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Joined November 2016
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I live in the south of England and write for a number of online sports publications. I predominantly write on Cricket and Boxing but do sometimes dabble in other sports. If you like my stuff you can follow me on Twitter: @LWOSGarryWhite
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Runners live their lives by the stopwatch. Perhaps, in its own way, an accelerated metaphor for the heart-drumming business of life.
Anthony Joshua (19-0) has done something altogether rare in modern boxing and accepted the IBF’s request to face their mandatory challenger. Kubrat Pulev (25-1), will be AJ’s first opponent as heavyweight champion, when they meet in Cardiff’s Principality stadium on 28th October.
Conor McGregor will finally fight Floyd Mayweather this weekend. At last the battle will take a positive turn from the verbal to the physical.
The giant Italian heavyweight champion Primo Carnera once fought a Kangaroo. Not as you might imagine in the cold and desperate days after the racket guys had thrown him adrift to fend for himself, but right at the peak of his fame as heavyweight champion of the world in 1933.
Billy Collins Jr had something about him, it is fair to say.
Take the train to London Bridge station. Get off and walk under the shadow of the bashful Shard Tower.
So, Ugo Ehiogu. I will be honest and admit that I had entirely forgotten about him until his name came sharply back into focus this morning.
Are you a ‘die-hard’? I’m not really. Not anymore. There used to be a time when I was but that ship has long since sailed into a filthy ocean of greed and commercialism.
Where did that come from? Leicester City played a blinder this morning and left a listless Liverpool vanquished by a 3-1 margin.
What is sport and why does it matter? Is it about the quality of the competition and the occasion?
It seems to me no coincidence that the principal sponsor of the Big Bash League is KFC. KFC is Colonel Sanders’ famous brand that promises chicken in a bucket containing 11 secret herbs and spices.
I heard that Graham Taylor had died through one of those Sky Sports alerts on my phone – I don’t normally read them as rule.
Back in those hard-hitting and intoxicated days before Christmas and the New Year, a mere stitch back in time when the elastic on my trousers was relaxed and my liver chipper and fighting fit, I wrote a morose piece on ‘why red cards have no place in cricket.’
“Say it ain’t so Joe” the little kid may have said to baseball legend Shoeless Joe Jackson. Or Ray Liotta, depending on whether he had seen the movie Field of Dreams or not.
Back in the 1950s and 60s, there was a youth sub-culture known as the ‘Ton-Up Club’. This club was populated by the ‘Ton-Up Boys’ who attempted to reach the magic speed of 100 miles per hour, or ton, as they raced their modified motorcycles.
“You can’t bat for toffee” a South African gentleman once told me in a club cricket match. At least I think it was toffee.
If you type the name Ross Gregory into your search engine you will immediately be struck by two very different pictures.
“I never thought it would happen with me and the girl from Clapham.” So, went the 1979 pop hit from Squeeze.
Me too! Ortiz is the most challenging I think. Wilder in my view would be perfect for Joshua and ripe for an early KO..
Will Anthony Joshua need to form his own 'Bum of the Month Club'?
Totally agree. I can also see Ortiz beating Wilder, who I think is hugely over rated and flattered by his record. A bit of a symptom of the lack of quality in the heavy division.
I think Parker V Fury is tough to call. Parker has obvious limitations and Fury’s record is paper thin, with one semi decent win on it. Also has been inactive and injured, so tough call as to how he will be on day. book makers have Parker as very narrow favourite. Both would be cannon fodder for Joshua.
Will Anthony Joshua need to form his own 'Bum of the Month Club'?
Thanks Drew. Yeah Parker V Fury will actually be a tough one to call. Bookmakers have nothing in it, with parker marginal favourite. Could go either way, but wouldn’t expect a feast of boxing. Joshua would have little difficulty with either.
Look forward to the article on Tommy Browne. Mundine looks well past his best and Browne very limited. Would stoke up interest, especially considering his sad story, and guarantee a reasonable pay day… What are your thoughts on it?
Will Anthony Joshua need to form his own 'Bum of the Month Club'?
Agreed. I think it’s just a keep active fight now that the rematch with Klitschko won’t happen. Ortiz is widely considered to be his next move, but feels like an uneccessary risk, considering the potential pay day with Wilder. Fame and payday will also be huge if he can become undisputed champ… Not including Parker’s WBO belt.
Will Anthony Joshua need to form his own 'Bum of the Month Club'?
Thanks Martin. Agree that Mayweather will will decisively…
The hype is nearly over for the supposed fight of the century
Fair comment. He has gone from nowhere to fabulously wealthy ins short time. And couldn’t make money out of this bout if people didn’t want to watch or are susceptible enough to be convinced that they need to watch it. Hence them desperately selling the fight in the basest way possible. That’s the naked truth behind all the trash talk.
Remember reading that Tony Tucker apologised to Lennox Lewis after Don King forced him to “sell the fight” by hurling abuse at Lewis. Maybe this is what the public wants… Very sad if so…
The hype is nearly over for the supposed fight of the century
Yeah, not out of the question that it could happen earlier…
The hype is nearly over for the supposed fight of the century
True. Never had so many viewing options, but overall quality has been reduced. Boxing itself appears to be in perpetual decline. It’s natural audience squeezed by MMA. As much as I dislike Mayweather, anything but a resounding victory would signal the death rattle for boxing.
