John Simpson V Stevie Bell- on the Khan card

[whicker]

Another good scrap on the Khan bill- Simpson V the prospect Stevie Bell for the commonwealth belt. Should be a very good fight- keen local fight V skillful veteran.

I think Simpson should be able to win this, and then be looking to rematch with Paul Truscott.

Also another good support bout on the Khan Barrera card- as it stands this event looks to be very good indeed.

Hope that this sticks....

[teddy007]

Dont see what bell has done to deserve this, very very average pro but quite a good amateur.

[bennie]

New Commonwealth featherweight king John Simpson defends against Manchester’s Steve Bell on the big Khan-Barrera bill at the MEN Arena in Manchester on March 14.
Simpson only won the title last month with a fine injury stoppage of previously unbeaten local man Paul Truscott in Middlesbrough in the eighth round. It was the latest in a series of stunning ‘away’ performances from the gritty, schooled, stiff-hitting Scot, whose dour approach allows him to stay with home opponents in the early danger rounds before he piles it on from the middle going with crisp, accurate, incessant work to overcome most of those opponents and most of the hostile support, if not always the judges.
In Hereford in 2005 Simpson was blatantly robbed against local man Dazzo Williams for the British featherweight title. In Liverpool in 2007 he was butted into a bloody mess by “Dirty” Derry Matthews but robbed again at the end of 12 thrilling rounds (he had Matthews down). Simpson is a domestic throwback, the Glen Johnson of British boxing. He waited for years for his time in the sun.
It came, finally, when he captured the British featherweight title with a come-from-behind cuts stoppage of Andy Morris down in London (from a punch) and when he smashed Morris in seven rounds in defence of the title in London (from a hundred punches). He also clattered Londoner Ryan Barrett in five rounds in another defence in London and was one win away away from a Lonsdale Belt outright (which he deserves, along with a European title shot) when he dropped the belt on a contentious decision to talented fellow Scot Paul Appleby in Glasgow last year. A dubious knockdown suffered by Simpson (it looked like a slip) cost him on the cards.
The ex-champion refused to sulk and saw the Truscott shot as a route back to the unbeaten Appleby and the magnificent Lonsdale Belt. It was a chance he took. Trust me, to get the better of a tall, young, workaholic ‘mover’ like Truscott in the North East took some doing. With young Appleby apparently tied to a British title defence against Belfast’s Martin Lindsay, in comes the tall Bell firstly, a man who has done much of his fighting at super-featherweight. Indeed, Bell looked a little unlucky to drop a tight decision to Femi Fehintola for the English super-featherweight title in Nottingham in 2007. Bell put Fehintola down early, thought he was a puncher and allowed himself to be outhustled. The defeat remains Bell’s only one in 19 fights (two draws) and he has won four on the spin since. He does a bit of modelling and acting on the side and I once caught him in the worst TV soap ever made. The big Manchester crowd there to see Khan’s big Barrera fight will obviously root for Bell. He was a good amateur who captained the England boxing team in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester but lacks a huge punch and natural speed and is no spring chicken at 33 (eight years older than Simpson). He also has a habit of marking up round the cheekbones. History tells us us Simpson is more than capable of walking into the Lion’s Den and taming the beast.
History has a habit of repeating itself.

[chrisfinch]

So what is definitely confirmed for March 14th then?

Khan vs Barrera
Enzo Mac vs Alofabi
Cook vs Martinez
Pryce vs Hall
Simpson vs Bell

Looks a healthy night of Boxing, the main event, two world title fights (sort of) and two Commonwealth fights. Not bad for the £50 for a ticket I spent.

[WayoftheCass]

So what is definitely confirmed for March 14th then?

Khan vs Barrera
Enzo Mac vs Alofabi
Cook vs Martinez
Pryce vs Hall
Simpson vs Bell

Looks a healthy night of Boxing, the main event, two world title fights (sort of) and two Commonwealth fights. Not bad for the £50 for a ticket I spent.

