15th March 2012
 |
| Kenny Anderson |
Kenny
Anderson has been left bitterly disappointed over the postponement of his
British super-middleweight title challenge.
The Edinburgh-based boxer was due to meet George Groves at Wembley Arena
on Friday night in a rematch of their November 2010 thriller, which Groves won
by TKO, only for Groves to withdraw due to a back injury. Frank Warren, the show’s promoter, confirmed
the news on Monday afternoon.
‘Of
course, it’s bitterly disappointing for us and all the boxers involved, but in
sport injuries occur and there is very little anyone can do about it,’ wrote
Warren in the press release confirming the rescheduling of the fight. ‘We had already lost Matthew Hall, who was
due to box Sam Webb in a championship eliminator, because of an injury and now
with George withdrawing from the main event I have had no option but to
postpone the whole card until a later date.
Once my team have spoken to Wembley about a new date I hope we can get
this fight on very soon.’
course, it’s bitterly disappointing for us and all the boxers involved, but in
sport injuries occur and there is very little anyone can do about it,’ wrote
Warren in the press release confirming the rescheduling of the fight. ‘We had already lost Matthew Hall, who was
due to box Sam Webb in a championship eliminator, because of an injury and now
with George withdrawing from the main event I have had no option but to
postpone the whole card until a later date.
Once my team have spoken to Wembley about a new date I hope we can get
this fight on very soon.’
Rick Reeno of Boxingscene.com had revealed that
Mikkel Kessler’s proposed WBO super-middleweight title fight with Robert
Stieglitz was off as Kessler’s troublesome injured right hand, which was the
reason behind the postponement of their original November 5 meeting, had failed
to heal sufficiently in time for him to make the rearranged April 14 date. Reeno also reported that Stieglitz’s
promoters, SES Boxing, had won the purse bids for Stieglitz’s mandatory defence
against Groves.
Mikkel Kessler’s proposed WBO super-middleweight title fight with Robert
Stieglitz was off as Kessler’s troublesome injured right hand, which was the
reason behind the postponement of their original November 5 meeting, had failed
to heal sufficiently in time for him to make the rearranged April 14 date. Reeno also reported that Stieglitz’s
promoters, SES Boxing, had won the purse bids for Stieglitz’s mandatory defence
against Groves.
Conspiracy theorists immediately started to
ask if Groves-Anderson had been sacrificed in order to ensure that Groves gets
to Stieglitz in May, Warren’s pledge that the bout will be rescheduled failed
to allay these fears. Indeed, Groves has
since confirmed that he will move forward with the world title clash. Anderson reacted with characteristic honesty
when asked for his take on recent events.
ask if Groves-Anderson had been sacrificed in order to ensure that Groves gets
to Stieglitz in May, Warren’s pledge that the bout will be rescheduled failed
to allay these fears. Indeed, Groves has
since confirmed that he will move forward with the world title clash. Anderson reacted with characteristic honesty
when asked for his take on recent events.
“It is brutal because of all the effort
we’ve put in,” said Anderson during a phone call to Britishboxers.co.uk. “A lot of people sacrificed a lot of
things. It is me that gets in there and fights,
but everyone in my life makes sacrifices – I am gutted.”
we’ve put in,” said Anderson during a phone call to Britishboxers.co.uk. “A lot of people sacrificed a lot of
things. It is me that gets in there and fights,
but everyone in my life makes sacrifices – I am gutted.”
“No, I heard that his arse fell out, eh?”
growled the 29-year-old when asked if he has been told anything specific about
Groves’ injury. “That is his official
injury. Or maybe it is his little
toe. He may have hurt his toe like David
Haye did [against Wlad Klitschko]. I
think it is very cowardly how they’ve done this. I think they’re going to have to look in the
mirror and know that they’ve dodged me for no over reason than they don’t want
to take the risk.
growled the 29-year-old when asked if he has been told anything specific about
Groves’ injury. “That is his official
injury. Or maybe it is his little
toe. He may have hurt his toe like David
Haye did [against Wlad Klitschko]. I
think it is very cowardly how they’ve done this. I think they’re going to have to look in the
mirror and know that they’ve dodged me for no over reason than they don’t want
to take the risk.
