Amir Khan (23-1-0) has scuppered a HBO plan to create a ‘Super Six’ style tournament at junior welterweight according to promoter Gary Shaw.
Shaw, who represents Timothy Bradley (26-0-0), revealed his man wanted to participate as did Don King’s fighter Devon Alexander (21-0-0).
Despite the large sums of money on offer, Khan was reportedly not interested. Nor were other HBO targets Victor Ortiz (27-2-1), Marcos Maidana (29-1-0) and Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1).
Golden Boy’s Richard Schaefer is reported to have said: "No, (Amir) Khan doesn't want to fight this one, and (Victor) Ortiz doesn't want to fight this one.”
Shaw believes they should have gone ahead with the tournament without them.
Speaking to Leave it in the Ring, he said: "The only people who are in total control, are HBO and Showtime because they have the platform and they have the money. What they should have said to Richard Schaefer is 'we have no use for Ortiz, Maidana and Khan. When they're ready to fight the best fights out there with the best fighters, then come back and we'll put them on HBO."
With such marquee names in the frame, boxing fans will be sorely disappointed that HBO were unable to make the tournament a reality.
Just watched an entire series of HBO boxing documentaries entitled Legendary Nights on You Tube – every episode is worth watching but I think two of them complement each other particularly well; ‘Julio Cesar Cha vez Vs. Meldrick Taylor’ and ‘Oscar De La Hoya Vs. Felix Trinidad’.
Both fights serve as a cautionary tale on the pitfalls of steering home a winning lead in the final rounds. Do you go in for the kill or dance your way to the final bell? Do you stick or do you twist?
Taylor twisted in the most heroic yet tragic manner possible, while De La Hoya, ever the chess player, protected his King and stuck. The result of both would prove to be among the most controversial in the annals of boxing history, not least because of the criminally bad advice offered by the corner-men of the two vanquished fighters.
Chavez and Taylor squared off in Las Vegas, in March 1990, in the aftermath of Mike Tyson’s stunning upset at the hands of James Buster Douglas. Their fight turned out to be one of the most visceral and dramatic bouts of the decade.
Taylor started much the better; his dazzling hand-speed and footwork proving decisive as he unleashed barrages of combos before dancing out-of-range. Round-after-round, he asserted his dominance.
By the end of the 8th, Chavez’s corner were desperate, their man had arguably lost every round. Trainer Rómulo Quirarte implored him in the most rousing fashion to get back out there for his sons, for his family, for his country.
Whether his stirring rhetoric proved decisive or not, there was a gradual yet incremental shift in momentum. Taylor was still landing but without the snap of earlier rounds while Chavez at last found his range and unleashed a number of devastating power-shots.
Taylor was a Philadelphia fighter born and bred - he worshipped Joe Frazier in his youth – and like his idol he never needed an excuse to trade toe-to-toe - if an opponent wanted a war, Taylor would go nuclear. So it was all the more inexplicable and foolhardy that his trainer Lou Duva instructed him to go out for the 12th and win the round (We need this round kid, it’s close, do you want to be champion of the world?), not least because the fight was already sewn-up despite Chavez’s late rally and he only had to stay out of trouble until the final bell.
So Taylor went out to trade blows, battered and fading as he was, while Chavez, seemingly renewed, tore out of his corner like a bull for the start of the 12th. There was something magnificent and gladiatorial about the way Taylor dredged up his last reserves of will and strength to try to finish-off a much fresher Chavez. But it was not to be.
With mere seconds remaining, Taylor surged forward with a flurry of missed shots and found himself inexplicably facing the corner buckle, so he turned to find his opponent, only for Chavez to catch him flush with a right. He was sent sprawling to the canvas.
The shot itself was not knockout punch, but it was a good one and Taylor, already running on empty, struggled to his feet. With a little support from the ropes, he just made it. Referee Richard Steele looked imploringly towards him and asked twice if he was OK, Taylor however was distracted, glancing off to his right, and did not respond.
Duva had by this point made his second cardinal error of the evening; he stood on the ring apron as if to enter and diverted his man’s attention. Due to Taylor’s seeming unresponsiveness, Steele dramatically waved his hands in the air and ruled him unable to continue.
It was a criminal decision – Taylor was on his feet inside 10 and there was only two seconds left of the bout - but Steele had missed the flashing warning light that indicates only 10 seconds remain in a round.
