AFTER a few complex months, Glenn McCrory is smiling again.

It looks like Carrying David – the uplifting story of how McCrory’s terminally ill brother inspired him to become a world champion – will soon hit the huge screen.

“We are very close to achieving this goal,” said the former IBF cruiserweight champion, recently cleared of all charges after a lengthy court case.

“Last week I had two days of meetings about the film.

“We need to find some more funding and then we will do it. We hope to start shooting in February.”

McCrory took a break from his comments and explained, “I need to focus on this for a while.

“It’s been a bumpy ride down and now I want to get back up.”

He said Carrying David is “more of a ‘Rocky’ story than ‘Rocky himself,'” and it’s secure to say that anyone who has read his autobiography or seen the stage adaptation of his story will be touched by its warmth.

“There has never been a world champion – or even a world title challenger – from the Northeast before,” said McCrory, who is celebrating his 60th birthday.vol birthday this month.

“For me, the biggest reason was that the area was crazy about football. Unless you’re from here, it’s demanding to understand the passion for Newcastle United and Sunderland football clubs. Football outshines everything.

“The first professional boxing show I went to was on the bill!

“There were programs in the North East but they never made headlines. It was always football, football, football. . .

“I started in the heavyweight division, but I was never in the heavyweight division. It was so complex. I lost fights and was written off in my 20s. This only strengthened my determination to succeed. This complex start helped me.

“But since I wasn’t working with a huge promoter, it was demanding to push me.”

McCrory went to the States to spar with Mike Tyson and recalls: “I gave him a black eye and that got me more publicity than any fight ever had!

“Mike Marley wrote all about the great Irishman who punched Mike Tyson on the back page of the Up-to-date York Post. It was an exaggeration – but it didn’t bother me!”

McCrory returned home and began to build his career, starting on the right side of the bill.

“Frank Warren tried to strengthen Andy Straughan but I beat him, then Chisanda Mutti for the Commonwealth title and Tee Jay,” he said.

“I wasn’t the favorite in any of these fights. I’ve always been against it.

“I got a call from Cedric Kushner and he told me, ‘You have your world title fight – but it’s against [Patrick] Lumumba.

He had about 300 amateur fights, lost six or seven, and the only reason he didn’t fight more professionally was because no one wanted to fight him.

“I knew he had sparred with Mike Tyson and was doing well.

“Before the fight with me, he told everyone that after beating me and defending his cruiserweight title several times, he was after Tyson. That’s how confident he was.

“For a while we thought the fight would take place abroad. They then toured the facilities in Newcastle and the Whitley Bay rink, and then the local authority came forward and said they would donate some money to the fight.

“There was no employment in the area, it was the biggest black spot in Britain and they thought a huge fight in Stanley would lift everyone’s spirits. This was unheard of. They wanted to fight in my village, in a recreation center 200 meters from where I lived!”

The fight was booked at the Louisa Center in Stanley for June 1989.

“It was my first time participating in a real training camp,” McCrory said. “I was in great shape and I had the need.

“[The Sun boxing correspondent] Colin Hart was my biggest fan. He said I had the best left hook since Henry Cooper – and even he said I would lose!

“The headline on the morning of the fight was: ‘Glenn is dead.’

“I then went to my wife and my child, kissed them goodbye, put my bag on my shoulder and walked 200 meters further to fight for the world title!

“I remember seeing guys in bows and TV trucks and thinking, ‘What the hell is going on?’ It was then that I began to realize the enormity of this phenomenon.

“It had a capacity of 1,700 people, but I think there were a thousand more. It was crowded and loud.

“Ian Darke commented on the fight on BBC Radio and still says it was one of the best atmospheres he has ever experienced.

“My priest came to me in the locker room and I was fucking. I felt like I was going to the gallows. He was a huge favorite.

“The dressing room door opened and the noise just hit me! I remember thinking, “Fuck, they don’t think I’m going to lose!”

