The heavyweight scene in Britain seems to be rather interesting at the moment, in fact with David Haye mixing it with the world elite, Michael Sprott mixing it with the elite of Europe and a number of exciting prospects coming through Brits have a lot to be excited about. It's odd however that the Best British prospects are all incredibly tall, you have both David Price and Tyson Fury both around 6'8" or 6'9" and then you also have the very interesting Richard Towers who is also 6'8" and lacks hype of the other two men.
Towers, known as the Inferno, is much older than his other British giants at 32 years old and as a result has gone a bit under the radar though talent wise he is well ahead of the other two and has the skills and speed to match his impressive physical presence.
Like a number of notable boxers Tower's (real name Hayles) hasn't always been on the right side of the law, in fact Towers was sentenced to 13 in prison (serving over 6 of them) for kidnap and had had a number of other runs ins with the law as a teenager. Since then however Towers has turned his life around remarkably and matured from being somewhat thuggish into becoming a real model of a person by warning kids off the slippery slope he was once on as well as becoming a real force in the boxing ring.
Towers would make his professional boxing debut after prison and was aged 30 at the time, an advanced age for anyone to start their career, though Towers has gone quietly and efficiently about his new job since 2009. In his debut he defeated the experienced Chris Woollas by decision and did the same over Howard Daley the following month before going on an 8 fight KO streak as the impressive physical specimen showed he had the skill to go with the size.
Although 2010 was a bit of a wasted year in terms of actual action (Towers fought just twice for a combined 3 rounds) 2011 has seen Towers get back on track with 3 fights already and another coming up at the weekend. The most recent of those fights was against Belgian tough-man Ismail Abdoul who took Towers 8 rounds, with Towers pitching a shut out on the referees card.
Towers, currently at 11-0 (8) faces unbeaten Belorussian Yuri Bihoutseu (5-0-1, 5) this coming Saturday at the Ponds Forge Arena in his home city of Sheffield on the undercard of the televised SKY Sports card that also features Gary Buckland v Gary Sykes (British Super Featherweight title fight) and Rendall Munroe v Ryuta Miyagi. I expect Towers to be impressive in defeating the unbeaten power puncher personally, though hopefully Sky will show the highlights.
Towers has both the Ingle gym and Hatton Promotions behind him which are sure to help get the best from him and despite his age he may well be the best bet from the British giants.
Thanks to sheffieldhistory for the video above.
Showing posts with label heavyweight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heavyweight. Show all posts
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Friday, 24 June 2011
Andrzej Wawrzyk
This weekend is a really busy one for boxing fans thanks to a number of noteworthy cards, most obviously the huge Don King card in Missouri. Though the prospect I'm interested in here is a young Polish heavyweight who I have tipped for very, very big things. Andrzej Wawrzyk is 23-0 (10) and at 6'5” he's got the size to be a real force as long as he matures true power that I'm sure he will.
As an amateur Wawrzyk was truly an exceptional youngster in the Super heavyweight division where he won the European juniors and reached the quarter finals of the World juniors both in 2006. Unlike many other top juniors though Wawrzyk turned professional early and was just 19 when he turned to the paid ranks in late 2006.
On his debut Wawrzyk defeated the experienced Ervin Slonka over 4 one-sided rounds and just a week later Wawrzyk would score his first stoppage win by defeating Martin Stensky in the 2nd round. Although Wawrzyk would have his first real problems in his 3rd fight when he was dropped he'd get up and manage to just nick the win there against Aliaksandr Mazaleu.
Within a year of being a professional the giant Pole had run up a record of 11-0 (6) and early in 2008 Wawrzyk would pick up his first professional title, the Polish heavyweight title by defeating Marcin Najman in 2 rounds. He would soon add the WBC Youth World heavyweight title by stopping Harry Duiven Jr from the Netherlands (a fighter who took Odlanier Solis 8 rounds). He would defend both of those titles against Tomasz Bonin by a wide 10 round decision and has been on a string of wins against journeymen since then. Included in the names on Wawrzyk's record are the likes of Oleksiy Mazykin, Harvey Jolly, Lee Swaby and Paul Butlin.
This coming Saturday the huge Pole faces veteran German Andreas Sidon (36-10-0-1, 30) in what is another learning fight as opposed to a real test for the young heavyweight prospect. Wawryzk is, at 23 years old, one of the young emerging heavyweights who is worth following for the next few years.
