European title tonight. Ian Napa v Malik Bouziane

[StefanC]

Hi all,

Here's a quick video of the weigh in for Napa v Bouziane for the European title tonight on Sky. It's going to be a fantastic fight and both boxers were certainly talking the talk and itching to let fists fly.

HD link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n8WCkJFmxE

Stef

[ERIC GUY]

thanks for filming me,,,,,,,

[bennie]

Hackney stylist Ian Napa defends his coveted European bantamweight title against ex-French champion Malik Bouziane at Newham Leisure Centre in East London tonight.
The quick, clever, tucked up, counterpunching Napa won the title with a majority but sparkling decision over Carmelo Ballone at York Hall last October. Little Ian overcame a strong start from the rugged Belgian southpaw, fought back hard and really turned the tide with a rare knockdown (from him, from a body shot) in the 10th round to seal all the championship rounds and a proper title. Napa has also recently held the British bantamweight title, winning a magnificent Lonsdale Belt for life.
At 31 and 18-6 (1), the champion is fighting better than ever.
To the French-Algerian challenger who lost his French bantamweight title when he was outscored by Mohamed Bouleghcha in November but Bouziane came back with a non-title win in December to take his record to 10-1 (1). Like Napa, Bouziane is much more boxer than puncher; unlike Napa, who turned pro way back in 1998, Bouziane lacks paid experience, a pro since just 2006. However, the 31-year-old Bouziane was a long-time amateur who represented Algeria at bantamweight in the 2004 Olympics where he was narrowly eliminated by Russian star Gennady Kovalev (23-20) in the early stages, later to lick our own Bradley Saunders (much later). Bouziane badly busted up southpaw Kovalev, by the way, and had outscored the talented French entrant (Ali Hallab) in his opening bout of The Games, which must have been an enjoyable experience for Bouziane, from Massy on the outskirts of Paris, shades, in fact, of Croydon's Frankie "The Animal" Lucas against Liverpool's Carl Speare in the Commonwealth Games in New Zealand in 1974; Lucas had entered via his native St Vincent after the England spot went to Speare, a man Lucas had licked - and Lucas licked him again on the way to middleweight gold.
Bouziane won gold himself at the All-Africa Games in 2003 in Nigeria, also for Algeria, of course, and also at bantamweight. He won the French bantamweight title as a pro with a unanimous 10-round decision over gritty Jean-Marie Codet last year and also outscored Marseille's useful John Bikai over 10. He hasn't done much wrong, amateur or pro. Bouleghcha, the only man to beat him as a pro, was robbed of the same European bantamweight title in 2007 against Simone Maludrottu (Damaen Kelly knows the feeling).
Bouziane is no pushover, then, and likely to make things very interesting indeed for Napa, who can be a tad negative as he goes into his shell and picks his punches in cute, flashy bursts, head and body. A consistent, busy, hard-headed fighter like Bouziane knows he has a chance if he plugs away throughout and keeps Napa 'honest' - think of his compatriot Anthony Mezaache.
On home turf, however, Napa's better pedigree and boxing skills give him the edge.
Jason Booth and Lee Haskins, two Napa bantamweight victims, square up for the British super-flyweight title in the chief support. Haskins holds the belt, which he won with a disappointing, scrambling decision over tall Yorkshireman Andy Bell in November. Southpaw Lee, from Bristol, had dropped down to super-flyweight after Napa had stopped him on an injury but looked unconvincing against Bell, who failed the post-fight drug test. Haskins is overdue - well overdue, in fact - a sharp display. Not too long ago he was regarded as a great prospect. His mentor Chis Sanigar, one of the fiercest, proudest, hardest southpaws ever to lace on the gloves, must be "getting the right hump".
Nottingham man Booth comes off a good 10-round stoppage of Pontefract's Sean "Short Fuse" Hughes in December - a southpaw like Haskins - and had outscored Napa over 12 rounds way back in their flyweight days in 2000 but lost to the canny Londoner in a bantamweight rematch many years later, also on points. Almost a decade separated the two meeetings, in fact.
A veteran of 13 years in the pros, Booth is one of those 'old' fighters who could 'go' overnight but he currently holds the Commonwealth bantamweight title, and that late win over the useful Hughes last time out and a nine-round stoppage of talented Welshman Matthew Edmonds in 2007 shows he can still produce the smooth boxing goods to outbox, outfox and outlast the young 'uns.
Haskins, six years younger than Booth at 25, might discover the same thing.

