MCGUIGAN-WINSTONE-HAMED
IN response to Mark Taha’s letter in last week’s (July 19) issue of Boxing News, I believe Barry Mcguigan would’ve beaten both Howard Winstone and Naseem Hamed. Mcguigan was a solidly built featherweight – a puncher like Hamed, but a better boxer. Winstone would’ve troubled both Mcguigan and Hamed with his wonderful footwork and boxing skills, but his lack of a heavy punch would’ve left him vulnerable over the championship distance. Winstone lost three world title fights to Vicente Saldivar who, like Mcguigan, was a pressure-fighting boxer. The result of a contest between Hamed and Winstone? Hamed the winner via a KO punch out of the blue. Michael Hinton (Bournemouth EBA)
JOHNNY CHEATLE, 1929-2018 I WISH to inform the boxing fraternity that my father Johnny Cheatle, the former 1950s Portsmouth lightweight, passed away on July 12. According to Boxrec, his final record was 22-18-3 (3), although at one stage he was a promising 17-4-2. He always spoke enthusiastically about his career, loved the sport and was an avid reader of Boxing News. He said he was never a big puncher and preferred to rely on his left jab. He was managed first by Jim Smith, a strict disciplinarian, and later by Jim Pettengell, I believe. Among his betterknown opponents were Jimmy Newman, Roy Coles and Bill Sliney. His final contest was a 12-year battle against Alzheimer’s disease, which he ultimately lost earlier this month. He was 89 years old. The whole boxing community are invited to my dad’s funeral, which will be held at Portchester Crematorium (near Fareham, Hampshire) on Friday July 27 at 11.15am. Alan Cheatle
GLORY IN DEFEAT
WHAT a performance against the odds from Liam Smith versus Jaime Munguia. Liam manfully accepted his points defeat in what was one of the best fights, if not the best, I’ve seen this year. Liam’s ability to stage ferocious fightbacks when in trouble, round after round, was inspiring. It’s such a shame that he missed out on his previously scheduled world title shot due to illness. With the way he performed against Munguia, I feel Liam would’ve handily beaten former champ Sadam Ali. Andrew Watson
CLOWNING AND CONNING
I’M sorry to disappoint Leighton J. Philge (July 19 issue), but Tyson Fury will never get near a proper world title again. He clowned and conned his way past a subpar Wladimir Klitschko, but that kind of performance will simply not work against Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte or any of the current top heavyweights. John Walsh
PUNCHER’S CHANCE
ALEXANDER POVETKIN will be 39 years old by the time he fights Anthony Joshua on September 22, so he only has a puncher’s chance, if Joshua is actually as good as many people claim. Also, despite his past drug bans, Povetkin has not made any major weight gains since turning pro at the age of 25. He was 223 3/4lbs on his debut in 2005, and 229lbs last time out in March against David Price. John Ross
BUGNER IS ONE OF THE BEST
JOE BUGNER is one of Britain’s finest heavyweights ever. I don’t think Frank Bruno would’ve beaten a prime Bugner. Could anyone see Bruno going the distance with Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier like Bugner? Some people believe that if Bugner’s fight with Frazier had been over 15 rounds instead of 12, then Bugner could’ve stopped Frazier late on. Dave Bromlie