“[Coach] Lover [Williford] he told me: “Attack him, he’s unsafe, he can hit” – but the tactic was forgotten!

“The way Lumumba acted when he was introduced was what won me the fight.

“He walked into the middle of the ring, put his hands at his sides and shrugged. He looked so confident. He said, “This title is mine” – or at least that’s how I felt at the time. At this point I lost my nerve. I just thought, “I’m going to break your face.”

“In the first round I hit him with a left hook and he was hanging on my leg. If he fell, I don’t think he would get up.

“I kept hitting him with left hook after left hook and he kept taking them and then he started coming back.

“He recovered in the seventh and eighth rounds. I remember him moving aside and hitting me with two right hands and my eardrum burst! I started to have doubts – and the crowd stood behind me, tried to lift me up.

“I looked at the ropes and my disabled brother David was there. He was supposed to be at home, but he stood ringside in a wheelchair, waving his arms and cheering on his brother. This gave me strength. I just thought, “Come on, dig deep.”

“About the tenth round I knew I had him. He gave up, his body went limp.

“There were some complex rounds for me and if the fight had been somewhere else, I could have lost. But that night in Stanley, I truly believe I could have beaten anyone in the world. I had an army behind me and I felt unstoppable.

“I went to bed that night knowing I had proven everyone wrong. Even my family has told me over the years, “Don’t get your hopes up, Glenn.”

“I did it, I became world champion and I never felt the same about the sport after that.”

McCrory, who lost the belt in his second defense to Jeff Lampkin after a scale fight and then fought Lennox Lewis at heavyweight, said: “I never thought about what would come after winning the world title.

“I never thought about defending him and if I could retire after beating Lumumba, I would. But I was paid £7,500 for the fight and then I had to pay some of it back to my manager and trainer.

“But I had parties and civic dinners in my honor, I rode an open-air bus and I was surrounded by crowds in Middlesbrough. Women kept asking me to sign their breasts – and I had to agree! This was my audience and I had to make them cheerful!

“I’m watching the tape now [of the Lumumba fight] AND [ITV Sport presenter] Dickie Davies later says: “Next week we’ll be in Las Vegas for the rematch between Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns.”

“I laugh when I hear it, but that’s the kind of company I kept back then!”

DAVID Benavidez and David Morrell will fight in the delicate heavyweight division on February 1 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Given their approach to the hurt game, the main event is shaping up to be an absolute storm that is sure to catch on fire and become a classic.

PBC’s promotional materials sum it up perfectly: “WBC Interim Lithe Heavyweight Champion David “El Monstro” Benavídez and WBA Lithe Heavyweight Champion David Morrell Jr. will meet in a battle of the undefeated, pitting two of the most invigorating fighters in the sport against each other in the primes of their careers.”

While they both hold dazzling belts in a division that has a clear number one and number two (or 1.5 in Bivol’s case), these two are fighting for the third spot and a chance to fight Beterbiev or the winner of an undisputed rematch, should it happen. Next.

Given his scintillating performances at super middleweight, Morrell has become Mr. Excitement, but he looked a bit tired in his last outing, defeating Radivoje Kalajdzic on points in his 175-pound debut. To his credit, “Balmy Rod” is a solid, world-class opponent, and Morrell boxed most of the competition with the Los Angeles sun in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Benavidez has already defeated Plant, Andrade and Gvozdyk. If he now scalps Morrell and still fails to negotiate a fight with Canelo, he will begin to wonder what exactly he needs to do to win boxing’s biggest prize. Benavidez is the more experienced of the two and if Morrell comes out with all his guns early, the Cuban’s situation could become precarious in the future.

The entire card will stream on Prime Video pay-per-view and includes a solid entry card. Currently campaigning as the full WBC featherweight champion, Brandon Figueroa will look to make up for his loss to Stephen Fulton when he faces a high-stakes rematch.

