The time for talking is over . . . .

The time for talking is over as Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye faced off for the final time before their meeting in Hamburg’s Imtech Arena tomorrow night.

At the weigh-in the WBO, IBF, IBO and Ring magazine champion Klitscko tip the scales at 17 stone 5 pounds the Ukranian and was greeted by a raucous British contingent. It is estimated that between 500 and one thousand Haye fans crammed themselves inside the sport store that hosted the fight formalities.

The 6 foot 7 inch giant was greeted with chants of “who are ya’” and “you’re supposed to be at home” from the large group of fans who have made the trip to Germany early, with many fans arriving as early as Wednesday in order to witness the open workouts of both fighters.

The hostility that met Klitschko today will be alien to a boxer who has fought so much of his career in front of tame German crowds and the British presence is set to be multiplied 20 times over with over 20,000 Brits expected to be in attendance on Saturday evening.

Haye, who is considered as the challenger in this fight despite holding the WBA title – winning that too in Germany, cut a muscularly defined physique as he took to the scales. The Londoners weight of 15 stone 3 pounds is his second lightest at heavy weight in what is only his sixth fight in the division. The former cruiserweight champion comes into the bout two and a half pounds heavier than his last defence against Audley Harrison, with speed clearly in mind once again.

“There was never a plan to come at any particular weight,” claimed Haye post weigh-in.
“I just made sure I trained hard and I was healthy. I’ve eaten well, I haven’t had any junk food, I haven’t cut any corners, so this my ideal fighting weight.”

The Hayemaker took this last opportunity to give a few choice words to Klitschko, who to his credit has reacted well to the verbal jibes aimed at him from the Bermondsey fighter throughout the long build up to this heavyweight showdown billed as ‘The War’.

“I don’t think I can say what I was saying to him up there,” said Haye. This was clear in the fact that Sky Sports’ Craig Slater having to apologise on the behalf of Haye in the aftermath of the live televised event.

“It wasn’t nice, I wasn’t telling him I love him, put it that way.”

Following the weigh-in the Hayemaker camp revealed that Haye stopped sparring three weeks ago, a week earlier than normal, as their charge looks took peak on fight night.
“Adam booth said ‘what’s the point in doing the same thing over and over again, you’ve got it, let’s work on some other stuff – conditioning and timing and speed – I feel great.”

As has been the case throughout the build up Klitschko’s older brother Vitali took the opportunity to take a swipe at Haye, something that Wladimir has failed to do at times claiming that his brother would be superior in every department.

“Look at my brother, he is confident, he trusts himself and has a lot of experience.”

By midnight tomorrow we will have found out whether Wladimir was in fact too good for the Hayemaker or it may be the case that Vitali is out for post fight revenge. One thing is for sure the talk surrounding this contest has reignited a fading heavyweight division and it is one not to be missed.

Floyd Mayweather's comeback - double standards?

Last week it was announced that Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather will make his ring return this September against Victor Ortiz at a venue that is yet to be confirmed. For Mayweather 2011 is a much anticipated year for both himself and the fans with not only a ring return scheduled but also two court dates.

Mayweather is awaiting a hearing on domestic violence charges, for which he could be jailed for 34 years if found guilty, the date for which was postponed for a third time in April. With a hearing due on July 29 the verdict could throw a monumental spanner in the works of his proposed come back fight for Ortiz’s WBC welterweight strap.

Alongside felony charges following a domestic argument with his ex-girlfriend and two of their children Mayweather also faces misdemeanour harassment charges following accusations of the previous pound for pound king threatening two homeowner associations’ security guards outside his Las Vegas home.

Not only does the month of September have this welterweight collision but also a second court date for ‘Pretty Boy’. Mayweather will go up in front of the courts on misdemeanour battery charges stemming from allegations he poked a 21-year-old guard in the face during an argument over parking tickets in November.

Meanwhile, last month it was announced by the California State Athletic Commission that former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight challenger Chael Sonnen would be banned from competition in the state of California indefinitely. After a verdict of guilty was presented to Sonnen on money laundering charges in which he was forced to pay a $10,000 fine and his Real Estate trader’s licence removed for two years the CSAC initially revoked the Oregonian’s fighting license for six months.

With the six month ban served the CSAC then decided to look back at the ban following the emergence of knew evidence going on to rule the now indefinite ban that looks likely to end the mixed martial arts career of the exciting Sonnen.

Granted Sonnen has been found guilty of the crimes he committed and Mayweather is yet to be proven guilty but given his numerous impending court dates should he be granted a license to compete? The fact that I use the decision by the Californian State Athletic Commission is not to say that should the Mayweather fight be held in Las Vegas, Nevada he will not get a license but it has been the trend for Nevada to follow the advice and decision-making of the CSAC.

