The Undisputed

When I, and seldom others ask me, “So, what got you into boxing ?” I think; 1) about my father who loved and competed in the sport with a passion, and 2), back to April 15, 1985.

Yes, it was exactly 40 years ago tonight !

That was the night in a temporary ring in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas resort and casino car park, before 15,141 on-site, that the soon to be universally coronated ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler faced Thomas ‘Hit Man’ Hearns, or ‘Motor City Cobra’ if you prefer.

The former above, successfully defending his undisputed world middleweight championship for an eleventh time.

This would still be three short of Argentina’s Carlos Monzon. The rest however, would become folklore and history.

‘The Fight’, also christened ‘War’ by the champion, was hotly anticipated and broke all box office records at the time. It pitted the ‘blue collar’ fighter in Hagler, who claimed he’d been denied his plaudits and the riches that should’ve by now come with it, and, The Ring magazine’s 1984 Fighter of the Year and, ’til then WBC junior-middleweight champion, Hearns.

The fight took place on a Monday night (early hours Tuesday in the UK). It would be promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. shown on closed-circuit TV, live via satellite and, in a delayed network highlights package on ITV Sport.

The excitement and anticipation leading up to it was fever pitch. Hagler was coming off a strong tenth defence against Syria’s Mustafa Hamsho. Hearns, a poleaxing of soon-to-be living legend Roberto ‘Hands of Stone’ Duran, inside two rounds, and an equally impressive KO of Freddie Hutchings.

The April 15 event and contest didn’t disappoint.

Both fighters came out from the opening bell like possessed infantryman on entering a combat zone.

The champion’s career mantra was ‘Destruct and Destroy’ and this he emphatically tried to do. He was met by an equally immovable object and bludgeoning windmill, in the form of the ‘Hit Man’. The opening round would go down as one of the top 5 in the annals of boxing history. The list possibly headed by Jack Dempsey vs Luis ‘Wild Bull of the Pampas’ Firpo in September 1923.

On the night, according to the statistics, Hearn’s landed 56 punches to Hagler’s 50 in the opening firefigtht.

On the round’s conclusion, with both fighters shook numerous times and withstanding the oncoming blitzkreig, the bell sounded and both stared across the ring at each other with a dual Charles Manson’esque stare, that would freeze blood. The crowd were in raptures, scarcely believing what they had just witnessed.

Round Two had near-equal intensity, but fatigue was already starting to set in, in particular in challenger Hearn’s liquorice-like legs. The champion who’d been cut on his forehead above the right brow towards the end of the opener, now had blood profusely oozing out.

After Hagler wobbling the Detroit Hit Man early, The Ring magazine summed it up by saying “Hearns was stuck to the ropes like a fly to flypaper”.

Early in the third, referee Richard Steele was forced to intervene to inspect Hagler’s worsening cut and seek the ringside doctor’s opinion. This added to the drama and anticipation.

Allowed to continue; Hagler overwhelmed his foe. “When I saw that blood, I turned into a Bull”, as Hagler would later callously refer to it.

The Ring reported that Hearns “spent most of the third round on his bicycle”.

The end when it arrived was emphatic. The southpaw champion, and soon to be universally accepted ‘Marvelous One’ uncorked successive right-hand southpaw leads and chased a flailing Hearns around the ring. The final looping right ‘sealed the deal’ and the challenger was flattened.

The official time was 2:01 of the third as Hearns lay a stiffened prostrate mass and was counted out.

ITV commentator Reg Gutteridge would famously christen it “Eight minutes of absolute mayhem !”. For me that was just, and my abiding memory of the action that ensued. I also recall from the TV footage a ringside Karl Malden (the actor – he of On the Waterfront and The Streets of San Francisco), who’d obviously lost a fair wager on Thomas Hearns, leaving his ringside seat in disgust. Watch the footage and you will know what I mean.

So enthralled was I with the ferociousness and outcome, that I became a MMH fan overnight and pledged to take a trip to Las Vegas as soon as soon as humanly and financially possible.

I would finish my degree and wait two years to visit with a fellow student and life friend in 1987 for the Hagler-Leonard SuperFight.

Hagler summed it up post-fight saying “Tommy was a little bit cocky, and I had something for him !”. To me this fight summed up the best of the 80’s and best of what this sport had to offer. The ‘Marvelous One’ would forever be marvelous, with a single L.

