The BoxRec News Mailbag

In the inaugural edition of the BoxRec News mailbag, assistant editor Ben Carey responds to readers emails on Haye-Harrison, Amir Khan, the Magnificent Seven Bill and the genius of Barry Hearn.

If you’d like to feature in the next BoxRec News mailbag, send your emails to ben@boxrecnews.com stating your name and where you’re from.

Will Haye-Harrison sell?

If Audley Harrison is known to everyone in the general public, surely that means the general public also know how bad he is? I do not see his fight with David Haye being the success that some predict.

Rob Palmer

BC: Undoubtedly, Rob, the public are aware of Harrison’s shortcomings but I think many still have a curious fascination in Audley and derive satisfaction in seeing him fail. Harrison’s unpopularity, combined with Haye’s status as the new poster boy of British boxing, is an easy fight to market and I’d be amazed if an all-British world heavyweight title fight failed to sell-out the M.E.N Arena in Manchester.

Both Haye and Harrison are adept at talking the talk, it’s been built into a genuine grudge match, and I think Haye will relish the opportunity of finally ridding the British public of Harrison’s boasts and empty promises. To many the outcome might be obvious, but I think the anticipation of Haye ending Harrison’s career and the intrigue that maybe, just maybe, Audley could realise his improbable dream will be a huge draw both at the gate and on pay-per-view.

I don’t think it’s inconceivable to speculate that Haye-Harrison could sell out faster than if Haye was to fight one of the Klitschko brothers, even though it will be more of an “event” than a “fight”. Harrison will do little for Haye’s credibility but wonders for his popularity and bank balance.

Britain’s most disgraceful world champion

Having been an avid boxing fan for over 30 years, I am appalled at the antics of Amir Khan. Over the years we have had truly fantastic champions who fought everyone and ducked no one such as the likes of Benn and Hamed. Yet know we have to suffer this fool Khan, destroyed in 1 round by Prescott, fights a faded Barrera then wins a world title against "the worst of all the current champions" in Kotelnik, Khan’s words not mine.

Since then he has done everything to avoid facing his mandatory challenger, Marcus Maidana. Firstly they bigged up the boxing Rabbi Dimitriy Salita which was a joke, then they put him in against Paulie Malignaggi (not noted for his power) and now all of a sudden they are struggling to match him. We all know the real reason why Golden Boy haven’t announced Khan’s next opponent yet, they are worried that anybody in the top 10 in either his own division or the ones either side would have too much for him. There is even talk of Khan fighting Erik Morales!!!!

It’s about time Khan steps up and fights Maidana. People would have more respect for Khan if he fought Maidana and got blasted out in 2 rounds than they will if he keeps avoiding him and fighting lesser fighters.

John (Manchester)

BC: Khan’s still only 23, John, so surely you and the rest of Amir’s haters should cut him some slack? He’s recovered remarkably well from the Prescott setback when most wrote him off and since done everything asked of him. Regardless of what Khan SAID about Andreas Kotelnik, the facts ARE that Kotelnik is a legitimate top 10 light-welterweight contender who Khan beat with comparative ease and who happens to hold a win over the very man you want Khan to fight next in Marcus Maidana. Khan’s win is more impressive considering that Kotelnik ran WBC and IBF champion Devon Alexander close recently.

I do share your frustration that Khan has stayed away from punchers of late but Paulie Malignaggi, whilst lacking in power, did fight Amir on the back of a good win over Juan Diaz in his previous contest. Given the choice I think Khan would take on anyone but his handlers, Golden Boy, have been intent on exercising caution thus far. I don’t think we’ll have to wait too long though before we will find out whether the Prescott loss was just a blip or indicative of the fact that Khan’s chin is an accident waiting to happen all over again.

