The Boxing Blog - Times Online - WBLG

More titles, or no belts at all - what is the way forward?

I am sure like a lot of others, I winced when watching post-bout interview on ITV4 after the WBU welterweight title bout between Michael Jennings (left) and Ross Minter. It had been a great domestic scrap, Minter's aggressive style mixing well with the boxing skills on the move of Jennings. After, the pair were particularly respectful to each other and Minter said he knew it would be tough because Jennings was "a world champion". Some may put the pair up for the British Boxing Board of Control's sportsmanship award, others would want Minter up before the Board on a charge of bringing the sport into disrepute.

Any takers this time for Gary Shaw's house?

Gary Shaw, the American promoter, is never slow coming forward to back his guy. On Tuesday, at a casino on Leicester Square, he was standing squarely behind Antonio Tarver, who challenges Clinton Woods for the IBF light-heavyweight title at the St Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, on April 12. Shaw is so confident his guy will win, he says he's willing to put his house on it.

Woods's bout with Tarver a vindication for Hobson

Confirmation that Clinton Woods will defend his IBF light-heavyweight title against Antonio Tarver in Tampa, Florida, on April 12, is not only great news for Clinton Woods, it is also a vindication of his promoter Dennis Hobson. Dumped by Ricky Hatton, after being his promoter for four contests - three in the United States - as he went to pursue his bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr, Hobson has shown he can deal at the big table and work in his own right with American television.

World shrinking for Britain's champions

It used to be a big event when a British boxer went to America, now it happens almost every week. Joe Calzaghe is, of course, off to Las Vegas to face Bernard Hopkins on April 19, but another three of our world champion could find this week that they are heading Stateside too.
Clinton Woods, Junior Witter and Alex Arthur are on the verge of  huge fights and victory in them could set up even bigger matches closer to home.

Will Calzaghe really retire in 2008?

Two more fights, one more year, that's the plan for Joe Calzaghe who turns 36 in March and is, as he showed against Mikkel Kessler at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, in November, boxing better than ever. This week he repeated his pledge: "I said at the beginning of the year that I wanted to have this and have one more fight and retire undefeated. I'll be financially secure then and it means a lot to me to have that zero at the end of my record. If you keep fighting, you will lose some time - that's a certainty. it's very easy to go on just that bit too long.”

Witter and Rees leave Hatton to it

I was somewhat surprised that the name of Gavin Rees was put forward by one paper as a likely next opponent for Ricky Hatton, not because I don't think Hatton's people would have fancied the fight but because he is already busy.
Hatton's plans are far from solid, but it seems a late May date (May 24 has been mentioned) at the City of Manchester stadium is the subject of more rumours than anything else.

Mitchell has plenty of reasons to stay positive

Kevin Mitchell has every reason to be a bit fed up ahead of what was supposed to be a big night for him at York Hall this evening.  2007 was a pretty wasted year, 2008 was meant to be when it all came together for him. But it was never going to be that easy.

Weight problem could hurt Arthur's ambitions

Alex Arthur's hopes of making a big splash in the super-featherweight division could be hit by increasing difficulties in making the weight. Arthur has often had to boil down to make 9st 4lb, but the effort he made to get down for his interim WBO title defence against Stephen Foster Jr in Edinburgh at the weekend seemed to take a toll with a sometimes lifeless performance by the Scot.

Fight night notes

The chief support to Hatton-Mayweather was Jeff Lacy versus Peter Manfredo Jr, two boxers who went a total of 15 rounds with Joe Calzaghe without even threatening to win a round.

Calzaghe holds his own with Hopkins

If Joe Calzaghe ever wanted to create an impact with the American media, he did it with his appearance in the media centre here on Friday, prior to the weigh-in.

Murray grinds out win

Manchester got a successful start to the weekend when John Murray won his lightweight bout at the MGM Grand conference centre on Friday night, but it was a tougher than expected night's work.

Welcome to the boxing blog

Boxing is busy, wide-ranging and one of the few totally global sports. I hope this blog will go behind-the-scenes, bring added stories and give me the chance to voice a few opinions of my own.