Boxing News magazine 28.7.2011 Download pdf

Boxing News Magazine 2011  History

ZAB JUDAH looked for all the world as if
he wanted to be anywhere but in a boxing
ring when he faced Amir Khan. Khan did
his job, and more. He had confidence in
himself, put his shots together, fought as a
world champion should.
So what was the matter with Judah,
once so talented, so confident himself, and
still when he walked to the ring claiming a
piece of the 1401b title?
His re-shaped body was so defined it
looked almost brittle. Old fighters didn't
know anything about dietary supplements
and modern fitness devices, but they knew
what made a fighter and what did not.
"A muscle-bound fighter is worse than a
skin-bound horse," were words attributed
to Bob Fitzsimmons way back when
Victoria was Queen.

WHAT a credit to the sport John Murray and Kevin Mitchell
are. The build-up to the fight was one of mutual respect,
a lesson for James DeGale and David Haye. Both Murray
and Mitchell came to fight and put on a good show for the
fans. We saw a cracking contest with both fighters giving
their all. Then, at the end, both boxers showed respect again.
Congratulations to Kevin for a superb performance and putting
himself back in line for a world title shot. Murray will be back
and can take a great deal of credit for his effort despite his first
loss. It's nice to see that trash-talk isn't necessary to sell a fight
and good luck to both in the future.

CURRENT WBC and WBO lightwelterweight
king Tim Bradley
has been sued by his co-promoters
Gary Shaw and Ken Thompson.
The pair have claimed that
Bradley breached his contract by
refusing to fight fellow 'world'
light-welterweight champion Amir
Khan on July 23. The Bolton man
instead fought Zab Judah (see
pages 14-18). Shaw and Thompson
believe that they are owed in excess
of $450,000 in estimated earnings
from the scheduled Bradley-Khan
fight that never went ahead. They
are also seeking to legally block any
attempt by the Californian to sign
with another promoter.

ACCORDING to Nicky Cook's
manager Andy Ayling, the former
WBO super-featherweight champion's
brother's recent arrest was because
he was involved in a fight in a pub,
and nothing whatsoever to do with
fight-fixing rumours that have been
doing the rounds since the lead-up
to Nicky's back injury-induced loss to
Ricky Burns in Liverpool on July 16.
As we went to press, Board General
Secretary Robert Smith was confident
that nothing further would develop
from the sensationalised 'betting
scandal'.