As an amateur Wawrzyk was truly an exceptional youngster in the Super heavyweight division where he won the European juniors and reached the quarter finals of the World juniors both in 2006. Unlike many other top juniors though Wawrzyk turned professional early and was just 19 when he turned to the paid ranks in late 2006.
On his debut Wawrzyk defeated the experienced Ervin Slonka over 4 one-sided rounds and just a week later Wawrzyk would score his first stoppage win by defeating Martin Stensky in the 2nd round. Although Wawrzyk would have his first real problems in his 3rd fight when he was dropped he'd get up and manage to just nick the win there against Aliaksandr Mazaleu.
Within a year of being a professional the giant Pole had run up a record of 11-0 (6) and early in 2008 Wawrzyk would pick up his first professional title, the Polish heavyweight title by defeating Marcin Najman in 2 rounds. He would soon add the WBC Youth World heavyweight title by stopping Harry Duiven Jr from the Netherlands (a fighter who took Odlanier Solis 8 rounds). He would defend both of those titles against Tomasz Bonin by a wide 10 round decision and has been on a string of wins against journeymen since then. Included in the names on Wawrzyk's record are the likes of Oleksiy Mazykin, Harvey Jolly, Lee Swaby and Paul Butlin.
This coming Saturday the huge Pole faces veteran German Andreas Sidon (36-10-0-1, 30) in what is another learning fight as opposed to a real test for the young heavyweight prospect. Wawryzk is, at 23 years old, one of the young emerging heavyweights who is worth following for the next few years.
Monday, 2 May 2011
Kubrat Pulev
We are all calling for former great Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield to retire from the sport of boxing, though on his up coming card in Denmark where Holyfield faces Brian Nielsen we have one of the hottest rising Heavyweight prospects, Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev. Pulev was a former elite amateur competing on the international scene and being involved in World championships and Olympics before turning professional. Kubrat would continue as an amateur for almost a full year after a very unimpressive 2008 Olympics.
On Pulev's debut he would stop Florian Benke in September 2009 and ended the year 4-0 (2) after adding wins over Serdar Uysal, Gbenga Oloukun and Zack Page. It seemed as if Pulev was going to be active and just need a few years to really establish himself as a premier heavyweight. 2010 started the same way, he stopped former world title challenger Matt Skelton in January and by May 2010 Pulev's record stood at a brilliant 8-0 (5). All of this was achieved in less than 9 months as a professional.
Sadly his career has slowed down substantially since then despite having added good rounds against good heavyweights. In fact his wins have included one time American hopeful Dominick Guinn, Olympic bronze medal winner Paolo Vidoz and also Yaroslav Zavorotnyi (a less impressive victory). He has amassed a solid looking record of 11-0 (5) and has several noteworthy names on his record already, he has shown a good jab and technical skills and although he's not lightning quick or mega powerful the man known “The Cobra” has been winning.
His bout on the Holyfield undercard sees him facing American fighter Derric Rossy who enters with a 25-3 record. Rossy is experienced and has mixed with the likes of Eddie Chambers and Ray Mercer though I can't help but feel that Rossy doesn't bring anything new to the ring that we've not seen already from Pulev's opponents. Rather than staying at this level of opponent what Pulev's management should perhaps do it try and keep pushing him, try and get an opponent like Alexander Dimitrenko who is ranked in the top 15 or so.
Pulev stands around 6'4” and appears to perhaps carry a little bit of extra weight, in fact he'd probably work best in the low 230's instead he's been above and around 247 a weight that really is unnecessary for him. If he can get into shape, and I don't even mean the prime Holyfield ripped to the nines shape, then he'd been a real potential challenger, but instead the soon to be 30 year old seems to have a party boy reputation that could destroy, or at very least, slow his progression to a world title fight.
On Pulev's debut he would stop Florian Benke in September 2009 and ended the year 4-0 (2) after adding wins over Serdar Uysal, Gbenga Oloukun and Zack Page. It seemed as if Pulev was going to be active and just need a few years to really establish himself as a premier heavyweight. 2010 started the same way, he stopped former world title challenger Matt Skelton in January and by May 2010 Pulev's record stood at a brilliant 8-0 (5). All of this was achieved in less than 9 months as a professional.
Sadly his career has slowed down substantially since then despite having added good rounds against good heavyweights. In fact his wins have included one time American hopeful Dominick Guinn, Olympic bronze medal winner Paolo Vidoz and also Yaroslav Zavorotnyi (a less impressive victory). He has amassed a solid looking record of 11-0 (5) and has several noteworthy names on his record already, he has shown a good jab and technical skills and although he's not lightning quick or mega powerful the man known “The Cobra” has been winning.
