Teenager Mendy becomes youngest ever Prizefighter champ

Nineteen-year old defeats Paul David in super middleweight final to make history

Teenage sensation Patrick “Tiger” Mendy broke all Prizefighter records on his way to winning the super middleweight title at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Wednesday night (June 30).
The nineteen-year old from Maidenhead entered the tournament as the youngest ever boxer to fight in the competition an wasted little time in making further history after he stopped Dudley’s Sam Horton after just one minute and 26 seconds into their fight – the quickest win in the competition’s 13 nights to date.
Mendy wasn’t finished there though and after holding off a spirited Daniel Cadman in the semi-final to gain a unanimous points win, he repeated that result in the final against Sheffield-based Northampton fighter Paul David to lift the trophy and pocket the £32,000 winner’s cheque.
“I said in every interview I gave before Prizefighter that I was going to win this and tonight I proved that I have what it takes to go on to do big, big things,” said Mendy. “This is a dream come true – to fight in front of a great crowd, in a great venue and lift an important trophy means so much to me. The next two years are going to be very busy for me because with the Prizefighter title next to my name the sky is the limit – I’m not afraid to take anyone on and I cannot wait.”
Mendy’s trainer Jim Evans described his latest protégé as “the best 19 year-old I’ve have seen since Errol Christie” before the fight, and is excited about the future of Mendy after his victory.
“I’ve been in the game for 66 years and he is potentially the best prospect I’ve had,” said Evans. “He’s very raw and has a long way to go but now he’s got a profile perhaps.  I can get some sponsorship or even a promotional deal for him and then I can groom him right. He’s so strong that you can take a chance with him against well-known fighters. Tonight he fought every fight different – and in my eyes he won every round of the night. Paul was the favourite in the final and he’s the older and bigger man but Patrick dictated the fight. He’s fearless.”
David was more than just the support act on the night though, with the 25 year-old delivering a devastating upper-cut to knock out Carl Drake in the final round of their quarter-final, then clinching a spot in the final with a unanimous points victory over unbeaten Welshman Jeff Evans before falling at the final hurdle to Mendy.
“It was his night tonight, he caught me with the better shots and he did well,” said David. “He clipped me in the right eye at the start of the first round and it took me the rest of the round to recover. But I stuck to my game plan all night and I’m happy with how I did, but it wasn’t to be for me.”
The latest of Barry Hearn’s eight-man, one night tournaments was played out in sweltering heat in east London, and the temperature rose further inside the venue after each bout.
After Mendy had stunned the audience with his lightning fast stoppage of Horton, pinning the Dudley fighter into the corner with a brutal onslaught that forced the referee into stopping the opening bout, it was Cadman’s turn to excite the crowd.
The Cheshunt cabbie faced Birmingham’s Eddie McIntosh for the right to meet Mendy and it was the all-action Cadman who gained the unanimous decision thanks to a strong third and final round where his pressure saw McIntosh take a count.
One corner of York Hall was taken up by vocal Welsh support for Evans, who had won the first three fights of his career in Newport. His first fight outside Wales came against Peter Fedorenko, the Sheffield man who made a victorious return from a ten-year absence from boxing in September. The 32 year-old edged the opening round but his Pontypool opponent found his range in the second before holding off a charge at the start of the final round from Fedorenko which was crucial in claiming the split decision.
David impressed from the first bell in the final quarter-final with Drake, throwing some big rights and taking advantage of his significant height and reach advantages. Drake showed plenty of character in the second round to stay with the English champion, but again David gained control of the fight to leave his opponent with a bloodied nose and swollen right eye ahead of the final round. David had outpunched Drake nearly three-to-one and the upper-cut that ended the fight was as powerful as anything seen in any previous Prizefighter, with the brave Drake getting to his feet after receiving medical attention.
Mendy and Cadman were the first to battle for a place in the final, with Cadman entering the ring with his left eye swollen from his opening encounter. Mendy looked keen to finish the job quickly again, roaring into action and troubling the 29 year-old, but he held on and responded with shots of his own to stay in the fight. Cadman then turned the tables, thrusting forward at the start of the second round to rock Mendy and lift the York Hall crowd to its feet as he gave everything he had to the teen. Although rattled, Mendy maintained great composure for his age and a sharp left jab at the start of the final round saw the youngster take control. Again, Cadman rallied with a couple of right hooks but Mendy took the unanimous decision.
The teenager sat back and watched Evans and David slug it out for the honour to face him in the final, and as in his fight with Drake, the six-footer controlled proceedings against the Welshman, throwing the better punches with more regularity to outpunch his opponent once more en route to another unanimous decision.
The final was a cagey affair, with Mendy’s speed negating the benefit of David’s greater height and reach, and it was the “Tiger” who bore his claws with the better shots and busier approach to swing the judges in his direction for a record breaking result.