[Adamj1987]

is he going to win hes the 1/8 fave on ladbrokes but thats usally because he's the champion. bouziane has a good record but i dont see ne1 near napas class on his resume (i could be wrong) whats the general concensus then?

[black panther]

Napa is class I really enjoy watching him fight with all the shoulder rolls and moves he makes. But the only thing is at anything above flyweight he gives up natural size and weight advantages. He's adapted his style to fighting bigger men by becoming more aggressive but he'll always be at a disadvantage at bantamweight. I give Bouziane a small shot at a points victory, though admittedly the most likely outcome is Napa on points. It's a shame the EBU don't recognise superflyweight as a weight as that would probably be Napa's best weight.

[sweetscience]

got shit or bust on Napa points win on my FB boxpics

[Raff The Frenchman]

holy shit, their combined records have 2 stoppage wins out of 35 fights !

[sweetscience]

holy shit, their combined records have 2 stoppage wins out of 35 fights !

i know, might as well watch a pillow fight

[rhino222]

holy shit, their combined records have 2 stoppage wins out of 35 fights !

i know, might as well watch a pillow fight

regardless of the stoppage percentage of napa, what you see is a unique american style, hardly ever seen demonstrated by british fighters, i reckon adrian stone was the last one. i love napas style.

[My Name Is Earl]

Love watching Dappa at work. His opponent has a superb am' record though, far outweighs his scrawny pro record.

[Raff The Frenchman]

holy shit, their combined records have 2 stoppage wins out of 35 fights !

i know, might as well watch a pillow fight

regardless of the stoppage percentage of napa, what you see is a unique american style, hardly ever seen demonstrated by british fighters, i reckon adrian stone was the last one. i love napas style.

When I hear "american style" I think of "fat"

[BABY BLUE]

Love watching Dappa at work. His opponent has a superb am' record though, far outweighs his scrawny pro record.

yeah i ilke dappa ,nappa. whos going to this fight tonight?

[Londonirish]

The french Kid is Massive, like watching Napa fight hope he can get in range...
Think Booth will stop Haskins.. The first few rounds Haskins looking good and strong..
Round 4 starting to get tired, retire on his stool at the end of the 6th...

[brian13]

I always like seeing Napa fight and I think he should take this one by UD

[Londonirish]

The french Kid is Massive, like watching Napa fight hope he can get in range...
Think Booth will stop Haskins.. The first few rounds Haskins looking good and strong..
Round 4 starting to get tired, retire on his stool at the end of the 6th...

can you be a bit more specific with your prediction please martin?

Getting abit carried away was'nt i

[iwz678]

Frank Maloney was pretty confident that Napa can stop this guy but I dont think Bouziane is too bad and I can only see Dappa to win comfortably on points, he should have a better skill level and enough to keep the title :)

[MPG]

Malik Bouziane is looking good,won 1st 2 rounds,Napa cant get close enough.

[whiteboy]

watched the 1st 30 secs and got a tenner @ 8/1 on the french fella on betfair. could be close

[MPG]

I think the french chap has won all 4 rounds so far.

[Chambers2]

Napa's in trouble. Malik is very mobile, he's making the most of all his physical advantages

Got 6/4 on the frog at the end of the third round

[whiteboy]

7-0 ? game over?

[MPG]

I have it the same.7-nil to the french fella,switch hitting boxer.

[whiteboy]

frank maloney is gutted

[DG.]

I hate these type of fighters..

Stealing fights..

Oh well!

[MPG]

Good win for Bouziane,he had a game plan and stuck to it,nice boxer.Napa just couldnt get in close enough,reminded me of his fight with Kelly.