British RBR Action - Four big title fights!

Evning All, just thought I'd throw up a preview of this weekend's action from the little islands next to Europe, and it is a doozy of a weekend of boxing. Friday night kicks us off with British Super Featherweight champion Carl Johanneson looking to avenge a defeat, as he takes on the European Super Featherweight champion Leva Kirakosyan at the Barnsley Metrodome.

Then on Saturday, we have the big Sports Network card from the O2 Arena in London with Amir Khan v Willie Limond for the Commonwealth Lightweight title, Matt Skelton v Michael Sprott for the Commonwealth Heavyweight title and Nicky Cook v Steve Luevano for the WBO Featherweight title. Also likely to appear at some point during the evening is Kevin Mitchell's bout against Alexander Hrulev for IBF and WBO Inter-continental Super Featherweight titles. And maybe even a bit from Bradley Pryce v Anthony Small for the Commonwealth Light Middleweight title.

Previews will be posted tomorrow for the main fights, so pull up a pew, grab a beer, and hopefully some of the best of british won't disappoint.
On Friday action begins at 10pm UK and 5pm EST, with Saturday night's fare beginning at 8pm UK, or 3pm EST.

Thanks in advance, Rhun. ;D

CC#570 Rhun :appl: job well done mate...

Really looking forward to Khans 'bout this Sat.... 8)

Oh! yeah! Cooks gonna blast out Luevano. ;)

Thats a nice card. CC for the RBR. The Cook Vs. Luevano one looks good.

I've actually got a meeting with work this morning (shock, horror) so I am going to have to wait till this afternoon to get those previews done, but they are coming I promise you, though if my Luevano profile is a bit sketchy....gimme a break cause I have never seen him lose....yet. ;)

Really looking forward to this weekend ;D

Fight 1: Friday Night, 10pm UK time, 5pm EST.

Carl Johanneson (26-2, 18 KOs) is a journalist's nightmare, as a boxer who is quietly spoken, and likes to do all his talking right in the ring. A big puncher who proved he has 12-round stamina last time out with a comprehensive points win over Ricky Burns, Johanneson will be looking to avenge his last defeat which was to Kirakosyan back in 2004. Since then, the well-travelled Yorkshireman has gone from strength to strength winning central area and British titles, with probably his best performance coming in a four-round demolition of Billy Corcoran. Despite him being a big favourite to take the european title from Kirakosyan, this is likely to be his toughest fight to date, if he is to come through and gain his revenge, and fighting in a packed Barnsley Metrodome will surely give him a boost.

Leva Kirakosyan (25-4, 16KOs) is also a big puncher, and is undefeated since a defeat to Michael Gomez, in the fight before he beat Johanneson. Kirakosyan also held the WBF Super Feather belt, which was Johanneson's first title, but the Spain-based Armenian really claimed his first big win in March, claiming the vacant European title in a 3 round battering of Antonio Joao Bento. At 5 years older than Johanneson, Kirakosyan will know that losing the belt will probably see him slip into journeyman status, so has all the motivation he needs to upset the home fighter. Kirakosyan's right hand has finished a number of fighters, including Johanneson in the first fight, so that will be what he will be looking to land as soon as possible, but at a far outsider, he'll have to prove the bookies wrong to retain his strap.

The bookies must have got this wrong. Carl can't be the fav. Kirakosyan is the champ, in form, can seriously bang, has already done him in 1 round...Gomez was in his pomp and stopped Kirakosyan cause of an injury, if i remember right, and said he's the hardest puncher he's ever faced

I'm a fan of Carl but he defintely seems a bit chinny. Hope i'm wrong big time.

will be watching them live, bu CC again for the effort for the oens who wont be able ot..

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Originally Posted by Fenster

The bookies must have got this wrong. Carl can't be the fav. Kirakosyan is the champ, in form, can seriously bang, has already done him in 1 round...Gomez was in his pomp and stopped Kirakosyan cause of an injury, if i remember right, and said he's the hardest puncher he's ever faced

I'm a fan of Carl but he defintely seems a bit chinny. Hope i'm wrong big time.