Before people cry “MMA is different to boxing” in terms of the way the licensing works, unfortunately it isn’t so that argument is redundant. The CSAC regulates professional boxing (for Mayweather), professional and amateur kickboxing and professional mixed martial arts (for Sonnen) therefore one would hope for consistency in their verdicts.

When the question of whether, should Mayweather get a license, it would be double standards on the part of the CSAC given there verdict on Sonnen was put to UFC supremo Dana White his response was emphatic.

“There’s a million percent a double standard being shown there, I’m not watching it closely, I know exactly what’s going to happen with these regulators who claim to be fair. Floyd Mayweather’s being going around sucker-punching everybody in the face, the threat to his wife and his kids. Watch what’s going to happen, how fast these regulators, I don’t care if its in Nevada, California or wherever it is, watch how fast they give Floyd Mayweather a license.”

Granted this whole scenario is pie in the sky and hypothetical, however should we not wait for the verdict of Mayweather’s various court dates to be presented before the ‘King of Pay-Per-View’ even contemplates a return to the ring?

Now there is no doubt in my mind that trial before September or no trail before September, verdict or no verdict Mayweather will be given a license by any athletic commission who is lucky enough to hold the fight, whether it be Dallas, Nevada or California and this screams of desperation on the part of boxing.

Boxing needs Floyd Mayweather, especially American boxing, fortunately fighters like Chael Sonnen will come and go and mixed martial arts and the UFC will continue its exponential growth but global interest in boxing from the casual outsider without Mayweather will wane. As a result Golden Boy and whoever is making this meeting with Victor Ortiz in September will do their damnedest to make it happen, double standards on the part of the now unemployed Chael Sonnen or not and it just isn’t fair.

Dana White - A message to the cry babies

In the wake of another successful Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view President Dana White had some choice words for those who have openly criticised his organisation in recent months.

UFC 131 saw Junior Dos Santos take on Shane Carwin for the right to face heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. A thoroughly dominant performance from the Brazilian Dos Santos left Carwin, a replacement for the ill stricken Brock Lesnar, blooded and battered. With a suspected broken nose following a barrage of punches in round one Carwin battled through the full three rounds but had no riposte for the superior stand-up of Dos Santos. With two judges scoring the fight 30-27, the other 30-26 Dos Santos extends his unbeaten record in the UFC to seven and his overall record to 13 and one.

With the heavyweight contest pencilled in for UFC 136 in Houston, Texas, Velasquez’s recovering from a shoulder injury permitting, Dana White moved quickly post-event to answer his and Zuffa’s critics.

With the issue of pay-per-view dominating in Britain following Amir Khan’s move to Television Company Primetime prompted by Sky’s plans to move his WBA light-welterweight title fight in April to Sky Sports 1 White hit out at his own critics. American boxing promoter Gary Shaw makes no secret of his dislike of the UFC’s pay-per-view policy, calling for the promotion company to give away more free fights. White in response to these criticisms answered via MMAfighting.com’s Ariel Helwani claiming that:

“Gary Shaw is a moron. This guy is going out and copying everything I say. He’s like ‘they put on too many pay-per-views and they don’t give away enough free fights’. What the hell are you talking about you moron? First of all, Gary Shaw, he’s done three fights this year and when I say that I mean three actual fights, fights he promoted himself and all three of them were on Showtime. Showtime is not free, we’ve done 11 fights this year and four of them were free on free television, actual free television, free cable, okay Gary you idiot. You’re so dumb I can’t even believe I’m answering your questions or rebutting what you said.”

Pretty scathing remarks from the UFC President and love him or hate him Dana White always shoots from the hip, often landing himself in trouble, but there is no doubting that he is a very clever business man. In March it was announced that Zuffa, the owners of the UFC, had successfully acquired rival mixed martial arts promotion Strikeforce. For those unfamiliar to mixed martial arts one must not confuse the sport of mixed martial arts with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Unfortunately for mixed martial arts unlike boxing there is no global governing body and therefore no world titles. The UFC and Strikeforce act as promotion companies in the same way that Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy and Bob Arum’s Top Rank do in boxing. The only difference is that the promoters in mixed martial arts have their own titles.

With Zuffa’s acquisition of Strikeforce those in the mixed martial arts world and boxing, namely Bob Arum have claimed a breaking of anti-trust laws due to the monopoly of mixed martial arts that it seems Zuffa are achieving. As expected White refutes claims but also had a few choice words for those na-sayers, especially Top Rank CEO Bob Arum.