“I don’t believe in my heart that he’s
injured. That is the feeling I’ve
got. I don’t think they wanted to have
this fight, it is too risky and they want this other fight [Stieglitz] because
it is a bigger fish. If so then that is
absolutely shocking, it is a terrible thing to do given the build-up and how
much respect we’ve shown. If it happens
then it is disgusting.”
injured. That is the feeling I’ve
got. I don’t think they wanted to have
this fight, it is too risky and they want this other fight [Stieglitz] because
it is a bigger fish. If so then that is
absolutely shocking, it is a terrible thing to do given the build-up and how
much respect we’ve shown. If it happens
then it is disgusting.”
Given Warren’s insistence that the fight
will be moved to a later date, had Anderson called the veteran promoter to ask
if he will definitely be Groves’ next opponent?
“I can’t say something like that to Frank Warren,” he answered, “because
it would mean fuck all.”
will be moved to a later date, had Anderson called the veteran promoter to ask
if he will definitely be Groves’ next opponent?
“I can’t say something like that to Frank Warren,” he answered, “because
it would mean fuck all.”
He added: “The promoters do what they like
and don’t take anyone else’s views into consideration. Asking Frank something like that would be
water off a duck’s back – I didn’t even get the courtesy of a phone call, [his
trainer] Kevin Maree told me about it.
I’m at the back of a line when it comes to being notified about things
like that, they don’t give a fuck about you.
George and Adam don’t want it, it won’t happen, they’ll get Stieglitz
and the only time I’ll get to fight Groves now is when I take the world title
from him.
and don’t take anyone else’s views into consideration. Asking Frank something like that would be
water off a duck’s back – I didn’t even get the courtesy of a phone call, [his
trainer] Kevin Maree told me about it.
I’m at the back of a line when it comes to being notified about things
like that, they don’t give a fuck about you.
George and Adam don’t want it, it won’t happen, they’ll get Stieglitz
and the only time I’ll get to fight Groves now is when I take the world title
from him.
“It is pretty poor form. It seems to be that Kevin gets the job of
doing the dirty work and hard stuff. All
the shit falls on his shoulders, but he is a big enough man to take it. The people who are there for you when the
shit hits the fan are the ones you stand with.
The person who is always there for me is Kevin; it is just me and him.
doing the dirty work and hard stuff. All
the shit falls on his shoulders, but he is a big enough man to take it. The people who are there for you when the
shit hits the fan are the ones you stand with.
The person who is always there for me is Kevin; it is just me and him.
“This won’t dampen my resolve – I’ll keep
working hard. I knew this would happen
all along. I knew I would smash the wee
man to bits and I think the thought of that was too much for him. George has heard about how I’m doing, the
condition I’m in, and he’s bottled it, and he was right to because I’d have
destroyed him. The top and bottom of it
is, Groves and Booth were forced to take this fight by the BBBoC, it wasn’t one
they chose. Know they’ll come out with
childish excuses for ducking it. I
always knew their level, they’re showing it now by the way they’re acting.”
working hard. I knew this would happen
all along. I knew I would smash the wee
man to bits and I think the thought of that was too much for him. George has heard about how I’m doing, the
condition I’m in, and he’s bottled it, and he was right to because I’d have
destroyed him. The top and bottom of it
is, Groves and Booth were forced to take this fight by the BBBoC, it wasn’t one
they chose. Know they’ll come out with
childish excuses for ducking it. I
always knew their level, they’re showing it now by the way they’re acting.”
Given Anderson’s anger, his next opponent
may need to take a riot shield into the ring.
Matchroom have confirmed that Anderson could take up a spot on Carl
Froch’s fight with IBF super-middleweight champion Lucian Bute, which is
pencilled in for May 26 in Nottingham.
