BoxRec

Looking at his record, he could provide a good fight. Been in with a few big names, and was in the ring with Hasim Rahman earlier this year. Though he didn't win, he took them a good many rounds. Taking many to the distance, and even if he was knocked out by Michael Grant it was in the 10th round, and has a draw with the lean, mean fighting maching Kirk Johnson. So good fight for somebody inexperienced.

However, knowing the way things are I have to agree that Audley would've got an absolute bollocking for fighting this guy. Though, I do think its a fight I'd like to see as the last few Audley opponents (Julius Francis aside) have been chosen based purely on unbeaten records rather then having any kind of point to them.

with equal respect, it was not your first view of the fight. You called it "brilliant"

Now you are asking what better they could do for the money

Those are two different questions.

They may well not be able to get a better fighter for the money, but that does not a "brilliant" fight make

I am in disagreement with your notion it is a "brilliant" fight not with the notion that if you pay crap ( or have no option but to pay crap ) that you get a shot or a crap fighter

Slapsie

Ok. Firstly, my suggestion that this was a brilliant fight looks misguided if you take it totally out of context.

Dont get me wrong I think this is a competitive, intriguing match up - after all Matt SKelton isn't Joe Frazier, no matter how much SN would like us to think so.

But compared to Ross Puritty its brilliant.

Compared to some of the complete no-hopers we could have been fed its brilliant.

As a learning fight for Skelton its potentially brilliant.

And as a spectacle, whilst it wont be a classic, it will be asorbing and entertaining.

So, Ok maybe BRILLIANT, was pushing the envelope a little.

Ok, I've conceded ground.

Now apply some context to the fight, and the economics involved and come up with a better opponent?

Who would you have picked and do you agree this isn't quite the 'SHOCKER OF A FIGHT' you suggested it was?

This fight doesnt fill me with excitement but I supposed Cole at least provides a bit more interest than someone we have never heard of.

Cole is however not just over the hill but well down the bottom of the other side. I saw him lose to the desperately unimpressive Cedrick Fields and, while he still carried some semblance of skills, fitness and snap were nowhere to be seen as I recall. This site has him ranked 138 in the world and I think thats about right. He's not an intimidating hw as you would expect from someone whose best days were at cruiser.

He could still provide a test for Skelton, but then so could most of the other 137.

I still see this as a SHOCKER OF A FIGHT

a big lumbering 'can't fight" against a shot 'can't fight anymore"

I will freely concede that it is probably as good as they could have done for the available finance

S

Out of interest, how much what do you guys reckon that Dennis Bakhtov, Georgi Kandelaki or even Oleg Maskaev would cost? Christ, I'd rather see Matt in with Tomasz Bonin, who at least looked game against Audley. It would build the fight too, given that Audley's stoppage was considered a bit iffy.

Cole is tough, but I don't know about him having any kind of Indian summer. The Rahman and Lance Whitaker fight looked like two very poor fighters beating an even-poorer fighter.

This seems like a no win situtation for Skelton but a decent fight all the same, Cole's best days are certainly behind him and down a weight but he is tough at least and threw a spanner in the works of awful novice Vinnie Maddalone. I doubt he will beat Skelton though, it will most likely be a brawl with plenty of holding but with the "house" fighter taking a reasonably comfortable points win. As for the opponent well he is certainly better than Zuri Lawrence who is a regular on the club scene over in America, he's slippery but cannot punch as his 18-9 (0) record shows, he has at least fought some reasonable opposition though like Cole and the management are showing some reasonable ambition with Skelton's matchmaking.

Matt will butcher him, Cole is old, Skelton Ko...

Anyone remember Cole from his first incarnation, when he was a legitimate cruiser champ and part of the Triple Threat Team - alongside Ray Mercer and Charles The Natural Murray?

I loved the way Murray boxed and always felt he fell sort of what he could have been, he certainly had all the necessary skills, but was probably a little sort on top flight power/strength.

Again very good match making a definate step up from the likes of Francis, and Sprott but not too big a gamble. I like this guy's attitude and a like the way he's been handle.

A win here (which I don't doubt will happen) will create some talk on the websites and people may start to take an interest from across the pond.

Was it the fight with Madalone in which Cole started off with no ambition but started to believe about the mid point of the contest and eventually won. It was a decent win for Cole, but Madalone was nothing more than a toughman type of fighter - Skelton, whilst certainly not Ali, I think will have too much hunger and will over power Cole between five to eight rounds.

TerribleTerry wrote:Anyone remember Cole from his first incarnation, when he was a legitimate cruiser champ and part of the Triple Threat Team - alongside Ray Mercer and Charles The Natural Murray?.

Yes I do, I was going to mention this myself, I recall reading an interview with him saying that he wanted to clean-up the Cruiserweight division then move up to Heavyweight.

I'm sure I've also read that Cole has sparred with Roy Jones Jr.

The more I think about this fight, the more I think it's a tricky one for Skelton. It would be quite an achievement for big Matt to stop the American.

bennie wrote:The more I think about this fight, the more I think it's a tricky one for Skelton. It would be quite an achievement for big Matt to stop the American.

I have faith that Cole will not turn out to be the corpse he should be. While I've highly enjoyed following the career of Matt 'the dream' Skelton, this could turn into a really sticky night for him if Cole gets his game going. However, a stoppage against either version of Cole will be a significant mark on Skelton's record.

DavidPayne wrote:Slapsie Maxie.

OK mate, your entitled to your opinion. I'll give you a budget of $25k.

Who would you bring over for Skelton and why?

Rydell Booker...obvious reasons(sadly James Toney`s people have got him first)