BoxRec

I'm interested in getting opinions on the 2nd fight as well as a recap of the 1st go. Was it a one sided drubbing or did Sprott make a decent go of it? Do you expect Skelton to repeat or is he getting old enough to where Sprott stands a decent chance of an upset. Any comments and input would be appreciated.

Sprott was given no room to work last time, and got ground down and eventually stopped. Many feel he will turn the tables on Saturday and I hope he does in spectacular fashion, but I don't really see where Sprott is going to find the extra room. Yes he looked great against Audley but will that kind of performance really help when Skelton is throwing all his body weight at him for round after round?

It's an interesting fight, I hope it's a good spectacle, which is rare in British heavweight title fights these days.

Father Time is what I'd say. Maybe Sprott's mobility can keep him out of trouble while scoring behind the jab? If Skelton still has the energy to push on he wins I think. I'm not expecting much in the way of excitement though.

Romi wrote:I'm interested in getting opinions on the 2nd fight as well as a recap of the 1st go. Was it a one sided drubbing or did Sprott make a decent go of it? Do you expect Skelton to repeat or is he getting old enough to where Sprott stands a decent chance of an upset. Any comments and input would be appreciated.

Burly Matt Skelton defends his Commonwealth heavyweight title against classy Michael Sprott in a rematch to decide the 'best' heavyweight in the UK (Is there one?).
Sprott (at least) shook up a nation with his third-round knockout of Audley Harrison on Harrison's own manor at Wembley in February. The unheralded Reading stylist, a big betting outsider and five inches shorter, climbed up from an early knockdown to uncork a perfect left hook on the ex-Olympic champ.
The bigger they are...
It shattered any pretensions to world class long held and proclaimed by Harrison and vindicated Sprott's decision to give up his removals job last summer for boxing full-time. The 32-year-old always had talent - won 24 of his first 30 - but rarely went in 100 per cent and was mauled to a knockout in the 12th and last round by Skelton in Reading in April 2004.
Pretty it wasn't.
But Michael - a fully focussed, fully prepared Michael Sprott - showed what he could do against Audley. He looked in fantastic shape. Additionally, Sprott and Skelton have fought eight times since their first meeting, and while Skelton has won seven and Sprott five, it's the latter who has boxed at the higher level, including wins in Germany (how many visiting fighters win there?), a shot at the European title (outpointed) and a credible loss to Ruslan Chagaev (stopped in eight), the man who pipped Russian giant Nikolai Valuev for the WBA heavyweight title in April in Stuttgart, despite being a foot smaller.
World-rated Vladimir Virchis also beat Sprott: on a controversial 12-round nod in Austria.
Oh yes, the playing field has levelled.
But even in defeat, Skelton can drag a man to the bowels of quiet desperation. The Bedford Bear dropped a split decision to Danny Williams in this arena last year after a procession of headbutts, low blows, elbows, kidney shots, rabbit punches and body smashes cost him, although unsurprisingly, he licked deep-thinking Danny long before the first bell in the rematch (unanimous on the night).
Poor Danny came in at 20st 8lbs. It's called comfort-eating.
Switch-hitting Skelton is one of the roughest, toughest heavyweights out there, probably THE roughest, toughest 39-year-old out there. He's stopped 18 of his 21 opponents (just the one defeat to Williams) in the wake of a long and successful career in kickboxing. This man won't collapse like Audley.
But hand injuries have held him back since Williams II last July in the Millennium Stadium - the longest he's been held back - and Sprott stole a march blasting Audley with the punch of the year so far. "All the hard work has paid off," beamed nice guy Sprott, who sold £40,000 worth of tickets for his big win.
A pro 11 years, Michael stayed calm after he was dropped (heavily) in the opening round and rallied from the second with those quick hands of his - so quick, Harrison never even saw the left hook a round later. Six foot Sprott showed that small heavies can manhandle the big boys (as did Chagaev) and also scored a convincing win over 6ft 7½ins German oak Timo Hoffmann back in 2001.
By the way, as a regular on the lucrative German scene, he hasn't lost on these shores since Skelton.
So Michael is out for revenge, and given the amusing number of British heavyweight 'deciders' in the last couple of years, he might just get it. Anyone can beat anyone on the domestic (and world) heavyweight scene, and you wonder about Skelton's age and inactivity. He certainly won't benefit from his 12-month spell in no man's land (otherwise known as Bedford).
But Skelton is still probably Skelton: big, strong, unorthodox, aggressive, non-stop - how many heavies can fight as hard as he does for 12 rounds?
Expect the champion to come through again.

i fancy sprott to stop him. he looks shit hot in training and looks fitter than ever.

skelton.........40 (+?), not boxed for over a year and from his kast two fights seems to be suffering from a confusion in how to box. banging like the 1st williams fight, or mincing about like he did last july in cardiff.

Kilburn wrote:Yes he looked great against Audley

Disagree - he looked intimidated in the first two rounds and while coming back into it in the third, he still didn't look "great". Of course the KO was great, but the performance overall wasn't.

In the first Skelton fight, he had his moments and looked at one later stage as though he might turn it around, but Skelton got his second wind.

This fight depends on Sprott's mindset. With Skelton, you know what you're going ti get, but he can't have improved at 40 and with a year's layoff. If Sprott comes into this with confidence from the Audley fight, I see him getting revenge.

Intimidated by Audley? That's not the way I remember it at all. After 30 seconds I thought Sprott would win, he looked to have complete belief in everything he was doing, which was a nice surprise.

People must have been impressed otherwise there wouldn't be so many picking Sprott to beat a guy who has already broken him down once, using such a basic, crude technique.

