The glorious Amateur Boxing Association Finals

[Ulysses]

Light-fly:
Darran Langley should beat old rival Craig Lyon.
Fly:
Darran's brother, Stewart should retain his crown against Ross Burkinshaw.
Bantam:
Classy scouser, Nick McDonald should shine in beating Robert Nelson.
Feather:
Gary Sykes is another who should impress in beating Michael Robinson.
Light:
Impressive southpaw, Frankie Gavin should underline his no.1 status and see off Steve Turner.
Light-welter:
One of the hardest to call, I have a feeling that power-punching southpaw Jamie Cox will see off smooth boxing Londoner Michael Grant.
Welter:
Joe Selkirk is another real talent who saw off London's top quality Sam Webb in the real final in last weeks semis. He shouldn't have any problems with Army southpaw Brett Flournoy.
Middle:
Precocious Londoner James Degale has been hugely impressive thus far, Steve Mullins won't beat him.
Light-heavy:
Experienced Mark Redhead should edge out David Pendleton.
Heavy:
Should be a real scrap, defending champ Tony Bellew should know enough to see him home against Jon-Lewis Dickinson.
Super-heavy:
England no.1 David Price will beat Repton's Damien Campbell.

Friday night at the Excell in London's east end, tickets still available. I'd imagine the beeb will show highlights.

[dondada]

Thanks for this Ulysses. It would have been nice if BN had done a run down of the match ups (not previews, just the fixtures) so we could have had a week to think about it! Now you've solved that problem for me.

I would love to go to the ABA finals but won't make it this year. Is Excel where Thompson-Haye was? If so, that was a right pain in the arse to get to and from.

How many times has Price won the title now?

[kevin]

Thompson/Haye was at Wembley mate, Excel is nearer the Docklands etc

Kev

[dondada]

Thompson/Haye was at Wembley mate, Excel is nearer the Docklands etc

Kev

Oh right. You know I'm never on an even keel when in the capital...

[kevin]

That's because you let J lead you astray

[KOJOE90]

I'd imagine the beeb will show highlights.

I assume the BBC are showing highlights, but I can't find out when as yet.

[REAL_DEAL]

not according to my tv guide, they probably would of shown it if it wasnt for khan pulling a diva.

[states]

Speaking of the ABA's, and without wanting to bore everyone with Amir Khan again, he's quoted in today's Independent On Sunday as saying, with regards to his (seemingly) final appearance as an amateur "Obviously I would have loved a re-match with the Cuban, Mario Kindelan, who beat me in Athens, but this does not seem possible. So I would like to meet whoever becomes the ABA champion to show that I could have won the title."

Any thoughts on this? I know everyone's had their say about Khan's attitude towards the ABA's, and it may be boring to talk through it again, but I can't say I like this. If he was so sure he'd win, why not hold off on turning pro until winning? And if he does fight the winner, and win, does it not devalue the ABA's, and the effort that every other, far less celebrated amateur fighter in this country has put in?

Sorry, but I'm going off the lad more and more each week. I hope that, if the BBC are showing anything from the finals, that they don't overshadow the whole thing with talk of Khan, because it would be taking the limelight away from some very deserving young (and not so young) lads, who actually wanted to compete and win a prestigious title.

OK, rant over.

[Neri]

Even if he fights the winner and wins it doesnt prove he could have even got to the final, as he has missed bouts and not put the effort in that the rest of the boxers have

[stujones]

Can see what you are saying, but I think his pulling out has already devalued the Light Welter (or whatever weight class he was fighting in) torument. Kind of like the Olympic games in 1992 when an ill Carl Lewis failed to make the US team, Christie always felt that his greatest moment was a little devalued. If you ask him what was his greatest achievement, he will say the 1993 worlds because Lewis was there.

I think the ball should be in the would be champion's court. If he wants to box Khan then why not, I'm sure he would want to prove to himself he is the best in England.

[states]

Yeah, I see your point Stu. He's already overshadowed the whole tournament, and I could certainly understand the winner of the ABA's wanting to take him on. The whole thing just leaves a sour taste, you know?

Of course, it would be interesting to see what happened if either Jamie Cox or Michael Grant beat Khan in his send off......

Regardless of all that, I just hope we see some good coverage of the finals, because there are some cracking fighters that deserve some exposure, IMO.

[Chris W 1982]

Highlights will be shown on Sunday Grandstand, and i believe it will be David Price's second title.

