Weekend Roundup

It’s been a busy time for boxing in the UK.

This weekend, the annual Beechcomber Club event saw Grimsby Boxer – Kevin Hooper win the vacant British Masters Lightweight Title – outpointing Devon man – Jamie Speight. Also on the Carl Greaves Bill – Cuban born Alexei Collado of Ireland outpointed Franklin Varela of Venezuala in their ten round Super-Bantamweight Contest.

At the Northgate Arena, Chester, Local man – Chris Goodwin won the International Masters Lightweight Title by outpointing Kenyan – Geoffrey Munika. Munika came in overweight for the contest and had he won – would not have won the title.

On the same Bill – Paul Economides of Connahs Quay won the British Masters Super-Bantamweight Title by outpointing Shaun Doherty of Bradford.

Frank Warrens new boxing TV station – ‘BoxNation’ screened an action-packed show in Liverpool on Saturday.

A closely fought contest saw Welshman – Nathan Cleverly, retain his WBO Light-Heavyweight Title despite a fantastic effort by local man Tony Bellew.

Not a British fight, but we surely must mention Bernard Hopkins v Chad Dawson which saw fight fans from across the globe tune in. Little did we all know that the much hyped Title fight would end in such a ‘crazy’ manner!

After an action-lacking start, the last twenty seconds of round two sees Dawson adopt a wrestling-style grapple – lifting Hopkins up and virtually throwing him to the canvas. Hopkins falls on his left elbow and shoulder – landing part-way through the ropes. Still on the canvas, Hopkins is gesturing to his shoulder and making no attempt to get up. Scenes afterwards show confusion on all sides with the exception of the Referee (Pat Russell) who is apparently in no doubt and clearly states several times – “I am not calling it a foul – it is a TKO”.

Team Dawson don’t look happy – despite the fact that Dawson has won the Title and is now the new WBC Light-Heavyweight Champion by Technical KO.

Team Hopkins are clearly upset! And the world debates another controversial boxing decision!
A statement released later – reported that Doctors diagnosed Hopkins with ‘separation of the acromioclavicular (A-C) joint which connects the collar bone and shoulder blade’.

Back in the UK, David Haye issued a statement confirming his retirement from boxing last Thursday -on his 31st Birthday. The former WBA Heavyweight Champion lost out to Wladimir Klitschko in July.

Amir Khan has travelled to his Los Angeles camp in the run-up to his fight with Lamont Peterson. Khan will defend the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation light-welterweight world titles at the Washington Convention Centre on Dec 10.

And finally, British Amateur Boxers continue to do well in a bid for their place at the London 2012 Olympics. last Sunday – Anthony Joshua, Andrew Selby and Luke Campbell of Great Britain’s elite boxing team, came back from the World Amateur Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan with Silver Medals alongside Tommy Stalker who won Bronze.