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| Warren's new generation rises to the top The promoter is in confident mood as his stable of British boxers move in sight of world title fightsNathan Cleverly is going places. So is his Welsh mate Enzo Maccarinelli, and it is at the core of the vagaries that define this cruel sport that their destinations look to be at polar ends of the boxing landscape.Maccarinelli was shockingly knocked out in Birmingham yesterday night for the fifth time in a career of high drama, yet in the immediate aftermath he did not seem inclined to walk away from the sport he is addicted to, to cherish his accomplishments as a former European and world cruiserweight champion. Old belts pay no bills."I was winning it," he said. He was. "I just got caught." And that he did – much worse even than on the night David Haye signalled the start of his decline in two rounds two years ago.His promoter, Frank Warren, has offered the hugely likeable Maccarinelli a decent alternative, to co-promote with him in Wales. But Maccarinelli has just turned 30. He needs the money. It is his job. Those are the only arguments a fighter towards the end of his working life wants to hear, although he could hear little but buzzing in his head as Alexander Frenkel stood over him 30 seconds from the end of round seven, after the appallingly inattentive Finnish referee, Erkki Meronen, had allowed the unbeaten German power-hitter a second shot at the plainly defenceless Welshman.For Cleverly, the ever-smiling 23-year-old university maths graduate from Cefn Fforest, the road ahead is blessed in sunshine and riches. By Christmas, he should be the WBO light-heavyweight champion, to go with British, European and Commonwealth belts that already grace his mantelpiece after just 20 professional fights. He is as hungry for more as Maccarinelli is desperate to stay in the game.In nine-and-a-bit rounds against the tough Armenian-born Karo Murat, in what was billed as a final eliminator for Jürgen Brähmer's WBO title, Cleverly confirmed he is a maturing fighter of dazzling speed and natural ringcraft, prepared to flirt with danger to please the fans. He took more than he had to but he finished it well.If he cannot get Brähmer, who has a court case pending over an assault conviction, Cleverly is prepared to look even higher. "I'd happily fight Chad Dawson, Jean Pascal [who beat Dawson last month to retain his WBC title] or Bernard Hopkins [Pascal's next opponent] over the next 18 months," he said.Brähmer might yet be forced to vacate his title, and Warren hopes it will pass automatically to Cleverly, who is the No1 contender. If Brähmer survives his legal problems, Warren will start negotiations with him to defend his title on a bill in London on 11 December that will include several of his front-line fighters in major contests. Most prominent among them is the super-middleweight James DeGale, who took out the tough Scouser Carl Dilks in a round and is within a couple of contract arguments of a showdown with his fellow Londoner George Groves, the Commonwealth champion."That should be James's next fight," Warren said. "They will be receiving a written offer from me [today]. If they want the fight, they've got it."It would be a fight to savour between two of the most talented young prospects in the business – and a shock to anyone familiar with boxing politics if it comes off, as Groves is promoted by Haye, one of Warren's promotional rivals.Warren insists his own heavyweight star, Derek Chisora, who stopped Sam Sexton in seven rounds to retain his British title and take the Norwich man's Commonwealth belt, is ready for anyone in Europe. "An ideal match would be Audley Harrison [who challenges Haye for his WBA title on 13 November in Manchester]," Warren said. "We would take Tyson Fury in a heartbeat. He would do a job on Nikolai Valuev. In fact, I will be having talks with Wilfried Sauerland [the Russian's promoter] this week.""Delboy" Chisora, who has placed himself in the big picture with words and deeds, said: "It is not a matter of who I want to fight. I'll fight anyone. Right now it's about who wants to fight me."Of the other Warren fighters who paraded their wares on a promotion billed as "The Magnificent Seven", Kell Brook had the least satisfying victory, a cuts stoppage of his friend Michael Jennings in four rounds, but that also puts the unbeaten Sheffield welterweight in line for a world title fight in December. "We expect Manny Pacquiao to vacate the WBO title," Warren said, "so Kell as No1 contender is next in line."Matthew Macklin, in his second spell with Warren after a nomadic few years, is another in the mix for a world title shot. He reclaimed the European middleweight championship he relinquished in March with an impressive stoppage of the unbeaten Georgian Shalva Jomardashvili at the start of the sixth round.For Warren, life is suddenly a bit rosier. He took a gamble – and probably a bath at the gate – by putting so many of his well-paid fighters on one bill, but he reckons it was worth it."I've had a very difficult year," he said. "Setanta went bust, I had no contract with Sky. In fact, I've had fewer shows than ever. But now this is the most exciting I've ever had in boxing. The December show is my 30th anniversary. This is the cherry on the cake for me."BoxingJames DeGaleKevin Mitchellguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Capitals' Ovechkin vs. Penguins' Crosby on HBO's '24/7' Exhibitionism, via the Internet, appears to be the new way of life for millions. So, this was probably inevitable: Pro teams, during their seasons, ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