“The other one, Bob Arum let me telling you something about Bob. First of all Bob Arum is copying, if you go to a Top Rank fight now they’re copying everything we do. Now Bob Arum is also the guy who’s out their crying ‘anti-trust, anti-trust’. Bob Arum, go back and look through the record books, in an interview he did he was laughing at the Fertitta’s for investing in this company, he was laughing at them basically saying ‘they’re idiots, they’re losing oodles and oodles of money’, now you’re crying anti-trust Bob? Bob, you weren’t smart enough to do this, you weren’t smart enough to do what we did to buy a company like this and basically change the fight industry forever and now you’re crying anti-trust, you guys sound like a bunch of cry babies.

“It’s not just boxing people, there are a lot of people poking around, a lot of people because this thing has been so successful. There are a lot of people who come after us and are taking shots at us and the reality is we took something that was absolutely dead and turned it around and turned it into this. It was done by investing a lot of money and Fertitta’s having the balls to stay behind this thing when it didn’t look like it was going to turn around and all these people now who talking shots at us and coming after us and doing what they are doing are the people who were laughing at us nine, ten years ago. We are the best at what we do, we’ve changed the fight business forever, we’re revolutionised it and all these other guys who weren’t smart enough to do it and didn’t see it want to cry about it now.”

After reading White’s remarks you can’t help but agree with some, if not all of what he is saying. It is very rich of Arum to be crying anti-trust at a company that he believed would fail upon its acquisition by Zuffa for $2 million in 2001. Five years later the UFC broke the pay-per-view industry’s all-time record for a single year of business, generating over $222,766,000 in revenue in 2006, surpassing both World Wrestling Entertainment and boxing. Now with the merger of World Extreme Cagefighting, Zuffa’s sister promotion, along with the purchase of Strikeforce the UFC is in a strong position to push on once more with PPV numbers set to increase further.

As a huge mixed martial arts fan and a person who is falling out of love with boxing as a result of its constant politics and mis-matching of opponents it is very easy for me to say this but sounds like sour grapes from Bob Arum. As I criticise Arum, praise must be heaped upon the Fertitta brothers, who between them own 81% of Zuffa, for sticking with a company that at the time of purchase had possibly the worst reputation in all of sport, if it could be called a sport back then. Now with the leadership of Dana White, a 9% shareholder, and the recruitment of the best talent in the world along with programming that reaches 130 countries world wide the UFC is now at the top of combat sport, although those in boxing hate to admit it. At the moment with the industry of mixed martial arts constantly evolving along with territories still yet of be entered perhaps Bob Arum, although he would never admit it, should have done what the Ferritas have done and risked losing ‘oodles and oodles of money’.

Love him or hate him Dana White has achieved expansion of a sport that hasn’t been seen in any other. Without the forward thinking of those at Zuffa the expansion we have seen in the past decade would have taken decades but thanks the progressive forward thinking of White MMA via UFC is a combat sport fans favourite for one main reason; the fans get what they want. Boxing take note, you have a lot to learn do a way with the politics or risk losing out forever.

Common sense must prevail, a rarity for Formula One

It has been announced by Motorsport’s world governing body, the FIA, that the Bahrain Grand Prix will return to the 2011 Formula One race calendar.

The announcement comes after its postponement in February as a result of fears of safety following pro-democracy protests in which more that 20 people died.

The race will now take place on 30 October – pushing the Indian Grand Prix back to December.

BBC F1 Commentator stated via twitter that it is a mistake to reinstate the Grand Prix.

“GP date changes are bad especially for fans planning to attend the India Grand Prix, costs and time off work. Racing until Christmas, develop and test new car, 21 races in 2012. Too much.”

Zayed Rashid Al Zayani, the Bahrain International Circuit Chair hailed it as an event capable of unifying the nation once more.

“As a country we have faced a difficult time but stability has returned, with businesses operating close to normal and countries removing travel restrictions.”

Former Formula 1 World Champion Jackie Stewart admitted his pleasure at the news.

“I’m pleased. Sport is a very good equaliser in the case of unrest because sport somehow unifies people. An F1 race going there might help to do that.”

Former FIA president Max Mosley on the other hand is of the belief that there is no chance the rearranged Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead.

Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Mosley said “I don’t think there’s the slightest chance the grand prix will actually happen.

“Apart from anything you cannot change the calendar, in the way it has been proposed, without the unanimous agreement of the teams.”

Bahrain Human Rights President Nabeel Rajab admitted his sadness at the decision.

“It’s a very sad moment. It seems that their benefit and their interest has more importance than the human rights of people in this part of the region.

Already they have called the day of that racing ‘a day of rage’, where they’re going to come out everywhere, in every city of Bahrain, to show anger to what the Bahrain government, the Bahrain regime, is doing towards their own people.”

