Scoring it in my head I thought the draw was fair enough, but Nuumbebwe deserved to win purely on effort. He was trying hard and making the most of the skills he has whereas Barnes coasted almost the entire fight. It looks like nuumbebwe has exposed a pretty boy mentality in Barnes; because Nuumbebwe was accurate he backpeddaled. He could have walked through Nuumbebwe's punches and imo knocked him out (as he did sting him several times with single puches) but he wasn't prepared to grit his teeth and fight for the win.
The draw was sound, IMO. I didn't score it but I think Ali might have nicked it by one or two points, but I could also see a case for a narrow - very narrow - Barnes win. Add to the closeness the fact that it was in Barnes' hometown (though hearing the crowd you wouldn't think it) plus the fact he has a high-exposure TV fight on the Hatton - Tszyu mega bill...
First time I'd seen Ali but he looked well schooled - could see he had been a good amateur. I also liked how he didn't fall for the FFN shenanigans and kept himself wet before the first bell. I thought his hands began to lower slightly after about the 4th, but Barnes didn't even attempt to punish... all too happy to cruise.
At the time I thought Brian Hughes told him the right thing in the corner - that he had won the first couple of rounds, even though it was blatantly obvious he hadn't; Ali had nicked them. Brian seemed to tell him all through the fight that this was going to be an easy night on the scorecards, and Barnes (by his reaction at the end) obviously believed him and thought he'd won them all bar one or two.
I think Brian needs to address this with Barnes because he's starting to show signs of a bad habit of being content, no, actually intending to cruise to points wins. The problem with doing this was highlighted last night: against someone with hunger he will likely be made to look sloppy, and even if the guy doesn't punish or hurt him (kinda like Ali last night) he still clearly nicks the rounds from him.
There's also the bad effect this has on his TV resume: remember, when he cruised against Tolppola on the Harrison - Polo undercard his fight was buthchered. And this was when his cruising worked.
Brian needs to get him to be more aggressive at points, take away some of the other guys hunger, enthusiasm, desire... it's not like Barnes is a bad aggressive fighter - remember how good he looked when he attacked in the McIntyre and Hare fights?
Maybe Brian's plan was to cruise this one to get the rounds in against a late opponent, and also because it's unlikely the Pryce fight will go the distance. Maybe the plan was to go for a spectacular TV KO on the Hatton - Tsyzu bill - I imagine this fight will be going out on Showtime as well as Sky?
Brian is an intelligent trainer and has done an amazing job with Barnes so far. I think this cruising style would work better if he got Barnes to maybe show more aggression early and late in the fight, even if it's only for a minute a round in a single early/late round, I think it could be enough to discourage the fighter and make him act more pensive toward Barnes... but then again that means he's less likely to attack, which means poor TV coverage for the fight... vicious circle.
Of course, if Brian gets him to fight in the chequered manner like what's been happening (stinker then KO, stinker then KO) then he will get the TV fights and title opportunities. But the threat of another Ali Nuumbembe is always round the corner in these domestic fights. I think if they want big things for him he absolutely must move up in class after the Pryce fight.
And yeah, his reaction was very spoiled. If I remember right I didn't like too much his attitude after the Vincent fight, on that sweaty summer night back in 2003 (really 2 years ago?).
Had some problems getting onto the site, hopefully that its okay now.
My views on the fight.
I too thought Nuumbembe nicked it. I had it for him by 2, it was close - don't say people are wrong if they scored it for Barnes, although I did think Ali won it.
I have to say, I was dissapointed with Barnes' lack of respect for Ali at the end. The guy was being carried as is the tradition and that big "F*ck off" wasn't called for - if I remember rightly, he did a similar thing when Jimmy Vincent was ranting at the refs decision.
As for the fight, it was a bit of a dissapointment. I suppose it was the lack of preperation - it gave me the impression of two rusty guys who were just trying to feel each other out for the duration of the fight. It was a dissapointment.
I have to say, my opinion of Barnes has gone back to what it was before the James Hare fight - overated. I wasn't particularly impressed with his defences vs McIntyre and McGlarron, I don't know what was wrong with Hare that night - but surely Hare wouldn't have lost to this version of Barnes.
stujones wrote:Had some problems getting onto the site, hopefully that its okay now.
My views on the fight.
I too thought Nuumbembe nicked it. I had it for him by 2, it was close - don't say people are wrong if they scored it for Barnes, although I did think Ali won it.
I have to say, I was dissapointed with Barnes' lack of respect for Ali at the end. The guy was being carried as is the tradition and that big "F*ck off" wasn't called for - if I remember rightly, he did a similar thing when Jimmy Vincent was ranting at the refs decision.
As for the fight, it was a bit of a dissapointment. I suppose it was the lack of preperation - it gave me the impression of two rusty guys who were just trying to feel each other out for the duration of the fight. It was a dissapointment.
I have to say, my opinion of Barnes has gone back to what it was before the James Hare fight - overated. I wasn't particularly impressed with his defences vs McIntyre and McGlarron, I don't know what was wrong with Hare that night - but surely Hare wouldn't have lost to this version of Barnes.
great post stu agree with that and the chants yeah did sound like that, funnily enough i had barnes nicking it by one. However i was pissed as a fart.
banres looked dreadful though in comparison vs Hare, maybe struggled to get "up" for the fight I dont know.
Dindnt see the after fight antics, had female company
Slapsie Maxie wrote:
Also, credit to Vann/Paris/Francis. I was convinced they were going to give it to the "house" fighter. Mind you with their past record, I thought they would find a way to give the fight to Ricky Hatton
Wasn't it the ever reliable Vann who went for the SN fighter though?
Slapsie Maxie wrote:
Also, credit to Vann/Paris/Francis. I was convinced they were going to give it to the "house" fighter. Mind you with their past record, I thought they would find a way to give the fight to Ricky Hatton
Wasn't it the ever reliable Vann who went for the SN fighter though?
Shouldn't say it, but my old man and myself (both thought Ali knicked it) did say BEFORE the verdict that "I bet you Ricky's old man (what we call him) will score it for Barnes".
