Burns victorious over Gonzalez

05/12/201305/11/2013 by Stevie Ocallaghan

burns43 By Stevie Ocallaghan: First things first, WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns retained his WBO lightweight title last Saturday night at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow by stopping challenger Jose Gonzalez after the 9th round.

Burns was not at his best, but I honestly think that was down to the supreme talent that Jose Chelo Gonzalez was. Gonzalez, arguably out fought Burns in the first half of the fight, but as I’ve written before there are not many fighters with the heart and fitness of Ricky Burns.

Gonzalez won the first 5 rounds fairly easily, the 6th was shared then round 7 was a barnstormer. Gonzalez threw everything he had and at one point looked to have Burns ready but Burns came back with everything he had. What a round and Burns did enough to share that round.

Has Virgil Hunter improved Amir Khan?

05/01/2013 by Stevie Ocallaghan

khan53 By Stevie Ocallaghan: After last Saturday nights fight with Amir Khan v Julio Diaz, I have been trying to figure out if new trainer Virgil Hunter has actually improved Khan, and I don’t think he has.

For me Khan is always best going forward, sure there is the vulnerability regarding his chin, but the punches that floored him would have floored anybody else in the division.

Hunter has really came to note with his work with Andre Ward. Ward is a great defensive fighter and defence was probably the reason why Khan decided to work with Hunter.

Harrison v Wilder tonight in Sheffield

04/27/2013 by Stevie Ocallaghan

wilder5 By Stevie Ocallaghan: Tonight at the Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield , UK unbeaten US heavyweight Deontay Wilder steps up the level of competition he has faced in taking on 2 time Prizefighter winner in Audley Harrison.

This fight throws up some comparisons between another fight recently between Liverpool’s David Price and American Tony Thompson. Both Harrison and Thompson are 41 years old and both, I suppose you could say are fights that were made to give the young gun a little more trouble than they’ve had yet but not to much trouble.

Should Wladimir fight Fury next?

04/23/201304/23/2013 by Stevie Ocallaghan

By Stevie Ocallaghan: After a fairly unimpressive victory over the game but ultimately outsized Steve Cunningham last Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, Tyson Fury (21-0, 15 KO’s) is now proclaiming that he will KO Wladimir Klitschko if he gets the chance to fight him next.

The thing with him saying this is at 6’9″ and nearly 260lbs if he can land on Wladimir , he could KO him as Wladimir doesn’t have the greatest punch resistance, but neither does Fury. In fairness when Cunningham put Fury down in the 2nd , he was hurt but his head was still in the game and coped well.

David Rodriguez: The forgotten Heavyweight

04/23/2013 by Stevie Ocallaghan

By Stevie Ocallaghan: David “Niño” Rodriguez, the 35 year old heavyweight from El Paso, Texas is hoping to get back in the ring soon after being out of action for 16 months.

Scott Harrison: Does he sill have a future?

04/22/2013 by Stevie Ocallaghan

By Stevie Ocallaghan: After a tough and grueling fight for the WBO European lightweight title between defending champ Liam Walsh and Scott Harrison, you have to ask the question if Harrison still has it? I think he does.

Liam Walsh at 26 and with a perfect record of 14 wins from 14 fights is a very talented young fighter. Better than I actually thought he was and with a stoppage record of 71%, he can punch as well, but Harrison took all of it and kept coming back with Walsh even admitting he wouldn’t have liked to have fought the rugged Harrison ten years previous.

Khan v Broner: The best fight at 140

04/09/2013 by Stevie Ocallaghan

By Stevie Ocallaghan: I read an article from another writer on this site about British fighter Amir Khan and the possibility of him taking on soon to be 3 weight world champ Adrien Broner.

First of all I would like to commend our esteemed friend for his first non Brit bash article and secondly for bringing up this story as it would be a superb match up.

The talk , if this fight is made will be about whether Amir Khans chin will hold out against the big punching Broner. Let’s look at facts. When Khan got ko’ed in the first round off Breidis Prescott, he was caught with a punch that could have taken out many a larger fighter. Okay, Khan should have been smarter and avoided it but even the best get put down. Prescott had just beaten Richard Abril in his previous fight.

Liam Walsh v Scott Harrison on April 20th at Wembley Arena, London

04/02/2013 by Stevie Ocallaghan

walsh By Stevie Ocallaghan: On the 20th April at Wemley Stadium, Liam Walsh defends his WBO European lightweight title against veteran Scott Harrison. 26 year old Walsh with 13 wins and 10 stoppages will be looking to extend his unbeaten record to keep alive his world title ambitions after having a December fight against WBO lightweight champ Ricky Burns scuppered due to a car crash injury.

Walsh is still a relative novice having only 13 fights and is now arguably taking his toughest test so far in Harrison, who at 35 is himself in the last chance saloon. This is Harrison’s last real chance at getting back to the top after well documented personal problems.

Ricky Burns v Jose Gonzalez on 5/11 in Glasgow

03/26/201303/26/2013 by Stevie Ocallaghan

burns02 By Stevie Ocallaghan: On May 11 at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland’s Ricky Burns defends his WBO Lightweight title against arguably his toughest opponent since he first won a world title in beating Roman Martinez back in September 2010.

Puerto Rican Jose Chelo Gonzalez, who comes to the ring with an impressive 22-0 with 17 stoppages is arguably taking a big step up in facing Burns but as the mandatory , deserves his chance.

Gonzalez is a huge puncher who moves really well and likes to keep a tight guard. He doesn’t waste many punches and he likes to walk opponents down. He is similar shape to Burns, big for the weight and very physically strong. It’s a good match-up.