So Keith Long has done what we've come to expect from him and pulled out of the Sprott fight. Danny Williams was on the same bill so bobs your uncle!
If you're out there Jimmy - let's see if you're right. I say you're not. I say Sprott performs a whole lot better this time around. He could even score a KO.
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Williams v Sprott II - 26th September
bennie wrote:This is great news. Sprott finally gets a deserved title chance without having to go through Long, which was always ludicrous after the winning run Michael had strung together.
Have to disagree with you there Bennie, Long gave Williams some major problems (and the first time we saw Danny hurt and look vunerable. Sprott did a good surival job but really was a glorified punch bag first time round.
Lets look at the apparent excellent winning run Sprott has done, first thing first was he ever expect to lose any of these fights? Holden and Potter were both on the slide (Holden of course losing to Long before that), and Reid was always chinny.
He was a big favourite against all of them, the Sportt (as this is apparently the all new Michael Sprott) of the first Williams encounter and before would have beaten these guys at this stage of their careers. Yes, its good to see Sprott rededicate himself, but I think people are going overboard about the resergence.
If he would have beaten Long, or if he beats Williams then yes, this really is a new Michael Sprott. Long deserved to remain number 1 for the contendors for the championship because Danny had beaten all the available challengers out there (barring Harrison, cause Hide future was in doubt) and out of all of them, Francis, Potter, Sprott it was Long who posed the most questions.
Long vs Sprott was an excellent choice for an eliminator. Sprott recent run does deserve a British title fight, but Long too deserved another shot at the title because of his effort in his last quest.
The Sprott before these victories would have started as favourite in any domestic heavyweight clash barring Williams, Long, Francis, Hide and Harrison - and do you know what, he hasn't fought any of these yet. So lets not get overboard about this all new Michael Sprott.
I know some people who actually think Sprott should be ranked ahead of Williams now?? WTF.
Williams KO 8.
Both fought decent against Williams so i agreed that they should have to fight each other in an eliminator, long v sprott would have been interesting. I think Sprott will have more confidence and he is fighting a vulnerable Williams, however i expect Williams may still have a little too much for him and take a late stoppage or points wins. If Sprott lands flush though....who knows it could be interesting.
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Sprott should fare better this time around. He could conceivably outscore Williams. However, at some point, I expect Danny to be stung into action and that's when I think his greater firepower will once again expose Sprott's suspect whiskers.
An intriguing rematch, but Williams wins for me, possibly faster than last time because Sprott will push him far harder - if that makes sense?
An intriguing rematch, but Williams wins for me, possibly faster than last time because Sprott will push him far harder - if that makes sense?
I don't believe Keith Long deserves anything, least of all a British title final eliminator. I believe, instead, we've got to take a serious look at his conduct. Okay, he gave Danny Williams a good fight in an all-Brixton showdown last year. Long raised his game; Danny, fighting for a Lonsdale Belt outright, was over-anxious and didn't look great. But he still won clearly.stujones wrote:bennie wrote:This is great news. Sprott finally gets a deserved title chance without having to go through Long, which was always ludicrous after the winning run Michael had strung together.
Have to disagree with you there Bennie, Long gave Williams some major problems (and the first time we saw Danny hurt and look vunerable. Sprott did a good surival job but really was a glorified punch bag first time round.
Lets look at the apparent excellent winning run Sprott has done, first thing first was he ever expect to lose any of these fights? Holden and Potter were both on the slide (Holden of course losing to Long before that), and Reid was always chinny.
He was a big favourite against all of them, the Sportt (as this is apparently the all new Michael Sprott) of the first Williams encounter and before would have beaten these guys at this stage of their careers. Yes, its good to see Sprott rededicate himself, but I think people are going overboard about the resergence.
If he would have beaten Long, or if he beats Williams then yes, this really is a new Michael Sprott. Long deserved to remain number 1 for the contendors for the championship because Danny had beaten all the available challengers out there (barring Harrison, cause Hide future was in doubt) and out of all of them, Francis, Potter, Sprott it was Long who posed the most questions.
Long vs Sprott was an excellent choice for an eliminator. Sprott recent run does deserve a British title fight, but Long too deserved another shot at the title because of his effort in his last quest.
The Sprott before these victories would have started as favourite in any domestic heavyweight clash barring Williams, Long, Francis, Hide and Harrison - and do you know what, he hasn't fought any of these yet. So lets not get overboard about this all new Michael Sprott.
I know some people who actually think Sprott should be ranked ahead of Williams now?? WTF.
Williams KO 8.
Since then Long and Sprott have been scheduled to meet three times and, each time, Long has pulled out at very late notice. Keith's challenge to Williams also took three attempts to make due to Long pulling out late. On one of those occasions, Sprott stepped in at a week's notice and put in a game losing effort himself. He was stopped in seven rounds in February 2002.
Since then what has either man done?
Sprott, arguably the most improved fighter in the country, has turned his career around with eight straight wins including, last time out in August, a convincing first round victory over Southampton's previously unbeaten Colin Kenna in defence of his Southern Area heavyweight title. You disect his opponents and say those wins don't mean much. But at least he's got opponents to disect! What has Long done! He boxed last February and got put on his arse by a blown up light-heavy, Alvin Miller, before winning in the first round. Miller is a guy Sprott also beat in the first round - in his third pro fight way back in 1997. That sums up the merit of that win for Long.
