The fight is scheduled for December 6 against Carl Froch in Froch’s hometown Nittingham, England.
Read more about it here

Tony’s hopes of fighting Pro has come to an end, at least for a while. HE BROKE HIS HAND. NO, he did not break it sparring, NO, he did not break it coaching… he broke it wrestling with his girlfriend Monique.

Everyone is taking bets until it is confirmed with Monique how exactly did it break. Most are betting that Monique put Tony in an Arm-bar. Stay tuned for the real story on Monday.

Our sincere condolences to the family.

“HOW does it feel being known as…?” Herol Graham joins in with the question. “The best British fighter never to win a world title?” we say together. “I agree with it,” he says. “But life is planned out,” he goes on. “You make it how you want it. I was silly not to listen to some people around me, but it was an exciting time when I was fighting. I was happy. I loved it and I’m very grateful for it.” Now a father of six (with his kids aged from two-and-a-half to 30) Graham, who lives by himself in Bradway, Sheffield, and who has been divorced once, is involved in personal training. He works in sports clubs and gyms teaching people exercises, mostly boxing moves. He also runs a skipping class. “It’s going very well,” he says.

Almost 20 years have passed since he was known as the ‘King of Sheffield’, a title that clearly embarrasses him now. “I wouldn’t say I was the king of Sheffield but a celebrity, definitely,” he admits. “Now I hardly go out clubbing. But people still recognise me and talk to me and say they appreciated what I did. People still come up to me and say they watched me fight or they went to America to see me box. “Some people do a double take and say, ‘Excuse me, sir, are you Sidney Poitier?’ ” Herol laughs before conceding: “No, not really. They say, ‘Are you Herol Graham?’ “Then they say: ‘If only you kept your head out of the way against Julian Jackson’.” He lost to Jackson (having opened a lead, he was knocked out by a simply devastating right hand in the fourth in a challenge for the WBC middleweight belt), was pipped by another quality American middleweight champion in Mike McCallum (split decision loss for the WBA belt) and, in his last fight - having knocked Charles Brewer down twice - allowed the Philadelphian back into the fight to win in the 10th in an IBF title fight.

They are amongst the favourite memories of his 54-fight (48-6, 28 inside) career. Herol turned pro in 1978. His last bout came 20 years later against Brewer, but that period included four years of inactivity between 1992 and 1996. “Boxing for world titles are my best memories,” he says happily enough. “Even though I lost, they were all close encounters. I was so close with Jackson, they were going to stop the fight at the end of the round. I only had to stay on my feet and I went and stuck my chin out. “It was one of the most brilliant but lucky shots ever thrown. He threw it from over his head and not even he knew where it was going to land.” What a shot it was. It makes a trip to YouTube worthwhile. Here is the Jackson fight…

More than 100,000 viewers who have clicked on two clips of it would agree. “I always remember and talk about those ones [Jackson, McCallum and Brewer],” says Herol. “I was so close and yet so far away. They could have turned my life around in a big, big way. I could have been a millionaire. It wasn’t to be, but they were still brilliant fights.” But “Bomber” was a brilliant fighter. Some in Sheffield say the city’s now-famous hands-down, unconventional style is the Herol Graham style, rather than that of his former trainer Brendan Ingle, who is often credited with it. Graham was a defensive master; up there with the best.

The term slick southpaw could have been invented for him. He twice lost to Sumbu Kalambay (pts 12 both times) in Euro title efforts but beat Vinny Pazienza (pts 12) in defence of his WBC International title and cleaned up domestically, beating classy fighters and big bangers like James Cook and Mark Kaylor in the late 1980s, largely bamboozling them with that mesmerising technique. “People still remind me of them [the big British fights].

They were easy fights. Don’t get me wrong, they were tough going but I found fighting so easy. “I made most of those fights look easy but they were hard. I always worked my fights out on the night, not before then. Brendan would say to me the guy would do this or do that, but I would work it all out in the ring.” He was that good. Now the former British, European and Commonwealth champion watches fights “now and again”. He was in a London TV studio working for African television when Ricky Hatton boxed Floyd Mayweather in December. He praised Ricky’s heart before saying: “Floyd was reminiscent of myself.”

Herol’s one of only a select few who could get away with saying something like that. He still keeps fit and in shape and moves around with youngsters and beginners in the gym. “I still spar with the guys,” he smiles. “They still can’t hit me and say, ‘Why don’t you make a comeback?’ I say, ‘No thanks. I’m 48. I’ve had my time’.”

Age started boxing: 10

First boxing memory: My very first fight at age 10. I had to give up four years and 15lbs but I told them I’d fight whoever. I won.

Inspiration: Muhammad Ali. He fought for what he stood for.

Favourite all-time fighter: Muhammad Ali.

Best fight you’ve seen: There are three. Larry Holmes-Ken Norton is the best heavyweight fight; they showed heart for heavyweights. Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas Hearns I because they had such a big build-up and then lived up to it. And Salvador Sanchez-Wilfredo Gomez.

What do you do to relax: Fish or listen to music. I make music too, rap, and I’ve already made the promo for the [Joe] Calzaghe fight [on September 20]. I think I might call it Battle of the Superpowers. I love music.

Pre-fight superstition: Only one; I always put my right hand in my right glove first.

What training (if any) do you do between fights: I play basketball to keep myself right.

Typical breakfast: I’m a big cereal fan; I love it. Applejacks, Raisin Bran.

Toughest part of being a boxer: Staying focused and dealing with adversity. In life, when you get knocked down you have to get up and keep going and in boxing, you have to do that literally, like Joe [Calzaghe] against [Bernard] Hopkins.