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Yup, I see what you mean, but I still want Johanneson to win, despite how hard he was to interview he seems like a nice guy, and as my dad's family is from Leeds I feel I ought to give him my support. But maybe not my cheeky £5 bet...

how long til this fight happens?

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Originally Posted by killersheep

how long til this fight happens?

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Ok guys...the previews are on now so I'd refill my beer, grab a snack, and it'll be fight time in 5 or 10 minutes.

Ringwalk time, and Johanneson with his usual Leeds football chant as he begins his ringwalk. Looks realy focussed, and then slips to Gabrielle's Rise Again. To be honest the more I see him the more I fancy his chances. Ok, well maybe I'm bobbing back and forth, this could well be a pickem fight. Kirakosyan has the old fashioned flannel robe, and looks like there's a towel on his head. He comes out to the Armenian national anthem, and there are a fair few boos for him around the arena. Ok, let's see how it goes, next up it's fight time.

Round 1:

Kirakosyan has about 5 people with him at ringside...the cheapskate wouldn't buy tickets I guess. December 2004 was the last meeting, will Johanneson turn that over. High guard and long jabs for the opening for Johanneson. Kira digs a shot to the ribs. And again, Johanneson will have to watch that one. Wild right from Kira goes behind Johan. Johan jabbing well, but an understandable cautious opening. Covers up as Kirakosyan digs a hook upstairs, then a body shot. Some of thes Johan jabs are getting through, but a flurry of body shots from Kira have Johan backtracking. Those look hard shots. Uppercut from Kira, and a hook to the body. Johan trying to work the jab, and a body shot, but not much venom. His guard remains very high. Hard body shot again from Kira.

Kira takes round 1.
10-9

Round 2:

Kira's body shots are huge, even compared to Johanneson. Johan still working the jab, but follows with a hook this time. High guard from Johan catching most of these Kira hooks. Left to the armpit from Kira. Big right and a body shot, and Johanneson is covering up. Ref has a word with them both. Uppercut from Johan finds guard, then a body shot. Two good uppercuts from Kira, and as he hooks Johan clings on.Kira looking very confident. Good movement as Johan misses two straights then an uppercut. Johanneson needs to establish himself, and a huge left uppercut puts Johan down. Bell as he goes down.

Big round to Kira, he looks rattled, and nose bleeding.
20-17 Kira

Oh Carl is looosing big tonight, hes been beaten before by this guy, he has his number big time

CC Rhun looks like a few folks may be in trouble on the sports book if this goes under.........

Round 3:

Johanneson looked really struggling to get up from that last one. Could be a brief night. Johan slow out of the corner. Kira jabbing hard, and an overhand right puts Johan down again. Seem to be really struggling. Uppercut and a hook, and the ref gives jJohhan a break for pushing. Johan hangs on. Two big uppercuts, and Johan looking to avoid avoid avoud. Jahon looks to push out the jab, but Kira is looking to tee off. Uppercut from Kira, and Johan hits in a right uppercut of his own. They're trading in there, and Johan might be recovering. Good guard and resilience. Two more uppercuts from Kira. Right to the body floors Johan again. He's up again, and Kira puiling forward.

Kira with two knockdowns but Carl is still in there.
30-24.

Round 4:

Me included Greg! Body shot from Kira again. Johanneson with the cagey jabs. Kira looking for the bingo punch now. Jab, uppercut from Johan, and Kira returns two of his own. Big right misses from Kira. Two uppercuts from Kira again, and they get through constantly. Johan jabs out again. Body shot from Kira. Nice left hook, but Johan throws a left. Uppercut from Kira, and Johanneson goes down. REf waves it off as Johanneson writhes on the floor.

4th round KO for Kirakosyan.

Oh dear ;D

Matchmakers must be aplauded ::**

Who tains him ???

