±«Óătv

Hi Ben - good to see British boxing getting a New Year big up and - yes - 2011 promises to be a great year as, particularly, Amir Khan and David Haye try to move from 'champion' to 'superstar' status. Matthew Macklin has got to be my one-to-watch. Like Khan and Haye, he has come back from defeats and understand what it's like to lose. I think that makes him a better fighter. Love to see him grab a world strap.

My hope for 2011 is more quality PPVs on Sky - like the Khan one - rather than the dross that was Audley Harrison v Haye. If you are paying out over the already inflated Sky prices, you expect a lot of top quality fighting - not just an 'event.'

Haye unifying the Heavyweight division, possible – yes, probable – no.

Khan beating the winner of Timothy Bradley v Devon Alexander, 50/50, the 140 lb division is one of the strongest.

Froch getting to the final – yes (although Johnson should not be viewed as an easy match), winning – no. Ward is too good!

Clervery must improve on his last performance if he has ambitions at Light Heavyweight and he knows it.

Magee causing an upset against Bute – no chance!

“2011 could be one of those rare years when British boxing bursts into full bloom.” Let’s hope so but A LOT of very hard fights to be won first.

I love boxing

The fights are there, it's just if the general public gets to see them. Froch had a FOTY contender against Kessler then utterly outclassed Abraham to regain a world title but he's still no-where near enough known about by the general public to the level he deserves.

So let's hope we get both the fights made, and the chance for ITV and ±«Óătv to open the purse strings to televise them for the wider public...Audley burnt the Beeb's fingers bad but I hope that might change.

There is no chance in these cash-strapped times that the ±«Óătv will extend their boxing coverage, which is going to remain limited to the amateurs on occasion; the magazine show on Five Live and commentaries on the biggest fights - which I've found invaluable at times. I think, considering the finances, the ±«Óătv's contribution is very good. I look back on those days when Harrison's career was being shaped on the Beeb to the other fighters getting terrestrial coverage - Froch, Haye, Clinton Woods - and you have to see it as a remarkable hey day. Rather like free university education.

The only reason Barker/Macklin is a close call is down to Barker's recent inactivity. Barker is likely to be one of the best opponents Macklin's faced and I think he possesses enough to trouble and probably beat Macklin.
Despite his supposed top flight training at the Wildcard with Freddie Roach, Macklin has once again shown that he's some way off World title contention but as he's a Warren fighter, he's getting the opportunities and not the likes of Barker.
Many think Haye gets busted up by Wlad and stopped late but I still think Haye takes care of him before halfway...simply too quick and hits too hard. Vitali is a tougher nut to crack so, unsightly as it may be, I think Haye adopts the same strategy he used against Valuev (hopefully his hands hold out this time).
I'd like to see Murray get a title shot but if JMM's plan to move up and face Manny for a third time falls through then I think John's destined to hover around Euro level until he stagnates.

Does this positive outlook for the upcoming year look exciting enough for the ±«Óătv to actually make an attempt to show the sport in the forthcoming year?

In case you were in any doubt the question above is very much rhetorical. Have watched the sport long enough to understand the ±«Óătv's level of commitment to it.

if we go into 2012 with more World Champions than we start it will be a success, Degale shouldn't rush into anything, he's got the talent to be p4p top 10 in 5 years time just as long as he doesn't try to much to soon, khan will beat ortiz and alexander/bradley in 2011 and then move up to welter start of 2012, froch will beat Johnson and then Him Vs Ward is 50/50, Haye beats Wlad doesn't fight Vitali and cleans up Chisora before he retires, Burns won't hold on long, Clev will be world champion by 2012, Brook will be lining up a title fight for early 2012

There's one fighter who will stand above the rest.

Hes chuuuuuuuuunkaaaaaay, so chuuuuuuuuunkay

As it has been fortold, so it will come to pass.

Have to disagree with you on a couple of things Ben. I dont think a unification match for Cleverly against any of the other belt holders next year would be a good move. I dont think hes ready. Aside from perhaps Cloud who is also relatively green, the other big guns in the division are experienced world level operators and I think would be too much for Cleverly at this stage. I fully expect him to slow down a bit if he captures a title and go for a few WBO routine defences with a unification match 2012 earliest.