His bout on the Holyfield undercard sees him facing American fighter Derric Rossy who enters with a 25-3 record. Rossy is experienced and has mixed with the likes of Eddie Chambers and Ray Mercer though I can't help but feel that Rossy doesn't bring anything new to the ring that we've not seen already from Pulev's opponents. Rather than staying at this level of opponent what Pulev's management should perhaps do it try and keep pushing him, try and get an opponent like Alexander Dimitrenko who is ranked in the top 15 or so.
Pulev stands around 6'4” and appears to perhaps carry a little bit of extra weight, in fact he'd probably work best in the low 230's instead he's been above and around 247 a weight that really is unnecessary for him. If he can get into shape, and I don't even mean the prime Holyfield ripped to the nines shape, then he'd been a real potential challenger, but instead the soon to be 30 year old seems to have a party boy reputation that could destroy, or at very least, slow his progression to a world title fight.
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Joe Hanks
American heavyweights have become a global boxing joke in recent years, the term seems synonymous with “old and faded” or “fat and never was”. A look at the top young American heavyweights include blubber boy Chris Arreola, Eddie “Chubby” Chambers and Chazz “My dads name is what I have” Witherspoon. The older bunch include Evander “How old is he now?” Holyfield, Ray “The Oldman” Austin and Hasim “The Crock” Rahman.
Although it's somewhat difficult to know which heavyweight is going to be a star one of America's best hopes is unbeaten Joe “The Future” Hanks. Hanks has a record that reads 15-0 (10) and is seen as a developing heavyweight who is several years from reaching his prime. As a resultof this he has has so far faced relatively average opponents. This trend seems set to continue in his next fight (where as part of a card televised by ESPN 2 as part of “Friday Night Fights” Terrell Nelson) though he's being given time to learn the ropes and get rounds under his belt.
Hanks turned professional in December 2007 after a solid amateur career in the US but doesn't quite seem to have progressed as many hoped he would have. He deburted by defeating Joseph Rabotte in the 2nd round then got taken 4 rounds by Corey Winfield, though his first opponent of note came 15 months after his debut when he faced trail horse Alvardo Morales. Morales had scored a draw with Seth Mitchell and had never been stopped prior to facing Hanks, though Hanks needed just 172 seconds to change that. This was followed by several steps up and was highlighted when he beat the then 10-0 Ashanti Jordan by decision. At this point it seemed like Hank's was being pushed as an emerging heavyweight saviour
Hanks' career though wouldn't continue in the same vein. 2010 seemed a mostly wasted year for Hanks who despite fighting 5 times seemed to regularly take one step forward to take 2 steps back. Wins over journeyman Cliff Couser and the once hotly tipped Johnnie White were followed by fights with novice Marcus Dickerson and Villi Bloomfield (who was coming in on 2 straight losses). It seemed as if Hanks' career management flicked between being confident of their man and being unsure of his capabilities.
The fights he has been given have left some fans as unsure on him as his team appear to be. He has shown good but not great power and speed, technically he looks flawed and sometimes as if he is fighting well within himself. Although having a bit of a “Shannon Briggs” look to him he lacks that fight changing power and destructiveness of “The Cannon” and at times looks like a mini Briggs. He stands at around 6'4” and weights 230-240, with an athletic but muscular build, a far cry from so many other American Heavyweights of today. Hanks is now 28 and will have to make a move in the next 12 months if he wants to become a major player in the division. Sadly his up coming fight on Friday is against Terrell Nelson (8-11, with 2 No Decisions and 5KO's). Nelson enters the bout aged 39 and having gone 0-7, 2ND in his last 9 fights (dating back to 2007), hardly the step up that Hanks needs in his career.
Although it's somewhat difficult to know which heavyweight is going to be a star one of America's best hopes is unbeaten Joe “The Future” Hanks. Hanks has a record that reads 15-0 (10) and is seen as a developing heavyweight who is several years from reaching his prime. As a resultof this he has has so far faced relatively average opponents. This trend seems set to continue in his next fight (where as part of a card televised by ESPN 2 as part of “Friday Night Fights” Terrell Nelson) though he's being given time to learn the ropes and get rounds under his belt.
