By Gav Duthie: 100 years ago to the day August 4th 1914 the world was at war. Initially dubbed ‘The Great War’ it lasted until November 11 1918 which is now referred to as remembrance day. The last WW1 veteran British born sailer Claude Choules died last year in Australia aged 110 but its important we never forget these people and also the role that sport played in the war including boxing.
Gavin Duthie
Overcoming the fear of Kovalev and Golovkin
By Gav Duthie: There are some fighters who are so revered that they can have their opponent beaten before they even step in the ring. FEAR can be a boxers greatest weapon but it can also be a major obstacle. Some of our major talents today like Sergey Kovalev and Gennady Golovkin are struggling to get the fights they deserve as a result.
Fear
The obvious example is Mike Tyson. When all the promoters, managers and ring girls stepped out of the ring you are faced with an opponent who has nothing on his mind but destroying you. Mike Tyson was powerful but it was his stare, the thought that he could kill you, destroy you in the ring. Michael Spinks is considered one of the top 3 light heavyweights of all time alongside Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore but the day he stepped into the ring with Iron Mike you could tell he didn’t want to be there. It takes an extremely brave man to beat someone like this and if you can eliminate the fear its half the battle.
For better or worse: The heavyweight division without Klitschko
By Gav Duthie: The heavyweight division has been dominated in one way or another by a single individual for 15 years since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in 1999. From the invention of boxing in the late 1800s to the Millennium HW has always been the pinnacle of boxing with the exception of the fab 4 (Leonard, Hagler, Herns, Duran) in the 80s.
Since the dominant reign of Lewis began the interest in the division has declined at a rapid rate. Today Wladimir Klitschko rules the roost after he took over from his brother Vitaly during his 4 year absence due to knee surgery. Is it as simple as the heavyweight division will be more entertaining again post Klitschko dominance.
Bundu beats Gavin, retains European title
By Gav Duthie: In an incredibly entertaining and close run fight Frankie Gavin 19-1 (12) failed in his attempt to dethrone European welterweight champion Leonard Bundu 31-0-2 (11) by split decision. Two judges scored the fight 114-113 to Bundu with the other 115-112 to Gavin. The energy put into the contest by a 39 year old Leonard Bundu was incredible.
US v UK pound for pound
By Gav Duthie: By the very definition of the pound for pound concept it is difficult to compare U.S to UK boxing. The United states of America has the worlds 3rd biggest population of 318,480,000 compared to the United Kingdom at 22nd with 64,105,700 so fighter for fighter America should be much better.
Are PED’s Knocking out our sport?
By Gav Duthie: In any article available on this sight about a current top boxer 1 in 3 comments on average usually contain reference to drug taking. “He’s on PED’s”, “That guy is 100% juiced” etc. It’s not really my place to make speculation as to who is or isn’t on drugs in the sport but with the amount of accusations on certain performers it is long overdue that drug testing is more highly scrutinized.
Dedication to the unsung heroes of boxing
By Gav Duthie: For me the most important fighters in a promoters stable are not the world champions, the moneymakers, the punchers or the trash talkers it is the guys who are constantly on speed dial to fight at a days notice.
GGG – Great, Great, Great
By Gav Duthie: Even before he gets the fairytale fights against Canelo, Cotto, Froch or Ward I am convinced Gennady Golovkin is the real deal. Many rightly predicted that he would walk through Daniel Geale but I wasn’t sure.
I still saw Geale as an awkward top 6 middleweight who’s only losses were of the narrowest of margins and I always worry about punchers against skilful opponents. GGG is far more than a puncher. He now has 27 knockouts from his 30 wins and it is extremely rare that a puncher can settle a fight with one single blow at world level but his all round technique is fantastic.
Arthur Abraham and other big punchers.
How to avoid Olympic heroes becoming professional failures
By Gav Duthie: There have been some great successes as well as spectacular failures over the years during the transition from Olympic stardom to professional boxing. Within the context of the career so far of heavyweight hopeful Anthony Joshua we look at the wider strategic implications of turning successful Olympic amateurs into top professionals.
Profile: Alexander Ustinov
By Gav Duthie: As Arnie Schwarzenegger said in Kindergarten cop when asked “So who are you man” he replies I’m the party pooper”. Alexander Ustinov at just 4 days notice has the potential to ruin Tyson Fury’s party as the Brit faces the impressive Belorussian on Saturday.
Profile: Fighting background
Ustinov 29-1 (21) has fighting in his blood. He doesn’t have any boxing amateur record to speak of but boasts a “Kickboxing” record of 53-9-1-1 (31). He also fought a couple of fights of MMA and in total won 9 championship titles over kickboxing and Muay Thai disciplines and was never stopped.