YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO PROVE, KT
WELL DONE to Chantelle Cameron for turning in one of the best performances I have seen in women's boxing, a code I have been following closely since the 2012 Olympics. It was shortly after those Games when I briefly ventured into the sport myself, so inspired was I by what the girls were doing.
I trained for several years at a gym on in Birmingham but that was it - training and the odd bit of sparring was enough for me.
The point of my letter is to urge Katie Taylor, the greatest female boxer in history in my opinion, to now retire. She has nothing left to prove and I genuinely fear that in the future, she will be showing the effects of a long and painful career. If that were to occur, it could undo the many years of progress the sport has made with her as its leader.
It's not for me to tell her what to do, but I hope there are enough people around her who she trusts and listens to, who share a similar opinion.
Katie, you will always be my hero and you have nothing left to prove. Don't let the sport now take away everything it gave you.
Anna Vaughan
PRAISE FOR ELLIOT WORSELL
I WOULD like to thank Elliot Worsell for his recent run of excellent articles highlighting some of the finer points of the sport. His articles over the past month or so have clearly captured some of the issues facing the sport in a satirical yet direct manner. From the more serious matters like Saudi money blurring the sport’s finances to social media distorting the lines of real journalism. Also, the more humorous items, like the showboating of rising “superstars” and, most recently, the way that promoters eagerly seize their moment in the spotlight at weigh-ins; the face-off photo opportunity.
That last one was both funny and serious in equal measure, but it got me thinking. I assume that most (if not all) of the photographers who attend the big boxing shows read BN. Wouldn’t it be great if, at the next big face-off, some of them shouted out: “Excuse me Eddie/ Kalle/frank. Do you mind just stepping to one side while we get a shot of the fighters?” Just a thought…
Chris Strange
ANDY RUIZ ON TWITTER
IT seems Andy Ruiz Jnr upset someone pretty badly given what briefly appeared on his social channels last week. A video of him clutching what looked like weed and an inference that he cheats the drug testing system with blood transfusions. It's been suggested that a scorned former partner was to blame, but I hope authorities, if there is such a thing, take a closer look.
Gaz Mcneill
Anthony Farnell (British trainer)
I thought Lomachenko won quite easily to tell you the truth. I know people look for different things and stuff, but I even thought he was finishing better. I thought Haney might have finished better in the fight, being the naturally stronger guy. I definitely think Lomachenko got the win by at least three rounds.
Natasha Jonas (Super-welter belt-holder)
I had Loma ahead by one or two. There was a couple of rounds that were subjective so if they went the other way, I can see how Haney wins. I don’t think Haney’s got the credit he deserves. Devin was just as quick as Loma. I thought Haney’s jab was brilliant. He nullified some of the things that Loma is very good at doing which I’d never seen before.
George Groves (British Boxing Hall of Famer)
I thought Lomachenko nicked it and thought overall he boxed better. Not mental enough to be a mad screamer because a lot of the rounds were close. The rounds he won were more convincing than the rounds Haney might have nicked. I thought Lomachenko was unlucky, and I thought he boxed really well. He’s still got it.
Enzo Maccarinelli (Former WBO titlist)
I thought the 116112 for Haney was ridiculous. I thought Lomachenko won, I wouldn’t have argued it the other way. After watching it again I definitely give it to Lomachenko by two or three. He controlled the ring, he threw the cleaner shots, he looked the boss. There was close rounds but Loma always finished strong in that last minute.