Gavin Duthie

I love boxing.

Davis-Walsh & Brook-Spence: Hope or Hype?

by

Image: Davis-Walsh & Brook-Spence: Hope or Hype?

By Gav Duthie: One boxing name has popped up a couple of times in articles this week that I had not thought of in a while, Jeff Lacy. ‘Left Hook’ Lacy last fought in 2015 finishing with a modest boxing record of 27-6 (18). In 2006 however he was ‘The next big thing’. He was 21-0 (17) and heading over to the UK to smash the overconfident, over-hyped and overrated Joe Calzaghe, or so we were told. Lacy was a big favorite much like Gervonta Davis (v Liam Walsh) and Errol Spence Jne (v Kell Brook). Calzaghe dominated Lacy over 12 rounds and the great hope was never the same since. Frank Warren has compared the Davis situation to this

1/4 year report: Boxing in 2017 so far

by

Image: 1/4 year report: Boxing in 2017 so far

By Gav Duthie: In my opinion this has already been the best year of boxing in many a long time. The threat from UFC is real, flagging PPV numbers and general disillusionment with big fights failing to materialise or failing to deliver. Boxing is fighting back. To be just over 3 months into the year and had so many big fights is unprecedented these days. We have seen unifications between James DeGale and Badou Jack, Keith Thurman/Danny Garcia, Julius Indongo/Ricky Burns and not far off from Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko. The governing bodies are starting to work together, the television network game is changing and big fights are happening. Here is my best picks of the year so far.

The Boom of Women’s boxing

by

Image: The Boom of Women's boxing

By Gav Duthie: Not since Laila Ali defeated Christy Martin a dozen years ago has there been as much interest in women’s boxing. Both America and the UK have Olympic heroes turned professional and so far there seems to be significant interest in watching them progress. Why has there been such an upturn recently and how far can the sport grow?

How good is Jorge Linares?

by

Image: How good is Jorge Linares?

By Gav Duthie: Jorge Linares is somewhat of an enigma, Venezuelan born, residing in Tokyo Japan and making a big name for himself in England in the last couple of years defeating two of their best lightweight talents in Kevin Mitchell and Anthony Crolla. His talent is also enigmatic. He arguably has the fastest hands in boxing, top 5 for sure, he is a 3-weight world champion but he has lost some strange fights in his career but he seems to have improved a lot. Just how good is he and what can he achieve?

Haye-Bellew: Lots of hype for a one sided fight

by

Image: Haye-Bellew: Lots of hype for a one sided fight

By Gav Duthie: On Saturday evening David Haye 28-2 (26) will yet again make a lot of money for doing very little. In my opinion he faces a badly over-matched Tony Bellew in a low risk high reward fight which will do little for either fighters legacy apart from earning a significant purse. My writing style doesn’t normally lend itself to criticizing fighters but this shouldn’t be viewed as a 50/50 fight.

David Haye should win this within a few rounds and I hope I’m wrong but this is to me is no more than a re run of David Haye v Audley Harrison. This is like Christmas day for David. This fight is pure circus. Bellew’s delusion has started this and Haye will finish it. I’ve never seen so much hype for such a one sided fight.

Will Klitschko legacy suffer through lack of competition

by

Image: Will Klitschko legacy suffer through lack of competition

By Gav Duthie: It seems like we are seeing a lot of quality coming through in the heavyweight division at present but the man who has dominated it for so long may be too far gone to see the benefits. David Haye revealed this week that camp insiders have told him that former heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko is really struggling in training camp for his fight with Anthony Joshua and that ring inactivity and age may have caught up to him.

If this turns out to be true and AJ duly dispatches him on April 29th at Wembley Stadium how will this affect Klitschko’s legacy. He may end up like the great Larry Holmes 69-6 (44) who although a legend sometimes doesn’t get the boxing credit he deserves due to a lack of competition in his prime through no fault of his own.

Do we have two new big players in the welterweight division?

by

Image: Do we have two new big players in the welterweight division?

By Gav Duthie: On Saturday night, Ohio hosted an event which saw two new players in Adrian Broner and Lamont Peterson added to an already talent stacked welterweight division. The 147lb weight class has been a bit stagnant since the retirement of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2015 but with additions like Adrien Broner and Lamont Peterson as well as top end fights between Danny Garcia v Keith Thurman and Kell Brook v Errol Spence conveys a bright future.

The question after Saturday is just how relevant will Broner and Peterson be in this future. Adrien Broner won a split decision over 10 rounds against the relentless Adrian Granados whilst on the undercard Lamont Peterson outpointed David Avanyesan to capture the vacant WBA title.

On this day in boxing

by

Image: On this day in boxing

By Gav Duthie: A couple of quite significant events happened on 13 February in boxing through the years. Here are my picks of the day.

100 years ago
13 February 1913
Fireman Jim Flynn KO 1 Jack Dempsey

100 hundred years ago to the day future heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey 54-6-9 (44) was knocked out for the first and last time of his career. He was stopped in the opening round by contender Jim Flynn.

David Price skills aren’t whats failing him

by

Image: David Price skills aren't whats failing him

By Gav Duthie: Boxing is undoubtedly a game of skill but to get to the top you need so much more, as saw in the David Price vs. Christian Hammer heavyweight fight last Saturday night. It’s very rare for any fighter to become great without relentless stamina and a great chin. I would take that over speed or power any day of the week. These attributes can take your far but a mental and physical toughness is what you need to get you through the hard moments.

Price has all the skills, he is big, strong, powerful, has a good jab and the technical qualities which were all on show against Christian Hammer but the German based Romanian had the will over the skill and the stamina to keep going. Many are calling for the big man to retire after his 4th defeat and there is a compelling argument to agree but if he does he can finish achieving more than most will dream of. If he continues he needs to get past a lot of obstacles that will be difficult to overcome.

Heavyweight wish list for this year

by

Image: Heavyweight wish list for this year

By Gav Duthie: It was a fair conclusion that the heavyweight division was the most disappointing of all 17 weight classes in 2016. From failed drug tests to fight cancellations and titles without owners the year spectacularly failed to live up to expectations. The division still has a lot of promise with new champions and exciting talents but I feel 5 things need to happen for the big guys to fulfill their potential.

A buoyant heavyweight division keeps boxing at the top in terms of customer interest. When Tyson Fury dethroned Wladimir Klitschko it blew the division wide open. I expected fire works in 2016 and despite some brief flickering flames I was utterly disappointed.