With regards Haye - as far as I can tell he hasnt done anything more than agree to the offer the Klitschkos have had on the table for some time now. I dont think it stretches to include Vitali at this point either.

Haye starts as favourite against both brothers for me. Wlad's too cautious, if he gambled and threw his right hand, he stand a good chance of stopping Haye but he doesn't throw it till he's beat the guy severly.

Vitali way past it now, Haye's movement and speed should be too much.

Big year for Khan and Froch. Unification match ups should be on the cards.

Likely opponents are Bradley and Ward, two very tough match ups.

I agree, at this stage, Khan isn't close to being ready for Mayweather.

The Super 6 was a great idea - yet poorly thought out with few contigencies.

Soon it would be the S5 (Taylor retired), then S4 (Kessler injured), now S3 (Dirrell injured).

The concept was good but with so many quality fighters pulling out takes the shine off the tournament.

A review and re-think for the format is needed.

Great story with Burns, how long can he keep the dream going?

Cleverly should beat the winner of Breahmer/Shumenov but needs more experience and developing before looking for the top dogs.

Pascal will have his hands full over the next year with rematches with Dawson and Hopkins.

Cloud 2/3 fights down the line should be the target for Cleverly, with the other guys coming after.


Brook should get a World Title early 2012, again he needs experience before looking at the main men. Talk of Khan is way too premature, Brook hasn't been in with anybody that'll hit him back yet.

Jennings is a good scalp but he needs stiffer tests before progressing to top dogs.

DeGale is in too much of a rush and I think he'll find even if he's ready, politics will dictate that he doesn't get to fight for a strap before 2012, possible injuries etc could see it pushed back even further.

Best of luck to Magee but it's difficult to see him coming back with the belt.

Groves DeGale won't happen at British level, too much to lose for the loser.

I think Macklin Barker will only happen if both make it to World level, Macklin's lookin for a World Title shot and Barker is still injured.

Murray Rees would be a cracking match up.

Chisora's going to have to bide his time, money for nothing if Wlad and Haye get it on before he gets his shot at Wlad.

Monroe was valiant effort, possible him and Rhodes get another crack before the years out.

Saunders seems to been out injured for mucvh of last year, still not certain about Gavin. This year will tell us a lot more about whether he's destined for the top or not.

Brook should get a World Title early 2011 (not 2012, again he needs experience before looking at the main men. Talk of Khan is way too premature, Brook hasn't been in with anybody that'll hit him back yet.

The super-6 was never going to work. Boxers would always pull out after a loss. Better to have had 2 groups of 3, at least then nobody is out of it until they have finished both group fights and the whole thing could be dne in 18 months.

Big year for most of those British boxers for sure - Froch is absolute class, never afraid to duck anyone or fight the best. Haye on the other hand I will reserve judgement on, lost ALL credibility when he took on Harrison and is constantly ducking the Klitschko brothers...will believe it when i see it!

Haye has fought bums at heavyweight and is over rated. Hit's very hard but can't see him beating a Klitshcko.

Khan is over rated and how he got the decision against Maidana (A fighter who let's not forget got beaten by Kotelnik - then man who Khan ran away from for 12 rounds) I'll never know. He couldn't beat Bradley or Alexander or John Murray or Paul McCloskey. He is an average fighter who has reached his pinnacle.

I think it will be a good year for Burns, Murray, Cleverly, Willie Casey, Paul McCloskey and some of the other young lads. I hope it will be a bad year for Haye, Khan and Froch.

Also, Kenny Anderson with a full training camp beats Groves, Ge Gale, Magee and with a few more fights probably Froch as well. De Gale and Groves are nothing special.

BiiiiiG_Al: Why do you hope it will be a bad year for Haye, Khan and Froch?

Sorry Ben but spot the ±«Óătv mistake - Gavin Rees was WBA champ at 140 not 147lb.

Haye will have a go at big Wlad and will either get clubbed about for 8 or 9 rounds before being stopped or will land one, big left hand flush on Klitchsko's chin and it will be goodnight Vienna.

Froch I think might just get by Ward, who I think is a touch over-rated.

