Sergio Bellend

HIV+ boxers are still allowed to box?!? I thought they were well and truly banned.

Certain countries allow them. For example, Chagaev was scheduled to face Valuev in May last year in Finland, but it was called off on the morning of the fight cos he was found to be HIV positive. Since then he has fought in Germany a couple of times, so if he did fight Haye, it would probably be there.

Tommy Morrison (Tommy Gunn in Rocky V) is banned from fighting in certain states in the US cos of his HIV, but not others.

This does seem to be a combination of Sky and Wlad's fault, rather than Haye, which is disappointing. After all the (reluctant) budging Haye did, I thought this fight might be near but now I don't think it'll happen-neither party want it enough. For example, Wlad wants it but only on HIS terms. Fight in Germany, his name first on all the promotional stuff, entering the ring last, german docs at ringside etc. I've questioned whether Haye really wants it, but the fact he accepted those terms suggests he does.

From what I understand regarding these shenanigans, everything was agreed to, 50/50 and all the terms above for a german stadium on April 30th between Hayemaker, K2 and RTL (the German TV company that shows K2 fights), but Sky didn't like that date due to a) They are showing Amir Khan v ??? (Lamont Peterson supposedly) two weeks earlier, also on PPV and don't want two that close to each other, and b) It's the royal wedding that weekend apparently, so they must think nobody is gonna buy it. An alternative date of the 2nd July was planned, but Wlad didn't want to go 9 months without a fight, so rejected that date to fight Chisora on the original date of April 30th. Fucking gash. If Haye does indeed retire at 31, that leaves a very small window to fight Wlad now. Haye is due a mandatory against Ruslan Chagaev, who's HIV positive so won't be allowed to fight in the UK, that might take place in Germany, or he might just 'wait' for the Wlad fight that will probably not happen.

As for why he doesn't fight Vitali in the interim (which seems obvious), Haye must view him as the stronger brother, and has absolutely no intention of fighting him, especially with his retirement due so soon.

Times like these (and the fact that Mayweather Jnr v Pacquiao looks as far away from happening as ever) make me question being a boxing fan. I don't think there is another sport out there that can disappoint as much. Just fuck off messing about and fight!

Its more opinions im after but didnt fancy starting a thread but anyways here goes....

 

How far have TNA's PPV come since Victory Road 2004?

 

I have just started to work my way through them currently at Against All Odds 05.

 

They just seems to be aload of random matches and im guessing now they have better storylines ect.

 

Do random people still come for 1 PPV never to be seen again or do they have a sence of stability?

 

And if they have improved could someone give me a rough time they started improving from the 04/05 PPV's?

I really miss TNA from the late 2004-end of 2006 era. Their Ayslum stuff was lovably shit, but when they moved to Orlando, it was lovably ace for a couple of years. Alright in the early monthly PPV days you had random shit with guys like Savage, Credible, and any fucking randomer turning up for a match or two then disappearing. From a serious point of view though, it does pick up very soon. I seem to remember early 2005 was about AJ's chase for the world title, and then goes on with Raven and Planet Jarrett. You will love 2006, the token multi-man spot match early on, usually a hardcore match, and Jarrett title matches with a million run-ins. Guys still came in for one-off matches and appearances probably until the end of the year. Tremendous, I really miss TNA from back then, and Lockdown from that year remains my favourite PPV since WM XIX. Stick with it.

Basically it picks up quickly from early 2005, becomes very good by the end of the year, and starts turning to shit around the end of 2006, from which I don't think has ever recovered. I've not watched much TNA from 2010, but it's very different now to how it was then.

Adi Lewis has been in great form so far. Hes been overshadowed by Anderson, but hes still been very impressive. Should beat VDV, as well. Quarter finals look very sweet as well; Webster/Taylor, VDV/Lewis and Anderson/Barney should all be crackers.

 

I also think Mardle is wank. Mardle/Waddel did Lewis/Thornton, and it was fucking horrible. Think he must have saw Flintoff getting excited at the 180's, and thought he had to do it as well. Annoying.