As a result of the furore caused by the re-jigging of this years race calendar Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has conceded that he does not know what will happen.

“The way things are at the moment, we have no idea what is going to happen.

“Better we move Bahrain to the end of the season and, if things are safe and well, then that is fine, we can go. If they are not, then we don’t go and there are no problems.”

With Formula One teams urging the FIA to abandon plans to reschedule the Grand Prix this year Ecclestone finds him self stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Does he take the race to Bahrian, risking civil uprising for the public there along with unrest from a number of teams already looking to form a competition away from Ecclestone’s jurisdiction. Or does he chase the Arabian dollar, a very lucrative part of the world for Formula One with Abu Dhabi one of the stand-out races in the Grand Prix calendar.

One hopes common sense will prevail and the safety of not only the Bahrain people but that of the teams themselves will be taken into account when a decision is made.

Will succuss breed success for England's Under-21s?

Following a dismal outing by the senior side on Saturday, a 2-2 draw with Switzerland said to be as a result of tiredness, many commentators are calling for a change of the guard in the current England side.

With the European Under-21 Championships set to get underway on Saturday this is the perfect opportunity for those in the squad to put their hands up for selection to replace those ‘tired’ legs that took the field at Wembley on Saturday.

Whether they are tired or just simply aging is another question. With the back bone of the side made up of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard, all influential for club they do appear to go missing for country more often that not.

Terry, Ferdinand and Lampard all find themselves the wrong side of 30 and following such a poor World Cup campaign in South Africa last year the question has to be asked, what are they still doing there?

Now, I may be accused of making scapegoats of three of my least favourite players here but the same can be said for Steven Gerrard, who missed the Swiss clash through injury, and Ashley Cole. Are they still fit for purpose looking ahead to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil?

As the so called ‘Golden Age’ of England, who have achieved very little at international level, moves on into retirement and the world of football punditry that will follow now is the perfect opportunity for those competing in Denmark this month to put their hands up for selection.

With the view for many that the future lies in Stuart Pearce’s under-21 squad are we following the lead of the European super powers that have triumphed in the continental competition and at the World Cup recently?

The simple answer is not particularly. Take Spain for example, between the years 2000 & ’09 they did not compete in a single European under-21s competition due to lack of qualification. The reason why? The majority of their players eligible for selection to the under-21s side were already representing the senior side.

Of the 2010 World Cup winning squad only three members had come from the party that travelled to the European under-21 competition in 2000, Xavi, Joan Capdevila and Carles Puyol. To add to this only one Spaniard who represented the under-21s outfit at the 2009 competition was included in the 2010 party, Javi Martinez.

Five members of Italy’s 2006 World Cup winning squad represented the under-21s who were triumphant in ’04. Alberto Gilardinio, Cristian Zaccardo, Marco Amelia and Andre Barzagli all travelled as part of their 23-man squad to Germany.

Not only were the Italians triumphant in 2004 but also 2000, from this squad two members picked up winners medals in 2006, Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Guttusso.

So I say to those pinning all your hopes on Psycho’s boys, who open their campaign against Spain on Sunday, let’s not get our hopes up too much so we can write their future’s off like those in the press seem to enjoy doing so much.

Should they be triumphant and go one step further than two years previous, where the Germans were our downfall again, it will not necessarily mean immediate success for the senior side as many seem to expect.

Perhaps we should follow the lead of the Spanish and blood our youngsters that little bit earlier in the way we have done with the extraordinary talent of Jack Wilshire and Andy Carroll. This would happen however at the expense of the under-21s side.

Why have those playing under-21s football when they are clearly good enough and adding value to the senior side? It’s a dilemma.

It is up to those at the FA to decide do we follow the lead of the Spanish or do we try and achieve what the Italians have, progressing those under-21 winners into the senior side and onto to World Cup success in the not too distant future. . . .

As for the dead wood that was on show on Saturday at the home of football, it needs shifting. Quickly.

Lashings make it six on the bounce but the day is Davidson's

Lashings World XI made their sixth visit to Eversley Cricket Club on Friday, the outcome of this visit the same as the previous five – a win, on this occasion by 106 runs.

Like India’s Wasim Jaffer last year it was Eversley’s Alex Davidson who stole the show, top scoring with 72 not out in a defiant chase of a mammoth total.

Requiring a run rate in excess of eight runs an over the Eversley batsmen gave a good account of themselves but struggled in their efforts to amass the required target.

The Lashings opening pair of New Zealander James Marshall and Jaffer raced out of the blocks scoring at a rate of nearly ten an over finding themselves 94 for no wicket after 10 overs.