In his defence, the ref said in the documentary that it doesn’t matter what time it is in the fight, if he deems a boxer unfit to continue, he will stop it. But that is bullshit - Chavez would not have had time to inflict more punishment inside two seconds – he wouldn’t have been able to cross the ring in that time – while Taylor had given everything, was on his feet, and deserved to see the fight through. His countenance of absolute despair at the end told its own story.
Chavez continued his illustrious career with distinction for many more years but Taylor was never the same fighter. Indeed, the documentary ends on a tragic note when it displays a televised interview of his circa 2003. He had clearly suffered a significant brain trauma but was still insisting through markedly slurred speech that he was fit to continue boxing and he was still the same fighter he ever was.
Taylor competed in 38 professional fights but never a more gruelling and punishing one than this and you can’t help thinking that this one more than all the others contributed to his sad demise.
Nine years later, amongst a fever pitch of national fervour, De La Hoya contested a bout against Trinidad, again in Vegas, that was every bit as anticipated as those staged between the likes of Hagler, Hearns, Leonard and Duran a generation before.
De La Hoya started much like Taylor, using his superior hand-speed and movement to build a commanding lead. Trinidad seemed out of his depth as he absorbed dazzling flurries and looked clumsy and lead-footed in trying to hunt down his opponent.
If anything De La Hoya was more imperious than Taylor and in his corner before the 10th he was advised by Gil Clancy and Robert Alcazar that the fight was won so not to risk engaging.
Thus De La Hoya fought the last three rounds throwing little more than an occasional jab. It’s no exaggeration to say he made Andre Dirrell look like Mickey Ward. The change in tactics proved to be a disaster.
When the judges’ score cards were announced De La Hoya was devastated to learn he had lost by a majority decision while Trinidad celebrated with joyful abandon. If the Puerto Rican had any doubts about the veracity of his victory, he certainly wasn’t displaying them.
It was a shocking decision and starkly illustrated the astonishing level of incompetency among the upper echelons of boxing adjudicators. Bob Arum might not be the most impartial of commentators – he was De La Hoya’s promoter after all – but you have to concede he had a point in Legendary Nights when he illustrates the preposterousness of the scoring; De La Hoya more than likely won the first nine rounds and, if he didn’t, he could have lost no less than two, so despite gifting the final three rounds to Trinidad, he still wins by a minimum of two points.
De La Hoya’s behaviour certainly wasn’t befitting of a true champion, it was cynical and, to some, bordering on cowardly but he had clearly done enough to win the fight and it seems the judges were too greatly swayed by the final three rounds, which is a rookie mistake in scoring a fight.
To his credit, De La Hoya admitted soon after that his approach was his ultimately down to him and he had agreed with his corner-men’s advice at the time but such magnanimity held little truck with many boxing fans, particularly amongst Mexicans, who felt a form of natural justice was visited upon him. I can understand their sentiments but, more than that, I just can’t help but feel sorry for the fighter who dazzled us all in those first nine rounds and walked away with nothing more than a grave injustice. Well, that and $20 million but you take my point...
Legendary Nights is a brilliant series and really worth a watch. Other highlights include Larry Holmes Vs. Gerry Cooney and Marvellous Marvyn Hagler Vs. Tommy Hearns. Check it out!
Mikkel Kessler claimed a unanimous decision over Britain's Carl Froch in a tightly contested bout that was much closer than the judges' score cards suggested. The Super Six has been far more evenly contested than anyone predicted and only Andre Ward is in a position to win his first two bouts.
I expected this fight to go the distance - these two simply don't get knocked out - but I didn't anticipate Kessler would fight like a man possessed. The Dane was reinvigorated in the MCH Arena in Herning last night and looked like a totally different fighter from his last anaemic defeat on cuts against Ward. He was sharper then Froch and constantly stalked his man into ropes before unloading with neat combos. I don't remember ever seeing the Cobra fight more on the back foot than the front but unlike his previous opponent, Andre Dirrell, Froch came out swinging when pinned in the corner, rather than tying up or performing a matador shuffle and sprint. That said, Kessler didn't have it all his own way - Froch hit him with the bigger shots and won at least four rounds.
