BoxRec

Posted: **20 Jan 2006, 19:49**

Er......fight of the year and knockout of the year in the same fight?

Posted: **20 Jan 2006, 20:04**

Certainly not a bad way for Sky to start 2006.

Thirwall might be an early candidate for 'worst tattoo of the year' as well.

Posted: **20 Jan 2006, 20:11**

states wrote:Certainly not a bad way for Sky to start 2006.

Thirwall might be an early candidate for 'worst tattoo of the year' as well.

I hope that's not a tattoo! I though it was one of those 'Golden Palace.com' type body paints...

Posted: **20 Jan 2006, 20:17**

Well, I hope so too, for his sake. It looks awful, like a 6 year old drew on him with magic marker.

Posted: **21 Jan 2006, 04:56**

It was definately said at the start of the fight "thirwall has that distinctive tatoo" its differant id give him that!

Posted: **21 Jan 2006, 05:17**

A very good fight, Smilie has been stopped a couple of times, but showed his toughness and desire to come back at Thirwell after getting decked.

Good corner work by both trainers, said the right thing to their boxers,

Posted: **21 Jan 2006, 07:30**

Cracking fight, it was hard at times to work out which was was the most spent... both have had long periods of inactivity and have sometimes shown a lack of love for the sport (or the training I should say), and I did think it showed in how quickly they would punch themselves out.

However, well done to both for an excellent display of grit - quite surprised at how this fight turned out. It was a tough fight to call but the only way I thought Thirwell would win was via Smilie feeling the effects of making the weight... he has been well over weight in recent fights.

I didn't expect such a conclusion.

Posted: **21 Jan 2006, 12:36**

Great fight, Smillie showed some balls to keep coming back time and again after shipping some heavy looking shots. Thirlwall to be honest i have never seen anything in him to suggest he was suhc a talented amateur, everything he does seems forced and nothinf flows. However he showed some guts as well and it was a peach of a right hand to end matters.

I thought at first that on his back was a print similar to the ones Hopkins and Ottke used to have printed on their backs but Adam Smith seemed to think it was a real tattoo!! I hope not for his sake it was terrible. He should go to Denmark and get a proper one done

Posted: **21 Jan 2006, 13:23**

Yeah the fake tattoo was pretty bad on Thirwells back, not to sure why he put it on there, its not as if you couldn't tell Thirwell and Smillie apart.

Posted: **21 Jan 2006, 13:28**

Ha ha yeah Adam Smith said something like "Smillie has black and red shorts with gladiator on the back, Thirlwall has his name tattooed on his back so you can tell these fighters apart" Hmmm yes we needed an Identification to tell these apart Adam

Posted: **21 Jan 2006, 17:03**

it is not a fake tattoo, he has had it for some time

Posted: **21 Jan 2006, 21:08**

I thought Thirwell looked fantasic winning the ABAs some years ago - a genuine heavy handed prospect. His lack of progress as a pro would appear to be down to his errant ways...McCraken can't mold a fighter who's heart isn't in it.

Coming thru this war may have taught him a thing or two..I hope it has.

Posted: **22 Jan 2006, 07:27**

Great fight....Thiorwall for me has improved a load....can he make middle still?

Posted: **23 Jan 2006, 09:48**

Absolutely cracking fight!

Thirlwell really had to dig deep to win and what a stunning finish to a fight that was still in the balance.

Both participants were a credit to themselves and boxing. Smillie deserves an easier ride next time out after facing Bendall and Thirlwell in successive bouts.

Matthew has hopefully taken a significant solid step towards a championship challenge. That was the most important contest of his pro career so far, so maybe he wins the ones that count, like in the ABA's.

Posted: **23 Jan 2006, 10:07**

I saw Smillie against Bendall and he put up a good show that night too.

I've been a long standing supporter of Thirlwell for years, but Smillie deserves a lot of credit for his input to boxing, please pass on my regards to him too, Terence.

Posted: **23 Jan 2006, 12:14**

From my experience, Thirwell is decent guy too and is a credit to boxing. Just a shame there had to be loser between him and Smillie.

Yeah, Owen Delargy put on a good little show. I thought Bendall was on fire and ready to take Smillie out of there at the time of the cuts stoppage, but Donovan is no quitter so you may have a point and with regards to the Mateen bout, I agreed with the referee that Mateen was guilty of excessive holding and was right to dock him points. Mind you, I've seen worse cases of clinching and other referee's haven't done anything about it.

Posted: **24 Jan 2006, 12:24**

Terence wrote:Good thing was that there was no bad mouthing later. Donovan was honest and said he went for the finish and was KO'd clean by a shot he did not see. I spoke to him on Saturday and he sounded Ok, he had been saying he wanted to put on a show for the fans and for Sky and did so. I mentioned that the fans on here and other places loved the fight and he was really pleased about that. In many ways it seemed that he was happy in defeat knowing he had provided a good show for us all, that is class IMO. He is taking a break now but was buzzing and said Sky would have him back if he fights again. Both men gritted it out and it was a good night overall, 2006 is shaping up well.

Classy guy. Great fight and hope Donovan gets some good paydays on the back of the performance.

Posted: **25 Jan 2006, 06:30**

Yeah Terence, no disputes surrounding Tidman's victory. A booming right hander brought a dramtaic finish. That Ouza guy may want to consider his future in boxing after that. (No complaints re: the ring card girls from me

)

Posted: **25 Jan 2006, 10:07**

Terence wrote: E Donovan is taking a little break now and sounded Ok the night after the KO, he just said he walked onto it as he thought he could finish the fight. I told him to read this strand and he seemed genuinely pleased that the fight entertained people. I don't know about you but I like it when the fighters interact a bit more with the fans as it is mutually beneficial and you don't get that in other sports (Gary Neville aside). Next time Donovan fights he'll know he has established a good reputation with the fans and with them appreciating his efforts he'll continue to give his all. His heart is big and most fans I know appreciate that, I know that I do.

Thanks mate - yeah I really warm to likeable approachable boxers. That is one of the reasons Hatton is such a favourite - so down to earth. Danny Williams is the same I hear.

Also from my experience on internet forums, people can be very ruthless when talking about events / fighters etc. So Donovan can be proud.

Posted: **26 Jan 2006, 16:49**

Terence wrote:E, yes it is funny how many forum posters are quick to call boxers cowards or denigrate them but getting into any kind of boxing ring can do strange things to you.

I'm just finishing typing up my interview with Donovan so will post the link when it is up.

I hope tomorrow night is a good fight night also. 2006 could be ace.

I hear Earl is up for it so it has the makings of a good one. Look forward to the article.

BoxRec

Thirwhall - Smilie

Thirwhall - Smilie