SOMETHING WRONG!
IS the boxing world going crazy? Dave Harris is struggling to get money for a care home for ex-boxers while Tyson Fury is asking for half-a-billion pounds to make a comeback. Doesn't make sense to me. Something wrong somewhere.
Chuck Glen
CARLOS ORTIZ DESERVED BETTER
I WAS sorry to learn of the passing of Carlos Ortiz. Reading the Jack Hirsch article (BN, June 23), it was such a shame that his life after boxing was so sad, a great champion forgotten.
I remember he boxed Dave Charnley, top of the bill on October 28, 1958, on the last show held at Harringay Arena, promoted by Jack Solomons. It was a great contest with Ortiz a convincing winner.
It took until 1962 for Ortiz to get a shot at Joe Brown's lightweight championship, whereas Charnley got two attempts at the champion in those intervening years. After
Ortiz beat Joe Brown in 1962 he reigned as champion for the next six years, except for a six month loan to Ismael Laguna in 1965.
While awaiting his shot at the lightweight championship, he won and lost the junior welterweight title.
Carlos Ortiz was a great champion who trounced the world's best lightweight's during the 1950s and 1960s.
Mike Hinton
A GREAT WATCH
I STUMBLED across a terrific documentary on BBC Scotland. I live in England but the channel is on Sky. It was about Josh Taylor and the build-up to his fight with Jack Catterall. Josh comes across as a really good guy, respectful, good family man, very dedicated to his sport and very likeable. I know he sometimes gets heated before fights and says things that are deemed a bit disrespectful, but isn't this all part of the sport? I'd recommend any boxing fan to watch this documentary. You'll get to see the real man with his friends and the lead up to his marriage. He also explains how he felt rough training after having Covid. And even though I was one of the many that thought Catterall won their fight, I still hold Josh very highly and wish him all the best!
Patch Hammond
FEATURE IDEA
I'VE just read your article in Boxing News (June 23) regarding the upcoming Commonwealth Games. As it's in Birmingham, I think a feature on Frankie Gavin and myself about our Commonwealth Games gold medals in Melbourne 2006 would be good, as we are both local lads.
Don Broadhurst
Maxi Hughes (Lightweight contender)
I give Yarde a puncher’s chance. After studying Beterbiev, it’s clear there’s a lot more to his game than destructive power. He also has great balance, timing, and clever footwork. He’s an extremely wellrounded fighter with a good chin.
Wayne Alexander (Former European champion)
I don’t give him a big chance. Beterbiev is a proven worldclass lightheavyweight and has looked impressive in nearly all of his world title fights. It’s not impossible for a young, hungry Yarde to pull off an upset. Anything can happen in boxing.
Tyler Denny (English champion) He’s a big underdog, but a live one. Stranger things have happened but he’s just a beast, Beterbiev. Yarde's confidence will come from seeing Callum Johnson drop Beterbiev. But you still have to side with Beterbiev. He’s 37 but he never looks old and he has an extensive amateur background.
Bradley Skeete (Former British and C'wealth champ)
I’d give Yarde a good chance against Beterbiev. Beterbiev is élite level but he’s been hurt and put down before so he’s only human. It’ll be a tough task for Yarde but he’s boxed at world level against Sergey Kovalev and knows what’s expected.