Classic fights I've watched recently

[handsofstone]

Oscar De La Hoya vs Hector Camacho



De La Hoya schools Camacho over 12 rounds to retain his World Welterweight title putting him down along the way, Camacho was in survival mode for the whole fight which is how he fought at this stage in his career, he's still super sharp and has that great movement and he knows how to avoid most clean punches but offensively Camacho offers nothing aprt from pot shot jabs, De La Hoya for his part was aggressive from the start, his left hand was excellent whether it be the uppercut or the looping hook around the side of Camacho's southpaw right hands, some spiteful lefts to the body got home as well

De La Hoya fought mainly throwing punches in bunches, nearly always starting and finishing with that left hand, he had Camacho down in the 9th with a quality 5 punch combination, beginning with a left uppercut which rocked Camacho onto his heel before going down, Camacho was nothing but brave and he knows how to survive, he lost a point in the 12th for holding but it didn't matter De La Hoya was still pouring it on looking for the KO but just couldn't quite get there, still a domination for De La Hoya

[handsofstone]

Joe Calzaghe vs Chris Eubank



Calzaghe beats Eubank by a wide UD to win the vacant World Super Middleweight title, had him down twice along the way including seconds into the 1st round with a sweeping southpaw left hand which put Eubank on the seat of his pants, Eubank just couldn't cope with the speed and volume of Calzaghe who just never stopped punching, it was fought pretty much all at close quarters, Eubank was always there for 12 rounds trying to fight things out and although he had some success and made Calzaghe work hard at all times, he was just too old to keep up with Calzaghe who's engine would go on to be up there with the best

Calzaghe had Eubank down again in the 10th from a chopping left hand, caught Eubank coming forward, he wasn't hurt, he just touched the canvas but it was a legit KD, both men stood and traded until the final bell but Calzaghe was a clear winner

[milpool]

Michael Watson vs Nigel Benn


Watson stops Benn in the 6th to become British and Commonwealth Middleweight champ, excellent battle, Watson the smooth boxer against the always aggressive and dangerous unbeaten Benn who came out guns blazing as always battering Watson to head and body, Watson didn't run though he stood his ground and put his earmuffs on and soaked up whatever Benn threw at him, some big shots did get through but as the rounds wore on Watson was able to pick him off with the jab and right hand

Watson stunned Benn a couple of times in the fight but Benn would always come back firing, at the end of the 5th Watson hurt Benn with a big right and Benn staggered into the ropes as the bell went, in the 6th,Watson hit Benn with a right that made Benn turn his back then both guys were trading on the ropes when Watson put Benn down with a strong jab counter, Benn fell to the seat of his pants where it was stopped, cracking fight

I watched this earlier in the week, probably the first time I've seen it since watching it live.
A brilliant atmosphere and a brilliant fight. Benn came out fast and ran out of gas pretty quickly, in part due to him being so highly charged and clearly burning up lots of nervous energy. The way he capitulated was quite shocking to see considering how durable he was throughout his career.

[handsofstone]

Joe Calzaghe vs Omar Sheika



Calzaghe stops Sheika in 5 to retain his World Super Middleweight title, good wee scrap, styles gelled well, Sheika was strong and was throwing some heavy shots but Calzaghe fought it out with him, he had that bit of quality in his shots, he countered Sheika with the jab or right hook or the left hand, some nice uppercuts as well getting through, Sheika was landing as well but his shots werent having the same effect as he was feeling, both his eyes were busted up by the end of the 4th


Sheika came out guns blazing in the 5th, maybe sensing he was on borrowed time but again Calzaghe duked it out with him and landed the better punches and he rocked Sheika in an exchange and went for the kill, he landed a left hand when Sheika was on the ropes and the ref stepped in, Sheika was in trouble but the ref was a bit quick IMO

[littlepug]

Michael Watson vs Nigel Benn


Watson stops Benn in the 6th to become British and Commonwealth Middleweight champ, excellent battle, Watson the smooth boxer against the always aggressive and dangerous unbeaten Benn who came out guns blazing as always battering Watson to head and body, Watson didn't run though he stood his ground and put his earmuffs on and soaked up whatever Benn threw at him, some big shots did get through but as the rounds wore on Watson was able to pick him off with the jab and right hand