Hanks turned professional in December 2007 after a solid amateur career in the US but doesn't quite seem to have progressed as many hoped he would have. He deburted by defeating Joseph Rabotte in the 2nd round then got taken 4 rounds by Corey Winfield, though his first opponent of note came 15 months after his debut when he faced trail horse Alvardo Morales. Morales had scored a draw with Seth Mitchell and had never been stopped prior to facing Hanks, though Hanks needed just 172 seconds to change that. This was followed by several steps up and was highlighted when he beat the then 10-0 Ashanti Jordan by decision. At this point it seemed like Hank's was being pushed as an emerging heavyweight saviour
Hanks' career though wouldn't continue in the same vein. 2010 seemed a mostly wasted year for Hanks who despite fighting 5 times seemed to regularly take one step forward to take 2 steps back. Wins over journeyman Cliff Couser and the once hotly tipped Johnnie White were followed by fights with novice Marcus Dickerson and Villi Bloomfield (who was coming in on 2 straight losses). It seemed as if Hanks' career management flicked between being confident of their man and being unsure of his capabilities.
The fights he has been given have left some fans as unsure on him as his team appear to be. He has shown good but not great power and speed, technically he looks flawed and sometimes as if he is fighting well within himself. Although having a bit of a “Shannon Briggs” look to him he lacks that fight changing power and destructiveness of “The Cannon” and at times looks like a mini Briggs. He stands at around 6'4” and weights 230-240, with an athletic but muscular build, a far cry from so many other American Heavyweights of today. Hanks is now 28 and will have to make a move in the next 12 months if he wants to become a major player in the division. Sadly his up coming fight on Friday is against Terrell Nelson (8-11, with 2 No Decisions and 5KO's). Nelson enters the bout aged 39 and having gone 0-7, 2ND in his last 9 fights (dating back to 2007), hardly the step up that Hanks needs in his career.
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Carlos Negron
Last weekend we saw 2 power punching prospects beaten for the first time. Firstly we the very likeable and humble David Lemieux (25-1, 14KO's) lose to the experienced veteran Marco Antonio Rubio (50-5-1, 43KO's) by 7th round TKO. The fight saw Lemieux's trainer Russ Abner throwing in the towel to protect his charge as the experienced Rubio took charge of the fight and dropped Lemieux. The following night was had James Kirkland (27-1, 24KO's) beaten in a single round by Japanese fighter Nabuhiro Ishida (23-6-2, 8KO's). For boxing prospects these two results should act as a big wake up call.
One man who although still unbeaten has already had a giant wake up call of his own is Carlos Negron (11-0, 7KO's). Negron is one of this weeks Puerto Rican prospects that we are featuring here this week and despite only being 23 has had a wake up call and managed to come through the rough patches of his career so far.
Stood at 6'6” and with a huge 83” wingspan Negron turned professional in 2009 weighing around 180lbs. He was an incredibly tall Cruiserweight and despite being young he looked skinny and physically immature, he really looked like he needed filling out. After 3 opening round KO's to start his career Negron would be dropped by Gevonte Davis, this was the wake up call that Negron perhaps needed. Although he continued to make the 180's it was only a year later that he weighed in around 194 and looked a much better fighter, he had filled out and no longer looked like a somewhat scrawny fighter.
In late 2010 it was announced that Negron was going to be fighting as a heavyweight in future and for his first fight of 2011 he weighed in at 211lbs. Negron would win his heavyweight debut over Willie Herring by decision as he went 8 rounds for the first time. Almost a year previously Negron had weighed just 181lbs (when he defeated Garrett Wilson). Negron fights for the 2nd time as a heavyweight this coming weekend when he faces Native American heavyweight Emerson Chasing Bear (4-1-2, 3KO's), a loss for Negron is unthinkable though he has already learned the lessons he's needed. No longer will Negron start fights by thinking his power is all he needs, in fact his power as a heavyweight likely won't really appear for several years instead Negron will start to work with his physical advantages, his imposing figure is something that he has to use. His reach should be his key, it's actually longer than that of Wladimir Klitschko and only 2 inches shorter than Nikolay Valuev's.
Negron though isn't all about his short professional career, a career that has only featured 30 rounds. Carlos was also a brilliant amateur. He had won a silver medal in the 2005 Pan-American games and a bronze at the Central American and Caribbean Games the following year. Although he was unimpressive in the 2008 Olympics he was already having a growing reputation and would sign a professional deal very young. His size, skills and youth are all great aspects to one of Puerto Rico's top prospects and a fighter that all fight fans need to be taking note of.
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