Sunday 26 May 2013

Clinical Cobra Gets His Revenge

By Bobby Hunter


It not very often that a fight lives up to expectations. 2013 has been a very good year for great fights with the likes of Bradley-Provodnikov and  Rios-Alvarado to name a few. Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler served up the expected war to match their first fight in Herning Denmark three years ago. This time Froch roared on by a 19 Thousand crowd gained revenge with a hard fought, close but clear victory over the Danish Icon over twelve rounds.

The self styled "Cobra" started fast using his under rated jab to control the first round. Sky Sports PPV stats had Froch landing sixteen jabs in the first to Kesslers one. The second and third round was the same with Froch dominating with the jab but also throwing the odd right to keep Kessler away from him. A great start by the home favourite. Froch in the first fight started slow probably losing the first three rounds, this time determined to learn from his mistakes Froch stayed calm and using that jab but also a high work rate to continually keep the WBA champion from landing anything of note.

Round four was very close. Froch was still landing his jab although the small bursts of combinations used in the first three rounds were now gone as Kessler had managed to get in close. Kessler began to dig the body with hooks. It was the first signs of success for the Dane. Kessler took the fifth and sixth rounds too. Froch was beginning to ship some hurtful looking right hands and the occasion left hooks from the determined Dane. The "Cobra" was staying cool and collected, the jab was still firing but he would need to do something else to change the fight as Kesser was right back in the mix.

Froch began Round seven by stepping forward and being more aggressive. He was now pushing Kessler back with quick combos punctuated with a solid right hand. Kessler fought back as they both traded up close. Right hooks bounced off each other chins as the crowd went crazy. Froch's round due to the aggression. The pattern stayed the same in the eighth as Froch still aggressive went after Kessler. A jab, straight right, left hook bounced off the Dane before Froch took a big right hand back. Froch then retaliated by forcing Kessler to the ropes, he was winning the war of wills now as another huge straight right spread spray across the ring from Kesslers head. The ninth was a quieter round as the IBF champion Froch went back to the jab. Both were still landing their right hands but the two champions seemed to be happy taking a break due to the previous two rounds.

The tenth was also a close round, a pick em round as both had their successes up close. The straight rights were landing by both fighters but Froch was still the guy pushing Kessler back. In fact Froch's leg strength at this point looked superior as when pushed back Kessler looked a little shaky. Round Eleven was a cracker with Froch staring the better landing straight rights and left hooks. The Danish warrior responded with some hurtful body shots before moving up stairs with the left hook. Kessler then hurt Froch with a huge right hand. Froch's solid legs buckled for a few seconds. Kessler went after Froch for thirty seconds trying to end the fight but simply didn't have the energy to finish the job. Froch then showing THAT warriors heart fired back at the Dane forcing him back to the ropes. At this point the crowd were going absolutely nuts.

The last Round must be a "Round of the Year" contender as after a slow first thirty seconds both guys began to trade furiously. Kessler was still faster to land the punches but Froch swallowed them all up and fired back even harder. As both guys were swapping left and right hook a massive right made Kesslers legs buckle before Froch was on him like a rash. Kessler was being battered in the corner by Froch, Referee Pete Podgorski looked like he was going to stop the fight but Kessler again showed defiance by fighting out of the corner making Froch back off and go back to the jab. What a war. The crowd were on their feet as the final bell rang, both WARRIORS were exhausted after such an intense battle. All we needed now was the judges cards.

All three judges scored the fight for the New WBA and IBF champion Carl "The Cobra" Froch by scores of 115-113, 116-112 and a far too wide 118-110. Froch got his revenge and now wants Andre Ward who beat him in the final of the super 6. Kessler left the arena with an offer. Who knows if he will take it? but many would hope that Kessler takes Froch's offer of a "Rubber Match" seriously especially when Froch said that any third fight between them should be on neutral territory. Here's hoping.