Watson stunned Benn a couple of times in the fight but Benn would always come back firing, at the end of the 5th Watson hurt Benn with a big right and Benn staggered into the ropes as the bell went, in the 6th,Watson hit Benn with a right that made Benn turn his back then both guys were trading on the ropes when Watson put Benn down with a strong jab counter, Benn fell to the seat of his pants where it was stopped, cracking fight

I watched this earlier in the week, probably the first time I've seen it since watching it live.
A brilliant atmosphere and a brilliant fight. Benn came out fast and ran out of gas pretty quickly, in part due to him being so highly charged and clearly burning up lots of nervous energy. The way he capitulated was quite shocking to see considering how durable he was throughout his career.

This is the fight that got me into boxing so have watched it a lot over the years, it was a nice treat to find the U.S version on YouTube as I didn’t think they would of covered it and i always find it interesting to hear different commentary to my favourite fights.

[AntonioMartin]

Cornelius Boza Edwards vs Charlie Choo Choo Brown

Good toss up bout until Boza clocks the Choo Choo in round 3, a KO reminiscent of Alexis Arguello's against Billy Costello!

[Bodyshot3]

Joe Calzaghe vs Omar Sheika

Good example of Calzaghe usually coming up with the right answer...…and in this instance being happy to exchange shots and being decent when it was required. Sheika was quiet feisty in the build-up as I recall which set the tone.

Think he actually preferred the likes of Sheika, Mitchell and Brewer in those WBO days who came with an attitude and also tried to have a proper crack at him rather than fiddling about with Thornberry, Starie or Ashira.

In his book he admits he had motivation problems and disliked some of his choices of opponents.....at least Sheika came to have a go but he was also outclassed quite convincingly.

[handsofstone]

Joe Calzaghe vs Richie Woodhall



Calzaghe stops a game and capable Woodhall in the 10th to retain his World Super Middleweight title, sterling effort from Woodhall who was brave til the last but in the end Calzaghe broke him down, there wasn't much to split a lot of the early rounds, both men weren't afraid to let their hands go, Calzaghe the quicker snappier puncher, pushing out the punches, sheer volume and variety and Woodhall the more conservative boxing, he nailed Calzaghe with some clean lead right hands and that was his best shot of the night


Woodhall was fighting hard to stay in it though and his nose looked broke by the middle rounds, still he kept hanging on in there and was still winning the occasional round, Calzaghe finally got to him in the 9th though, landing some hard shots to the body and straight left hands and Woodhall eventually went down right at the end of the round, more from accumulation, as soon as the 10th started Calzaghe was on him like a rash and once he had Woodhall backed up on the ropes the ref stepped in despite a lot of punches missing , no complaints from Woodhall though he looked spent

[Bodyshot3]

Joe Calzaghe vs Richie Woodhall

JC had just a bit too much for Richie at that stage didn't he?

I think they got on as well (as did their fathers Len and Enzo) which made it a more unusual fight in the sense that it lacked some of the niggle that most of these all-British SMW world title fights tended to have.

Woodhall was an excellent boxer and gent....looked-up his record which still looks respectable.

[handsofstone]

Joe Calzaghe vs Richie Woodhall

JC had just a bit too much for Richie at that stage didn't he?

I think they got on as well (as did their fathers Len and Enzo) which made it a more unusual fight in the sense that it lacked some of the niggle that most of these all-British SMW world title fights tended to have.

Woodhall was an excellent boxer and gent....looked-up his record which still looks respectable.