Unfortunately with the promoters history of giving us cards which are subject to serious 11th hour call offs, I'll believe it when I actually see it. Don't want to sound bitter but I've been stung twice by FW's moving of goalposts and turning great bills into farces a couple of times in London and Belfast, both of which were expensive for me to get to and stay in.
As for John he has an amazing away record. Most thought he was unlucky against young Appleby and there has to be a rematch. Paul is a very good prospect and his progress is even more impressive considering his young age and relative inexperience. Though he has a hell of a fight on his hand in Martin Lindsay who blew away Derry Mathews last time out in a war.
Its a shame John Simpson's accomplishments get so little coverage up here. Kevin Anderson and so far Appleby have also slipped through the media cracks. As for as the Scottish boxing press is concerned coverage of the game starts with Alex Arthur and ends with Scott Harrison. Outside of Boxing News I had hardly heard of Aberdeen's talented Lee McAllister until he fought John Murray recently. I thought he gave a very good account of himself. Willie Limond gets decent coverage from the local Glasgow press but I actually think he's no where near as talented as Simpson and has not defeated the level of opposition that John has.
John's massacre of Andy Morris in their rematch was the most exciting away Scottish boxing display since Scott Harrison's travels. He's a similar character to Harrison. Bullish, with little to say. But thankfully leads a less lively social life. I sincerely wish him all of the best on March 14th if his fight comes to pass.

[jlh]

Good Matchup. Can't see why frankie is putting all these fights on though, surely it would sell out with the top three fights.. Don't understand why he is putting good decent domestic scarps lik hall vs pryce and now this...
Not known to be generous to the fans!!!

[doctorboxing]

As for as the Scottish boxing press is concerned coverage of the game starts with Alex Arthur and ends with Scott Harrison. Outside of Boxing News I had hardly heard of Aberdeen's talented Lee McAllister until he fought John Murray recently.

Have a look at Britishboxing.net - imo better coverage than most of the nationals by a long long way.

http://www.britishboxing.net/news_4204- ... -2009.html

Thats a preview of Scottish boxing in 2009 with more than just Arthur and Harrison.

As for the Simpson fight, I think Simpson wins and gets a shot at the winner of Appleby-Lindsay at some point in the future

[whicker]

So what is definitely confirmed for March 14th then?

Khan vs Barrera
Enzo Mac vs Alofabi
Cook vs Martinez
Pryce vs Hall
Simpson vs Bell

Looks a healthy night of Boxing, the main event, two world title fights (sort of) and two Commonwealth fights. Not bad for the £50 for a ticket I spent.

Unfortunately with the promoters history of giving us cards which are subject to serious 11th hour call offs, I'll believe it when I actually see it.

This might well be the case, yeah. I hope not, of course, but things do change. This card does SEEM to ebe very solid.

Its actually not much more than three weeks away, too.

[black panther]

Good fight but I reckon Simpson might stop him with body shots. Also, Bell has never made the featherweight limit in his entire career and at 33 I think that may take something out of him. Looks to be a cracking card I have to say!

[n1ebf]

So what is definitely confirmed for March 14th then?

Khan vs Barrera
Enzo Mac vs Alofabi
Cook vs Martinez
Pryce vs Hall
Simpson vs Bell

Looks a healthy night of Boxing, the main event, two world title fights (sort of) and two Commonwealth fights. Not bad for the £50 for a ticket I spent.

Chris Finch lol like the bloke out The Office isnt it?

I am going to this event one way or another...my only reservation is 5yrs ago when I was last there the ring was like a postage stamp from my seat...we moved closer as there weren't too many there for our bout, Matthew Hatton Franny Jones...
So I'm not sure what type of ticket to go for. Some seats 20 yards from the ring will be a fortune but I don't think they're better cos of the angle you're looking up you can see the boxers from about the ankles/ shins up as I remember. Unless you are in the auditorium it's hard to tell off a website like ticketmaster what you're getting.
Where did u get your ticket incidentally and have you received it yet?

