Boxing
According to trainer Lewis Crocker, Paddy Donovan has no “minerals” to fight in the trenches
Published
2 years agoon
In the middle of the discussion about the fight of Lewis Crocker this Saturday with Padda Donovan, co -coach of Crocker, Billy Nelson, resembles the night Alex Arthur lost an invincible record against Michael Gomez in 2003. This is an critical fight, not because Nelson trained Arthur at that time – he was “T – but more because Arthur discovered in Gomez an opponent, whom he did not understand, the one who showed Arthur Sport, from which Arthur had until then he was protected .
“I remember this fight,” says Nelson. “Alex left us by that time, but he was intimidated by Michael Gomez, 100 percent. He was intimidated from the moment he [Gomez] I got on the ring and put his head before the fight. His expression was: “You don’t have to do it. I am a star here. He was not used to this kind of reaction. “
Arthur, despite the fact that he is a great favorite before the fight, was finally intimidated by Gomez from the very beginning, before he was thrown out of misery in the fifth round. It was then one of the biggest doubts this year, certainly in Great Britain, and for Artur the most complex lessons.
As for why it happened, the opinion was divided. Some said that Gomez was simply inspired and fought for the fight of his life, while others suggested Artur, a golden boy from Scotch boxing, he was self -drawn or simply not equipped with the intensity and approach of Gomez.
Either way, this is not a scarce boxing story, the perspective is too deep. Indeed, it is this story of Nelson who expects his man, Lewis Crocker, to fight Paddy Donovan in Belfast on Saturday. Of course, there may be differences in the story about it, but he thinks that the result will still be the same.
“If you look at him [Donovan’s] He was resumed, he did not fight absolutely no one but Lewis Ritson, whom I trained, and was a distinguished lightweight, not a welterweight, “says Nelson. “Paddy also drew a comparison with Jose Felix [a Crocker opponent]. But Jose Felix was a really delicate weight that Lewis Crocker dismantled in four rounds. Paddy Donovan detained Ritson in nine. It was a tedious fight to watch. I was live there, watching it. Lewis had a destructive performance against a lighter guy, while Paddy, who thinks he struck more than Lewis, took nine rounds to pull Ritson from there. “
The question about power was a feature of the first press conference that announced Saturday’s fight. Donovan of Limerick said he was a bigger blow, and Crocker from Belfast also offered his case. Finally, without any real proof, this afternoon there was an impasse; agreement for disagreeing; A contract to wait and see.
“He [Crocker] He definitely has an advantage in power, “says Nelson. “I was stunned that he was even arguing about it. Interest may say that Paddy Donovan, but look at who he fought to get this percentage of knockout. There is no comparison in my mind. Lewis hits more and fought better opponents.
“He [Crocker] He also has experience on his side. He had six more fights than Paddy as a professional, but not only he fought with a better opposition than Paddy. I couldn’t call you Paddy Donovan’s opponent other than Ritson. I know for sure that Lewis Crocker is a more rounded professional boxer than Paddy Donovan.
“I think Paddy awaits the rude awakening in this fight, to be forthright. Andy Lee [Donovan’s coach] He is my good friend, but call him [Donovan] At this stage, there is a “vast generational”.
“I am not sitting here saying that Paddy Donovan is not a good warrior. Paddy Donovan Is A good warrior. But I think Lewis Crocker is better fighter.”
If the element of surprise was what in 2003 reached Alex Artur, Nelson expects to be a witness to something similar between Crocker, 20-0 (11) and Donovan, 14-0 (11), on Saturday. Considering what he thinks is an experience between two welterweight weight, he thinks, he thinks, that Donovan will be introduced to fresh feelings and fresh problems than Crocker.
“I know exactly how Paddy Donovan will fight,” says Nelson. “The best way to find out how Paddy fights while watching Andy Lee. He teaches him what he knows. But as a trainer you must adapt to the forceful and weakness of the warrior. You couldn’t take Mike Tyson and turn him into a boxer, right? You must work on his strengths and work on what you classify as his weaknesses.
“Paddy was never in trenches, and he is 100 percent in the trenches in this fight. We’ll see what he has. I don’t think he has minerals.
“Is it too early for Paddy? I think it is like that. “
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Boxing
Moses Itauma Calls Out Next Opponent After Stunning Loss to Filip Hrgovic
Published
5 hours agoon
September 1, 2026
Moses It will hurt suffered a surprising defeat to Filip Hrgovic on Saturday, and the 21-year-old has now revealed who he wants to face upon his return.
Itauma looked to be fulfilling his destiny and dominating his Croatian opponent during the opening rounds at the O2 Arena over the weekend, but his success soon turned to desperation when Hrgovic’s chin held up and his own stamina did not.
An exhausted Itauma eventually collapsed in round nine of the contestwith Hrgovic pulling off a remarkable upset to throw the heavyweight scene a huge curveball, hand Itauma a first career loss and get his hands on the IBF heavyweight world title.