The defeated Hearns would recover to win ‘world’ titles at three more weights and join his victor in the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHoF). Legends both.

Boxer with no hands

In the first issue of Fight in December 1946, South Africa’s first boxing magazine the lead story was Fight’s Fighter of the month Johnny Le Roux.

It was reported that Johnny Le Roux who was 25-years-old and quoted as one time light heavyweight amateur champion was trying to make a comeback in the professional ring.

Johnny’s entry into the professional ring all began as a bit of a joke, when former British and Empire heavyweight champion Jack London was scheduled to meet South Africa’s Jack Kukard and for some other reason couldn’t keep the date.

London a 126 fight veteran was known to South African boxing fans as he fought former South African light heavyweight and the then current South African heavyweight champion Nick Wolmarans at the Wembley Stadium in Johannesburg on 24 August 1948, winning on points over ten rounds against Wolmarans who was only having his 14th fight.

Eleven days later London travelled to Durban and outpointed Johnny DeVilliers over ten rounds.  

Johnny telephone the promoters to say he would go in against Wolmarans, but did not mean it and had no intention of engaging in the fight even if he was acceptable.

It was just a gag, but there were others who felt that it was more than a gag  as trainer Joe Rosella and John Hadiaris got in touch with Le Roux and had him go through with a couple of workouts and decided if the Board of Control approved they had a new fighter on their hands.

They then let Le Roux go through a couple of workouts in the gym and decided if the Board of Control approved they had a new fighter on their hands.

Gloves with special surgical sleeves were designed to keep them on Johnny’s stumps and then he went into training under the watchful eye of former South African welterweight champion Joe Rosella.

Spectators at the gym were amazed at the footwork and speed of Johnny and also his solid sock.

At 180 pounds (81.65 kg) the question was could Le Roux who was born in Benoni on 27 June 1921 take it even though he could dish it out.

LeRoux first became interested in boxing when he twelve years old and rose to become amateur light heavyweight champion of Johannesburg.

When the Second World War came along he ran away from home to join the   Imperial Light Horse Regiment and saw action up north.

It was in the famous El Alemein Battle that he lost both hands when a shell exploded and when he returned to Johannesburg at the beginning of 1943 he was minus his hands and subsequently went through two operations to have mechanical hands that would permit him .to use the muscles and tendons in his forearms.

However, both operations failed and when he returned to civil life to work at the municipality boxing was far from his mind.

Even though he was at a disadvantage giving away reach and in his forearms; for they were still intact he was prepared to give to ago.

Despite his disability he enjoyed playing soccer, swimming and boxing.

However, it was never recorded if he took part in an actual fight after spending time in the gym sparring.

Last Friday (21 March) was a momentous one to any sports fan of a certain age.

We sadly lost supreme human being and two-times Heavyweight Champion of the World George Foreman, who passed away in his home state of Texas, USA at age 76.

Over the last few days I’ve poured over countless articles which catalogue his sporting excellence and personality, whilst recalling the remarkable history of his life and outstanding boxing career. I’m sure many more my age will have done similar.

Now settling into my sixth decade, it has never ceased to amaze me what ‘Big’ George experienced and achieved in his life. Let’s merely focus on his boxing career…

In 1968 George became the Olympic heavyweight champion in Mexico City, waving the US ‘stars and stripes’ on victory, at the height of the Vietnam War and the civil rights protests back in his homeland. Some derided him for doing this at a time of intense racial tension and criticism of the US government.

Soon turning professional, he rose to eventually become the heavyweight champion of the world in Kingston, Jamaica in 1973,  destroying a previously undefeated ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier inside two rounds. He had just turned aged 24 at the time.

His next defining moment was meeting and losing his title to the recognised ‘Greatest’, Muhammed Ali in Kinshasa, Zaire on 30 October 1974. This being the famous ‘Rumble in the Jungle’. George was a heavy favourite going in, but crumbled in the eighth round.

This is etched as one of the most iconic sporting moments of the twentieth century. On this occasion at his expense.

In January 1976 he won his first fight back against fellow American and then-undefeated Ron Lyle in one of the greatest heavyweight slugfests of all time.