The hype is nearly over for the supposed fight of the century
Yes. Might throw a speculative punt on the 10th round. Can’t see Floyd taking any chances until McGregor has run out of gas, he will them systematically pick him off in the later rounds.
The hype is nearly over for the supposed fight of the century
Thank you. I am staggered at the betting market, and agree they are just romantic bets. I think there is real value there for the big players to collect on Mayweather and expect them to do so.
Th price on Mcgregor represents zero value, but it doesn’t seem to deter.
The hype is nearly over for the supposed fight of the century
Agreed. You could carve a prediction in rock now in all confidence that it will be correct.
The hype is nearly over for the supposed fight of the century
Thanks Martin. I totally agree!
What Carnera and a Kangaroo tell us about Mayweather versus McGregor
Thanks Jimbob.. I wouldn’t disagree with any of that. I think he does have a slim punchers chance. Also, every fighter, no matter how good they are eventually finds out that the tank is empty at some point. Floyd is nearing that age but has provided little evidence of it yet.
He is such a skilled defensive technician though that it is hard to believe that Mcgregor will catch him. he will need to come out all guns blazing, but I suspect Mayweather to just pick him off at will. No fan of either of them to be honest either and I find Mayweather especially disagreeable. In all honesty I know very little about UFC as don’t follow it, so would have a preference for the boxer to win decisively…
What Carnera and a Kangaroo tell us about Mayweather versus McGregor
I guess that would at least make it interesting!! I think he will quickly grow to hate those big gloves on his hands and the restriction of the Queensbury rules.
He has no chance, as would Floyd is he ever tried UFC. Floyd may be greedy but he isn’t stupid and his ego wouldn’t allow him to risk looking a mug. He has the power to make McGregor hit thin air for as many rounds as he wants and will pick him off on the counter. McGregor could end up looking very foolish. But the 100 million pay day should at least soften the blow!!
What Carnera and a Kangaroo tell us about Mayweather versus McGregor
or good form.. depending on how you look at it!
Bangladesh tour could derail Australia's Ashes plans
To each their own. But I personally find T20 boring and predictable. It reminds me of the scene in Anchorman when they come up with a new format for sports casting… Which just involves 2 second clips of big hits and a voiceover that just continuously repeats “whammo!” The IPL commentary is only a step or 2 up from this.
On the importance of Test cricket
Only a matter of time before someone suggests a “bowl out” after 5 days. Like a cricket version of a penalty shoot out.
Draws are a rarity these days but still a crucial part of the games make up. Just because batsman no longer seem able to lay down a rearguard action, is no reason to adept the rules.
Defiant defence can be as engrossing as rapid stroke play… Depending on the circumstances. Lifeless pitches, where both sides stroll to 600-4 isn’t entertaining and it’s probably here where things could be improved…
How to get rid of draws in Test cricket, if we must
Thanks Chris. Bit of a rush job this one but glad it hit the mark…
Ugo Ehiogu: A sad loss
Top article and nicely written. From a fellow Test Cricket lover way over in England. Keep writing and sharing your thoughts. I was an avid writer until I left school and then let it slip. Just recently picked it up again after 20 years. The Roar is a great place to get your message out there…
The life of a young Test cricket fan
Ha-ha… The best way. I too am apt to go off at tangents!!
If 'The Fonz' were a cricketer
Don’t you just hate it when they do that… I enjoyed the line about “parking his triumph at first slip” though…
If 'The Fonz' were a cricketer
I agree with all the comments on the thread. The plight of Coventry is especially sad as despite growing up on the South Coast they were always a team that I held a soft spot for. It dates back to the 1987 FA Cup final where as a 10 year old I watched (on the TV) them beat Tottenham in the FA Cup Final; Keith Houchen’s diving header and all. Happy days when the FA cup still meant something. Sad old competition now… farmed out to a Saturday evening for the TV companies and its historical legacy chipped away at.
English Football can bang on all it likes about its history but at the top end it is largely a system of foreign owned franchises, with foreign coaches and players. This by itself is not actually bad. But it is obvious that there will be certain consequences to this change. Its a sad fact that many of the owners that come into Football are singularly unsuitable for it… megalomaniacs, glory hunters, snake oil salesman or incompetents. Orient, much to their misfortune, have an owner that ticks all of these boxes.
The globalisation point is a good one. I take my kids (primary school age) to a football club to train. I live about 20 miles from London (Bournemouth is my team – proof that good things can happen!!) and expected to be met with loads of little kids in Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs or even Man City, Liverpool and Man U strips.
To my astonishment It mostly wasn’t. Over half the kids wore Barcelona shirts and considered themselves Barca fans. What hope do orient have when even Chelsea or Man U aren’t even high profile enough for todays kids.
The positive is that the further you go down the levels in England the more it feels like the old game. I have some friends outside of England that marvel at how well the game is supported down the divisions in England.. Even as far down at the conference North / South level..
The “We” will not stop coming despite Coventry being in League 2. The Pot hunters will.. But who needs them anyway!!
Leyton Orient FC and the glorious 'we'
Parker is fighting Hughie Fury. Tyson’s cousin. Slimmer and less talented than Tyson with a pumped up unbeaten record. Feast of boxing it won’t be. It’s this weekend.
Will Anthony Joshua need to form his own 'Bum of the Month Club'?