..So anyway, I wake up with a text this morning asking me “..why does everyone hate Audley Harrison, afterall he hasn’t hurt anyone.” Well, yes.. exactly. Many of us fans were suckered in with the pre-fight baiting and banter, only to be again given the sizzle, but barely a morsel of steak to chew on. Far be it from me to diss any boxer who steps into the ring. It takes balls of steel to step through them ropes, be they amateurs starting out or pound-per-pound hall of famers. I hate the word ‘bum’ in articles. There are no ‘bums’ in the game, all pro boxers are in there to make a living (except Spider Rico.. that guy really is a bum). We DO as fan’s demand that every fighter gives their all once that bell goes however. £15 in the Queens money is alot of coin or plastic to put down these days for a fight. Usually we dont have it, but we still find it, justify it and pay it like the hardcore fans we are. My hate in the game isnt with any boxer, but in how its too easy at top level to get a payday, talk the talk, barely show up and walk away. Hopefully we’ll see some stronger safeguards put in place by the boxing governing bodies stopping this or even better – more control over some of the post fight purse payouts. After all, it hits the fans, the boxers and sport at the end of the day. Luckilly for us, the next few weeks gives us a couple of fighters who dont mind letting their hands go. Wladimir Klitschko, the best and brightest heavyweight in the world at the moment verses Dereck Chisora the most fearless. In fact, ‘Del Boy’ Chisora doesnt’s seem to worry about anything, including referees, me, you or the police, but he can bang and he’s hungry and as a fan, I can settle for that..  Meanwhile..

Swanny’s Picks

Thursday 2nd December 2010, Paris, France
Jean Marc Mormeck vs Timor Ibragimov
Ibragimov with the more success, but veteran Mormeck takes close, unpopular, hometown verdict over the twelve.
Bookies: IBRAGIMOV Swanny: MORMECK

Saturday 4th December 2010, Schwerin, Germany
Alexander Dimitrenko vs Albert Sosnowski
Decent tare-up. Sosnowski has his moments early on, but Dimitrenko retains Euro title by close decision.
Bookies: DIMITRENKO Swanny: DIMITRENKO

Saturday 11th December 2010, Mannheim, Germany
Wladimir Klitschko vs Dereck Chisora
Spirited challenge from game Chisora, but Klitschko takes control midway on route to stoppage.
Bookies: KLITSCHKO Swanny: KLITSCHKO

Brilliant.. so, while David Haye continues to ponder as to when would be the best time to lock horns in the ring with either of the Klitschko brothers, Britain’s number two heavyweight, Dereck ‘Del Boy’ Chisora appears from off the radar and lands himself a crack a Wladimir Klitschko’s IBF, WBO and IBO crowns. With all of 14 professional bouts under his belt, talk about stepping up to the plate! Hats off to the younger Ukrainian brother, who after swatting what seems like an endless supply of already exposed imports from across the pond, will actually defend against an unbeaten curiosity for a change. One does wonder what the deal is with Alexander Povetkin though, who seems to have been designated hitman for the Klitschko brothers for some 16 months now. His five round meaningless stoppage of Nigerian, Teke ‘The African Prince’ Oruh at the weekend would indicate he’s staying busy, but at 31 the Russian certainly looked dangerous and ready enough to me during his win over useful American, Eddie Chambers back in January 2008.  Back to David Haye.. the word is that both his and Prizefighter champion, Audley Harrison’s camp have opened talks about an all-British world title fight in November. Cotton wool defence for the Haymaker? perhaps.. but if Haye can light a fire under Audley like Michael Sprott did last time out, who knows, we may have ourselves another Lewis-Bruno like 17 years ago on the cards. I’ll have a bit of that..

Swanny’s Picks

Saturday 23rd October 2010, Riesa, Germany
Timo Hoffman vs Alexander Petkovic
Aging Hoffman fails to throw enough. Petkovic unconvincing, but gets the nod by close decision.
Bookies: HOFFMAN Swanny: PETKOVIC

Friday 29th October 2010, Warren, Michigan, USA
Chauncy Welliver vs Brad Gregory
One way traffic from the opening bell. Welliver by stoppage.
Bookies: WELLIVER Swanny: WELLIVER

Friday 29th October 2010, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Kevin Johnson vs Charles Davis
Rematch from 2006. Same outcome, just comes sooner.
Bookies: JOHNSON Swanny: JOHNSON

.. Well that was gutsy. Albert Sosnowski took his lumps tonight despite eventually succumbing to Vitali Klitschko’s big right hand in the tenth round. Just a short one this time as I settle down to enjoy the second greatest sport on the planet – Football. (Hey there’s a World Cup on!!) Thanks for the kind words on the fight picks. I just say it how I see it, though I probably should add some disclaimer somewhere covering my ass for any losses you make (or wins). In a nutshell, the picks are a bit of fun, dont gamble.. period. That said, here’s some more upcoming picks below..

