I still think he's in pole position for a British title shot and he'll hopefully have learned a lesson.

I notice you are not as scathing at your mate John's lack of 'professionalism' as you were over Frankie Gavin's Ian!

Its easy to take a double standard I suppose where mates are concerned..

I haven't got double standards. I call it as I see it. I told John to his face he has thrown loads of rounds away in the past messing about. I've told Chris Burton (another mate) when he's been off. I've called John daft here - and it seems he has been. Bloody stupid if it's down to carelessness.

The difference is that Fewkes hasn't spewed in 75k a year of lottery funding and blown a chance to represent his country. If he simply outgrew the division though and it was physically impossible to get down, I do feel for him though.

[Wales]

Isnt there also a a counter argument that Gavin is an AMATEUR whilst Fewkes is a PROFFESSIONAL?

Fewkes should be making weight, it's been no secret (apparently) that he's been living the high life after his Sky Sports showings. Gavin on the othe rhand appears to have (according to reports) worked his ass off to make the weight which he simply couldnt.

[dondada]

Isnt there also a a counter argument that Gavin is an AMATEUR whilst Fewkes is a PROFFESSIONAL?

Fewkes should be making weight, it's been no secret (apparently) that he's been living the high life after his Sky Sports showings. Gavin on the othe rhand appears to have (according to reports) worked his ass off to make the weight which he simply couldnt.

Amateur? With 75k a year tax free and a big team behind him? Much better position than most pros.

But you're right - you're a professional, it's your job, it's sloppy.

But this Gavin analogy is utter shite. There's another fight down the road whenever John wants one. For Gavin, the Olympics is (usually) a once in a lifetime chance.

If some of you think because he's a mate I'm going to defend Fewkes, you don't know me at all. Sounds like he's been a dingbat.

However, I love this 'living the high life after his Sky Sports showings' and '20lbs overweight'.

Where on earth do you lot get this from? Beagleboys is from John's neck of the woods mind, so maybe he's heard something. The life can't have been too high if he made his fecking check weight on Monday though!

John's a little lad. If he was 20lbs overweight, you would be able to bounce the fornicator and put him through a hoop.

[JamesH]

I have sympathy for both Gavin and Fewkes.

As for the defence of Fewkes, I think the fact that the English title is lower profile than the Olympics will mean the criticism generally won't be as harsh as it was for Gavin. Obviously lesson's need to be learned in both cases...

"John's a little lad. If he was 20lbs overweight, you would be able to bounce the fornicator and put him through a hoop."

like it

[TerribleTerry]

Ian the Gavin analogy is not utter sh1te – as I remember it you were one of the ‘head on a plate’ brigade over Frankie’s weight (if this is not the case then I apologies, but at the time I seem to remember you being particularly ‘black and white’on the issue.)

Now we have a situation where your pall has come in over the limit for a professional title fight and it’s a case of ‘silly sod I hope learns from this’

Where is the professionalism here? Is Fewkes body fat percentage hovering at a dangerously low level as Gavin’s was - I very much doubt it. Did Fewkes break down in tears at the news he had missed the limit? We both know the answer to that.

Lets have it right – Fewkes is one of my favourite pros on the circuit and I love watching him do his thing; he has skills to burn.

That said, the same people who wanted to see Gavin publically hung drawn and quartered over missing the Olympic weight (a weight which he would have had to maintain for the whole tournament, not just 5 mins on a Friday afternoon, remember) are willing to give Fewkes a pass on this.

Gethin had the professionalism and ‘hunger’ to come in on weight (he is much bigger then Fireball, as I am sure you are aware). Lets be thankful Gethin is a warrior and not a whinger, otherwise lots of ordinary boxing fans would be out of pocket right now.

Fewkes jeopardised the fight and put his and Gethin’s travelling support in a difficult position – have you ever tried to get hotel costs/ fight tickets refunded so late in the day? It doesn’t happen.

[Counter-puncher]

Lets have it right – Fewkes is one of my favourite pros on the circuit and I love watching him do his thing; he has skills to burn.

