Shocking scorecards from SSE Hydro in Scotland.

                           
Following a dominant, career best performance Jack Catterall appeared to dominate and drop Unified lightweight champion Josh Taylor in a fight which saw the home fighter also lose a point for unsportsmanlike conduct. Controversial former fighter, referee and judge Ian John Lewis submitted a baffling scorecard which had Taylor ahead by 114 points to 111. To accompany this incompetence, referee and judge Victor Loughlin offered a card which had fellow Scotsman 113-112 ahead. With English Judge Howard Foster having Catterall ahead by a point by 113-112. 

Catterall dominates undisputed champion Taylor but gets robbed by scorecards.

                              

Unified world lightweight champion Josh Taylor 19-0 (13 KOs) escaped with his WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO belts via a scandalous twelve round split decision against mandatory challenger Jack Catterall 26-1 (13 KOs) tonight after being dropped, deducted a point abd outclassed for the majority of the bout. Catterall took the initiative and appeared the find his measure with crafty counters behind an accurate jab. Jack nullified a less than impressive Taylor and never allowed the champion to get a foothold in the action for the first 6 rounds. Catterall lead the fight by a streak on the punch stats throughout the bout and dropped your desperate Taylor in the 8th. Catterall was himself deducted a point in the 10th for holding. Taylor was instructed to be more urgent going into the 11th but again found himself outgunned and outmanoeuvred by the clever challenger. Josh was deducted a point for his conduct at the end of the eleventh but managed to hustle through the 12th in desperation to save his titles. At the conclusion Catterall had a big edge in the punch stats landing 120 punches to 73 throughout the fight, with an 81-57 differential in power shots and a 39 to 16 difference in jabs.  Experienced ex fighters and knowledgable ringsides appeared outraged when 2 of the 3 scorecards were announced with Taylor leading. A star referee and former fighter Ian John Lewis scored the bout as a shocking 114-111 in favour of the home fighter, alongside referee and judge Victor Laughlin who scored the bout 113-112 for fellow Scotsman Taylor, with only English judge Howard Foster cutting closer to the mark with a 113-112 in favour of the challenger. 

A visibly outraged Catterall left the ring immediately whilst numerous ringside critics voiced their shock anger at what many described as the worse decision they have ever witnessed in boxing, former world Cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson described it as embarrassing and disastrous for the sport. 

Khan v Brook undercard summary from Manchester.

                              
A capacity crown packed into the AO arena in Manchester to enjoy the prelude to the long awaited meeting between Kell Brook and Amir Khan which featured the professional debut of highly decorated Olympic medalist Frazer Clarke and a third world title attempt by Liverpools Natasha Jonas along with winning appearances by star amateurs Hassan and Adam Azim. Clarke disposed of late replacement Jake Darnell of Blackpool in a round to enter the paid ranks at the elevated age of 30. Clarke looked patient and briefly impressive but understands that he needs to be moved fast. Natasha Jonas realised a lifelong dream at the third time of asking by stopping tough Chris Namus in 2 rounds to pick up the vacant WBO super welterweight title. Jonas, stepping up 2 weight divisions displayed impressive power by dropping the durable Namus at the end of the opener with a 2 punch combination, Namus fell heavily and struggled to recover during the minute long interval. Jonas identified this and knocked the import down again early into the session to force the referee to stop the bout on the orders of the Namus corner. English super middleweight champion Charlie Schofield lost a unanimous 10 rounds points decision at the hands of the undefeated Germaine Brown. Brown dominated the action throughout and prevented the rangy champion from gaining a foothold in the bout. Social media renowned Viddal Riley made his Uk debut with a 4 round points win over the colourful Willbeforce Shihepo at Cruiserweight. Riley dropped the African import early but was unable to force the stoppage. In a battle of unbeaten middleweights, Bradley Rea knocked out Craig McCarthy in the opener of a scheduled 8. 

Probellum boxing announce first UK fight card.