Round 1.... 10-9 Froch
Round 2.... 10-9 Froch
Round 3.... 10-9 Froch
Round 4.... 9-10 Kessler
Round 5.... 9-10 Kessler
Round 6.... 9-10 Kessler
Round 7.... 10-9 Froch
Round 8.... 10-9 Froch
Round 9.... 10-9 Froch
Round 10.. 10-9 Froch
Round 11.. 9-10 Kessler
Round 12.. 10-9 Froch

TOTAL : 116-112 Carl Froch


Judges Scores : Carlos Sucre : 116-112 Froch
                     
                        Jean Francois Toupin : 115-113 Froch

                        Adalaide Byrd : 118-110 Froch



CARL FROCH WINS BY UNANIMOUS DECISION



Boxing Press , Twitter and the Boxing Forums Scores


Steve Zemach (Queensbury Rules) : 116-112 Froch

Jim Watt (Sky TV) : 116-112 Froch

Phil D Jay (Worldboxingnews.net) : 117-111 Froch

Jenna Jay (Ontheropesboxing Radio) : 118-110 Froch

Tommy Allan (BoxingAsylum) : 116-112 Froch

Matt Digi (BoxingAsylum) : 118-111 Froch

Shaun Brown (Boxing-Monthly) : 117-112 Froch

Paddy Cronan (Onthegrindboxing) :115-113 Froch

Ryan Bivins (Sweetboxing) : 115-115 DRAW

Ben Weisman (BoxingAsylum) : 116-112 Froch

Ciaran Shanks (CardonaldCourier) : 118-113 Froch

Dan Rafael (ESPN) : 117-111 Froch

Harold Lederman (HBO) : 117-111 Froch

Dan Hunter Boxing : 115-113 Froch

Tom Gray (Ring Magazine) : 116-113 Froch

Lem Satterfield (Ring Magazine) : 117-111 Froch

Brian Campbell (ESPN) : 117-111 Froch

Kieran Mulvaney (ESPN) : 115-113 Froch

Andy Paterson ( BoxingAsylum) : 115-113 Froch

Mike Coppinger (USA Today) : 117-111 Froch

Luis Sandoval (BoxingScene) : 115-113 Froch

Danny Flexen (Boxing News) : 116-113 Froch

Scott Christ (BadleftHook) : 115-113 Froch

Steve Kim (Maxboxing) : 116-112 Froch

George Jimmenez (Boxing Estelar Radio) : 115-113 Froch

ESPN : 117-111 Froch

John Chavez (The Boxing Truth Radio) : 115-113 Froch

Daniel Vano (Cheekhookboxing) : 115-113 Froch

Fight Ghost : 116-112 Froch

David Griesman (Boxingscene) : 117-111 Froch

Victor M Salazar (ThaBoxingVoice) : 116-112 Froch

Paul Daley ( TopClassBoxing) : 115-113 Froch

BoxingOpinions : 116-113 Froch

Ray Markarian (TheSweetScience) : 116-112 Froch

Michael Woods (TheSweetScience): 118-111 Froch

Eric Raskin ( RingTheory Podcast) : 117-111 Froch

Jake Donovan (BoxingScene) : 115-113 Froch

BoxBet PL : 116-112 Froch

Matt Christie (Boxing News) : 117-111 Froch

Corey Quincy (SaddoBoxing) : 115-113 Froch


David Fraser (Saddoboxing Forum) : 116-112 Froch

Anthony Larger (Twtter Fan) : 116-112 Froch

Jim Hardingham (Twitter Fan) ; 116-112 Froch

Joe Silke (Twitter Fan) : 115-113 Froch

Andy Neill (Twitter Fan ) : 115-113 Froch

Boxing Jem (Twitter Fan) : 115-112 Froch

Steve C (Twitter Fan) : 116-112 Froch

Izzy Ironic (Twiter Fan) : 116-112 Froch

Matt Andrejewski (Twitter Fan) : 115-113 Froch

Spartan Paddy ( Twitter Fan) : 117-111 Froch

Will Backhouse (Twitter Fan ) : 115-113 Froch

Cole Christensen (Twitter Fan) : 116-112 Froch

Miguel Rodriguez (Twitter Fan) : 114-114 DRAW

Markus Vibe ( Twitter Fan) : 116-112 Froch

Gee Force (Twitter Fan) : 115-114 Froch

John Hoolan (Twitter Fan) : 115-113 Froch



Saddo Boxing Forum (All for Froch) 115-113 x6, 116-112 x2, 116-113, 117-112 , *114-114 DRAW*

Boxing Asylum Forum (All For Froch) 116-112 x6, 118-111, 115-113

Fighthype Forum (All for Froch) 116-112 x2, 115-113 x2, 116-115

FightJudge Forum  (All for Froch) 1117-111 x3, 116-114, 115-113, 117-112, 119-109