Am looking forward to main fight. I like Khan but am tippin Barrera. Also Pryce Hall (Pryce for me)........I got no clue wat to expect of Enzo Mac (I've read on here that he's decently matched - I will reserve judgement til I see it)...and people are talking that Martinez fella up bigtime too....sounds like Nicky Cook fight could be very good. Added to that you got a couple Commonwealth fights too so it should be good, lookin to get my ticket or tickets soon as I don't want to risk it selling out. Billy Bessey told me not to count my chickens on some of the fights coming off and he's right I expect but touch wood they all should be on

[whicker]

I am going to this event one way or another...my only reservation is 5yrs ago when I was last there the ring was like a postage stamp from my seat...we moved closer as there weren't too many there for our bout, Matthew Hatton Franny Jones...
So I'm not sure what type of ticket to go for. Some seats 20 yards from the ring will be a fortune but I don't think they're better cos of the angle you're looking up you can see the boxers from about the ankles/ shins up as I remember. Unless you are in the auditorium it's hard to tell off a website like ticketmaster what you're getting.
Where did u get your ticket incidentally and have you received it yet?

The best value for money are the £50 lower tier ones, Row J of block 111 last time I looked. They are in the lower tier, at the back and side part of the arena that is furthest away from the stage , but that isn't a big drawback with a central boxing ring.

Upper Tier is a long way from the action.

Lower tier to the side of the ring are probably a good bet, too.

[n1ebf]

I am going to this event one way or another...my only reservation is 5yrs ago when I was last there the ring was like a postage stamp from my seat...we moved closer as there weren't too many there for our bout, Matthew Hatton Franny Jones...
So I'm not sure what type of ticket to go for. Some seats 20 yards from the ring will be a fortune but I don't think they're better cos of the angle you're looking up you can see the boxers from about the ankles/ shins up as I remember. Unless you are in the auditorium it's hard to tell off a website like ticketmaster what you're getting.
Where did u get your ticket incidentally and have you received it yet?

The best value for money are the £50 lower tier ones, Row J of block 111 last time I looked. They are in the lower tier, at the back and side part of the arena that is furthest away from the stage , but that isn't a big drawback with a central boxing ring.

Upper Tier is a long way from the action.

Lower tier to the side of the ring are probably a good bet, too.

Thanks whicker I will keep this in mind when I get my ticket

[whicker]

Seetickets I think have the cheaper seats I think at the moment- Ticketmaster seem to have sold out of them!

I paid £30 I'm sure about 12 years ago for Benn V Collins , and that was wayyyyyy up in the upper tier! Good fun for the atmosphere, but too far away to get a decent view IMO.

[stujones]

Probably won't get this fight on Sky BO mind.... I imagine it will be featured on the countdown show.. and we'll have about 2 rounds of it. Just like the 5 title fights promised for Lazcano vs Hatton... Maloney delivered, Sky didn't.

[WayoftheCass]

So what is definitely confirmed for March 14th then?

Khan vs Barrera
Enzo Mac vs Alofabi
Cook vs Martinez
Pryce vs Hall
Simpson vs Bell

Looks a healthy night of Boxing, the main event, two world title fights (sort of) and two Commonwealth fights. Not bad for the £50 for a ticket I spent.

Unfortunately with the promoters history of giving us cards which are subject to serious 11th hour call offs, I'll believe it when I actually see it.

This might well be the case, yeah. I hope not, of course, but things do change. This card does SEEM to ebe very solid.

Its actually not much more than three weeks away, too.

Thats one down. 4 to go. You'd think Warren would have a day off. Its just one farce after another with him.

[whicker]

Eh? Which fight has been pulled?

[n1ebf]

Enzo I think is being referred to. Check the other thread for details.

[whicker]

Its hard to tell what is definate and what is just speculation. Both Boxrec and British Boxing have it that Enzo is still on, although neither mention Simpson V Bell