Last Saturday night we were treated to boxing's two-sided coin - the good and the bad.
Earlier in the evening the coin landed the right way as WBO Light-Heavyweight Champion Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew traded a blur of blows in a see-saw battle which soared and dipped thrillingly as the contest went one way and then another.
It really was a special evening of fighting at Liverpool's Echo Arena as hometown favourite Bellew showed he could walk the walk after months of talking, or rather shouting and spitting out fury. He was able to harness his impulsiveness to deliver an impressive performance.
He lost, yes. But showed he belongs at world title level and it was a close contest which could have perhaps gone in his favour on another night. It might be a blessing in disguise for The Bomber, who can learn from what he did right and at times wrong. He should be able to come again at this level - as long as he can maintain the rigours of squeezing himself down to light-heavyweight.
As for Cleverly, he must gain credit. He mixed it up and scrapped with a big hitting unbeaten fighter and he came up with a victory. Let's not forget he went into his opponent's backyard and he appeared unfazed by the heated atmosphere. Rather he seemed to relish it.
Here's to Cleverly and Bellew for putting on a brilliant spectacle. Wonderful.
Later on Saturday night the boxing coin swung back to bad.
'Bad' Chad Dawson earned a hollow victory (which was later overturned and ruled a technical draw several days later) after flinging the crafty fox Bernard Hopkins to the ground in the second round. The referee ended the contest in the second round, ruling Hopkins could not continue after injuring his shoulder in the fall. Dawson was (at the time) given a second round TKO.
There was a mass of confusion in the aftermath that did not nothing for boxing's reputation. Hopkins said the referee had pulled him out and that he was willing to continue. Dawson - who had looked commanding in the short space of time the fight had lasted - was ungracious as he baited Hopkins, labelling him a coward and shouting abuse his way.
It was an ugly contest that turned into a disaster. The milk turned sour.
Well, that's boxing for you.
Earlier in the evening the coin landed the right way as WBO Light-Heavyweight Champion Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew traded a blur of blows in a see-saw battle which soared and dipped thrillingly as the contest went one way and then another.
It really was a special evening of fighting at Liverpool's Echo Arena as hometown favourite Bellew showed he could walk the walk after months of talking, or rather shouting and spitting out fury. He was able to harness his impulsiveness to deliver an impressive performance.
He lost, yes. But showed he belongs at world title level and it was a close contest which could have perhaps gone in his favour on another night. It might be a blessing in disguise for The Bomber, who can learn from what he did right and at times wrong. He should be able to come again at this level - as long as he can maintain the rigours of squeezing himself down to light-heavyweight.
As for Cleverly, he must gain credit. He mixed it up and scrapped with a big hitting unbeaten fighter and he came up with a victory. Let's not forget he went into his opponent's backyard and he appeared unfazed by the heated atmosphere. Rather he seemed to relish it.
Here's to Cleverly and Bellew for putting on a brilliant spectacle. Wonderful.
Later on Saturday night the boxing coin swung back to bad.
'Bad' Chad Dawson earned a hollow victory (which was later overturned and ruled a technical draw several days later) after flinging the crafty fox Bernard Hopkins to the ground in the second round. The referee ended the contest in the second round, ruling Hopkins could not continue after injuring his shoulder in the fall. Dawson was (at the time) given a second round TKO.
There was a mass of confusion in the aftermath that did not nothing for boxing's reputation. Hopkins said the referee had pulled him out and that he was willing to continue. Dawson - who had looked commanding in the short space of time the fight had lasted - was ungracious as he baited Hopkins, labelling him a coward and shouting abuse his way.
It was an ugly contest that turned into a disaster. The milk turned sour.
Well, that's boxing for you.
