Boxing: Seconds Out: Olympia deserved bigger turn-out; Perkins bang on course for Melbourne.Byline: NICK PEET PEET Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy (NSF) LIVERPOOL fight fans who didn't make it down to the Olympia this week missed out on a cracking few days of top class international boxing. It still puzzles me how professional shows across the country where, at best, 70% and, at worst, 100% of the cards are complete mismatches still manage to attract full houses. While here in the UK's capital of amateur boxing Amateur boxing is practiced at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes this week, the turn-out was largely disappointing for shows featuring very competitive international bouts. Granted, the number of nations in action was cut down at the last minute but the action inside the ring was top drawer top drawer Noun Old-fashioned, informal people of the highest social standing , with national champions in action in every weight divison. But local sports fans weren't the only ones who missed out. The ABA's newly-appointed performance manager, Richie Woodhall Richie Woodhall (born April 17, 1968) is a former English super-middleweight boxer. He lost his last fight to his friend Joe Calzaghe in 2000, and subsequently retired in 2002. , was a no-show, too, which was a pity because he missed some quality action. On Wednesday night, for instance, we had the very best ofthe heavyweight division going head to head. Wavertree's Tony Bellew was challenging with England skipper David Dolan for his number one spot, while teenager Danny Price Danny Price was the head coach of the Florida International University baseball team, a position that he held from 1980 until May of 2007. During that span, he has become one of the few collegiate baseball coaches to record a thousand coaching victories, having reached that was taking his first serious step into the senior ranks. Speaking of Bellew, if heart and determination won prizes he would be champion of the world already. But he learned a valuable lesson this week when losing out to Dolan. Experience is everything in the amateur game. Scoring points on that Olympic computer system is an art form, and he could learn from nobody better than Dolan. Most frustrating is that Bellew can box much better than he did, but he's still very young and if he keeps working away he will have his day in the sun. Star of the show this week had to be welterweight Neil Perkins. He's looking a sure-fire medal winner at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next March. His strength and that awkward southpaw style mean he will take some stopping Down Under, so it was wise of club coach Tony Bowden to pull him out of a 'friendly' international with Canada's Adam Trupish last night. Finally, I can't finish my Multi's round-up without praising Joe Selkirk, who was gutted to miss his final with Perkins after busting his nose in Wednesday's semi. But, like Bellew, young Joe must be patient. If he fulfils his potential he's going to be a massive star CAPTION(S): MR ENTERTAINMENT: Tony `Bomber' Bellew |
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