One for the Boxing fans!

[KidKruger]

James Toney is fighting Denis Lebedev in Russia on Saturday 4th Nov. I think it's a WBA eliminator.

Toney apparently is in best shape he's been in for a decade.

I think Lebedev is a too good for him at this late age in Toney's career (43). Toney was an amazing boxer and may well have too much ring smarts for Lebedev, but I doubt it. Lebedev is unbeaten for a reason (I don't include the Marco Huck contest as a loss, on purpose).

It's probably one of the few contests where an older fighter is participating that has some genuine interest.

[Jeremy]

Toney in his best shape for a decade? Wouldn't be difficult!

http://serdafied.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/james-toney19.jpg

And that whole MMA farce... he didn't take that at all seriously either. Sad to see how far he's fallen.

Hopefully getting down to cruiswerweight will do him some good - and he'll lay of the pies, and actually train properly.

[KidKruger]

Thing about Toney is he IS a great boxer.

He's always had conditioning (appearance) issues but has boxed circles around some decent accomplished boxers.

Eubanks and Benn were sh!t scared of him he called them pussies on international TV they said nowt in return.

Lebedev for me has not been beaten, however Roy Jones tagged him a couple of times. So he can be touched (as can most boxers outside of maybe Mayweather..), but has a solid chin at 200lbs.

Toney's MMA thing was just hyped trash wasn't it. On the flip side, Kimbo Slice an ex street/cage type fighter has switched to boxing and first 2x contests finished in R1 (against punchbags tho).

Jeremy - how would you call the Nov 4th contest ?

[Jeremy]

He WAS a great boxer. He needs to retire - along with Jones Jr and Holyfield.

I'd go for a UD to Lebedev. But I do hope Toney gives a good account of himself.

[Otta]

Has anyone seen / got an opinion on the Hopkins Vs Dawson TKO that happened over the weekend.

This is the only video I can find, and it's not very clear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y8gfb57n6w&feature=related

Should it have been a no contest? I've not seen it properly, so can't really comment.

[Jeremy]

I think it's only a no-contest if the injury resulted from a foul - so the question is, did Dawson foul Hopkins? From what I've seen and read, Hopkins basically jumped on Dawson before the incident, so hard to blame it on Dawson.

[Otta]

Yeah I heard that too, although it does look like he properly slammed him to the mat...

... The Undertaker would have fought on! ;-)

[KidKruger]

I watched the clip on youtube, to make an accurate assessment we need slo-mo.

I didn't think Hopkins climbed on Dawson's back. If you lean on someone you're taking away their legs, especially as these guys are 175lbs which is a proper weight on your back, Dawson must have thought he's being leaned-on and decided to get rid of the weight on him.

The throw was illegal IMO, regardless of why it was done. If the reason it was done was a foul then punish the foul.

Certainly no case for a TKO IMO.

[Otta]

Hopkind decision overturned!

From what I can tell, I think it's fair enough, although I think they should force a rematch.

[KidKruger]

Yeah I agree, the belt wasn't really Won or Lost by either boxer so they should start again see who gets the belt.

It's ridiculous that punters will have paid twice to see the eventual result, I'd have been angry to have paid like $50-60 for that in the US !!

One for the weekend... Nonito Donaire is fighting this weekend I believe, good Filipino boxer, extremely fluid in the ring. I'd like to see him and Rendall Munroe (who fights sometimes before Xmas) if Rendall gets another chance at a world title attempt.

[Jeremy]

Hopefully B-Hop will win the rematch, and retire.

[KidKruger]

Great weekend of boxing this coming weekend:

Lucian Bute-Glen Johnson

James Toney-Denis Lebedev

Chris Arreola-Raphael Butler

George Groves-Paul Smith

Derek Chisora-Larry Olubamiwo

heaven knows how you get to watch these contests but if you include the undercards it's a brill weeekend. So lot's of post weekend surfing on youtube to see how they went.

[Jeremy]

You missed out Burns/Katsidis! Burns/Katsidis, Groves/Smith, and Chisora/Olubamiwo are all on BoxNation, which is available on Sky or online.

