Paul's Press Ups
Paul Foley serves up this week's boxing menu containing the sweet and sour.
For starters, the bitter dish of a former favourite Thomas Hearns. The Daily Mail reported that although he earned an estimated £30 million throughout an exciting career he is now stuck on the financial ropes.
Their sharp tasting headline said "Former world champion Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearns forced to auction off memorabilia.”
The dish didn’t get any better as they wrote how former world boxing champion Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearns has auctioned off some possessions to settle a £300,000 tax bill.
Items included a 47-foot fishing boat called 'The Knockout' and the robes he wore when facing Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler during the golden period for boxing in the eighties.
A sour taste got a little sweeter when the Guardian gave Tommy’s verdict on his event billed as the “battle of his life.”
Although he didn’t confirm how much money had been raised he said it went well and people were very kind to attend.
The owner of venue auction Block in Detroit said the tax authorities were on hand and will get the money.
Let’s not forget this is the man who thrilled audiences with his great skills and speed. Sadly his money was thrown away quicker than he use to throw his deadly right hand.
There could only be one plate worse than this. With money in short supply even at 51 years I sincerely hope talk of a comeback doesn’t start to rear its ugly head.
The food doesn’t get much better as The Telegraph’s Kevin Garside cooks up his ‘Last word’ concoction.
Main ingredients consisted of two tried and tested regulars who are no longer flavour of the month.
Garside gave an overview of the disgruntled customers. “Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jnr at a combined age of 86 were booed to the bell in a 12-round borefest in Las Vegas.
"Hopkins won by decision, reversing the result of their first bout 17 years ago. Who cares? Take your cue from the fans fellas and let this bell be your last.”
I couldn’t agree more but the trouble is it’s amazing what a few herbs and spices can do. In boxing terms a few carefully crafted words with the right music and moves and all of a sudden the cues are forming again.
Before Jones went over his sell by date there have been few sweeter or slicker. But those days are a thing of the past.
The Jones Juice was once pure. Today we witness a hugely watered down version.
No amount of artificial flavourings and additives can change that.
Read the label before you buy!
Enough of that sour stuff let’s get to the mouth watering main course of H and H. Sit comfortably and enjoy.
Long before the ‘Hitman’ Hearns was hit with financial difficulties he served up a mouth-watering feast when he was busy hitting and getting hit by Marvin Hagler.
The Sun’s boxing archive Colin Hart hasn’t forgot how sweet it tasted, even if it has almost been 25 years since that delightful April 15th 1985 date.
“Hammered by Tommy ‘n Marvin” read the headline. Then Colin took us ringside for a right old treat.
“The brief encounter between Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns for the world middleweight title in Las Vegas took a mere eight minutes but it hardened fight folk stunned by its sustained savagery. What we witnessed that night left me and most of the 15,000 crowd in the open-air arena emotionally drained.”
It wasn’t a long night out with the fight lasting less than three rounds, but I suppose quality beats quantity as Hart explained.
“They went at each other hammer and tongs - only they didn’t bother with the tongs, the sound of the first bell had hardly died away when both landed sickening head punches, Hearns broke his right hand with one, but the force of the blow split Hagler’s forehead.”
Hagler had warned Hearns at the weigh in: “You better hope I don’t bleed - it only makes me meaner.”
Hearns was stopped in the third round but you know when you have seen a great fight, in the same kind of way you know when someone has enjoyed an appetising meal, they don’t stop talking about it.
Thanks for the flavour Colin. It tastes as good as ever!