Anderson, 15-1 (11), believes that he will put in an especially devastating
performance in his next one.
may need to take a riot shield into the ring.
Matchroom have confirmed that Anderson could take up a spot on Carl
Froch’s fight with IBF super-middleweight champion Lucian Bute, which is
pencilled in for May 26 in Nottingham.
Anderson, 15-1 (11), believes that he will put in an especially devastating
performance in his next one.
“I take all my opponents seriously, but
yeah, my next opponent is going to feel the brunt of this,” he said. “I’m not overlooking anyone or anything, I’ll
be focussed as I normally am and go out there with the malintent I always have.”
yeah, my next opponent is going to feel the brunt of this,” he said. “I’m not overlooking anyone or anything, I’ll
be focussed as I normally am and go out there with the malintent I always have.”
Speaking of Maree, Anderson’s trainer
refused to condemn Groves, but quietly insisted that should the British
champion not face Anderson next the Londoner’s reputation will be damaged. “I heard the news from Steve Wood [Anderson’s
manager] late (on Monday afternoon) when things were filtering through
already,” said Maree.
refused to condemn Groves, but quietly insisted that should the British
champion not face Anderson next the Londoner’s reputation will be damaged. “I heard the news from Steve Wood [Anderson’s
manager] late (on Monday afternoon) when things were filtering through
already,” said Maree.
“One of two things are going to
happen. If George is genuinely injured,
and I believe he is as he is a professional, then the fight will be rescheduled
and we’ll get it again or he’ll bump us and go for the world title. If he does then it is on his shoulders, he
has to square that with the people who booked flights to London, who paid in
advance for hotels and tickets, and the fans who wanted to see it.
happen. If George is genuinely injured,
and I believe he is as he is a professional, then the fight will be rescheduled
and we’ll get it again or he’ll bump us and go for the world title. If he does then it is on his shoulders, he
has to square that with the people who booked flights to London, who paid in
advance for hotels and tickets, and the fans who wanted to see it.
“If he does go on and fights Stieglitz then
it won’t be nice and the public will judge him.
George has been speaking about this being a foregone conclusion, that
he’ll drop Kenny in the second, so if all that were true then he would have
taken this fight despite the world title possibly coming up. He must be injured. We wish him a speedy recovery. If he isn’t then he’ll face up to that after
and it won’t be a nice place to be.
it won’t be nice and the public will judge him.
George has been speaking about this being a foregone conclusion, that
he’ll drop Kenny in the second, so if all that were true then he would have
taken this fight despite the world title possibly coming up. He must be injured. We wish him a speedy recovery. If he isn’t then he’ll face up to that after
and it won’t be a nice place to be.
“We look forward to seeing George in the
ring for his next fight. This won’t stop
what us doing what we’re doing. We’re
moving on for the British title and our end goal is a long, fulfilling career
for Kenny. We won’t get out this Friday
night, but we’ll do our job, keep our heads down and we know things will
happen.”
ring for his next fight. This won’t stop
what us doing what we’re doing. We’re
moving on for the British title and our end goal is a long, fulfilling career
for Kenny. We won’t get out this Friday
night, but we’ll do our job, keep our heads down and we know things will
happen.”
He added: “I also feel for [Anderson’s
training stablemate] Jeff Thomas, he took a [British light-middleweight
eliminator] fight with Sam Webb at short notice and has trained hard. I also feel for the other lads who were due
to be on the bill, they’ve all trained hard, money is tight at the moment so
they’ll miss a payday and we just want to spare a thought for all the lads even
if they weren’t going for a title on the bill.”
training stablemate] Jeff Thomas, he took a [British light-middleweight
eliminator] fight with Sam Webb at short notice and has trained hard. I also feel for the other lads who were due
to be on the bill, they’ve all trained hard, money is tight at the moment so
they’ll miss a payday and we just want to spare a thought for all the lads even
if they weren’t going for a title on the bill.”
By Terence
Dooley
Dooley
Boxing Monthly magazine and
UK Editor at www.boxingscene.com
Courtesy of Ricky Reeno
.
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