The Newton v Jenkins QF was brilliant I thought, Newton had his chances and blew it. Lewis was very good against VDV, but then again VDV could hardly hit a double early on. I fancy Webster to cause and upset tonight, dunno why, I just reckon he's got a chance. And of course, I hope he fucking beats that twat.

And I agree with Mardle being a shit commentator. Heard him on the first QF, and he was obviously trying to be a cross between Waddell and Flintoff, going all out for the wacky sayings. I didn't mind Freddie as an occasional comm going a bit crazy, but I hope Mardle doesn't become a regular, he's not a patch on Lanning. And he really does sound like Harrington.

Absolutely tremendous. But fuck Sky for not showing the presentation AGAIN.

I would be HUGELY surprised if we didn't win by 50 runs and an innings. The series has had some very good high and low points, speaking of which does the result of this test series go anywhere to the ICC rankings?

As much as it's been hyped, it's basically a battle for third place in the rankings. A quick check on cricinfo shows we were just ahead of the aussies on 5th december, so a series win should consolidate that. South Africa are just above us, but the fact they won the first test v India, and are perhaps on course to make it 2-0 means its unlikely we'll go past them.

I've no idea how the rankings are calculated, mind.

And from a selfish point of view, I hope they don't bother sending Harris out tonight, cos that could end up dragging the finish out a bit.

To me retaining the Ashes is no acheivement unless you win the series. Winning a series is one of the most coveted things in Cricket and to do it would put the players on another level.

This x1 million. You go in to every test series with the intention of winning it, so why should you settle for a draw against the Aussies just because it's them? Simply retaining a minature trophy that will be forever (and rightly) held in the Lords museum doesn't mean anything, it's just a drawn series.

Plus it would be fairly embarassing not to win this series comfortably with the aussies in such dreadful form.

Does any one know if and when the UK's strongest man is repeated, I'm busy on a Wednesday.

Also are they having the Worlds again? I enjoy watching Worlds Strangest Man but didn't I read something about Bravo getting dropped or something.

Yes, WSM is definitely on Bravo this year, but all over the traditional Christmas-New year week instead of once a week, so they can fit it in before they get axed off air. It looks like there is three episode of that 'Giants Live' before the main event starts on Boxing Day...

All the times here

EDIT: double post

where did you read that the Cleverley fight was off?

All over the boxing forums. Apparently Lakatos has been replaced by Nadjib Mohammedi.

Klitschko v Chisora off now, this card is going down the pan fast.

anyone getting the PPV on the weekend?

 

Warren's 2nd 'Super Show' in a couple of months, good stuff.

Yeah I'm buying it. My sister's 18th that night though so I'll sky+ it and watch it at a more convenient hour the next day. In typical Warren form, his card is falling to shreds-Gavin v Harrison and Cleverly v Lakatos are off-the latter one of the only two real interesting fights from Liverpool. The rest are all jobber fights, bar Smith v DeGale. At least that fight should be good, Chisora would probably spring the shock of the century if he beats Wlad, and Khan in with a puncher for the first time since Prescott is intriguing. Decent card, even with the pullouts.

ITV4.

 

Simple.

 

The perfect time for highlights, an hour before the programme starts. Plus its the Auzzie commentators, Bill Lawry is genius.

It's not really the perfect time if your like me and prefer to avoid the score before watching the highlights. That makes the 10am sky highlights much more preferable. I watched the ITV4 highlights one night and they shove an extra ad break in and don't have interviews.

Suppose it's fine if you haven't got sky though.

When I saw that James Corden was involved, I bowed out.

Ah, Corden his new bezzie mate cos he's on some shitty game show with him.

Think stumps are about 7am but dont quote me on that

At least for the first test...

Morning 12-2

Afternoon 2.40-4.40

Evening 5-7 (but it'll finish at 7.30 because they will never get the 90 overs in by 7)

I'm almost as excited as I was back in '05 for this series. I've got loads of early morning over this weekend, so I'm probably only gonna manage till lunch each day, then whack on the highlights tomorrow. There's about 5 different showings across the day. I'm at uni, which means I won't be watching much of it on the actual TV-I'm just hoping Sky Player doesn't let me down-it's usually horribly unreliable but has been fine recently.

