BoxRec

Is this still on this weekend?

Not heard much about it come to think not heard much about Woods/Gonzalez either, pretty quiet on both fronts.

Think it could be two entertaining bouts, Keeton is rarely boring and he might fancy it as Hobson has been out a while, anyone know how Mark is - does he fancy the job or is it a final pay day for him.

Gonzalez will give it everything and if Woods has any problems with his elbow still I wonder if the Mexican could sneak a decision.

Any views

Hobson has to much pride to see this as just a final payday, he'll want people to forget about the 2nd fight with Macca when blown out in a round.
Unless Marks chin has completly gone then he should get the job done in about 5 rounds.

Its a decent bill. Although none of them are exactly 50:50 fights the fighter any expects to lose does stand some chance. McDermott vs Gammer also on the bill I believe (British title eliminator).

Local warhorse John "Buster" Keeton makes the first defence of his coveted British cruiserweight title against former champ and former rival Mark Hobson, the mandatory.
Keeton won the title (made vacant by Hobson) with a thrilling stoppage of Lincoln southpaw Lee Swaby at Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium last October. It was his fourth British title attempt and 35-year-old Keeton came good in typically swashbuckling style, shrugging off Swaby's best punches (Swaby once sparked a young Enzo Maccarinelli and twice floored Hobson, though Hobson climbed up to win) to pin him in a corner in the seventh and pour it on until referee Micky Vann dived in.
Swaby was literally punched to a standstill.
So one would feel Hobson is up against it but the Huddersfield giant climbed off the floor to overwhelm Keeton in a savage defence of his British and Commonwealth titles in June last year in Barnsley, after which he relinquished to concentrate on a lucrative rematch with Maccarinelli - and was blown away in 71 stunning seconds last October. One Maccarinelli right put paid to 31-year-old Mark, who was so disheartened, he hinted at retirement (this is his first fight since). Mark had pushed the big Welshman, now WBO cruiserweight champion, all the way in a previous meeting and would have won but for a flash knockdown he suffered in the third.
Keeton also comes off a loss. Canadian Troy Ross took him out in two rounds for the Commonwealth cruiserweight title six months ago in Canada, although John has never been a great traveller and on home turf looks much more of a threat.
So get set for more "bombs away!" between big-hitting, battle-hardened Yorkshiremen who can be floored (and cut when they sneeze). Hobson went down heavily from a thumping Keeton right in the second round last time but didn't panic, rode out the storm and came back in the fourth with a barrage of head shots to force a stoppage with 10 seconds left in the round.
Even in the Lion's Den, he looks favourite to come through again.

In fairness to hobson I thought he was unlucky not to win the first Mac fight and was court cold by a good puncher in the second which can happen to anyone. I still have a lot of respect for him as an old school good british/european level pro.

I wouldn't perhaps say European but a solid British-Commonwealth level sort of fighter. Hobson has always given good value but his chin may hold the key here. After all, Keeton decked him with a flush right last time they fought and i think John may fancy the job.

On the flip side Hobson is the better fighter and Keeton got the title in a box off with similar levelled Lee Swaby. His limitations, reminded to us all when he faced Troy Ross. I'll stick my neck out and got for Hobson in 6, but with a few hairy moments along the way.

I think in the first fight, Hobson just thought he'd walk through Keeton who'd been blown out in his previous 2 fights. Hobson walked into one , and almost paid the price, but once he tucked up and rode the shots then Keeton looked beat.

I think Mark will know what to expect ride the early shots and take Keeton apart again.

Hobson's last chance to do something. Interesting fight, wouldn't mind seeing the odds on this one. Keaton on points.

Clinton is 100% recovered from the operation, and the arm is fully mobile.
He looks in fine fettle, and has had some quality sparring, so no excuses.
As for Buster and Hobson it's a case of more of the same. This wont go beyond 5 rounds for me, but I'm not brave enough to say whose bombs strike the decisive blow. I am however biased so ......
Come on , Buster !

Lets go "BUSTER"

Albert wrote:Hobson's last chance to do something. Interesting fight, wouldn't mind seeing the odds on this one. Keaton on points.

Hobson's only 31 - I don't think he is drinking in the last chance saloon as far as the British title is concerned, especially with the talent depth in the devision.

steve689 wrote:I wouldn't perhaps say European but a solid British-Commonwealth level sort of fighter. Hobson has always given good value but his chin may hold the key here. After all, Keeton decked him with a flush right last time they fought and i think John may fancy the job.

On the flip side Hobson is the better fighter and Keeton got the title in a box off with similar levelled Lee Swaby. His limitations, reminded to us all when he faced Troy Ross. I'll stick my neck out and got for Hobson in 6, but with a few hairy moments along the way.

Well I don't think he would beat Haye but I think Haye is world class I could see him being in with a shout against most of those who have challenged Haye for his title. Hobson Fragomeni for example I could see being a good and even fight.

Keeton has got the bug, the Swaby win will have done wonders for him and I see him beating Hobson who seems as if he has one foot out of the door of boxing - that is no disprespect for Mark because at his best he beats Keeton every day of the week.

Will say again, if Hobson comes in lack lustre or anything other than at his best then he loses the fight.

Albert wrote:Keeton has got the bug, the Swaby win will have done wonders for him and I see him beating Hobson who seems as if he has one foot out of the door of boxing - that is no disprespect for Mark because at his best he beats Keeton every day of the week.

Will say again, if Hobson comes in lack lustre or anything other than at his best then he loses the fight.

Keeton may have the bug, but the Swaby win apart, he's been blown out inside of 4 rounds in his 4 other fights recently.

Sadly, it seems both fighters have had enough, and are retiring.

twenty six wrote:Sadly, it seems both fighters have had enough, and are retiring.

Really? If that is correct, i'd say it's the right decision for Keaton, he won the British title, and should be proud of that.
As for Hobson, it will be a shame if he doesn't carry on, always enjoyed watching his fights, gave good value for money. I'd still like him to try and go for Euro title.

Hobson could try for the EBU title.

twenty six wrote:Sadly, it seems both fighters have had enough, and are retiring.

Got a source for this?

Old bones Ian wrote:

twenty six wrote:Sadly, it seems both fighters have had enough, and are retiring.

Really? If that is correct, i'd say it's the right decision for Keaton, he won the British title, and should be proud of that.
As for Hobson, it will be a shame if he doesn't carry on, always enjoyed watching his fights, gave good value for money. I'd still like him to try and go for Euro title.

Sounds a little odd on the part of Hobson, certainly didn't sound like a man retiring in the post fight interview.... although its been on his mind in the past.

Reported in the Sheffield press.
Hobson says he has business interests to take care of, and took this fight to prove a point after the Macc fight.

I've never seen Keeton fight before last Saturday and so perhaps what I'm about to say is his usual style but I thought he looked like he had come into the fight carrying an injury to his right hand/arm. He couldn't seem to punch with it and was intent on hitting Hobson with his wrist or as a slap.

If he hit him with the full force when Hobson was on the ropes he would have hurt him more than he did.

Rob Norton, who seemingly can't get any decent fights, told me a few days ago that he is thinking of calling it a day.

Three decent domestic-level cruiserweights all retiring, or at least seriously thinking of, in the same week.

I think that Rob will change his mind if he gets a crack at the British title - a title he wants badly. The BBBofC don't seem to want to give him a shot at the title, however.

Remember when Keeton and Swaby squared off for the vacant title last year? Norton, who has beaten Swaby, surely had a better claim to a shot at the belt than both of them? And he has won the English title since.

Tom Podmore.

REMEMBER NORTON IN A HUMDINGER WITH HOBSON.

he is deserved of a title shot definitely Tom.

Podmore_Birmingham wrote:Rob Norton, who seemingly can't get any decent fights, told me a few days ago that he is thinking of calling it a day.

Three decent domestic-level cruiserweights all retiring, or at least seriously thinking of, in the same week.

I think that Rob will change his mind if he gets a crack at the British title - a title he wants badly. The BBBofC don't seem to want to give him a shot at the title, however.

Remember when Keeton and Swaby squared off for the vacant title last year? Norton, who has beaten Swaby, surely had a better claim to a shot at the belt than both of them? And he has won the English title since.

Tom Podmore.

It's such a shame we can't see more fights with decent British level operators. Hobson vs. Keeton was a great undercard fight with two fighters who wanted it. Surely we can get some more like this, Norton vs. Hobson for one. I'd rather pay to see decent people coming to fight than the usual Mitchell vs. TBA etc.

Very good result for Hobson - word was that perhaps he may have had other things on his mind prior to the fight - managed to get a few words with him prior to the fight in the dressing room - have to say he looked chilled and well relaxed. Really thought even after speaking to him Keaton would do a number - funny old sport boxing.