2011 should be an excellent year for British boxing

What an odd world - we (rightly) object to dog fights, bear baiting and the like, but have no qualms about paying men to try and inflict a brain injury on each other. "It's ok because it's voluntary" is the usual fatuity offered in its support. Of course there are moments of high skill and possibly for some observers an aesthetic pleasure. A few concussions will doubtless dull the participants to those aspects, as they stumble to the bank or, later, the unemployment line.
This disgusting spectacle should be banned. And you a cricket fan!

>>> And you a cricket fan!

Just to get my bearings...this is the sport where a bowler is legally entitled to aim a ball made of cork and leather - possibly travelling at speeds up to 90 mph? - directly at an opposition player in spite of any damage this may cause the batsman

>>> This disgusting spectacle should be banned.

Hi Ben, nice little trailer for 2011 for the casual fight fan. A few poitns:

Surely it makes more sense for Cleverly to challenge B-Hop, after all Clev is not a big name here yetr and this will raise his profile hugely.

Gutted that I didn't get to see Froch beat either Kessler or Abrahams. It's a travesty really, esp since his fights V Pascal and Taylor were very good. Poor guy, 2 great fights and wins against top opposition and no one saw it! Maybe he should take on Degale on Sky to raise his profile.

With Roach behind him Khan will be hard to stop. He has size, talent, attitude and technique. I think he will become a big fan favourite, if not actually a legendary champ. His fights are just too entertaining.

Why is David Haye retiring when he is just getting interesting?? He's only been at the top for a bit. Look at Len, he fought top guys right from the word go and didn't stop till he had beaten them all.

what about Kevin Mitchell? He looked exciting but under-prepared V Katsidis. Is it all over for him already?

Rees and Magee have always struck me as very ordinary - not really ones to watch imho

But of course, every fight fans number 1 wish for 2011 is something that won't happen - Floyd getting in the ring with Manny. There is waaaaay too much for him to lose. Just shows that the big 0 on your record will eventually become a millstone and stop you from becoming a true great (eh Joe?). Having a couple of defeats never stopped a fighter from being a legend.

Hi Ben, nice little trailer for 2011 for the casual fight fan. A few poitns:

Surely it makes more sense for Cleverly to challenge B-Hop, after all Clev is not a big name here yetr and this will raise his profile hugely.


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Cleverly is as green as they come, with little to no World level experience, it would crazy to put him in with somebody as knowledable, experienced and accomplished as Hopkins at this stage.

B-Hop just 'drew' (most people think beat Pascal) in a fight that knockdowns aside, B-Hop dominated 2/3rds of the fight and at times took Pascal to school.

Pascal is somebody that has World level experience against Froch, Diacanoux2 and Dawson and he still struggled to compete with Hopkins.

Anybody looking after Cleverly's career that would consider putting him in with Hopkins, before Cleverly has good World level experience and then World Class experience would be potentially ruining his career.

Hopkins ruins fighters career's that are World Class with World Class experience, what's he going to do to a fighter that doesn't have any World level experience, let alone World Class.

Cleverly is only 23, has huge potential, but the one thing you cannot buy is experience.

B-Hop will have no interest in Cleverly, because at the moment he isn't an established name.

By the time he could become one, I think Hopkins will have retired or moved up to Cruiser to try and make history there.


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Gutted that I didn't get to see Froch beat either Kessler or Abrahams. It's a travesty really, esp since his fights V Pascal and Taylor were very good. Poor guy, 2 great fights and wins against top opposition and no one saw it! Maybe he should take on Degale on Sky to raise his profile.


DeGale is at least, a few years off being ready to face Froch and by this point Froch will have retired or moved to light heavy.

Doubt very much at his age, whether he'd fancy taking on a hungry younger fighter.


Froch will however, most likely be on Sky for his next couple of fights.

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With Roach behind him Khan will be hard to stop. He has size, talent, attitude and technique. I think he will become a big fan favourite, if not actually a legendary champ. His fights are just too entertaining.

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Future looks bright for Khan.


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Why is David Haye retiring when he is just getting interesting?? He's only been at the top for a bit. Look at Len, he fought top guys right from the word go and didn't stop till he had beaten them all.


He's had that date in mind for a long-time lets hope he can make the fights with the Klits before the date.

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what about Kevin Mitchell? He looked exciting but under-prepared V Katsidis. Is it all over for him already?


Think he'll be back early next year.


