Ali Adams and Steve Goodwin.

[exittored]

I was watching an interview with Steve Goodwin, the promoter of Ali Adams and Yassine El Maachi talking about the upcoming Harrison vs Adams fight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut4JrCUvtkQ

Anyway not knowing anything about about Adams i had a look at his boxrec record and some of his fights on youtube and all i can say is that he's seems average at best with limited power and his opposition has been terrible with the notable exception being Matt Skelton who easily beat him in PrizeFighter. I'm not even sure Ali would beat the likes of Tom Dallas, Danny Hughes or Coleman Barrett based on what i've seen.

We all know Audley has been a massive dissapoint but even if he has 50% of what he did a couple of years ago then i can only see him beating Adams with relative ease inside 4 rounds. I'm just surprised a promoter like Goodwin would put the money up to make a fight like Adams-Harrison especially when he's probably going to end up losing money on the event considering it has no tv behind it and the cost of bringing Audley over must be around 50k or more? Maybe he see's it as a win win situation, if Ali wins then great and if he loses he could become Audleys promoter which makes sense as he's still one of the best known sportspeople in great britain and with the right fights could even get him another World title shot.

Also you got to feel a little sorry for Yassine El Maachi that he's not the one getting the big fight considering he's just won PrizeFighter and has accomplished alot more in boxing up to this point.

How do you rate Ali Adams, is he better then his record and performances show?

[stevegoodwin]

I do not post very often on here but as this is directed towards me feel it is appropriate for me to do so. I will deal with Ali and Yassine as two seperate situations:

When a boxer comes to me I ask what they want to achieve and if I consider it achievable then I will say I will do it and I will deliver.

1) Ali Adams came to me last year disillusioned. He asked me if I could get him a small title fight in December and then a big name thereafter. I would definately say his pro career up to then had not been very good but he had teamed up with Don Charles in Finchley who I have the utmost respect for. I delivered him the small title shot in December (after offering the fight to Larry Olubamiwo). He won that. We then offered Matt Skelton a rematch, Tom Dallas a rematch (Ali beat him in the amateurs). Upon them turning the fight down I turned my attention to Audley. This gives Ali the chance I promised him and I have kept my word.

This is not a win/win situation. I have no ongoing deal with Audley whatever the result. I have done this for Ali.

2) Yassine came to me in 2010 and was going to quit boxing. If you recall to get him going I offered £15,000 to anyone who would get in the ring and stop him. Bertrand Aloa stepped forward and Yassine won his first small title. I then spent considerable money getting the European number 4 Jimmy Colas over and Yassine won (Colas was rated 32 by the WBC at that point). Yassine was due to box a top 25 World Opponent in March 2011 but had to pull out injured. We then got him in Prizefighter (on the back of the Colas win) which he won. I then had a world title eliminator in place but Yassines injury flared up again and he has been unable to box due to injury since Prizefighter.

I have got a provisional big fight lined up (cannot elaborate here) but as he has not fought above 3 rounds for 16 months the criteria is they want him to have a 10 round fight for a title prior. I originally made large offers to Kell Brook, Matthew Hatton and Denton Vassell (all not interested). Consequently we targetted the southern Area title. Steve O'Meara vacated as he did not want to fight Yassine so we got the next best opponent who qualified and would fight him. Yassine is fully aware of what we are doing for him and is both EXCITED and DELIGHTED about it so this post about Yassine is done without any knowledge whatsoever about what is going on.

If you would like to DM me your phone number I would be more than happy to call you to discuss. You do not need to feel sorry for Yassine.

Hope this clears it up.

[dondada]

Yassine came to me in 2010 and was going to quit boxing. If you recall to get him going I offered £15,000 to anyone who would get in the ring and stop him.

Just for the sake of clarity, could you please outline the other terms and conditions which were attached to this offer?

[stevegoodwin]

If you are talking about the £15,000 offer I made in Feb 2010 (was for one fight only) they had to stop him or ko him. Points win did not apply. They got their purse whatever the result and the £15,000 was a bonus. The deal was done with Jon Pegg for his fighter and Jon will confirm these were the terms.