Yep, a great weekend of boxing, but on paper, most of those would appear to be pretty one-sided, except Toney/Lebedev... how that one goes is anyones guess...

[KidKruger]

yes I did miss out the Burns v Katsidis contest !! Oooops.

Burns is great but I fear that his first contest at a new weight (LW) against one of the best in that division is a huge challenge. Katsidis is extremely strong at this weight and has campaigned there for some time - though I'm not sure what weight (catchweight ?) he fought Marquez at. Any Katsidis contest is a tear-up so it'll be a good fight.

Katsidis demolished Mitchell very quickly and Mitchell is hard as nails and stopped John Murray (who is a monster).

So I'd have to bet on Katsidis.

Toney v Lebedev.

I think Toney is a good boxer, if he beats Lebedev, on European soil, that will prove it. Lebedev is no mug and has fought good opposition. Toney may well take this to a points win. Lebedev deserves a rematch with Marco Huck before Huck moves up to HW.

I can't see what Smith can bring to Groves TBH, but sometimes boxing maths doesn't work that way, so we'll find out tomorrow.

[KidKruger]

So James Toney got a hiding from Lebedev last night.

He took some heavy shots and the fact that he is able to stay standing doesn't make it OK, especially at his age.

Time to retire.

And time for Lebedev to be matched against someone decent, maybe Danny Green or Antonio Tarver ?

[Jeremy]

Yeah, I read that he looked absolutely awful in the fight. He was probably very weight drained - similar to Oscar De La Hoya when he fought Pacquiao, except Toney managed to keep his "spare tyre"!

A great boxer in his day, but these days he is a poor excuse for an "athlete". He has to retire, before he gets permanently injured.

[KidKruger]

Top marks for Ricky Burns, no doubt as to to the outcome.

He took those early rounds straight off then the pressure was on Katsidis to come reclaim those rounds.

Burns kept him off with the jab and for me pretty much bossed it after round 8.

It's possible Katsidis is on way down but maybe RB is the talent we hope.

[KidKruger]

George Groves did the job in double-quick time last night, 2 rounds.

And Paul Smith was talking about a re-match with DeGale after beating Groves !!

I think Groves needs to look to Europe now and focus on the fighters a step below world level to consolidate what he's got and thicken his ring smarts.

He's only had a handful of contests as a pro to date and the supermiddleweight division is strong right now.

[KidKruger]

Shame to hear Joe Frazier passed away overnight, he'd been quite Ill for some time.

First man to beat Ali, in their first contest 1971.

The poor man remained troubled by Ali's (unreasonable) behaviour before a particular fight where in front of the media he caricatured Frazier as a gorilla and, worse, an Uncle Tom.

Proper Philly legend. I wonder what'll happen to his gym now ?

[taper]

Superb fighter. The Manila fight was brutal. Both Ali and Frazier were well past their peak. But each gave every ounce of fight they had. I saw him interviewed late in life and he remained very bitter about Ali's treatment of him.

[Otta]

I think I saw that too. And hasn't Ali said that he wouldn't have gone out for another round, used Frazier's corner not thrown the towel.

I am too young to have seen him fight, but have watched so many recordings, that I've always thought of him as one if my favourite ever fighters.

R.I.P.

[taper]

Frazier's only good eye was shut by the end, and Ali p1ssed blood for a month afterwards (I heard). The first Ali fight is Frazier at his peak though. Relentlessly tough. Ali picking him off with jabs and right crosses. Frazier barely flinching, laughing and hooking to the body and head. Ali is spent by the end and is well beaten.

[Parkdrive]

Shame about the manner of his death and indeed the world has lost one of the best heavyweights EVER.

[KidKruger]

Come on guys what about the Pacquiao / Marquez contest at the weekend, what do you reckon on the outcome ?

It'll obviously be a quality contest but how long will it go on for ? Freddie Roach reckons it could well end in R1, to Manny.

I'd like Marquez to win clearly this time, no room for doubt. However, Manny has been at the higher weight for longer and is more accustomed to it, plus he's fought far bigger men as a result, so my brain says Manny mid-late rounds.

[Laddy Muck]

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