Boxing News magazine 4.8.2011 Download pdf

Boxing News Magazine 2011  History

THERE are underdogs and there are
no-hopers. Americans believe Darren
Barker falls into the latter category as he
readies himself to face world middleweight
champion Sergio Martinez on October
l in Atlantic City. Call it the curse of
Gary Lockett if you would like, but the
perception in America is that Barker is
cut from the same mould - that when all
is said and done he will get hopelessly
outclassed.

HATS off to Mick Hennessy for getting boxing on terrestrial
television (Channel Five) - and hats off to the two fighters
for putting on a great fight, although I was disappointed with
Chisora's shape. The only problems were not showing the
undercard and the ridiculous American commentator.
Also, well done Sky for putting boxing back on Saturday
nights and the great Ringside show - but please keep the PPV
to the bare minimum.

TOMMY DIES AT 87
FORMER British timekeeper Tommy
Rice has died at the age of 87. Prior
to his retirement, just under 20
years ago, he worked on fights such
as Tim Witherspoon-Frank Bruno
and Lennox Lewis-Razor Ruddock.
Boxing through and through, Rice
fought in the 40s and 50s before
going on to become one of the most
respected timekeepers in the trade,
and in retirement, he achieved his
ringmaster and whips licence.
Simon Block fondly remembers
training with his friend Tommy in
the late 1980s: "I got the feeling
that if this was for real he'd have
clocked me with a big 'un. He was in
his 60s then."

ANDRE WARD has begun preparations
for the October 29 Super Six final with
Nottingham's Carl Froch and believes
the huge contest gives him yet another
chance to prove his doubters wrong. A
10-1 shot going into the tournament,
Ward has since overcome Mikkel Kessler,
Allan Green and Arthur Abraham en
route to the final and thinks his date
with destiny in Atlantic City offers yet
more vindication of his claim to I2st
supremacy.