By Daniel Hughes: It’s good to read in the comments sections on many different articles on this and different sites about those forgotten exciting fighters and those views on who they are. Aaron Pryor ‘The Hawk’ a 140lb WBA/IBF world champion, 39 (35kos)-1, certainly one to look up for the younger fight fan that may well of watched the well-known names of the era and want to watch and learn about other great fighters of the 80’s.
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Golovkin – Brutal Economy
By Daniel Hughes: IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (30-0, 27 KOs) certainly showed last night against Daniel Geale (30-3, 16ko’s) why he is now widely recognized as the best 160lb fighter on the planet with his dismantling of the durable, experienced ex-champion, Geale.
The Australian challenger for me by a level, the best opponent Golovkin has faced in the pro ranks. Golovkin to many hadn’t faced a real genuine contender yet in the middleweight division, Geale was certainly that.
The Welsh Cinderella Man – Steve Robinson
By Daniel Hughes: Hollywood has certainly thrown up some tales from the ring over the years. The film, Cinderella Man, the story of James J.Braddock, a massive underdog beating Max Baer on points to become world heavyweight champion of course being recreated on film. The film made for the mainstream being a decent story of the underdog prevailing.
Jack Johnson -The original PPV king
By Daniel Hughes: It is always interesting to hear the opinions of fight fans about what makes a fighter crossover from being very, very good to elite to that of a PPV worthy, which is where the riches come in. We all know the current top PPV stars.
You all have your favorites and if you so choose you show that by parting with your hard earned currency of choice to watch them. You may even be lucky enough to see the fighter you follow in the flesh or be it, even only at a weigh in.
Benn v McClellan – One night in 1995
By Daniel Hughes: In over 30 years of watching boxing from here in the UK the one fight that stands out for me on these shores as the most brutal, enthralling but ultimately tragic fight I have witnessed, has to be Nigel Benn v Gerald McClellan.
On the 25th February, 1995, in the new London Arena, in London, UK, bared witness to the coming together of Nigel Benn 42(35kos)-5-1 and Gerald McClellan 31(29kos)-2 for the WBC super-middleweight title.
Canelo v Lara- A career defining fight
(Photo credit: Esther Lin/Showtime) By Daniel Hughes: Next weekend the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada hosts a real genuine 50-50 fight when Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (43-1-1, 31 KO’s) faces Erislandy Lara (19-1-2, 12 KO’s) in a light-middleweight contest at the catch-weight limit of 155lb. The fight eagerly anticipated and just over a week away, and will be a contest boxing fans and writers have been looking forward to ever since the ink on the contracts were signed.
Lara, the avoided Cuban, is in many ways in the ‘who needs them club’ against the young Mexican, Canelo, who could certainly of looked to have taken an easier challenge at this point of his career. The fight will certainly throw up pressure on both to perform, look good and get the win for vastly different reasons. Lara at 31 years old, has been given a chance to talents to a worldwide audience against Canelo.
Julian Jackson vs. Herol Graham revisited
By Daniel Hughes: This article is not about eras, records or comparing fighters it is more a piece about those one punch knockouts that you remember really turning a fight around. There has been many great one punch KO artists over the years, capable of pulling out the equalizer when a fight was even or being behind on the cards.
This is about jogging your minds for those fights you have seen where a one punch KO was the only way a fighter was going to be able to win. Those great come from behind shots that become etched in your memory.
The fight that I always remember being turned on its head and really sitting there open mouthed at what unfolded before my eyes was the vacant WBC middleweight title fight back in November 1990, between Herol Graham and Julian Jackson.
The next great Irish hopes
By Daniel Hughes: Ireland has a long, rich history of producing quality boxers, be it amateur or professional. The most successful sport in regards Olympic medals for Ireland, boxing and it again looks like having a very competitive team come Rio, Brazil 2016.
Algieri: Overcoming the odds to defeat Provodnikov
By Daniel Hughes: #13 WBO Chris Algieri (20-0, (8 KO’s), overcame not just a torrid first round to claim the WBO light-welterweight title from champion Ruslan Provodnikov (23-3, 16 KO’s) by beating him by a 12 round split decision in Brooklyn, New York at the Barclays Center on Saturday night.
The Algieri story is a fascinating one with him being a former kick boxer turned pro boxer. He’s really has bucked the system in many, many ways.
Andrade-Rose: Levels of expectation
(Photo credit: Ed Mulholland/HBO) By Daniel Hughes: Brian Rose (27-1-1, 7 KO’s) has a really tough ask ahead of him to claim the WBO light-middleweight title tonight from Demetrius Andrade (20-0, 13 KO’s) at the Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, New York. Boxing is about levels and this is a real step up away from home for the Blackpool fighter from the UK.
Andrade is the decorated amateur, who won the world amateur championships in 2007 at welterweight. Andrade’s career as a pro has proved to be a smooth ride generally baring the knockdown he suffered in the 1st round against Vanes Martirosyan in his last fight.