                                 

Three-weight world champion Ricky Burns (43-8-1, 16 KOs) will return to action for the first time in over two years when he squares off with Argentina’s Emiliano Dominguez Rodriguez 26-9-1 (10 KOs) in a lightweight clash on December 18 at the Rainton Arena in Sunderland. England.

In other action, junior welterweight Lewis Ritson 21-2 (12 KOs) takes on Mexico’s Christian Uruzquieta (20-4-2, 7 KOs) and undefeated super bantamweight Thomas Patrick Ward (30-0-1, 4 KOs) looks to build on his current rankings of #3 with the WBO, #8 with the IBF and #11 with the WBA and move a step closer to a world title shot, taking on Leonardo Padilla 20-3 (14 KOs), who is ranked #5 with the WBA.

Probellum President Richard Schaefer makes it clear that he intends to start as he means to go on with action stacked fight cards featuring the best up and coming fighters in each division, Schaefer aims to put Probellum on the map as a competitive force in world boxing. 

Saul Alvarez dismantles game Plant to become the first unified 168 Champion.

                                     

Mexican multi weight super champion Saul Álvarez 57-1-2 (39 KOs) scored a conclusive eleventh round Knockout over previously undefeated Caleb Plant 21-1 (12 KOs) to become the first WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO undisputed super middleweight champion on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. 

Canelo patiently stalked the mobile Plant in the early sessions, shooting short combinations at the evasive IBF champion. Plant grew in confidence and began letting his hands go in the middle rounds which only allowed Alvarez more opportunity to find crafty counters. Canelo began to close the distance by the sixth and was finding Plant frequently to the body but kept his composure and kept everything controlled. Plant appeared complacent by round 8 and had started to neglect his tight defence, appearing slightly reckless. By the tenth Alvarez was cutting the ring off with pinpoint precision and landing heavier and more accurate shots. Plant looking shopworn and outgunned started to appear vulnerable by the 11th, Alvarez honed in on this dropping him heavily with a left hook, short right hand followed by a crisp left uppercut. Plant rose gamely but Canelo had smelled blood and a series of straight right hands and lethal left hooks forced Russell Mora to step in and save Caleb as he was knocked down a second time to force an 11th round stoppage. 

The victory makes Alvarez the first Mexican boxer to become an undisputed world champion in the four-belt era, and the first unified super middleweight champion since the division was introduced. 

By the Conclusion of the 11th round the scores read. 97-93, 96-94, and 98-92.

Denorvell Collier, the pursuit of a dream.

                                  

The 6 foot 4, 220 pound Denorvell Collier looked more apt at becoming a college football player than a fighter, the Chicago native attended Indiana state university on a football scholarship but had flirted with boxing and had caught the eye of Muhammad Ali. Ali had seen Collier sparring and advised him to pursue the sport, Ali told Dee that he would need expert coaching and May need to relocate to achieve his dreams. Collier took the advice and headed on a long trip to Los Angeles to find the connections and mentoring that could ultimately make him into a champion. Dee turned pro in the of June 1983 but would lose a disappointing 4 round decision to fellow Chicagoan Mike Evans at the LA Sports arena. Collier persisted and by 1984 would compile a record of 7-2 and would face the first reputable name of his career, the experienced Mike Jameson, Dee boxed well and dropped a split decision in San Jose but made a great account of himself in defeat. Irrational management would thrust Collier into a fight with the very capable Cruiserweight Bash Ali 12 weeks later in Reno. Collier was caught cold by Ali and knocked out in the second round. leaving the imported Californian’s career in tatters. 

