Stefy Bull to fight Amir.

emma · Post by **emma** » 06 Mar 2007, 07:06

SOUTH Yorkshire lightweight Stefy Bull has shelved plans to hang up his gloves after landing a high-profile fight against unbeaten Amir Khan at the Millennium Stadium on April 7.
The fight, which will be shown live on ITV 1, forms part of the undercard forthe Joe Calzaghe-Peter Manfredo jnr WBO super-middleweight clash.

“I decided to quit last month after the Central Area light-welterweight John Fewkes title fight fell through because I was finding it hard to get up for routine six-rounders” said Doncaster’s Bull.

“But I had an immediate change of heart when I head about the Khan fight.

“To fight Khan, who is arguably one of the hottest properties in the world of boxing, on what will be one of the biggest shows of the year at the Millennium Stadium on prime-time television, is like winning the National Lottery,” added the 29 year-old southpaw, beaten just four times in 29 outings.

With the weight being set two pounds above the 9st 9lb lightweight limit, neither Bull’s Central Area or WBF Inter-Continental crowns will be on the line.

“My understanding is that Khan’s camp turned down the chance of a ten-rounder and instead opted for an eight-rounder,” said Bull.

Bull has had only one fight since being stopped in the eighth round by Scott Lawton when challenging for the vacant English title at The Dome in Doncaster last June - a comfortable points win over journeyman Carl Allen at the same venue in October.

Despite not having done much training for the last couple of weeks, Bull says that he will be in top shape for what he describes as the biggest fight of his career.

“The last time I fought on a big television show was against Dean Pithie at the Sheffield Arena back in 1997 when I fought him for the WBO Inter-Continental title,” recalled Bull.

“I took that fight at just 24 hour’s notice and went 11 rounds before being stopped.

“ I have got a month to get ready for the Khan fight so fitness will not be a problem.”

Bull has watched all Khan’s fights since he turned professional after winning a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece, and claims he will be the Bolton boxer’s toughest opponent to date.

“For a start, I am a big lightweight,” he said. “Most of Khan’s previous opponents have been against people who normally box at featherweight or super-featherweight.

“He has won most of his fights in the first couple of rounds and I think both the TV people and the viewers want to see him tested and that is where I come in.

“Khan is young and hungry but I have got the experience and I am confident that I can beat him. I’ve certainly got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

“Khan has lightning fast hands and he can punch. I think the way to beat him is not to stand in front of him trading punches but to try and beat him at his own game and move about.”

Said Bull’s manager, John Rushton: “I don’t think that Khan is as good as he thinks he is while Stefy Bull is better than he thinks he is.

“If Stefy goes in there in the right frame of mind, then he could beat Khan.”

Sheffield’s Fewkes still wants to fight Bull, says his manager, Glyn Rhodes.

sheffieldtoday.co.uk

jomothepure · Post by **jomothepure** » 06 Mar 2007, 07:40

At least Bull is tried and tested, and is a known and British opponent, but my God yet another one who doesn't punch. I can't recall but he has like 6 or 7 KO's from 30ish fights? Are SN purposely trying to wind us up?

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 06 Mar 2007, 07:48

ANOTHER guy who cant punch.

Im not even going to allow myself to get wound up by this anymore, i say just wait til Khan fights a live body, and enjoy the comedy as it unfolds.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 06 Mar 2007, 07:57

Not just that, but a guy with one foot through the door marked retirement. I'd rather see Khan in with a working journeyman who cannot afford to be KO'd as he won't be able to work for a while, than someone who is blatantly just turning up for a payday.

I'm sure the lad will try and make a fist of it, but when the going gets a bit tough, I think we're likely to see a pretty meek capitulation, after all, this is his last fight.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 06 Mar 2007, 08:10

At least there gradually upping the comp though. He can punch a little more than previous opponents and is bigger too.

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 06 Mar 2007, 08:31

Bull's an awkward southpaw so the best I think he can offer is to confuse Khan for a bit.

Bascially, it's another foregone conclusion. :x

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 06 Mar 2007, 08:32

It's further confirmation that the Khan camp have no confidence in his chin.

