RingSide Report

World News, Social Issues, Politics, Entertainment and Sports

Thoughts From the Other Side – A Closer Look at Recent UK Fights…

british boxing scene headerBy Donald “Braveheart” Stewart

With a large number of World Champions – I think we have finally lost count – the UK has a massive foothold in world boxing. From these shores we are not only able to provide the world with the spectacle of the plucky Brit taking a title but of a couple of them battling it out over one of the versions of world credit held by one of the sanctioning bodies that, thankfully only claim three letters to their names.

In the last month we have had Carl Frampton, 22-0, 14 KO’s prove he was better on the night than Scott Quigg, 31-1-2, 23 KO’s and as Guillermo Rigondeaux, 16-0, 10 KO’s ducks into the US rather than face James Dickens, 21-1, 7 KO’s quicker than a Trump protestor we had Manchester’s Terry Flanagan, 30-0, 12 KO’s retain his WBO world lightweight title with a unanimous points decision over Liverpool’s Derry Mathews, 38-10-2, 20 KO’s. In the end it was a win with a wide margin 117-110, 115-112 and 117-110, but far from straightforward; Flanagan was even able to withstand losing a point in the 8th round for using his forearm.

It was an emotional night with the crowd largely behind the underdog, Mathews, who was in his 50th fight. Many had questioned his right to be in a world championship fight but he soon showed that he had the heart and brought the pedigree. It started evenly for the first few rounds and despite both of them managing to wrestle each other to the ground in the second neither were in danger of ending up in a bath early. By the middle rounds Mathews was more than holding his own though Flanagan had been guilty of trying anything to get ahead.

By the eighth Flanagan was getting a point docked after a warning for use of his elbow as Mathews just kept coming. Unfortunately for Mathews, Flanagan’s strength and stamina came good in the later rounds – from the 9th onwards – and he dodged the dangerous to land the win.
Of course now all the talk is of who Flanagan faces next and another British boxer and World Champion, Anthony Crolla, 30-4-3, 12 KO’s is mentioned next. According to reports, Flanagan’s promoter, Frank Warren has made an offer of £½ Million for Crolla to face him. If Crolla does not fancy it then Flanagan might just face WBC champion Jorge Linares next. Crolla has his next defense against Ismael Barroso, 19-0-2, 18 KO’s in Manchester on the 7th May. Everything may be on hold until after then…

As for THIS weekend I have the pleasure of being invited to see the return to the boxing world and his preparation for another assault on the world crown by Scottish boxer Willie Limond, 39-4, 11KO’s. Now working in promoting as well as still boxing for his living, Limond is about to get into the ring as well as sell the tickets for his show this Saturday in Bellahouston, Glasgow, at the tender age of 37. Right now there is no named opponent though this does not faze a guy of Limond’s standing. It is after all a warm up fight for a British title fight later on this year – against Tyrone Nurse in May. It is all however leading towards another tilt at world glory…

Rather surprisingly his pathway is being prepared by a guy who stopped him in 2011 in the 6th round – Mexican legend, Erik Morales – in a WBC silver belt fight. Morales retired in 2012 and is bringing himself over to Scotland this weekend to help out his friend, ex British and Commonwealth light welterweight boxer, Limond.

Part of the link up includes Morales campaigning for Limond to get a shot at the WBC interim title and get the Scots over to Tijuana for a fortnight worth of training. Having fallen out with boxing a while back it is this, along with his enthusiasm from working with new fighters and the prospect of his new company – Lock, Stock Promotions – getting out there that excites Limond and got him back into the gym ready for more action.

As well as that world title fight, Limond has had a distinguished career that includes fights against Anthony Crolla, Amir Khan and fellow Scot Alex Arthur. In May he will be in the ring against Tyrone Nurse (32-2, 6KOs) for the British super lightweight title but has very big ambitions.

He wants to forge a super Scottish fight between himself and a man who may soon be a 3 weight world champion – Ricky Burns, 39-5-1, 13KO’s. Limond shall face Nurse on the undercard of the Burns v Michele Di Rocco, 40-1-1, 18 KO’s fight, in Glasgow, on the 28th May for the WBA super lightweight belt. With the number of all British fights taking place with world titles on the line that is not nearly as fanciful as you might have once thought…

[si-contact-form form=’2′]

Leave a Reply