A few early Boxing Days...
Posted: 25 Nov 2008, 04:04
Paul "Chuckles" Appleby defends his British featherweight title against Sheffield veteran Esham Pickering at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow this Friday (November 28).
The youthful, talented Appleby, still only 21, won the title with a hard-earned decision over tough fellow Scot John Simpson at the same venue in June to take his record to 12-0 (8). He looks a great prospect whereas the 32-year-old Pickering, a former super-bantamweight star, has lost two of his last three and looks to be slipping after 40 fights. Indeed, "Brown Sugar" Esham challenged for this same British featherweight title all of 10 years ago (May 1998) against Doncaster's long-retired Jonjo Irwin and dropped a competitive decision, before he dropped down to super-bantam. There is a chance Pickering's great experience can pull one last rabbit out of the hat.
Everything considered, though, Appleby is younger, bigger and busier; he puts his punches together in flashy, punishing bursts. He simply looks too much for today's version of Pickering.
Ageing American heavyweights Lamon Brewster and Bruce Seldon square up in a 12-rounder in Indianapolis on November 29.
Frankly, this is one of those 'don't who give a damn' matches but to make the pair fight over 12 rounds is pretty heartless. The 35-year-old Brewster, who hails from Indianapolis, has fought (and won) only once since a bad beating at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko last year while the 41-year-old Seldon was belted in five rounds by unbeaten Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson just two months ago, a man with a serious rep as a non-puncher, but big Bruce came back with a two-round win earlier this month in his native Atlantic City over a Wichita Lineman.
The fact that these two once held major versions of the world heavyweight title is the reason why so many sit up and take notice when a 27-year-old David Haye comes along (and the Londoner would probably lick this duo on the same night). Life with the likes of Brewster and Seldon was and is pretty grim, although Brewster at least has a go and had previously licked Klitschko in a huge upset in 2004. Seldon is best remembered for a swan dive against Mike Tyson in 1996 but he might make it interesting for a while.
Still, Brewster looks the pick.
Fearless Denver veteran Verno Phillips takes on Paul "The Punisher" Williams in a world class 12-rounder in California on November 29.
Phillips is the 38-year-old who shocked Cory Spinks - a towering southpaw like Williams - earlier this year in St Louis for the IBF light-middleweight belt and still has the belt to fall back on, win or lose, which is not on the line. He will also be picking up a nice packet, make no mistake about that. He deserves it all.
Williams needed 97 seconds to despatch full middleweight Andy Kolle just two months ago and also blew away Puerto Rico's Carlos Quintana in the first round before that, the only man ever to beat him. He holds a big win over Antonio Margarito, "The Tijuana Tornado" who seems none too keen to face him again. The 27-year-old Williams, from South Carolina, is one of the most avoided men in boxing.
It sums up the fighting spirit of the cute, iron-jawed Phillips who has all the 'moves' after 20 years as a pro and actually celebrates his 39th birthday on the night of the fight and will want to do so with a win (seriously).
The most likely result, however, is a decision for the slick, heavy handed, menacing Williams.
American boxing star Ronald Wright makes his first appearance for over a year against Mexico's Michi Munoz in a 10-rounder in Seattle on December 4.
The talented Wright dropped a tight one to Philadelphia legend Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas in July 2007 but stepped up to light-heavyweight for the night and is now back at middleweight, where his reputation as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world was built on wins over Shane Mosley (twice), Felix Trinidad and Ike Quartey, although he was an outstanding light-middleweight too. He also drew with Jermain Taylor at middleweight - right after Taylor had twice licked the canny Hopkins. Veteran "Winky" thought he had the fight won and played it safe in the 12th and last round, which cost him the win. Surprising. Ordinarily, the 37-year-old southpaw from Florida is shrewd and punishing, a formidable 51-4-1 (25).
His opponent, the Kansas-based Munoz, is 10 years younger and went 12 rounds with American Contender Joey Gilbert last year but was halted in three by unbeaten Armenian Vanes Martirosyan in Las Vegas earlier this year, for his only losses. At 21-2 (14), however, all of Munoz's wins have come in Kansas or Missouri where he is probably fighting gas station attendants.