Although it would appear explosive this opening was in fact littered with shots of class and timing. This highlighted in the cover driving of Jaffer as he stroked opening bowler Jack Sever for three consecutive boundaries.
The scoring rate was slowed via the deceptively quick bowling of Gareth Cummings. Cummings while not only economical did for James Marshall on 61, the quick glove work of Ben Saville finding the Kiwi out of his ground, as he finished with figures of one for 25.

Wasim Jaffer was finally dismissed with the score at 164 hauling out to the long-on boundary off spinner Chris Last, Captain Shane Green pouching the steepling catch.

The catching of Green also saw the back of current New Zealand international Ian Butler for 44 off the bowling of Australian overseas Blair Lindsay and former-England batsman Graeme Hick 30, setting the example after two earlier dropped catches from his teammates.

It was the dismissal of Hick off the bowling of Bucknall that prevented the visitors from passing 300, a big psychological edge for Eversley going into their chase.

Amidst the wickets and the stroke play of Jaffer ex-West Indies captain Jimmy Adams scored 66 off 58 balls in an innings obdurate in nature.

In their chase Eversley lost opener Phil Wise early for 4, a Yorker from Devon Malcolm cleaning him up. In light of this Captain Green and Lindsay showed valiant resistance both playing shots in a partnership of 41.

This pairing came to an unlucky end as Lindsay chipped his attempted cover drive to Pakistani Mohammed Akram off the bowling of Mark Ealham for 15. The same could be said for Ben Saville ran out for 18, Phil DeFreitas rolling back the years hitting the single stump he had to aim at. Another wicket soon fell, Cummings first ball for the second year running.

As wickets fell Davidson was not deterred, playing his shots to take his remarkable average against the Lashings World XI beyond one hundred.

A solid innings from Chris Last saw him score 20 before being bowled by Phil DeFreitas, Nigel Cresswell adding a late cameo of 11 as the Eversley innings finished 190 for 6.

The unbeaten innings of 72 from Davidson which included seven fours and three sixes saw him pick up the man of the match award in his sides losing effort.

Green said of Davidson’s innings: “It was the highlight of the innings; he hit some lusty blows as well as knocking the singles around showing a maturing aspect that is coming in to his batting”.

“It is an honour for me to captain such a talented Eversley team and once again despite chasing leather for 35 overs we acquitted ourselves well in the field. The batting gave us an opportunity to show our ability and we all worked exceptionally hard in the face of some very high quality bowling”.

Green later went on to thank those who have worked tirelessly in the organisation of the Lashings fixture, an integral event in the clubs calendar.

England XV v Barbarians

Willie Mason: A rugby league enigma

The word enigma can be defined as: a person of puzzling or contradictory character. Never has this been more true of Australia's Willie Mason.

Hull Kingston Rovers announced on Saturday that they had released Mason just six games into a possible three-year contract. Since then the Australian has moved to sign for French Top 14 giants Toulon.

Mason signed for Hull KR in the winter but hopes of their marquee signing arriving in the country in time for the start of the new Engage Super League were stunted by his inability to obtain a Tongan passport.

This Tongan passport would allow for Rovers officials to register Mason as a non-overseas player. Thus allowing head coach Justin Morgan to select the likes of Blake Green, Michael Dobson, Ben Galea and Clint Newton all in the same squad.

Unfortunately for both Rovers and Mason he was unable to obtain the passport, only an injury to lynch-pin stand-off Michael Dobson giving the club the ability to play their big-money signing.

The former North Queensland Cowboy made an immediate impact in the 40-22 home defeat of the Crusaders, a performance that saw Mason pick up the man of the match award.

Since then for both Mason and the club his performances and relationship with officials at Craven Park have been on a downward spiral.

Last month rumours surfaced that Mason had travelled to the continent to discuss a move to France. Since then it has been discovered that Mason may even have met with Toulon officials before he signed for Rovers.

Toulon reportedly have offered Mason a deal that will see him earn up to £400,000 a year, four times what he was set to pocket at Hull KR. The Challenge Cup quarter finalists hope to reclaim any wages paid via compensation from Toulon.

This farcical turn of events that are set to see Mason move to to France are not too dissimilar to those of former Canterbury Bulldogs teammate Sonny Bill Williams. His desire for a move to rugby union and Toulon saw him banned from the NRL for breach of contract and the French Top 14 forced to compensate his previous employers.

The proverbial plot thickens with the announcement that the 24-cap Australian forward will make his rugby union debut for the Barbarian against England on Sunday.

Mason admitted his excitement at the challenge to the Sydney Morning Herald, going onto say:

"If you ask all the boys, I've always told them I've wanted to have a crack at rugby and I've always been the type to jump in at the deep end, and I'm ready to try the best I can to make an instant switch."

