Interviews
EXCLUSIVE: Kevin Cronin – The Benefits of a Pandemic
Dudelange in Luxembourg will be the venue for an Irish invasion of sorts on March 20th with the Irish boxers coaching as they look to start 2021 on a positive note.
For a town of just under 21,000 inhabitants, Dudelange boasts a wealthy sporting pedigree: 14 Olympians have been born in the region, including Fred Sturmer (middleweight at the 1952 Olympic Games) and Bruno Mattiussi (welterweight at the 1952 Olympic Games).
Kevin Cronin, 2-0, was candid enough to admit he had never heard of the miniature town, but to him it was a place with a boxing ring and that was all that mattered to him.
Speaking to proboxing-fans.com two weeks before fight night, he began by telling us how, on reflection, the pandemic had been a welcome intervention in his rapidly evolving career.
“To be candid, I needed that to be able to take a step back and just look at everything without having to be in the gym all the time, getting ready for the next fight.
– If you had asked me at the beginning [of the pandemic] If I wanted a gap year, I would obviously say no, but it made me hungrier and feel more ready, more determined than ever.
The strange reality for Cronin is that while he hasn’t been able to better his record over the last 18 months, it’s a period in which he’s learned more than ever.
The ‘Kingdom Warrior’, trained by Jonathan Lewin and Patrick O’Brien, revealed he was able to exploit the time to be more reflective in the gym.
“Even though we’re on a break, I’ve been training more, I’ve definitely been sparring more – I’ve had a couple of good 10-round sparrings – so it’s really the best preparation I’ve ever had.
“I know every fighter says that when they get close to a fight, but I was doing different things and pushing myself into uncomfortable places to see how physically fit I was.
“When I had two fights back to back, I felt like I was rushing in the gym and in sparring, so where I didn’t have a solid fight date, I was able to sit down and really look at areas where I could improve.
“[I’ve definitely] I improved my focus and timing in places where I could work a little slower, and I really needed that.”
Indeed, it’s difficult to believe Cronin made his debut almost two years after his soon-to-be third professional fight.
On March 30, 2019, Cronin appeared at the National Stadium in Dublin on a card headlined by Eric Donovan and broadcast nationally on TG4.
Cronin defeated Mateusz Lisiak in four rounds and began his dream life as a professional.
“I think you could say it was a perfect debut, the crowd, the cards, the atmosphere was completely unreal.
“But I’m very difficult on myself and I look at it from the perspective of ‘if only I were in this ring from now on’ and I pick out those little things I’d like to do better.
“It was a really good debut, and as an experience it was really amazing. I made the most of it and I think it showed in the fight.
Even the Kerry County man has to pinch himself that he made his debut “only two years ago” and the featherlight heavyweight felt like a real veteran at that stage.
“I’m confident. I’m recovering really quickly, so I feel like I have a lot more than just two professional fights ahead of me.
“I definitely don’t feel like I’m making my debut next season [from having so long out of the ring] because I see how much I have developed since my first fight.
“It feels like a lot more than two years have passed since my debut, even though I haven’t been particularly busy, because I’ve just learned a lot about myself. It feels more like I’m fighting my tenth fight, not my third!”
Looking ahead to March 20, the on-duty firefighter was bullish about a convincing performance against Vedran Soskan.
“To be candid, I would like to do some sightseeing and implement what I’ve been working on in the gym.
“After such a long layoff, it will feel a bit wasteful if I knock him down in 30 seconds, but at the same time I know I hit difficult and I have the power to get the stoppage. I’m not looking for the finish like I did in my first two fights or rushing my work, but in the back of my mind I think I can stop him.”
Written by Oliver McManus.
Natasha Jonas unified the welterweight division by defeating Ivana Habazin by clear points on Saturday to add the WBC title to her IBF crown at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool.
Jonas (16-2-1, 9 KO) was last seen defending her title in January in a hard-fought split decision over Mikaela Mayer, while Habazin (23-6, 7 KO) won the vacant WBC welterweight title in her home country. time out, winning by wide points over Kinga Magyar.
After a technical opening round, Jonas settled into a steady rhythm before landing a powerful right hand in the fourth round that crushed Habazin.
There was a rivalry, but the home favorite was much better in the rallies and seemed to be losing round after round.
This situation lasted until the final bell, when Jonas became the winner by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 99-92.
Price is closing in on Jonas’ match
Lauren Price definitely stayed on as a collision course with Jonas and easily defended her WBA and IBO welterweight titles after a third-round fight against Bexcy Mateus.
Mateus (7-1, 6 KO) was on board in the first round, after the Welshman landed a powerful left hand, and the Colombian struggled to match Price’s speed.
The same shot caused the 29-year-old to repeat the punch in the second round, and the round later ended when another stinging left hand stunned Meteus and she fell to the canvas, after which the fight was stopped.
Price (8-0, 2 KO) has agreed to face Jonas next, and promoter Ben Shalom revealed it could be announced next week.
Knife edge passes McKenna
Lee Cutler scored an upset victory to claim the silver WBC International welterweight title after winning a majority decision against Stephen McKenna.
McKenna (15-1, 14 KO) was eliminated in the first round, his knee touching the canvas after being tagged, and Cutler (15-1, 7 KO) took full advantage of his opponent’s weakness in the seventh round when his right hand plunged into his knee. The Irishman who ultimately fell once again.
McKenna was relentless in his attacks and landed a huge number of punches.
The balance of 94-94 was surpassed by the scores of 95-93 and 96-92, which ensured the victory for Cutler.
Jeffers stopped Quartey
Mark Jeffers is on track for large fights in 2025 after defeating Joshua Quartey to defend his silver Commonwealth super middleweight title.
