Boxing News magazine 16.8.2002 Download pdf

Boxing News magazine 16.8.2002 Download pdf
Boxing News Magazine 2002 Memorabilia
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AGAPITO SANCHEZ was to have defended his WBO superbantamweight
title against JOAN GUZMAN on the Cardiff
bill but was forced out this week when a Board of Control
medical found he was suffering from cataracts.
Guzman, from the Dominican Republic like Sanchez, will now fight
a 10-rounder, possibly against an American.
"I'd have liked to fight Agapito - the whole of the Dominican
Republic was waiting for it," said Guzman, 26 and with a 17-0 (13)
record since turning pro in 1997 after boxing in the previous year's
Olympics. A cataract is when a film grows over the eyeball and
restricts vision. It usually requires an operation to correct.
Sanchez, 32, has not fought since November, when a unification
match against IBF title-holder Manny Pacquiao ended in a six-round
technical draw.

THE WBA, in their wisdom, declared Samaniego-Thiam for their vacant light-middle title
even though Fernando Vargas, the current champion, doesn't box Oscar De La Hoya until
September 14. If Vargas wins, he is promoted to "Super champ", so we will then have four
divisions in which the WBA have two world champions. The others are at light-welter (Kostya
Tszyu and Diobelys Hurtado), super-feather (Acelino Freitas and Yodsanan Nanthachai) and
light-heavy (Roy Jones/Bruno Girard). STUPID.

SOME weeks ago I bought the BBB of C Yearbook on offer in Boxing News and immediately found it great
value. I saw addresses of boxers I had watched and admired over the years, also a contact for Mickey Duff,
whose book I had just read and enjoyed.
I thought I'd write to them and the result was Duff, Ron Gray, Colin McMillan and Joe Calzaghe sent me very nice
autographs, Pat Cowdell a large photo and autograph, Tex Woodward and Jane Couch two photographs and
autographs plus a note. Wally Swift Snr sent an autograph and very friendly letter.
There's more. I found Dave "Boy" Green's business address in an old programme, so wrote to him. I received a
very large photo and autograph, plus a phone call to apologise for a very small delay in replying.
When I answered the phone and a voice said it was Dave Green, I was so stunned he must have thought I was
drunk.
I have been to several fight nights where Barry McGuigan has been for Sky but had never managed to get his
autograph, so addressed an envelope simply "Barry McGuigan, Former Featherweight Champion of the World", and
put the name of the town where I thought he lived. By return post came a nice photo, autograph and note.
To them all I say a sincere thank you. Opening the replies gave me a great deal of pleasure.
The object of this letter is to say the past few weeks have underlined what I believed since I first got interested
in boxing in the late 1940s (when I discovered I lived a few houses away from the late, great Owen Moran in
Birmingham) - that all boxers are something special. It is a pity Johnny Prescott seems to have cut himself off from
the sport he graced so well years ago. - BJ TALBOT, NEWTOWN, EBBW VALE, GWENT.

Proud Burns pitches in for glory
WHILE attending the Commonwealth Games in
Manchester, Repton's Head of Coaching TONY
BURNS had a surprise when he was presented with
a coveted Torch Trust Trophy Award by Sir Bobby Charlton
at the Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford, on July 30.
Twelve awards were presented to those who have made outstanding
voluntary contributions over many years in the field of coaching. In
addition to Tony's award for amateur boxing, other sports recognised
included netball, table tennis, bowling and athletics.