This saga brings the game of rugby league into disrepute as it continues in its attempts to put itself on a level footing with its more credible and wealthier bigger brother in union.

If episodes like this are to be prevented then the overseas quota system needs to be tightened in such a way that your nationality is the country that you represent, or you are believed to represent.

A quote was once used to describe world heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis, who represented Canada at the Olympics but competed in the professional ranks as British, although of Jamaican decent.

"If you are not a resident of somewhere, you're a resident of no where."

Never has this quote been so true then when related to Willie Mason, a man of New-Zealand birth, Tongan decent, but Australian representation. Where Mason's career will take him next is for us to see as this circus continues the other side of the English Channel.

That Was It!

Last night at the O2 Arena & viewers on Sky Box Office bore witness to a British title fight for the ages.

The bout dubbed 'The Grudge' had all the build-up of a world title fight and it did not disappoint, James DeGale on the other hand did.

The fight went all 12 of the championship rounds for the Super-Middleweight Lonsdale belt. At the final bell the judges returned a majority decision, Richie Davies scored the fight evens, a draw, with Dave Parris & John Keane scoring the fight one round in favour of the 'The Saint' George Groves.

In what was a cagey affair in the main George Groves implemented the 'Hayemaker' camp's strategy, devised by Adam Booth, to a tee. Boxing with his lead hand high, a contrast to previous fights where it has hung dangerously low, the Hammersmith resident counter-punched superbly.

James DeGale in stark contrast appeared to revert to the style that characterised his amateur days, boxing defensively in an attempt to pot-shot his way to victory. The sort of style the computerised scoring of Olympic competition favours.

Unfortunately for the Olympic champion or 'Chunky' as he is known no longer found himself boxing in the amateurs, like the first meeting between the two. One must add that this revert to type that DeGale showed in the contest was promised by Groves in the build-up.

Once the fight entered its second stanza the Harlesden champion appeared to wake from his slumber as he begun to put combination togethers and disorientating the Commonwealth champion.

This pressure however came in fits and starts, finding himself unable to excerpt a sustained level of pressure at any time during fight. It appeared that the defending champion had, as Adam Booth claimed during rounds "ran out of ideas".

A clash of heads opened two cuts on the face of the fair skinned Groves, one on the eyebrow the other on the forehead, as his face became a mask of blood as the fight entered the final round.

Before the final round it was obvious that the DeGale camp, lead by ex-world title challenge Jim McDonnell, believed that they needed the final round to secure victory. The final round was won by DeGale, but it was unknown if it was enough to take the spoils.

As the final bell rung it was clear that both fighters were in the belief they they had done enough to take the contest, both fighters marked and bloody. With the judges in the process of returning their verdicts Jim McDonnell took his phone from his pocket. Looking up to his man he claimed that they had won, obviously a text tipped him off, putting his finger to his lips insisting that 'Chunky' did not celebrate.

With the fighters at centre ring Lennon Jnr. returned the verdict. . . . (skip forward to 3.56)

The look on James DeGale's face, priceless. . . . .

The issue with judging a boxing match is that it can be scored in so many ways, do you score just the scoring shots, or intent to attack or good counter-punching?

It is clear that the judges scored the fight on not only counter-punching but also shots landed, the computer statistics claimed that Groves landed a greater percentage of his punches thrown.

The person at home can score a fight in so many different ways themselves, their own bias helps. I've seen people claiming they had DeGale by as many as three rounds, personally I had Groves by the one round. Boxing, unlike most other sports it is subjectice, that is the beauty of the sport known as the sweet science.

The sweet science, unlike other sports has a certain level of emotion that cannot be found in others. This can be illustrated in the picture of Adam Booth letting Jim McDonnell and his team know exactly what he thinks of them. I for one couldn't agree anymore.

The fact of the matter is, and I don't think it can be denied, James DeGale was well and truly worked out and exposed as one dimensional. Yes, if it had been a fight DeGale would have snatched it instead but it wasn't. Unfortunately for the now ex-British Super-Middleweight Champion it was a boxing bout, and George Groves won this bout.

Frank Warren in his post fight interview claimed that a rematch should be ordered immediately, whether and how soon this will come to fruition is unknown. One thing he did say however stood out to me.

The 'This Is It' bill is a wake up call for James DeGale and perhaps the back slapping of a fighter who hasn't achieved quite as much as people would like to believe he has does need to stop.

Will we see James DeGale defeat George Groves in a rematch should it happen or has 'The Saint' got 'Chunky's' number? That is the question.

Lancashire 46-12 Warwickshire

Lancashire began their defence of the Bill Beaumont Cup with a 46-12 victory against Warwickshire at Sedgley Park.

