BoxRec

How was it, had to surrender my ticket as I had a stag do to go to, which was a bit gutting...

Those who attended, fill me in, not literally of course.

Great night in Cardiff. Famous faces at every turn. I was seated with Eamonn Magee (who smokes like a trooper), Craig Docherty (looking in great shape), Mark Hobson (diamond), Dale Robinson (one of the very best), Lee Brunsden (the editor of Uppercut magazine who kindly invited me after James McDonnell dropped out), and three charming people from the company that produces the Lonsdale Belt. A busy freelance photographer was also present.
The atmosphere was superb, along with the food and the chat. Spent most of the night having the craic with Mark and Dale. Mark desperately wants to win a Lonsdale Belt outright (he's one notch away) and is hoping to make a voluntary defence against Denzil Browne in the autumn. He revealed he's already sparred with big domestic rival David Haye, who, he says, really hurt him at one point in their spar - but that's Mark: an honest, down-to-earth guy who doesn't brag about his own exploits. I got the impression he gave as good as he got against Haye.
He's also mightily relieved the new cruiserweight weight limit of 14st 4lbs is introduced from September 1. He's a big guy at 6ft 5in and the 10lbs weight increase secures his future in the division.
Dale is gearing up for big fights himself, but admitted his flyweight days are behind him. Like Mark, Dale wants a Lonsdale Belt outright hanging over the mantlepeice. Hopefully, he'll get a shot at the British bantamweight title shortly (Nicky Booth is sure to be stripped after his two-year prison conviction). There's talk of a vacant title shot between him and the winner of a pending Noel Wilders-Martin Power showdown. I think he'll have too much power for either. Eamonn Magee is a funny guy. He kept slipping crafty fags to Lee Brunsden and they'd pop outside. He also enjoys his food and looked well over his fighting weight and of course limps quite badly - but insists he'll be back.
Made a point of chatting with as many champions as I could during the evening, including Des Morrison (salt of the earth), the Feeneys (George Feeney weighs only a few pounds over his fighting weight and has coped well with life after boxing), Richie Wenton (planning a book on his career), Ray Gilbody (a bit slurred), Steve "Sammy" Sims (Mickey Duff called him the hardest man he'd ever seen after his win over Jimmy Flint), Billy Waith (famous defensive boxer), Joe Calzaghe (pissed as a fart), Roy Rutherford (built like a car park bollard), Michael Gomez (what a star!), Bunny Sterling (a gentleman), Keith Knox (still working as a butcher), Dave "Boy" Green (a millionaire) and too many others to mention.
Promoters were out in force. Shep was there in a snazzy waistcoat; Tommy Gilmour, allegedly and Mickey Duff (hard of hearing now) also made the trip. Thay sat Terry Marsh as far away from Warren's table as possible but Terry was jovial and spent the evening laughing and joking with a whole host of well-wishers. In the event, Colin Dunne confronted Warren outside the hall but, fortunately, kept his assault to the verbal variety. He'd punched Frank Maloney at the Boxing Writer's dinner earlier in the year.
Noticed Mick Hennessy and Hazel Bruno-Gilbert (Audley's manager) drowning their sorrows together. Both dumped by the BBC.
Ed Robinson made a point of welcoming me. Nice guy. He was doing a lot of interviews for Sky-TV. Robert Smith also came up and began talking about his career. I told him I once saw him get floored by journeyman Mickey Mapp and he made his excuses.
Ian Darke made a funny speech (if cliched), Simon Block was charming. It was just a top night.

Yeah, and i forgot my camera! :(

So, Bennie, did you chat up Jane Couch? and did you apologise to Ed Robinson and everyone else?

Bennie it looked like trouble between FRANK and Colin Dunne till Eamon Magee got between them otherwise a great night

theguru wrote:Bennie it looked like trouble between FRANK and Colin Dunne till Eamon Magee got between them otherwise a great night

Yes, Eamonn went out there for a fag and saved the day. It has to be said, allegedly was in particularly good spirits throughout the evening and didn't deserve that from Colin. I don't know what Colin's problem is. He was as good as gold when I spoke to him. But clearly has a nutty streak.

Sounds like a good night, no pics anyone?

What's the history between Dunne and Warren?

richter-scale wrote:Yeah, and i forgot my camera! :(

REAL_DEAL wrote:

richter-scale wrote:Yeah, and i forgot my camera! :(

HA HA, DEAL GETS THE LAST LAUGH...

richter-scale wrote:

REAL_DEAL wrote:

richter-scale wrote:Yeah, and i forgot my camera! :(

HA HA, DEAL GETS THE LAST LAUGH...

Did you go straight back Dale, or stop the night in Cardiff?

Stayed the night, think somebody kept spiking my redbulls with tripple vodkas!!!

richter-scale wrote:Stayed the night, think somebody kept spiking my redbulls with tripple vodkas!!!

My head ain't too good today, either. Bet we feel a lot better than Joe Calzaghe though. When I was walking to the car last night, Joe was in front of me staggering all over the road.

Where did you go after, had a drunken text message from one of my mates saying that there were some hard look people out in Cardiff last night.

Cheers for the insight Bennie, sounds like a top night.

It was a bloody fantastic night.. some great boxers and people from the boxing world and it was a pleasure to be in the company..

Dale is a top lad as are many of the others!!

See piece by Ian on http://www.britishboxing.net

bennie wrote:

richter-scale wrote:Stayed the night, think somebody kept spiking my redbulls with tripple vodkas!!!

My head ain't too good today, either. Bet we feel a lot better than Joe Calzaghe though. When I was walking to the car last night, Joe was in front of me staggering all over the road.

Because of his bad back I presume?

He looked okay at the Maccarinelli-Abdoul fight last night, if a little red in the face.

bennie wrote:He looked okay at the Maccarinelli-Abdoul fight last night, if a little red in the face.

Yeah, I thought it was the sun myself - certainly looked overweight but I was half expecting that.

Incidentally, Eamonn Magee was in the country because he was due to be interviewed by The Observer newspaper the next day. Here's the feature...it's worth a read.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/stor ... 34,00.html

Spot on report Bennie. It was a nice touch the Board inviting the centurions like Miguel Matthews, Nigel Rafferty and Peter Buckley, who fought the following night in Newport. Good to see Wally Swift jnr. and snr. I can't think of a tougher father and son combination. And old rivals chatting away like old friends, Gomez and Docherty, McMillan and Robinson, Green and Stracey.... But there were names who should have been there and weren't.

I didn't get the chance to say Welcome to you before Ed. Hope you get the opportunity to post here - you've probably got a better insight into the TV side of things than us (although, obviously don't say anything that will affect your status).

ed rob wrote:But there were names who should have been there and weren't.

That's right, Ed. It was hard to to overlook the absence of Bruno, Cooper, Lewis and even Matt Skelton among the heavies.
Benn, Eubank and Watson were also disappointingly absent.

Yes, when I said to Ian name the five British boxers the public would know, and none of them were there it showed that a lot were missing, but there were some great people there.

My vote for the man of the night goes to Sammy McCarthy, what a great bloke!

Kev

I'm pig sick I couldn't make it, my mates stag do was shite as well.

SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD UN FELLAS!
Pity James sounds like you missed out on a top night.

It was indeed a quality night. Eamonn Magee is one tough mutha. I only talked to him and Lee for about ten minutes and thought I was going to die of passive smoking!

Don't worry James, we'll get you there for the centenary!