Cooke on the boil

Shaun Brown
14/09/2015 12:40pm

Spend some time talking to Jordan Cooke and you’re likely to be left with the impression of an extremely confident young prospect with a maturity beyond his years. The 21-year-old was in good spirits when Boxing Monthly spoke to him recently, and he has every reason to be. A perfect (5-0, 2 KOs) start to his professional career, which began almost one year ago, along with a spot on a Matchroom show and sparring some of the best lightweights in the UK had Cooke in a positive frame of mind ahead of his next outing on 19 September in Bedworth. The Dave Coldwell prospect, trained by Jon Pegg and Paul Counihan, has heard the many whispers of ‘He’s one to watch’ but Cooke knows there is a long way to go. “A lot of people say I'm one for the future and they can see the talent and the potential,” Cooke told BM. “I think I'm a top prospect but I know I've got to work hard and have loads of learning to do.”

McIntosh back on track

Shaun Brown
12/09/2015 11:42am

There wouldn’t be enough time in the day to talk about the number of lives that boxing has saved from poverty, prison or death. Some have found their way into the brotherhood of a boxing gym in the nick of time, others have already danced with the devil before discovering the noble art. ‘I’d be dead or in jail.' And so begins the story of Nathan McIntosh and his answer to ‘Where would you be if you hadn’t found boxing?’ “If it weren’t for Tommy, I wouldn’t be boxing.” The Tommy in question was Nottingham coach Tommy Thompson. A man who over time has worked with the likes of Kirkland Laing, Tony Sibson, Johnny Nelson and Junior Witter to name but four.

Dave Ryan: The art of winning away

John A. MacDonald
11/09/2015 2:47pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpyTZa6iKTM

In just three fights – spread over 17 months – Dave Ryan has gone from small-hall opponent to Commonwealth super-lightweight champion defending his title at London’s O2 Arena and televised live on pay-per-view. The Derby battler will look to repeat the trick when he faces rival John Wayne Hibbert for a third time at the O2 Arena on Saturday after their fight of the year contender in May. Ryan’s achievements are made all the more impressive by the fact that he has overcome injuries, operations and knockdowns to do so, all whilst fighting out of the away corner. “I always wanted to fight on a higher level but never thought I’d be able to fight at the O2 in front of all them people,” Ryan told Boxing Monthly over the phone from his home in Derby.

TKO Radio: Allegedly Mayweather-Berto

TKO Radio
11/09/2015 1:21am

It's fight weekend in Las Vegas and, if you believe what you're being told, this will be the last time we ever see Floyd Mayweather Jr. fighting in a boxing ring. Boxing writer Matthew Aguilar joins TKO Radio to talk about complacency, one punch power, PPV sales and the (lack of) excitement surrounding Mayweather-Berto with boxing fans in the United States. We also analyse the WBC 168lbs clash between champion Badou Jack and Britain's George Groves. Get your TMT hat positioned in your favourite direction, it's finally time....for Mayweather-Berto.

Cave calls out Quigg, Frampton

Shawn Smith
10/09/2015 4:36pm

 

Despite a last-minute cancellation to what was expected to be his Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) debut on Friday night, Canadian boxer Tyson Cave still has his eye on the world champions in his division. Cave, currently ranked fifth by the WBA and 15th by the IBF, was hoping a victory would catch the attention of the title-holders at super-bantamweight. Never one to shy away from controversy, Cave has his sights set on two of the United Kingdom’s most celebrated champions.

 

 

 

 

 

Mayweather-Berto breakdown and prediction

Michael Montero & Tiffany Lam
10/09/2015 12:16am

Michael Montero breaks down the fight between Floyd Mayweather and Andre Berto, which airs live on Showtime PPV on Saturday from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The undercard features bouts between Vanes Martirosyan-Ishe Smith, Badou Jack-George Groves and the Roman Martinez-Orlando Salido rematch.

TKO Radio: The Double Life of Emile Griffith - Part Two

TKO Radio
08/09/2015 3:52am

In the second installment of a two-part interview ahead of the release of his new book, A Man's World: The Double Life of Emile Griffith, author Donald McRae joined TKO Radio to talk about the public reaction following the death of Benny Paret, how Griffith was left to deal with it, and also what it is about boxing that keeps the writer coming back to the sport.

TKO Radio: The Double Life of Emile Griffith - Part One

TKO Radio
07/09/2015 11:57am

A Man's World: The Double Life of Emile Griffith. Donald McRae interview, Part One. Ahead of the release of his new book, A Man's World: The Double Life of Emile Griffith, award-winning writer Donald McRae joins TKO Radio to talk about the great champion Emile Griffith, and why he decided to write a book about him. This is the first part of a two part interview.

Immaculate Warrington diffuses Brunker

Andrew Harrison
06/09/2015 8:55pm

Josh Warrington boxed immaculately to dominate sturdy Joel Brunker before a fervent home crowd at Leeds’ First Direct Arena on Saturday night. Warrington (now 22-0, 4 KOs) swept every round against the Australian visitor in retaining his WBC International and Commonwealth featherweight titles - boxing on the back foot with precise raids that left the more predictable Brunker (28-2, 16 KOs) facing an uphill struggle from the off. Judges Howard Foster, Steve Gray and Ian John-Lewis all scored it in accordance (120-108).

In conversation with Amir Khan

Terry Dooley
06/09/2015 11:50am

When I caught up with Amir Khan, the Bolton-based boxer was observing Ramadan during a rare British heatwave. Muslims fast during daylight hours for a month -  it ended on 17 July when Eid is celebrated across the UK - and despite it being an uncomfortable process the 28-year-old appreciates why it is a core tenet of his faith. “Normally I’d be drinking a lot of water and eating five or six times a day when I’m in training,” Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) told Boxing Monthly. “I have been training at midnight instead. You’re thinking about what other people who might be poor or not as fortunate have to go through and you’re showing your support by fasting. It makes you realize that there are people out there who are suffering, so you try to help them by giving to charity and doing what you can."

Smith on the right path

Terry Dooley
05/09/2015 10:15am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gUPn4YkE0A

When Margaret Smith described one son as the most “streetwise” of her four fighting offspring, the matriarch of the Smith family was understating the concerns the family had over their third boy when he got in with the wrong crowd as a youngster. “I was a tearaway,” Liam Smith (20-0-1, 10 early) told Boxing Monthly. “I’d be throwing stones at taxis, getting brought home by the police and thinking it was funny. I was going the wrong way. The others would be in the gym from 4.30 to 7.30, so that kept them busy. I’d come home from school as quick as I could, not have any tea and go straight out on the streets or into town when I got older."