George continued up to 1977 until he suffered his second loss to another American Jimmy Young. Post-fight, he had an epiphany moment in the dressing room and announced his immediate retirement from boxing.

He became, and practiced as an ordained minister in Texas for the next decade.

Needing to raise money for a new chapel to preach the virtues of Jesus Christ he turned again to boxing.

His ‘second coming’ was in March 1987, almost ten years to the day since the Young fight. He was 38 and weighed 300lbs. He won his first fight back and went on to compile victory upon victory and rose up the heavyweight ranks again.

On 5 November 1994, at the age of 45, ‘Big’ George would knock out previously undefeated champion Michael Moorer, 19 years his younger, with one monumental right hand to regain the title he’d lost 20 years earlier to Ali. That was remarkable then, and it remains to this day.

To cap it all, on the night, he wore replica red with blue waistband shorts to the ones he’d lost to Ali in, back in the Congo. That night became even more iconic.

George continued boxing and charming everyone for three more years finishing with a record of 76-5 (68 KOs). He inevitably entered the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.

The next phase of his life was arguably more successful, certainly financially, with the launch of the George Foreman Grill. Outside of sports he is now more famous for this.

He married numerous times and had a large family.

His life and career was indeed remarkable and it is the sport of boxing who benefited most from his presence and his undoubted charisma.

Rest in peace George, there will never be another.

Story of Non-European amateur boxing

Amateur boxing in South Africa began on the diamond fields in the 1880’s when the founder of the De Beers diamond monopoly, Barney Barnato established an amateur boxing club in 1878. The African mine workers were interested in these bare-knuckle fights on the mines. They watched the fights but did not take up the sport.

The coloured author Peter Abraham’s in his autobiography Tell Freedom mentions witnessing a bare-fist amateur fight taking place in Sixteenth Street, Vrededorp in the 1920’s.

In his book My Baby and Me Benny Singh writes that non-European boxing in Durban began in 1903 with one Jimmy O’Brien being the first South African non-European professional boxer. However, it is unclear when the first black boxing matches took place in South Africa.

Boxing was one of the main sports organised by the Bantu Men’s Sports Club. Apart from the BMSC, American Board Missionaries also introduced boxing in the Townships. Boys Clubs which were formed to encourage boys to keep ‘good company’ and ‘not run wild on the streets’. Gilbert “KKK” Moloi also ran a boxing club at a local YMCA

 One of the earliest clubs was the St Mary’s Boys Club in Orlando, Soweto. It was at this club that Jake Tuli learned to box and won two South African professional titles and the Empire flyweight title in 1952.  

In June 1951 it was reported in The African Drum that the Ferreiratown’s Frisco Kids Boxing Club was created by Phineaus K. Sebiloane, a successful local boxer from the 1920’s.

During the 1940’s and 1950’s Boys Club’s like Dougall Hall Boys Club in Marabastad, the New Mai Mai Boxing Club at the Bantu Mens Sports Club, and the G-Man Boxing Club in Sophiatown were opened. There were also active amateur clubs like Denver Brown Bombers Boxing Club, Yanks Boxing Club, Orphiton Boxing Club, Bull and Bush Boxing Club, Allons Boxing Club and Pals Boys Club in Alexander.

Other clubs that attracted attention were Goodwill B.C, Frisco Kids Boxing Club, Jabavu B.C., Phefeni B.C, Home D. Boxing Club, Blue Mountain Boxing Club, Jubilee Centre Boxing Club and Renegade Boxing Club drew reasonable crowds but not to the extent of the BMSC.

It was reported that the first amateur tournament at the BMSC for “Non-Europeans” took place in 1929 and on 17 March 1951, a tournament that featured twenty bouts and drew a crowd of 500 made up of both white and black men and women.

In 1931 the BMSC appointed a boxing trainer for the first time and during the Second World War, William “Baby Batter” Mbatha who subsequently won the South African non-European lightweight and welterweight titles became an instructor there.

With boxing attracting a lot of interest at the BMSC and in the mid 1950’s tournaments were held on two Fridays every month.                                                                      

The BMSC boxing club really took off with “Jolting Joe’ Maseko as a paid boxing instructor.

In the 1950’s Maseko campaigned with success in the United Kingdom and also won the South African non-European middleweight and light heavyweight titles.

