TalkingBoxing Article

April 28, 2004
TalkingBoxing's British Update
Skelton wins titles; Cook out to impress
by Dave Crellin
This week's update will be short and sweet, which is exactly what last weekend's main UK fight wasn't. If followers of heavyweight boxing at the world stage are vexed at the lack of class coming through post-Lewis, they've got nothing on those with in interest in British boxing's big boys. Matt Skelton emerged from a distinctly unattractive bout in Reading with the British and Commonwealth titles, won against erstwhile champion Michael Sprott via a twelfth round KO. Despite occasional flurries of activity this bout was everything you'd hope for from a John Ruiz-Henry Akinwande contest, with boxing taking third place to wresting and ballroom dancing respectively.

Skelton dominated most of the early rounds and although Sprott had some success with right hands towards the middle and later stages of the fight, by the last quarter he was too far behind on points. The end came around a minute into the last as Skelton stepped away from a clinch to land a significant right which had the home fighter leaning against the ropes, shipping all kinds of punishment from ex-mixed-martial-artist Skelton. Sprott went to the canvas and stayed there to be counted out.

So, onwards and upwards for Sprott who despite his win looked defensively flawed and showed his non-boxing heritage in his footwork. He does have strength, though, and a decent chin, although how far these will carry him is unclear. Natural fights for him next are former champ Danny Williams, controversially dethroned by Sprott, Audley Harrison or even a crack at decent-but-basic Euro boss Luan Krasniqi. Sprott drifts back to the hinterland of the British heavyweight scene. He�ll be back, though, because there just aren't that many better.

On the undercard were TKO wins for young featherweight Kevin Mitchell and light middleweight Matt Macklin.

On the cards this weekend another British heavy warhorse, Julius Francis, appears on a Gravesend show headed by tough Nigerian Silence Saheed and Alan Temple in a tussle for the British Masters lightweight title. It's as good a thing to do in Gravesend as any. Peacock's entertaining Latvian light-heavy Elvis Michailichenko also features.

A higher class of card altogether is on at the Recreation Centre in Bridgend, with comebacking Llanelli lightweight 'Dynamite' Dean Philips (interview) tackling tough Michael Muya, the Kenyan former Commonwealth titlist in what should be an entertaining but winnable bout for the Welshman. Heading the bill, Jason Cook defends his IBO lightweight title against the handy Hartlepudlian Kevin Bennett. Neither is a big puncher but both give everything they have in the ring, and this should be fight of the weekend on these shores - Cook to take a points verdict.

Audley Harrison's opponent for his 8th May Bristol match is Russian Nicolai Popov, who can at least compete on size terms with 'A-Force'.

No news yet on Ricky Hatton's opponent for June 5th. The second tier lightweights of the Europe must all be eyeing a decent Manchester payday.

Debuting amateurs Steve Tresadern and Jo Cresswell are heading to Ibiza and Mallorca respectively for warm weather training ahead of their 22nd May showdown.

Mario Veit and Kabary Salem are the vultures circling Joe Calzaghe' WBO 168-pound belt, and will meet on May 8th for the interim title.

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Past British Updates

Dave Crellin gives TalkingBoxing.com readers the weekly scoop and his expert opionion on the British and European scene. Dave is a big fan of boxing and is one of TalkingBoxing's top-notch writers. Make sure to check out his "British Update" weekly for all the boxing information you need on foreign events!

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