Manchester ready for the World

[Joe G]

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... her_column

Manchester is ready to conquer the boxing world in 2011.

The city is perfectly placed to have a massive year, not just with the champions we already have, but also with the kids coming through.

Ricky Hatton used to be called the jewel in the crown of Manchester boxing, but right now, it's more like a crown full of jewels.

John Murray and Matthew Macklin are ready to win world titles but it's also going to be a big year for Joe Murray, Anthony Crolla, Mark Heffron and Rhys Roberts as well.

Watching a Manchester fighter – not just an adopted Manc like David Haye – headline at the MEN arena isn't too far away.

A perfect year for Gallagher's gym would be John Murray and Matthew Macklin being crowned world champions.

We've had every other title, British title, European titles, and the only thing we're missing is a world champion.

And I don't just want one, I want both.

It's the first time in three or four years that we won't be in the gym on Christmas Day. Usually, it's just another working day and the likes of John Murray have been fighting in January so they've had to train.

They always kicked up a bit of a fuss but they're athletes and they had to do it. Footballers have to train on Christmas Day and boxers are no different.

They're happy this year because it falls on a Saturday and they can enjoy the luxury of a day off.

My family are happy as well because I won't be spending Christmas in the gym either.

I thought Amir Khan put in a very good performance against Marcos Maidana but it wasn't the fight of the decade. It wasn't even fight of the year.

There's a lot of talk in America about a re-match and I don't see any reason why that shouldn't happen.

I don't think Amir is ready to fight Floyd Mayweather, despite all the talk.

Floyd seems to be having more fights outside the ring than inside at the moment and Amir's got more chance of fighting him in a Las Vegas casino car park!

It's too early for Amir to think about pound-for-pound fights with the best in the business.

Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are in that category because they've won titles at lots of different weights.

Amir has only just won his first title and he's had two defences.

He's done very well but I think he should concentrate on unifying his division and becoming an undisputed world champion. It's something he is definitely capable of achieving

[freddydoesdallas]

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... her_column

John Murray and Matthew Macklin are ready to win world titles but it's also going to be a big year for Joe Murray, Anthony Crolla, Mark Heffron and Rhys Roberts as well.

Watching a Manchester fighter – not just an adopted Manc like David Haye – headline at the MEN arena isn't too far away.

I take it Macklin is training up north now but i didn't realise he had extended his introduction even further 'Introducing the Reigning European Middleweight Champion, by way of Birmingham, England via Limerick, Ireland through Manchester, England'

[Counter-puncher]

^^ i thought exactly the same, but then I would.

[Captain Hook]

Don't think Manchester can claim Macklin if Birmingham and Ireland are too!

[sweetscience]

when is murray fighting next ? and who for ?& against who?

[Captain Hook]

Plus, Roberts is from Bury isn't he? So is Quigg..

[Bleak]

Hatton was from Hyde,Wasnt Farnell Failsworth? Manchester is always claiming , Stone Roses from Trafford, Mondays from Salford, etc etc

[billy nelson]

Glasgows going to be the place in 2011,We already have a world champion for such a small nation and hopefully we'll get a unification fight in Glasgow next summer which would be massive up here,potentilly we can do anything any other city in the UK can imo

[Londonirish]

Glasgows going to be the place in 2011,We already have a world champion for such a small nation and hopefully we'll get a unification fight in Glasgow next summer which would be massive up here,potentilly we can do anything any other city in the UK can imo

You aint wrong Billy

[southpaw90]

Glasgows going to be the place in 2011,We already have a world champion for such a small nation and hopefully we'll get a unification fight in Glasgow next summer which would be massive up here,potentilly we can do anything any other city in the UK can imo

yea m8 gonae b cracking year up in glasgow. lets hope ricky does become a unified champ...wudnt he be the first since ken buchanan if he did? we've got other top talent aswell like john simpson lets hope he can beat lindsay again then become european champ god knows he deserves a good run instead of bad decisions. hope appleby can comeback and not disapear again and hopefully arthur can maybe get another chance to prove himself. so lookin forward to seein burns out again nxt yr glasgow will b the place to watch

[slapbangwhallop]

Hatton was from Hyde,Wasnt Farnell Failsworth? Manchester is always claiming , Stone Roses from Trafford, Mondays from Salford, etc etc

It isn't Manchester's fault, it's everyone else who doesn't know the difference, people don't know the difference between Manchester and Greater Manchester. And no-one claims the Roses and the Mondays were from Manchester, they were part of the Manchester scene, a big difference.

Exactly.

How many "London" boxers are from the City of London and not Greater Manchester?

[yoyo]

Manchester is made up of 12 different boroughs which altogether make Great Manchester now its just eaiser n i think we just say we're from manchester coz its a little shorter than saying we're from Greater Manchester its basically all the same city just split into 12 different boroughs!!

[yoyo]

They wanna b known as pie eaters!!!