Britain’s Best Update & Recent Observations
Unlike the official pound for pound ratings (as per Ring Magazine), my British top 20 (at the foot of the page) is an ever changing beast. Recent events require me to make further adjustments, which makes the actual task of ranking the candidates that touch trickier.
Firstly, Jamie Moore’s return up at middleweight against trial horse Sergey Khomitski ended in catastrophe, so much so that the Salford man was left contemplating retirement. Moore was forced to quit after six rounds in a very laboured display which leads to him exiting the rankings.
Also, Gavin Rees (previously a very difficult customer to rate) has embarked upon a lightweight campaign yet is fighting six rounders in a bid to regain the fitness which saw him once hold an alphabet title at light welter. Due to this and, despite winning on Friday, Rees also takes a tumble down the pecking order.
Moore’s departure makes room for Scotsman Ricky Burns, who is due to take a warm-up bout prior to tackling world rated Puerto Rican Roman Martinez in June. I was sorely tempted to find a spot for the streaking George Groves, although his promotion is but a matter of time.
Whilst I have your attention, I’ll take the chance to meander over recent developments on Beat Street.
With rule breakers and skulduggers seemingly everywhere of late, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam’s victory over Koki Kameda was seen as a triumph for the good guys. Kameda, the young firebrand of Japanese boxing, is detested by many in a country which still places high value in social etiquiette and respect for one’s elders (Japan has a national Respect for the Aged Day called ‘keiro no hi’).
Such is their revulsion for their compatriot, the Japanese were celebrating the Thai fighter’s decision win, hailing it a victory for experience, humility, tradition and sportsmanship. If only the rest of us could take a leaf from their book.
As for Arthur Abraham, Antonio Margarito and Joan Guzman, recent offenders against the nobilty of boxing’s art, how about we throw the lot of them in a ring together, without gloves (hey if they don’t give two shits about adhering to rules, why should we?) sell it to the blood thirsty UFC crowd and give the proceeds to Tommy Hearns?
I was saddened to see my favourite of all fighters having to sell his possessions and ring memorabilia to pay off an aged tax bill. ‘The Hit Man’ earned fantastically well throughout his glorious career and there will be some who will bemoan his lack of fiscal sense in this whole sorry saga as the reason they can’t join me in sympathising. I just feel that legendary sportsmen of Tommy’s ilk should be cut some slack with debts such as these which rear their heads long after his earning potential has evaporated.
I was though, glad to hear news of George Groves (I like him can you tell?) scoring himself a pitch on the Mayweather-Mosley bill in Vegas. U.S. exposure and hopefully a challenging opponent can only benefit this future star of British boxing.
The jungle drums have decried that Carl Froch’s third round Super Six bout will take place in Nottingham. As much as I disliked my last visit there, I’ll be front and centre for this one, a potential slobberknocker which could make the antics of “Two Ton” Tony Galento look positively gentile.
What to make of Audley Harrison’s last gasp victory over Michael Sprott last night at the Ally Pally? Seconds away from the end of his career, one handed, he pulls out a highlight reel kayo over a guy who’d previously knocked him sparko and then challenges the Klitschkos…………whoever’s writing the script on his time as a fighter has one crazy sense of humour………..
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=wEaiqfAnG_A
Rest in peace Arthur Mercante, one of the finest third men ever to grace the sport.
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