Isaac Cruz will want to make up for the loss after his defeat against Jose Valenzuela by fighting the twice-defeated Mexican boxer Angel Fierro. Jesus Ramos continues to rebuild from his shocking loss to Erickson Lubin by fighting former unification champion Jeison Rosario, who was last seen boxing Jarrett Hurd to a draw on Pro Box TV.

BEFORE and AFTER the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson farce, there was plenty of exhilarating action to please boxing fans and remind us all what a great sport it is.

Given what’s going on in Texas, it should be simple to separate Netflix’s main event from the efforts of Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, Gilberto Ramirez, Chris Billam-Smith and the supporting cast.

While some will feel the loss of failure, they have actually increased their credibility and reputation. But who will they and the winners fight next? analyzes potential options.

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Katie Taylor

The rematch wasn’t as good as the first fight, but the bar had been set so high that it couldn’t be matched. However, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano have given us another fight of the year contender, and their contrasting styles come together once again.

Taylor nodded, but just like the first time, her opponent had a mighty case for awarding points. The two produced 20 rounds of drama that will go down in boxing and sports history, but will we see round 21?

It appears a trilogy is being considered for Taylor, but there is also unfinished business with Chantelle Cameron. With the score tied at 1-1, common sense would have taken us to the third and final fight. Taylor remains the undisputed super lightweight champion, which means her undisputed lightweight crown will likely be stripped from her, freeing up the belts for others.

Taylor will celebrate her 39th birthday next July, and her 26th fight could be her last. Taking into account the results alone, the third part of the match against Cameron makes the most sense. However, there could also be a chance she moves up to welterweight if another of her former rivals, Natasha Jonas, becomes unified champion next month. Winning world titles in a third weight category will certainly attract interest from the Irish sensation.

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Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez

The Mexican had fought 47 times as of last night, but each performance didn’t tell us much about “Zurdo” Ramirez. However, in the fight against Chris Billam-Smith, Ramirez became not only the unified cruiserweight champion, but also one of the best fighters in the world.

Billam-Smith forced Ramirez to fight fire and pull out the full repertoire of shots needed to fend off the tough Briton. It was not only a performance and victory to be proud of, but also worth remembering.

Not since Oleksandr Usyk is a cruiserweight and has the undisputed champion, but Ramirez is already halfway there. Jai Opetaia (IBF champion) and Noel Mikaelian (WBC) will stand in his way. Riyadh Season and Turki Alalshikh have already done business with Opetaia, and Alalshikh wants to see one champion at 200 pounds. Opetaia vs. Ramirez is a fantastic fight that can be discussed for hours. Time will tell, however, whether Ramirez will receive a mandatory call-up or whether the road to the fight with Opetaia will be one of the most anticipated fights of 2025.

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“The Gentleman” will take a well-deserved rest after the defeat against Ramirez. His courage, chin and determination allowed him to survive 12 complex rounds against an opponent who had much more in his arsenal.

Billam-Smith was not completely outdone and had successful moments early in the fight and during the second wind in the final third. His 18-month reign as the WBO cruiserweight champion may be over, however, but he should keep his head held high.

The 34-year-old has gotten out of boxing a lot more than he expected when he turned professional a few years ago. He rarely won a fight easily, and thanks to this and good competition, more miles than usual were added to the 22-fight tally. We may be nearing the end of another good boxing story, but it would be a surprise if he wanted to retire after a defeat.

One more night in Bournemouth, headlining the BIC (Bournemouth International Centre) in front of their own fans and a sold out house, could have been the perfect swan song. Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal may be far from their best, but they bring reputational value and are the perfect opportunity for CBS to show off in style.

His dream of fighting in America may come true when he fights Joe Smith Jr. It may not be Vegas and it may not even be the main event, but it will definitely be next on the bucket list. However, if Billam-Smith is to continue to seek a shot at a second world title, he may have to wait a while, with time really not on his side.