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The Beckett family’s roots in boxing still exist today

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I met promoter Mo Prior at a recent show and was interested to learn that his wife is related to Joe Beckett, the British heavyweight champion from 1919-1923. Regular readers may recall an article I wrote in January 2023 detailing Beckett’s fight and altercation with Tommy Burns in 1919. Unfortunately, he is best remembered for his two fights with Georges Carpentier (pictured below), one of which ended in a 15-second loss, but Joe was a solid heavyweight who usually provided thrills and excitement throughout his up-and-down career.

He was a character outside the ring as well, he was very fond of horse racing, or rather the gambling side of the sport, and when he retired from the ring he lived well, wisely investing his earnings from the ring. During World War I Joe was an aircraft mechanic in the Royal Flying Corps and as the newly crowned British heavyweight champion in 1919 he was considered as a potential opponent for Jack Dempsey, the world heavyweight champion. Two defeats to Carpentier and a painful knockout defeat at the hands of the American Frank Moran put an end to those hopes.

During my conversation with Mo it became clear that he did not know that Joe had a brother who was a boxer, who was not a bad fighter himself. George Beckett was a very capable middleweight boxer whose career spanned from 1907 to 1920. Both brothers came from Southampton, and in the Edwardian era that city was not known for providing opportunities for adolescent fighters. As a result George had to travel to London to make his debut. He did so in the austere surroundings of the National Sporting Club, at that time the heart and soul of British boxing and the most famed boxing venue in the world.

George entered the middleweight competition in October 1907 and won the event after winning five fights. In his first fight, George knocked out Patsy Cokely in a matter of seconds and then scored four more victories inside the distance, three by spotless knockout. The club’s regulars knew talent when they saw it and George was levelled in his first 10-round fight, at the same venue, three months later.

Unfortunately, he suffered a three-round defeat at the hands of a fellow sailor, Seaman Kelly of HMS Jupiter. He then beat Kelly twice in rematches and in 1909 won his first 15-round bout, also at the club. In 1910 he beat the Irishman Jim Maher in a 20-round bout at Wonderland and then repeated the feat in a rematch at The Dell, the former home of Southampton Football Club, and this victory really put George on the boxing map.

In 1911 George fought two British middleweight champions. Pat O’Keefe held the title three times between 1906 and 1919 and defeated Beckett in a 10-round bout at the NSC. Jack Harrison of Rushden held the title from 1912 to 1913 and defeated George at the NSC in a 15-round bout in December 1911, in which BN described as “The Great Competition.”

George was at the forefront of the British middleweight scene in the years leading up to World War I and in March 1913 he was matched up with Carpentier himself, six years before his famed brother had the misfortune of facing the brilliant Frenchman, but Carpentier injured his hand and the fight was cancelled. As with many other great contenders, the war significantly disrupted George’s boxing career and I can only find one fight involving him during this period.

While serving on the Western Front with the Army Service Corps, he won one back-of-the-line bout. His last two fights were after the war, both for the Hampshire heavyweight title against fellow countryman Albert Croucher. George lost the first bout, then won the rematch and retired as Hampshire champion. His career was less successful than that of his famed brother, but George Beckett was a credit to the sport.

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Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC

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Badou Jack Rozicki Mikaelian WBC

The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).

If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.

“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”

29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.

Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.

“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”

Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.

The next move is Badou Jack’s.

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Floyd Mayweather’s record is not normal, it can’t happen in 70 years

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Floyd Mayweather 50-0

Floyd Mayweather’s incredible 50-0 record is not normal and cannot be repeated in sports for another seventy years.

This is the view of Saudi Arabian president Turki Alalshikh, who wants to adopt the UFC model in which fighters lose many fights during their career.

In a speech as he hosted the Ring Magazine Awards after acquiring the long-running boxing publication from Oscar De La Hoya, Alalshikh was unequivocal in his opinion.

“Now losing some fights in boxing must be normal,” he explained. “All fighters want a career similar to Floyd Mayweather – no losses. This may happen once every 50, 60 or 70 years.

“We need it [to be] like currently in the UFC model, where champions lose and win,” added the matchmaker during the Riyad season.

Mayweather rose through the sport in the tardy 1990s to become one of its youngest superstars. Mayweather’s professional success came after winning a bronze medal at the Olympics after losing to Serafim Todorov.

Winning world titles in five weight classes, Mayweather was untouchable. The Grand Rapids native only came close to defeat a few times. He dominated Manny Pacquiao and overtook Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya after heated debates, with decisions that should have been made unanimously.

Towards the end of his career, Mayweather chose to face Andre Berto and Conor McGregor, easily winning and ending his boxing career at the age of 50 without ever going out. Calling himself “the greatest of all time,” Mayweather earned first-ballot Hall of Fame honors and is widely considered one of, if not the greatest defensive fighter of all time.

However, Alalshikh says this type of career needs to end so that fans can get the most out of boxing, as is the case with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Boxing needs to become more attractive, and Alalshikh sees the failures of top stars as a way to keep interest at an all-time high.

In this sport, many boxers enjoy undefeated streaks, the most notable of which is Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian Pound for Pound King is 23-0 and has beaten the best he has to offer in his division and cruiserweight classification.

It remains a mystery how Alalshikh plans to make Usyk suffer while he dominates everyone else. By the time his grand plan goes into action, Usyk will be long gone, and Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney may be more realistic targets.

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Manny Pacquiao remains the favorite to win the title against Mario Barrios

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Manny Pacquiao vs Barrios

WBN understands that despite alternative options emerging, it is more likely that Manny Pacquiao will face Mario Barrios next.

Bob Santos, coach of WBC welterweight champion Barrios, told World Boxing News that he is currently in contact with Pacquiao’s team. Asked by WBN if he had spoken to Pacquiao or representatives of any other challenger, Santos replied: “Yes, Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons.” Pressed on whether Barrios vs Pacquiao might happen next, he added: “It’s challenging to say. We’ll have to see how this plays out.”

WBN contacted Santos after Conor Benn emerged as a potential alternative to Barrios. The British fighter, who recently returned from a suspension following two positive drug tests, is keen to return to competition.

Benn showed favor with the World Boxing Council at the recent WBC Convention, the WBC Evaluation Committee and during an interview with the sanctioning body over the weekend. “The Destroyer” is ranked second in the rankings at 147 pounds, despite less than solid opponents during his time in exile, during which Benn competed twice in the United States while his career in the United Kingdom was in doubt.

As he battled to clear his name and with the British Anti-Doping Authority finding no evidence that Benn had intentionally taken ostarine, the 28-year-old’s career took a pointed nosedive. Despite this, he remains highly rated and at least one step away from fighting for an eliminator or one of the remaining championship titles.

However, Pacquiao remains Barrios’ favorite. Now it’s up to the boxing legend and Hall of Famer who got the first votes to secure his shot. WBN believes a July date – most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – is the most realistic date for a Nevada swan song.

Pacquiao could extend his record as the oldest welterweight champion by six years if he can secure a huge victory over the 29-year-old world champion. At 46 years antique, such a scenario remains unlikely, but he can never be compared to one of the greatest players of this generation.

Unlike heavier boxers and his training regiment, Pacquiao looks in great shape despite his advanced age. Everything is set for a massive return to the boxing capital of the world, provided Pacquiao and his team can manage his political ambitions, which are expected to run from this month until May. After that time, Pacquiao could find himself in the summer finals and become the all-time champion, regardless of the result.

Barrios is based in the city, where he trained with Santos, and would be the perfect opponent to see out the career of one of the greatest fighters in history.

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