Stieglitz - Gevor: The Super-Middleweight's B-Side Fight

Khoren Gevor knows a thing or two about questionable judging.

The Armenian-born scrapper - fighting for the WBO Super Middleweight Title tomorrow night - lost a previous challenge for the WBA Middleweight strap against Felix Sturm in 2009 that had many observers crying robbery.

After appearing to score a flash knockdown - ruled for some reason as a slip - Gevor went on to impose his sort of fight, breaking down Sturm on the inside.

How did the judges see it?

Well, they saw it like this: 115-113, 115-113 and 117-111. To Sturm, the house fighter of course. One fight writer described  the judges' interpretation as "completely incomprehensible scoring". That just about sums it up.

Understandably Gevor has some reservations as he bids to win Robert Stieglitz's belt on his opponent's turf - and on his opponent's promoter's turf.

“Everyone knows that in sports there’s always a home advantage," Gevor has said.

“Unfortunately, this is especially true in boxing. I am a guest at [the promoters] SES event in their city. I have no illusions that here in Magdeburg it will be very difficult for me to win on points.

"I don’t want to insinuate that the judges or referee will consciously evaluate the fight incorrectly. But everyone knows that the home promoter pays the bills – also for the judges – and the audience contributes by cheering wildly for every punch the home boxer throws and not reacting at all to the clear punches landed by the guest boxer.

"No judges in the world are immune from that. So I know that I must win by KO – but this is okay for me. I am prepared for it and I have the goal to knock out Stieglitz. I don’t want there to be anything to discuss at the end.”

It's concerning that a talented boxer like Gevor (31-5) should feel this way but of course most experienced boxing fans will tell you that's just how it goes when you fight in an opponent's backyard.

It's not right of course - just ask Robin Reid. The Super-Middleweight was denied a fair victory against long-reigning champion Sven Ottke (who won a series of dubious decisions) in 2003. Poor Reid was constantly interrogated by the referee, given a warning after landing a punch and had a genuine knockdown ruled as a slip. He didn't get the decision despite appearing to - despite the referee's outrageous behaviour - win more rounds than his opponent. One wonders how he found the strength to carry on in the sport after that disgraceful evening.

Back to Gevor's forthcoming fight and for my reckoning, and with all due respect, Stieglitz is far from being an elite champion. He has good power and brings experience but in two bouts where he stepped up in class - against Alejandro Berrio and Librado Andrade - he was stopped.

Since winning his belt he has made three defences against mediocre opposition.

In a division stuffed with the talents of Carl Froch, Andre Ward, Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham, Andre Dirrell and Lucian Bute; Stieglitz is not even a top-five fighter, despite his belt.

However, that may not matter for Stieglitz. If he continues to fly under the radar he can make easier defences and bank the cash without facing the big boys. That's not healthy for the sport and shows how devalued many world title belts have become.

Don't blame Stieglitz - he's just playing the game.


* Postscript: Well, sadly there was a controversial ending to this fight.

Reports state that Stieglitz was the sharper, more accurate puncher, while Gevor was as game as ever, coming forward and trying to press his advantage.

Things turned in the tenth round though.

Gevor, frustrated in a clinch, rabbit punched his opponent. After being broken up, the two fighters clinched again, with Stieglitz wrestled to the ground by Gevor.

Stieglitz got up, displaying a laceration above his right eye and Gevor was disqualified.

So incensed was Gevor that he argued with Stieglitz's cornermen and apparently attacked the referee for good measure.

That's not the sort of image boxing needs.

New Look Boxing News

Today sees the launch of a new look Boxing News - the longest running boxing magazine still in publication, dating back to 1909.

The magazine - or paper, as some of the traditionalists like to refer to it - has undergone a few changes since Tris Dixon took over as editor from Claude Abrams in 2010. These include changing the date Boxing News comes out from Friday to Thursday, while other new features have been introduced, such as having a weekly guest columnist.

Now whenever a long-standing publication undergoes a change a lot of people used to and content with the current order of things will often grumble.

