That's the way to do it

After falling victim to three dubious decisions, Marquez decided to take the judges out of the equation - congratulations to him:

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/8728470/juan-manuel-marquez-knocks-manny-pacquiao-6th-round

Bet Pacquiao now wishes he'd taken that fight with Mayweather when he had the chance...

They (almost) never come back

Ricky Hatton’s ill-fated return to the ring after a three year absence once again illustrated how incredibly hard it is for fighters to make a successful return from retirement. Performances in the gym had convinced Hatton that he was back to his best, but once again we saw that stepping into the ring on fight night is an entirely different proposition. Perhaps if Ricky had faced an easier opponent he would have been victorious on Saturday night, but this would only have added to the illusion that he was capable of reclaiming former glories. Eventually reality would have (literally) hit home. Ricky’s fate, like that of Barry McGuigan and endless other fighters who have shared the same delusion about successfully returning to the sport, was all too inevitable. This also emphasizes (if any further evidence were needed) just how exceptional Sugar Ray’s Leonard’s comeback was (see http://floatlikeabutterflysting.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/sweet-memory.html). Those who continue to bang on that Ray didn’t win the fight, that Hagler was robbed, etc. really need to remember that this was someone who, like Hatton, hadn’t fought in over three years (indeed Leonard had only had one fight in the previous five years), returning to face a foe who was undefeated in eleven years. The astounding exception that proves the rule.

Time to lance this boil

I think I'm starting to despise the man:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/the-turnstile/lance-armstrong-just-happens-pose-next-tour-france-190124213.html

If he's not careful he's going to end up on my 'sporting figures hate list' alongside Alan 'world class' Shearer, Joe 'calslappy' Calzaghe and Co.

Sweet Memory

I haven't posted for quite some time, but couldn't let 6 April pass with mentioning such a significant anniversary. 25 years ago Sugar Ray Leonard defeated Marvellous Marvin Hagler in 'The Superfight'. It was probably the greatest comeback in boxing history - Leonard had only fought once in the preceding five years, whilst Hagler had not lost in eleven years. By winning the fight, Leonard secured his legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Sweet indeed.

Happy New Year?

RIP Darlo...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16493533.stm

And the winner is...

My 'alternative' fighter of the year award (aka The Fran) for 2011 goes to Juan Manuel Márquez. Three times he’s fought Pacquiao (deemed by so many to be the pound for pound king). On at least one, if not two, and possibly even all three occasions, he’s won the fight. But the judges keep on letting him down. The fight this year saw possibly the worst decision of them all (Tim Smith of New York's Daily News wrote that Márquez "was robbed by judges who were either blind or corrupt"). He may not be a winner according to the record books, but Marquez is definitely deserving of The Fran.

Don't believe what the Scousers say

Evra has never played the race card:

http://therepublikofmancunia.com/how-patrice-evra-has-never-played-the-race-card-and-why-assumptions-are-dangerous/