BoxRec

Just got around to watching the BBC's coverage of the ABA's on Friday night. There was some good fights and talented fighters which I enjoyed watching. It's always very interesting to watch possible Pro stars of the future.

However after veiwing I was left with a few questions.

(1) WHY was the programme so short? What action we saw was great and the fighter profiles were of interest, but for a programme of just 60mins this left little time to view the action. I wonder why the BBC didn't make the programme 90 or even 120 mins long. After all it was on at midnight so they wouldn't have had to sacrifice any 'popular' programs.

(2) What's eveyones opinion of 'Mighty' Joe Young? I was not to impressed with what I saw of him in the ring to be honest, but he's a big bloke so who knows, it was hard to tell from the little we got to see of him.

Also it's been said that he was instrumental in starting the riot on the Harrison - Ellis bill, but in his interview he was talking about opening a Boxing Gym for kids. He was also seen talking to some kids on the street and telling them to keep out of trouble. Was this just PR for the cameras or is he really a nice guy?

(3) Why does it only seem like 4 months since the 2003 ABA's?

1. Yes, I think they could have made more of it. As you say, they wouldn't have been sacrificing anything to show it, I wouldn't have thought. They had the fights so why not use them.

2. I wasn't impressed at all. Obviously strong but not a particularly good boxer. My mate Chris Burton who was very contoversially stopped in his semi (apparently Howkins landed a haymaker that Chris didn't see when the ref had told them to break) would have won the final against Young. Chris was 10 points up on Howkins at the start of the final round. I haven't heard anything good about Young personally but then people are more inclined to concentrate on the bad things.

3. I know, I know

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote: My mate Chris Burton who was very contoversially stopped in his semi (apparently Howkins landed a haymaker that Chris didn't see when the ref had told them to break)

which is why your told to protect yourself at ALL times

Have to say (and no disrespect to any of the fighters) whilst the standard was good, I can't say I was overly impressed with what I saw - perhaps the BBC butchering it didn't help - but I can't say there was nobody that I went "he was awsome". The last amateur I thought had potential superstar written all over him was Tony Docherty.

I think (from what I saw) the fighter of the night was Chris Pacy, but I didn't see many future world champions.

neil r wrote:

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote: My mate Chris Burton who was very contoversially stopped in his semi (apparently Howkins landed a haymaker that Chris didn't see when the ref had told them to break)

which is why your told to protect yourself at ALL times

Indeed. However, as far as I'm aware (I've only heard it from Chris himself and Peter Foley in his report was non-committal), after it happened the ref turned to Howkins to tell him off for an illegal shot. He turned back to Chris who was naturally shaken and waved it off. Protect yourself at all times, yes. But if an illegal shot causes the end of a contest, how can you do anything other than DQ the bloke who did it?