Doghouse Forum (All For Froch) 116-113 x3, 118-110 , ***115-114 KESSLER***

TheSweetScience Forum - 117-111 Froch

Boxrec Forum (All for Froch) 115-113 x4, 116-114 x3, 116-112 x2, 117-112, 116-113, 117-111 x2

                       (All Draws) *114-114 x3, 115-115


Eastsideboxing Forum (All for Froch) 115-113 x23, 116-112 x8, 117-111 x6, 115-114 x4, 116-113 x2
                                                          117-112

                                  (All Draws) *114-114 x7* , ****115-113 KESSLER****


Boxingscene Forum (All for Froch) 115-113 x12, 116-112 x7, 117-111 x2, 116-113 x2, 115-114

                               *114-114* DRAW, ***115-113 KESSLER***


Checkhook Forum (All for Froch) 116-113 x4, 115-113, 117-113


Sunday 12 May 2013

Ricky Burns - The Heart Breaker

By Bobby Hunter Reporting for Ringnews24


Ricky Burns successfully defended his WBO lightweight Title in Glasgow last night but boy was he made to work for it by crafty No 1 contender Jose A Gonzalez. The Puerto Rican challenger dramatically pulled himself out of the fight after the 9th round claiming a broken wrist. Many at ringside, twitter and all over the boxing world felt it was more of a heart problem. Gonzalez was 87-84 up on all three judges cards when he called time on the fight. Watching from ringside I couldn't believe those scores as I had Burns up 87-85. Most guys around myself on press row had it similar with scores of 86-85 Burns and 87-84 Burns. Now comes the confession. When I arrived home I viewed the fight again. BUT this time i had Gonzalez in front by 86-85. Strange as my scores from Ringside usually match up when I later watch on TV. Today as I'm writing this report, some of the guys who had Burns ahead at Ringside Tweeted saying they had re-watched the fight and now had Gonzalez ahead.

Going round the boxing sites and reading the press reports showed just how wrong My ringside score was as just about everybody had Gonzalez in a handy lead when he quit. I was able to see the Sky Sports TV monitors where i was at the fight and i was amazed that Jim Watt had Gonzalez up 5-1 in rounds after 6. I even took some stick as I posted my score on twitter after the fight.

Now to the fight. A technical affair where the Puerto Rican challenger showed he belonged at world class by being able to match and probably better a proven world champion for most of the fight. Gonzalez as the fight was about to start didn't looked fazed by the loud Scottish crowd, he reminded me of the calm nature of Eusebio Perdroza before he fought Barry McGuigan at Loftus Road all those years ago. My God he fought like him too using an under rated jab and excellent defensive skills to neutralise the champions attacks.

The only footage of Gonzalez before last nights fight showed Gonzalez to be a crude styled banger, something Ricky Burns mentioned in his post fight interview with Sky Sports. The early rounds were close. Burns was throwing more but was being forced to reach in with his punches as Gonzalez cleverly Lent back to avoid. Gonzalez was the more accurate early as he was able to counter Burns with quick right hands to the body before going up to the champions head. It was a battle of the jabs in the third with both having limited success. Burns took the fourth as he upped the pressure and began to get that little bit closer to Gonzalez. All the way through Gonzalez remained clam, he was looking a very classy fighter.

Gonzalez took the fifth as he stunned Burns with a right hand mid way through the round. The challenger then blasted away at Burns on the ropes before the champion fired back in defiance. The challenger continued where he left off in the sixth by aiming more hurtful hooks at Burns body early in the round. Gonzalez jab was also beginning to land more as the champion was becoming impatient.


Round seven was the best of the fight. Gonzalez hurt Burns with a huge right early in the round and went for the knockout. Referee Russell Mora looked closely as Burns was being beaten on the ropes before the champion showed the championship qualities to come back firing when clearly hurt. A huge right uppercut from Burns forced Gonzalez to hold on before a wild left hook changed the tune of the round again for the challenger as he hurt Burns again. The round ended with both guys trading shots on the ropes. Surprisingly Burns looked the fresher??