Yeah both still mates, that might actually be first time I've watched Woodhall , he held his own in there but aye Calzaghe proved too much down the stretch

[handsofstone]

Joe Calzaghe vs Mario Veit 1+2



Calzaghe blows away the unbeaten Veit in 1 round to retain his World Super Middleweight title, decked him with an over hand left seconds into the fight and that pretty much ended any hopes Veit had going into the fight, he got up but Calzaghe was on him and sent him down again with the same shot but much heavier, again Veit got up but as soon as Calzaghe wired into him in the ropes the ref stepped in


Calzaghe stops Veit in the 6th round of the rematch, Veit done better in the sense that he lasted passed the opening round but he never bothered Calzaghe at all, Calzaghe controlled him with the southpaw jab and left hand along with the right hooks and fast flurries, he dropped Veit right at the of the 5th with a big sweeping left hand, the bell went and Veit came out for the 6th when Calzaghe had him down a second time from a 2 handed combination overwhelming Veit who looked spent, his corner waved the towel but the ref allowed it to continue but within 5 seconds later it was over Calzaghe set in about Veit with both hands and it was stopped

[AntonioMartin]

I just watched the exciting but sadly, super tragic bout between Bradley Stone and Tony Silkstone which Stone won by third round technical knockout.

Silkstone fought the wrong fight, trying to duke it out after he was clearly hurt, and having only 1 KO in 14 bouts (he was undefeated)

Very sadly, both died within 14 days of each other in April, 1994, Silkstone of a suicide and Stone of injuries suffered in his fight with Richie Wenton. May they both RIP.

[Matt W]

JC had just a bit too much for Richie at that stage didn't he?

I think they got on as well (as did their fathers Len and Enzo) which made it a more unusual fight in the sense that it lacked some of the niggle that most of these all-British SMW world title fights tended to have.

Woodhall was an excellent boxer and gent....looked-up his record which still looks respectable.

Yeah both still mates, that might actually be first time I've watched Woodhall , he held his own in there but aye Calzaghe proved too much down the stretch

I know Richie, he's a great guy. I watched his fight with Roy Jones in the semis of the Seoul Olympics a couple of years ago. I'd always presumed it would have been a walkover for Jones, knowing how incredible he was, but Richie was very competitive with Jones only really pulling away in the 3rd as Richie left him more openings. I told Richie I'd watched it and was expecting it to be very wide, he said, 'I was good wasn't I?!?'. Excellent fighter.

[Bodyshot3]

Joe Calzaghe vs Mario Veit 1

Calzaghe blows away the unbeaten Veit in 1 round to retain his World Super Middleweight title, decked him with an over hand left seconds into the fight and that pretty much ended any hopes Veit had going into the fight, he got up but Calzaghe was on him and sent him down again with the same shot but much heavier, again Veit got up but as soon as Calzaghe wired into him in the ropes the ref stepped in

Veit was quite fancied by some and looked huge at SMW but got his comeuppance big time....an interesting fight in the fact that Joe went back to being the finisher he was earlier in his career.

Joe just seemed to quickly look Veit up and down and instinctively fancied the early finish

Thought the second match was odd....but at least profitable for Joe.
Veit camp really in a bit of denial as to what exactly had happened to their guy first time round?

[Bodyshot3]

I know Richie, he's a great guy. I watched his fight with Roy Jones in the semis of the Seoul Olympics a couple of years ago. I'd always presumed it would have been a walkover for Jones, knowing how incredible he was, but Richie was very competitive with Jones only really pulling away in the 3rd as Richie left him more openings. I told Richie I'd watched it and was expecting it to be very wide, he said, 'I was good wasn't I?!?'. Excellent fighter.

Nicely put Matt and interesting memories

I might well look-up the Jones fight in Seoul if I can find it.....he apparently gave a guy already booked for superstardom a lot of problems and this should have really been the gold-silver medal fight.

I watched a fair number of Richie's pro fights and he dealt with the tricky Malinga better than most and I seem to recall him literally boxing the ears of the Italian Branco to win the European MW title.

[margaret thatcher]

The other day I watched him get stopped by Keith Holmes

[handsofstone]

Orlando Canizales vs Paul Gonzales 2



Canizales stops Gonzales in the 2nd round on cuts to retain his World Bantamweight title, Gonzales had handed Canizales his first loss down at Flyweight earlier on in their careers, winning on points but cant find it online, Canizales made no mistake here though, the fight was stopped on a cut eye caused by a massive right hand by Canizales seconds into the fight, he came out like a man possessed and battered Gonzales around the ring for the whole 1st round, nailing him with massive left hooks and right hands, plenty clean landing and Gonzales was on the back foot bleeding like sieve