Swanny’s Picks

Saturday 31st July 2010, Hamburg, Germany
Alexander Dimitrenko vs Yaroslav Zavorotnyy
Zavorotnyy tough, but outgunned. Russian retains with late stoppage .
Bookies: DIMITRENKO Swanny: DIMITRENKO

Saturday 21st August 2010, Newark, USA
Tomasz Adamek vs Michael Grant
Faded Grant unlikely to land anything meaningful on the tough Pole, who takes charge from the fourth onwards. Adamek by late stoppage.
Bookies: ADAMEK Swanny: ADAMEK

Saturday 21st August 2010, Erfurt, Germany
Robert Helenius vs Gregory Tony
Two unbeaten heavies, but Helenius should have too much for French champ.
Bookies: HELENIUS Swanny: HELENIUS

After watching Wladimir Klitschko’s stoppage of challenger Eddie Chambers at the weekend, I’m finally happy to conceed that the younger of the two Ukrainian heavyweight kings is now the top boxer in the division. Lots of you have pulled me on this for a while now, but only seeing the workrate, precision and shear ring smarts he displayed on the night really hit home at just how good Wladimir is. For those who think the division is at its weakest point since the Holyfield and Bowe let me tell you, Eddie Chambers is every bit as talented if not more so than most of the pugs challenging for the world heavyweight crowns 15-20 years ago (..with the exception of Lennox Lewis of course!) Theres a huge shift in dominance in the division however and you can see why the fight money is now in Europe rather than as traditionally in the US. As much as boxing popularity has waned Stateside, it has shot through the roof in Germany and Europe. Especially in the glamour division. John ‘The Quietman’ Ruiz will attempt to change all that when comes to the UK to attempt to prize away David Haye’s WBA crown next month. Its a smart choice for the Bermondsey man, who after honouring this WBA mandatory gives him a green light for a pay day against pretty much any luke-warm challenger later on in the year. There is also the potential superfight with either of the Klitschko’s too who are are genuinely starting to sound annoyed at the cocky Brit playing the media..

Swanny’s Picks

Saturday 3rd March 2010, Manchester, England
David Haye vs John Ruiz
Ruiz has been here numerous times and should keep the champ busy. Can see Hayemaker’s handspeed take him to a clear points verdict.
Bookies: HAYE Swanny: HAYE

Friday 9th March 2010, London, England
Audley Harrison vs Michael Sprott
Sprott’s mixed in better company. Harrison is on the boil. Lean towards A-Force by decision.
Bookies: SPROTT Swanny: HARRISON

Saturday 24th March 2010, California, USA
Tomasz Adamek vs Chris Arreola
Arreola dangerous at close range, but Adamek controls from the outside to take unanimous points win.
Bookies: ADAMEK Swanny: ADAMEK

Having read some of the boxing articles doing the rounds over the last two weeks, I’m starting to think David over-sold himself to the Klitschkos simply in order to get them talking. I like Haye, both for his boxing abilities and the amusing out of the ring verbal jabs he dishes out, but I dont see him beating either Klitschko right now. He brings lots to the divison, plus renewed interest from our friends across the pond, but I even suspect there is a good deal of doubt with his camp as to whether he can beat either of the proven Ukrainian heavyweight kings at the moment. Now, a fight against Valuev not only gives him a taster of how his style fares against a tall super-heavyweight, it also gets him more control in negotiations should talk of a Haye/Klitschko fight surface again next year. Lets also remember Valuev lost most of the twelve rounds to a part-time and faded Evander Holyfield in Germany last year only to given a break by the judges. Also dont forget Klitschkos handlers Sauderlund and Valuev’s Universum are about as co-operative as a North Korean immigration office, so Haye holding a strap means unification fights become more possible for them to bring about..