Even so it is more like the sort of domestic competition Khan should be fighting and at least Bull has been at lightweight for a couple of years.

I think we are heading for a Limond fight with Khan, it's obvious he is going to fit the bill perfectly for Khan's first title challenge.

emma · Post by **emma** » 06 Mar 2007, 08:55

overhand_right wrote:ANOTHER guy who cant punch.

Im not even going to allow myself to get wound up by this anymore, i say just wait til Khan fights a live body, and enjoy the comedy as it unfolds.

At least he's a lightweight. But he's a non puncher and hasnt fought for a year.

lvlarc · Post by **lvlarc** » 06 Mar 2007, 09:03

..to be expected. If Khan is still fighting non-punchers after his 15th fight then I'll start to worry. What annoys me though is when the ITV gang hype them up.

The Blade · Post by **The Blade** » 06 Mar 2007, 10:33

lvlarc_uk wrote:..to be expected. If Khan is still fighting non-punchers after his 15th fight then I'll start to worry. What annoys me though is when the ITV gang hype them up.

It's sad that a few people choose to be so negative about Amir's career.
Would you really rather see him go and fight for a world title and get chinned. Maybe he could win. Far better to let him learn and go in with the big boys when it is the complete article. He has done little wrong so far. And he is only 20 for chistsakes.

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 06 Mar 2007, 10:45

I dont think anyone is against him plying his trade...

...It is just that he shouldnt realy be doing it on mainstream TV in front of millions of viewers - It could quite easily backfire, as it did with big Audley.

And if he is to be put on a pedestal, then he will get rightly criticised.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 06 Mar 2007, 10:46

Mr Blade, if he was clearing out his division (ala Skelton) and facing interesting types every time out, we'd have no reason to criticise. As it is, he keeps telling us he'll be world champion whilst his team studiously keep him miles away from anyone with a pulse.

Kind of gets on your nerves after 21 months, you know?

emma · Post by **emma** » 06 Mar 2007, 10:52

overhand_right wrote:Mr Blade, if he was clearing out his division (ala Skelton) and facing interesting types every time out, we'd have no reason to criticise. As it is, he keeps telling us he'll be world champion whilst his team studiously keep him miles away from anyone with a pulse.

Kind of gets on your nerves after 21 months, you know?

Esp last time when he said'Im a champion I'll fight anyone'.

The Blade · Post by **The Blade** » 06 Mar 2007, 11:30

overhand_right wrote:Mr Blade, if he was clearing out his division (ala Skelton) and facing interesting types every time out, we'd have no reason to criticise. As it is, he keeps telling us he'll be world champion whilst his team studiously keep him miles away from anyone with a pulse.

Kind of gets on your nerves after 21 months, you know?

The point is, Amir doesn't make the fights. And the TV ratings would suggest the majority of Joe public is not queuing up to slag the lad off, thank goodness.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 06 Mar 2007, 11:38

Terence wrote:I feel sorry for Khan. You watch most bills and you see fighters with 7-10 fights and very few of them have KO's. Generally the bigger punchers are found at a much higher level and if you are a big puncher yourself the best you can hope for is that you get powder-fisted guys who can test you with their canniness.

How many of us see fighters with 7-1 (0) records fighting against guys with 5-2 (0) records on many bills? Two punchers are rarely matched in the early going and most punchers will quickly blast their way to impressive records and are not risked against one another.

It might not be a sign that people do not trust Khan's chin, merely a sign that there are no really stiff hitters around, who are also available, for him to fight at this, still relatively low, level.

On the other hand if he gets a guy who has a record of 15-0 (10) compiled in other countries the first thing we will say is "Yes but who has he fought" (we are saying this with Khan), then "Why hasn't he fought anyone of note" (again with Khan) and this leads to the conclusion "He (fighter and Khan) obviously hasn't got a chin!"

Khan, like Audley, is suffering because he is fighting building fights in the public glare.

People might say the fights are not ideal but to be honest most of us will follow a fighter with 40+ fights and happily tell anyone who will listen that they have only had three 'real' fights, and there are a myriad of excuses to be made about those fights too!