(a weight which Gavin would have had to maintain for the whole tournament, not just 5 mins on a Friday afternoon, remember)

Gethin had the professionalism and ‘hunger’ to come in on weight (he is much bigger then Fireball, as I am sure you are aware). Lets be thankful Gethin is a warrior and not a whinger, otherwise lots of ordinary boxing fans would be out of pocket right now.

Fewkes jeopardised the fight and put his and Gethin’s travelling support in a difficult position – have you ever tried to get hotel costs/ fight tickets refunded so late in the day? It doesn’t happen.

these are all points i agree with

[dondada]

OK, utter shite is perhaps a bit strong. But so is accusing someone of double standards.

Yes, I was saying the weight issue was Gavin's fault. I'm saying the weight issue is Fewkes' fault.

I was harsh on Gavin. I'm probably being less harsh on Fewkes.

Right, here's the differences I'd like you to try and understand.

Gavin was going to box in the Olympics which is a once in a lifetime thing (usually). Fewkes was going to box in an English title match (wow) which he could do four times a year if he wanted.

Fewkes has been stupid/careless and let himself, his team and his fans down. He hasn't had a penny out of the public purse.

Gavin (with the caveat that if he'd simply outgrown the division, genuinely, I'll take it all back - I'm led to believe this isn't the case) was stupid/careless and let himself, his team, his fans, and the country who has funded him very nicely thank you down.

And why are you so vocal in his defence? Is he your mate or something?

[Counter-puncher]

doesn't the fact that fewkes only had to make the weight for '5 minutes on a friday afternoon' in itself make any comparisons with the gavin situation baseless?

[beagleboy]

When I've had an upset stomach I've dropped weight
I saw Fewkes a couple of weeks after the Murray pull-out and he looked way overweight

[DavidPayne]

So does the fight go on at catchweight, how much was he over by I dont thinbk anyone has said yet have they.

[kevin]

It does say it in the piece that was linked to originally 1lb 3oz and he just couldn't get rid of it

[glahn]

Very disappointing but hardly surprising given the current climate.

[TerribleTerry]

OK, utter shite is perhaps a bit strong. But so is accusing someone of double standards.

Yes, I was saying the weight issue was Gavin's fault. I'm saying the weight issue is Fewkes' fault.

I was harsh on Gavin. I'm probably being less harsh on Fewkes.

Right, here's the differences I'd like you to try and understand.

Gavin was going to box in the Olympics which is a once in a lifetime thing (usually). Fewkes was going to box in an English title match (wow) which he could do four times a year if he wanted.

Fewkes has been stupid/careless and let himself, his team and his fans down. He hasn't had a penny out of the public purse.

Gavin (with the caveat that if he'd simply outgrown the division, genuinely, I'll take it all back - I'm led to believe this isn't the case) was stupid/careless and let himself, his team, his fans, and the country who has funded him very nicely thank you down.

And why are you so vocal in his defence? Is he your mate or something?

In all fairness Ian I was out of order to call you out for double standards on the basis of what you posted this morning - I have know you for long enough to know you are a committed and even handed journalist.

I suppose I was just still bitter over all the stick that came Gavin's way in Beijing. I am not his mate but I am good friends with one of his amateur trainers so I have followed the lad since he was a junior and know how committed he is to boxing and how hard he and the team at Hall Green ABC have worked (for such a young gym to have produced a world champ is nothing short of a phenominal success).

Having every tom, dick and harry slag off Britains only ever Amateur World Champion as though he was some sort of lay about, kebab eating slob just stuck in my throat. (and no Terry, it wasn't solely because he comes from the greatest city on earth..)

Gavin is staying amateur for the time being and will hopefully bring some more silverwear home from the Europeans in Liverpool to justify his continued amateur funding.

As for Fewkes he needs to take along hard look at just what he is pissing away. There will be no 40 grand purses tabled for him in the forseeable future - he needs to take grasp of his pro career now before he wastes his undoubted promise.

Well done Gethin - a proud and worthy English champion.

[Scrap]

Terreible Terry Agree with every word, except the Greatest City bit

[Gray-Fox]

Why are people still banging on about Gavin? Let it drop.

[TerribleTerry]

Sorry mate, wasn't taking the piss, was just messing about a bit. Personally I think the ABA played a role in the situation but that is a minority view.

