Blair’s View from Britain:
During the last week Amir Khan announced he had signed with Al Haymon. I’ll presume that’s good news, but the thing is I don’t actually know who Al Haymon really is. Sure, I’ve heard of him, but in the same way I’ve heard of legends from the past. The man’s operations are shrouded in an eerie mystique. He does however have a habit of bewitching fighters with his powerful web of useful connections. Khan is only the latest in a long line of fighters to have swooned under Haymon’s glare, a look so powerful it even managed to snare Floyd Mayweather – the world’s pound for pound number one.
Regarding Mayweather, Khan’s alliance with Haymon makes a meeting with Floyd all the more possible. Khan has been skipping down this yellow brick road for a while now, and the wizard must beckon now more than ever. Mayweather is the wizard, by the way.
Logic dictates that Khan should maybe, I don’t know, convincingly beat a world class welterweight first? But who am I kidding, logic in boxing is at best fleeting and at worst more absent than Bob Arum at a Mayweather fans convention.
Back between the ropes now, and Scott Quigg took aim and fired away at Tshifhiwa Munyai on Saturday night as he rid himself of frustration following Nehomar Cermeno’s late pullout. Munyai is known as “The Atomic Spider”, but if anyone was detonating anything in this fight it was Quigg.
The fight resembled a comic book brawl, with Quigg, ironically, playing Spiderman to Munyai’s Electro. ‘Thok!’ was the sound as Quigg landed a sudden left hook, leaving Munyai dazed and confused in round one, then a jolting ‘Thwak!’ as Quigg finished his opponent with an overhand right in round two. It was a consummate performance from Quigg, who appears to be getting more and more comfortable wearing that world title around his waist.
After the fight, Quigg’s promoter Eddie Hearn mentioned the idea of his charge unifying titles with WBC holder Leo Santa Cruz. The reasons why this fight was worthy of specific mention are clear. Quigg’s rival Carl Frampton has worked himself into the number one spot for Santa Cruz’ next mandatory defense, so by fighting Santa Cruz first Quigg could hold all the cards – in the form of world titles – when it comes to a match-up with Frampton.
Or Quigg could lose both titles, and have no cards at all. It would certainly be a risk, but the reward would be high. In response to this news, I can almost imagine Frampton’s manager; Barry McGuigan, sitting at home purring “Well played Mr. Hearn” in a Bond-villain kind of voice, while plotting a retort of his own. Obviously while stroking a cat.
Fight of the Week
This has to go to Anthony Crolla’s tenth round stoppage win over John Murray, which took place as the main event following Quigg’s world title defense. Murray started strongly, working the body and pummeling Crolla, who was perhaps spending too much time on the ropes.
After four rounds of this questions began to formulate. Would Crolla stand up to Murray’s relentless pressure? Would Murray be disheartened by Crolla’s resilience? Through rounds five and six, however, and it was clear that Murray was the first to blink. Visibly tired by the out-pouring of energy throughout the early going, Murray’s work continued to stagger as the fight went on, while Crolla grew in belief.
As Crolla fired away with uppercuts from both hands Murray’s face contorted. Old wounds began to open, blood started to pour. A hard career was taking its toll on Murray. He fought on with utter bravery, but fell to the floor with a combination of exhaustion and a short Crolla left hook. Crolla went in for the finish, and referee Terry O’Connor rightly stepped in to halt proceedings in round ten.
Fighter of the Week
Anthony Crolla won the all-Manchester battle for bragging rights as depicted above, which more than qualifies him for this award. He took plenty of punishment himself in a fight that bore testament to his fortitude and focus as well as trainer Joe Gallagher’s tactics.
Moment of the Week
This week’s defining moment was for me the retirement of Rendall Munroe. “My trainer and manager were telling me it’s not there and I always said when they tell me it’s time to call it a day, it’s time”, he said, fighting off tears, following his Saturday night defeat at the hands of Josh Warrington.
Munroe will be best remembered for his stint as European super bantamweight champion, though he also picked up the English and Commonwealth titles along the way. The bitterness of his lone world title challenge ending in defeat should be soothed by the fact he conquered two future world champions – Kiko Martinez (twice) and Victor Terrazas.
Known as ‘The Boxing Binman’, Munroe attracted a strong local following, many of which would often turn up at his fights in hi-visibility jackets in honor of their hero. He amassed a record of 28 (11 KO’s) – 5 with 1 draw, and he will be remembered for his toughness and durability as he forged a successful career against the odds.
Quote of the Week
“Manchester!!!”
Anthony Crolla lets it be known where he hails from in an outpouring of emotion whilst standing on the ropes after beating his Mancunian compatriot and good friend; John Murray, in a tense local derby.
