Thursday, York Hall - A Preview

[get in the ring]

Alan Bosworth – Stephen Smith

English Light Welterweight Title

Battle hardened Light Welterweight Alan Bosworth 16-13-2 (5 KO’s) from Northampton has been linked in recent months to numerous title shots. First it was slippery Turk Oktay Urkal for the coveted European crown. Then came the turn of Souleymane M’baye for the less prestigious EU crown. Now comes this title shot, a crack at the newly formed English title against a rejuvenated Stephen Smith 32-2 (15 KO’s), and this one is definitely coming to fruition.

It’s a fitting opportunity for the 35 year old Bosworth who has had to progress through the British rankings the hard way. He’s faced numerous top-notch British operators including Colin Dunne, Wayne Rigby, George Scott, Shea Neary, Eamonn Magee (twice), Junior Witter, Oscar Hall and most recently Bosworth beat touted prospect Gavin Down in 5 rounds.

Bosworth has a wealth of experience behind him, having extended respected world operators Jan Bergman (6 rounds) and Allan Vester in Denmark, an IBF Intercontinental fight which marked one of Bosworth’s career highlights (Alan lost over 12). Bosworth’s level has been on these shores however as he takes pride in taking hot young prospects the distance and upsetting those that do not fulfil the hype. He did just that to young up n’ comers Daniel James, in a British title eliminator, and to Gavin Down, also in an eliminator for the 140 lb Lonsdale crown.

Last time out against Down, Bosworth was seen as nothing more than a sturdy opponent for the young pug to sharpen his Ingle tutored skills on. Things soon took a dramatic turn however as Bosworth tore away the script and stopped the supposedly fresher and fitter Down in 5 rounds. It was a terrific performance from Bosworth, who despite being the more cumbersome of the two, and losing the early rounds, soaked up all the youngster’s pressure, and in no uncertain terms outlasted the less experienced fighter.

Stephen Smith should take note. Parallels could be drawn between the two with consummate ease. Smith, like Down is a talented youngster who has an impressive looking resume, but has already tasted the seemingly dreaded ‘first loss’. Down had previously been beaten in 9 thrilling rounds by Bradley Pryce before he came unstitched again at the fists of Bosworth, and Smith has been defeated by Bobby Vanzie down at lightweight for the British crown, and up at 140 lbs against body destroyer Ricky Hatton in 2 controversial rounds. Both young men have faced adversity, and both endeavour to overcome it by facing the old warrior Bosworth.

For 30-year-old Smith, a slick southpaw with neat skills, this English title shot represents the final stepping-stone towards a shot at the Lonsdale belt he has been craving for. Based in Camden, London, the articulate former IBC light welterweight champion who goes by the moniker of ‘stunning’, has rebounded well from that devastating loss to Hatton with a follow up win against the in form Jon Honney over 8 rounds. Smith now plans to go on and win the British title that evaded him down at lightweight, when he put in a gutsy, competitive performance against British and commonwealth champion Bobby Vanzie only to be controversially stopped in the 9th round when many had him ahead on the cards.

Now, 5 pounds north, Smith, who has beaten recognised names such as Emanuel Augustus, Rocky Martinez and Zoltan Kalocsai attempts to do what fellow contender Gavin Down couldn’t do and leapfrog the wily old trial horse put in front of him to progress towards major honours.

It’s a fascinating dust up between boxer and brawler. Can Smith’s cuter, well-schooled attacks keep off the indefatigable assaults of a fired up Bosworth? Or will, like in the Down stunner, Bosworth just be too hungry, too aggressive and too experienced for his younger opponent?

While it’s fully perceivable the talented Smith boxes Bosworth’s ears off on the back foot, I have a hunch that the hard luck story that is ‘the life of Alan Bosworth’ may take a turn for the better next week. I’m tempted to go for the upset win. Bosworth for me, will prove to be too ravenous, knowing fully well he’s drinking at the last chance saloon, and will outwork, break the will of Smith and eventually stop him late or run out a needle thin points winner.


Steve Spartacus – Scott Lansdowne

English Light Heavyweight Title

Ipswich’s stocky, in form light heavyweight contender Steve Spartacus 14-0 (7 KO’s) takes his first real career step up next Thursday when he locks horns with Leicester’s Scott Lansdowne 9-2 (3 KO’s) for the vacant and newly formed English light heavyweight title.

The 27-year-old Spartacus, real name ‘Smith’, has gone 14-0 with little difficulty thus far, and has been kept away from the limelight. His last two performances have been impressive however, and it appears that Spartacus is now straining at the leash, intent on staking a claim on major domestic honours in the next 12 months.

A stocky, ‘rolling’ fighter who thrives upon throwing tight hooks and working on the inside, Spartacus’ two standout results this year were against Simeon Cover in a British Masters title fight in July, and a one round demolition job of handy African Hastings Rasani last time out in October.

Spartacus is greatly looking forward to this title tilt and sees it as the stepping stone title it effectively is. Spartacus’ ambitions he says expand beyond domestic level. He believes a fight with European champion Stipe Drews would not be out of the realms of possibility, in a match up similar to the recent Walker – Karmazin spectacle promoter Mick Hennessy pulled off. Spartacus believes he has the aggressive, hungry style to give the 6’6 Drews plenty of problems, should he ever get the chance to stare up at the giant Croat.

But first things first, and this English title tilt against the dangerous Scott Lansdowne is by no means a formality. Southpaw Lansdowne, who started as a pro back in 1998, is a former Midlands Area Cruiserweight champion and has beaten respected domestic fighters Tony Dowling and Luke Simpkin with consummate ease during a career that has seen the 5’10 hitter campaign mostly up at cruiserweight and heavyweight. The sole blips on Lansdowne’s slow moving career have been losses to trusty journeymen Paul Bonson (pts 6) and Tony Booth (TKO 4) which raises question marks over Lansdowne’s motivation for the lesser fights.

This is not perceived as a ‘lesser’ fight however and Lansdowne’s dustup with unbeaten Spartacus should be just the kind of tonic the Leicester man needs to fulfil his potential. Both men are enjoying renewed spells of ambition after sluggish starts to their careers, both are coming off morale boosting wins, and both know winning this English title will catapult them to the front of the queue for a shot at Peter Oboh’s British crown.

It’s all to play for then. I fancy Spartacus’ superior hunger and ambition to pull him through, and being four years Lansdowne’s junior, I expect the Ipswich puncher to come good in the mid to late rounds. A win that would begin to give the armour clad Spartacus the kind of polish and credit his suit and ambition warrants.


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Does anyone else give Bosworth a chance of upsetting Smith?
Who do you pick in the 50:50 scrap between Spartacus and Lansdowne?

[stujones]

Good preview Elliot,

Yes two very interesting contest, the first one is especially interesting. I'd still like to see Smithy at Lightweight, I believe with the likes of Vanzie, Dunne and Murray slipping he has the perfect opportunity to get in the mix there. I'd tip him to beat Earl.

He has a tough encounter against an in form Bosworth (who should be preparing to fight Junior Witter - as he is his mandatory). This is a perfect cross roads fight for both, you'd have to say the loser would struggle to get back to the domestic title scene, wheras the winner will be knocking on the door.

Something tells me that the classier skills of Smith will get him the win via a close but unaminous decision.

As for Spartacus vs Landsdowne - you've got to fancy Spartacus in that one, he's undefeated and should have to much ambition.