HOOKS & JABS
A new weekly fighting talk feature on what’s said and done inside – and outside – the ropes
By Richard Hubbard
DON’T BE BITTER ON TWITTER
British light heavyweight champion Frank Buglioni appeared to be having a moment of clarity when he took to Twitter to fire a timely reminder to himself last week.
The Wise Guy’s thought for the day was as follows…
“Note to self: anything written online is in permanent ink. If angry/intoxicated/not thinking clearly… turn your internet connection off!”
It is anyone’s guess which particular piece of social media activity he was referring to, but surely he couldn’t have been thinking too clearly when he tweeted this assessment on the threat presented by Anthony Yarde a little while back.
“Untested. Low work rate. #TeamWiseGuy want that work!”
Obviously, despite having a hundred big ones dangled in front of him, Team Wise Guy didn’t fancy that work after all.
AN APPETISING ALTERNATIVE
So the spectacle of an MMA fighter making his professional boxing debut taking a retired superstar chasing his half century has landed on Sky Sports Box Office.
Given the fact the ‘contest’ represents the merging of two markets it will, like it or not, almost certainly do good business.
However, for those boxing fans – and there seems to be plenty of them – who simply haven’t got the stomach for the charade on August 26, BoxNation is coming to the rescue.
While Floyd Mayweather is enjoying his lucrative swansong against the UFC poster boy Conor McGregor, the great Miguel Cotto returns to the ring in a bid to add yet another world title to his collection against Japan’s Yoshihiro Kamegai.
The WBO super welterweight world title is on the line and, for the winner, there is the strong possibility of a challenge from these shores in the shape of either Liam Smith or Liam Williams, who meet in an eliminator on October 28 in Newcastle.
Cotto, the winner of world titles in four weight divisions, has indicated that he himself will be calling time on his career by the end of the year, so this will be one of the last opportunities to witness the Puerto Rican legend at work.
Cotto isn’t the only show in town at the Stubhub Center in LA, where Mexican Super-Bantamweight Rey Vargas (29-0, 22 KOs) – who outpointed Gavin McDonnell last time out – defends his World Title against Ronny Rios (28-1, 13 KOs).
So if it is a night of proper boxing you are after on August 26 – and you don’t want to fork out an extra 20 quid to watch it – you know what channel to tune in to.
WHO SAID WHAT
Everything happens for a reason and it might be the WBO gods were saying ‘listen mate, he was going to knock you out so we’ve put him in prison for you for a little bit’”.
Billy Joe Saunders looking on the bright side of his defence against Avtandil Khurtsidze falling through due to the Georgian’s arrest in New York
“U quit, with that crying face feeling sorry for yourself once u seen a bit of blood. U cudnt beat me on my worst night.”
Liam Smith fires an early shot at Liam Williams ahead of the much-anticipated rematch in Newcastle on October 28
“All Tyrone can expect is a beating!”
Great expectations from Jack Catterall ahead of his British title challenge to Tyrone Nurse in Leeds on October 21
“Seems a lot of people are saying I’m unwell & depressed! But I can confirm I’m very well & am not depressed, never been happier, #facts”
All fine on the Fury front according to Tyson following another strong hint over calling it a day