In round eight Burns began to push Gonzalez back with the jab, it looked like the challenger was taking a round off due to his efforts in the seventh but in the 9th it appeared from ringside that the Puerto Rican might have shot his bolt. His legs looked shaky as Burns again forced Gonzalez to the ropes. Gonzalez defence was still good though as Burns was still finding it hard to land solid blows. During the interval Gonzalez refused to put his gum shield back in. We knew that he was tired but this was a world title fight he was winning. Gonzalez then refused to come out at the bell , his team were rightly raging. HE QUIT probably due to Burns breaking his heart in the seventh by coming back after being in bad trouble.

Credit has to go to the champion. He was behind on the cards, hurt and was being frustrated BUT he showed the heart of a true champion to come back , keep trying and showed WILL can overcome SKILL. Ricky Burns will now move forward with his next planned title defence in Glasgow in September. Gonzalez will have to live with his decision for the rest of his life. Gonzalez looked world class tonight. His decision to quit wasn't.


Burns - Gonzalez Full Under card Report

By Bobby Hunter Reporting For Ringnews24


Heading the six fight under card at the new Emirates Arena was the popular and well supported John Simpson of Greenock who was fighting the Mongolian warrior Choi for the vacant WBC Silver International Title. Beforehand many pundits and fans thought this would be the fight of the night. They were right. Both guys are warriors and for twelve rounds took turns of battering away on each other before Simpson was awarded the decision.

Simpson (9st 3lbs) edged the first as his speed of punch and foot was a little too much for the forty one year old Choi. The Mongolian warrior did have his moments though especially with the overhand right as he chased Simpson around the ring. The second was and even better round with Choi (9st 1lb 8oz) scoring with a right hand that drove Simpson to the ropes, the Greenock man responded with his very own right hook before both guys exchanged furiously for twenty seconds. The expected war had broken out. Round 3 was similar, it was give and take. Choi was having success with body shots now, Simpson would wince as the ripping hooks from Choi battered into his side. Simpson then got on his bike and started to box his older and slightly slower opponent using his jab as the main weapon keeping Choi at bay.

The aggressive Choi took the fourth on my card as he bullied Simpson to the ropes landing left and right hooks. Simpson was then sporting a bloody nose no doubt caused by the pressure he was being put under from the old man. The action continued in the fifth , sixth and seventh rounds, Choi would go after Simpson, trap him on the ropes, whack away then Simpson would respond by spinning away landing his jab and straight right knocking Choi's head back. The best punch of these rounds were in the sixth when both guys were in close Simpson planted a right uppercut that sent sweat spraying for the Mongolians head.

Choi on my card won the eighth and the tenth rounds as his pressure began to pay off. One overhand right in the eighth forced Simpson to the ropes when he then had to cover up from huge looking body shots. Choi was in command here but Simpson fought back in the ninth using that jab to set up his straight rights. Everything was coming off the jab now for Simpson, the left hook to body and head was now coming off for Simpson as the fight took another turn. As the final round approached the fight was close. Both guys had given their all and that showed in the last as for the first ninety seconds it was a slow affair with Simpson getting the better of thee exchanges due to his jab and extra speed. Choi again came back hurting Simpson with a right uppercut late in round. It was a better last minute for the forty one year old man.

My card read 116-113 Simpson at the end with the judges agreeing with my score although the 117-112 score from Steve Gray seemed a bit unfair on Choi. Scores were 116-113, 116-112 and 117-112 to the New WBC International Silver Champion John Simpson. Victor Loughlin officiated.



Stephen Simmons is the Edinburgh Cruiserweight collected his first title as a professional as he forced Irishman Michael Sweeney retire on his stool at the end of third round therefore collecting the vacant Celtic Title. Simmons (14st 1lb 1/2 oz) in his most impressive showing of his career started the first at a high pace looking for those trademark hooks to the body which stopped his last opponent at the Gorbals Centre back in February. Very late in round one a big left hook planted Sweeney (14st 3lbs 1/2 oz) on his back side. Sweeney to his credit got up but the bell basically saved him from taking any more punishment. The second saw Simmons continue the pace as he pushed Sweeney around the ring landing the straight right after some good work with his jab. Sweeney landed a decent right hand mid way through the round, definitely his best punch of the fight. Simmons though continued to work over Sweeney whacking him to the body. The third was all Simmons as he stunned his Irish opponent with the right hand before digging in those body shots. Simmons had looked very compact and composed and it was no surprise that Sweeney pulled himself out after the third round as it was just a matter of time before the Simmons landed the knock out punch. Steve Gray of Fleetwood was the Ref.


