British Fight Night Feast

By Simon Hirst: Whilst tonight is going to remember as the ‘dream match’ between Pac Man and the Golden Boy, for British fans, there are also a lot of good British fights. I know that we have been treated to fights from Britain’s big three throughout November, but for four big British fights to happen on the same night means a big night for British boxing.

In no particular order, I’ll start with Amir Khan’s fight. He takes on the Irish-American Oisin Fagan, who despite a couple of losses, is a decent fighter. Some of the losses on his record have been controversial, his most notable loss coming to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, who Wayne McCullough felt he deserved at least a draw. He’s been stopped once, but this was due to a headbutt that caused him to bleed severely, stopping the fight. He could give Khan something to think about. It’s also been well documented about Amir’s chin being weak, as demonstrated by the Prescott fight. It’s been said that Khan has been trying to learn how to slide of punches by moving his head, thus taking a lesser blow, but you do have to feel that one flush shot may have him in trouble. I don’t think we should completely dismiss the idea of him ever becoming world champion, but let’s see his next few fights and see how he rebuilds himself.

Next up is Enzo Maccarinelli. Now I must admit, I do feel slightly sorry for him. It’s been nine months since his heavy loss to David Haye and one feels that he should have been in the ring a lot sooner than he’s returning. It’s one thing to get over a heavy defeat, but the last thing he needs getting over that loss is ring rust. I think this is bad promoting from his camp and I know he’s been scheduled to fight more than once before, but surely it would have done him a bit of good getting in with someone, even if they weren’t worthy of an opponent? Let’s compare it to football (soccer to Americans), you can train for months and months, but the only way you can get match fit is by playing in a match. I think this can be compared with boxing. He can have been training for the last 9 months, but he needs to be fighting to make it worth it. It’s a shame for him he won’t be fighting for the title, but at least this time he can let his frustration out. I expect him to have him out of there in no more than five rounds, but we’ll see.

Undefeated super middleweight prospect Carl Froch fights for the WBC super middleweight title tonight against undefeated Jean Pascal. Carl Froch was meant to fight in the eliminator against Denis Inkin, but Inkin twice pulled out through injury. Froch then had two replacements, both highly ranked, but they both pulled out as well. He ended up fighting some Polish fighter who he literally destroyed, looking awesome with hard powerful shots, but the win obviously deterred by the lack of quality he was against. He was then scheduled to take on Jermain Taylor, but Taylor opted to fight the less risky damaged Jeff Lacy, who clearly isn’t the same fighter since Calzaghe beat him. Froch, although a good fighter, hasn’t really had the chance to prove himself against the top fighters and all top fighters are put of by him not being a big name. This is the first time I’ve watched Froch train for a fight and I’m unsure. He seems more nervous than in his previous fights. It’s his first world title fight and you could say his fight big test. The fight will be won by who is less nervous in the ring and who wants it more. I’m hoping Froch, but I think Pascal may have a little too much for him.

Audley Harrison makes another trip to last chance saloon tonight taking on the tough Brit Martin Rogan. Now, for many non British fight fans, you may be wondering who Rogan is, so let me explain. Over in the U.K, there was a tournament held called Prizefighter, which features eight fighters fight in a knockout system tournament. Each fight is only three rounds long and all the fights take place on the same night. In the very first tournament, Martin Rogan won this and will now fight Audley Harrison. Rogan is quite aged, but that’s no surprise because so is most of the heavyweight division. He should prove to be a tough opponent to Harrison and has a chance of winning this. Harrison, who claims he will still be a world champion, has to step up to the mark and beat Rogan convincingly. The winner will depend on which Audley Harrison turns up.

I think for most British fans, wins for Carl Froch, Amir Khan, Enzo Maccarinelli and Martin Rogan would be most wanted. The riskiest fight has to be for Froch and I must admit, I am slightly worried for him. I’m also interested in the Amir Khan fight to see how Khan comes back. I think the Rogan Harrison fight is also intriguing because I think the wrong Harrison will be in trouble, but we’ll see which Harrison turns up. I think the Enzo fight, whilst I’m glad he’s fighting just to get in the ring, is a foregone conclusion already and fully expect him to win.

Just to mention on the Pacquaio De La Hoya fight, I’m more intrigued than excited. I wouldn’t call it a ‘dream fight’ and I think it depends on two things. Both of them are in De La Hoya’s favor. If he is to win this, he needs to bully Pacquaio and he needs to be able to last. Both are vital if he is to win and one without the other makes it a huge risk for a De La Hoya win. I feel sorry for Pacquaio because it seems no-one is giving him much chance of winning, but I for one have money on him winning, purely because I think De La Hoya is a spent force and I don’t believe that ‘The Golden Boy’ can bully Pacquaio for the full twelve rounds; he has to catch him first. As a Hatton fan and on what I think, I think a Pacquaio fight is on the cards.

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