Reaction from the American media and pundits on You Tube has been surprising. If there is one country in which Froch is more maligned than his own one, it's in the States, but it seems that in defeat the Cobra has gained a new level respect that victories against Jermain Taylor and Dirrell could not provide. Over at The Sweet Science, Michael Woods pointed to a home-town decision, suggesting that it could easily have gone either way. Other arm chair pundits are commending the Cobra's strength and heart like this is a new revelation (Jean Pascal anyone?). I guess it only counts when HBO and Showtime broadcast the action.
I believe Kessler did just enough to win the fight, if only for his marginally higher work-rate and aggression, but you have to feel for a champ who loses his belt by decision in such a close fight. Next up for Kessler is Allan Greene and, after this performance, you have to fancy his chances of getting the result and reaching the semi-finals. Froch's bout against Arthur Abraham is more difficult to call and perhaps the venue could be the decisive factor. So far, nobody has won away from home in the Super Six. Still, whichever back yard they fight in, both men will be looking to prove a point and it should be one hell of war.
Andre Ward tore up the form book in a sensational victory against Denmark's Mikkel Kessler. The sporting press and the majority of neutrals fans (myself included) didn't believe the young American stood a chance against such a seasoned champion but, in spectacular fashion, Ward dominated from the first through to its premature stoppage in the 11th. The only blot on the copybook was his repeated use of the head butt.
With the first round of matches in the Super Six now complete it is the Americans who have provided the surprises. Going into the tournament most analysts viewed the winner as a tossup between any of the three Europeans but it is the two Andre's who have made people sit up and take note. Even in defeat, Andre Dirrell demonstrated blinding speed and flashy technique (shame about the tactics) while Ward has just dethroned the super middleweight king in a display brimming with confidence and ability that belied his tender years.
The opening two rounds were a cagey affair but Ward still managed to assert his dominance. The sharpness and speed of his combo's were too much for the Dane, who could only offer an ineffective jab in return and his big right was nowhere to be seen. Still, Kessler often takes a couple of rounds to acclimatise while charting his opponents' demise, so there was no cause for undue alarm.
His fans certainly must have hoped so but the third proved no different to the opening two and as the fight progressed into the fourth it was clear that Kessler was in trouble. A minute in, Ward landed a beautiful combo starting with two shots to the body then a big left hook to the head. He followed that up with two big right hooks later in the round while the Dane was unable to pull off anything of note.
The trend continued into the fifth; Ward's headwork, movement and repeated stance changes totally frustrated Kessler. He was unable to find his range or any kind of rhythm. All the meaningful shots were landed by the American.
The sixth and seventh saw Ward lose his composure. He repeatedly lunged headfirst at Kessler while throwing scrappy shots and the opportunities were there for 'The Viking Warrior' to land a punch that could change the direction of the fight but he was unable to capitalize. Indeed, in the final minute of the seventh he threw a monstrous left hook on the break that could have knocked Ward clean out but it was so wild and telegraphed that the American easily ducked it. It was a tangible indication of frustration.
In Kessler's corner before the eighth his body language was that of a beaten man but things were about to get a whole lot worse for him. Ward's repeated head-lunging finally opened up a nasty cut above his right eye, which bore all the hallmarks of a fight-ending injury, though the ref didn't spot it.
Gamely he fought on, but the pattern remained much the same as in earlier rounds; Ward's speed proved decisive in landing flashy combos while his movement and clinching prevented his opponent from gaining any foothold in the fight.
In the tenth another head butt from Ward - this one even more shocking and damaging than the last - opened up a cut above Kessler's other eye. This clash of heads did not go unnoticed but the ref ruled it accidental.
Going into the 11th, Kessler's face was a real mess. The cuts were severe and his trainer asked him - not for the first time - if he wanted to quit. Admirably he fought on, still trying to find a home for the big right that had eluded him all night, but midway through the round the ref took the decision out of his hands and stopped the fight on cuts following doctor's orders.He ruled the head butt, which he spotted, as being decisive so the fight went prematurely to the scorecards (as opposed to a TKO victory) with Ward winning comprehensively; 98-92 on two cards and 97 - 93 on the other.
In the post-fight interviews Ward was gracious in victory calling Kessler "a super champion." He should have left it at that, instead he had to spoil it all by spouting his rabid and arrogant religious views. Does he fail to see that by suggesting his victory wass assured because God is on his side he is thereby inferring that God was not on his opponent's side? What is so special about Ward that he is so favoured by the almighty? Nothing that I can see. 'Son of God'... Get out!
