BoxRec

I see that Dean Francis came back tonight after years out and beat Justyn Hugh by 10th round TKO. Dean against Ovil (who he once iced in a round) would appear an exciting match up.

I was there and dean looked sharp he beat the crap out of the guy. He would beat ovill.

Tony Borg went down in my estimation as a coach tonight his guy took an awful beating and should have pulled out him out by the 6th

How was Dean's right shoulder - did he throw the right hand okay?

You could see that it didn't carry as much power as the left but the threw it very freely. He threw a lot of 4 and 5 punch combinations. Jab and left hook to head and body were still his main weapons

Dean Francis is quite an interesting one. I remember him close to 10 years ago close to beating Matthew Barney with one arm. Am I right in saying 100 per cent of his injury woes since originate from that fight with Undra White? Why did he take three more years out before fighting the other night?

The guy always seemed really talented to me, shame the injury played such a factor in his career.

If it were not for Francis being left-handed I think his career would have been all over in 1998.

Dean is a power puncher for sure and coming bck into a 10 round bout shows a lot of confidence. I am sure that rematch with Ovill would be interesting and imagine that McKenzie would relish the chance of revenge. I'd like to see Ovill rematch Enzo though first; that was shaping into an interesting scrap.....

This was always a certainty when Francis announced his comeback.

How about dean v enzo in an eliminator?

It was Undra White that did it. I think if the shoulder hasn't gone, he could have beaten the likes of Beyer, Woodhall and Catley to be a world chàmpion. Obviously Calzaghe would have been a bridge too far. Does anyone have a view on his 'fishy' John Keeton loss?

polecateddy wrote:It was Undra White that did it. I think if the shoulder hasn't gone, he could have beaten the likes of Beyer, Woodhall and Catley to be a world chàmpion. Obviously Calzaghe would have been a bridge too far. Does anyone have a view on his 'fishy' John Keeton loss?

Only thing fishy about the Keeton loss was that Buster smoked him like a kipper; (I know, I know

polecateddy wrote:He went down very easy in that semi. I don't honestly know how true the rumours are, but I read online that he took a dive to pay legal debts and money he owed an ex-promotor. Probably this message will be edited out soon by the powers that be. Lol

If it is they'll have to delete this one too, (I'm Sparticus).

palooka wrote:

polecateddy wrote:He went down very easy in that semi. I don't honestly know how true the rumours are, but I read online that he took a dive to pay legal debts and money he owed an ex-promotor. Probably this message will be edited out soon by the powers that be. Lol

If it is they'll have to delete this one too, (I'm Sparticus).

I was a big Dean fan, and even got a letter published probably ten years ago in Boxing News saying what a shame the shoulder-thing has spoiled what should have been a great career. I personally think he did throw the Prize Fighter fight. It's disappointing, but I still hope he does well in what probably will be the final comeback attempt. I think the Ovil fight would be a war which he could win. I think Tony Bellow and Nathan Cleverly fights would be too much for him.

I don't think he threw the fight. Keeton was a serious hitter with a patchy record a very heavy handed fighter who boxed heavyweights at the start of his career; Dean got caught and beat, fair and square. For the class of Francis it does look a suprising result but anyone Buster hit flush, early then they had problems.

palooka wrote:I don't think he threw the fight. Keeton was a serious hitter with a patchy record a very heavy handed fighter who boxed heavyweights at the start of his career; Dean got caught and beat, fair and square. For the class of Francis it does look a suprising result but anyone Buster hit flush, early then they had problems.

Wasn't this also at Cruiserweight? If yes then no more need be said.

Seems a very different report from boxrec news to what Iron Liver seen. I aint seen the fight so haven't got a clue - just amazing how people can see the same fight so differently.

i thought it strange that francis followed that thrilling KO win over tony oakey with a move up to cruiserweight for prize fighter (which lost him all the stock and momentum he'd picked up in his comeback). why such a strange move whcih made his career plummet?

stujones wrote:Seems a very different report from boxrec news to what Iron Liver seen. I aint seen the fight so haven't got a clue - just amazing how people can see the same fight so differently.

That report is a load of cobblers my friend. The first and second were close could have gone either way Hugh won the third due to a flash knockdown as Francis was off balance. From the fifth onwards it was a very one sided fight. Hugh took as vicious beating in the last quarter of the fight but give him credit he displayed a granite chin and good strength. Once he shook off the ring rust Francis looked very good he still has the footwork handspeed a great jab and the power. I think he gives anyone a tough fight. And another British title win wouldn't be a shock I'd back him to beat ovil.