BoxRec

Skelton fights veteran American Alfred "Ice" Cole on July 30 at York Hall. Cole is 40, but tough.

Brilliant fight - I'd go one step further. Unless Cole has completely lost his pro pride. He beats Skelton.

Cole is a rough-tough seen it all before mutha. He's handled harder punchers than Skelton before too.

This is a good match-up for Skelton and a big nights work. Providing of course COle isn't TOTALLY in the opponent mind-set. I know his performances improved after he got a back complaint sorted a couple of years ago but the Rahman result perhaps showed he's slipping again.

I like this fight as a contest though.

Cole should be able to beat Skelton at range I'd guess - he is far more skilled than Skelton but may get betrayed by the old legs at some point.

Strange fight for Skelton to take IMO - if he wins - so what? Cole has a "name" but not a great one - if he loses - where then?

Doesn't get stopped often that's for sure. Michael Grant and Corrie Sanders are the only two thus far. He's durable and experienced, creditable opponent for Skelton, though obviously not at the top of his game any more.

DavidPayne wrote:Brilliant fight - I'd go one step further. Unless Cole has completely lost his pro pride. He beats Skelton.

Cole is a rough-tough seen it all before mutha. He's handled harder punchers than Skelton before too.

This is a good match-up for Skelton and a big nights work. Providing of course COle isn't TOTALLY in the opponent mind-set. I know his performances improved after he got a back complaint sorted a couple of years ago but the Rahman result perhaps showed he's slipping again.

I like this fight as a contest though.

he only just lost to Rahman didnt he, two point i think

I have to disagree

This is a shocker of a fight

Cole is a shot fighter and, although he had a bit of a renaissance after his win over Maddalone, his last two fights were clear losses ( no?)

Skelton must have too much for a "glue factory" fighter like this or he may as well pack up now

Look at the scores for Rahman - all 94-96. That means Cole must still be bringing something to the ring.

No way is Cole going to get stopped. The last few rounds of this could be a right old mess.

Slapsie Maxie.

OK mate, your entitled to your opinion. I'll give you a budget of $25k.

Who would you bring over for Skelton and why?

Kilburn wrote:Look at the scores for Rahman - all 94-96. That means Cole must still be bringing something to the ring.

Or that Rachman's decline has been even steeper than first thought?

Lugh wrote:Or that Rachman's decline has been even steeper than first thought?

His dedication of late has left a lot to be desired but you'd hardly fancy Skelton to topple him.

This is a solid match up.


BTW good to see you back Lugh, sorry to hear about the sacking.

Rahman is still vastly more experienced than Skelton. I don't have a problem with this fight for Matt. I will bet that Audley would have gotten untold criticism for taking this fight though.

I read something laughable on the Sport Network site though....

"There could be a trio of big fights in the autumn, as discussions with Audley Harrison facing off with Matt Skelton have also been fruitful.

It's ironic the BBC invested £1million in Harrison when he turned professional, but the biggest fight of his career looks like going ahead on Sky."

Nothing of course to do with the fact that Sports Network signed up all the decent domestic compeition, and thereby hastened Audley's departure from the Beeb?

If Cole fancies the job, i could easily see him pullung an 'upset'. He only lost to Hassim Rahman by a couple of points earlier this year!

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I will bet that Audley would have gotten untold criticism for taking this fight though.

Well I'm one Audley-basher who'd have been more than happy with Al Cole as an opponent for the big powder puff.

Kilburn wrote:

Lugh wrote:Or that Rachman's decline has been even steeper than first thought?

His dedication of late has left a lot to be desired but you'd hardly fancy Skelton to topple him.

This is a solid match up.


BTW good to see you back Lugh, sorry to hear about the sacking.

Good to be back!

As for the sacking? Well, I'd like to have had someone/something else to blame - but hey - it was a fair cop!!!

Oh God, this is going to be a very messy fight.

Also, what happended to the TOP American Eugene Maloney told us he was going to get. Cole is NOT a top American. He's most of the above descriptions, but NOT a top Amercian.

Another point that need considering in reference to Cole not being stopped often is that those fights involved American referees. British referees jump in much sooner.

THEBUTCH wrote:British referees jump in much sooner.

especially if the Warren fighter is on top

THEBUTCH wrote:Oh God, this is going to be a very messy fight.

Also, what happended to the TOP American Eugene Maloney told us he was going to get. Cole is NOT a top American. He's most of the above descriptions, but NOT a top Amercian.

Another point that need considering in reference to Cole not being stopped often is that those fights involved American referees. British referees jump in much sooner.

Cole comes in for this guy, who accepted - then pulled out of the fight:

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=015802

I definitely see Cole as a tougher test than Zuri Lawrence.

Lawrence was fresher and more awkward but Cole has the experience and savvy to make this hard work, with the reasoning dependent on Cole's professional pride being in tact.

THEBUTCH wrote: Also, what happended to the TOP American Eugene Maloney told us he was going to get

And you really believed him?!

You're not going to get many top Americans coming over to fight at the York Hall for 15 grand.

Yep I laid down the challenge to Slapsie Maxie earlier asking him to come up with an opponent for $25k - I aint heard much yet. Must be trawling boxrec.com #200-300

Exactly, I think for that sort of money it's about as good as you're going to get. Anyone with any chance of getting near the top 20 isn't going to give it a second thought.

it is interesting to see the semantics used here

The fight being "as good as you are going to get for the money" does not equate with it being a good fight

The fact that for both financial and confidence reasons Skelton's handlers can't make a better fight speaks volumes

Haye/Williams all over again. good name on paper but not bearing up to closer inspection

Slapsie, with all due respect - answer the question.

You cant argue with economics and trust me within $5k either side, that is the purse they'll have to play with here.

How would you get around that?

And who would you get when you realised your stuck with a $15-25k purse for the opponent.