BoxRec

Frankie Gavin (in my eyes) had the hardest fight but managed to show the most skill. Even though he didn't score the easy/early win like others he boxed very well and displayed a great range of punches. I was very impressed by his skill/tactics/ and ability to change styles and work every aspect of the game. He got the rounds in and learnt more than rushing out and blowing away daft opposition.

DeGale, didnt impress me, I thought he paniced when hit and done the Bernard Dunne chicken dance bouncing away with the hands low. I'd much rather see a boxer cover up and slowly move out of the situation in a shell than dance like a fairy. He won but I don't think he showed us half of what he can do. Maybe his mouth is working fast than his brain. Maybe after this debut he will settle and re-watch the fight and see what a tit he looked like at times during the fight. Esp when he hit back onto the ropes then moved away again Ama style, he needs to brush up on that. If I genuinely thought he had done it to get rounds in I would understand but that just didnt seem to be the case last night. I think I'll write this one down to bad nerves for the gold plated business card boy.


BJ Saunders, displayed great feet work and superb speed but Molnar just didnt seem to be all that interested. TBH I think if he had have spetted on the gas at the last 30 of the 1st he could have stopped it. (but again 1 round is no experience as young lads like this wont even settle till mid 2nd at the earliest). He impressed me but no more so than he has done in the Ama's. He is a good boxer and a decent puncher. I look forward to seeing him take a step up in class after a few more 4 rnders.

On a side note -

Tyson Fury, he done very well against a tough journeyman in Shrek. It was an unfortunate cut that stopped the fight and I think Peret would grab a re-match with both hands. fury carried the hand far too low for my liking and with the height advantage got away with it. I'm not so sure he would do as well with a younger/taller/ more agressive Pro but all the same hats off to him he done the business on Peret and he is a tough cookie.


So to sum up,

Suanders lived up to my expectations of him.
Gavin, went above and beyond my expectations.
DeGale, bored the tits off me and annoyied me to watch him; too may Ama flaws and silly moments, he needs to work harder in the gym and spar under Pro rules with a sensible coach as a ref. He is no longer a boxer for his country and should be treated like every other Pro boxer (yelled at lots).

Tyson Fury - although the stoppage of Peret was impressive on paper it was a silly cut (well not silly could be serious but at the time wasn't really a bither to Peret as he voiced himself). I would like to see fury back in with someone like Peret to really gauge his ability. the height and reach will not always be something upon which he can rely to win fights. I want to see hands highter and more solid grounded punching, he still looked very Ama with the hit and move. Either that or Peret smells very bad

I liked watching Frankie - but he seems that he is a stylist, not a banger.

I think at 140lb he could be ok, but could maybe do with a bit more meat in his punches. But overall he seemed like a pro last night and not an amateur. However give him his dues he did stop the best foreigner last night - and maybe his shots hurt opponents by accumulation down the stretch.

However there are some solid pro's in the division - from the big punching Torres & Holt, the determined Timothy Bradley, Junior Witter and heavy-handed Juan Urango and some boxers like Malignaggi and Kotelenik.

I wonder who they will bring in for him to fight this year? i think he could fight another 5 times at least (so long as the nose heals up ok enough).

Degale was truly dreadful. His head was all over the place, obviously more concerned with his image than the task at hand. He needs to pack in the PR and concentrate on developing a thumping jab and some hunger.

I do believe when you are talking about the olympians you must remember there are 2 other olympians who have also made their pro debut and one will be having his 2nd fight this friday on the Moore card so i would love to know how you the boxing fans rate out of 1 to 10 the pro debut performance of the 5 of them. I know how i rate them and which ones i am glad i am working with.

People are quick to say it is that British thing of hyping someone to then tear them down, but it's all to do with the promoters. I don't necessarily blame the promoters, they are in this game to make money, but when you make a big show and dance about THE OLYMPIANS PRO DEBUTS, then everyone is gonna be watching like a bloody hawk. Plus it is no secret that a lot of people going to these shows are not boxing buffs per se, but drunken louts who want to see someone get their skull smashed in.

Was there such hype around the pro debuts for Hatton or Calzaghe? Can anyone even remember or care?

Just like Khan all over again. Drop me a line when each of these guys has had at least 10 fights.

FtmPress wrote:I do believe when you are talking about the olympians you must remember there are 2 other olympians who have also made their pro debut and one will be having his 2nd fight this friday on the Moore card so i would love to know how you the boxing fans rate out of 1 to 10 the pro debut performance of the 5 of them. I know how i rate them and which ones i am glad i am working with.

Sutherland and Jeffries both seemed very calm and confident. Sutherland's performance was good, and fair play to his opponent too for going for it a bit rather than just covering up and taking shots.

I look forward to seeing both again soon, hopefully too with opponents soon who stretch them a little (this of course goes for all the Olympians.)

FtmPress wrote: how you the boxing fans rate out of 1 to 10 the pro debut performance of the 5 of them. I know how i rate them and which ones i am glad i am working with.

Easy one,
Jefferies - 9
Sutherland - 9

It looks like you have the best two Olympians and Im not that guy who is struggling to put a World title card together

brian13 wrote:

FtmPress wrote: how you the boxing fans rate out of 1 to 10 the pro debut performance of the 5 of them. I know how i rate them and which ones i am glad i am working with.

Easy one,
Jefferies - 9
Sutherland - 9

It looks like you have the best two Olympians and Im not that guy who is struggling to put a World title card together

What was most obvious was that they had the worst opponents.

Anyone who criticises a boxer after one fight and says things like "he was obviously more concerned with his image" is very, very foolish, bordering on ignorant. Holyfield, Breland and Tyrell Biggs from the 1984 US Olympic team all got taken the distance in their debuts against novices and, according to boxrec, neither Holyfield nor Breland managed shut-outs with the judges. Guess they turned out OK

I thought all three guys put on good performances. Both demonstrated their flaws and strengths. Degale probably needs the most careful guidance but I can see him outclassing a lot of guys. Gavin is going to be fun to watch, and Billy Joe to me has the best chance to become a champ someday.

gobbles wrote:


What was most obvious was that they had the worst opponents.

If your good enough you will be able to stop those opponents, so who cares about how good they are

brian13 wrote:

gobbles wrote:


What was most obvious was that they had the worst opponents.

If your good enough you will be able to stop those opponents, so who cares about how good they are

What a ridiculous remark "who cares how good they are".

Why do you think all those guys like Buckley and the other Nobby Nobbs fighters, didn't get stopped? Because they hardly threw a punch, just like the guy DeGale had. De Gale's a boxer, not a banger. As I said somewhere earlier, Holyfield, Biggs and Breland were all taken the distance on their pro debuts on the big '84 Olympians show and they were all in with nobodies. Bet nobody booed.

I see Sutherland has been picked another superstar - on a run of 18 straight defeats. That's setting the bar a bit low, don't you think.