The first Bull and Bush Club in the Transvaal was started by William Dixon in a yard in Alexandra Street, between Main and Fox Streets, in the Malay Camp. Charlie Timm took over the club in 1939 and produced some outstanding young fighters.

The Allons Amateur Boxing Club originated in 1949 when Isaac Davis decided to start an amateur boxing club in his own backyard. From this humble beginning and with the help of men like Billy Le Roux and Claude Bindeman the club produced fighters like Leslie Tangee and Richard Borias who became South African champions in the professional ring.

The influence of American boxing culture was very strong during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Local boxers had nicknames which were clearly American. For example there were boxers with names such as ‘Kid Dynamite’ Lekwete, ‘Homicide Hank’ Mohlo, Ace ‘Chocolate’ Matloka and Rueben ‘Panama Flash’ Zondi.

The first recognised non-white professional champion on record was Sonny Thomas who knocked out Battling Shabane in Cape Town on 2 October 1946 to win the vacant South African non- European lightweight title.

However, there was also a report in a Cape Town newspaper that on 23 September 1904, a J. Morris fought Long Sarel for the coloured middleweight championship of South Africa, which possibly could lay claim to the first non-White SA championship fight. 

Also on 3 January 1913 Mannie Hommel beat Walle Muller on points over 20 rounds in Port Elizabeth in a fight billed as the S.A Coloured heavyweight title and in 1922 Harry Appal knocked out Young Sadow in a bout billed for the SA non-white lightweight title.

Non-white professional boxing in the Transvaal got off to a slow start with only three tournaments in 1948 and one in 1949. In what was claimed to be the first non-European professional fight to be staged in the Transvaal was at the Bantu Mens Social Centre on 13 March 1948 between flyweights Joel ‘Fly’ Mohahleli from Evaton and One Round Hank. Unfortunately Mohlahleli after being ahead on points, collapsed in the fifth round. He was taken to hospital having sustained a subdural haematoma. His parents refused to allow the doctors to operate and he was treated according to local tribal customs at home. Unfortunately he never fully recovered and remained an invalid.

Some of the areas where black boxing thrived in the early years were Beatrice Street in Durban, Sharpeville, Sebokeng, Mdantsane, Mangaung, Motse-Thabong, Galeshewe and Gugulethu in Cape Town and Soweto near Johannesburg. 

Amongst the most popular venues at the time were Soweto’s Jabulani Amphitheatre, Moroka Jabavu Stadium, Mofolo Hall which was burnt down during the 1976 riots, Kagiso Hall in Krugersdorp, Ramosa Hall in Mohlakeng, Mdantsane’s Sisa Dukashe Stadium and the Orient Theatre in East London.

Some of the promoters who operated at these venues were Obedia Khazamula, Richard Motsunyane, Ike Nkumane, Abe Mohamane, Jackson Morley, Gladstone Nhlapo, Hunter Motsumi, Marcus “Bob Arum” Nkosi, Phil Makhetha, John “Don King” Khambule, Sy Mbonani, Sy “Big Ben” Mashinini, Joe Gumede, Joe Padisho and many others. 

Strange happenings in the heavyweight championship

In the 1850s and ‘60s the title of “middleweight” began to be used for all men below 156 lbs (70.75kg). Those above this limit were all considered heavyweights.

It was not until the 1880s, after the widespread adoption of the Queensberry rules, that a real effort was made to standardise weight divisions both in England and America.

During 1910 leading authorities got together and agreement was reached on the different divisions from Paperweight 105lbs (47.63kg) to Heavyweight exceeding 175 lbs (79.38kg).

Some of the heaviest men to take part in professional boxing or prize fights were Ewart Potgieter, a South African fighter of the 1950s who weighed 335lbs (152kg) and Charles Freeman an American who fought William Perry in 1842, who weighed in at 320lbs (145.15kg).

Talking of knockdowns, Floyd Patterson was knocked down 16 times during his career as a world champion. Seven times in the first fight with Ingemar Johansson; twice in their third bout, one in the first fight with Sonny Liston, three times in the second bout with Liston; once each in the fights with Pete Rademacher, Tom McNeely and Roy Harris.

When Rademacher, who won the heavyweight Olympic gold medal at the 1956 games, fought Patterson for the heavyweight championship he was making his professional debut.