Kessler was no better. In one of the most galling examples of sour grapes I have ever had the misfortune of witnessing, he blamed the defeat on everything (the ref, clinching, head butts, hometown decisions) except his own performance. What is it about the Danes lack of decorum in the face of defeat? Their behaviour on internet forums and You Tube following Kessler's loss was pathetic and they really need to learn some magnanimity when things haven't gone their way.
Having said that, there were certainly contentious issues in this fight. First off, why was the ref American? Kessler's camp raised an issue with this in the build up to the fight - it infringed the Super Six contracts - and assurances were made that the ref would be Swedish yet, inexplicably, American Jack Reiss oversaw the fight.
This controversy was compounded by Reiss' performance. He did nothing to clamp down on Ward's repeated illegal use of the head and he aided the hometown fighter by rarely breaking up the American's repeated clinching. I have never seen a ref so reluctant to break up a clinch. This clearly upset Kessler's rhythm and it's no secret he hates fighting on the inside.
Despite the head butts and the clinching, it was Ward's superior boxing that proved decisive however. He was simply the better man on the day. Furthermore, head butts, though technically illegal, are part and parcel of the game. Boxers will utilize every tactic they can to gain an advantage. Look at Evander Holyfield and Bernard Hopkins - they have been getting away with it for years. This isn't snooker or golf with players calling fouls on themselves, this is professional fighting. Boxers have to cope with opponents' dirty tactics and use some of their own for good measure. The only unseemly aspect is Ward's religious moralising post-fight when he previously used such illegal moves in the ring.
Many analysts have suggested that the Kessler we saw against Ward was a shadow of the man we are accustomed to. Showtime described his performance as a very 'flat.' There might be something in that. Since losing to Joe Calzaghe in 2007 he had only fought three fights, so maybe there was an element of ring rust. However I think the biggest factor was Ward's superiority - he simply made Kessler look bad.
Next up Ward will face Arthur Abraham and Kessler will have to pick himself up and face Nottingham's Carl Froch. The Super Six is such a brilliant tournament, every fight is so intriguing and my interest has only increased after the first round. Bring it on!
I'm a bit late with this one as I'm been on holiday so apologies to my regular followers (sorry Dad and Ken from next door). I'm going to keep it brief as an in-depth analysis would be rather pointless now.
Manny Pacquiao totally dominated Miguel Cotto from start to finish and surely put to bed any notion that he cannot bring his exceptional power to welterweight. Why some boxing observers still entertained this idea after he destroyed both Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya at this weight is beyond me?
Cotto wasn't without opportunities in the fight. Pacquiao's all-action, cavalier style afforded him some openings which he did exploit and surely would have hurt a lesser fighter but nothing seemed to register with Pacman. Cotto simply could not stop the relentless onslaught, his jab proving totally ineffective in fending off the marauding Filipino, and the fight effectively ended as a contest about midway through the scheduled 12 rounds. It was simply a case of damage limitation from then on.
Cotto proved he had the heart of a lion by refusing to capitulate in the face of such extreme punishment but it was certainly disturbing to watch. In the later rounds his face was in train wreck territory. Tragedies like those suffered by Gerald McCllelan and Michael Watson sprang to mind but despite the pleas from Cotto's father at ringside, referee Kenny Bayless seemed intent on letting the fight reach the score cards. Somewhat oddly though he stopped it one minute into the 12th. Personally, I feel the fight should have been stopped two or three rounds sooner but if the ref was resolved on letting them reach the score cards then he should have done so. As it was Cotto suffered needless rounds of pain without the consolation of seeing out the whole fight.
I doubt the Puerto Rican will retire. He is still a great fighter, just not in Manny Pacquiao's league, but then who is? Floyd Mayweather Jr is the obvious answer and a contest against Pacquiao is the match-up everyone wants to see. This is the biggest fight that the sport has to offer and there is absolutely no way it cannot go ahead. I expect the negotiations to be acrimonious and protracted - both camps have displayed greed in the past - but once they agree on the split of profits, we have the biggest fight of the decade on our hands and I'm salivating at the prospect.