RESULTS:
Quarter-finals
Patrick Mendy beat Sam Horton – referee stopped in first round
Daniel Cadman beat Eddie McIntosh – Unanimous decision 29-27, 29-28, 29-27
Jeff Evans beat Peter Fedorenko – Split decision 29-28, 27-29, 29-28
Paul David beat Carl Drake – third round knockout
Semi-finals
Patrick Mendy beat Daniel Cadman – Unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 29-28
Paul David beat Jeff Evans – Unanimous decision 29-28, 30-27, 29-28
Final
Patrick Mendy beat Paul David – Unanimous decision 29-28, 30-27, 29-28

Audley Harrison vacates European belt
A-Force closes in on 2010 World title shot

Audley Harrison has vacated his European heavyweight title, opening the door to a showpiece World title fight when he makes his return from injury in October. The 38 year-old had an operation on a pectoral muscle last month to correct the injury that forced him to fight one-handed against Michael Sprott from the fourth round of their European title bout at Alexandra Palace in April. The injury hampered Harrison for the remainder of the fight until he produced a stunning last-gasp knockout victory to land the title he is now surrendering. Harrison has a number of options available to him for his early winter return, with his promoter Eddie Hearn saying there is potentially Britain’s biggest fight ever against David Haye in the pipeline.    
“Everyone wants to fight Audley because they know what he brings to the table,” said Hearn. “He will be installed as the mandatory challenger for the European title but we are also in discussions with the Klitchko’s and Adam Booth and David Haye regarding a World title shot later this year. We are keeping our options open right now but the Haye fight is huge. Audley's last two appearances in the UK have attracted record viewing figures, so couple that with David Haye's popularity and this is the biggest fight the UK has ever seen.”
Harrison’s career has been a roller-coaster ride since he turned professional after claiming Olympic gold in 2000. The Londoner has been in the headlines throughout his career, winning the WBF heavyweight title before sparking rivalries with Danny Williams and Sprott. After to moving to America, a chance meeting with Hearn in Las Vegas saw Harrison sign-up for Prizefighter, scooping the title at ExCeL in October – and he says he is ready to grab the headlines again by taking a shot at the world title.
“I'm told by my promoters that both David Haye and the Klitchko's brothers have expressed an interest in facing me when I return after rehab,” said Harrison. “If it’s either Klitchko brother, the task will be hard, but that's how I want it. I respect both brothers as they are effective at what they do but both can be beat. As I said before David Haye is a false Prophet, one punch on that chin and it will shatter like glass. If I was him, I'd keep running from the Klitchko's and keep beating up on shop worn American heavyweights. Whatever the route I will find a way to fulfil my destiny and become Heavyweight Champion of the World.”

KLITSCHKO CONQUERS – SOSNOWSKI IN THE TENTH

By Clayton Goodwin from the Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen

Something really sensational for Siegfried
The challenger had “his moments”

Albert Sosnowski came, he saw, and he did as well as could be expected – in fact, he did much better than most other heavyweights could have achieved against Vitali Klitschko in his challenge for the WBC world heavyweight boxing crown at the Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Outweighed, outreached and appreciably shorter in height than the champion the UK-based Polish challenger Sosnowski kept in the contest, if not in contention, until the tenth round.

The challenger had to face much more than just the physical disadvantages. The 60,000 spectators, like their forebears in the Roman Coliseum, came to see a triumph and an execution. They got both. For a start, the event was promoted by Klitschko’s management and the slogan was “Fists of Steel”, the champion’s ring-name. The tickets announced “Vitali Klitschko: The heavyweight world championship”. There was no mention of his opponent by name. The fight which followed a Rock/music concert was intended to be pure entertainment.

The overture was announced by thousands of lights twinkling in the darkened arena. Sosnowski – the “Dragon” – entered in some style preceeded by a superb mock-up dragon breathing fire. It was impressive, but this was the Ruhr, the industrial heart of Germany, of steel and fire.  Something really sensational could be expected for Siegfried in his quest to quench the dragon. And it was. Jets of fire flared from the floor, then fireworks burst into the higher reaches of the football stadium. If Albert didn’t know until then what he had got himself into, he did now.

