British P4P Top Ten: September 2014

Regulars of the Nuthouse Boxing Podcast got together over the last few days to determine the top ten British boxers, regardless of weight class. 

The rankings are based on a descending points system, with a first-place vote receiving 10 points, a second-place vote receiving 9 points and so on. A tie goes to the fighter who receives the most votes from the panel.

The Panel: Kurt Ward, Steve Wellings, Donny Baseball, Adam Smith, Alex Morris, Andy Paterson. 



1. Carl Froch  
       Super Middleweight (33-2, 24 KOs)
       LAST FIGHT W (KO8) George Groves, May 31, 2014
       NEXT FIGHT: TBA


2. Kell Brook  
       Welterweight (33-0, 22 KOs)
       LAST FIGHT W (MD12) Shawn Porter, August 16, 2014
       NEXT FIGHT: TBA


3. Carl Frampton  
       Super Bantamweight (19-0, 13 KOs)
       LAST FIGHT W (UD12) Kiko Martinez, September 6, 2014
       NEXT FIGHT: TBA


4. Amir Khan
       Welterweight (33-2, 24 KOs)
       LAST FIGHT W (UD12) Luis Collazo, May 3, 2014
       NEXT FIGHT: TBA

5. Tyson Fury  

       Heavyweight (22-0, 16 KOs)
       LAST FIGHT W (KO4) Joey Abell, February 15, 2014
       NEXT FIGHT: Dereck Chisora, November 29, 2014


6. Paul Butler
       Super Flyweight (16-0, 8 KOs)
       LAST FIGHT W (SD12) Stuart Hall, June 7, 2014
       NEXT FIGHT: Zolani Tete, October 25, 2014


7. Jamie McDonnell
       Bantamweight (24-2-1, 11 KOs)
       LAST FIGHT W (KO10) Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat, May 31, 2014
       NEXT FIGHT: TBA


8. George Groves
       Super Middleweight (20-2, 15 KOs)
       LAST FIGHT W (UD12) Christopher Rebrasse, September 20, 2014
       NEXT FIGHT: TBA


9. Scott Quigg
       Super Bantamweight (29-0-2, 22 KOs)
       LAST FIGHT W (KO3) Stephane Jamoye, September 13, 2014
       NEXT FIGHT: TBA


10. Martin Murray
       Middleweight (28-1-1, 12 KOs)
       LAST FIGHT W (UD12) Max Bursak, June 21, 2014
       NEXT FIGHT: Domenico Spada, October 25, 2014


The final tally:

Others receiving points: Chisora (11), DeGale (7), Macklin (3), Saunders (3).



Let us know your thoughts on our P4P list. All opinions/comments welcome.

Boxing's P4P Top Ten: September 2014

Words: Kurt Ward



Staff members at BoxingAsylum.com and regulars on the Nuthouse Boxing Podcast got together over the last few days to determine the top ten boxers in the world, regardless of weight class. 

The rankings are based on a descending points system, with a first-place vote receiving 10 points, a second-place vote receiving 9 points and so on. A tie goes to the fighter who receives the most votes from the panel.

The Panel: Kurt Ward, Steve Wellings, Brandon Weber, Donny Baseball, Adam Smith, Alex Morris, Tommy Allan, Andy Paterson, Matt Digiallonardo. 

1. Floyd Mayweather Jr.  
       Welterweight (47-0, 26 KOs)
       LAST FIGHT W (UD12) Marcos Maidana, September 13, 2014
       NEXT FIGHT: TBA

2. Andre Ward

         Super Middleweight (27-0, 14 KOs)

         LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Edwin Rodriguez, November 16, 2013

         NEXT FIGHT: TBA

3.  Manny Pacquiao
       Welterweight (56-5-2, 38 KOs)
       LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Timothy Bradley, April 12, 2014
       NEXT FIGHT: Chris Algieri, November 22, 2014