[THEBUTCH]

If I've understood the reasons why Khan has pulled out of the ABA's then I'm not impressed. The bloke's an amazing talent but he's not bigger than amateur boxing and I along with many others will continue to enjoy amateur boxing with or without him. If that comment is true about him facing the ABA champion to prove he would have won them, then the bloke's also an arrogant prick! That said, I would not be surpised if a lot of this has more to do with outside influences and family's poking their noses in.

Moving on, I want to go to the ABA finals but after the last Ricky Hatton fight there I couldn't help but notice the amount of complaints from punters moaning about the appalling view.

Does anyone have any idea if this will be the case for the ABA's ????

[Kilburn]

Nice work Ulysses. Just got offered a free ticket to go on Friday, anyone know what time it kicks off?

[KOJOE90]

Highlights will be shown on Sunday Grandstand,.

Your right at 1.45pm on BBC2.

[ABA Boxing]

Should be a good show, alot more interest in all the lads now rather than just one boy!

Im afraid half the show on the BBC will be about Khan though

We should have a freindly bet on how many times they say AMIR KHAN

I will record it and count them up, im going for 25 times, either Amir or Khan!

[maverick]

Good calls on the bouts Ulysses, wouldn't agrue with anything there although I'm hoping Grant will outbox Cox but it's a hard one to call.

[Ulysses]

There's profiles of all the finalists in today's Boxing News... the reason I slightly fancy Cox to beat Grant is because in last year's final when Grant was beating by another southpaw (Pacy) he was also hurt a few occasions. Doesn't bode well against a powerpunching portsider like Cox... boxing starts at 7pm (apparently!)... this will be Price's second ABA crown (as already said) he beat the Navy's Neil Suku a couple years ago.

[THEBUTCH]

Prices range from £92.00 downwards. I understand the £92.00 have all gone and next down is £52.00. Seems a lot to me.

If it was at the Albert Hall, fair enough, but the feedback on the Excell hasn't been that encouraging.

[ABA Boxing]

Prices range from £92.00 downwards. I understand the £92.00 have all gone and next down is £52.00. Seems a lot to me.

If it was at the Albert Hall, fair enough, but the feedback on the Excell hasn't been that encouraging.

Tickets, priced £50, £35, £25 and £15

Available from ExCeL Centre on 0870 160 703

[maverick]

the reason I slightly fancy Cox to beat Grant is because in last year's final when Grant was beating by another southpaw (Pacy) he was also hurt a few occasions. Doesn't bode well against a powerpunching portsider like Cox... boxing starts at 7pm (apparently!)

Yes you are right Ulysses he didn't fair well that day but I wouldn't take that bout as a marker necessarily. Pacy absolutely boxed his socks off that day and Grant was well under par (it happens). Not making excuses but he had struggled to make 60kg for quite some time. He is looking much better at 64kg and I'm hoping to see the kind of ring craft he displayed against the Swedish champion earlier in the season. This one is the hardest to call out of tonights line up, be interesting to see how it turns out.

[J]

That's because you let J lead you astray

hang on a minute, i only assist never lead. hahaa.

anyway you nearly didnt make it to the arena Ian, standing outside the globe i seem to recall you playing chicken with the traffic on Marylbone High road.
I think i did comment at the time "look at this dickhead" as Ian complete with new shaved head was tip toeing through the seven lanes of traffic with all the ease of a crippled ballerina....hahaha

as opposed ot me who just dances like one


actually that evneing didnt get any better did it, 6 lads on the pads in the garden at 5 am shitfaced.

legendary stuff..

[Ulysses]

the reason I slightly fancy Cox to beat Grant is because in last year's final when Grant was beating by another southpaw (Pacy) he was also hurt a few occasions. Doesn't bode well against a powerpunching portsider like Cox... boxing starts at 7pm (apparently!)

Yes you are right Ulysses he didn't fair well that day but I wouldn't take that bout as a marker necessarily. Pacy absolutely boxed his socks off that day and Grant was well under par (it happens). Not making excuses but he had struggled to make 60kg for quite some time. He is looking much better at 64kg and I'm hoping to see the kind of ring craft he displayed against the Swedish champion earlier in the season. This one is the hardest to call out of tonights line up, be interesting to see how it turns out.

Fair points, either way, along with the heavyweight final, this will be the most intriguing fight.

[kevin]

That's because you let J lead you astray

hang on a minute, i only assist never lead. hahaa.


actually that evneing didnt get any better did it, 6 lads on the pads in the garden at 5 am shitfaced.

legendary stuff..

I believe you

Still waiting for the pictures!!!

[J]

ill email them to ya but i dunno where they are ive got the originals tho ill dig em out. for weds if we are meeting mate!