The fight itself was strangely old-fashioned. The contestants, fighting in the traditional European style, boxed from behind a long left lead. It was similar to what our grand-parents would have seen from the championship a century ago. In spite of his reputation Klitschko does not have a knockout punch – he wears down an adversary by ramming his fist into his face repeatedly. It is efficient, very efficient, but it is not exciting. The champion won every round – yet Sosnowski was still standing. The challenger had his “moments”, in the third round and, particularly, the eighth.

With the twelve-round winning post in sight Vitali Klitschko raised his game and started to hurt the Pole in the ninth. The writing was very much on the wall. The vast audience roared him forward – and a lone voice somewhere behind me and to my right continued to encourage “Albert, Albert”. Klitschko turned the screw tighter throughout the tenth. A crushing long right-hand just before the session ended brought matters to their appointed conclusion.

Some commentators have deduced that as Sosnowski managed to penetrate the champion’s defence several times, hitting him squarely on the chin, the “unconquerable” Klitschko would be vulnerable to a harder hitter such as David Haye. Perhaps so. I am more intrigued to know as to how Vitali Klitschko will cope with an opponent who has greater lateral mobility and does not come to him in a straight line. That is just the style of the great American champions of the latter half of the last century, but great American heavyweights have become an extinct breed.  

The photograph by courtesy of Lawrence Lustig shows Sosnowski in the build-up to his proposed fight for the European title with Audley Harrison which was called off so that he could challenge Vitali Klitschko.

Herbie Hide

Photograph by courtesy of Lawrence Lustig

HERBIE: WINNING PRIZEFIGHTER WILL LEAD TO WORLD TITLE GLORY

HERBIE Hide believes winning Friday’s Prizefighter will be the perfect preparation for a shot at the WBC cruiserweight world title. Hide, 38, is one of eight men competing in Barry Hearn’s latest Prizefighter event – Cruiserweights II – at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, east London.  A former WBO heavyweight champion, Hide is clear favourite to win but has the most to lose, although he insists it was an easy decision to enter.
“Why am I in Prizefighter?
“Well, it’s because I’m a warrior – a gladiator,” said Hide, who has won 48 of 52 fights, 43 inside the distance. I’m number two in the rankings for the WBC title and my promoters in Germany have put me back. But now Giacobbe Fragomeni is fighting Krzysztof Wlodarczyk for the vacant WBC title and the winner should fight me, but that could be in another three or four months. Going in Prizefighter is a warm-up fight for me before I fight for the world title. Everything you do in life is a risk and in boxing there have been fighters who are number one and take a warm-up fight and get beaten. Champions take non-title fights and lose them but I believe I’m the best cruiserweight in the world. At this stage of my career I can’t be concerned about losing. I believe I’m the best so I will just go out there and do what I have to do.”
The rest of the contenders include former Commonwealth champion Darren Corbett and Mark Krence, who has fought for the British heavyweight belt. As always, the Prizefighter line-up features a number of inexperienced prospects and Batley’s Zahid Kahut, winner of four of his five professional fights, believes Hide should not have entered.
“Everyone is talking about Herbie Hide being the huge favourite and, with a record like his, how can he not be?” said Kahut. “But I think he’s making a big mistake entering this tournament as he already had a title shot around the corner. With his suspect chin and the unknown quantities that are in this tournament, I think he’s really putting it all on the line. If he wins then good luck to him as he would’ve taken a risk and it would’ve paid off. But I really believe he’s not going to win and someone will knock him out.”
The full list of contenders is: John Anthony (Doncaster), Wayne Brooks (Cardiff), Darren Corbett (Belfast), Jon-Lewis Dickinson (County Durham), Herbie Hide (Norwich), Zahid Kahut (Batley), Mark Krence (Chesterfield) and Leon Williams (London).
The draw for the quarter-finals is Krence v Kahut, Williams v Dickinson, Anthony v Corbett and Brooks v Hide.