David Haye would have made Willie Pep proud in Berlin on 7th November. Willie Pep - for those who don't know - reputedly won a round without throwing a punch. The Hayemaker wasn't quite that good but according to some unofficial boxing stats floating around the internet, which I'm not inclined to dispute, he landed an average of eight punches per round, so he wasn't far off. Even more remarkable is that David Haye won the WBA heavyweight belt by decision while landing less than a 100 punches in 12 rounds.
There are obvious echoes with the Carl Froch vs Andre Dirrell bout here. Haye's tactics were negative; he was perpetually on the back foot, constantly evading, relying near exclusively on the counter; at several points he actually broke into a light jog, while Nikolai Valuev was the aggressor relentlessly hunting down his man, attempting to pin him in the corner. Not only that, there was the contentious issue of a debated decision in both fights; a decision which could have gone either way. However there are also some crucial differences. First off, Haye has not made a career out of this kind of performance, while Dirrell always employs such tactics unless he is unable to bully a chump. Furthermore, Haye was fighting a man mountain and was giving away seven stone in weight and nearly one foot in height, while Dirrell was matched with a physical equal. The other important difference is that Carl Froch never looked as poor as Valuev - if the Russian was not blessed with such stature he wouldn't get a sniff of a world title. Let's be frank, he is an appalling boxer.
Haye also claimed to have broken his right hand in the third round and had it not been for the injury he would have fought a more aggressive fight. Well, maybe, but I'm not so sure this is the truth. After all, he fought the first two rounds in the same manner as all the others (with the exception of the 12th) and there were no obvious signs of discomfort when he threw the right. Unlike, for example, Arturo Gatti who grimaced in agony every time he hit Micky Ward with his right in their third bout. Perhaps I'm being unfair by questioning Haye's integrity, maybe he did break a bone and was forced into negative tactics, but there was no evidence of this in the fight and we only have his word to support it.
I have very mixed feelings about the judge's decision. On the one hand Valuev was the aggressor, and threw many more punches, while Haye constantly ran and threw much less. On the other hand, Valuev looked awfully one dimensional, immobile and generally amateurish - he didn't land anything except tentative jabs, whereas Haye connected with some real monsters. Perhaps the most disappointing aspect is that Haye had all the tools to comprehensively win and probably knock the Russian out, yet he played it so safe.
The 12th was a textbook example of how he could have dominated. While still fighting on the back-foot he pounced with some hugely impressive combos and Valuev was in real trouble. The giant Russian had no answer to the speed and more skillful boxing he was up against. Two minutes into the round, a one-two combo carved him open, which Haye then exploited with a peach of a left hook. The legs buckled and Valuev launched into the funky chicken, of which Zab Judah is still the renowned master. It looked as if Haye would finish him there and then but Valuev tied him up and saw out the remaining minute of the fight.
Germany is notorious for home town decisions, so it was very surprising to see Haye strutting and preening before the announcement like he knew something we didn't. British commentators Jim Watt and Ian Darke on Sky had Valuev ahead on the cards and I thought it could go either way, which in Germany means their way, yet remarkably Haye was awarded the win.
The Londoner probably did do enough for the decision despite large swathes of passivity. He clearly demonstrated a technical level of boxing that was far more advanced than his opponent plus he dominated in the final round and came close to a knock out win. As for Valuev, he is the worst heavyweight champion I have ever seen and I include Frank Bruno in that. His performance against Haye reminded me of the exhibition bout between Shaquille O'Neal and Oscar De la Hoya, where Shaq was poorer in every aspect but the gulf in size between the two men made it very difficult for De La Hoya and kept him in the bout.
Valuev will keep on fighting, I'm sure, but this is probably his last big pay day. The American networks aren't interested in him and, after this performance, hopefully Sky will not be either. Every fight I've seen of his has been chronically dull and most broadcasters and fans have cottoned onto this. As for Haye, the immediate post-fight talk has been of a showdown with one of the Klitchko's, probably Vladimir. Despite the advanced years of the Ukrainian this match-up is still a fascinating prospect and the biggest fight the heavyweight division can offer right now. I have no doubt it will provide the spectacle and entertainment this bout clearly didn't.
A lot of British fight fans view this one as a foregone conclusion. Dmitriy Salita has only fought bums, they say, Amir Khan will school him yadda yadda. I'm not so sure and I have a hunch that a lot of Khan followers are in for a surprise come the 5th December.
