hatton4643333 By Olly Campbell: One of the things I love most about reading, and now writing for, BN24, is the nature of the fierce debate in the comments section after an article has been published. Like absolutely everything on the web, the contributions and input vary from the bizarre, stupid and ridiculous, to the sensible, intelligent and knowledgeable…..and EVERYTHING in between.

To achieve a large comment thread, it appears that just like the pop music charts, a writer (artist) must be current, yet somehow trendy, superficial and shallow. In short, if you desire popularity, it is imperative you write about Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao. It seems the standard modus operandi is to regurgitate the same tired old bs, shifting things ever so slightly so it appears to be different. It’s the boxing journalism equivalent of a Katy Perry record..Disposable, tacky and worthless. Not worth the paper, or screen or compact disc it is etched upon.

Continuing the musical analogy, a small portion of regular writers and commentators to the site- the journalistic equivalent of Led Zeppelin, are the ones who hold opinions that really count, be they British fans or American ones. The friendly rivalry between our two countries is part and parcel of the BN24 entertainment and can only be good for boxing as a whole.

So, bearing that in mind, earlier this evening over a couple of pints, it was an American friend who posed the question to me: “Olly, give me YOUR top 3 fights to take place in a British ring in the last decade. (2004-2014).

There were no quick and easy answers, believe me. 2004 was a a long, long time ago. I was still a young man, turning 23 in October of that year and since then I have seen SO many quality fights, remembering them all is an impossibility. Yet as I started to think however, numerous bouts rolled off the tongue. Too many to list here, and I am certain that you dear reader shall find omissions in what I list below as my ultimate TOP3..

For the record, this is merely an opinion piece, nobody could narrow down a packed decade into a definitive run down of three that everyone would agree with. No, this is simply MY list, and I should say it is open to the usual scrutiny and debate. In order of bronze medal through gold, here are my BEST and most ENJOYABLE/MEMORABLE fights in a British ring, 2004-2014….

Bronze, at no.3..Carl Froch vs. Jean Pascal. 06/12/08, Trent FM Arena, Nottingham.

I have fond memories of this bout, shown here in the UK on the ITV television network to a small yet appreciative audience. None of us watching that night TRULY predicted the epic, never-say-die attitude of the two gladiators who stepped through the ropes that night to put it all on the line for the then vacant WBC super-middleweight championship. Both going into the fight as undefeated contenders, untested at world level, the boxing press as I remember were pretty 50/50 on the outcome. And in truth, even as a Brit through and through, I felt the UD scores for Froch of 116-112, 117-111 and 118-110, were a tad harsh. I, like many ringside observers had it closer. Pascal was game and competitive that night. He came to win, and at 24, was considered the younger, fitter, fresher man. It’s amazing now, that after over 5 years on top of the world, the then 31 yr old Froch was considered something of a shot fighter in some circles.

Regardless, both men showed WORLD CLASS in that fight, which was proven by Pascal also, winning world honours just six months later at light heavyweight. With Froch debuting his hands down,get hit to hit harder style to a big audience for the first time, we truly saw the birth of a great British super-middleweight champion. A worthy no.3 on my top fights in a British ring.

Silver: Ricky Hatton vs. Kostya Tszyu, 04/06/05, M.E.N Arena, Manchester.
Reviving the earlier musical theme, there was an old disco era classic by Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons called “Oh, What A,Night!”…..That song title alone sums up quite aptly, how us British fans felt when this magical evening was all said and done. There are not many performances that will live longer in my memory than this. The manner in which the Hitman dispatched the then undisputed light-welterweight champ, making him quit on his stool at the end of 11 grueling rounds, was truly sensational.

Once again, the oh-so-wise boxing press made their predictions, and Hatton proved to be their betting underdog. In his traditional style of pressure, pressure, pressure, Hatton unloaded brutal body shots, spiteful uppercuts and killer hooks. Each and every punch cheered by the 22,000 in attendance, all of whom threatened to take the roof off of the arena. After an explosive start, dominant and hurtful. Hatton took the early rounds before Tszyu rallied slightly and Tried to worm his way back into the fight. It was too late, however. Dragged into deep water and one hell of a fight, Tszyu was finished come the bell for the final round. The cheers of “There’s only one Ricky Hatton” felt like they could be heard all around the world that night…..A truly epic performance.

Gold, and my number one by some way, is the best performance in a British ring by one of our fighters. The date: March 4th h2006, at the M.E.N Arena, Manchester. It’s Joe Calzaghe v Jeff Lacy.

It’s tough to know where to start with this one. Joe Calzaghe is my favourite modern days fighter without doubt and from everything I’ve written about the super-middleweight division over my fledgling journalism “career”.lol, I still rate Calzaghe the highest of not just his era in British super middleweight history, but one of the best, worldwide and P4P. Fact.

I know what the critics of the comment section I love so much will say, especially the Americans. “Calzaghe slapped”, “wouldn’t fight abroad” (yes, he should have earlier, but he did in the end), they’ll say Joe ducked this person and that, yet they CANNOT deny Joe was the longest reigning British world champion in history. He fought who he had to, including every WBO mandatory going.

This was supposed to be the fight our British champion got egg on his face. He was supposed to get destroyed by the hardest hitting puncher in the division- Jeff Lacy. Lacy’s trainer, Dan Birmingham, guaranteed Joe would be on his back.

Promoter Gary Shaw told us Lacy was a young Mike Tyson. Even the British press bought into the Lacy hype, making Calzaghe a slight underdog. Only a SLIGHT one, but underdog all the same. It was a unification bout for Joes WBO and Lacys IBF…..the biggest supposedly since 94’s Toney/Jones Jr clash. My American friend, who stsrted the debate that led to this piece would have put his house on not just a Lacy victory, but a Lacy knockout.

We all know what happened. Calzaghe showed he was anything but shot, and comprehensively destroyed a guy who was the next big thing. An undefeated Olympian. Lacy resides in the “where are they now? file, solely because of Joe Calzaghe. British or American alike, Joe put on a boxing masterclass that night. His mesmerizing hand speed, quick feet, brilliant movement and supreme confidence not only beat Lacy down, they totally destroyed the fabric of his soul and killed off his career. That is NO exaggeration. Many fighters come back after a defeat, yet that wasn’t a defeat, it was a boxing masterclass and an exercise in the destruction of everything a fighter once believed they were. You can rarely bounce back from such humiliation at world championship level. Something proven by the nosedive Lacys career took. And it takes a very special fighter to do something like that to a rival world champion. Though, despite his detractors, especially Stateside, Joe calzaghe was a very special fighter, and his undefeated record after 11 years as a world champ at two weights, says it all for anyone doubting his talent….

I hope you enjoyed this history piece!!!….maybe some US readers can give me their top 3 of last 10 yrs stateside….I have my own ideas….thanx for reading..