Tuesday 15 November 2011

Great Britain Olympic Boxing Trials: Day 2


Britain’s boxing youth impress both in and out of the ring.

At the beginning of last month, it was reported that former world heavyweight champion Nicolai Valuev had hung up his gloves in favour of Yeti hunting in Siberia. Turns out David Haye hit him quite hard after all, and its fairly safe to say there will be at least one confused Yeti wandering around southern Russia this Christmas. Meanwhile, while big Nick trudges through the snow in search of his non existent cousins, it turns out the rest of the world has gone barking mad as well.

I’m not sure at what point footballers wages became acceptable, America’s basketball players felt it appropriate to boycott the NBA, or when cricketers began betting on themselves to bowl a wide in the 17th over. Yet for all these money grabbers are worth, the economy, along with Wayne Rooney’s hairline, is apparently coming out of recession. Regardless of the mode by which it arrives, there is a distinct correlation that when money in a sport becomes excessive, those receiving the extra pennies begin to accumulate not only better suits, teeth and hair, but a distinct lack of respect for those around them, on and off the pitch, in and out of the ring. Gone are the days when footballers worked 9-5 jobs and played for their country at the weekends. Carlos Tevez refusal to play for City is inappropriate at any level, but it’s made immeasurably worse by the fact that he receives £35,000 a day. Likewise, I never remember 'Money' Mayweather speaking to an interviewer in his amateur days the way he spoke to 80 year old Larry Merchant last month. This cash phenomenon is spreading fast and it looks as if Russia could be the next infected; Samuel Eto’o certainly has enough spare to pay for Valuev's unicorn expedition, as well as the central heating bill for the whole of Makhachkala. I don't know where it is and I’m confident Mr Eto’o didn’t either until they offered him €25m a year.

Richie Woodhall (left) was joined by John Inverdale for the BBC Broadcast of all the days action
This weekend was a refreshing change from the Tevez Tantrums and baffling boycotts of professional sport, and as I arrived at York Hall early Saturday for day two of Britain’s Olympic Boxing trials, an unpolished York Hall greeted me with open arms. At first glance the people and the place seemed fairly ordinary, but as the day grew older there was a certain warmth about the East London folk housed under its gritty ceilings. The door was immediately held open for me by a hardened local gent of about 50, who met me with a smile and an East end accent: ‘After you son, fights about to start’. I took my seat ringside for Savannah Marshall’s international clash with German Andrea Strohmaier


The crowd were in good voice as the 2010 World Silver Medalist started aggressively, landing hooks and a couple of hard rights early on. There was clinching aplenty, but it was inevitable from the two aggressive inside fighters. Strohmaier came off well in a couple of exchanges in the first round, but that was the extent of the challenge mounted by the German. 


Marshall was patient in the second, reading her opponent well and countering with solid rights; by the end of the round Strohmaier was being caught at will. Points wise, both fighters knew the Brit was in the lead, and as the German tried to force the fight in the third, Marshall kept her distance with the jab; a mature decision from a fighter who could have easily been sucked into the brawl. This continued into the final round but Marshall, keen to show the judges and selectors a strong finish, put all 75kgs behind a couple of big right hands which put the German on the first flight home. 


I caught up with the young lady from Hartlepool after the fight: ‘I’m very happy' said Marshall, 'I’ve had a few months out with injury to my elbow, a bit of bruising on the bone which was troubling me when I threw hooks, so I took a bit of time out to recoup and I’m really pleased to have come back and made a good impression on selectors.’ A tired Marshall added ‘I really wanted to fight, but there was no one else for me to box so they arranged an international opponent – It’s given me a lot of confidence before the test event at the end of the month’. A huge win for Marshall saw her the victor 20-3.

A tired but Happy Marshall (right) picks up her gold medal in the women's 75kgs

An Unlikely start to Saturdays action saw Andrew Selby progress to an easy second win in his 'best of three box-off' with Khalid Yafai. So easy was it that Selby, who won yesterdays encounter 26-12, didn't have to throw a single punch. Upon the 9.30am close of the weigh in, Yafai, who sustained a hand injury in Fridays encounter with Selby, was unable to train as he'd wished and the 22 year old from Birmingham could not shift the final 300g. An extremely dissapointing end to a much anticipated second fight.