4. Guillermo Rigondeaux
       Super Bantamweight (14-0, 9 KOs)
       LAST FIGHT: W (KO1) Sod Kokietgym, 19 July, 2014
       NEXT FIGHT: TBA



5. Wladimir Klitschko 
     Heavyweight (62-3, 53 KOs)
     LAST FIGHT: W (KO5) Alex Leapai, 26 April, 2014
     NEXT FIGHT: Kubrat Pulev, November 15, 2014



6. Roman Gonzalez
     Flyweight (40-0, 34 KOs)
     LAST FIGHT: W (KO9) Akira Yaegashi, 5 September, 2014
     NEXT FIGHT: TBA



7. Timothy Bradley
        Welterweight (31-1, 12 KOs)
        LAST FIGHT: L (UD12) Manny Pacquiao, April 12, 2014
        NEXT FIGHT: TBA



8. Juan Manuel Marquez
       Welterweight (56-7-1, 40 KOs)
       LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Mike Alvarado, May 17, 2014
       NEXT FIGHT: TBA



9. Carl Froch
Super Middleweight (33-2, 24 KOs)
LAST FIGHT: W (KO8) George Groves, May 31, 2014
NEXT FIGHT: TBA



10.Bernard Hopkins
 Light Heavyweight (55-6-2, 32 KOs)
 LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Beibut Shumenov, April 19, 2014
 NEXT FIGHT: Sergey Kovalev, November 8, 2014
     


The final tally:

Others receiving points: Danny Garcia (5), Juan Francisco Estrada (4), Saul Alvarez (3), Miguel Cotto (2), Gennady Golovkin (1), Nonito Donaire (1).



Let us know your thoughts on our P4P list. All opinions/comments welcome.

A Look Back At The Week That Was

Words: Kurt Ward


"Mayhem." Violent or extreme disorder; chaos. 

Mayhem, as readers will know, was chosen as the title for the recent rematch between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Marcos Maidana and I believe it was the perfect choice. Extreme disorder and chaos was evident in a backlash on boxing forums and social media in the aftermath of a horrible undercard, and a main event which failed to live up to the hype after the first bout between the pair.

American fans, angry at paying over $70 for this card - enabling Floyd to pick up a whopping minimum payday of $32m - vented their frustration online with many saying they would never pay to watch Mayweather fight again. 

I find it hilarious.

I once chose to stay up to watch Cornelius Bundrage lose his IBF light Middleweight title to Ishe Smith over twelve rounds at 5am (Yes, 5am. I'm in England). I knew it was going to be awful. I knew every round was going to be awful. And I knew I would be sitting through 12 rounds of it, but I did it anyway. I didn't stay up anticipating extreme violence or a war for the ages. I didn't for one moment envisage me one day telling my grandchildren about the war that was Smith/Bundrage and how "you should have been there, kids." 

As boxing fans we should know exactly what we are getting ourselves into when it comes to paying for a card or staying up late to watch one. If you choose to pay $70 to watch Floyd Mayweather win nearly every round against an opponent several levels below him, and then whine about it for days/weeks afterwards, I have no sympathy. Because you will be doing exactly the same thing when May rolls around and Floyd tells you, once again, that he will be going for the knockout. 

The same thing applies to David Haye. How many times will you buy his fights, bitch about it afterwards and then repeat? Instead of whining about it, surely it is far easier to simply not buy. But, hey, maybe you're just a glutton for punishment. 

Floyd is all about winning. It's all he has ever done ever since turning professional in '96. Entertaining the fans and making sure they get their money's worth are not of his concern. You all know what you will be getting from him. A boxing masterclass. An easy victory. But, by and large, a dull affair lacking in drama. 

By the way, the fact that I stayed up until 5am watching Smith - Bundrage, yet refused to watch the mess that was the undercard on Saturday - and won't even bother catching a replay of it - tells you everything you need to know about that card.

Thanks Al.

Notes:

Did I hear Kenny Bayless chanting 'Hardwork, dedication' in the ring before the first bell?