Swanny’s Picks

Saturday 28th November 2009, Lusaka, Zambia
Joseph Chingangu vs Adewale Abbey
Even at 44 the big Zambian should make light work of Nigerian journeyman.
Bookies: CHINGANGU Swanny: CHINGANGU

Saturday 5th December 2009, Ludwigsburg, Germany
Alexander Povetkin vs Leo Nolan
Povetkin all over him. Early stoppage for the Russian contender.
Bookies: POVETKIN Swanny: POVETKIN

Saturday 30th January 2010, Schwerin, Germany
Robert Helenius vs Lamon Brewster
The American has seen better days. The big Fin should have too much for this version of Brewster.
Bookies: HELENIUS Swanny: HELENIUS

We’ll what a different a Prizefighter event can make. It sounds like A-Force, Audley Harrison has gone from virtual zero to British heavyweight challenger again, after the Olympic gold medallist  lifted the Prizefighter trophy in a pretty entertaining evening. The evening also saw a disinterested Danny Williams appear to bow out of the game after being clocked in the first round by Sheffield journeyman Carl Baker. Harrison mopped up the rest with apparent ease and looks like he may step in to take on tough Ukrainian Alex Dimitrenko for the Euro crown after the Polish Dragon, Albert Sosnowski moved on to better things. That better thing being a shot at the WBC world crown after Dr Ironfist, Vitali Klitchsko Ph.D systematically disected the tough, but outgunned Chris Arreola over ten brutal rounds in Los Angeles last night. Sosnowski should give a good arguement, but its hard to see anyone other than Alex Povetkin of Russia or maybe Britain’s David Haye giving the Klitschko brothers any tests of sorts. Haye’s WBA title challenge with the giant Nikolai Valuev in November should provide us an idea of how effective he is against the behemouth super heavyweights of the top divison. If the ‘Beast from the East’ is as ponderous with Haye as he was with a 47-year old Evander Holyfield last time out, I seriously doubt any judge dare wing another gift the Giant’s way. In what would surely be the biggest weight difference in a title fight in boxing history, it should certainly be an interesting watch..

Swanny’s Picks

Friday 9th October 2010, Bethnall Green, England
Dereck Chisora vs Zurab Noniashvili
Should be routine for the Finchly heavyweight. Likely inside the eight.
Bookies: CHISORA Swanny: CHISORA

Saturday 10th October 2010, Rostock, Germany
Denis Boytsov vs Jason Gavern
Gavern coming off his best win of his career.  Should be entertaining, but Boytsov breaks down the American late on.
Bookies: BOYTSOV Swanny: BOYTSOV

Saturday 7th November 2009, Nuremburg, Germany
Nikolai Valuev vs David Haye
Will be cagey as Valuev tries to use his size and catch the Brit. Haye smart enough to stay away and cruises to clear points verdict.
Bookies: HAYE Swanny: HAYE

..So there we have it. Wladimir pretty much shuts out Ruslan Chagaev. A guy lets remember, who bested Felix Savon in the ring no less and beat Nicolai Valuev AND was given the belt as a result (not always certain it would seem!). Its good that the younger of the two Klitschko is now starting to get some kudos. I remember Lennox Lewis doing similar nine years ago in Las Vegas when David Tua was supposed to put Lewis’ lights out. Total dominance from the outside of a technically superior infighter. Another good thing I’m beginning to like about Wladimir is that he really isnt sidestepping anyone. Nothing irates us boxing fans like a cancelled fight just a few weeks before the main event. Remember how annoyed you were when after months of build up hepititus KO’d Holyfield-Akinwande? Prime Mike Tyson vs Holyfield 91? Lennox Lewis vs Kirk Johnson? Not Wladimir Klitchsko. Not only does he save the card, he brings in the #3 ranked heavyweight on the planet and balance is restored again. And what of David Haye? Fortunately for us, he’s got the back up of older brother Vitali enough to have Dr Ironfist to strike off a cotton wool defence against Oleg Maskaev with the WBC. So fingers crossed for a Vitali Klitschko/David Haye Euro blockbuster in Germany before the end of the year. Although American hopeful and WBC number one contender, Chris Arreola might have a word to say about that.

Swanny’s Picks

Saturday 4th July, Hamburg, Germany
Alexander Dimitrenko vs Eddie Chambers
Chambers is a precision puncher compared to the Ukrainian, but the busier workrate will get Dimitrenko to within a whisker. The American will finish the stronger to get a majority shout.
Bookies: DIMITRENKO Swanny: CHAMBERS

Friday 10th July, Istanbul, Turkey
Ondrej Pala vs Robert Hawkins
Pala the busier. Gets the nod over the 8.
Bookies: PALA Swanny: PALA

Thursday 16th July, California, USA
Manuel Quezada vs Travis Walker
Unlikely pretty but watch Walker take control midway onwards and take the decision.
Bookies: QUEZADA Swanny: WALKER

Sunday 26th July 2009, Addis Abada, Ethiopia
Evander Holyfield vs Sammy Retta
A noble cause for the Holy one, but Holyfield barely breaks sweat from KO win.
Bookies: HOLYFIELD Swanny: HOLYFIELD