Glen Catley's comeback

[oliverfennell]

Why didn't he keep it up?

[Deserter]

I don't know the exact answer, but I think he's done fairly well in business so didn't need the cash. Seem to recall reading something in the Bristol Evening Post about him having invested in property.
The only thing I could find on the net was this - http://www.bristoldojo.com/mma.html - so he's involved in training, but interestingly looks like he's helping out MMA fighters rather than am or pro boxers.

[mike john]

i think a determining factor was a lack of sponsorship. last heard he was doing a course in physio somethingorother

[Autobarn]

Seems like he came back fairly sharp.

What a run Catley had in the late '90s - winning British title thriller vs Neville Brown, unlucky in WBC title challenge to Woodhall, then goes on to stop Lucas in Canada in WBC elim, and then stop Beyer in Germany for the WBC crown.

[Deserter]

then goes on to stop Lucas in Canada in WBC elim, and then stop Beyer in Germany for the WBC crown.

You're completely right and he never got his dues for these two in particular - that rarity of a British fighter who went onto foreign turf and did the business with the minimum of fuss. Those victories were criminally ignored, even among hardcore fans.

[DavidPayne]

Weren't half ignored in Newbridge and Hertfordshire too hey?

Catley v Calzaghe in 99/00 would have been a belter.

[Poncey]

Catley v Francis would've been better.

[Dirk Kelly]

then goes on to stop Lucas in Canada in WBC elim, and then stop Beyer in Germany for the WBC crown.

You're completely right and he never got his dues for these two in particular - that rarity of a British fighter who went onto foreign turf and did the business with the minimum of fuss. Those victories were criminally ignored, even among hardcore fans.

And Robin Reid travelling to Italy to win the WBC title too.

[Autobarn]

Catley v Francis would've been better.

yeah definitely - a good style matchup as well. We had 4 or 5 very good super middles back then.

Don't think they would have fought, as they were both with the purple Bristol boys and - I believe - had the same promoter.

The promoters are the real champions, not the fighters!

[TerribleTerry]

Catley v Francis would've been better.

They used to spar regularly at Sanigar's, of course.

From what I heard Francis used to boss the sparring - is that right?

(a real fight could have been an entirely different proposition though..)

[Poncey]

Catley v Francis would've been better.

They used to spar regularly at Sanigar's, of course.

From what I heard Francis used to boss the sparring - is that right?

(a real fight could have been an entirely different proposition though..)

I'd heard that too, but take those stories with a pinch of salt sometimes. What a cracker it'd have been.

Sigh.

[EddieShredder]

Catley v Francis would've been better.

They used to spar regularly at Sanigar's, of course.

From what I heard Francis used to boss the sparring - is that right?

(a real fight could have been an entirely different proposition though..)

I'd heard that too, but take those stories with a pinch of salt sometimes. What a cracker it'd have been.

Sigh.

Thats what I've heard too, from someone who trained there and used to spar wth both

[Coco]

Yeah I had a pal who used to train there and he said the same. He sparred with both too and Francis had that extra touch of class, was very big and strong at the weight too(super middle at the time)

JC also stopped Catley in the amateurs

[Deserter]

Thats what I've heard too, from someone who trained there and used to spar wth both

I watched a few of their sessions at The Empire and that was the impression I got. As Coco says, Francis really did ooze that extra bit of class. Having said that they appeared to get on really well together so I don't think you can read too much into those spars.
It's also easy to forget that Glen was more of a natural middle who moved up to super-middle because there were more opportunities there. This lends even more credit to his achievements.

[whiskey]

I shook his hand at the first Hatton promotion in Birmingham the other month and i thought he was a true gent.

He was certainly more middleweight than super-middle framewise too.

[Autobarn]

Catley did look just like a blown up middle vs Woodhall. I felt Catley did enough to win. He did seem to get a fair bit stroner at the weight afterward.

Massive step up in class winning British title vs Neville Brown (British title fight) to challenging Richie Woodhall (WBC title) in what I believe were consecutive fights.

Catley was a bloke who took the opportunities and really stepped up. Shame about the shifty Thobela fight.

[stujones]

Catley got absolutely shafted against Haussler in their first meeting.

I think Catley's achievements in winning the title are much better than Reid's - Nardiello is among the worst ever world titlest, and it wasn't like he was dominating the contest (like Colin Lynes was the a few months ago).

[Autobarn]

What happened, did he stop Haussler with a punch causing a cut, and then get robbed with it ruled a head clash - something like that?

So he should have had a EBU title, to go with his British title and WBC crown? Not a bad collection...

[Deserter]

What happened, did he stop Haussler with a punch causing a cut, and then get robbed with it ruled a head clash - something like that?

So he should have had a EBU title, to go with his British title and WBC crown? Not a bad collection...

That was the second Haussler fight. From memory he got shafted in both.

[bennie]

Weren't half ignored in Newbridge and Hertfordshire too hey?

Catley v Calzaghe in 99/00 would have been a belter.

They fought as amateurs. Calzaghe stopped him.

[stujones]

What happened, did he stop Haussler with a punch causing a cut, and then get robbed with it ruled a head clash - something like that?

So he should have had a EBU title, to go with his British title and WBC crown? Not a bad collection...

That was the second Haussler fight. From memory he got shafted in both.

Yep, he got shafted on points in the first fight - to be fair he would have been a tad lucky in the rematch. He was definately behind, but seemed to be getting back into it at the time of the stoppage - but Haussler was worthy of a comfortable lead.

First fight was a terrible decision, Catley boxed his brains off - even flooring Haussler.

Yep, he is not bad - whilst I think his chin would have let him down vs Joe's work rate. The guys who laugh off the likes of David Payne for brining him up are out of order. He essentially "beat" one of Joe's better victims and did beat Lucas and Beyer.

[ArtOfWar]

I remember watching a good piece about Catley's fight with Dingaan Thobela in South Africa. There was some foul play that night and it seemed as though the South African had loaded gloves. It would be interesting to get Catley's take on that fight now and what he thought about Thobela's punches that night.

[Coco]

I remember watching a good piece about Catley's fight with Dingaan Thobela in South Africa. There was some foul play that night and it seemed as though the South African had loaded gloves. It would be interesting to get Catley's take on that fight now and what he thought about Thobela's punches that night.

Sanigar complained to the WBC about the loaded gloves and a rematch was ordered, but Thobela lost the title in the first defence which is why Catley had the Lucas(I think) rematch

[stujones]

It was very harsh of the WBC to make Cately fight Lucas again.... he should have been automatically stated to fight for the WBC crown. Although with the new champ Hilton banged up maybe a fight with Lucas should have been for the title.

[ciscokid]

I remember watching a good piece about Catley's fight with Dingaan Thobela in South Africa. There was some foul play that night and it seemed as though the South African had loaded gloves. It would be interesting to get Catley's take on that fight now and what he thought about Thobela's punches that night.

Sanigar complained to the WBC about the loaded gloves and a rematch was ordered, but Thobela lost the title in the first defence which is why Catley had the Lucas(I think) rematch

What's the deal with loaded gloves? Can someone explain please?