How about that flute? Surely worth the price of the PPV alone, no?

Leo Santa Cruz was paid $750,000 to beat up Manuel Roman on the terrible undercard from Vegas. Roman, ranked 126 in the super bantamweight rankings by Boxrec, never stood a chance. Cruz now says he wants to face the likes of Rigondeaux and Carl Frampton, but with the huge purses on offer to beat up guys levels below, it's hard to see him taking on the difficult challenge that both men would present. 

Floyd may not have a great relationship with the fairer sex but he seems to be on excellent terms with his fellow man. His constant cuddling of Maidana throughout the twelve rounds revealed a softer side to the man from Grand Rapids.  See, ladies, he's not all bad.


Some things you should simply not do. Do not call Mike Tyson a convicted rapist to his face. Never spend $70 on a Mayweather PPV and never, ever, mention the name Guillermo Rigondeaux on Sky Sports television . Ed Robinson did just that on Saturday night after Scott Quigg dominated and stopped Bantamweight Stephane Jamoye in three rounds in Manchester. 

Quigg's reaction was of complete shock. I genuinely believe Scott would have been less surprised if Ed had revealed that Quigg's promoter, Eddie Hearn, had been living as a woman named Edwina for the past twelve months and would be undergoing gender reassignment surgery. 
Quigg is a quality little fighter but we need to see him in with someone legit in his next fight. Frampton, Santa Cruz and even a fight with the oldest looking 28-year-old on the planet, Kiko Martinez, would be great for the Bury fighter. 

If you haven't seen it yet try and catch the fight between Denton Vassell and Sam Eggington on the Manchester undercard. A really fun fight that may have slipped under the radar with some fans. 


November 29 is going to be one hell of a night for British fight fans. From London we will see two grudge matches as Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora square up for their rematch after the proposed fight fell through in July after Chisora suffered a hand injury. On the undercard of that fight will be Billy Joe Saunders, fresh off being sidestepped by the WBO in his chase for a world title shot, taking on Chris Eubank Jr. He's got a famous father, apparently. 

Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew, both now at Cruiserweight after being beaten to a pulp at light heavy, will face each other again three years after their original meeting. The bout looks likely for Liverpool again. 

All three are great fights. Just a shame that boxing fans will be split as to what show they watch live. The TV and laptop will probably come in very handy that night. 

Audley Harrison MBE, or 'Sir Audley' as I refer to him, is making a boxing comeback after finishing second in the celebrity Big Brother house. Coming across as a genuinely nice guy, the Olympic gold medal winner and unified Prizefighter champion, beat some tough competition to get that second spot. Someone who used to be known as Frank, a dancer from Strictly Come Dancing, a woman known for being on the dole, an Essex bird, and a woman from Emmerdale Farm were all brutally dispatched and left in the wake of 'A-Force'. 

Sadly, Audley was pipped to the post by Hollywood legend Gary Busey, but second place is very respectable with the amount of talent on show.

Surely a bout against Anthony Joshua, in what would be a battle of former British Olympic gold medal winners, is not too far away.  

Sad news on Friday as Sheffield boxer Jerome Wilson was seriously injured after being stopped in six rounds by Serge Ambomo. He left the ring on a stretcher and underwent what his promoter David Coldwell described as a "life-saving brain operation".

Coldwell confirmed on Sunday night that Wilson remains in a medically induced coma.

We all send him our best wishes and hope he can make a complete recovery.


We have a new WBA Heavyweight champion, folks. His name is Luis Ortiz and he picks up the interim belt after stopping Lateef Kayode in the first round of their fight in midweek. Apparently, the WBA now want Ortiz to face Ruslan Chagaev, the WBA 'regular' champion, with the winner eventually going on to meet WBA 'super' champion Wladimir Klitschko. 

Wait, what? My head hurts, I think I need a lie down. 



Catch me and my fellow panellists live every Sunday at 8.30pm BST/3.30pm EST for the Nuthouse Boxing Podcast