Medics are in the ring for Johanneson, giving him oxygen, but he is showing some movement in there. They're being cautious, as he took a real beating against a really strong vicious hitting fighter. He's sitting up now, and looks to have recovered, but still shaky as they lift him onto the stool.

Whoever bet on Carl needs to think very carefully before they lay down their hard earnt pounds again

Carls defence is hands high, stay still and punch light

how you gonna keep anyone off, let alone someone who knows that they can beat you#

Like I said, well done the match makers ;D

That was difficult to watch. Its OK saying if he gets past four he's got a shot but theres only so much he should be expected to take to get there. The Ingles let him take too much IMO.

I will say this though Rhun you are getting damn good at the RBR, improving every time.

Thanks a ton mate.

is Johan OK?

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Originally Posted by ross

Oh dear ;D

Matchmakers must be aplauded ::**

Who tains him ???

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John Durkin is Johanneson's trainer and manager, but I think it's a bit harsh to have a go at the managers. Johanneson deserved his shot, as he had done well and showed plenty of promise in his British title fights, but I guess he still has that title to fall back on. Kirakosyan showed that he might have talent to go beyond European titleship in my opinion too, he is one of the strongest super feathers I've seen out there, and power like that will trouble most everyone.

Man against a boy wasnt it. Kirakosyan looked so strong.

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Originally Posted by killersheep

I will say this though Rhun you are getting damn good at the RBR, improving every time.

Thanks a ton mate.

is Johan OK?

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Cheers Greg, neither looked to clinch so much so it made it easier. Johanneson wlaked out of the ring with a few of the medics and he looks as though he should be alright, but if there's any more news on the box, I'll bring it to you.

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Originally Posted by Memphis

That was difficult to watch. Its OK saying if he gets past four he's got a shot but theres only so much he should be expected to take to get there. The Ingles let him take too much IMO.

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Personally, I probably agree and think that the second knockdown was really all she wrote for him, and that despite showing guts and determination, Kirakosyan was always going to have the power to finish it before it got to the middle rounds.

Frank Maloney said: "It was a bad knockout and perhaps the ref should have stepped in sooner. When he was sitting down he seemed clear headed, but perhaps it should have been stopped in the third.
"Maybe we've found out tonight that Johanneson is a good domestic fighter, and he has a puncher's chance with anyone, but otnight he was beaten by a champion who knew he could just walk through Carl."

Ok guys see ya all, always nice to read about the fights on that side of the pond.

Off to go training now.

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Originally Posted by killersheep

Ok guys see ya all, always nice to read about the fights on that side of the pond.

Off to go training now.

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Have a good evening bro....enjoy the pain! Next up I may as well have a look at the John Fewkes v Tontcho Tontchev fight.

Round 1:

Fewkes opens up with a body shot and an uppercut. More body shots, and within 30 seconds Fewkes is warned his body shots are creeping low. Fewkes busy with body shots, not too much beind them though. Ref warns Fewkes for pushing. Fewkes with some harder hooks to the body, and a reasonable uppercut. He's coming forward plenty, and Tontchev is cut. Ref warns Fewkes for pushing down with the elbow. Jabs and body shots from Fewkes. Nice overhand right towards that cut over the left eye. Body shots and a hook. Those body shots will take their toll, but he throws in the hooks upstairs too.

Fewkes 10-9
This is an 8-rounder at lightweight by the way.

Round 2:

Tontchev pings in a left hook as Fewkes begins behind the jab. According to commentators, Fewkes will win an European ranking if he wins here tonight. Tontchev with a couple of body shots, but Fewkes comes forward with a few nice short lefts. Tontchev keeping a tight guard, and Fewkes doing well with his uppercuts, and has a good range of punches. Tontchev returns some body shots and a straight up top. Puts in some body shots and another uppercut, and Fewkes is looking very good, if not too powerful at the moment. The cut is worsening.