Nikolay Valuev from Russia who fought from 1993 to 2009 was 2.13m and weighed 146kg, won the WBA version of the heavyweight title when he beat John Ruiz on 1 October 2005.

During 1927 Jack Dempsey knocked Gene Tunney down in the famous long count battle and then failed to go to the neutral corner in terms of the amended rules, the length of the knockdown was timed at 14 seconds by some experts and 16 by others.

There was no official distance for heavyweight title fights during Jack Dempsey’s time. His fight with Jess Willard for the title was scheduled for 12 rounds as was the Georges Carpentier fight.

The Firpo match was scheduled for 15 rounds and both fights with Tunney were over 10 rounds.

Jack Dempsey came within an ace of losing his crown against the Wild Bull of the Pampas Luis Angel Firpo who was a big, rough savage performer. Firpo was floored seven times and Dempsey went down twice in two rounds, before losing to Dempsey.

But in three minutes and fifty seven seconds, Dempsey was knocked clear through the ropes and out of the ring and among much controversy; and it has been reported that had he not been helped by the hands of newspapermen he would not have made it back into the ring in time. However, this has been disputed.

Leon Spinks only held the heavyweight title from 15 February 1978 to 15 September 1978, seven months, the shortest reign in the division, whereas Joe Louis won the title on 22 June 1937 and retired as undefeated world champion after 25 successful defences on 1 March 1949.

He had been at the helm for 11 years eight months, the longest reign in the heavyweight division.

No light heavyweight champion has been successful at winning the undisputed heavyweight title.

The following fighters all failed in their bid; Philadelphia Jack O’Brien, Georges Carpentier, Tommy Loughran, John Henry Lewis, Billy Conn, Joey Maxim, Archie Moore and Bob Foster.

Michael Spinks won the International Boxing Federation version when he defeated Larry Holmes on points over 15 rounds on 21 September 1985.

WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball moved a step closer to a potential superfight with Japan’s Naoya Inoue with a strong showing against Irishman TJ Doheny in Liverpool, England on Saturday night (15th).

Despite losing his rag by butt-kicking his opponent on trying to escape from a headlock by his challenger towards the end of the opening round, which our first impression was should have resulted in a disqualification or at least point deduction, Ball managed to avoid punishment and preserved his undefeated record.

Ball (now 22-0-1, 13 KOs) boxed well and deservedly forced referee Michael Alexander to call a halt to proceedings on compassion of Doheny’s corner at the end on the tenth round, after the Irishman was dominated and visibly bashed up. By the late rounds he was only looking to potentially ship further punishment, albeit brave throughout.

Early on, Doheny boxed well and with an awkward southpaw style managed to avoid most of ‘The Wrecking Ball’ s heavy onslaughts. It was an interesting fight with Doheny adopting the ‘spoiler’ role, but nevertheless using all his experience and guile to avoid an early defeat.

Ball’s frustration spilled over with the kicking incident as he just couldn’t dent his opponent, despite those early onslaughts. However, eventually he matched Inoue’s stoppage of Doheny last September, although it wasn’t as emphatic coming at end of the tenth. Inoue’s stoppage coming in the seventh.

Doheny provides a benchmark to rank a potential Inoue match should the latter inevitably step up from junior-featherweight to the full 9st/126lbs division. the Japanese has already won ‘world’ titles in five different weight categories, three as an undisputed champion, and will be looking to win his sixth.

‘The Monster’ Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) defends in Las Vegas on May 4 against American Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs). He’s epected to be tested but come though successfully. A potential fight against Ball is mouthwatering and sure to be explosive.

Doheny (now 26-6, 20 KOs) fell to his sixth loss, the last two in bravely contesting ‘world’ titles. At 38 he’s given as much as he can in the ring at the elite level and can hold his head up high.

For Ball, at only 28, lots of options open up for him. Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions will be looking to maximise his profile and earning potential, whether Japan, Stateside or in Ball’s beloved home of Liverpool.

Kirby, Liverpool’s Nick Ball defends his WBA featherweight (9st/126 lbs) title against Ireland’s T J Doheny in his home city tonight.

Billed appropriately ‘A Hard Days Night’ in tribute to The Beatles, it’s not expected at face value to be that, but, a further opportunity to showcase ‘The Wrecking Ball’s’ skills and legitimacy to fight current Pound-for-Pound elect and elite multi-weight champion Naoya Inoue.