In an interview with talkSPORT Boxingpromoter Frank Warren revealed that Itauma has already asked for a rematch with ‘El Animal’.
“In that last round, he was still firing back. He has got a firing heart, he is a very brave young man, very brave. It’s now about what he does, how he prepares, he is saying to me, ‘can we get the rematch on?’, which is a natural reaction.”
Despite the 21-year-old’s desire to take on Hrgovic for a second time, it seems as though the latter will be made to face Cuba’s Frank Sanchez, who agreed to a step-aside deal to allow Itauma and Hrgovic to fight for the IBF title under the condition that he would face the winner.
Continuing, Warren seemed to confirm that a scrap between Hrgovic and Sanchez will be next, advising Itauma to take some time off before rushing into a second shot at the heavyweight throne.
“I told him, ‘you have got to just switch off from boxing, go and chill out, go and spend some time with your family and then come back, recharge your batteries and then we will get to work again,’
“The landscape is what it is, he is a a part of it, he has shown that he belongs at that level and provided that we learn and he learns some lessons from the fight, I think that he can go on and do some great things.”
In his post-fight interview, newly-crowned IBF champion Hrgovic spoke of his desire for a bout on home soil in Croatia; where he has not fought since 2019.
As a result, Warren may next target Zagreb for a clash between Hrgovic and Sanchez, which should take place within the next six months.
Boxing
Shawn Porter Expects a Dazzling Comeback from Canelo Against Explosive Prospect Mbilli
Published
5 hours agoon
September 1, 2026
Canelo Alvarez is hoping to regain one of his former super-middleweight titles at the first time of asking when he makes his comeback this October against WBC champion Christian Mbilli. Two-time welterweight ruler Shawn Porter has revealed his prediction for the fight.
Alvarez lost all four of his belts at 168lbs to Terence Crawford last September and has since been sidelined due to an elbow injuryas Crawford’s retirement saw the coronation of four new world champions.
One of those beneficiaries was Mbilli, who had been in possession of the WBC Interim crown when ‘Bud’ decided to hang up the glovesallowing him to be elevated to full champion and then lined up for a showdown with Canelo.
Canelo’s remaining quality at the age of 36 is an ongoing debate amongst fans and analysts, leading many to predict an intriguing and potentially even fight. Yet, speaking on The PorterWay Podcast‘Showtime’ said that Alvarez will look like an ‘A++ fighter’ come fight night.
“Canelo truly does have that fast twitch; he is explosive, but he is explosive with speed and quickness and that fast twitch is going to get Canelo to that mark a little bit quicker.
“Yeah, I think [he can still do it] at 36. If you think about it, even though Canelo is not that ‘A++’ fighter that he used to be, he is still a solid ‘A’ and that solid ‘A’ will beat a solid ‘B’ [in Mbilli].
“That solid ‘B’ will make a solid ‘A’ look like an ‘A++’, so I think that he is going to look ‘A++’.”
Canelo-Mbilli takes place on Saturday, October 31, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The super-middleweight duo will top a ‘Mexico vs. The World’ themed bill, which could feature a bantamweight title unification between WBA champion and pound-for-pound sensation Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and WBO titleholder Christian Medina.
Boxing
Undefeated KO Artist Moves Closer to Canelo Fight After Latest Stoppage: Its Going to Happen
Published
1 day agoon
August 31, 2026
Canelo Alvarez could be ordered to enter an immediate title defence if he emerges victorious against Christian Mbilli on October 31.
The Mexican has not fought since September 2025, when he was relieved of his undisputed super-middleweight crown after losing a unanimous decision to Terence Crawford.
On that same card, Mbilli retained his WBC ‘interim’ strap following a 10-round draw against Lester Martinezmaintaining his position as one of the top contenders at 168lbs.
The Frenchman was then upgraded to full world champion in December, with Crawford having relinquished his four major titles and announced his retirement as a three-division undisputed king.
Canelo will therefore have the opportunity to reclaim one of his old belts in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with Mbilli making a first defence of his WBC title.
The winner of their showdown may then be ordered to face Martinez, as the unbeaten mandatory challenger comes off two successful defences of his WBC ‘interim’ strap.
Most recently, the 30-year-old scored a 10th-round stoppage of Luka Plantic last weekend, which followed his unanimous decision victory over Immanuwel Aleem in March.
Speaking at the post-fight presser following his win against Plantic, Martinez said through a translator that he expects to eventually face both Canelo and Mbilli.
“No, look, at the end of the day, I’ve said it before: the second fight [with Mbilli] will happen, possibly next year or the year after. But either one of those fights makes sense for us.
“We know the eyes of the world are going to be on [Mbilli-Canelo]and because we’re going to be there, we’re going to take advantage of all of that. But both fights are going to happen.”
Having already created the “blueprint” to defeat Canelo, Crawford trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre said afterwards that he is supremely confident in guiding Martinez to victory against either Alvarez or Mbilli.
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