Clayton comments: “Seven years ago I witnessed the most exciting fight – outside the ropes. It was at the York Hall in Bethnal Green when Audley Harrison and Herbie Hide engaged in verbal fisticuffs just after the former had stopped Matthew Ellis. Now the Prizefighter series has brought both boxers back to the centre of attention. Harrison, who seemed to be heading for oblivion, revived his career by winning the heavyweight series, and is now European champion with the pugilistic world at his feet. Now Hide, who had been edged to the periphery, has the chance of getting back to serious contention ....... at the same York Hall”.

photographs by courtesy of Lawrence Lustig

HEROIC HARRISON DEFIES INJURY TO CLAIM EUROPEAN TITLE

HEROIC Audley Harrison has saved his boxing career with a sensational last-round knockout to win the vacant European heavyweight title. Harrison, who suffered a ripped tendon in his right shoulder in the second round, fought most of his fight against Michael Sprott using only one hand. In spite of trailing and being two minutes away from a career-ending defeat, Harrison knocked out Sprott with a sensational left hook.
“I had an operation in 2002 when I ripped a tendon and I think I did the same thing again,” said 38-year-old Harrison. The pain was excruciating but there was absolutely no way I was going to quit. Not once did I think about quitting. You open people up with the jab but because of my injury I didn’t have a jab but luckily I’m a quick learner. It was hard for me to pick up any rounds and I’ve never boxed on the orthodox side before. I felt so hampered but I never lost hope. In the sixth I hurt him with an uppercut and a hook but it was hard to get going.
My career was on the line so losing wasn’t an option. I had to find a way to win and I knew the left would be the one that gets him. When it landed I just walked away because I knew it was over. It’s definitely the best punch I’ve ever thrown, especially in those circumstances, but it would’ve knocked out anyone – including the Klitschkos. It was championship-winning material. It was a hell-mary of a punch that would’ve taken out any heavyweight in the world.”
After winning Olympic gold in 2000, Harrison’s professional career had, before this win, failed to live up to its early promise. He admitted he was in ‘the last-chance saloon’ ahead of this Matchroom Sport-promoted contest at Alexandra Palace in north London. In the build-up, Sprott, 35, claimed Harrison did not have the heart to beat him but Harrison believed the manner of this victory would silence his critics. I would like someone to ask Michael if he still thinks I have no heart,” added an emotional Harrison, who is expected to be out of action for at least six weeks.
“I showed a lot of courage to fight with one hand and I showed the heart and desire that I wanted to become the European champion. Winning the gold medal is something no one can take away but this is sweet and has brought tears to my eyes. People have said a lot of bad things about me and I’m crying because I’m proud of what I’ve done in these circumstances. When you work hard you get your rewards and I work hard every day in the gym. Some people do not understand but I’m real and I don’t make any apologies for who I am.
For me to find that shot when I needed it most says something about me. I said it would be something special and no one can say that wasn’t special. I have a tick next to determination, a tick next to pride, a tick next to heart and a tick next to punching power. I did 12 gruelling rounds, most of them with one hand. I showed plenty of bottle, plenty of desire, plenty of spirit and plenty of heart – any boxer could see that. The battle was hard and I wanted it to be hard. Now people can see how much I want to be a world champion and there is no doubt in my mind that I will be one before I retire, no matter what people say about me.”
submitted by Matchroom Sport

David Haye destroys Ruiz in nine rounds
Less like an upstart – even to the Klitschko brothers

David Haye proved himself to be undoubtedly the best heavyweight boxer in the world – outside the Klitschko brothers – by thrashing John Ruiz within nine rounds in defence of his WBA crown at the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester. It was one-way annihilation and could have been even more one-way because the champion put his American challenger on the canvas twice in the opening round. Haye forced Ruiz to fight the way he wanted, and, thereby, offset the visitor’s strength in ruggedness and in-fighting.

Ruiz, who had been stopped only once before in a career of over fifty fights, took further contests in the fifth and sixth rounds. By the ninth his face was a mask of blood and his trainer called a halt to the contest. On the only other time he had failed to last the distance Ruiz had been blasted out in a single round by David Tua. The other David, Haye, knew that he had to get to the American early before he could settle into his routine. The outcome was settled effectively in the opening exchanges. Now the path seems to be clear for the Briton to seek to unify the world title against the other schismatic champions, Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko. How will be fare?

The Ukrainians have a big advantage in their size – though that did not deter Haye in his victory over the giant Nikolai Valuev whom he outpointed. The Klitschkos, though, are in a different clash, and they can hit hard and wear down even the energetic Haye. He must have a very good chance against Wladimir, however, who has been shown to have a suspect jaw. If David could get to him early as he did to Ruiz he must be favoured to produce what is still considered to be an upset. The rocklike Vitali is another matter.

Yet there is something in Haye’s four – age. Although they are in their late-thirties the Klitschkos show no sign of fading. Indeed, Vitali has returned recently from a temporary retirement of several years. They have defied the advance of age. Even so it has been shown time after time in boxing history that a seemingly invincible veteran can “cage” suddenly. There is usually “one fight too many”, especially for a fighter who shows no sign of weakening beforehand: they can “come apart” almost without warning. Is David Haye for “one fight too many” for  Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko? Or are they still good enough, and young enough, to put the upstart in his place ?

