The New Wave of British Boxing: Haye, Froch and Khan
by SC on Dec 9, 2009 6:00 PM EST
in News Analysis
36 comments
No matter how you slice it, 2009 was a pretty fantastic year for British boxing. David Haye won a world heavyweight title, Carl Froch defended his super middleweight belt twice, and Amir Khan got his feet firmly in the Freddie Roach pool, going 3-0 and winning a title at 140 pounds.
Froch has won three awards: British Boxing Board of Control Fighter of the Year, BBBofC Fight of the Year (v. Jean Pascal, December 2008) and BBC East Midlands Sports Personality of the Year.
Haye, meanwhile, is up for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and is disappointed that Froch and Khan are not up for the same award.
"Carl and Amir were probably both unfortunate to miss out on being nominated as they've both also been fantastic this year. I was delighted to be nominated. I can remember Lennox [Lewis] lifting the trophy, and it is an event I've always watched closely.
... "[Froch is] flying the flag for Britain on the world stage and is tackling the best fighters in his division. Carl is a great ambassador for boxing in this country because he always looks to fight the best guys out there.
... "[Khan has] completely changed his career around and has scored three big wins this year, against Marco Antonio Barrera, Andreas Kotelnik and Dmitriy Salita. A little over a year ago, everybody had wrongly written him off."
Though doubts linger on the world stage about all three fighters (many question the chins of Haye and Khan, Haye's guts, Froch's ability, Froch's win over Andre Dirrell, etc.), they have delighted UK fans with pretty spectacular years, and the three are leading the charge for UK boxing after the retirement of Joe Calzaghe and the inevitability of Ricky Hatton joining him soon enough; and even if he doesn't, everyone worldwide is aware that Hatton's best days are now behind him.
Still, not everything is so rosy. Carl Froch had words about Amir Khan in a recent interview with LiveFight.com, and it was a strange read. At times Froch seemed like he wanted to be clear he was misunderstood, but then he'd take cheapshots at Khan to go along with that, so I'm guessing the animosity is a little more real than he might want to let on.
"He's gotten upset because I gave a little feedback on his Prescott defeat and reported that I'd heard that the Kotelinik win was a little dull from reports off my friends who'd paid for the show and were disappointed. He's just a bit young and fragile and probably just needs a hug from the rest of Team Khan or his personal chauffeur or whatever.
... "Khan took [Salita] out with some fast, clean shots. But without wanting to upset King Khan again - who is this Salita fella? I'm not being derogatory but honestly, I've never heard of the bloke. I'd want to see an opponent at least take a shot and throw some back. I suppose it's down to the mandatory situation that he fought Amir. Maybe I don't follow enough boxing, but correct me if wrong, Salita was never regarded as a hot prospect. If he was any good we'd have all heard about him before he'd got to the No. 1 spot wouldn't we?"
While that is just boxing talk with a bit of trash talk thrown in at the end of the first bit, later he takes what appear to be genuine swipes:
"I know it's my boxing that brought me here. The boxing will never be overshadowed by the fame. ... That’s what boxing fans identify with. They know that when I get inside the ring I put it all on the line, testing myself against the very best. I don’t want people remembering me for being rich or running people over in my Lamborghini."
They may be the three leaders of the New Wave of British Boxing (I like to think it's similar to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal), but it doesn't appear they'll all be going out for dinner any time soon.
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best part of that pic and of every fight of his. can’t wait till froch betrays showtime, and fights on hbo. lampley would drool on her almost as much as he does the ring girls, and proceed to tell everyone her life story of how she grew up in a small town in england and married a stud of a fighter
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Dec 10, 2009 12:13 AM EST up reply actions
She was named one of the 25 most beautiful women in the world a couple years back
after she won Miss Maxim World.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Brickhaus is very well informed beyond directly boxing related/legal matters ;)
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
On this site
If there is an article about Froch, and not a picture of him and his gf, I’m gonna be pissed!
haha ;)
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
Im gunna tell you all again, Haye has guts, but he also has a boxing brain. people critisized him for not going in for the kill when he had Valuev hurt in the 12th, but why should he. He was confident enough that he was ahead on the scorecards (rightfully so) to not take a risk of getting knocked out himself. Don’t forget that his right hand was broken from the 2nd round as well. I truly believe that Haye can beat 1, if not 2 Klitchko’s.
When is it ever better to not knock out an opponent on very shaky legs who isn't fighting back?
It’s not like he has only one hand!
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Dec 10, 2009 2:56 AM EST up reply actions
When there's a chance of getting knocked out urself
by Sweet science on Dec 10, 2009 8:37 AM EST up reply actions
Uh I did say isn't fighting back didn't I?
That was proably the point of the fight where Haye was least likely to get knocked out.
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Dec 10, 2009 1:59 PM EST up reply actions
What is more impressive to me isn’t the top three. The UK always has a couple fighters of note at the top. What I’m not used to is the group of prospects that I see as pretty legit.
Here is a list of prospects I see with world class potential on the “other side of the pond” as people like to say…
In order, lowest weight class to highest:
135 – Kevin Mitchell 30(22) – 0
140 – Paul McCloskey 20(10) – 0 (Ireland)
160 – Darren Baker 21(14) – 0
160 – Craig McEwan 17(9) – 0 (Scotland)
168 – James DeGale 5(3) – 0
175 – Nathan Cleverly 18(8) – 0 (Wales)
I’m not very convinced of Fury or Price with the big boys, but I wouldn’t be surprised if every fighter on that list won a belt and appeared in the top 10 of their division.