Glancing at internet boxing forums this morning that seems to prove the point with naturally opinionated posters complaining the design too closely resembles an MMA publication. The point has been made in connection with Boxing News' sister publication, Fighting Fit, which has more of an MMA focus.

However, while change might not always be welcome it is an inevitable fact in the publishing world as magazines and newspapers seek to progress, as well as keep in touch with the changing times. Let's not forget too that the evolution of internet and declining publication sales (of which Boxing News has apparently bucked the trend and continues to prosper, I must add) means editors (or their bosses) are always looking for new ways to keep ahead of the game - or just keep up.

As a nostalgic person who misses the days of Boxing News resembling something more akin to a broadsheet paper I must say I'm still not sure if the new design is my cup of tea (particularly the use of 'News' to represent the 'I' of 'Boxing').

That probably says more about my tastes though!

I have a feeling the design will grow on people. The changes being implemented under the stewardship of Dixon, including regular online features - see: http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/ - are steps to helping modernise the magazine, diversify its audience and push for continued, or even improve, solid sales figures.

That can't be a bad thing for boxing of which Boxing News has always been a wonderful ambassador most humble writers covering the sport can only aspire to achieve.

101 years and not out. That's not bad going eh?

DeGale - Groves: The build-up continues

Intrigue continues to mount as James DeGale and George Groves step up their preparation for next month's mouth-watering contest.

As things stands it appears that only DeGale's British title is at stake, although that's not to rule out the belt Groves brings to the table - the Commonwealth strap - also being up for grabs.

No matter what title or titles are being contested this is still effectively a domestic undercard contest and one wonders what Welshman Nathan Cleverly, who is fighting for the WBO Light Heavyweight title, makes of it all. He is the headliner on the night after all.

Perhaps not having the hassle of the limelight might be a blessing in disguise.

George Groves is currently in Miami training alongside his mentor the heavyweight champion David Haye and has conducted sparring sessions with the mercurial Super-Middleweight Andre Dirrell - a world-level fighter. This seems like a sensible move in preparation for a snappy, flash contestant like DeGale.

James DeGale has based himself in Essex under the notoriously tough taskmaster Jim McDonnell. The man called 'Chunky' said he blows up to 190 pounds outside of fights but it's unlikely he won't come into this contest in great condition given McDonnell's reputation.

Some of McDonnell's previous training orders have included getting fighters to pull along cars with passengers sat inside, while it was rumoured he even got one former fighter to sleep in a separate bed to his wife in order to conserve energy!

This week George Groves' promotional team Hayemaker have thrown a barbed counter toward DeGale's side with a heavily-edited video designed to make 'Chunky' look foolish. Entitled 'James Defail', it can be found here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjDBy-JJrsA

James DeGale hasn't being keeping quiet either (no surprise there). He's hit back at Groves as a "chinny" fighter.

Here's what he had to say: "There is something wrong with his chin, there has to be if he keeps going over all the time, and I will exploit that."

DeGale has based his theory on Groves getting stopped in the amateurs as well as floored by Kenny Anderson last year and in a sparring session with Carl Froch.

I think it's safe to dismiss the Froch spar here. Groves has been open about being floored and let's face it, Froch is a superb, experienced world champion who hits very hard while Groves is green as a professional. It's also been said that Carl Froch does not hold back in sparring and surely Groves will have gained something as a result.

The Anderson knockdown could also be brought into question as a measure of Groves' chin Anderson has a genuinely good punch and Groves left himself exposed to the Scotsman's best shots . He took some blows, went down and then got back up to win (although the stoppage appeared a little premature). Rather, it seemed Groves' defence (or lack of) was the issue - not necessarily his chin.

Of course, DeGale is hyping the fight and he's trying to get under Groves' skin. Both fighters will want to carve out every possible advantage before fight night and a bit of winding up can go a long way.

Just ask Ricky Hatton about his pre-fight exchanges with Floyd Mayweayther Jr.