Cracking fight this weekend...

[bennie]

AUSTRALIA'S Nathan Sting returns to England for the first defence of his WBU bantamweight title against hometown hero and current British bantamweight champion Nicky Booth at the Harvey Hadden Sports Centre in Nottingham this Saturday (September 20).
Sting, who won the title in Brentwood in July with an impressive 11th-round stoppage of Johnny Armour, is confident he will do a similar number on Booth according to his trainer Les Wilson.
"Nathan is red hot for the Booth fight," says Wilson. "He has wanted Booth for two years. He was supposed to fight him a couple of times last year for the Commonwealth title but we were committed to another fight the week before the first time and Nathan got a cut the second time around. Then Booth went and lost to current WBA rated Steve Molitor."
Booth was present at the Sting-Armour fight and must have been impressed by the cool, assured and spiteful counterpunching of the Aussie as he busted up and wore down the Chatham southpaw, although at 34 and in the wake of three draining 12-rounders with Francis Ampofo, Armour may have been there for the taking. The 23-year-old Booth will prove an altogether fresher opponent and is ready for another step-up after making a fourth defence of his British title in his last fight in April: a tough points win over Finchley's spirited Jamie Yelland. His last foray at 'world' level came in July 2001 when he accepted a vacant IBO bantamweight title challenge with Jose Sanjuanelo at short notice and was stopped in nine one-sided rounds by the hard-hitting Colombian, who also crushed Ady Lewis in two rounds in defence of his crown here. More worryingly, Sanjuanelo is a southpaw like Sting.
Booth returned to his British and Commonwealth titles and has proved himself by far and away the outstanding bantamweight in this country after a surprisingly patchy start to his pro career. Nicky won only two of his first five pro fights in fact, but inspired by the success of flyweight brother Jason, began to put it all together and captured the British and Commonwealth titles from Tommy Waite in October 2000. He saw off the brave and defiant challenges of Ady Lewis and Stephen Oates with crushing left hooks to the body in seven rounds apiece, also stopped Jim Betts in seven, and outpointed the tough and capable Yelland last time out. Sanjuanelo and Canada's slick-boxing Steve Molitor interrupted his domestic dominance. Molitor proved a revelation when he outpointed Booth for his Commonwealth title last year at Brentwood. He dropped Booth in the opening 90 seconds with a straight left and eventually got home 116-112 on referee Larry O’Connell’s scorecard. Again, Molitor is a southpaw like Sting.
So Booth, 17-4-1 (7) has shown a weakness to quality southpaws and Sting is a quality southpaw, rated in the IBF top 15 bantamweights for over twelve months now. "At the moment everything is going good," says trainer Wilson. "Nathan's cruising along. Nathan was back in the gym the day after we got back from the Armour fight. His weight is good. Winning the title has made him even hungrier. Everyone is talking about the improvement he's showing."
The classy, experienced Sting is no stranger to facing Brits in their own hometowns either. He took the dangerous Neil Swain 12 rounds for the vacant Commonwealth super bantamweight title in Cardiff in 1996 (losing on points) and scored an excellent points win over Londoner Stephen Oates at York Hall two years ago. Oates of course challenged Booth for the British bantamweight title last year and, after seven bitterly-contested rounds, was stopped in seven. Certainly in terms of firepower, Booth carries far more than the clever Aussie, especially to the body. Sting has been stopped by the world class Nadel Hussein in 2000 (who went 10 rounds with Manny Pacquiao in his next fight) and was knocked out in two rounds by the heavier Tony Wehbee, later to challenge Scott Harrison for the Commonwealth featherweight title (who stopped him easily in three). But at 30 the Australian seems to boxing better than ever and has now won his last six fights on the trot. He brings over a record of 26-6-1 (13)
So this is a good, competitive-looking title match, and made even more interesting by the contrast in styles. Sting, who will undoubtedly start as favourite after the Armour drubbing, uses good footwork, a sharp right jab, and likes to counter with both hands. The aggressive, straight-ahead Booth, enjoys walking his opponents down and has an excellent punch range himself. His left hook to the body is a strenth-sapping shot in particular. It's a punch he'll need to slow down the slippery Sting, who must have watched plenty of videos of the way Booth was outboxed by the slick Molitor.
But to be honest Sting may have been flattered by the Armour win, and isn't as good a fighter as Molitor or Sanjuanelo in my opinion. Booth is aggressive, brave, talented and fighting at home. Paul Lloyd, another long-armed body puncher, cut up and stopped the Aussie over here a few years ago. I expect Booth to do something similar.

[Kilburn]

Really looking forward to this. I know Booth is hardly mr popular on these boards but I've always been a fan. Look at those British title fights with Lewis, Betts and Oates - the lad just comes for a tough fight and doesn't mind how much he takes out of himself to win.

I'm hoping Armour did flatter Sting last time because the Aussie certainly looked impressive to me. Very good footwork and stamina.

[stujones]

Yes, a real 50:50 match up.

When I saw Sting vs Armour I was convinced he had the tools to beat Booth. However, while Booth is no shakes on the world stage (despite what he says) he's a strong lad and these 'gangly' types seem to suit Booth especially if there not quite European/World class category. While I was impressed with Sting and actually thought he would beat Armour he's not in the World class category.

If Booth wins then I think he'll probably be a mile behind on points and force a stoppage over a tiring Sting. We all know Booth has been exposed I think Sting is a notch down from the opponents who have beaten Booth, however Booth hasn't beaten anybody of Sting's ability yet. Can he? Well, we'll find out on Saturday.

I think in an earlier thread I said Booth in 11, however I just can't pick the winner in this match. I think it will be a classic Boxer vs Brawler type fight, and hope its Adam Smith commentating cause he does show so much emotion in these small hall classics (Takaloo vs Logan, Samuels vs Williams) it could be up there with these matches. When is either Booth in a dull fight?

On the fence, can't call this one.

[The REAL McCoy]

McCoy is looking forward to this fight, simply because its not an easy fight to predict

Who knows, did Stings fight with Armour flatter him just a bit?

[Lugh]

McCoy is looking forward to this fight, simply because its not an easy fight to predict

Who knows, did Stings fight with Armour flatter him just a bit?

Lugh is looking forward to this fight, simply because he is hoping to see Booth get his face re-arranged. Even if Lugh has to support an Aussie to see it!

[The REAL McCoy]

McCoy is looking forward to this fight, simply because its not an easy fight to predict

Who knows, did Stings fight with Armour flatter him just a bit?

Lugh is looking forward to this fight, simply because he is hoping to see Booth get his face re-arranged. Even if Lugh has to support an Aussie to see it!

Good for Lugh!