[clintonmcphilbin]

i do feel that the adams vs harrison is a mismatch but fair play to you for putting the fight on and judging by the line up of the show will be a great night

[stevegoodwin]

We will know the answer to that on 26th. It's a Rocky story just like Shanes and it's great togive the underdogs the opportunity. It will be a great night! Hope you are well

[Tommy Gunn13]

Plenty of fights on this show
Steve have you thought about doing a live stream for this show? as its a non tv show..

[Lightsoot]

I've aired my views on Harrison-Adams before, so I'm not going there again. I genuinely think the fight will stink the joint out but I sincerely hope not because I can appreciate that Goodwin is doing his best to give his fighter a platform to build on. However, I think Goodwin comes across well on the YouTube video in terms of taking calculated risks with a small handful of fighters. Yassine, I'd imagine, isn't the easiest fighter to promote yet Goodwin was starting to build up a head of steam with him until his injuries.

I'm not entirely convinced by his logic to work with Adams (who looks incredibly raw) and Yassine (who must be a very hard sell) but he'll have his reasons no doubt. Goodwin also alludes to his other business commitments that prevent him from concentrating exclusively on Boxing - horseracing presumably.

[JamesH]

Steve and his company deserve credit for making the fight.

As a point of interest, I had a small issue with something related to the group before and steve was fair, open, and honest in discussing. The issue did seem to go away after that. I think it's a refreshing approach.

[exittored]

I rate Yassine and think he has the skills and talent to become a world Top 15 Welterweight so thanks for clarifying things regarding him and hopefully we'll see him in a big fight later this year. I liked how you came across in the that video and you've certainly delivered a big fight for Ali so wish you the best for the future and as the other poster pointed out the bill on May 26th should be a good night of boxing action.

I'm sure you've tried to get one of the networks interested in showing the fight, is there any news regarding this? I could see Channel 5 putting this on having Audley involved who is still a massive name in Britain all be it for the wrong reasons so i'm sure they could do at least 1 million viewing figures plus it could build up a potential showdown for them between Audley vs Fury which i reckon would do 5 million easily on Channel 5 especially with a big build up.

[Old bones Ian]

i do feel that the adams vs harrison is a mismatch but fair play to you for putting the fight on and judging by the line up of the show will be a great night

Oddly enough thats what i thought with Shane and Enzo, and i was proved very wrong.

[clintonmcphilbin]

i do feel that the adams vs harrison is a mismatch but fair play to you for putting the fight on and judging by the line up of the show will be a great night

Oddly enough thats what i thought with Shane and Enzo, and i was proved very wrong.

true but shane been fighting at a higher level to ali adams for a long time both pro and ams. Adams drew to a mate of mine tyrone wright who at the time was a blown super middle. I dont think you can compare shane vs enzo to ali vs harrison really

[Old bones Ian]

true, i've got to say that unless Harrison really has lost chin, desire and fitness . then i can't see this fight going for Adams.

[clintonmcphilbin]

We will know the answer to that on 26th. It's a Rocky story just like Shanes and it's great togive the underdogs the opportunity. It will be a great night! Hope you are well

Am good thank you i hope he could do it steve and you bang on boxing matchs are not won on paper and at heavy only one punch can change a fight. I met ali when shane and him was in prizefighter and he is a really nice guy. Once again got to say well done for your show looks a great line up.

[clintonmcphilbin]

true, i've got to say that unless Harrison really has lost chin, desire and fitness . then i can't see this fight going for Adams.

same but i have to agree with u and steve evrybody had shane losing within two so if ali can get him we will see if harrison still wants it

[jonp]

Those were the terms offered and there were no small print and no Bertrand had to sign with steve if he won.Also like to point out the purse was nice for what it was as well.

Deal was done on a handshake after actualy making the fight thru boxrec forums lol and everybody was happy with it.

[mbudgen]

Nothing missed.

[stujones]

I'm not sure why people are on such a downer on Adams vs Harrison. Yes, I've seen Adams - he looks pretty out of his depth at British title level..... but its not as if Audley has never fought low level opposition. He needs a win, Adams has a decent (if padded) record.

At this stage of Harrison's career (and please note I said at this stage of Harrison's career) is this a much worst fight when Harrison fought Rogan. Yes, Rogan is a lot better than Adams, although very raw and nobody had any idea what he could do beyond 3 rounds really. Harrison though, wasn't coming off a defeat in which he stank the joint out and was at the centre of a BBBoC investigation for insufficient effort.