A pair of right hands put Quartey (10-1, 9 KO) on the board, and although he broke the count, a well-placed body shot after the restart by Jeffers (19-0, 6 KO) blew the guy away again.
A crazy attack after the restart forced a stoppage.
Riley secures Chamberlain’s face-off with a stoppage
Viddal Riley finished the heavyweight fight and stopped Dan Garber in the second of the scheduled six rounds.
Riley (12-0, 7 KO) hit Garber (7-4, 2 KO) with his right hand, and then his next attack forced the referee’s intervention.
Riley’s next match will be against Isaac Chamberlain on February 1.
Undercard remaining
Mason Cartwright (21-4-1, 8 KO) won all six rounds at super welterweight against Dzmitry Atrokhau (16-25, 7 KO), and Hope lightweight Frankie Stringer (9-0, 1 KO) did the same in the fight against Tatenda Mangombe (3-9-1).
In the flyweight division, Mikie Tallon (6-0) defeated Benn Norman (7-7) with a body shot in the first round of the match, and then settled for a 59-54 victory.
The only fighter to fight four rounds in the super featherweight division was Mason Devine (6-0, 1 KO), who won every session against Jayo Fernando Duran (15-34-1, 14 KO).
Dillian Whyte has revealed his predictions for the hotly anticipated rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury on December 21.
Fury, who knocked out Whyte at Wembley Stadium in 2022, will seek revenge for the only defeat of his career in just 11 days, after losing to Usyk by split decision earlier this year.
Despite losing the night, “The Gypsy King” was a major success and many are struggling to pick a winner in his second battle against the imperious Ukrainian.
Some experts believe Fury needs to be more aggressive and take the lead if he is to win.
I’m talking to Social boxingWhyte revealed he shared that view, asking the Morecambe man to return to the game plan that saw him destroy Deontay Wilder in the return leg.
“It’s a great fight, man, I’m still trying to think – how will this fight go?
“Okay, Fury can make changes, but Usyk can make changes too. It’s a tough fight, a very, very tough fight for both fighters.
“If I were Fury’s coach, I would tell him he has to play aggressively.
“Fight him like you fought Wilder the second time.
“Bring back the aggression, bring back the tyrant!
“This is heavyweight boxing – you never know.”
It is unclear whether Fury will heed the advice of Whyte and others in the boxing world who have advised him to take the fight to Usyk, but looks noticeably heavier than before the first fight.
What are the changes? ❌@Tyson_Fury says he will exploit exactly the same game plan as the first time when he faces Oleksandr Usyk at the end of the month.
Thinks? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/VtpEwLJkWx
— Professional boxing fans (@ProBoxingFans) December 6, 2024
Win or lose, the 36-year-old could face a long-awaited home fight against Anthony Joshua, even though “A.J.” interrupted defeat against Daniel Dubois in September.
While it may not have been as great a spectacle as it once was, a clash between Joshua and Fury would still be by far the biggest all-British fight in recent memory.
As for Whyte, he returns to the ring next Sunday night and will face Ghanaian heavyweight Ebenezer Tetteh live on DAZN in Gibraltar.
The All-American fight between lightweight world champions Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson is one of the most anticipated fights in all of boxing.
Both Davis and Stevenson are undefeated multi-weight champions and are staples on any respected pound-for-pound list.
With this in mind, you could be forgiven for assuming that the pair locking corners in their prime years is a given, but that doesn’t seem likely to happen in the near future.
“Tank” spoke to the media at the press conference inaugurating his performance March 1 fight with Lamont Roach, and when the prospect of fighting Stevenson arose, he didn’t seem particularly interested.
The Baltimore hitter even went so far as to question what his compatriot did to deserve him.
“What for? Who has Shakur [beat]? What did Shakur do?
“What has he achieved in sports? He didn’t do anything! Juvenile people look better than him!”
“Keyshawn [Davis] you look so much better than that nigga! Shout it out nigga, he ain’t done nothing!
I asked Gervonta about a possible fight with Shakur… #Box #TankRoach pic.twitter.com/T1eNFJ9iIO
— Dwa O Dwa Z.. (@Noo_Barzz) December 3, 2024
“Why the hell are you saying his name?”
Like Davis, Stevenson will also return to action in the first quarter of next year, fighting against up-and-comer Floyd Schofield on the February 22 Riyad season card.
The Newark southpaw has been sidelined since his July decision victory over Artem Harutyunyan after he had to withdraw from a proposed October fight with Joe Cordina due to injury.
Saudi boxing boss Turki Alalshikh has expressed his willingness to have a fight between the two virtuosos, provided both are successful in their upcoming fights.
‼️ His Excellency Turki Alalshikh stated that he wants the Gervonta Davis vs Shakur Stevenson fight: “My plan for Shakur is this fight [vs Floyd Schofield]then William Zepeda, and then let’s see if Tank wants to come on our show.” [@DAZNBoxing] pic.twitter.com/Mmi6hO7Fjo
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBenson) December 3, 2024
While he undoubtedly has the talent to rival Davis, Stevenson is not as commercial a star as his rival, and some critics believe he needs to start giving more entertaining performances if he wants to get substantial names.
Tyson Fury sends an ominous warning to Oleksandr Usyk
‘IF EUBANK JR VS BENN ISN’T NEXT, IT NEVER HAPPENS!’ – Ben Shalom also on Usyk vs Fury 2
“I Might Enjoy John Fury Spanking Me!” – Eddie Hearn On Whyte-Franklin
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Cris Cyborg ready to add a UFC title to her collection
‘IF EUBANK JR VS BENN ISN’T NEXT, IT NEVER HAPPENS!’ – Ben Shalom also on Usyk vs Fury 2
“I Might Enjoy John Fury Spanking Me!” – Eddie Hearn On Whyte-Franklin
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