The ageing Wright may take a few rounds to shed the ring rust before forcing a stoppage.
Sergey Gulyakevich defends his European super-featherweight title against German hope Vitali Tajbert in Germany on December 5.
The champion, a rangy, awkward, stiff-hitting Belarussian, won the title last year in Italy with a unanimous decision over Armenian banger Leva Kirakosyan, the man who had flattened Carl Johanneson here (twice) and nearly the ever-rugged Michael Gomez. It was a huge upset, then, although in 26 fights Gulyakevich has lost only to Alex Arthur in Edinburgh in 2006 and gave the Scot a few uncomfortable moments, including a flying headbutt, before it went to the cards in the seventh round due to a shocking cut over Gulyakevich's left eye (poetic justice, some would call that). Arthur took the technical decision.
Undeterred, Gulyakevich has reeled off seven wins since and romped to the points against Kirakosyan last December - one judge gave him every round. He warmed up in October in Belarus with a 10-round decision over Georgia's Beka Sadjaia and even in Germany will make it hard for the challenger, although the stylish, unbeaten Tajbert secured his shot by lifting the 'EU' super-featherweight belt from previously unbeaten Spaniard Jesus Garcia Escalona on a 12-round decision earlier this year in Germany and retained with another 12-round verdict over another Spaniard, Antonio Joao Bento, in Germany in July. Tajbert looks a good 'stayer' at 17-0 (6), a little untested and not a great puncher but certainly well capable of making the transition from prospect to champion. Everyone in the boxing world knows that Tajbert only has to make it competitive and a full 12-rounder to snatch the verdict - and the title - in Germany.
Philadelphia's Steve "USS" Cunningham defends his IBF cruiserweight title against mandatory challenger Tomasz Adamek of Poland in a good-looking clash in Newark, New Jersey, on December 11.
Cunningham has lost only to Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in 22 fights - a Pole like Adamek. The former US Navy man is classy and sharp-hitting and he came back from the Wlodarczyk setback in Poland in November 2006 - a controversial split decision - to outscore him for the IBF title on a majority decision in Poland six months later, flooring Wlodarczyk in the fourth. They tried to rob him again. (Wlodarczyk and Adamek have never fought.)
Understandably, Cunningham has little intention of ever returning to Poland, although he comes off a fine 12-round stoppage of German puncher Marco Huck in defence of his title in Germany and has proved himself abroad. "I'm a true world champion," Cunningham remarked at the fight's launch. "I've fought in South Africa, Germany and in Poland, twice. I'm more popular in Europe than I am in America right now but that's about to change. I want to give the world a true cruiserweight world champion that will stay in the division and defend his titles for years to come." He was having a pop at our own David Haye there, by the way.
Adamek begs to differ and he begs to differ in a frightening way. The challenger recently moved up from light-heavyweight, where he said he felt "weak", and has lost just the once himself, in 36 outings: to the slick and unbeaten "Bad" Chad Dawson in Florida last year. Adamek had southpaw Dawson down in the 10th round with a huge right hand but was dominated otherwise and lost a unanimous decision. Defeat cost Adamek the WBC light-heavyweight title, a title he had won with a bloody and gruelling majority decision over Aussie hard man Paul Briggs in Chicago in 2005 and retained twice prior to Dawson, including a six-round knockout of Thomas Ulrich in Germany. Adamek can whack with the right - 24 of his 35 wins by stoppage - and knows how to box, too. He earned his chance when he forced heavy handed O'Neil Bell to call it a day after seven rounds in Poland earlier this year and looks strong at the new weight, dropping Bell in the first and outboxing him thereafter.
Nonetheless, Cunningham looks to be the better boxer of the two with his quick, slick, sharp-hitting, almost Dawsonesque style. He got the better of Wlodarczyk in Poland should get the better of Adamek in the States, potshotting, holding when necessary and just outmarting the dangerous Pole, although it will be tight and always on a knife-edge.