Canizales started the 2nd in the same fashion but the ref wasn't long in calling in the doc to stop it, first time ive seen Gonzales, only know 2 things about him, he won Gold at the 84 Olympics and he's a nonce, good to watch Canizales give him swift beating here

[handsofstone]

Wilfredo Vazquez vs Orlando Canizales



Vazquez beats Canizales by SD to retain his World Super Bantamweight title, right call IMO, there wasnt night and day between the rounds but for the majority Vazquez was just that bit busier, that bit more accurate and that bit better really, he started off quicker and probably shaded the first 3 rounds, Canizales did come into things in the middle rounds but faded back out and Vazquez regained control

It was a boxing match and there wasnt much drama to write home about but it was a decent watch, some good exchanges, some quality jabbing from both men but Vazquez's workrate shading most of the rounds for me

[Syntax Error]

Love this fight.

[milpool]

Terry Marsh v Akio Kameda

Marsh was always in control but did get a cut early doors which looked pretty bad to start with but they managed to stem the flow and didn’t seem too much of an issue in the end. It must have been a clash of heads as Kameda was a bit feather fisted to the extent that Marsh was happy to give him free body shots in a bit of showboating.
Hector Camacho was at ringside and such was Marsh’s dominance, that he was talking and waving to him throughout.

Kameda pulls out during the ad break at the end of the sixth. However, BoxRec have it as a TKO in the seventh. Anyone know why?!

[Bodyshot3]

Terry Marsh v Akio Kameda

Pity we did not see more of Marsh and his time at the top was really just a bit of a cameo.

Think this was an ITV fight - live and primetime - and the place (tent) was jumping.

I do miss these days when boxing was not niche and the nation stopped to watch a fight....I got really spoilt as a young teenage fan

Marsh recovered well after plenty of blood flowing and just went after Kameda.....thing I mainly recall is that Marsh could work at a seriously furious pace (even for this division) and was freakishly big but without being weight-drained.

[handsofstone]

Junior Jones vs Orlando Canizales



Jones beats Canizales by a ridiculous SD in a non title Super Bantamweight contest, should've been a comfortable UD but somehow a judge had it 119-110 for Canizales, shocking card, Canizales was the aggressor throughout and had some success when closing the gap and he was able to bang to the body of Jones but for the most part Jones was able to use his legs, height and reach to outbox Canizales, popping out the jab and countering him with the sharp right hand, he constantly used the ring and rarely allowed Canizales to pin him down, good tactics which worked well despite one judge watching it on LSD apparantly

[handsofstone]

Acelino Freitas vs Joel Casamayor



Freitas beats Casamayor by close UD to unify the Super Featherweight division, a fight of 2 halves really, Freitas starting off quicker and Casamayor finishing things strong, difference was Casamayor had a bogus knockdown ruled against him in the 3rd when he went down after backing up along the ropes to avoid a Freitas right hand, the shot clearly missed and Casamayor lost his footing but the ref ruled KD, Casamayor then had a point off in the 6th for hitting on the break


Freitas started off the aggressor and looked strong on the front foot backing Casamayor up and landing big right hands to make things uncomfortable for him, Casamayor came into things in the middle rounds though and started to back the tiring Freitas up and get home some quick southpaw jabs and landing the left hand it was him who became the aggressor on the attack, close fight though, not a lot to split them but Freitas doing enough to get the win after the deductions to Casamayor

[handsofstone]

Joel Casamayor vs Nate Campbell



Casamayor outpoints Campbell by UD in a non title Super Featherweight fight, close fight and ive no gripes with Casamayor getting it but a couple of the scores looked wide although it was a tight contest with no real drama and a lot of close rounds, Campbell started off the quicker and probably took the first 3 rounds on account of the sharp looking lead right hand which nailed Casamayor clean a few times


Casamayor came into things in the 4th and finally started to find his rhythm and get on the jab and back Campbell up and from then on he was the one controlling the centre of the ring and looking the boss, there wasn't many eye catching shots landing from either man though and it was pretty boring but Casamayor got a deserved win even if the scores were generous

[AntonioMartin]

Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury...a fresh classic!