Who knows? That is what makes professional boxing so interesting and exciting? Even to the Klitschko brothers David Haye must be looking much less like an upstart this morning. Who says that the heavyweight division is finished?

Clayton Goodwin – 4^th April 2010

Audley Harrison v Michael Sprott

Photograph by courtesy of Lawrence Lustig

Michael Sprott v Audley Harrison

Photograph by courtesy of Lawrence Lustig

Wladimir Klitschko stopped Eddie Chambers in the twelfth round in defence of his versions of the world heavyweight title at Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

CaribCommx welcomes receiving the following Press Releases from Matchroom and from the management/promoters of Vitali Klitschko

AUDLEY FIGHT ON APRIL 9 IS STILL ON
Hearn tips Sosnowski to stun Klitschko

BARRY Hearn has tipped Poland’s Albert Sosnowski to ‘cause a big upset’ and beat WBC Champion Vitali Klitschko in May.  Sosnowski hails from Warsaw but is now based in Brentwood, Essex and is managed by Hearn, who has co-promoted the majority of his fights. Klitschko will be favourite to beat Sosnowski when the pair meet in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on May 29 but Hearn believes current European Champion Sosnowski will stun the boxing world.
“Albert has been European Champion for just two months and has already been offered a shot for the World Heavyweight Championship,” said Hearn. “This is a life-changing opportunity for Albert and I feel he has the potential to cause a big upset in Germany.”
Sosnowski, 31, propelled himself into the boxing big-time in December when he defeated Italian Paolo Vidoz to become European Champion.
Former Olympic Games gold medalist Audley Harrison was scheduled to face Sosnowski at London’s Alexandra Palace on April 9. However, Hearn confirmed that Harrison will still be in action against a European fighter on that date and a new opponent will be named shortly. "The show on April 9th will go ahead as planned and Audley Harrison will now be fighting a new European opponent,” added Hearn. "This opportunity for Albert shows just how close Audley is to realising his dream of fighting for a world title."
Sosnowski, who is licensed by the British Boxing Board of Control, has defeated current British Champion Danny Williams and won 45 of 48 professional contests. Harrison, 38, a former Olympic Games gold medalist, kept his professional career alive by winning Matchroom Sport’s Prizefighter Heavyweights 3 tournament in October.

Vitali Klitschko to face European Champion Albert Sosnowski in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on May 29

WBC World Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko defends his title against European Champion Albert Sosnowski from Poland at Veltins-Arena Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on May 29. The arena is the home field of the famous soccer club Schalke 04.
Vitali Klitschko: „I am very happy to have my next fight in Germany again. The arena in Gelsenkirchen and the fans there are very special. I experienced that last year when my brother Wladimir had his fight there in front of 61,000 spectators. The atmosphere was simply electrifying. I saw Sosnowski’s fights on DVD and must admit that he is a very experienced, quick and tough opponent. He will do anything to get my belt but I promise that this is not going to happen.”
31-year-old Albert Sosnowski, who was born in Warsaw (Poland), lives in Brentwood, England. „The Dragon“ Sosnowski turned professional in 1998 and since then the 6'2½'' tall has an outstanding fight record of 45 wins (27 KOs), two defeats and one draw.

Last December, Sosnowski won the European Heavyweight Championship against former champion Paolo Vidoz from Italy. 2008 he knocked out former world title challenger and Tyson conqueror Danny Williams. Sosnowski was scheduled to defend his European title against Olympic champion Audley Harrison in London on April, 9, but cancelled it for the chance to fight Vitali Klitschko instead.
Albert Sosnowski said: “A dream comes true. Because of the Harrison fight I am already in training and suddenly comes the once-in-a-lifetime chance to fight Klitschko. I want to thank him and his team to give me that opportunity which I will definitely take. For me, Klitschko is already over the hill. I know that I am the underdog for everybody, but I tell you, Klitschko will regret that he picked me. Many Polish and Germans with Polish roots live in the Gelsenkirchen area and I hope that they will support me. I will be the first Polish Heavyweight Champion of the World!”
It is Klitschko’s 12th World Championship fight. His impressive record is 39 wins (37 KOs) and two defeats due to injury. In Germany, the fight between World Champion Vitali Klitschko and European Champion Albert Sosnowski will be broadcasted live and exclusively on RTL.

10^th March 2010