A couple of years ago, I was wasting time on You Tube (no doubt procrastinating on more worthwhile endeavours) when I typed in 'boxing documentary'. The first entry was a BBC film on a young Salita called 'Orthodox Stance.' Ostensibly it followed the difficulties he faced accommodating his Orthodox Judaism while entering the professional ranks, although - to its detriment - it focussed more on religion than boxing. Still, it was an entertaining film and I was impressed with Salita's skills. Since then I have kept as close an eye on him as possible.
Like Khan, Salita has an impressive amateur pedigree, 59-5, with the crowning achievement of a Golden Gloves win in 2001. Upon turning professional, he signed with Bob Arum's Top Rank and looked set to blaze a trail to the summit of the light welterweight division. So far that hasn't happened. The list of his 31 opponents reads like a who's-who of nobodies and it's difficult to fathom why. Bob Arum is a highly experienced promoter, his stable of fighters has included George Foreman, Thomas Hearns, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao and many other legends, and this, allied with the springboard of a Golden Gloves win, should have propelled Salita towards a title fight much sooner than his 32nd bout. To put that in context; Khan is five years younger at 22 and won his WBA belt in his 21st match.
Perhaps the practice of his orthodox Judaism has played a part in this. Salita refuses to fight on the Jewish Sabbath, which runs from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. Boxing matches traditionally take place on a Saturday with up-and-coming fighters appearing on the undercard of more established names; so, outside of winter when it gets dark early, Salita will have been unable to contest these fights, making it difficult to attract a high calibre opponent. He also refuses to associate himself with any sponsors which Judaism deems objectionable. There is a telling incident in 'Orthodox Stance' when Salita's advisor refuses to allow a sponsors' bottle of beer to be placed on a table in front of his man during a press conference. Maybe this uncompromising behaviour has cost him. Sponsorship can increase not only bank balances, but exposure.
Despite this, Salita is still young at 27 and has an opportunity to claim a world title. Whether he can win is another matter. He has never fought an opponent of Khan's quality before and is in uncharted territory. Granted, in the fights I have seen - which haven't been many owing to the reasons above - he has looked immensely impressive. Stylistically he is reminiscent of Mikkel Kessler; a real strong all-rounder without any one standout attribute but, rather, is accomplished - without particularly excelling - in all aspects of his game.
Amir Khan is blessed with both fast hands and explosive power and if it wasn't for his suspect chin he could truly rule the world. His career appeared in tatters when he was spectacularly knocked out inside a minute by Briedis Prescott (and if he has the lofty ambition of becoming an all-time great he will have to avenge that loss) but he has responded admirably by overcoming two difficult opponents - Marco Antonio Barrera and Andriy Kotelnik - since then. Oh and Oisin Fagan.
Granted, Barrerra was long past his sell by date - his bout against Khan was his 71st - but you can't buy that kind of wily experience and Khan did well to win. Following that, he defeated the tricky Ukrainian Kotelnik in a unanimous points decision to claim the WBA light welterweight title, which is all the more impressive in light of his recent disastrous defeat.
Under the tutelage of Freddie Roach, Khan has radically overhauled his style since blocking Prescott's haymaker with his chin; he is a more cautious fighter and no longer attempts the steamroller approach, instead he fights at range with the jab, and occasional flurries, while keeping his chin safely tucked away. He is unlikely to make any changes against Salita, hoping his superior speed will help out-point the Ukrainian and if he manages to land a big punch, that's a bonus, but the main thing is to retain the steady, conservative style that has been his hallmark post-Prescott.
Salita will want to test Khan's chin and discover if it is as fragile as many believe, but he won't take unnecessary risks to do so - not unless he's drinking in the proverbial last chance saloon (not that he would drink in a saloon - proverbial or otherwise). Salita will have to counteract Khan's speed and hopefully he will aim to do this with a busier work rate and high pressure style, while probing for an opening to unload the punch that will end the fight.
Some believe Salita's record flatters to deceive and he will be found out, while others think he has been hampered by the uncompromising practice of his religion. Whatever the case, we will all find out at the beginning of December. Part of me - the considered, judicious part - thinks that Khan will outpoint, if not totally outclass, Salita but I'm going to take a punt and predict a Bernard Dunne style nightmare for the lad from Bolton.
Prediction: Salita win by KO.
Hey look, I've written this whole article without mentioning the fight is between a Muslim and a Jew. Oh shit...
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