To the chants of  "Rocky, Rocky" Liverpool's Rocky Fielding made Short work of his Polish import Michael Nieroda (12 st 3lbs 8 oz) by stopping him with body shots after only fifty nine seconds of the first round, Fielding (12st 5lbs 10 oz) went after his opponent from the first bell  targeting the body with vicious looking hooks. Nieroda who had went three rounds with WBO 168lb champion earlier in the year crumbled under the pressure Fielding was putting on him under and a huge left hook after a barrage put Nieroda down for the Eight count. The man from Poland was in immense pain and Referee Victor Loughlin correctly waved the fight off as Nieroda was in no condition to continue.


David Brophy the Caldercruix middleweight upped his pro record to 7-0-1 with a hard fought points win over game Gary Boulden (11st 6lb 2oz) of Surrey. Boulden started the fight much better than Brophy using a high work rate and a good left jab to keep the unbeaten prospect away from him. I gave Boulden the first two rounds, the upset looked on. To his credit Brophy (11st 9lbs 1/2 oz) came back into the fight in the third and fourth by matching Bouldens work rate and by landing some very nice jab, straight right, left hook to the body combinations. The pattern continued in the fifth with Brophy planting his feet more as the body shots rained in on Bouden. The sixth was a crowd pleasing round as Boulden still tried to work away but Brophy was cleaner. A jab straight right set up another left hook to the body although this time Boulden came back and landed his own body shot. Referee Kenny Pringle scored this fight 58-57 Brophy. Certainly a fair score and a good test for Brophy.


Barlornock's Michael Roberts got all he could handle from Poland's Mariusz Bak as he won a close points decision on Referee Dougie Campbell's card 58-57. Bak (9st 5lb 10oz) started the better as he was able to confuse Roberts with his crouching style. Roberts (9st 7lbs) sporting tartan trunks came back in to the fight in the next few rounds using his superior movement. Roberts was also picking his punches better especially the jab , straight right. In the fifth Bak was still landing that right hand, the visitor won the round on my card as Roberts seemed more interested in trying to switch hit and play to the fans. The Barlornock man got down to business in the sixth as the left hook coming of the jab began to land more frequently followed by Roberts moving to the body. A close fight where Robert probably just done enough but will need to improve his performances if he is to go any further. Roberts moves to 12-0.


Opening the show at the Emirates arena was Glasgow's Jon Slowey (9st 3lbs 6oz) fighting for the third time this year out pointing tough Belfast man Eddie Nesbitt over six rounds at Featherweight. Slowey was the better man in the first as his jab was giving Nesbitt (9st 4lbs ) problems.. Nesbitt took the seconds as he scored with the jab straight right a few times. Nesbitt was also landing cleaner when up close. In the third Slowey scored a flash knockdown when Nesbitt touched down. It was hard to see what cause the knockdown as both were in the middle of an exchange before Nesbitt touched the canvas with his glove. The Belfast man had his best round in the fourth as he couldn't miss the straight right hand. The fifth was scrappy and a close one but Slowey working from the out side after a rough fourth won it for me by controlling the distance and using that jab. Nesbitt took the sixth on my card as Slowey looked tired, it was Sloweys jab vs the harder punches from Nesbitt. At the end my card read 57-56 Slowey with the knockdown being the difference. Referee Dougie Campbell scored 58-56 Slowey.




Friday 3 May 2013

Fightscorecollector's May Fight list

June brings a big month of boxing as the biggest name in the sport finally makes his return as Floyd Money Mayweather puts his WBC 147lb title on the line against multi weight champion Robert Guerrero. The next week Scotland's Ricky Burns make the latest defence of his title against tough Puerto Rican and Number 1 contender Jose A Gonzalez. I will also cover the full under card.

Completing the month on Figtscorecollector is much awaited rematch between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler from London on SKY PPV. The first fight was a cracker and everybody is expecting the same this time around.

The fight list is below.


Sat 4th May - SHO - Floyd Mayweather vs Robert Guerrero - WBC Welterweight Title


Sat 11th May - SKY - Ricky Burns vs Jose A Gonzalez - WBO Lightweight Title + FULL under card


Sat 25th May - SKY PPV - Carl Froch vs Mikkel Kessler - IBF and WBA Super Middleweight Titles