Gavin Quinnell 'loses sight in left eye' • Forward suffered injury during Llanelli's loss to Cross Keys• BBC report that emergency surgery failed to save his sightThe Scarlets forward Gavin Quinnell has reportedly lost the sight in his left eye after an incident during Llanelli's 27-19 Welsh Premiership defeat at Cross Keys on Saturday.Quinnell spent two nights in hospital after going emergency surgery, but according to the BBC doctors were unable to save his sight in the eye.Llanelli have cited an unnamed player from Cross Keys and are waiting to hear whether the Welsh Rugby Union will take the matter further. Cross Keys have so far declined to comment, but Gwent police are also investigating."We have received information regarding the allegation of an assault which occurred at Cross Keys Rugby Club on Saturday when a man was injured and received treatment," said a Gwent police spokesman. "We are currently working with Llanelli RFC, Cross Keys RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union."ScarletsRugby unionguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Gretzky's son to play baseball at San Diego State By 2010-10-13T14:46:44ZSAN DIEGO (AP) -- Trevor Gretzky, son of hockey great Wayne Gretzky, has committed to play baseball at San Diego State.... hosted.ap.org |
Prestige is the driving force for Chisora The Commonwealth champion is heading up to Fort William to prepare for his WBA title fight with Wladimir KlitschkoDereck Chisora and his promoter Frank Warren claim the unbeaten London heavyweight is fighting the two-belt world champion Wladimir Klitschko in Germany on 11 December for the same money David Haye rejected.And how much would that be? "Crap," the blunt young challenger said. So, with one possibly indiscreet word, Chisora inadvertently spikes the accusation that Haye, who defends his WBA version against Audley Harrison in Manchester next month, was the hard-bargaining villain in protracted negotiations over the past two years with Klitschko, owner of the IBF and WBO titles, and his brother, Vitali, the WBC champion.But then doublespeak is the lingua franca of the fight game – not that Chisora is complaining about a deal that could deliver not just one Klitschko but both of them. Nobody is talking specifics about that package, except to say all parties are happy. For Chisora, the prize glows brightly enough to make up for his small purse against Wladimir."My world hasn't changed," Chisora said. "I just get in the ring and box. Nothing gets to me. I'm prepared. I know the Germans are going to try to discomfort me. I'm from the streets. I'm wiser than them. When we signed the contracts, Frank said: 'These guys are bastards.' I said: 'I'm more a bastard than them.' But at least we've signed the contract. The fight is on. But they are bastards. They were saying that if I say anything they'll pull out. You know what? I don't care."Chisora lights up his sport in an earthy way. "The Americans who went to Germany to fight [the Klitschkos] just went to get paid. I'm not going there just to get paid. They offered me crap money but this is me fighting for the sport I love and the titles I want. What winds me up every day is that they have made the game very, very boring."That's the sound of a hungry fighter, a big, tough article from Zimbabwe via Finchley and, lately, Hampstead, a free-swinging, 26-year-old bruiser with only 14 contests but, crucially, two titles, the British and Commonwealth. Those belts, secured recently in his second impressive stoppage of Sam Sexton, give him credibility as a challenger. Warren did the rest, nailing the challenge in only five days, an unusually short time in which to agree terms over a world title fight.When they met in London Klitschko, one of boxing's gentlemen, sought to keep relations cordial. "He's definitely impressed me with his spectacular knockout [of Sexton] in September. I have to give a lot of respect to Dereck for taking this chance, without considering it too long. The other man [Haye] was talking a lot but never faced me in the ring."Warren said: "This is a three-fight deal, the same deal that was offered to David Haye. There's a 50-50 agreement in it, so I don't know why Haye didn't sign it. This is a fantastic opportunity for Dereck. We believe his dream, and my dream as well, is going to become reality."There is another reality check before then, though. Chisora has pleaded guilty to charges of assault and theft dating from 28 May and is due in the City of Westminster magistrates court on 10 November for a pre-sentencing report. Warren says he does not expect the court case to affect the fight.The promoter is putting on a series of quality promotions lately, this Mannheim fight dovetailing with the second leg in Liverpool on the same evening, when Nathan Cleverly, Matthew Macklin, Kell Brook and James DeGale move closer to world title shots.In the early hours of the following morning, Amir Khan defends his world light-welterweight title against Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas, although Sky, which is screening the first two shows, has yet to sign a deal with Khan to cover his fight.Chisora, meanwhile, heads for Fort William in the Scottish Highlands next week.BoxingDavid HayeJames DeGaleAmir KhanKevin Mitchellguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |