Boxing Perspective: M.E.N Madness

Same old, same old…

I can only draw one conclusion from watching Audley Harrison’s ‘career’; the man likes upsetting us. Ever since striking gold in 2000, Harrison has subjected the boxing watching public to what can only be described as a fistic cure for insomnia.

The latest instalment in the lowlight that is Harrison’s career saw him labour to a ten round decision over Brazilian cruiserweight George Arias. It took all of ten seconds for the M.E.N crowd to turn on Harrison as a he once again picked and poked and grunted his way through another ‘fight’.

Arias tried to make a contest of things and his flurries of punches regularly landed on Harrison’s chin and body, bringing cheers from an oddly behaved crowd. Harrison for his part did occasionally open up and let some leather fly, which prompted the commentary team to remark that at times Harrison looks world class.

In truth, the only thing world class about Harrison is his gob. “I got the win, still believe that I can win a world title, that guy went the distance with Johnny Nelson.” Well, that changes everything then doesn’t it?

Raise me up with Power?

In the co-main event, ‘Amazing’ Alex Arthur surrendered his WBO Super Featherweight title he never actually won in the ring to Dagenham’s Nicky Cook.

Cook was the busier fighter throughout, landing with cleaner, better punches. He was the clear winner in everyone but Alex Arthur’s eyes, who later cried robbery.

Between rounds, Arthur could be heard asking for faith and to be raised up with power. Initially I thought it was an impromptu X-Factor audition and he was rattling off a Josh Groban number.

Turns out the Edinburgh man was asking for divine intervention. Why do boxers do that? Surely they must all be aware that unless you’re Rocky Balboa the man upstairs simply has better things to do with his time?

Congratulations to Nicky Cook. Not only for the performance and the title win, but also for reassuring me that not all of the home fighters featuring in the televised events have lost their grip on reality.

Gone in 60 seconds

Ok, so it was actually fifty four seconds, but who was counting? I’d imagine Team Khan were counting just how many millions they watched go down the drain, I’m sure someone was on hand to count Amir’s teeth to ensure they were all present and correct, then there’s referee Terry O’Connor, but he only had to count to ten so that doesn’t count…anyway, I digress.

Amir Khan was simply blown away by Colombian Breidis Prescott. The first telling punch of the fight, a Prescott jab, had Khan back on his heels and the end followed pretty swiftly. A hefty Prescott left hook, high on the head, had Khan on queer street and a follow up left hook to the chin had him on the deck.

Khan somehow beat the count and convinced O’Connor to let him continue, but he should have been stopped in all honesty. Prescott wasted no time in delivering the coup de grace as another left hook on the chin had Khan down and out.

It was pointed out on the SaddoBoxing forum that Khan was lucky that the follow up right hook Prescott was in the process of throwing didn’t land. To be fair, he wouldn’t have felt a thing, the lad could have had root canal surgery on the way down and been none the wiser.

Where this leaves Khan, I don’t know. World class offence, British class defence and a Pele Reid class chin. I’ve read plenty since the event about Breidis Prescott and how he might be the second coming of Thomas Hearns and packs a Julian Jacksonesque dig. The Sky boys on the night also offered similar observations, Amir in the wrong place at the wrong time against someone who genuinely has the goods, we just didn’t know it.

Whilst these things could be true, it’s unlikely isn’t it. If Breidis Prescott was the second coming of anyone, we would have known more about him. Sadly for Amir Khan, the truth is that Breidis Prescott is a decent fighter who has a bit of pop; he is not the new Thomas Hearns. We didn’t know much about Breidis Prescott before Saturday night, the only new information we have is that he is better than Amir Khan.

Well done Breidis Prescott, a stunning victory and a sure-fire springboard on to bigger and better things. Well done also to those brave enough to put a few quid on Prescott in the first…I’m not envious one bit.