ANYONE SEEN OR HEARD FROM JULIUS FRANCIS?

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 17 Apr 2007, 08:44

Has big Jules finally hung em up then? I would hope so since he was old and fat and kept plodding to points losses even against total novices.

I loved Jules back in the late 90s, reminds me of happy times! Last i saw of him was a year ago chatting about something i cant remember on a channel 4 street documentary, he was sat in a barbers bantering, i dont know if the guys even realised he was a boxer. He was just: "Julius"

Anyways i would like to see him back on SKY as a apundit, the suit fit him nicely and i think hes a bit more articulate/engaging/accomplished than Derek Williams, who nice as he is whenever i hear him criticise any boxer i think to all those strange losses of his when he simply would not let his hands go.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 17 Apr 2007, 08:46

Isn't Julius something to do with the BoxingInSchools project with Wayne Llewellyn?

twenty six · Post by **twenty six** » 17 Apr 2007, 10:42

Yes - there was a spot on tv for him recently, when it was announced that boxing was officially allowed on the curriculum.
Trouble is, it's the girls filling all the places.
He looked a little uncomfortable on the pads with all those screaming girlies round him !

Boxingmad · Post by **Boxingmad** » 18 Apr 2007, 13:36

Saw him on Sunday at a "skills" show at Gleasons in Tower Bridge, run by Mick Gregory of the London ABA where some of the boxing4schools people were having a go at sparring. He seems to be enjoying it by all accounts. I think it's taking up a lot of his time, although he said that he still thinks Danny Williams is the most talented heavyweight Britain has ever produced. Trouble is, talent is only half of it.
There were some boys there and they seemed to be coming along nicely. When it catches on, it'll start to get more boys in, I think.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 19 Apr 2007, 05:39

Thanks Mr Mad. How heavy did Jules look? Is his speech coherent, seem in decent shape? You should of yanked his arm and demanded a picture with him on the spot as i did Eastman.

Jules has sparred with Bruno and Lewis in his day, im sure he secretly regards them higher than Fat Dan.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 19 Apr 2007, 05:58

I know its a while back, but Jules speech was good after the Gammer fight.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 19 Apr 2007, 06:16

Eh? Was that broadcast??

Boxingmad · Post by **Boxingmad** » 23 Apr 2007, 16:27

overhand_right wrote:Thanks Mr Mad. How heavy did Jules look? Is his speech coherent, seem in decent shape? You should of yanked his arm and demanded a picture with him on the spot as i did Eastman.

Jules has sparred with Bruno and Lewis in his day, im sure he secretly regards them higher than Fat Dan.

Nah, you're the man to get the pics with the stars. You've got the approach down to a tee, just as i witnessed when u cornered Howard. I was standing next 2 u when you did, and found myself behind you two when it was taken. (you showed the pic on another thread).
Julius is not the kind of guy to make something like that up methinks. He's always been a down-to-earth practical guy and he would have said if he thought Lewis or FB were better. I agree with him that Danny is amazingly talented. However, he has so far failed to deliver whereas LL & FB have both gone to the highest level and won. Lewis was never the most talented heavy I've seen. He has a great jab and great power but he was just very well schooled in Canada on the way up. He also trained hard and looked after himself.
Danny is superbly mobile when he's light at the weight(but how often is that?), good jab (when he can be bothered to use it) and decent power. However, he never looks after himself outside training (like Hatton) and I believe he suffers for it. He's also very unsure of himself mentally. Lennox however had no doubts about his ability and had a very mean streak (he's still one of the best finishers I've seen in boxing). That's the difference.
Another interesting thing Julius said was that none of the heavies these days bother to be clever and wily & use things like slips and parries enough. Good observation, I thought.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 23 Apr 2007, 17:41

overhand_right wrote:Eh? Was that broadcast??

Nope, but he signed my programme and I had about a 5 min chat during the last bout of the evening.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 24 Apr 2007, 04:57

Boxingmad wrote:
Nah, you're the man to get the pics with the stars. You've got the approach down to a tee, just as i witnessed when u cornered Howard. I was standing next 2 u when you did, and found myself behind you two when it was taken. (you showed the pic on another thread).
.

Haha, thats quality! I've seen you giving the steely eye to Eastmans Guyanan posse in the shot!

True, Dan has shown some class, like the 2001 rematch with Jules when he was at his absolute best, but if you lack confidence and your a ill disciplined fatty i guess that will hold you back. I suppose the Tyson fight played into his hands because he was fighting an aged big name and was given zero chance of winning.