I was working in Saudi when Freddie Mercury carked it. That’s how long ago it was. Massive expat community which was great. I did meet one or two naughty boy Saudi’s that were actually quite fun, but by and large they weren’t a nice bunch. As you can probably imagine.
I heard a clip from interviews with Fury & Usyk on the radio... and there was no bad mouthing from either of them. Fury was serious with just a glimmer of his cheek but most of all gave the impression of a belief he would win. Usyk gave nothing away by saying pretty much nothing but had a similar belief. I reckon it'll be a good technical fight to watch and even though I hope Fury wins I wouldn't want to bet on it. As for watching AJ & Wilder it may be good for a titter to see how poor they are especially in the case of the former. As you say it's just a money wringing exercise.
I watched a clip of Fury & Usyk, and that wasn't really the impression I got... Anyhow Aj vs Deontay. They are both in a bad place in their careers, so perhaps they will both train hard and make the fight a surprise blockbuster. Though if nothing else, I do hope Wilder comes in a soup dragon outfit again! LOL
The clips I heard didn't come from the press conference but some other off stage interview(s). Press conferences are usually pretty tawdry showboating affairs that are primarily looking to whip up interest & ticket sales/prices.
There is often a whole lot of acting at those meetings, I agree. I don't know about you, but if Fury was acting in the linked clip, Pacino should be worried about his future.
I didn't watch it all but it looks like he's trying out the 'I'm a lunatic' tactic as used by him as batman against Klitschko or Ali against Liston. Boxers don't mind fighting fighters but get concerned if they have to fight what they think are nutters who could do summat out of the left field. It also helps if you can get the other guy angry so he isn't thinking straight when in the ring. As you say a fine act that should help ticket sales.
I remember watching the first fight so it didn't surprise me this was more of the same. Bravery, committment, strength, heart, respect... all the things missing from the mens heavyweight division.
Great scrap, as was the first one! I wanted Cameron to win and thought she would tbh. You’re never going to get the rub of the green in a Dublin cauldron. And I hear slimeball Hearn wants the 3rd scrap in Croke Park.
Yeah, same here I also wanted Cameron to win... but fair play to Taylor she just wasn't gonna let that happen. They both have such similar admirable qualities that make their fights such a good watch. I think it helps perhaps they don't have the power to knock each other out or the fitness to be knocked out. And if he can get Croke Park lets hope they'll get suitably paid for it.... a $50 million piss take purse for Fury's last fight or what was it $2 or 3 million for a proper fight.
This guy (Ben Whittaker) is one to watch. I’ve been following him for a while - he’s only had about half a dozen pro fights, but he’s an Olympic silver medalist and for all his rather unseemly Naseem Hamed style showboating, he’s got skills to back it up. He fought on the Billam-Smith v Masternak undercard tonight and absolutely sparked his oppo with a fabulous combination.
Just looked at clips of his showboating in that fight and yes unseemly indeed... why do they feel the need to do it against a solid journeyman earning his crust in a tough game? Have some respect. But yes he does look good... real fast combinations, good foot movement, gets up close and for all that showboating it's nice to see a high protective right hand... Always tough to match one so young & skilled against the better pros in the game so that he'll learn and not get flattened. It's early career fights like this I miss for not having cable.
Unlike Prince Naseem (who, to this day, is still an arrogant little prick) he actually seems like a nice humble guy outside the ring, so I can only assume he’s playing the “heel” in order to generate notoriety and publicity. I reckon 50% of the people who watched Prince Naseem’s fights just wanted to see him get flattened, but that boosted PPV sales and the general sense of hype that surrounded him. Whittaker needs to be careful though, because so far he’s only fought part-timers and sooner or later someone will school him.
It is a shame they feel they have to do that to generate interest. In Tyson's early days he did that by just coming out & boxing better than his opponents... Ain't that the truth... lets see you show boat against some tough young latin american who really is fighting to get out of the ghetto or an old grizzled one who has 3 wives & seventeen kids to support.
In an ideal world the ref would have the power to give his opponent a free hit after for that no look nonsense and then deduct him a point for the deliberate head *clash. Just so shit to see especially from an “olympian” starting his pro career, but again, he will probably be described as “a bit of a character” elsewhere.
I don’t like it but as a way of generating controversy and traction online, it’s obviously working as here we are yakking about it. I’m a bit conflicted because I’ve been following his career since his first pro fight and I want him to succeed, but at the same time I’d quite like to see someone deck him when he’s mucking around with all that dancing, turning his back, taunting his oppo and other assorted foolishness.
Don't agree with the showboating. Very disrespectful, and anyone who has the minerals to get un the ring, deserves respect