The youthful, talented Appleby, still only 21, won the title with a hard-earned decision over tough fellow Scot John Simpson at the same venue in June to take his record to 12-0 (8). He looks a great prospect whereas the 32-year-old Pickering, a former super-bantamweight star, has lost two of his last three and looks to be slipping after 40 fights. Indeed, "Brown Sugar" Esham challenged for this same British featherweight title all of 10 years ago (May 1998) against Doncaster's long-retired Jonjo Irwin and dropped a competitive decision, before he dropped down to super-bantam. There is a chance Pickering's great experience can pull one last rabbit out of the hat.
Everything considered, though, Appleby is younger, bigger and busier; he puts his punches together in flashy, punishing bursts. He simply looks too much for today's version of Pickering.
Ageing American heavyweights Lamon Brewster and Bruce Seldon square up in a 12-rounder in Indianapolis on November 29.
Frankly, this is one of those 'don't who give a damn' matches but to make the pair fight over 12 rounds is pretty heartless. The 35-year-old Brewster, who hails from Indianapolis, has fought (and won) only once since a bad beating at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko last year while the 41-year-old Seldon was belted in five rounds by unbeaten Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson just two months ago, a man with a serious rep as a non-puncher, but big Bruce came back with a two-round win earlier this month in his native Atlantic City over a Wichita Lineman.
The fact that these two once held major versions of the world heavyweight title is the reason why so many sit up and take notice when a 27-year-old David Haye comes along (and the Londoner would probably lick this duo on the same night). Life with the likes of Brewster and Seldon was and is pretty grim, although Brewster at least has a go and had previously licked Klitschko in a huge upset in 2004. Seldon is best remembered for a swan dive against Mike Tyson in 1996 but he might make it interesting for a while.
Still, Brewster looks the pick.
Fearless Denver veteran Verno Phillips takes on Paul "The Punisher" Williams in a world class 12-rounder in California on November 29.
Phillips is the 38-year-old who shocked Cory Spinks - a towering southpaw like Williams - earlier this year in St Louis for the IBF light-middleweight belt and still has the belt to fall back on, win or lose, which is not on the line. He will also be picking up a nice packet, make no mistake about that. He deserves it all.
Williams needed 97 seconds to despatch full middleweight Andy Kolle just two months ago and also blew away Puerto Rico's Carlos Quintana in the first round before that, the only man ever to beat him. He holds a big win over Antonio Margarito, "The Tijuana Tornado" who seems none too keen to face him again. The 27-year-old Williams, from South Carolina, is one of the most avoided men in boxing.
It sums up the fighting spirit of the cute, iron-jawed Phillips who has all the 'moves' after 20 years as a pro and actually celebrates his 39th birthday on the night of the fight and will want to do so with a win (seriously).
The most likely result, however, is a decision for the slick, heavy handed, menacing Williams.
American boxing star Ronald Wright makes his first appearance for over a year against Mexico's Michi Munoz in a 10-rounder in Seattle on December 4.
The talented Wright dropped a tight one to Philadelphia legend Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas in July 2007 but stepped up to light-heavyweight for the night and is now back at middleweight, where his reputation as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world was built on wins over Shane Mosley (twice), Felix Trinidad and Ike Quartey, although he was an outstanding light-middleweight too. He also drew with Jermain Taylor at middleweight - right after Taylor had twice licked the canny Hopkins. Veteran "Winky" thought he had the fight won and played it safe in the 12th and last round, which cost him the win. Surprising. Ordinarily, the 37-year-old southpaw from Florida is shrewd and punishing, a formidable 51-4-1 (25).
His opponent, the Kansas-based Munoz, is 10 years younger and went 12 rounds with American Contender Joey Gilbert last year but was halted in three by unbeaten Armenian Vanes Martirosyan in Las Vegas earlier this year, for his only losses. At 21-2 (14), however, all of Munoz's wins have come in Kansas or Missouri where he is probably fighting gas station attendants.