I’m really big on Cleverly and I really, really like what I’ve seen so far of Frankie Gavin, even more than DeGale. Barker is already close to top 10 at 160.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
by SC on Dec 9, 2009 7:44 PM EST up reply actions
How much of Ireland’s McCloskey have you seen? I think I like him best of any of them.
On the subject of DeGale versus Gavin, I can’t see anything other than DeGale’s ability and instinct to a safety first style mixed with his athleticism leading him less far than Frankie Gavin. DeGale has much more potential. Gavin does have the better “fighter’s mentality” though for what that is worth.
I’ve seen plenty McCloskey; I like him fine. I think he’d be a good comeback opponent for Ricky Hatton. Don’t like him near as much as I like Cleverly or Barker, though.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
by SC on Dec 9, 2009 9:19 PM EST up reply actions
Might as well throw Kell Brook and George Groves in there as well
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Brook and Fury are shoe-ins for that list, for me.
Although…Fury needs to work on power. Real power. Without it he’ll just be a big bloke with a big name and a big mouth.
Frankie Gavin is going to be big, I think. It’ll take a while, but when he gets there I for one won’t be surprised.
Also, I really like Billy-Joe Saunders, who is a vicious little fucker and seems to really enjoy punching people. Reminds me a bit of Cotto when he was younger and really wanted to bust people’s ribs into really small pieces.
Cleverly is also a big shout. That guy can flat-out fight. I’ve heard him referred to as the next Calzaghe, but to be honest, I think he could be better, mainly because he punches so hard.
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
Mind you, I never liked Calzaghe....
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
CALSUCKY, am i right?!?!?!?!?!?!
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Dec 10, 2009 12:14 AM EST up reply actions
Calzaghe’s a legend…yeah he might not have dynamite in his hands, but his style’s very effective, he’s not afraid to get hit, and he can adjust mid fight and I always enjoyed watching him, anyway…someone can not be your cup of tea but you can appreciate what they achieved….
btw Rich, not that sure Cleverly bangs all that hard either…excellent boxer though
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
I also missed out one thing.....
I hate James DeGale. I think he’s crap, and I want him to get punched right in the face just as soon as possible, please.
In fact, I’ve been promised a weekend in the sack by a girl I know as an “early Christmas present”, but although she’s gorgeous and… ahem… great fun, I think a better Christmas present than that would be seeing DeGale belted across the ring by a really vicious right hand…..
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
so you don't like him, then....lol
He’s turned a few people off him apparently by what he says, but I kind of missed all that and he looks more polished for me at this stage than certainly Saunders, and even perhaps Gavin.
Btw….Frcoh’s just bitter that Khan has the money and fame far earlier than he did, and his barbs are tired and petty, IMHO
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
I haven't been turned off him by his out of the ring antics.
I hate the way he fights. I can forgive a lot of a fighter when they back up what they say, and fight like they want it. Saunders may not be polished, but I’ll bet you a crisp fiver that Saunders achieves more than DeGale.
Why?
Because DeGale is so concerned with prancing around the ring (please see his last fight- I mean, come on? Knees up near his ears when he prances like a My Little Pony…. Grrr… twat thinks he’s Michael Flatley) he seems to forget he’s there to hit the other guy. I will bet all his opponents to win by KO when he steps up a bit.
He hangs his chin out there, leads with his head stuck out, leaves his hands down, but has no power, no killer instinct, no menace.
When Roy Jones used to showboat, what followed was usually a vicious shot, his opponent hitting the floor. Same for Prince Naseem. But for DeGale, none of that applies. Most of what SC wrote recently about Anthony Small can also be applied to DeGale. He is like a bad actor pretending to be a world-class boxer.
All aesthetic and no effect.
In fact, do you know where DeGale trains? I wouldn’t mind being the one that smacks him. I’m fairly bloody sure he couldn’t hit me back hard enough to hurt me.
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
haha
He’s from Harlesden, and they’re not soft down that way…..lol but I agree that he does like to pose and loves himself a little bit. I don’t know where he trains, but he must be able to back it up if he’s from there?! ;)
He’s obviously raw still, but he know that his opponents so far are not going to be able to tap that chin and he has the edge in handspeed, so he can get away with that now. He has been more professional in a couple of fights since. I think he was maybe trying to crowd please by trying to look flash latest…its interesting watching the progression of all three anyway
Lets not go comparing him to Anthony Small, I have no time for that man at all…I don’t like him or his style. Anthony Small….I missed SC’s article but it sounds like he has exactly the right idea of the man, I hope it got many rec’s. If he was worth my time I Would go and find where he trained….lol
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
http://www.badlefthook.com/2009/11/27/1176166/anthony-small-narrowly-decisions
Enjoy!! :)
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
u got kell brook in their as well and he is a top prospect
by Sweet science on Dec 10, 2009 8:32 AM EST up reply actions
Froch.
He has a hot Mrs, but he’ll need more than that to beat Kessler….
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
I’m thinking lately Froch might be getting underestimated in that one. Kessler is just so straightforward and I wonder what he’ll do with a relentless pressure guy, which Froch can be. I mean he destroyed Librado Andrade, but…frankly, Froch is a lot better than Andrade.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
by SC on Dec 9, 2009 9:32 PM EST up reply actions
it’ll be a brawl, and that’s all i could ask for. like both dudes a lot, so as a fan i have no beef with the winner
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Dec 10, 2009 12:15 AM EST up reply actions
Frankly, Froch won't be able to take anything like the punishment Andrade did in that fight.
Kessler KO 8.
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
agreed on Kessler KO
think it might even come earlier than that….
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
Damn. You also agreed with me on Cotto beating Manny.....
;)
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
yeah....
not a high point that….did sound a good pick at the time though hey?!
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
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