Shown live in the UK on TNT Sports it pits a 28 year old champion against a 38 year old challenger.

Ball (21-0-1, 12 KOs) has been excellent to date and despite dropping a disputable draw to Rey Vargas he bounced back to win his ‘world’ title. This is the one Barry McGuigan famously held in the mid-1980’s defeating Eusebio Pedroza.

Doheny (26-5, 20 KOs), based in Australia, and a former IBF 122lbs champion, was stopped last September in seven rounds by Inoue in Japan, and this fight will provide a good yardstick as to Ball’s potential to secure a lucrative fight with the Japanese.

There was controversy at yesterday’s weigh-in with Doheny tipping the scales at 4 ounces over, which he promptly shed to save the fight and event. There was a tasty exchange with Ball not taking too kindly to this indiscretion.

It promises to be an excellent clash with both fighters come-forward and skillful having fought at world level, but expect Ball to come though with ‘flying colours’ with age and ambition likely being the defining factors.

The main event is ably supported by local favourite Andrew Cain against former WBC champion Charlie Edwards in a very competitive fight at bantamweight world level.

Expect fireworks in both main fights.

Southampton, England’s Ryan ‘Piranha’ Garner showed the predatory fish’ clinical ruthlessness on Saturday (1 Mar) in front of a packed-out nearby Bournemouth International Centre.

In an excellent stand-out display he captured the vacant European belt by dominating Spain’s Salvador Jimenez over twelve entertaining rounds on a unanimous decision, winning all.

A Queensberry promotion, shown live on TNT Sports, a raucous atmosphere was created by Garner’s supporters, also in allegiance to a shared passion for their soccer club Southampton FC. Sitting ringside was the current incumbent of the SFC manager role, Croatian Ivan Juric, who must have been impressed with finally seeing some new sporting success for the city.

The 27 year old Garner (now 17-0, 8 KOs) has had a stop-start career with many lengthy periods of self-inflicted inactivity, but, to his credit, has retained his undefeated record. Over the twelve rounds the ‘Piranha’ took all of the fight out of the previously undefeated Jimenez with an aggressive, almost punch-perfect display. There were no legitimate knockdowns in a thoroughly entertaining fight.

On Saturday’s victory the opportunities are lining up for Garner in a stacked domestic 130lbs (9st, 4lbs) division. His dream is a fight at St. Mary’s stadium, the home of his beloved football club, ideally in defence of his European or, at another title level. As he also holds the WBC International title that now looks more a reality.

Jimenez dropped to 14-1-1 (6 KOs) on his first venture outside of Spain and was brave throughout.

It was a double celebration for the City of Southampton as Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Lewis ‘The Saint’ Edmondson successfully defended his title over twelve rounds against Bristol-based Nigerian Oluwatosin Kejawa. Again, there were no knockdowns in another clear unanimous decision.

Edmondson (now 11-0, 3 KOs) started strongly and although lowered the pace in the later rounds was dominant. It was his first defence of his title and in a stacked domestic 175 lbs (12st, 7lbs) division big fights await.

The 23 year old Kejawa (11-1, 5 KOs), at times, impressed in his first test and will undoubtedly come again.

‘The Last Crescendo’ – A fan’s perspective.

Give or take a few pence I handed over my extra £20 to a satellite network for another afternoon and evening of world boxing action. This time for once, not reluctantly, but with the promise and anticipation of “the best card ever” and, most certainly this century.

My first dilemma was where, and with whom, should I watch it.

I chose loyalty and my preferred anchor team and commentators (not all members it must be said) over the younger, new era of presenter. I chose the one with an element of female appeal, but also an excellent boxing knowledge at that.

As a big all-round sports fan, on an afternoon of unprecedented finish and start of notable sporting events I chose to abandon the further humiliation of my lifelong football team, the England cricket team again throwing away a good score to the Australians and the start of England v Scotland in the Six Nations rugby at Twickenham.

Every multi-sports fan will have had these ‘difficult’ choices to make. Me being a big fight fan above all else, and knowing the magnitude of the Riyadh Season event, I knew where I was focusing from 5pm GMT, or as near as I could !

Succumbing to the hype and shelling out my ‘hard earned’ has sometimes resulted in my immense disappointment. This time I trusted my knowledge and instinct, and tried to pass on the word to as many as I could in advance of ‘The Last Crescendo’. This was in my view not to be missed.