Yes, this is all true, however, that is the main problem, watching Khan bowling over powder puff punchers and men who he has a big weight and strength advantage over doesn't make for good viewing. Well, not to me anyway, it's all the hype and ballyhoo about his fantastic performances as well which really grates. I know what you are saying, but I think it's a bit rich dressing up his early performances to this extent.

The public at large now have so little contact with boxing, that they will believe virtually whatever they are told, they have no way of knowing better due to lack of critical coverage in the mainstream media. They are spoon fed hype and downright bullshit often, and the TV networks who screen this shite are compliant in the extreme. It's a poor situation for my money, because then, when it all unravels everyone feels cheated by the whole charade.

I hope that Khan isn't being bred a false sense of confidence and overinflated sense of his own ability. He has some good athletic gifts, but he's still very raw indeed, but bowling all these people over could come back to haunt him. After a while if you keep spoon feeding a fighter, and then they come up against someone who gives them a fright or beats them, (Frank Bruno v Jumbo Cummings springs to mind), then suddenly their confidence underpinning them can dissapear.

I find myself compelled to carry on watching Amir, because I want to see his development, but it's not a pretty sight watching these fights. At least on a positive note he's being kept active.

Wassup · Post by **Wassup** » 06 Mar 2007, 11:39

I don't know why you all blaming Amir, it is allegedly to blame.

This opponent is step up and awkward style.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 06 Mar 2007, 11:53

When a guy this bad is a step up for a pro with 11 fights, thats pretty bad.

The Blade · Post by **The Blade** » 06 Mar 2007, 11:56

Wassup wrote:I don't know why you all blaming Amir, it is allegedly allegedly to blame.

This opponent is step up and awkward style.

All this is seriously disrespectful of Bull, who is not the worst by any means. 25,000 tickets have already gone for April 7. So there are an awful lot of people buying what has been described in this thread as "bull-shit." A few armchair pontificators here need to get real.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 06 Mar 2007, 11:57

Thats because its a Calzaghe fight you goon!!

Do you think 25,000 people would turn up to watch Khans one of joke fights?

The Blade · Post by **The Blade** » 06 Mar 2007, 12:02

overhand_right wrote:Thats because its a Calzaghe fight you goon!!

Do you think 25,000 people would turn up to watch Khans one of joke fights?

750,000 watched ITV four when Khan last fought, the network's biggest non-football audience ever. And that would be the same Calzaghe some cement heads here think is not doing himself justice. Wait till Khan tops the bill at the Reebok. Then we'll see who's a goon, dumbboy.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 06 Mar 2007, 12:02

Hoho!

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 06 Mar 2007, 12:12

Blade you are deluding yourself buddy. Go apply to work for ITV or Frank Warrens PR & Spin department.

mattyp151 · Post by **mattyp151** » 06 Mar 2007, 12:17

Yet another of the same exact opponent for Amir...high wins, low KOs, presents no threat to Amir's shoddy at times defense.

The Blade · Post by **The Blade** » 06 Mar 2007, 12:19

overhand_right wrote:Blade you are deluding yourself buddy. Go apply to work for ITV or Frank Warrens PR & Spin department.

My point is that the number of tickets sold and audience figures suggest I am not alone in the delusion. The public is not fooled. Ulitmately, it rarely is when it comes to parting with cash for entertainment. Khan, unlike Harrison when he took the BBC shilling, is not yet topping bills. He is learning where he is supposed to, on undercards. Perhaps you would rather see Khan chinned by being stepped up before he is ready, and Calzaghe fighting in some sportshall in Neath. It is not spin or PR to see where the big shows are being staged in the country. Just common sense. Nor is it pr or spin to allow Khan time to progress. It's called management.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 06 Mar 2007, 12:20

The Blade wrote:
overhand_right wrote:Thats because its a Calzaghe fight you goon!!

Do you think 25,000 people would turn up to watch Khans one of joke fights?
750,000 watched ITV four when Khan last fought, the network's biggest non-football audience ever. And that would be the same Calzaghe some cement heads here think is not doing himself justice. Wait till Khan tops the bill at the Reebok. Then we'll see who's a goon, dumbboy.

That's not saying a lot mate, ITV Four has feck all viewers! For terrestrial TV 750,000 is really no big shakes.