The ageing Wright may take a few rounds to shed the ring rust before forcing a stoppage.
Sergey Gulyakevich defends his European super-featherweight title against German hope Vitali Tajbert in Germany on December 5.
The champion, a rangy, awkward, stiff-hitting Belarussian, won the title last year in Italy with a unanimous decision over Armenian banger Leva Kirakosyan, the man who had flattened Carl Johanneson here (twice) and nearly the ever-rugged Michael Gomez. It was a huge upset, then, although in 26 fights Gulyakevich has lost only to Alex Arthur in Edinburgh in 2006 and gave the Scot a few uncomfortable moments, including a flying headbutt, before it went to the cards in the seventh round due to a shocking cut over Gulyakevich's left eye (poetic justice, some would call that). Arthur took the technical decision.
Undeterred, Gulyakevich has reeled off seven wins since and romped to the points against Kirakosyan last December - one judge gave him every round. He warmed up in October in Belarus with a 10-round decision over Georgia's Beka Sadjaia and even in Germany will make it hard for the challenger, although the stylish, unbeaten Tajbert secured his shot by lifting the 'EU' super-featherweight belt from previously unbeaten Spaniard Jesus Garcia Escalona on a 12-round decision earlier this year in Germany and retained with another 12-round verdict over another Spaniard, Antonio Joao Bento, in Germany in July. Tajbert looks a good 'stayer' at 17-0 (6), a little untested and not a great puncher but certainly well capable of making the transition from prospect to champion. Everyone in the boxing world knows that Tajbert only has to make it competitive and a full 12-rounder to snatch the verdict - and the title - in Germany.
Philadelphia's Steve "USS" Cunningham defends his IBF cruiserweight title against mandatory challenger Tomasz Adamek of Poland in a good-looking clash in Newark, New Jersey, on December 11.
Cunningham has lost only to Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in 22 fights - a Pole like Adamek. The former US Navy man is classy and sharp-hitting and he came back from the Wlodarczyk setback in Poland in November 2006 - a controversial split decision - to outscore him for the IBF title on a majority decision in Poland six months later, flooring Wlodarczyk in the fourth. They tried to rob him again. (Wlodarczyk and Adamek have never fought.)
Understandably, Cunningham has little intention of ever returning to Poland, although he comes off a fine 12-round stoppage of German puncher Marco Huck in defence of his title in Germany and has proved himself abroad. "I'm a true world champion," Cunningham remarked at the fight's launch. "I've fought in South Africa, Germany and in Poland, twice. I'm more popular in Europe than I am in America right now but that's about to change. I want to give the world a true cruiserweight world champion that will stay in the division and defend his titles for years to come." He was having a pop at our own David Haye there, by the way.
Adamek begs to differ and he begs to differ in a frightening way. The challenger recently moved up from light-heavyweight, where he said he felt "weak", and has lost just the once himself, in 36 outings: to the slick and unbeaten "Bad" Chad Dawson in Florida last year. Adamek had southpaw Dawson down in the 10th round with a huge right hand but was dominated otherwise and lost a unanimous decision. Defeat cost Adamek the WBC light-heavyweight title, a title he had won with a bloody and gruelling majority decision over Aussie hard man Paul Briggs in Chicago in 2005 and retained twice prior to Dawson, including a six-round knockout of Thomas Ulrich in Germany. Adamek can whack with the right - 24 of his 35 wins by stoppage - and knows how to box, too. He earned his chance when he forced heavy handed O'Neil Bell to call it a day after seven rounds in Poland earlier this year and looks strong at the new weight, dropping Bell in the first and outboxing him thereafter.
Nonetheless, Cunningham looks to be the better boxer of the two with his quick, slick, sharp-hitting, almost Dawsonesque style. He got the better of Wlodarczyk in Poland should get the better of Adamek in the States, potshotting, holding when necessary and just outmarting the dangerous Pole, although it will be tight and always on a knife-edge.