BBC Home

Explore the BBC

New visitors: Create your membership
Returning members: Sign in
Browse: Boxing

109 comments

user rating: 5 star

Leaving Las Vegas

comment on the article

I had that Lennox Lewis in the back of my cab the other day.

Actually, it wasn't my cab, and, to be honest, it was a limo, but he was there, sat behind me, looking for all the world like a beefed up Hotter Than July era Stevie Wonder.

I even made him and his bodyguard laugh, a feat that I will be dining out on for weeks. What a sad little life I must lead.

But it hasn't been sad this week – seven days of hubris, hype and hoopla, so intense that at times it felt like my head was about to explode.

Mayweather scrapping with Hatton at the pre-fight presser, Hopkins and Calzaghe giving it bunches just inches from me in the media centre, Pretty Boy and The Hitman almost coming to blows at the weigh-in.

Mancs, thousands of them, as far as the eyes could see.

Legends, legends everywhere – Lennox, Dundee, Hopkins, Mosley, De la Hoya, Steward, Calzaghe, Torres, Sugar Ray, Hearns, Barrera.

And the BBC's very own Richie Woodhall, a man so grounded, I just saw him going round with a bin bag after our little Sports Personality shindig in the MGM Grand.

I'll let you into a little secret. Even though I work for the Beeb, I always thought people knew whether they were going to win beforehand. But I can now confirm that isn't so.

Literally five seconds before it was announced to the British public, I heard the news come through the director's earpiece –"it's Joe Calzaghe" – and a little cheer went up among the assembled crowd.

Some cynical sections of the media will tell you the award is meaningless, but I will remember the look on Calzaghe's face – like a child expecting some colouring pencils for Christmas and getting a BMX instead – for a long while to come.

Joe and third-placed Ricky had had a few scoops and the little radio piece they did together after the trophies had been dished out was comedy gold.

"They asked me what I thought of me dad as a trainer and I said, 'hold on a second, me dad's a carpet fitter'. Then I realised they were talking to Joe."

Busted up and beaten, but the quips keep coming.

A psyched-up Woodhall collared me afterwards and said: "Put this in your piece – if that doesn't kick-start boxing on BBC TV, then I don't know what will."

And I'll make him right. What a culmination to an epic year for a sport that many thought was out on its feet only a few years ago.

As the arena emptied, a few of the BBC crew grabbed Joe's trophy and had their picture taken in the ring, the canvas still flecked with the lion's blood of Ricky Hatton, and then the workmen moved in.

It takes less than an hour to dismantle a boxing ring. For a fleeting moment in time, millions of eyes around the world are centred on it, and then, 'puff', it's gone.

It is difficult to imagine how Ricky Hatton must be feeling right now. As I watched him walk to his cab, mum Carol and dad Ray by his side, I wondered to myself how empty he must be.

For months he has been under the most intense media scrutiny, he has hammered his body into perfect shape, he has made sacrifices you and I can only guess at, and all with the weight of an expectant nation draped across his narrow shoulders.

He came up short, but he did his country proud, and he can grow old knowing that Las Vegas, a city we all thought had seen it all before, will never see the like again.

PS. Sorry, got a bit serious there, I got all choked up writing that. Right, I haven't had a drink all week and I'm just about to make up for it. Look out Hooters: I'm coming to stare a little too intently at all your lovely, lovely women…

comment on this article | send to a friend

Latest 10 comments

view all 109 comments

Read members' comments or add your own
comment by jkeell (U10602239)

posted Dec 13, 2007

Lets be clear on one thing here. Whether american, english, no one likes the french. Do they even produce boxers?

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by Riggadon (U7493605)

posted Dec 13, 2007

comment by jkeell

posted 2 Days Ago

As an american i can't disagree with a lot about what some of you are saying. You can boo whatever you want to boo. I just suggest some of you look at you own country, you may say we are stupid and represent this and that. But your lot ain't running far behind us in world popularity.

Besides, our women are much better looking!

=======================

Yhea, cos plastic faces, lips, boobs and backsides are really really attractive, are'nt they?!