I just question whether Sprott, even on his current form, can prevent the fight with Skelton developing into a strength sapping repeat of last time. I think we know what Skelton's tactics are going to be.

When he's on top form, I am impressed, but as with so many British heavyweights, we can never be sure what form he'll turn up in (mentally, I mean).

I maintain he looked (to me, anyway) intimidated against Audley in the early stages. He barely did a thing in the first round.

Perhaps Sprott will put a bit more into his punches this time around, and dish out some punishment.

I think that's what he has to do personally. Sprott can punch when he sets himself, but he tends to slap his shots a lot and waste energy moving around the ring.

Skelton is a big lumbering lump who just trudges around after opponents throwing punches, you need to get his respect.

Throw in Williams-Gammer II and III, and the appropriate off-shoots, and we might be on to something.

I think Terry may have pilfered alledgely's schedule of upcoming promotions for the next few years.

Sprott is a nice boxer and has some solid skills, but it doesn't take a great deal to knock him out of his gameplan.

With that in mind Skelton is far from being the ideal opponent.

I fancy we'll see an extension of the first fight, and lean towards the same result.

Well Sprott is the more skilled fighter, but I'd say that Skelton is the hungrier and more durable. Unless Father Time has caught up with Matt then I think he will win by stoppage in the mid-late rounds.

Terry D wrote:

SticknMove wrote:I think Terry may have pilfered alledgely's schedule of upcoming promotions for the next few years.

I always knew my tea-making abilities would not go unnoticed

It battered my head going through the ins and outs though.

I wonder if he is sitting at his desk stroking his white cat thinking, ‘I knew there was something suspicious about that teaboy’.

‘He served me PG tips when I was expecting Earl Grey.’

Well now he knows how the fight fan feels at times, so good work Terry D.


8)

Much appreciation for the feedback everyone!

Interesting fight, can Sprott get on his bike enough to make room for his boxing? I fear a mauling match with Skelton getting it on points. I don't think it will be pretty.

I fancy Skelton again unless Sprott can find a way to impose himself a bit more than last time.....

I though Audley was beating Sprott up to be honest for the best part of 2 rounds, I didn't think Sprott looked much kop at all.

I was most impressed with Sprott in a couple of his fights with Danny Williams (especially the one when Williams fouled his way to victory), if Sprott can recreate that form and keep it up he may win.

Yeah, Sprott hit a hell of a run against Potter, Holden, Kenna and Williams 2 until the foul.

Sprott by late TKO...

I want to see Sprott come in 10lb heavier than last time. If so, I think he can outscore an ageing, slowing, rusty and not-on-a-roll Skelton. Also, what about his hand(s)??

My opinion is that Sprott can really come in to the fight with great confidence. He, nor his corner, had great confidence last time out. Plus Skelton was relatively unexposed (not taken seriously).

I think Sprott has been undermined by his team in the past, note recently that his manager travelled with Roman Greenberg instead of being in Michaels corner (Dietweiler fight?).

This time I think they will have a gameplan. Sparring and training would have been geared to it, and everyone will believe its achievable.

Lately he has "beat" Virchis, beat Dietweiler and beat Harrison. The Chageuv defeat is no shame, that guy is an excellent fighter.

I'm very keen on Sprott by points.

IMO, Sprott by late stoppage or close ish points.... Sprott if he keeps to his plan, is a much better technician than Skelton, who is aging and now rusty.... Sprott has this to lose

Think people are getting carried away with Sprott here , He was getting his ass handed to him by Audley before that 1 in 20 fight shot happened.

So I'm finding it hard to get motivated for this one.

Goldeboi7 wrote:Think people are getting carried away with Sprott here , He was getting his ass handed to him by Audley before that 1 in 20 fight shot happened.

So I'm finding it hard to get motivated for this one.

Getting his ass handed to him?? Mate Audley was just going through the motions, in same old predictable Audley style. I'm not saying Sprott planned for a KO punch but I have no doubt he thought he would win that fight from the first bell till the end.

Regarding Skelton, I think people are indeed reading too much into the lay off. He hardly has the kind of style that needs constant fine tuning. Sprott wasn't strong enough last time, but he looks fitter now and I hope he can somehow stop Skelton in his tracks on Saturday.

Big Matt is in great shape and his mind is set on the win - Ok he is over 40, in fact I think you will find he is 42 but he is still quick on his feet - Matt has real power and is a very improved fighter since his first bout with Sprott - Sprott is a decent fighter with a good record, his losses were only against good names, but he will be outworked and overwhelmed by Big Matt - To be honest nobody was more surprised than Sprott when he found that bomb from nowhere that dropped Harrison - He certainly wont catch Matt with his chin hanging out - No question of ring rust or lack of stamina with Matt and I think you will see a hard fought fight with Matt finishing Sprott off anywhere between 6 and 9 - Matt Skelton is our best HW and on Saturday he will prove it.

Kilburn wrote:

Goldeboi7 wrote:Think people are getting carried away with Sprott here , He was getting his ass handed to him by Audley before that 1 in 20 fight shot happened.

So I'm finding it hard to get motivated for this one.

Getting his ass handed to him?? Mate Audley was just going through the motions, in same old predictable Audley style. I'm not saying Sprott planned for a KO punch but I have no doubt he thought he would win that fight from the first bell till the end.

Regarding Skelton, I think people are indeed reading too much into the lay off. He hardly has the kind of style that needs constant fine tuning. Sprott wasn't strong enough last time, but he looks fitter now and I hope he can somehow stop Skelton in his tracks on Saturday.

Go watch it back, Audley had him in all sorts of trouble, even had him down in the round previously, he was out classed by Audley untill that punch.