Regardless Collier insisted on remaining active, he understood his mistakes and had faith  in what he was capable of. Collier at 7-4 and coming off damaging losses would be scheduled to fight former world title challenger Randall Cobb who at 24-6 was still a live contender and was renowned for his durability and toughness. The chips appeared stacked against Dee prior to the bout at Reseda Country club, Cobb outweighed Collier by 20 pounds and had faced the likes of Norton, Dokes, Holmes, Shavers, Douglas and was ranked 22 places above Collier by the WBA. Unfortunately Dee failed to buy into the script and knocked Cobb out in 2 and a half minutes of the opening round, the only time that Cobb was ever stopped or knocked out. Four months later Collier would beat the capable Mark Wills to capture the California State heavyweight title. The headlines grabbed with the impressive stoppage of Cobb earned Dee the biggest opportunity of his life, a spot on the Spinks v Tangstad undercard at The Las Vegas Hilton on September 6, 1986. Collier would face the highly ranked and popular James Buster Douglas and would offer solid resistance by staying the course and forcing the contender to settle for a unanimous decision. Collier would return with a repeat victory over Mark Wills, this time by a 7th round Tko, to retain his California state title. In the July of 1987, Collier would be matched with 7 foot Mike White in Irvine, Dee would struggle to negotiate the height and reach of the mammoth White and dropped a 10 round decision. 7 months later Collier would try his luck again, this time with his California State title on the line but would lose by a wider margin over 12 in the same arena. Collier would return in the November against the undefeated Alex Garcia, Dee would box well and match the hard punching former San Fernando gang member over the first half of the fight, and when a cut over Garcia’s right eye began affecting his vision, Collier was awarded the retirement victory in round 8. Over the next 7 months Collier would score knockouts over Bobby Crabtree and Monte Masters to earn him a shot at NABF champion Orlin Norris at the Showboat in Las Vegas. Collier wouldn’t disgrace himself but would lose a wide decision to the future world Cruiserweight champion before calling it a day to pursue a life outside of boxing. 

In the mid 1990s Collier landed himself a string of appearances in movies and commercials, including Only in America, the Don King biopic , Diggs Town with Lou Gossett Jr and Highway to Heaven with Michael Landon. In 2009, 20 years after leaving the ring Collier appeared on competition-styled reality tv show ‘Wipeout’ a show where contestants face a highly competitive assault course to eliminate his opposition, proving that there was still life in the old dog. Collier retired with a record of 13-8 (9 Ko’s) and took up bodybuilding to maintain his fantastic physique and still lives with his family in California. 

Oscar Rivas becomes the first man to claim the World Bridgerweight title.

                                 

In the first ever fight for the vacant WBC World Bridgerweight Championship, Oscar Rivas 28-1 (19 KOs) scored a hard fought twelve round unanimous points decision over rugged Ryan Rozicki 13-0 (13 KOs) last night at L’Olympia in Montreal, Canada. The fight proved to be an entertaining affair with both Rivas and Rozicki having moments of success throughout the fight. Rivas drew first blood by hurting Rozicki towards the end of the opener, however by round 4 the tattooed Rozicki began to outgun the bigger Rivas. Oscar appeared to turn things his way by the 7th with accurate punching but allowed Rozicki’s guts and courage to drag him back into the fight late. Rivas who appeared ahead by 11 boxed behind the jab and drew Ryan onto some big shots. Rivas was deducted a point in the closing round for a low blow but appeared to have done enough in a historic victory to earn himself the bragging rights that he was the first ever Bridgerweight world champion by scores of 116-111, 115-112, 115-112.

Oliver McCall jr shot and killed in Chicago.

                                         

Last week we received the sad news that Oliver William McCall jr, son of the former WBC heavyweight champion of the same name was shot multiple times and killed 73rd street and Yates boulevard in the South Shore district of Chicago. Family and friends described McCall as a good man and a positive role model and mentor to many youths in his area. 

McCall jr wasn’t interested in the street life in his neighbourhood but it appears he got caught in the wrong place after walking his mom to the bus so that she could get to work safely and had just finished an overnight shift as a security guard. Oliver’s sister Natasha said “Oliver would have done anything for anyone even a stranger on the street, that’s the truth, we just can’t believe that we are never going to see our brother again. 