So, more importantly, how did the event unfold ?

It would be impossible to capture it succinctly in this piece, but I will try…

In so doing I’ve decided to hand out in an Academy Award fashion, the ‘Oscar’ winners of the night.

Fight of the night – Amazingly, the first up on the main telecast of the seven fight card (forgetting the earlier prelim largely for a Saudi audience). The winner being the all-British light-heavyweight contest between world ranked Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith.

A fight so intense and gruelling, that one was almost exhausted on its conclusion just watching it ! Such stubbornness and craft was exhibited by both boxers that it beggared belief and just shaded the man event delivered at the end of the night. Smith winning by unanimous decision (119-110, 115-113 & 116-112).

Knockout of the night – The shot that Joseph Parker landed on the top of the head of Martin Bakole in round two, not only completely discombobulated the 22 stone Congolese behemoth, forcing him to reel backwards and thump to the canvas, but brought back memories of Mike Tyson chasing Trevor Berbick around the ring to wrestle the WBC heavyweight championship in November 1986 and announce his era on the world title scene.

Rocky Balboa ‘bravery award of the night’ – goes to English lightweight contender Josh Padley who accepted a fight on three days notice, downing his tools from his day-job installing solar panels on someone’s roof, to answer His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s call to save this part of the promotion. I’m sure he was handsomely rewarded but the grit he showed to compete with and last eight completed rounds with an established world champion with an elite amateur pedigree was mindboggling. Hats off to him.

Disappointment of the night – Hamzah Sheeraz. For the best part of twelve rounds I sat shouting at my TV to get the impressive to date Londoner to engage and cash in on his opportunity to win the WBC middleweight title and defeat Carlos Adames. This, one of the ‘blue riband’ belts in boxing, previously held by ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard and ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler no less.

The fight was declared a split draw 115-114 to Sheeraz, 118-110 Adames & 114-114 even on the official cards. On mine, I had the champion Adames a clear winner as he made the fight with his largely accurate high tempo aggressive approach throughout. Being ‘old school’ I still feel the challenger has to take the title, not back off to secure or steal a points win.

My disappointment was closely followed by the performance of WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson labouring to a ninth round TKO over the aforementioned Josh Padley. I’ve given the greater credit rightly to Padley but no doubt, despite boxing slickly the highly decorated and talented American should’ve closed the show a lot earlier.

Breakout win of the night – German heavyweight Agit Kabayel. I hesitate to use the word prospect for an already top ten world ranked heavyweight. But the manner in which he broke down the favoured Chinese man-mountain Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang was highly impressive. His sixth round KO of his opponent elevates him higher into genuine world heavyweight contention. Zhang must consider at 41 years old whether it’s wise to continue.

Event of the night – Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol. This was always going to be the main course of this sumptuous feast, and didn’t disappoint.

It ended up being twelve rounds of the most intense and elite boxing action, to surpass, if that was possible, their first meeting in October 2024.

By a strange twist of fate the judges returned scores of 114-114, 116-112 & 115-113 were identical to those returned four months ago, but on this night with the other fighter being the victor on majority decision.

Winner of the night – Undoubtedly Dmitry Bivol – the new undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the world.

Also now, The Ring magazine #4 pound-for-pound fighter, leapfrogging Artur Beterbiev who is relegated to #5. Such was the magnitude of this fight that these are the baubles for the victor.

So exhausted was I on conclusion of the event that I haven’t seen fit to watch a replay of the main fight. I trust my round-by-round scoring on the night by giving Beterbiev a one point victory on winning the last round (115-114). I had the fight dead-even going into the final three minutes and believe the bearded Russian shaded it. I will reserve my final judgement until watching and analysing again, at length, and listening to the multi-fallout from such a magnificent fight.

If, on re-watching and evidence being shown, I will happily concede that “I was wrong” and take my lumps and have great pleasure in accepting the verdict and champion.

I look forward to finding the time and inclination to watch it again. It will happen today I’m sure. But lastly congratulations to all involved in the show which indeed reached all expectations and more !

Whichever promoter, media outlet or punter is telling you, the hype is along the same lines – “This is the greatest fight card ever put together” and one “not to be missed”.

