Errol Spence Jr: The next big thing

Mark Butcher
24/02/2016 10:59am

For many aficionados of the fight game, Errol Spence is boxing’s ‘next big thing’ and heir apparent to the pound-for-pound crown recently abdicated by Floyd Mayweather. Expectations rarely weigh heavier, but few dispute the potential of the gifted boxer-puncher, perhaps prophetically, dubbed ‘The Truth’. Boxing royalty are among Spence’s advocates with Mayweather and Sugar Ray Leonard each backing the talented 25-year-old to replicate their ascent to the summit of world boxing. These lofty predictions might be a hindrance for some but the cool Texan southpaw takes such plaudits in his stride. “It makes me feel good. It shows that my hard work has been paying off and all those long days staying disciplined in the gym have turned out well,” Spence recently told BM over the phone from his training camp at the R&R Boxing Gym in Dallas. “Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Ray Leonard have both been the best fighter in the sport so for them to show high regard for me means a lot - that these kind of boxers are backing me.

Scott Quigg: The quest for perfection

John A. MacDonald
23/02/2016 11:30am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crmy7aJ34MA

At 9:30am on Christmas morning, when the majority of the country was either still in a deep slumber or excitedly pulling off colourful wrapping paper to reveal gifts from loved ones, Scott Quigg was in the gym. For the fighter from Bury, Christmas was cancelled; 25 December was just another day in training camp in preparation for his unification bout with IBF junior featherweight champion Carl Frampton on 27 February at  Manchester Arena. As his family and friends gathered, as they do each year for Christmas dinner, Quigg (31-0-2, 23 KOs) ate alone. While others were feasting on turkey and all the trimmings, it was Salmon and vegetables for him. Some may perceive this as sacrifice but for the 27-year-old WBA 122lbs champion, it was perfect. Quigg is possessed by an all-consuming desire to become the best. This isn’t hardship to him, but simply what must be done. “I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. It couldn’t have been any better for me,” Quigg told Boxing Monthly over the phone from his home. “When people say to me: ‘Do you make sacrifices?’  I say: ‘No.’ Because sacrifices are something you want to do but can’t do because you’ve got to do something else but I really didn’t want do anything else other than what I did - being in the gym. I didn’t sacrifice Christmas as it wasn’t appealing to me this year. It didn’t mean anything to me.”

Richard Commey: Out of Africa

Danny Winterbottom
20/02/2016 11:25am

The Essex town of Harlow is a far cry from the hot and bustling streets of Accra, Ghana, but this is where unbeaten lightweight contender Richard Commey has called home since he arrived in the UK in 2012 with the help of his manager and gym owner, Mickey Amoo-Bediako. Amoo-Bediako, a Brit with family roots firmly embedded in the West African nation, has been the proprietor of the SW Pro Gym in Loughton, Essex, for four years. Commey has honed his boxing skills there with his trainer Carl Lokko and sparring sessions with Ricky Burns and Carl Frampton have helped him to an impressive 23-0 resume with 21 of those victories coming by KO.

Ranking the heavyweights: reflecting on numbers 38-30

Luke G. Williams
20/02/2016 11:01am

Now that Boxing Monthly’s ‘Ranking the Heavyweights’ series has completed the rankings from 38-30, I thought it was an apt time to reflect on those boxers who finished in the lowest reaches of the chart, from Marvin Hart who came 38th (and last) up to Primo Carnera in 30th.

Pugilism not vandalism

Paul Zanon
19/02/2016 6:47pm

If I asked you to correlate the connection between boxing and the surname Sheeran, you would probably start to scratch your head and think – ‘worlds apart?!’ Boxing Monthly caught up with Jethro Sheeran – musician, avid boxing fan and cousin to Ed - to discover the uncanny connection which unravels into decades of bona fide pugilistic heritage.

Michael Montero rants: Fallout over Manny Pacquiao comments

Michael Montero & Tiffany Lam
19/02/2016 6:42pm

Michael Montero sounds off on the reaction to Manny Pacquiao's insensitive comments about gay marriage from the media, fans and celebrities like Magic Johnson. After a decade-long sponsorship deal with Nike, the massive corporation severed ties with Pacman following the media fallout.

Cronin hits and headlines

Shawn Smith
18/02/2016 12:59am

Three years ago, Ontario’s Tim Cronin wasn’t sure if he would ever fight again. He had started boxing as a young man of 11 at the Belleville Boxing Club, coming up through the ranks but never accomplishing anything of substance on the Canadian amateur boxing scene. He grew tired of boxing, felt stalled out as a student of the game and decided to move on from the sport. “I felt like I kind of capped out,” Cronin told BM. “I was young and dumb and still a teenager really. I was trying to figure things out. I went to school and I worked and did what teenagers do.” But the itch never went away. He couldn’t quite let the sport go. Now, three years later, he’s glad he didn’t.

Golovkin-Wade LA presser highlights

Michael Montero & Tiffany Lam
17/02/2016 2:59am

Highlights from the kick-off press conference announcing the HBO Championship Boxing card headlined by Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin facing IBF mandatory challenger Dominic Wade. In the co-feature, Roman 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez defends his WBC flyweight title against Puerto Rican challenger McWilliams Arroyo. Michael Montero reports.

 

 

Asian boxing scene catching fire

Marcus Bellinger
16/02/2016 12:48pm

Marcus Bellinger reports on the latest news from the vibrant Asian boxing scene including the return of hot flyweight prospect Daigo Higa and the 2016 Champions Carnival in Japan. 

Terry Flanagan: A local hero

Terry Dooley
15/02/2016 10:19am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uW5to_Kvss

When Terry Flanagan (29-0, 12 early) heard the words “And the new” following his second round retirement win over Jose Zepeda for the vacant WBO lightweight title at the Manchester Velodrome in July a wave of emotion washed over him. Elation and ecstasy over the win, naturally, and a feeling of vindication after flying under the radar for the majority of his career until Steve Wood, his manager, bagged him a promotional deal with Frank Warren in 2014. However, there was also a niggling feeling that he would have to prove himself all over again due to the nature of the victory when it was revealed that the previously undefeated KO artist had withdrew due to a dislocated shoulder. The Ancoats born and bred boxer told Boxing Monthly that he underlined his credentials by crushing American southpaw Diego Magdaleno in two rounds at the Manchester Arena in October.