The McCall family are searching for answers after Oliver was caught in rapid crossfire moments after three people crashed and ran from a stolen car close to the alley where McCall was found. Oliver, who was licensed to carry a firearm had returned fire but it’s is not clear whether he hit anyone. The McCall family are finding it hard to come to terms with Oliver’s shooting and can’t understand how such a gentle family man could meet such a tragic end on his own doorstep. Natasha described Oliver’s 4 year old daughter Kennedy waiting at the door for her daddy to come home, too young to fully understand the reality that he won’t be returning. 

The McCall family have set up a Go fund me page in honour of Oliver’s life

Click Below.

www.go fund me.com/f/honoring-the-life-of-oliver-mccall-jr

Oscar Rivas weighs in with a 20 pound advantage over Ryan Rozicki (Bridgerweights) in Canada.

                                   

It’s been 34 years since professional boxing has added a significant weight division. In 1987 the Cruiserweight or junior heavyweight division was introduced to allow smaller heavyweights whom were naturally too big to make the light heavyweight limit to compete at an optimum weight, here we are in 2021 where many of the heavyweight divisions major players are 250 / 60 pounds and in excess of 6 feet 6 inches in height, a far cry from 1987 when the world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was weighing close to 217 and under 6 feet. Introducing the Bridgerweight division, another niche classification which allows smaller heavyweights (which may have been considered big heavyweights in 1987) to compete between the weights of 210lbs and 228lbs. Oscar Rivas 27-1 (19 Ko’s) comes into tonight’s first ever Bridgerweight world championship fight with a 20 pound weight advantage over Ryan Rozicki 13-0 (13 Ko’s) At their weigh-in Thursday in Montreal for the World Boxing Council (WBC) bridgerweight title bout Oscar Rivas tipped in at 222, with Ryan Rozicki a more svelte 203.

Undercard Weights.

Sébastien Bouchard 148.6 vs. Sergio Ortega 148.2

Terry Osias: 172.6 vs. Joaquin Murrieta 173.4

Alexandre Roberge 207 vs. Francis Charbonneau 199.8

Kevin Menoche 153,8 vs. Thad Ridsdill 153.4

Alexis Barrière 235 vs. Rafael Sanchez Rojas 211

The card is hosted by The Venue L’Olympia in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and is promoted by GYM (Group Yvon Michel)

Josh Taylor v Jack Catterall postponed until Feb 26th.

                                   

The all British affair for the unified junior Welterweight championship between the Champion, Scotland’s Josh Taylor 18-0 (13 Ko’s) and the challenger Jack Catterall of Lancashire 26-0 (13 Ko’s) originally scheduled for December 18th at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow has postponed due to the champion suffering a knee injury in training. 

Catterall won the British super lightweight title in 2017 then propelled himself to a WBO world ranking in 2019 with wins over Tyrone McKenna and Ohara Davies. The Lancashire man last boxed in November winning a 10 round decision over Abderrazak Houya. 

Taylor began to accumulate his world championships in 2019 when he collected the IBF title from Ivan Baranchyk, adding the WBA Super belt 5 months later when he decisioned Regis Prograis. Josh would complete the set by adding both the WBC and WBO titles last May, decisioning Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas. Taylor v Catterall has been rescheduled for Saturday February 26th at the same arena in Glasgow. 

Marvin Stinson, the epitome of a Philly fighter.

                                   

In 1974, Philadelphia boxer Marvin Stinson traveled to Cuba to compete in the world games to face Teofilo Stevenson, losing a close decision in the finals. In 1976, Marvin won the national AAU title, he went to the Olympic trials that year, alongside future world champions Michael Dokes and the eventual winner of the tourney John Tate. Tate would beat Stinson in the final and would eventually represent the famed 1976 Olympic team. Prior to this particular meeting, both Tate and Marvin had split their two previous bouts. Stinson however remained in the Olympic camp as an alternate at heavyweight. 

