Boxing News 31 March 2022

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@MattCBoxingNews Editor WHEN I first wrote about Daniel Kinahan the article was entitled Elephant In The Room. Two years on, he remains a ginormous presence but the difference is that more and more key figures in boxing are talking about him. And it’s not just the fighters he represents who are complimenting him or certain members of the media servicing him. It’s those who govern the sport. Last week, Mauricio Sulaiman, the head of the World Boxing Council, publicly declared his support to Kinahan after a visit to Dubai where the Irishman resides. Sulaiman wrote that Kinahan was “a character who has been crossed out and labelled as a person linked to criminal groups, thus creating prejudice against a large part of the world boxing community… I had a revealing talk with him,…

I READ with interest (and agreement) your editorial piece around small hall shows. An important part of your excellent magazine, I use them to keep an eye out for news of any future stars. However, the constant 'three stars for the whole show' (which are probably generous) are in themselves an example of why things need to change. My own view is that we all continue to give too much importance to the 'undefeated fighter'. If instead every show had at least two well-matched fights, this would help to grow the sport and attendances at these shows. It should be the boxers who, after a short learning period, take frequent challenges. They should be the ones who receive the coverage, and thus the rewards, that this sport can offer. Gareth Hopkins PUT…

WHAT’S THE BEST MOVE FOR JOSH WARRINGTON TO MAKE NEXT? Tony Jeffries Olympic light-heavy medallist The best move would be a big fight Stateside against one of the other featherweight world belt-holders – Léo Santa Cruz, Emanuel Navarrete or Mark Magsayo. Paul Edwards Former British champion My personal opinion is he’s getting a little bit older, he did look great but are we going off Kiko Martínez? And with his broken jaw, I think he should have two more fights. I think pick the right fights and then get out of the game, Michael Conlan and Leigh Wood in the next two fights. Mickey Hellet Boxing manager and promoter If I were him, I’d look for one defence at home followed by the biggest money fights. I’d opt for an all-British unification with Leigh Wood to sort out who’s…

1 NASEEM HAMED Hamed redefined the weight class with his power and showmanship. After winning the WBO title against Steve Robinson in 1995, he defended it 15 times, adding the IBF and WBC versions along the way. 2 BARRY MCGUIGAN McGuigan ended the long reign of Eusebio Pedroza, at Loftus Road in 1985. He would make two defences before Steve Cruz and the insane Las Vegas heat conspired against him the following year. 3 HOWARD WINSTONE Winning 61 of 67 pro fights, Winstone lost three title shots against the great Vicente Saldivar before beating Mitsunori Seki to lift the WBC belt in 1968. José Legrá then dethroned him later that year. 4 JOSH WARRINGTON Warrington was the British, Commonwealth and European champion in 2014, then in 2018 he outpointed Lee Selby to take the IBF belt; a…

@BigDaddyBunce Voice of boxing LONG after Kiko Martínez had left the building, the floor in his changing room was still slick with his blood and water. My notes have his blood all over them, several pages are stained and I’m sure there is enough light-blood splatter on my clothing to make me an easy target for Dexter. Josh Warrington was wiped clean at the start of each round, the blood removed to make him look less like he had come fresh from an abattoir. It was that type of night in Leeds and we expected that type of night in Leeds. I was looking for Warrington when I found Kiko’s room, but he had been packed off to hospital with a broken jaw and hand; he is now on a two-week liquid diet. I have…