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by JayC2301 (U1812060)

posted Dec 13, 2007

Irrispective of my personal views towards America and especially the people who twice voted for dubya it is nothing short than absolutly disrespectful to "boo" during a national anthem whether you like that particular country or not. Think for a second - what if the roles were reveresed and 15,000 american fans "booed" during God Save the Queen? I'd be right peeved off at the 'so and so's'

To call it "pompous" or "self-rigtheous" is something I'd disagree with, and anyone who 'couldn't care less' in my opinion is somebody with no manners what-so-ever, show a little respect please people!

I am someone who is totally embarrased my fellow countrymen (and I cringe at considering them "fellow") for 'booing'.

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by Blades_Of_Glory (U9447852)

posted Dec 14, 2007

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest to have God Save the Queen (another outdated, unessecary and irrelevant anthem).

Just because we have all that cr ap shoved down out throats doesn't mean we all have to go along with it.

In fact 'land of the free/home of the brave' 'God save the Queen' should have been done away with many years ago as it's simply not relevant in todays society.

Most people realise this.

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by FrancoTaff (U7062759)

posted Dec 14, 2007

comment by jkeell
posted 21 Hours Ago

Lets be clear on one thing here. Whether american, english, no one likes the french. Do they even produce boxers?


---------------------------------

How did your warped mind have to drag the French into a boxing argument???? Keep on point will you!


add comment | complain about this comment

comment by Blades_Of_Glory (U9447852)

posted Dec 14, 2007

So you're saying the French are pointless?

You may have a point...

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by Hopaloop (U10665351)

posted Dec 15, 2007

any chance you americans could vote for somebody who like to keep life on earth going for future boxing fans

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by TheDys (U8252505)

posted Dec 15, 2007

USABluesFan You'll See Why One Of Your Fighters When Any One Of Hopkins, Winky Wright Or Jermaine Taylor Gets Beat By Calzaghe. Oh And When Hatton Returns To Light-Welter And Destroys Everyone. Oh Yeh And When David Haye Wins The Heavyweight Title. And Amir Khan Wins The Lightweight Title. Etc etc....

No disrespect but surely even you must realise that every word does not require a capital letter? It makes it almost unintelligable.

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by crabcruncher81 (U10675961)

posted Dec 17, 2007

Class issues, xenophobia, and national anthems....all from a boxing match! Well, I can't be arsed to comment on that I just wondered if anyone was as frustrated with the ref as I was? what a whelk. On Ricky's back from the get-go and really what’s he going to do when PBF keeps bending that far over he could practically kiss his feet? Punch on the back of his head!? Despite all this and even with a more consistent ref Ricky would have had it all to do, but these things don't help.

“What a fluke.”

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by bigus100 (U1747235)

posted Dec 18, 2007

comment by only1hatton
posted 6 Days Ago

bigus100 i think u should change that to sobishbiggot100 !! certain class of people ? u mean the class which ricky himself belongs to ? the working class's of britain actually make up about 85% of the population and its that same class that is fighting in iraq in the belief that they are protecting people like you! we booed americans ? so what ? if ur gutless "class" of people had stood up to bush then maybe we wouldn't have booed the americans !


-------------------------

You're an idiot. I come from Northern industrial town from working class stock. The fact that you totally miss my point must mean you're the type of scum that I'm talking about. There's a difference between working class and class-less. I'm talking about the type of idiot that you'll find on the streets of Ibiza covered in there own vomit. We Brits (Brits - not just English) have a terrible reputation in Europe.

I wasn't even talking about the booing. I've said in earlier posts that the actual booing doesn't bother me all that much, becuase I'm used to it. The Americans aren't used to it and they were a little shocked. That's why I had to explain to the Americans that the booing shouldn't be taken seriously. It ISN'T political or a reflection of the national attitude towards the US. Fools like you politicise the whole thing.

And to call me a bigot? Hypocrisy at the highest level.

add comment | complain about this comment

view all 109 comments | back to the top

Comment on this article


Sign in if you want to comment

RATE THIS ARTICLE

Rate Breakdown

  • 5 86.67%
    26 votes
  • 4 3.33%
    1 votes
  • 3
    0 votes
  • 2 3.33%
    1 votes
  • 1 6.67%
    2 votes

average rating:
4.60 from 30 votes

Sign in if you want to vote