Enjoy the fights tomorrow, going myself but not sure of the ticketing arrangements yet.

Terry

No worries mucka -
I think my wife's period must be catching (can that even happen?!.. ) I need to chill out a bit.

I will be 3 parts cut by the time the doors open tomorrow afternoon but will keep an eye out for anyone who looks like they spend too much time haunting internet forums.... and give em a wide birth.... ha,ha

nah, in all seriousness lets hope its a good show and one that raises the profile of British boxing for the right reasons!

[dondada]

OK, utter shite is perhaps a bit strong. But so is accusing someone of double standards.

Yes, I was saying the weight issue was Gavin's fault. I'm saying the weight issue is Fewkes' fault.

I was harsh on Gavin. I'm probably being less harsh on Fewkes.

Right, here's the differences I'd like you to try and understand.

Gavin was going to box in the Olympics which is a once in a lifetime thing (usually). Fewkes was going to box in an English title match (wow) which he could do four times a year if he wanted.

Fewkes has been stupid/careless and let himself, his team and his fans down. He hasn't had a penny out of the public purse.

Gavin (with the caveat that if he'd simply outgrown the division, genuinely, I'll take it all back - I'm led to believe this isn't the case) was stupid/careless and let himself, his team, his fans, and the country who has funded him very nicely thank you down.

And why are you so vocal in his defence? Is he your mate or something?

In all fairness Ian I was out of order to call you out for double standards on the basis of what you posted this morning - I have know you for long enough to know you are a committed and even handed journalist.

I suppose I was just still bitter over all the stick that came Gavin's way in Beijing. I am not his mate but I am good friends with one of his amateur trainers so I have followed the lad since he was a junior and know how committed he is to boxing and how hard he and the team at Hall Green ABC have worked (for such a young gym to have produced a world champ is nothing short of a phenominal success).

Having every tom, dick and harry slag off Britains only ever Amateur World Champion as though he was some sort of lay about, kebab eating slob just stuck in my throat. (and no Terry, it wasn't solely because he comes from the greatest city on earth..)

Gavin is staying amateur for the time being and will hopefully bring some more silverwear home from the Europeans in Liverpool to justify his continued amateur funding.

As for Fewkes he needs to take along hard look at just what he is pissing away. There will be no 40 grand purses tabled for him in the forseeable future - he needs to take grasp of his pro career now before he wastes his undoubted promise.

Well done Gethin - a proud and worthy English champion.

Great post TT. And good luck to Gethin. You're right about Fewkes - if he doesn't learn from this, then bye bye to a very promising career. No way is he a light-welter.

I think he just needs to keep on top of things a bit more - he has done this in the past. I can't remember what fight it was recently but he did 9 9 easy because he did it the right way.

Not having the trainer who's been with him since a kid in the corner must have been a real wake up call too.

Oh, and by the way, a really nice touch from Ricky Hatton who came up to offer some words of comfort and advice to John in the dressing room. Very classy.

[twenty six]

Ian,
Who did the corner work ?
Haven't seen it yet.
Was Matt around ?

[dondada]

Ian,
Who did the corner work ?
Haven't seen it yet.
Was Matt around ?

Matt, Lee Edwards and Les, I think. Matt was so gutted he felt like he was responsible in some way but, as I told him, Eddie Futch wouldn't have got John through that. Matt was ready to put the towel in but John Keane's stoppage was spot on.

[stujones]

I think he just needs to keep on top of things a bit more - he has done this in the past. I can't remember what fight it was recently but he did 9 9 easy because he did it the right way.

Not having the trainer who's been with him since a kid in the corner must have been a real wake up call too.

Oh, and by the way, a really nice touch from Ricky Hatton who came up to offer some words of comfort and advice to John in the dressing room. Very classy.

Yes, if he has done 9 9 comfortably in the recent past, then it shouldn't be a problem cause at 23 he isn't going to be fill out that much more for a while anyway.

Although, argueably his most impressive performance vs Watson was a few pounds over. He could be a British champion at Light Welter.

[twenty six]

So what's the crack with Glyn not being there ?

[dondada]

So what's the crack with Glyn not being there ?

I'm not saying on a public forum...but I don't think it takes much working out anyway mate.