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Rees and Magee have always struck me as very ordinary - not really ones to watch imho


Rees has won a World so potentially can challenge and win one, certain fights he has to stay away from for sure e.g. Katsidis, Marquez.

Rees Murray would be a cracker!

Don't hold out much hope for Magee.

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But of course, every fight fans number 1 wish for 2011 is something that won't happen - Floyd getting in the ring with Manny. There is waaaaay too much for him to lose. Just shows that the big 0 on your record will eventually become a millstone and stop you from becoming a true great (eh Joe?). Having a couple of defeats never stopped a fighter from being a legend.

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Floyd Manny everybody wants to see.

Having defeats doesn't make you a true great. It's all about opinons.

Longevity - holding WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF World Champ 11 years, producing arguably the best performance from a British fighter, ruining Lacy, unifying the divison twice - beating Kessler.

Becoming the undisputed SM Champ and holding the Ring SM belt and then stepping up to LH and beating Legend B Hopkins in his own backyard can do it.

But, it's all about opinions.

I'm really looking forward to a great year of boxing it's just a shame I have to watch all of my fights on YouTube since ITV abandoned their coverage.
The ±«Óătv really should pick up ITV's proverbial dropped ball since they have jumped ship just when British boxing has really started to heat up!!
Come on ±«Óătv it is a disgrace that boxing is not shown on any free to air chanels when we are saturated (and multi millions of ÂŁ spent covering) with football, rugby, formula 1 (zzzzzz), and golf(zzzzzzzz).

Wot about undefeated European Light Welterweight Champ Paul "Dudie" McCloskey?

"Having defeats doesn't make you a true great"

Doesn't stop you being a great either, if you duck fighting the other good/great fighters out there to preserve your unbeaten record then that does.

Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Leonard - all considered to be all time greats & all had defeats on their records. It's not the defeats that count, it's how you come back.

"Having defeats doesn't make you a true great"

Doesn't stop you being a great either, if you duck fighting the other good/great fighters out there to preserve your unbeaten record then that does.

Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Leonard - all considered to be all time greats & all had defeats on their records. It's not the defeats that count, it's how you come back.

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Agreed, I just meant that because you don't have defeats doesn't mean your your not.

Beating the best guy in the SM in Kessler and then the best imo M,SM or LH in Hopkins isn't protecting your 0. They are very loseable fights.

Somebody like Ottke, on the other hand, never fought anybody elite and retired with an 0 which is different.

I really don't know that much about boxing but love watching it occasionally when I get the chance! Always good to support the brits! Anyway, I have a question (please excuse me if it's a silly one). Which belt, boxing federation is held in highest regard? I get quite confused seeing all these different boxing federation belts and I have no idea which one is actually considered the most "valuable"!
Thanks!

I'm sorry for this basic question. why have we won the ashes before the end of the series?

Disappointed to read that SKY TV have so much power over World Boxing, yes, i know Haye is contracted to them , and yes i know the money has to come from somewhere, but bearing in mind that us fans pay ÂŁ15 a pop for the box office events as well as (in my case at least) ÂŁ60 a month for the viewing packages , they may have realised that the British public and their paying customers may have been very keen on a 2 for ÂŁ20 or even ÂŁ25 deal to watch Khan and Haye fighting in April. Just imagine, if they had done that we would have been able to watch the (only?) most exciting Heavyweight clash available go ahead. Now it seems, due to the power exerted by Murdoch's group Boxing fans and Boxing in general will have to settle for Haye knocking over another no hoper and Klitschko v Chisora (No offence Del, but we want to see Haye get his chance at unifying the belts). Just so they can make ÂŁ30 off their subscribers for the privilege.

Why would Amir come back to the UK to fight after announcing himself in such style on boxing’s biggest stage. I am aware that he stated he wanted to come back immediately after the fight but it seems like a step in the wrong direction. When is the last time Manny outside the US? He’s got the style and pace the US fans love, don’t step out of the spot light when you’re the new hot ticket mate. Also it can’t be stated enough, what a fight against Maidana.

17. At 7:33pm on 30 Dec 2010, HockeyHai wrote:
BiiiiiG_Al: Why do you hope it will be a bad year for Haye, Khan and Froch?

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Coz Biiiig Al is one of those people this country is breeding that is bitter, miserable slightly riight wing that only wishes to see bad things happen to others! Its a very british trait!

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