Boxing 2023

[LeeB]

Saudi Arabia doesn't need to ruin boxing, it's doing a good enough job by itself.

Yep, I'm just not bothered any more. Fights that should happen, don't. The governing bodies all have their own agendas, as do the promoters and TV companies.

I don't like UFC and MMA as a sport but they are doing a better job.

I can't stand UFC and MMA and they're run by MAGA fascists and exploit their talent financially, even moreso than in boxing.

Saying they do it better is like praising Qatar for the speed they got their stadiums up.

[edgysatsuma89]

I'm not being funny and I know it's incredibly unlikely but I hope this bloke bangs out Fury. I'm sick of the best heavyweight boxers not fighting each other.

I know exactly what you mean, but that would be *such* a bad thing. It's bad enough that other combat sportspeople are able to waltz in without any amateur or career pedigree and step over boxers who have dedicated their lives to the sport.

If one of them were to beat the heavyweight champion of the world, that would do such harm to the credibility of the sport, which - as Dave and you allude to - is already doing itself no favours whatsoever.

The only time I supported Mayweather since I started following boxing was when he fought McGregor, for example.

Stop talking sense Rory, you're ruining my vibe. I've adjusted my position to hoping the next boxer he fights, if he actually fights one, bangs him out as payback for this bullshit.

[Rory]

I'm not being funny and I know it's incredibly unlikely but I hope this bloke bangs out Fury. I'm sick of the best heavyweight boxers not fighting each other.

I know exactly what you mean, but that would be *such* a bad thing. It's bad enough that other combat sportspeople are able to waltz in without any amateur or career pedigree and step over boxers who have dedicated their lives to the sport.

If one of them were to beat the heavyweight champion of the world, that would do such harm to the credibility of the sport, which - as Dave and you allude to - is already doing itself no favours whatsoever.

The only time I supported Mayweather since I started following boxing was when he fought McGregor, for example.

Stop talking sense Rory, you're ruining my vibe. I've adjusted my position to hoping the next boxer he fights, if he actually fights one, bangs him out as payback for this bullshit.

That's perfectly fair enough 😁

[Drummond]

Saudi Arabia doesn't need to ruin boxing, it's doing a good enough job by itself.

Yep, I'm just not bothered any more. Fights that should happen, don't. The governing bodies all have their own agendas, as do the promoters and TV companies.

I don't like UFC and MMA as a sport but they are doing a better job.

I can't stand UFC and MMA and they're run by MAGA fascists and exploit their talent financially, even moreso than in boxing.

Saying they do it better is like praising Qatar for the speed they got their stadiums up.

I agree completely. Which is why it's so infuriating.

[Villa Lew]

Rory McIlroy's got it right, when he talks about sport in Saudi Arabia and the only top sportsman I can think, who says so.

[dave.woodhall]

Lee McGregor's fighting on Channel 5 tonight.

[dave.woodhall]

Liam Davies v Jason Cunningham might be a decent scrap tonight. Errol Spence v Terence Crawford will be one for the ages.

[dave.woodhall]

Or maybe it'll be over in the first round.

[Rory]

I was looking at the undercard and my eye was caught by Rowdy Montgomery. I looked him up and his middle name is Legend, which kind of ruined it for me.

[edgysatsuma89]

I was looking at the undercard and my eye was caught by Rowdy Montgomery. I looked him up and his middle name is Legend, which kind of ruined it for me.

What would you have there? I don't think anything can really fit, it's just a great name.

[Rory]

I was looking at the undercard and my eye was caught by Rowdy Montgomery. I looked him up and his middle name is Legend, which kind of ruined it for me.

What would you have there? I don't think anything can really fit, it's just a great name.

I'd have no middle name. 'Rowdy Montgomery' is perfection in itself.

It reminds me of this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gODZzSOelss

[tomd2103]

Came up on my Facebook earlier:

On this day in 1972: Newry’s ‘Dangerous’ Danny McAlinden caused a shock at Villa Park when he knocked out champion Jack Bodell in the second round to claim the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.

Have there been any other big fights at VP?

[Rory]

Came up on my Facebook earlier:

On this day in 1972: Newry’s ‘Dangerous’ Danny McAlinden caused a shock at Villa Park when he knocked out champion Jack Bodell in the second round to claim the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.

Have there been any other big fights at VP?

Didn't the first non-white British champion win the title at VP?

Dave W will know.

[dave.woodhall]

Came up on my Facebook earlier:

On this day in 1972: Newry’s ‘Dangerous’ Danny McAlinden caused a shock at Villa Park when he knocked out champion Jack Bodell in the second round to claim the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.

Have there been any other big fights at VP?

Didn't the first non-white British champion win the title at VP?

Dave W will know.

Bunny Johnson - lived in Kingstanding and beat McAlinden for the title at the National Sporting Club (I think) in Mayfair. When McAlinden beat Bodell so many people got into the ring that it collapsed; Johnson fought that night as well. The only other boxing I can find at the ground was in 1948, when Randolph Turpin was on the same bill as his two brothers (Dick winning the British and Commonwealth middleweight titles). His son Randolph jr fought on the McAlinden bill.

[Rory]

Came up on my Facebook earlier:

On this day in 1972: Newry’s ‘Dangerous’ Danny McAlinden caused a shock at Villa Park when he knocked out champion Jack Bodell in the second round to claim the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.

Have there been any other big fights at VP?

Didn't the first non-white British champion win the title at VP?

Dave W will know.

Bunny Johnson - lived in Kingstanding and beat McAlinden for the title at the National Sporting Club (I think) in Mayfair. When McAlinden beat Bodell so many people got into the ring that it collapsed; Johnson fought that night as well. The only other boxing I can find at the ground was in 1948, when Randolph Turpin was on the same bill as his two brothers (Dick winning the British and Commonwealth middleweight titles). His son Randolph jr fought on the McAlinden bill.

That's the one I was thinking of, Dave. It was an answer to a question in a pub quiz I was in years ago in Oxford. According to Wikipedia:

'On 28 June 1948, Dick Turpin, brother of Randolph Turpin, became the first non-white boxer to win a British title in a fight against Vince Hawkins in front of 40,000 spectators after the British Boxing Board of Control lifted their ban on non-whites challenging for titles.'

Could be bollocks that I've just never bothered to verify, but the question was along the lines of 'the first non-white man to be British boxing champion won the title at which sporting venue?' and the answer given was VP.