A dejected Khalid Yafai moments after failing to make the weight

Of the many personalities in the crowd, one man arrived fashionably late, dressed in a suit, braces, dark sunglasses and a 1920’s bowler hat. Approached by autograph hunters every minute or so, I was struggling to recognise the man under the mock gangster disguise. However I had an inkling and i knew i'd watched this old champion on video before. Upon removing his sunglasses to pose for a fan photo, 51 year old Lloyd Honeyghan, former WBC/WBA and IBF Welterweight champion quietly took his seat at the back of the arena. It says much about the man that he still keeps a keen eye on Britain's amateur proceedings; he commented on Andrew Selby ‘I like the kid, i read something a couple of weeks ago about the way he trains and it reminded me of myself when i was a youngster’. When probed on how the young men and women would be feeling ahead of competition, Honeyghan replied ‘The way I see it, it’s just another fight, I’m ready and if you’re not ready you’re in trouble’ - Johnny Bumphus certainly wasn’t ready when he hit the canvas seconds into round 2 of Honeyghan's first title defense in 1987. Steve Collins, a good friend and boxing enthusiast, grew up in Honeyghan's era and remarked 'Honeyghan was class...when he beat Don Curry in '86 I think it was the biggest shock in boxing for years'. For all his success and obvious fanbase, there are no airs and graces about the Jamaican born legend; he remains a sincere and polite character to all around him: ‘Everyman is different...some will be nervous, some will be confident, I think most will just be looking forward to (competing)’ and with regards to Andrew Selby, Honeyghan replied ‘He’ll be pleased to get through, he won’t care if (Yafai) made the weight or didn’t make the weight and it’s his (Yafai’s) business.’  
   
Honeyghan on Britains new generation of boxing talent

A tall, muscular frame stood between me and my seat. The man in question was a young Joe Joyce, who was in particularly good form in his heavyweight clash with Scotland's Ross Henderson on Friday. After congratulating him on his win he commented 'Thanks, I feel great, it was nice to loosen up yesterday and I fought well.' A solid first round saw Joyce backing up his larger opponent with several stiff jabs and causing blood from the nose early on. 'It was good to fight well yesterday, nice to get the knockdown' remarked Joyce after he floored Henderson on the bell of the first. Henderson got up, and while his head fought on, his legs took another round to gather their thoughts. By this time Joyce had taken full advantage, comprehensively out boxing the Scotsman 25 -16. A popular lad it seems, Joyce received a big welcome ahead of his final clash on Saturday against Frazer Clarke: ‘It was a good win yesterday and gave me confidence in moving towards Olympic qualification.' When asked if today was a must win for Joyce, he replied 'Without a doubt'. Indeed it was a must win and after the first round of action, Joyce had done some damage. Slipping jabs with nimble confidence for such a big man, the 6ft 6 lad harbors encouraging power, closing Clarke's left eye completely shut after just 3 minutes. As the fighters sat in their respective corners, the doctors were called to Clarke's assistance. The decision was imminent and Joyce raised his hand to the applauding crowd. Frazer Clarke was judged to be unable to continue, much against his will. However, and it was clear to see how bitterly dissapointed the Burton ABC athlete was, he stood and applauded the crowd, walked over to his opponents corner and held Joyce's hand aloft. Here were two men, win or lose, that exemplified the Olympic ethos of sportsmanship; On this merit alone, either are worthy of a squad place.

Joyce (right) has his gloves checked before the first of two wins this weekend

In the final of the mens 81kg category, Newcastle lad Lawrence Osueke lined up against Scottish international James Cunningham. Osueke was pressed hard in the early goings by an aggressive Cunningham, with the two exchanging blows; Cunningham effective when he got on the inside. It seems to have been a pattern over the last two days that some of the taller fighters have taken much of the first round to establish their range, not for want of trying, but many of the shorter, inside fighters had a tendency to walk forward and work the body early on, unsettling the rhythm of fighters like Baister, Joyce and Osueke. Most seemed to find the jab and establish their range by the end of the opener and Osueke was no exception. Patiently sounding each other out, Osueke finished the first round with a good left hook, moving off to the side, ducking underneath and landing a solid uppercut to the body. In the second and third rounds, Cunningham had fewer and fewer answers, but in true Scottish style, walked his man down. Osueke had to keep on the move to avoid the marching Scotsman, picking his jabs and avoiding the counters from his rival. As Cunningham slowed, Osueke launched a counter flurry of his own. The Scotsman's intention was clearly to get on the inside, but every time he tried to do so, Osueke calmly locked him up until the referee separated them, whereby he instantly re-established range with the jab. On the bell the two fighters hugged in the middle of the ring and the referee announced a 20 point margin of victory for the North East Light Heavyweight Champion, who can now add the national title to his 2011 spoils. Cunningham, gracious in defeat, held his opponents hand aloft in a day of great competition matched by even greater sportsmanship. 

I caught up with Osueke after the fight. When asked about his slightly rusty start to the first round, he informed me that he'd sustained a hand injury and had been unable to compete for six months. Disappointed that he couldn't defend his ABA national title, Osueke said that it felt good to shake out the cobwebs before the Tammer International tournament in Finland next week. The Newcastle born lad is certainly one to watch in the coming months; Provided he stays injury free, it will take someone special to beat him in the qualifiers early next year. 

                         Lawrence Osueke on his chances of Olympic qualification next year  

So there you have it, a weekend full of superb action and mature performances from many of the Great Britain youngsters; there is more than enough to be encouraged about. It seems that the work being done at the GB boxing HQ in Sheffield is sharpening up the team nicely; be assured that they are on course for a very good performance in London next year. Upon leaving the arena early Saturday evening, I felt most impressed about the athletes I observed this weekend. Not least by the embarrassment of boxing riches that have bestowed themselves upon us at this crucial time, but above all, by those boxers attitudes towards each other. Yafai's comments to Selby on BBC1 in wishing the Welshman the best of luck next year and willing him to claim the gold epitomises the spirit in which these trials took place. It is not easy to come by words like that when you've missed out on Olympic selection by 300g and it says a lot about the maturity of these young boxers that they value team success on an equal platform to individual achievement; I believe the world of professional sport could learn more than a thing or two from GB's young amateurs. The future is bright for British boxing.


Follow boxing legend Lloyd Honeyghan on Twitter @LloydHoneyghan or go to www.lloydhoneyghan.com


Below are the results from all the weekends action, winners on the left:


Friday 11th November: Semi Finals


52Kg - Andrew Selby beat Khalid Yafai (Eng) (Wales)  26-12
56Kg - Joe Ham (Scot) beat Alimaan Hussain (Eng) 22 -13
56Kg - Sean McGoldrick (Wales) beat Gamal Yafai (GB) 13-13 (countback 29-25)
60Kg - Joe Cordina (Wales) beat Ian Weaver (GB) 22 -13
60Kg - Sam Maxwell (Eng) beat Sean Dick (Scot) - Referee stopped contest
64Kg - Louis Adolphe (Eng) beat Mano Lee (Wales) 8-4
64Kg - Josh Taylor (Scot) beat Danny Phillips (GB) 10-7
69Kg - Kieron Smith (Scot) beat Jamie Evans (Wales) 11-8
69Kg - Anthony Fowler (GB) beatThomas Langford (Eng) 19-14
75Kg - Callum Smith (GB) beat Danny Dignum (Eng)19-8
91Kg - Warren Baister (GB) beat Lloyd Davies (Wal) 29 - 10
91Kg+ - Joe Joyce (Eng) beat Ross Henderson (Scot) 25 - 16


Saturday 12th: Finals


49Kg - Charlie Edwards (GB) beat Ben Baker (Wal) Referee stopped contest rd 3
52Kg - Nina Smith (GB) beat Katie Rowland (IRE) 19-9
56Kg - Joe Ham (Scot) beat Sean McGoldrick (Wal) 25-14
60Kg - Amanda Coulson (Eng) beat Chantelle Cameron (GB) 22-17
60Kg - Sam Maxwell (Eng) beat Joe Cordina (Wal) 16-14
64Kg - Louis Adolphe (Eng) beat Josh Taylor (Scot) - 9-9 (Countback 3-2) Judges decision
69Kg - Anthony Fowler (GB) beat Kieron Smith (Scot) 15 - 9
75Kg - Savannah Marshall (GB) beat Andrea Strohmaier (Germany) 20-3
75Kg - Callum Smith (GB) beat Tommy Philbin (Scot) 13-7
81Kg - Lawrence Osueke (GB) beat James Cunningham (Scot) 26-6
91Kg - Warren Baister (GB) beat Ben Ilyemi (Eng) 23-9
91Kg+ - Joe Joyce (Eng) beat Frazer Clarke (GB) Referee stopped contest 


The Olympic Test Event will take place at the ExCeL Arena, London from the 23rd - 27th November.


You can re-live all the action from this weekend on BBC iPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01772jz/Boxing_British_Championships/

Saturday 12 November 2011

A Legend has passed, but the show must go on.

A packed house at York Hall, Bethnal Green yesterday saw the British squad fight for selection


In a sobering week for world boxing, many of Britain’s young pretenders will be mourning the loss of a man whom the BBC have called ‘One half of boxing's greatest ever rivalry’. Sadly for these youngsters, not even an occasion such as this can afford to distract them for too long. Nearly half a century since Joe Frazier’s stunning win at the Tokyo Olympics, Great Britain’s young hopefuls turn their attention to their own Olympic journey, which began, for some at least, this weekend. It is no secret that in recent years the heavyweight division has offered little more excitement than the numbers round in countdown and with David Haye deciding to give the other half of the Ukrainian twin towers a miss, one wonders where the next generation of exciting heavyweights will come from. A more recent turn of events has seen the welterweight divisions creating much of the hype around professional boxing; Floyd Mayweather recently cashed in a handy $40m for his WBC title win over fellow American Victor Ortiz; who wasn’t quite so ‘Vicious’ after their head to head, so to speak. Both Ortiz and Mayweather had differing Olympic experiences in the Amateur ranks and while Mayweather became the first American to defeat a Cuban fighter in two decades, Ortiz never quite made the cut for the US team in Athens. Proof then, that Olympic success is not the be-all-and-end-all in the journey from Amateur to professional boxing.  Try telling that to the British squad this weekend.


In a decade where British boxing has increased in both depth and breadth, I have turned my attention to the GB Olympic trials this weekend in London. Strange to think now that only a few years ago British amateur boxers were so thin on the ground, Amir Khan was the only fighter on the plane to Athens. His heroic Silver medal inspired a new, young and hungry generation of fighters in the UK; it begs the question of just how many future World champions (or strictly come dancing contestants) may touch gloves under York Hall’s dark ceilings this weekend. I am lucky enough to be ringside for both days of the championships; here is a summary of yesterdays action:

In the Men’s 75kg category, England’s Danny Dignum took on GB representative Callum Smith. Establishing the jab early on in the fight was the key to Smith’s success, and whilst he kept the fight at range for much of the opener, Dignum struggled to find his feet. Round 2 saw much of the same, with Smith setting up combinations with the jab, leaving Dignum frustrated, lurching forward with off balance, inaccurate punches. Smith’s comfortable start to the fight left him well in the lead going into the final round, and patient work from the Commonwealth Silver medallist saw him pick his shots and stay out of trouble. So in control was the 21 year old that he afforded himself the luxury of a few head and body combos to finish off the final round, and while Dignum fought with pride, he was outclassed by a mature and comfortable performance from his Liverpudilan rival.

Final result: Callum Smith (GB) wins 19 -8.

The Men’s 69kg category saw Scotland’s Kieron Smith take on Welshman Jamie Evans. Scottish born Smith had an obvious height and reach advantage over his opponent but failed to make it count in the early goings. Calls from his corner to use the jab were unheeded and Evans worked the inside well, landing powerful hooks to the body on numerous occasions. There is a common consensus that if a fighter holds his hands low, then his head movement must be exceptional. Smith’s jabbing hand wavered around his midsection, and while his footwork got him out of trouble from time to time, more often than not he walked clumsily onto some fairly avoidable hooks. By the end of round 2 it was too close to call but there was a feeling that it was Smith’s fight to lose. The Scotsman had bucked up his ideas by the beginning of the third and began to find his range with the jab, picking clear single shots to edge the Welshman out on points. Smith certainly looked the fresher of the two men by the bell, but will do well to work on a few defensive frailties in the coming months.

Final Result: Kieron Smith (Scot) Wins 11-8

The men’s 91kg category pitched Welshman Lloyd Davies against GB’s Warren Baister. Good early movement from Davies left Baister exposed on a number of occasions throughout the first round; the counter punching Welshman landing the cleaner of the two. Round two saw neither man convincingly take charge, Baister slightly more settled than he had been in the first, getting through on occasion with a solid left jab. The bell at the end of the second came at the right time for Davies, who looked to be tiring somewhat after taking a handful of clean shots right at the end of the round. Early in the third, Baister stepped the pace up a notch, firing off rallies of six or seven at a time, many of which scored. Davies was backed onto the ropes for large portions and it looked to be a case of damage limitation for the Welshman. Baister’s late charge saw him extend his lead over Davies, who after a promising start, was picked apart by some accurate shots from the Englishman.

Final Result: Warren Baister (GB) Wins 29-10



Boxing legend Richie Woodhall working in dual capacity as Squad Coach/Presenter as he brought us yesterdays action


The big fight of the day finally arrived after the midway interval, a much anticipated clash between two of Britain’s rising stars. In the first of a ‘Best of three’ box off in the men’s 52Kg category, England’s Khalid Yafai, former European Silver medallist and U17 World Champion, took on Welsh fighter Andrew Selby, who, after missing out on automatic qualification by one point at the World Championships, looked to cap off his incredible year with Olympic qualification. The build up to the fight was tense; many of the opinion that the box-off is unreflective of Selby’s success this year. I managed to catch up with Nigel Davis, coaching staff in  Selby’s team, shortly before the fight: ‘All I can say is that Andrew’s happy and has no qualms with the box-off, they both (Selby and Yafai) knew that this would happen before the world champs, it was pre-agreed, so it hasn’t been sprung on either of them.’

