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The British Boxing Scene – Carl Froch, Amir Khan & More

By Donald C. Stewart

Happy New Year to one and all from the home of New Year Celebrations – Bonnie Scotland! The Christmas break is beginning to seem like a distant memory so we look forward to a month in which there should be some cheer for British boxing after an end of year set of results that broke our hearts.

Just to add bitter pill to sweet memory we have heard that Andre Ward 25-0, 13 KO’s, managed to comprehensively beat Carl Froch 28-2, 20 KO’s, whilst having 2 fractures in 1 hand. It makes Ward’s status all the sweeter and Froch’s defeat a little more bitter.

There has been no need to make Amir Khan’s 26-2, 18 KO’s, mood any bitter as he has now claimed that an unnamed individual interfered with the score cards at his fight with Lamont Peterson 30-1-1, 15 KO’s. The IBF are due this month to issue a definitive judgment that has rumbled since the ring announcement. The WBA have waded in to say there should be a rematch. There are many who would like Khan to accept defeat and move on, perhaps even to a rematch where he could regain those belts because Peterson may not be as pumped up as champion rather than the challenger. It is a long way for Khan from his crowning as the British Boxer of the year in 2011. The question remains though – what if Khan is right?

Much more positive news – perhaps even real news – is in the Light Heavyweight Division. Ovill Mackenzie 19-11, 8 KO’s will defend his Commonwealth title against Tony Dodson 28-6-1, 14 KO’s on in Manchester on February the 3rd. In the same weight division Nathan Cleverly 23-0, 11 KO’s will fight American Tommy Karpency 28-2-1, 14 KO’s, in Cardiff on the 25th February. As he is our only World Champion it will be a very dangerous fight! With Tony Bellew 16-1, 10 KO’s, and Enzo Maccarinelli, 33-5, 26 KO’s, also in the Division this is a healthy place for British Boxing but if it is to grow beyond where it is, MacKenzie needs to win and Cleverly needs a convincing win so that the alleged bout against Beibut Shumenov 12-1, 8 KO’s can happen. Shumenov will have his own defense with which to deal in January and the noises from his camp that have poured scorn on the idea that he is avoiding a showdown with Cleverly.

Backwards

The Christmas and New Year break has brought us nothing, nada and nowt as action

Full Stop

This week (AT LAST!!) there the British Cruiserweight title fight between Leon Williams 9-3, 4 KO’s and Shane McPhilbin 7-2, 4 KO’s in Bethnal Green. On the same bill there are interesting contests at Welterweight – Bradley Skeete 5-0, 2 KO’s v Michael Frontier 3-11-1 – and at Heavyweight with Larry Olubamiwo 10-2, 9 KO’s, will take on Sam Sexton 14-2, 6 KO’s.

Forwards

At Lightweight Derry Matthews, 29-5-1, 15 KO’s, will fight for the vacant IBO title against Alisher Rahimov, 22-0, 11 KO’s, in Liverpool on the 20th January. At Flyweight we have Paul Edwards 8-1, 2 KO’s against Jamie Cordan 7-0, 4 KO’s in Liverpool on the 21st. Also in Liverpool on the 21st January there’s another heavyweight bout as David Price 11-0, 9 KO’s finally takes on John McDermott 26-7, 17 KO’s. Another Light heavyweight bout happens on that Liverpool bout has Carl Dilks 15-4, 5 KO’s taking on Joe Ainscough 8-3-1, 1 KO’s.

The lost December bout involving James DeGale 11-1, 8 KO’s, at the Echo Arena Liverpool seems to have dropped off the radar. There is still the announcement on the Frank Warren website that it will happen with DeGale fighting Spaniard Jose Maria Guerrero 29-2-1, 11 KO’s in his European defense on the 27th of January. On the same bill we were supposed to have Stephen Smith 12-1, 6 KO’s, Liam Smith 8-0-1, 4 KO’s and Billy Joe Saunders 12-0, 8 KO’s.

On the 28th January Carl Frampton 11-0, 7 KO’s will take on Kris Hughes 15-1, 1KO to defend his Commonwealth Super Bantamweight title as Frampton continues to build a solid reputation. On the same bill in Bethnal Green there is a decent Super Middleweight bout between Daniel Cadman 14-6-1, 4 KO’s, and Robin Reid 41-7-1, 28 KO’s.

February continues the treats as Scott Quigg 23-0, 16 KO’s will defend his British Bantamweight title against Jamie Arthur 18-5, 4 KO’s.

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