I believe that once Michael stopped former British champion, Mike Holden, and former British title challenger Mark Potter in a British heavyweight title eliminator, the Long final eliminator became almost irrelevant. Sprott destroyed Potter in three rounds, a man who had been robbed against Long in an eight-rounder at Wembley.
I reiterate, Sprott has boxed eight times since the Williams defeat. Long has boxed 11 times in his entire career. He got his title crack and did well. But to then sit around and hold up a willing and exciting heavyweight prospect in the most competitive era of domestic heavyweight boxing since the 60's - just as he held up others - is out of order. Long doesn't really want to fight. Sprott does and has. He deserves this straight crack at the title.
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Bennie, I agree with that last post, Keith has got a take a long look at himself and ask himself if he really wants to be in this business.
I interpreted your first post as suggesting the Long vs Sprott would be mismatch - which I disagreed.
I'm still not convinced that Sprott deserved at outright shot at Williams, okay fair enough his last chance he did come in with little notice - but he lost far more convincingly than long, Williams won with plenty to spare - it wasn't the case against Long.
However, given Long's previous record in pulling out perhaps it might have been wiser that once he pulled out of this one for the first time, Sprott should have faced Francis - who while has lost more fights than he's won this year has fought (in this year) at a significantly higher level then any guy Sprott has beaten in his entire career. And in ALL of these contest faired Okay. Just don't think he's faced an eliminator callibre opponent since Williams, good enough to warrant an eliminator. Did Long? Probably not, but he's still better than Holden, Potter and Reid.
For me, I have Sprott ranked at 7th in the UK at the moment (behind, Lewis, Akinwande, Williams, Hide, Francis, and Long) - Thats still 3 guys elligable to fight for the British title who I rank higher, that's why I think Sprott needed an eliminator before getting a mandatory shot. Since the Williams fight he's moved up from 9 - With Potter retired and moving ahead of Holden.
His form certainly warrants an elimator shot, as Holden, Potter and Reid were at least top twelve standard and higher, but I don't think these victories should earn him the mandatory status. If not Long, then Francis or Hide.
Lets not forget, Long has beaten one of the guys Sprott lost too - Harry Senior.
I interpreted your first post as suggesting the Long vs Sprott would be mismatch - which I disagreed.
I'm still not convinced that Sprott deserved at outright shot at Williams, okay fair enough his last chance he did come in with little notice - but he lost far more convincingly than long, Williams won with plenty to spare - it wasn't the case against Long.
However, given Long's previous record in pulling out perhaps it might have been wiser that once he pulled out of this one for the first time, Sprott should have faced Francis - who while has lost more fights than he's won this year has fought (in this year) at a significantly higher level then any guy Sprott has beaten in his entire career. And in ALL of these contest faired Okay. Just don't think he's faced an eliminator callibre opponent since Williams, good enough to warrant an eliminator. Did Long? Probably not, but he's still better than Holden, Potter and Reid.
For me, I have Sprott ranked at 7th in the UK at the moment (behind, Lewis, Akinwande, Williams, Hide, Francis, and Long) - Thats still 3 guys elligable to fight for the British title who I rank higher, that's why I think Sprott needed an eliminator before getting a mandatory shot. Since the Williams fight he's moved up from 9 - With Potter retired and moving ahead of Holden.
His form certainly warrants an elimator shot, as Holden, Potter and Reid were at least top twelve standard and higher, but I don't think these victories should earn him the mandatory status. If not Long, then Francis or Hide.
Lets not forget, Long has beaten one of the guys Sprott lost too - Harry Senior.
I wouldn't be shocked if Sprott were to beat Danny, though, like you, I feel the Reading man still has something to prove and do favour Danny to retain his titles. Michael has beaten several big, slow heavies to earn his shot, but Danny is big and FAST!stujones wrote:Bennie, I agree with that last post, Keith has got a take a long look at himself and ask himself if he really wants to be in this business.
I interpreted your first post as suggesting the Long vs Sprott would be mismatch - which I disagreed.
I'm still not convinced that Sprott deserved at outright shot at Williams, okay fair enough his last chance he did come in with little notice - but he lost far more convincingly than long, Williams won with plenty to spare - it wasn't the case against Long.
However, given Long's previous record in pulling out perhaps it might have been wiser that once he pulled out of this one for the first time, Sprott should have faced Francis - who while has lost more fights than he's won this year has fought (in this year) at a significantly higher level then any guy Sprott has beaten in his entire career. And in ALL of these contest faired Okay. Just don't think he's faced an eliminator callibre opponent since Williams, good enough to warrant an eliminator. Did Long? Probably not, but he's still better than Holden, Potter and Reid.
For me, I have Sprott ranked at 7th in the UK at the moment (behind, Lewis, Akinwande, Williams, Hide, Francis, and Long) - Thats still 3 guys elligable to fight for the British title who I rank higher, that's why I think Sprott needed an eliminator before getting a mandatory shot. Since the Williams fight he's moved up from 9 - With Potter retired and moving ahead of Holden.
His form certainly warrants an elimator shot, as Holden, Potter and Reid were at least top twelve standard and higher, but I don't think these victories should earn him the mandatory status. If not Long, then Francis or Hide.
Lets not forget, Long has beaten one of the guys Sprott lost too - Harry Senior.
The Reading equation shouldn't be overlooked in their fight. If a big hometown crowd gets behind the challenger it could inspire him to a great win. I just wish Michael wasn't going into the fight off the back of a couple of first round wins. That, in the long run, is bad for a fighter prior to a big fight.