Although a 34 point winning margin might suggest a comfortable win for the defending champions this was not the case.

With a large National League Two North winning contingent the home side went into the contest high in confidence.

It was Oliver Brennand, one of nine men from the championship winning Fylde outfit, who opened the scoring within a minute.

Head Coach Mark Nelson handed eight new caps for this the opening game of the 2011 campaign.

It was newly capped Tom Hughes who doubled the hosts tally within five minutes; this prompted many to believe that the contest would soon become a rout.

This was not the case as the Red roses were made to work hard throughout by a stubborn Warwickshire defence.

After weathering an early storm the visitors missed the opportunity to open their scoring account, Lee Audis’ penalty kick hitting the post.

This however did not deter the Warwickshire outfit, soon gaining a foot hold in the game via a Matt Goode try as he snuck in the corner.

Had it not been for the inaccuracy of Audis’ boot the men from down the M6 could have found themselves in front as he pushed another penalty wide.

This profligacy in front of the posts was soon confounded as Gareth Rawling had the easiest of tasks to touch down at the back of a strong Lancashire scrum.

Another Brennand try was added on the half hour mark. A huge Peter Aitham dummy enough to breach the defence, Brennand left with the easiest of finishes.

Warwickshire responded once more with a second try two minutes from the interval, Heath Stevens latching onto a Mike Walls grubber kick.

A penalty on the stroke of half time from Alex Davies took the sides in at half time with the score 27-12.

Lancashire came out after the interval lacking a certain amount of precision.

This however was soon found by full-back Chris Briers his supporting run carving a whole in the defence as he stretched well to finish.

Briers was again at the heart of another Lancashire attack as Brennand’s solo effort saw him complete a hat-trick of tries.

After the roses sixth try it wasn’t for another 24 minutes until the scoreboard ticked over once more, this a representation of the hard-fought nature of the contest.

An exclamation point was added two minutes from time to what can be described as an efficient Lancashire performance, referee Andrew Jackson awarding a penalty try.

Last gasp Stef' denies Sale a point

London Irish kept their faint hopes of a play-off place alive with a last minute Steffon Armitage try at the Reebok Stadium.

For Sale Sharks it was a tale of what could have been, not only missing out on a losing bonus point but squandering opportunities to win the contest.

With all the talk pre-match surrounding a prospective move to Toulon for the 25-year old Armitage it was his last minute effort from a catch and drive that moves Irish to within four points of the Northampton Saints.

The game saw the home ground of Bolton Wanderers become the 30^th ground to host a Premiership Rugby game and a crowd in excess of 16,000 were not left disappointed.

The London Irish outfit, not unfamiliar to the surroundings of a modern day football stadium, found themselves in desperate need of a win given Saints victory on Friday evening along with Gloucester’s draw at Welford Road earlier in the day.

With this, they wasted no time in making their intentions felt and led at half time by three tries to none.

Toby Booth’s Irish had the luxury of welcoming lock Bob Casey back from injury, along with prop Alex Corbisiero making his first start since the Six Nations.

It was in the forwards and the lineout in particular that the Reading based side dominated, David Paice’s try after half an hour exemplifying this.

Free-running Topsy Ojo however opened the scoring after 13 minutes, his anticipation allowing him to intercept and coast in untouched from 40 metres.

The opening ten minutes had seen kickers Charlie Hodgson and Tom Homer both miss efforts at goal, Hodgson atoning for his misjudgement on 24 minutes.

England U-20 international Homer soon reinstated his sides seven point lead however from in front of the posts.

David Paice’s third try in as many games was added to two minutes from half time, a mesmerising Dan Bowden run unlocking the Sharks defence.

The Sharks, playing at the Reebok as they look to extend the Sale brand within the region, came out for the second half with the score 24-3 and the bit firmly between their teeth.

London Irish looked to prevent any build in momentum for the hosts through a long range Tom Homer effort as he extended the lead to three converted tries.

This however did not deter a side who had clearly been given a few choice words by Director of Sport Steve Diamond during the break.

Sisa Koyamaibole came within inches of scoring 13 minutes into the second stanza only to drop the ball over the whitewash.

Sale’s sustained pressure inside the visitors territory continued, Sean Cox showing Koyamaibole how to finish around the fringes an hour in.

A second try was added within two minutes, Wale Lewaravu galloping down the right wing after Neil Briggs’ perfectly timed pass released the lock to finish in the corner.

Another Tom Homer shot at goal looked to stretch the deficit to beyond a converted try ten minutes from time, the effort wide of the mark.

As the game drew to its climax the Edgeley Park residents had appeared to have successfully secured themselves a bonus point as they continue in their attempts to assure their Premiership status.