Harrison's lucky to get a fight at all IMO, to fight someone with a winning record is actually better than I anticipated.

[stevegoodwin]

Would like to deal with some on the issues raised above:
1) Ben has his views on the fight which he is perfectly entitled to. I hope and believe he is wrong (and he was one of many who said it would not happen and it will on 26th May). I am an Independent Financial adviser and run a horse racing business. I do not want to promote/manage 70 boxers and make it my full time business. I want a select number of boxers who I can actually deliver to. Every boxer I look after I give 100% nothing less as I do to clients of my other businesses. If I took on 30 boxers I would not be able to devote myself 100% to them so I will only take on the appropriate number. Ask any of the boxers I work with!!!
2) I intend to take out a managers licence in November and my daughter Olivia will concentrate on the promotional side. I believe my skills are more honed to management, contractual work (I studied law) and looking after the boxers financial and private interests.
2) The best people to judge how competitive a fight will be are bookmakers as their only alligience is to money. Audley Harrison is 8/15 and Ali Adams is 7/4 (close in boxing terms) Enzo was 1/16 and Shane McPhilbin 8/1. Fury (1/6) to beat Rogan, Brook was (1/6) in his mismatch v Hatton. Price is (1/6) to beat Sexton. Bookies are suggesting this fight is not one sided!
3) When I came into boxing two years ago I had done plenty of research. What I saw was small time boxers getting padded records and then being fed to a TV promoter getting smashed and then giving up (example Sam Horton v James Degale). I wanted to give small time boxers a chance that many had not had previously. Ali is top of the bill as the HOME fighter against Audley. He would not have dreamed of this a year ago. Let me point out I am not the only promoter that does this but I am one of the few.
4) Ali Adams is a totally different fighter now he is with Don Charles. Can I suggest for those interested you llok at the folloiwng TV interview done 6 weeks ago. Go frrom 15 minutes on. The first part is myself and Ali but the second part with Don Charles and Ali is more interesting when Charles talks about Ali's career in the past and why everything is different now. Its really interesting (probably not for Ben :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dNKHXF3WAQ

Finally I am more than happy for any one to direct message me to discuss anything and I am more than happy to call to discuss. I believe that interaction is good, constructive criticism is good, and transparency is essential.

Lets hope the 26th May proves to be a fantastic night and Ali wins.

[Jeff Thomas]

Look at the quality of the match ups on the bill- Steve should be applauded for putting a great bill together. That's regardless of me being on it. Most of the matches are 50-50 or 60-40 with lads who will be desperate for a W.

This is how boxing should be done. Boxing is a sport not a human obstacle course to compile a winning streak then get exposed at a certain level. Real fights here.

[Jeff Thomas]

Finally I am more than happy for any one to direct message me to discuss anything and I am more than happy to call to discuss. I believe that interaction is good, constructive criticism is good, and transparency is essential.

[Jeff Thomas]

It's a circus attraction to get the fans in hopefully us mere mortals can treat them to a great night

[stujones]

Look at the quality of the match ups on the bill- Steve should be applauded for putting a great bill together. That's regardless of me being on it. Most of the matches are 50-50 or 60-40 with lads who will be desperate for a W.

This is how boxing should be done. Boxing is a sport not a human obstacle course to compile a winning streak then get exposed at a certain level. Real fights here.

I agree, mate. You can understand the scepticism, though, surely? Ali vs Audley is atypical for a whole host of reasons.

Not though when you consider 1) It is Audley Harrison, a man who likes to take his time in a rebuild and 2) It is Audley Harrison, a man who hasn't fought in nearly 2 years and got one of the worst press in recent history in his last fight.

Is Ali Adams any worst than Andrew Greeley? I can see why some managers would want to manage Ali - he at least looks the part (compared to most heavyweights).

[DavidPayne]

I can confirm Ali Adams makes quite a good five-a-side goalkeeper.

[Tommy Gunn13]

I can confirm Ali Adams makes quite a good five-a-side goalkeeper.

So he should,id think it would be quite hard to score a five-a-side goal past a heavyweight