Favourite music: I like rap, especially Scarface, who I’ve done a couple of songs with.

Last book you read: I don’t read books; I just try to read my Bible every day.

Favourite film: Tombstone.

What car do you drive: I’m driving a Z06 Corvette and a Bentley, but I have about eight cars in total.

Where do you train: In my own gym at my farm in Pensacola. It’s old-fashioned, because you can’t get too comfortable. I work on the farm regularly when I’m not fighting.

Training routine: Basketball in the morning, then, in the afternoon, speed bag, pads, exercises, sometimes sparring, then, in the evenings, maybe basketball again. It keeps your mind right, your conditioning, your hand-eye co-ordination and your agility. It keeps you ahead of the game.

Toughest man faced: James Toney. He was the hardest to hit and the smartest.

What supplements do you take: Potassium and magnesium.

Last place you went on holiday: I never go on vacation.

Best boxer in the sport today: Now Floyd [Mayweather]’s gone, it’ll be decided on September 20.

Favourite football team: Pittsburgh Steelers.

We love them… Joe bought a pair. They come in handy for boxing, you can easily kick off the GlaGla’s and slip on your boxing shoes, lickety split. These shoes are super light, they seem to have pretty good cushion support. What is great, you can throw them in the washing machine. Click to view the different colors >> GlaGla Shoes the cost ranges from $40 to $60. Some of the colors are really wild, they also have normal colors, white, black, & brown. Click to see the different colors >> Colors
No, we are not affiliates or anything of the sorts… just passing it on to all of our Ironies

Copper Gloves at the Arizona State Fair
Dates: Oct 21st (Tues) & 22nd (Wed)

Stay tuned for times and more information as soon as we get it.

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Arizona State Fair Official website> http://www.azstatefair.com/

This interview was before Khan was stopped for the first time in the first round, by colombian Breidis Prescott.Amir Khan makes his PPV debut this weekend on Sky Box Office. Last month, we talked to Khan and his new trainer Jorge Rubio about a number of things and Khan was particularly bullish when discussing the big names at lightweight. Here is what they had to say.

Khan on the lightweights Juan Diaz I think he’s made for me, especially now I’ve been working with Jorge on things I’ve never done before. A lot of coaches just see me as a tall, lean, good boxer so they used to keep me just boxing people but Jorge has got me working on the inside because there are times, like in the Gomez fight, when I had to work inside. I think it would be an explosive fight.

Michael Katsidis I think I would box his head off. He’s a fighter who comes running in with his chin up. He’s very predictable and easy to hit.

Manny Pacquiao I think he’s the best in the lightweight division. He’s quick on his feet and it would be a good fight because I could see my speed coming in useful in that fight and my power, too, as well as my footwork and fitness. That could be a very good fight.

Nate Campbell I think he’s past it. I think my footwork and speed, once I hit that level of fighting I think he’s an opponent I would just take out.

Joan Guzman He’s the one I know the least about.

Juan Manuel Marquez He would be a good fight. I’ve seen him fight. The difference between thses guys and the British guys is the British guys walk forward taking shots and think they will wear you down and make you tired by taking shots but with these guys it’s all about keeping distance and using techniques and it’s more technical fights and when it come to technical fighters I think I’m one of the best in the division. Technical stuff in the amateurs and work with Jorge.

Joel Casamayor With him it would be more technical fight. He’s another who moves a lot picks his shots, a typical Cuban fighter who moves and hits and doesn’t get hit but I’ve got experience of fighting Cubans in the amateurs.

On promoting himself I don’t know. Never looked into it would rather leave that to Frank Warren and just keep the pressure off. A lot of fighters have looked in to promotion but they forget about the fight. They’re more focused on promoting themselves than the actual fight and I don’t want to be in that position. I might do it after my career but I would rather leave it to the big boys and the professionals in that part of the game. On his speeding conviction It was harsh. I was younger. I know if it was a normal person it would have got brushed off. They might have got a couple of points but that would have been it. But because I’m high-profile they made an example of me that they’re not letting anyone off, which is the right way. I made a mistake and since then I’ve never done it again.

Rubio on what he’s working on with Khan Amir is doing everything better now. Before he made a few little mistakes but I’m working very hard and little by little he’s getting better. I’m putting more emphasis on defence and to move around when he attacks [make angles], keeping his hands up all the time and making sure he doesn’t jump in too much. He was amateur for a long time and now, little by little, I need to change everything. I’m not trying to take away what he had, only increase more defence, more technique and more moving around. Rubio as a fighter I never made Olympic team because it’s very difficult. In Cuba you have six or seven good opponents in one division for one opportunity.

On Yuriorkis Gamboa, who has sparred with Rubio’s fighters in Miami Gamboa is a good fighter, good power. If they fight [now] I go with Amir. He’s taller, more reach, has power and he has experience. Right now, and after in two months training with me I go with Amir. It would be good if Gamboa helped with sparring. When Amir goes to Miami maybe then they could help each other. I want him to learn, I don’t want him to kill Amir or Amir to kill him because maybe in the future they can fight.

Don’t forget… for $20 you can come in any time, any day, and work out on your own at Irongloves.
Click to read more about it, or give us a call 480-777-9170

Who do you think will prevail guys? With Ricky revealing he’s going with Mayweather Sr. will that add new skills and a different edge that Paulie won’t predict. Or will Hatton be made to miss and be outboxed by Paulie? I personally think the Hatton of the here and now would be made to miss a lot by Malignaggi. But i think he would bully Paulie into a points win or late stoppage. If Mayweather can add some defensive slickness to Hatton then who knows what may happen………..GO RICKY!!