Marvin would turn pro in the July of 1977, at the age of 25, he would score a second round Ko of Charles Boston at Virginia Beach. Marvin would win five of his first six fights by knockout, including a stoppage of tough Mike Montgomery (6-0). He followed this with three straight 8-round points wins, including a decision over Leroy Diggs (8-4-3), a man who would later serve alongside Marvin as a Larry Holmes sparring partner. Marvin would beat the notable Pedro Soto of Puerto Rico at Madison square garden in May of 1978, which amounted to 9 bouts in under 10 months. It was then that the problem of getting fights would begin. Stinson signed with former world champion Joe Frazier who at the time was busy on the road with his band, Joe Frazier and the Knockouts. Local manager Gary Hegyi and George Benton were steering Stinson’s career and booking him fights. This began to prove difficult after the first year. 

Seven months passed before he finally boxed, scoring an 8 round draw with Randy Mack, a Philadelphia southpaw who was on a 5 fight winning streak. A further seven months passed before his would box again, this time scoring a stoppage Tyrone Harlee in Atlantic City, a winner of 6 of his previous 8 bouts. Another five months would pass before he boxed again, this time scoring another draw with future NABF champion Larry Alexander at the Upper Darby Forum on the outskirts of Philly. 

In 1979 Larry Holmes was preparing to defend his title against Mike Weaver in New York when he called Frazier to ask if he had anyone to send up for sparring. Frazier sent Stinson, little did he know it would be a job that he would hold for 13 years, remaining a permanent fixture in the Holmes camp until his 1992 fight with Evander Holyfield. Holmes would initially agree to pay Marvin $300 a week, but after their first session Larry added a further $100 to his weekly wage. 

Stinson would travel with Larry for his Las Vegas bout with Leroy Jones in the March of 1980, and secured a spot on the undercard at Caesars Palace where he would score a first round knockout over Eddie Wilson. 2 months later Stinson would box a rematch with Randy Mack, who had continued a winning streak for 6 more fights since their last meeting, resulting again in a draw, this time over 10 rounds in Atlantic City. Mack proved himself as a very tough and crafty opponent.

Back in Las Vegas in October of 1980 Stinson would climb off the floor to out-hustle Jeff Shelburg in an ESPN main event, this would be Marvin’s last victory. Stinson would go on to meet unbeaten Philadelphian Tim Witherspoon (7-0 / 6 KOs) at the time. The future WBC and WBA heavyweight champion would not only win a close decision over Stinson but follow up with another seven wins before losing a highly disputed split decision to WBC champion Holmes. 

Stinson would meet veteran Philadelphian Jimmy Young next, a tricky customer who had been in with Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney, Ron Lyle and hold a victory over George Foreman. Young had also lost a controversial WBC and WBA title bout with Muhammad Ali in Maryland which many ringsides thought Jimmy had won. The Stinson-Young match was in June of 1981 in Atlantic City. Marvin later revealed that the Young fight was probably the only fight he felt he genuinely lost. Approaching the conclusion of his long career Stinson craved one last big fight, and 14 months later he would face undefeated New Yorker Eddie Gregg at the Felt Forum in Madison Square Garden. At the end of the 7th round it appeared as if Gregg did not want to come out of his corner, but the referee insisted that he fight on. Stinson, ahead on the scorecards suffered a cut from an apparent head butt, the referee immediately stopped the bout offering the victory to Gregg without even consulting the ring doctor. I sat on my stool and cried said Stinson.  Eddie Futch said advised Marvin that it was the right time to quit. Marvin had an extensive decorated amateur career with over 300 bouts including bouts with Larry Holmes, Fred Houpe, Dwain Bonds, John Tate, Teofilio Stevenson and Jimmy Clark followed by a professional career that concluded with 12 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses and 6 knockout wins. Marvin Stinson would later spend some time serving as a sparring partner to an 18 year old Mike Tyson in the Catskills prior to the 1984 Olympic trials earning $750 a week. Marvin would retire from boxing and return to a civilian life in the early 1990s, stating that he didn’t wish to work with any of today’s fighters because they lacked the drive and dedication, literally showing up at the gym when they wanted.