By Matt Christie
LATE on Saturday night time Nathan Heaney and Brad Pauls delivered a cracker for the British middleweight title that resulted in a draw. Even when you scored it by one or two factors to both fighter, it was a contest fought with such ardour and braveness {that a} draw, in the finish, was most likely the fairest consequence.
Less than 12 hours later, Heaney – the champion – might be present in a pub close to Barbican station in London, 103 miles south of the Birmingham venue during which he’d fought, carrying a sensible black swimsuit, that by now well-known moustache, and all the bumps and bruises from the night time earlier than. Heaney was certainly one of 450+ company at the annual British Boxing Board of Control Awards, which was happening simply over the highway.
Heaney had been shortlisted for the Boxer of the Year award (alongside Leigh Wood, Chantelle Cameron, Chris Billam-Smith and Joe Cordina), and his coach, Steve Woodvine, was in the working for Boxing News Trainer of Year. That neither of them gained – Wood was named the main British boxer of 2023 and Shane McGuigan picked up the coach award – is irrelevant. What they achieved collectively, after they upset Denzel Bentley to win the title, was arguably the feel-good story of final yr.
As he joked that he might nonetheless hear the ringing in his ears from Pauls’ punches, Heaney posed for images, he signed autographs and sportingly applauded when the award winners had been introduced. One of the real good guys in a sport too typically reliant on unsavoury rivalries, Heaney has grown his fanbase the old style means. Each of his supporters who purchase tickets for his fights will really feel like they know him as a result of, in a means, they do; Heaney will hand ship each ticket he sells, which given he’s at present shifting greater than 2,000 of them is a few gesture from the champion of his nation.
It was a pleasure to be in attendance on Sunday. The respect in the air was keenly felt all through the afternoon and offered the theme amongst the boxers in attendance. That isn’t all the time the case these days; General Secretary Robert Smith was trustworthy in his evaluation previous to saying the Sportsmanship Award when he acknowledged that, in some years, there merely hasn’t been something worthy of such an accolade. Not so in 2023, nonetheless.
The twin recipients of the award had been Sam Gilley and Louis Greene. Not solely did they behave impeccably in the construct as much as their October Commonwealth super-lightweight title combat – we noticed footage of them at the pre-fight press convention, refusing to be drawn right into a disagreement – they delivered a bout of the highest high quality earlier than spending the aftermath congratulating one another. It was nice to see them on stage, utilizing solely their admiration for one another to speak up their rematch, tentatively set for later this yr.
How great it might be if this type of behaviour was so commonplace it was deemed the norm. That it stands out as the most sporting second in the boxing calendar, nonetheless, suggests we nonetheless have a whole lot of work to do in that regard. Though all of us perceive that grudges promote, and a little bit of needle heightens the anticipation, one also can argue {that a} regular stream of dangerous language and private insults do little to promote the sport to these not already invested in it. What the occasion on Sunday proved was that boxing, regardless of the violence at its core, can nonetheless be a noble and trustworthy endeavour. And in 2024, the solely means the nationwide media will get behind our sport – somewhat than swooping in to report solely on the scandals however not sticking round for the great things – is that if there may be extra proof of what the sport ought to actually be about.
Nathan Heaney and Brad Pauls accept a draw at Resorts World Arena on March 16, 2024 in Birmingham, England (James Chance/Getty Images)
GET WELL, ROBERTO
The Hands of Stone recovering after having pacemaker fitted
ONE of the biggest residing boxers, Roberto Duran, had a pacemaker fitted over the weekend and is on the highway to restoration after he reportedly suffered an atrioventricular blockage.
Duran, 72, is all the time a magnetic character at boxing occasions, one who very clearly enjoys each second of his life. No longer the sneering destroyer of his preventing pomp, there’s a mischief to the modern-day Duran that has solely heightened his legend.
Upon listening to that Duran was in hospital in his native Panama, the likes of Mike Tyson and Canelo Alvarez had been amongst the first to ship their hero love. “Roberto, I send you all my good vibes,” mentioned Canelo. “Courage, lots of courage. I know you can do it, like all the battles you have fought, this is one more. I send you a hug and may God bless you.”
Duran is a type of figures who’s so ingrained in the boxing furnishings, it’s jarring after we realise he gained’t be round eternally. For now, nonetheless, the prognosis is optimistic. “The Duran family is pleased to inform that thanks to God the surgery in our champion, a pacemaker implant, was totally successful.”
All at Boxing News want ‘Manos de Piedra’ a speedy restoration.
NEW YORK – JUNE 26, 1972: Roberto Duran celebrates with coach Ray Arcel after his combat towards Ken Buchanan at Madison Square Garden, New York (The Ring Magazine through Getty Images)
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