Standby for another Golden year for British Boxing !

[Joe G]

My Column in todays Manchester Evening news

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

[Cotto16]

Joe when is hosea burton boxing next? and are there any plans for him to turn pro?

[Joe G]

Hosea is in training and looks likely to box at light heavyweight in the ABAS he a growing lad and was struggling to keep him in that frame at 75 ! Turning Pro is not a option with Hosea he just determined to box for his country !

[goldenears]

enjoyable read thanks Joe

v interesting about Murray and Macklin being on 'standby' for a title shot, particularly for Murray it must be incredibly frustrating. Good luck with all.

[fightfaninfrance]

Great reading, cheers.

Whats the score with Crolla? Will be out before his eliminator with johannesen? I see that he's fighting in jan in doncaster so surely it rules out the eliminator with crolla before march?

Id love to see Crolla grab the lonsdale this year, no more than he deserves.

[stujones]

Crolla is surely joining the club of "how many quality wins does he need before he gets granted a shot".

Its a great fight scheduled with Johansson don't get me wrong, but surely with wins with Brodie and Morris (who many people thought should have got the verdict vs Sykes) surely he doesn't need to fight in an eliminator and just get the mandated shot.

Having said that, there might be a strong case for Buckland being mandatory following his Prizefighter success.

[orbtastic]

Who's he fighting in Doncaster?

[wrimc]

Crolla is surely joining the club of "how many quality wins does he need before he gets granted a shot".

Its a great fight scheduled with Johansson don't get me wrong, but surely with wins with Brodie and Morris (who many people thought should have got the verdict vs Sykes) surely he doesn't need to fight in an eliminator and just get the mandated shot.

Having said that, there might be a strong case for Buckland being mandatory following his Prizefighter success.

The SFW division is all over the place right now with Sykes having been knocked out in prizefighter all bets are off. Crolla has been looking great but obviously Sykes had a defence scheduled against Kays and nobody would begrudge Sykes a rematch with Buckland if he wanted to get revenge and Buckland can lay claim to being the best in the division domestically after tearing through all comers in prizefighter

[stujones]

Yeah, I do personally feel Buckland will be the "last one standing". Such a tough nut, gave a real fight of it against Murray but now might be punching harder as he has dropped the weight.

I feel he could give Foster Jnr and Burns a run.... I just think its very unfortunate that Crolla hasn't got his shot yet given his run of form. Its not quite the Allan Bosworth switching in which he was winning eliminators and still not being granted worthy of a British title fight - but Crolla must be frustrated at these high profile, non title fights not seeming to get him a shot.

[Captain Hook]

Agreed, I think he would beat Foster Jr....

[Scottrf]

Burns would outbox Buckland without getting out of second gear. I'd think a shutout.

[stujones]

Burns would outbox Buckland without getting out of second gear. I'd think a shutout.

Naturally I would make Burns the favourite, but I haven't really seen anything from Burns to suggest he would have it all his own way. Buckland did okay in a brave attempt against Murray, I think Murray would start as a warm favourite against Burns.

Burns had a bit of a struggle against Kevin O Hara and didn't win every round in his last fight. I think Buckland would start as favourite against both of these.

[Scottrf]

Brave was all he was against Murray, he took a massive beating and was thoroughly outboxed. Martinez was a good champ and that performance is so far above the level Buckland is fighting at.

Murray's style would match well against Burns I agree because Evensen did seem to take him out of his comfort zone at times through pressure.

Burns is the better technician and if Murray can outbox Buckland by basically brawling, getting in close and taking shots to land them, Ricky would do it at range with ease. Buckland is tough though I agree and that's why I think he'd get to the bell.

[stujones]

All of what you are saying is correct, I just give Buckland a chance based on his strength at Super Feather and Burn's lack of a dig. John Murray has grown into a very strong Lightweight. Carl Johansson got out muscled by the limited Levi Kerakasyan, but he walked through Burns. I think Buckland would have a shout at doing the same. Its all about styles.

I'm not taking anything away from the achievement Burns did. Martinez was considered #1 or #2 in the devision. However, he was always considered a crude puncher more than a master technician. I and many others thought he would simply walk through Burns - he didn't. However, I think Buckland has shown an ability to soak up punches and comeback firing, possibly more than Martinez.

If that little Swede can take rounds of Burns, if O Hara can take rounds of Burns - then so can Buckland. Especially as Buckland himself will not be a titlist that Burns is craving for.

[palooka]

Agreed, I think he would beat Foster Jr....

I disagree; though Crolla is a very capable and fit lad Steve Foster Jnr has to be one of the most underated boxers about. He has never shown himself up has skills, bottle to burn and a heavy punch. I thought Kirakosyan was a step too far but Foster was as cool as you like against the heaviest hitter in the division outside the World top 10. There are some really good boxers in the division and not one of them comes across as dislikable. I think we're in for some really good bouts this year and it's a shame there isn't more money about for them.

[palooka]

Agreed, I think he would beat Foster Jr....

Sorry Captain! Got in full flow there and had the wrong end of the stick

Buckland is another good lad and has real power at the weight. Foster Jnr v Gary Buckland would be another top bout. I still think Steve Foster would get through ok though.

[Captain Hook]

Simon - I meant King Kong would beat Foster Jr, what are you talking about?

:)

I reckon Buckland would beat Foster Jr, but agree he might have too much for Crolla...

[Arnie]

Foster would beat Buckland and Crolla imo

[palooka]

Steve Foster is very underated; I think it's because he just does not shout the odds or bigs himself up. He really comes across as a lad who is very good at what he does but does not enjoy being centre stage out of the ring. Some of the top boxers are a bit bombastic but Foster really seems to have his feet on the ground. I can imagine he wouldn't be hard work to be around, he doesn't come across as being a big head or a bully at all. I hope he really gets the bouts and the dough this year.

[stujones]

Steve Foster is very underated; I think it's because he just does not shout the odds or bigs himself up. He really comes across as a lad who is very good at what he does but does not enjoy being centre stage out of the ring. Some of the top boxers are a bit bombastic but Foster really seems to have his feet on the ground. I can imagine he wouldn't be hard work to be around, he doesn't come across as being a big head or a bully at all. I hope he really gets the bouts and the dough this year.

I do agree, his win over Simpson is looking very impressive now. Only fighter to really dominate Simpson.

I think he stands a great chance against Burns also..... I really don't think there is much between Buckland, Burns and Foster Jnr.

[IRLangmaid25]

Enjoyed the column Joe. When are we next going to see John Murray again, and are we going to see fight for a world title or at least an elminator for one this year?

[forcefraser]

Burns is the better technician and if Murray can outbox Buckland by basically brawling, getting in close and taking shots to land them, Ricky would do it at range with ease. Buckland is tough though I agree and that's why I think he'd get to the bell.

If this refers to Burns being a better technician that Murray, I`d disagree.

Murray works well both inside and out and his defence, although sloppy at times, is no worse than Burns (Burns gets clipped far too often as well)

Burns lacks a bit of power compared to Murray. He did fantastically well against Martinez and many UK refs would have stopped that fight (not because it should have been stopped, but because judging by the last two Degale fights and the Bellew Mckenzie fight - they stop pretty much anything after a few punches are landed). However, the amount of punches he landed against Martines, without putting him down was due to one of two things, a lack of power or a great chin from Martinez. I would go with the lack of power.

I like Burns, he comes across a great lad, but Murray is an animal and a naturally bigger guy. Murray would work him to the body and grind him down, stopping him in the mid rounds.