I expect Khan to fight one out of Maidana, Alexander or Bradley within the next 9 months. If Golden Boy steer Khan down an easier path, i.e against the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez, Paul McCloskey or Victor Ortitz then I think you have grounds to criticise Amir’s opposition but let’s wait and see. I’m intrigued to see if the Khan haters label Maidana as simply being a crude slugger who was exposed by Kotelnik and DeMarcus Corley at the weekend if Amir beats him.

Finally, whilst I applaud Benn and Hamed for providing us with some unforgettable moments in their careers, let’s not forget that Prince Naseem avoided his mandatory challenger Juan Manuel Marquez for 18 months with some help from the WBO. But why let facts get in the way of a good argument.

Truly Magnificent

Surely the Magnificent Seven bill is one of the most competitive cards we have had over here for many a year? Now there might not be a current superstar in the line-up but the potential is there for some of the boxers to really make a name for themselves and propel themselves forward to bigger and better things. It's bills like this that make me realise why I love this game of ours and why despite the negative press it gets that it will always remain the greatest sport in the world.

Tony (London)

BC: I concur Tony but the news that Darren Barker is out of the Macklin fight certainly takes the gloss off it. Macklin-Barker was the fight that everyone wanted to see though, a genuine 50-50 clash between two talented and ambitious fighters in their primes. Macklin is the local lad from Birmingham whilst Barker had reportedly shifted a bucket load of tickets. I hope they can reschedule it but Macklin didn’t need to fight Barker and I have a feeling he’ll pursue a world title eliminator now.

Whilst I don’t doubt that Barker is genuinely injured, it’s this kind of reoccurring misfortune that makes British boxing so frustrating. Let’s hope Barker-Macklin is the only casualty of the Magnificent Seven bill but, inevitably, the rumour mill will go into overdrive now. I hope that Frank Warren can draft in a decent replacement opponent for Macklin. What about Andy Lee or Martin Murray, perhaps?

To finish on a more positive note, I agree that the door is open now for someone to “steal the show”. It could be Nathan Cleverly who is involved in an excellent match against Karo Murat. Many will be expecting Kell Brook to shine against Michael Jennings though my gut feeling is that Jennings will expose a few chinks in the Sheffield man’s armour. Chisora-Sexton should be gripping and could go either way whilst Maccarinelli-Frenkel will definitely be bombs away! I’m also looking forward to seeing how James DeGale handles Carl Dilks and the next step in Frankie Gavin’s progression.

The genius of Bazza

If Barry Hearn manages to get Audley Harrison a world title crack at David Haye, he surely has to be one of the cleverest promoters of our time. I truly believe this has been the plan all along, right from the time he invited Audley to enter Prizefighter. He knew then the pantomine bad guy that British fans love to hate was craving a world title shot and invited him into Prizefighter that he won easily (which he should have done). Bazza then gets him a vacant Euro Title shot against Michael Sprott which he won with a last round knockout.

That chance coming about when his own fighter Albert Sosnowski vacates after getting a shot at Vitali Klitschko for the world crown and big bucks. He then somehow gets Haye and Booth to the table despite there protestations that a fight with A-Force would never happen and it now looks as if the deal is almost nailed down. The man is a genius!

Roger (Middlesbrough)

Barry Hearn certainly seems to have rediscovered his passion for Boxing over the last year which is good to see. I think you’re being slightly charitable to Hearn if you think he honestly envisaged that Audley would be challenging David Haye for the world heavyweight title 13 months after inviting him to enter Prizefighter – a competition that Harrison may not have won had Michael Sprott not withdrawn. It’s worth remembering that Haye had yet to beat Valuev to become world champion and I think Audley would have lost to Albert Sosnowski for the European had the Pole not received an unexpected crack at Vitali Klitschko.

Latterly though Hearn deserves immense credit for steering Harrison to the verge of a world title shot after beating three novices and Michael Sprott. It would be a remarkable story if Harrison and Hearn could pull this off. Haye vs Harrison is expected to be officially confirmed next week.

If you’d like to feature in the next BoxRec News mailbag, send your emails to ben@boxrecnews.com stating your name and where you’re from.