BoxRec

For me tony bellew is the one who will take British boxing by the balls and bring it back. He's a great character and an excellent fighter exactly what we need.

cakes wrote:This last 2 year has been a big dint for British boxing imo so many challengers has fought for world and European honours but we seem to be struggling to raise our game above domestic level a don't want to seem negative but where is our future ????? Ps for me Carl Froch is the reason British boxing is still on the map

Valid points. Frochy is a man willing to take on anyone anytime and give the fans what they want.
He just isnt full of hot air at the big career defining moments like so many in Britain at present (Haye, Khan, Chisora , perhaps Degale altho the jury is still very much out etc).

Kell Brook is another im a big fan of would love to see him take on a guy like Alvarez or Jones and Bellew is pure class to me.

We have a good middleweight scene too but those guys need to improve their skillset after recent honourable setbacks, the way a Benn or Watson did after their early losses.

There's nothing new and unusual. From 1892 to 1990 British world champions were few and far between, and Chisora, Macklin, Barker-style brave losing challenges were the norm.

Then the WBO was invented and since 1990 we've had a slew of carefully managed 'world' champions, generally average and fringe-world class British boxers who could suddenly win and defend a 'world' championship in their own hometown division, which was operating parallel to the actual world scene.

So essentially we're having a dry spell as far as the UK's usual lineup of fake WBO 'world' champions beating up on Hungarian binmen and 40 year old American ex-world champs, but, as far as real genuine world championship boxing goes? We're making about the same impression on the world scene as we always have.

I guess one problem is the lack of 'characters'. As others have stated, most of the current boxers seem to lack a personality, all sound the same and speak only in the most obvious boxing cliches. Where are the Honeyghans, the Hameds, Brunos, Benns, Eubanks, McGuigans, and Hattons?

Even Eubank Jnr simply offers up a Spitting Image level impersonation of his old man. I love the way he's developed a lisp with a touch of street in it when in 'At Home with the Eubanks' he spoke like a posh public school boy. I'd rather he embraced his privileged background like Piper, rather than pretending to be someone else.

iftkwoody wrote:For me tony bellew is the one who will take British boxing by the balls and bring it back. He's a great character and an excellent fighter exactly what we need.

I can't see it myself.

jtourettes wrote:

iftkwoody wrote:For me tony bellew is the one who will take British boxing by the balls and bring it back. He's a great character and an excellent fighter exactly what we need.

I can't see it myself.

He's one; f the few that get exposure and isn't afraid to speak his mind . The person earlier who stated that there is no characters in boxing anymore its not the characters I can assure you there are plenty its just that these guys don't get the exposure they need. Its all reserved for a select few and unfortunately those are guys like groves and degale who I'm sure are good guys but have the personality of a peeled orange. Take the journeyman Jody meikle for instance that bloke is pure class and basically boxes to enjoy himself. Doesn't care about wininng or losing but gives 100% every fight. Compare him to buglioni who gets tons of exposure yet is as boring as a plank when he talks on TV.

iftkwoody wrote:

jtourettes wrote:

iftkwoody wrote:For me tony bellew is the one who will take British boxing by the balls and bring it back. He's a great character and an excellent fighter exactly what we need.

I can't see it myself.

He's one; f the few that get exposure and isn't afraid to speak his mind . The person earlier who stated that there is no characters in boxing anymore its not the characters I can assure you there are plenty its just that these guys don't get the exposure they need. Its all reserved for a select few and unfortunately those are guys like groves and degale who I'm sure are good guys but have the personality of a peeled orange. Take the journeyman Jody meikle for instance that bloke is pure class and basically boxes to enjoy himself. Doesn't care about wininng or losing but gives 100% every fight. Compare him to buglioni who gets tons of exposure yet is as boring as a plank when he talks on TV.

I wasn't disagreeing with the character, but the assertion that he 'is the one who will take British boxing by the balls'. As you've stated, you need exposure.

Bellew couldn't win even a WBO 'world' belt against the ultra protected and fragile Nathan Cleverly. So whilst he might be a character (I don't see it), he's certainly not going to become a major figure.

I would not say that British boxing is in limbo but in a period of transisition in all honesty. You have Froch leading the pack but at 35 has probably got 2/3 fights left before he decides to call it a day, Amir Khan needing to rebuild again after getting sparked by Danny Garcia, Nathan Cleverly stepping out of the shadow of Joe Calzaghe as the next potential great Welsh fighter but needs competitive match ups and you have Ricky Burns as well in a potentially mouthwatering up with Kevin Mitchell in a competitive Lightweight division here in the UK and a divison that at world level is potentially up for grabs with likes of Guerrero, Marquez and Rios fighting at Light-Welter and above. Also Ryan Rhodes after a decorated career is also coming to the end of his Indian summer.

Coming through you have Kell Brook on the verge of a world title shot along with Tyson Fury within the next 18 months along with Tony Bellew as well. Plus the Middleweights could serve up some tasty match ups as wells and the Super Bantams as well. David Price is continuing to improve and deliver knockouts and for me looks the real deal and throw in a competitive rivalry between James DeGale and George Groves to be the heir to Froch's throne at 12 stone as well So there is plenty to be optimistic.

loaded_gloves wrote:Bellew couldn't win even a WBO 'world' belt against the ultra protected and fragile Nathan Cleverly. So whilst he might be a character (I don't see it), he's certainly not going to become a major figure.

he did win that fight tho