David Haye, Dereck Chisora, Carl Froch & More: Flash Back, Fast Forward and Future History – UK Boxing Scene

By Donald C. Stewart

As the biggest Heavyweight fight since the hyped up nonsense of Haye v Harrison happens in London this weekend news is filtering in of an IBF plan to pitch four Heavyweights into battle in a fight off to face Wladimir Klitschko 58-3, 51KOs as his next opponent. Names mentioned include Poland’s Tomasz Adamek 46-2, 28KOs, Russia’s Alexander Ustinov 27-0, 21KOs, Hungary’s Kubrat Pulev 16-0, 8KOs and exiled Cuban Odlanier Solis 18-1, 12KOs. All based in Europe this would not have the same appeal as the Super Six but well done the IBF for trying to breathe some life into the Heavyweights…

Top UK Heavyweight Tyson Fury 19-0, 14KOs has blasted the idea that he is avoiding the British Champ David Price 13-0,11KOs. He believes that they will fight someday but it will be for a World title belt. Fury’s latest fight was far from convincing whilst former Beijing Bronze medalist Price is beginning to grow into a highly polished contender.

The Olympics will be in London this year and the month of August – traditionally the close season and a non-event for boxing fans in the UK will be an absolute cracker for fight fans. I will endeavor to keep you all up to speed…

Carl Froch 29-2, 21KOs has confirmed that he will honor Lucian Bute’s 30-1, 24KOs rematch but has also confirmed he wants his own rematch against Mikkel Kessler 45-2, 34KOs. The Bute bout is less appealing to fight fans but the Kessler fight is one we could all hope for!

FLASHBACK

Last weekend promised a couple of crackers and boy did it deliver!

Derrry Mathews 30-7-1, 16KOs lost to Gavin Rees 37-1-1, 17KOs as he was stopped in the 9th after a full on war. Matthews can have no complaints but this was clearly Rees’ fight. Rees retained the European belt and gained the British one. Gavin Rees has confirmed following the fight that he wants to fight for the vacant WBA Lightweight title. He wasn’t the only European Champion at the weekend making those noises!

The Rees- Mathews fight was well worth the entry money but it served only as the beginning of a night that brought sheer class war as Kell Brook 28-1, 18KOs beat Carson Jones 34-9-2, 24KOs to defend his IBF International Welterweight belt. Jones was a worthy opponent and if there was ever an example of don’t pay attention to someone’s record this was it. Jones fought like a guy who was unbeaten and only lost on a majority decision. Brook is now in the frame for a World title fight.

In Somerset, meanwhile Tyson Fury blasted Vinny Maddalone 35-8, 26KOs to take the Inter Continental belt. It was a mismatch and one not likely to cement Fury’s reputation. In short it was embarrassing. Chris Eubank Jr 5-0 (Remember his dad?) took on another journeyman to continue his development and whilst he won it was not quite as comfortable as before. His camp have clearly decided to pick up the pace and Eubank, whilst never struggling was certainly tested.

Lee Haskins 26-2, 11KOs beat Stuart Hall 12-2-1, 7KOs for the vacant European Bantamweight belt. It was a very decent fight and Haskins again deserved the victory on pints he was made to work hard for it. He was the other Euro Champ who feels his time has come!

It was less good news for Welsh boy Kerry Hope 17-4, 1KOs who lost in the 8th to Grzegorz Proska 27-1, 21KOs for the European Light Middleweight crown. It was therefore a mixed bag of results for UK fighters!

FAST FORWARD

There are two HUGE fights on this Saturday involving UK fighters. The first is at home but the second is about redemption. Reinstated WBA Light Middleweight Champion, Amir Khan 26-2, 18KOs will go into the ring against Danny Garcia 23-14, 14KOs as a World Champion. The WBA have done what the IBF refused to do and have given Khan his belt back. This fight will therefore be for the WBA, WBC and the Ring Light Middleweight titles. Khan must deliver and my money is on him coming home to Bolton with all three titles and his long awaited move up in weights his next clear goal.

Our second large occasion is the Heavyweight contest between Dereck “Del Boy” Chisora 15-3, 9KOs and David “Hayemaker” Haye 25-2, 23KOs in London for the WBA and WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight titles. This is a grudge match that has captured the imagination. Haye says that Chisora needs to be and will be punished whilst Chisora has called Haye a Drama Queen! It will be live on BoxNation in the UK, it will be beamed throughout the World and it WILL happen!

The undercard includes Liam Walsh 12-0, 9KOs v Domenico Urbano 25-3-1, 10KOs for the WBO European title and Matthew Hall 24-5, 156KOs v Gary O’Sullivan 14-0, 9KOs for the WBO International Middleweight Championship. Both of these will be decent fights before the main event. I would predict Chisora will not manage to outdo Haye but the question is what antics Del Boy will use in the ring…
On the Sunday, the 15th July Jason Booth 36-9, 15KOs takes on Willie Casey 12-1, 8KOs for the WBO Intercontinental title in Sunderland, England.

FUTURE HISTORY

The final fight of the season of note is the British Super Featherweight Championship bout between Garry Buckland 25-2, 8KOs and Stephen Forster 30-3-1, 18KOs. It caps a very eventful season for British Boxing. Just makes you want it all to start ALL over again!