I spoke to Richie Woodhall, who was presenting the live broadcast of the fight for BBC1, moments before the first bell. As part of the official coaching set up in team GB, Woodhall could not offer a prediction for the fight, instead saying 'I think 3 fights is the fairest way of seeing who is the better fighter, there can be no accidental upsets this way.’ Woodhall also added ‘You have to take into account that although Selby’s the European champion and world silver medallist, Yafai has beaten him twice in the past, and in boxing thats a big psychological advantage, so it’s anyone’s to call’. 


Welshman Andrew Selby surveys the arena before the first of a 3 match box off with rival Khalid Yafai (ENG)
















I watched Selby in his pre-fight routine for around half an hour. His focus looked fear driven; although I think it was fear of not taking an opportunity that he feels is rightfully his given what he has achieved this year, rather than fear of his opponent. Rightly so, and one could forgive Selby for feeling slightly aggrieved. However, rules are rules, and the Welshman looked supremely focussed as he went through some fast, sharp pad drills. He was a man on a mission, and there was no sign of Yafai. At 5ft 4 and only 52Kgs, Selby isn’t much to look at, almost ‘Little brother-esque’ in appearance, until he starts throwing punches that is. For a lad of his size to generate the thumping cracks coming off the pads at the rear of the arena was a sight to behold, enough to turn heads away from the ring in fact. Each combination was thrown and landed with a Ricky Hatton grunt and lightning speed.

Among the heads turned was current WBC World Super Middleweight Champion Carl Froch, who’ll be in the midst of his own preparations for a title defence against Olympic champion Andre Ward next month. As the crowd regained their positions, Khalid Yafai appeared as if by magic in the ring, and he looked in superb shape. My first thought was whether his obvious height and reach advantage was going to be a factor in the forthcoming rounds. The fighters touched gloves in the ring; there is mutual respect and definite friendship between the two men, but both know what is at stake and nothing will be reconciled until after the final bell, be it later today or at the end of the month.

Selby began the first round tentatively, feeling out his old adversary. The pace was quick, the fighters understandably twitchy. For the first minute or so, Yafai moved well, coming forward as he tends to, ducking hooks and dodging jabs on his way in. There was nothing to call between them early on, until Selby landed a crashing left hook to the chin of Yafai, sending him to the mat. Yafai, up on his feet and seemingly undeterred by the knockdown, came forward once more, returning fire with a left hook of his own, hurting Selby in the process. Although far the quicker of the two men, Selby is susceptible to a decent left hook, and later told the BBC ‘It was the hardest punch I’ve ever taken’. For a man of his stature, getting on the inside of his taller opponent was vital to his success in the first round, but he was often doing so at the expense of catching a hook. Nonetheless, round 1 went to Selby.

In a more open second round, Selby began to let go of some decent combinations, slowing Yafai down. Yafai managed to catch Selby with a few decent shots on his way in and Selby’s occasional gung-ho approach to attack left him open for the counter. Towards the end of the second however, it was clear that Yafai was being outworked by the Welshman, and with most of his combinations coming off the gloves, the Englishman was beginning to slow. Selby’s attack became relentless and he went in at the bell clearly in front.

The third round was now or never for Yafai. He began to chase Selby and try to press the fight, however this played nicely into the Welshman’s hands. Selby caught his rival on the counter time and time again; a solid right hook to the body hurt Yafai late on, who began to clinch more often. A brief readjustment of Selby’s shorts gave Yafai one last breather and a chance to regroup. If the fight had been closer, his last 30 seconds could have been crucial, as he landed 4 or 5 clean shots to the Welshman’s head, who had luckily given himself an unassailable lead. A great finish to the first fight and a clear win for Andrew Selby. One down, one to go for the Welshman. It’s going to be a long way back for Khalid Yafai.

Final Result: Andrew Selby (Wal) Wins 26-12


Keep your eyes peeled Sunday afternoon when I shall publish all the results from the weekends action. Can Andrew Selby stave off a third fight decider by beating Khalid Yafai today? Or will the Englishman learn from yesterdays mistakes and get one up on the European Champion. It’s all to play for and you can catch all the action live today on BBC1 and BBC Sport Website 1430 – 1600 GMT (12 November).