Their hopes of leaving Bolton with this point were dashed however, Dan Bowden’s drilled kick into the corner from half way setting up the attacking platform from which Irish and Armitage snatched the fourth try.

Sale 36 - 31 Gloucester

Sale’s Charlie Hodgson surpassed 1000 points at Edgeley Park as the Sharks’ 36-31 win eased their relegation fears.

A three try blitz in the second half saw off a Gloucester outfit looking to put pressure on their title rivals.

Within ten minutes the Sharks found themselves crossing the whitewash, only to be called back for what was adjudged by referee Sean Davey to be a forward pass.

Hodgson and Gloucester’s Freddie Burns traded penalties in an opening ten minutes that saw both sides display intent to run the ball.

It was Burns, in contrast to Hodgson just starting his Premiership career, who set up the opportunity for the visitors to take the lead.

The 20-year-old’s kick into the corner allowed the cherry and whites to set up an attacking platform five metres out. From quick second phase ball Burns ran a dummy scissor move, Molenaar picking an incisive line to breach the Sharks defence.

Straight from the restart the visitors opened the door for Hodgson to close the gap to four points, adding a further penalty on the half hour mark.

Sale soon had another opportunity to cross, almost a carbon-copy of the disallowed effort. The last pass however not going to hand, an opportunity squandered.

The hosts struck before half-time in response to another Burns penalty to take a three point lead at the break.

The strong running of Andy Tuilagi attracting defenders, his slip ball finding Paul Williams to finish well in the right hand corner.

Much like in the first half the opening period of the second saw Burns and Hodgson trade penalties again before three tries saw Sale secure the bonus point win.

It was aggressive Sale defence that saw them profit, with two tries.

Poor ball retention from Gloucester resulted in a hack through, Addison collecting the ball and squeezing over in the left hand corner for his first Premiership try.

From turn over ball Williams added to his earlier try. With the Sharks backs moving the ball from left to right and back again, the winger finding the perfect line to go over.

The scoring sequence was broken by substitute Tim Taylor; this did not however inhibit Sale’s attacking ambitions.

An opportunity was missed once more, hooker Neil Briggs dropping the ball with the line at his mercy.

The record breaking Hodgson, architect for much of the night collating a haul of 21 points, turned scorer soon after. A lapse in the Gloucester defence allowing the Saracens bound fly-half to sneak in the corner, when it appeared he would strike for goal.

Jonny May and a penalty try, repetitive infringement at the scrum prompting referee Daley to go under the posts came in the final 12 minutes.

These however were not enough and in some respects flattered the west-countrymen.

The win moves Sale 11 points clear of Newcastle Falcons, almost guaranteeing their Premiership status.

At the opposite end of the table, Gloucester’s bonus point sees them move two points ahead of Northampton Saints in the top four.

Reds hit Rovers for six

Salford City Reds bounced back from two successive defeats to run in six tries against Hull KR at The Willows on Friday night.

The 34-18 victory, only The Reds second win of this Super League campaign, came in a thoroughly dominant performance in front of a boisterous shed stand.

Having taken an early two try lead within the opening quarter through Ryan Boyle and Jodie Broughton the visitors hit back with an 18 point riposte after an abject opening.

It was Hull FC exile Craig Hall who’s 14 point haul awoke Hull Kingston Rovers from their relative slumber.

This comeback however was brought to an abrupt conclusion via two tries in a minute from Stefan Ratchford and Matty Smith.

With all eyes on big money signing Willie Mason it was Salford newcomer Sean Gleeson who made the greater impact.

The visitors who hadn’t lost to the Reds in Super League since 2007 found themselves without influential back rower’s Clint Newton and captain Mick Vella along with Great Britain winger Peter Fox.

Salford were required to call in under 20 academy players Callum Marriot and Alex Davidson as they went into the match without props Ray Cashmere and Iafeta Paleaaesina.

In this relatively inexperienced front row the Reds dominated, suppressing any attacking threat from Mason.

Front row forward Boyle went over for the first try at the end of a handling move that saw all but one of the Salford players touch the ball.

Influential full-back Luke Patten was at the heart of the next score, stretching the visitors defence to allow Jodie Broughton to score in the corner.

The sides went in at the interval with the score 10-6, an unfair reflection of the hosts dominance.

After the break Rovers struck twice more, Hall completing his brace and Scott Murrell evading the Reds otherwise stubborn defence.

This was to be the only glimmer of hope for an otherwise lack-lustre Hull KR as Salford proceeded to run in four unanswered tries, each of them converted by man of the match Daniel Holdsworth.

Ratchford and Smith scores were added to by ex-Wakefield centre Gleeson on debut with Marc Sneyd’s interception effort the exclamation point on a dominant Reds performance.