The Don King or Bob Arum extravaganzas of the 1980’s and 90’s may hold this honour, and certainly for the last century, but this is definitely the best we’ve witnessed in the new millennium.

Top to toe it’s a seven fight card to savour, with world sanctioning body title fights and eliminators abound and almost all ‘pick ’em’ fights. Just run through the above.

So, tomorrow (22 Feb) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia the ‘Last Crescendo’ happens and it should be sumptuous.

Two fights have fallen by the wayside in fight week.

First, world title contender Floyd Schofield mysteriously withdrew citing illness and WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson will defend his title against Briton Josh Padley. Then yesterday, IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois succumbed to a virus and his original opponent Joseph Parker will now face Martin Bakole in an international contest. This weakens the card somewhat, but it’s still a cracker !

Top billing is the much anticipated rematch of elite Russian boxers Artur Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) and Dimitry Bivol (23-1, 11 KOs) for The Ring magazine and undisputed light-heavyweight championship of the world.

Last October’s first encounter was one of the top fights of 2024. Again, all 12st, 7lbs (175lbs) world belts will be up for grabs in a battle for ultimate supremacy.

The, now 40 year old Beterbiev, won the first match by majority decision (114-114, 115-113 and 116-112) after twelve intense rounds of top quality boxing action.

The debate still rages among some observers who really won. To us Bivol seemed to lose it down the stretch after making a promising start. We considered Beterbiev edged the championship rounds (10-12).

It was such a spectacle and good fight, along with differing views on the victor, that the rematch was apparently agreed within 24 hours of the final bell and decision.

The man from the former Soviet province of Dagestan, although losing his 100% KO record, became the first undisputed champion since Michael Spinks back in 1983 when the division was arguably at its most hot. We’re almost at those same levels again for this blue riband and original boxing weight category.

The bearded Beterbiev holds stand out victories over Britons Callum Johnson, Smith and Anthony Yarde, stopping them all inside the distance. He has been dropped, but he’s done the stopping in the end !

He’s an intimidating character inside the ring with a confident calmness outside of it. In boxing exile, fighting out of Montreal, Canada, he is excellently trained by Canadian Marc Ramsay, one of the best in the sport.

Going into the first fight Beterbiev sustained a number of injuries and had his knee reconstructed in the process. This did not have any detrimental effect in that contest but could still be a telling factor in the rematch.

Bivol, 34, is of mixed Russian/Korean heritage from the province of Kyrgyzstan. He, like his opponent, had an excellent Soviet amateur schooling, but is not as decorated as Beterbiev – a world champion and London 2012 Olympic medalist.

The tall, orthodox Bivol does though hold a points victory over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, one of the modern greats.

He lost his undefeated record and WBA title to Beterbiev last time out after 12 successful defences. His win over ‘Canelo’ in May 2022 finally elevated him into the ‘Superfight’ category and won him The Ring 2022 Fighter of the Year.

Bivol is an excellent boxer and the more stylish of the two. He tends to box at range and probe to victory before unleashing his heavy artillery. Beterbiev, by contrast is equally talented, but likes to get amongst it by smothering his opponent with his work rate and power punches. Fighting him is likened to fighting someone in a phone booth and this was illustrated in their first match.

The big questions as we approach the opening bell are; 1) Will this be repeat, or revenge ? 2) Will the injury record and ‘Father Time’ finally catch up with Beterbiev ? 3) Can Bivol take Beterbiev’s power again, and 4) Has Bivol learnt from the first fight enough to box his way to victory.

We could go through each contest in turn with an argument for each fighter being victorious, such is that they are so evenly matched, however we will relent and just cautiously predict the winner and outcome. Here goes;

Bivol win on points, Parker on points, Stevenson by KO, Sheeraz on points, Ortiz Jr. by TKO, Zhang by KO and Buatsi on points. Each one of these could easily go the other way and that’s the rarity and beauty of the card.

The whole bill will be shown live in the UK on various platforms as a pay-per-view/box office event, and available worldwide via the DAZN streaming service.

Again, it forms part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season and is multi-promoted, including Top Rank Inc. and British-based outfits Queensberry, BOXXER and Matchroom Boxing.

Make a date and watch with interest. It should be a helluva afternoon into the late evening.

First bell of the seven fights is at 16:00 GMT. Enjoy !