BUGNER LACKED DESIRE
I RECENTLY read Joe Bugner’s ghost-written autobiography. Having read dozens of boxers’ life stories over the years, I was interested in Bugner’s views on his career. I came away after three hours of reading underawed with what I had absorbed. The one thing that struck me was Bugner’s lack of apparent desire. Not once when discussing his fights (Muhammad Ali twice, Joe Frazier, Earnie Shavers etc) did he mention how he ‘had to win’ or that he ‘needed to win’. It was as if it didn’t matter whether he won, as long as he survived, proclaiming how proud he was to have gone the distance with Ali not once but twice. Granted, this is an accolade, but what about the regret of not winning what were absolutely winnable fights? I can only assume that Bugner’s indomitable spirit was countered by his lack of aspiration, for otherwise he would surely have been a world heavyweight champion (forget the WBF title he rams on about). Rick Conlon
ADVICE FOR WARRINGTON
INSPIRED by a bloodthirsty home crowd, Josh Warrington’s win over the gallant Lee Selby should not be understated. The brawler outboxed the boxer, however, his evident lack of concussive knockout power should inevitably prove a hindrance when chasing the elite names at 126lbs. Carl Frampton is too technical, Leo Santa Cruz too rangy and Oscar Valdez too powerful. Warrington and his promoter, Frank Warren, should aim towards domestic paydays, milking the incredible Leeds support for all it’s worth. Lewis Watson
WALKING THROUGH WALLS
JOSH WARRINGTON was the underdog against Lee Selby, but his loyal Leeds fans proved their worth. Nothing was going to stop Warrington – he was prepared to walk through walls to win the world title. Selby is a nice guy and was a good champion, but he just wasn’t allowed to use his skills due to Warrington’s pressure. His cuts certainly didn’t help him, either. Patch Hammond
THE NEXT FREDDIE MILLS? COMING off five straight insidethe-distance wins, Bournemouth cruiserweight Chris Billam-smith is flying high. This talented protégé of Barry Mcguigan is indeed very much a gent outside the ring. Following in the footsteps of the town’s much-loved legendary Freddie Mills, this fresh-faced 6ft 3in champ-in-waiting is itching to one day capture a world title, just like Freddie did. A graduate of Poole ABC, Billam-smith is set to top the bill in an eight-rounder at Bournemouth’s O2 Academy on Saturday June 16. On the undercard, he will be ably supported by Jimmy Cooper, Steve Liddell, Sam Jones, Dean Dodge and, making his pro debut, Jack Hillier. Perhaps Chris “The Gentleman” Billam-smith, or even one of his supporting combatants, is already on the trail of Freddie’s great legacy? Peter Shaw
TITLE TALK
WHILE everybody has their own opinion on the plethora of ‘world’ titles knocking around in the sport at present, I’m of the view that if boxers want to fight for a title, then let them. Having a title of some kind on the line can get the casual fan interested in a fight, and the extra interest will usually result in more money being available. Surely anything that puts money in a fighter’s pocket can only be a good thing? Having a belt to show off gives a fighter some validation for all the hard work and sacrifices they’ve made. Whatever earns the boxer the greatest monetary reward is fine by me. Owen Hollifield