Fewkes again
20-18

Round 3:

Fewkes still busy, varying body shots, short hooks and uppercuts, and Totchev tries to return with hooks to the body. Fewkes is rightly motivated for this one, and is looking impressive with plenty of body movement head movement, and shots from all angles. Nice body shots and hooks again from Fewkes. Right hook fro Tontchev, and he comes back with three or four more body shots, but Fewkes regroups, and comes forward again. Ref warns Fewkes for the elbow. Tontchev looks beat.

Fewkes 30-27

Round 4:

Tontchev looks patched up, but opens better with hooks to the body, and a straight right, but Fewkes is still the one comign forward, with his body shots, and uppercuts. More body shots from Tontchev. Uppercut from Fewkes, but Tontchev with the left. Ref again warning Fewkes for that elbow swnging about. Tontchev with a body shot, but Fewkes with three off his own, then a jab right from Fewkes, and Tontchev clenches. Tontchev with two hooks through to Fewkes, before a hook of his own. Fewkes withdrawn a pint for using his shoulder and elbow repeatedly. Left hook from Tontchev, and Fewkes with a big left of his own. Fewkes looking to unload big with hooks and body shots.

Fewkes loses a point, but he wins the round, so a 9-9 round.
39-36

Round 6???:

Fewkes a little more cautious with jabs, and a body shot. Tontchev swings a wild hook. Nice left uppercut from Fewkes, but he is rocked back by an overhand right from Tontchev. And another, and Fewkes is worrying now. Fewkes steps it back up, with bodyy shots, and a hook up top. His workrate is still going though with jabs and hooks. Tontchev narrowly misses another right, and as he comes forward Fewkes with a good right hand. His right looks a good weapon. Big left to the body and a right from Tontchev.

Fewkes on workrate, and sky cut out one of the rounds, but
49-45 on my 5-round card.

Round 7:

Topntchev opens up with two hooks to the body, and they trade now, and a big right from Tontchev rattles Fewkes, and he clinches, more rights, and tontchev has him reeling, with body shots, and anouther overhand right. Low blow from Fewkes cuts into the rhythm of Tontchev, smart move from Fewkes. They trade right hooks, and another overhand right form Tontchev. He's exposing Fewkes. Left hook lands from Fewkes, but Tontchev lands a harder shot of his own. Fewkes jabbing, and staying out of range, as Tontchev's 90 second fitness sees him fade towards the end of the round again. Wide right hook gets home from Tontchev, and they swap looping rights to the body. Good jab and straight right from Fewkes. He pins Tontchev in the corner, and fires off four body shots before the bell.

Tontchev's round.
59-54 (with one round missing)

Round 8:

Body shots from Tontchev as they begin. Fewkes still working those hooks to the body, but Tontchev replies in kind. Uppercut from Fewkes, and tontchev with another. Three body shots from Fewkes and more hooks , and tontchev gets on his bike. The ref again having a word with Fewkes. He looks to plant his feet and land hard shots. Overhand right from Fewkes, and Tontchev covering up, and backing off, though another overhand right stops him for a second. Two right hooks upstairs from Fewkes. Fewkes warned for using the head. The ref has hard work with Fewkes tonight.

135-44 landed punches, and the ref gives it to Fewkes. He looked very good in the first four rounds, but the imagination and angles of his shots faded on the stretch.

Ref scores it 78-74 over the eight rounds.

Great effort from Fewkes, and I love his passion at the end, that meant alot to him. Is the Geard Ajetovic fight next?

Super , That was great work well done my freind :appl: :appl: cc

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Originally Posted by Fenster

The bookies must have got this wrong. Carl can't be the fav. Kirakosyan is the champ, in form, can seriously bang, has already done him in 1 round...Gomez was in his pomp and stopped Kirakosyan cause of an injury, if i remember right, and said he's the hardest puncher he's ever faced

I'm a fan of Carl but he defintely seems a bit chinny. Hope i'm wrong big time.

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Cc Mate spot on, man that guy is a monster imo, Carl is quite a big Super Featherweight, but that guy could bang, i suppose that was the first fight well i have seem on Sky of Carl being backed up and he wasnt to clever going backwards, maybe a domestic fight with Gomez could be fun?