I think we've got as good a chance as ever, the aussies aren't in great form, and their bowling attack really is poor-just why on earth are they playing Doherty? That being said, ours isn't all that great, apart from Swanny of course. Anderson is very mediocre if the ball doesn't swing, Broady can lose his cool too easily, and while I think Finn is a top talent and the conditions will probably suit him-he is still untested at the top level (Bangladesh and some match fixing pakistanis don't count ). But we'll see, I think we'll cope at the Gabba, if conditions are as expected, but come Perth when its rock hard with nothing going, it's gonna be all about Finn

Any interest in the Froch vs Abraham fight coming up?

Yes, at least from me. Has the potential to be a fight of the year and I'm really looking forward to it. A shame sky aren't showing it and it's on that obscure Primetime channel.

Coupled with Haye saying its gonna happen, Adam Booth saying its 99.9% certain and it looks like now we have a fight with no contractual things getting in the way, so I'll guess we'll see next year then?

Booth said Haye would never fight Audley because it would be an 'embarassment of a fight' or something similar.

We know how that turned out, eh?

Yep, that was a F'ing Boxing Match. Fight of 2010 without any shadow of a doubt!

 

Manny is the MAN!

Nah, was it fuck FOTY. I preferred Lopez v marquez last weekend, and that was more of an even contest than last night I thought. Twas an exciting fight though, I had

When I grow up I want to be Graeme Swann.

Have you got a cricinfo profile from your UCCE/minor counties days Max?

Be pretty boss if you did. I've always thought you've made it as a cricketer if your on there. Which is surprising that I know/have played with/against quite a lot of people with cricinfo profiles.

I think we'll take it 2-1. Even though we'd retain with a draw, thats not enough for me.

I think we'll win, and I certainly agree with your latter point. There's not much really in simply holding on to the trophy, it's all about winning this series, like it is any other one. Fuck retaining it, we've a better team than the aussies, and particularly with the way they have been playing, a draw would be a disappointing result. Better than losing 5-0 though, natch.

Is the Pacqaio-Margarito fight on Sky Sports or tacked on to the Haye-Harrison fight?

Sky Sports 1, 2am

the 24/7 series is the best hype shows out there (better than UFC promotional shows), the honesty in which it's presented is refreshing... HBO are actually promoting the fight by saying that Pacman is having a terrible training camp, there's no glossing it over like 95% of the time in boxing/mma, it's a strange approach but it's enthralling. I'm also fancying Margarito for the upset.

 

2 in one night?

Not really, HBO have PPV's to sell at $50 a pop, and the whole world and their dog knows Pacquiao wins 99 times out of 100, so there needs to be angle so people can at least be hyped in to believing Margarito has a chance. If they see Pac having a fine training camp, nobody buys the fight, as it has the potential to be ridiculously one-sided. It's not neccesarily staged, but overly dramatised. It's a good programme, but I wouldn't be so quick to praise it's 'honesty'. 24/7 has a very clear agenda.

I'd recommend Showtime's excellent Fight Camp 360 series which tells the behind the scenes story of their Super 6 tournament. As gash as the tournament has turned out to be, the documentary series is fascinating, and covers a lot more of the promotional and negiotations behind the scenes.

As for Haye v Harrison, I've said it before, and I'll still be a grump, sadly-it's a joke of a fight. No matter how much sky try to big Audley's chances, all he has is the typical 'punchers' chance, that any competent boxer would have in there against Haye. The faux 'rivalry' set up between them, when they won't talk face to face etc. is excruciating and makes the WWE look believable at times.

Everything that is wrong about 21st century boxing is shown in both the haye v harrison and Pacquiao v Margarito fights.

The majority will be on sky sports but I think all the fights on the 13th will be put together on one big show on sky box office,

Jeepers, your hopeful. More like the minority of those fights will be on Sky Sports. Of that November list, only the Matthew Hatton fight and Prizefighter is confirmed for sky sports. Obviously Haye v Harrison is on Box Office, possibly with Pacquiao v Margarito with it but thats far from 100%.

That'll be it, barring them picking something unlikely up.