Words About Things

Sarah Blewden took up boxing two year ago in order to keep fit. She soon discovered that she had a natural talent for the sport and decided that she wanted to box competitively. Unfortunately the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) have turned down her application because of her breast implants.

Ms Blewden who is a part time model and also runs a hair salon says that the decision is unfair:

“My surgeon said they make me no more vulnerable than any other woman. They are not enormous ones – they are in proportion. They are gel implants and not liquid so they won’t burst.”

Tony Attwood of the ABAE says that all women with implants are banned from the association due to possible health risks which could result from a jab to the chest. Ms Blewden feels that she is being discriminated against. Sarah’s coach Mark Plunkett thinks she is up to the task:

“Sarah is very talented at boxing. She wants to box at a very high standard and is desperate to go to the Olympics. They believe that if she gets hit too many time her implants might burst but that is not the case as she has gel ones.”

Women’s boxing is not currently an olympic sport but the Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell wants all sports to be equal opportunities by 2012. Womens boxing is becoming increasingly popular as people get used to the sight of two women fighting. Sport betting and online gambling sites are begining to cover matches and the AIBA (International Boxing Association) also wants the sport to be represented at the 2012 olympics.

Amir Kahn will attempt to put last September’s fight against Breidis Prescott behind him once and for all in March when he takes on seven times world champion Marco Antonio Barrera. Kahn’s disappointing fight lst year resulted in a loss in just 54 seconds leading many to say that Kahn was over rated or trying to take on too much too soon.

He improved his performance in time to take on and beat Oisin Fagan (another person who sounds fictional but isn’t) in December although Barrera is likely to be a tougher opponent. Barrera hopes to become the first Mexican ever to win a title in 4 different weight divisions by taking the lightweight title.

Hopefully Kahn has learned from his mistakes against Prescott and will have worked on taking punces under presure. Perhaps he should do some training with Carl Froch who is much more steady on his feet. Online betting site bet365 have Kahn at 8/13 with Berrera at 6/5 on their sport betting page.

Last Saturday saw Carl Froch overcome Jean Pascal to take the title of WBC Super-Middleweight Champion of the world. A packed Trent Fm Arena in Nottingham (Froch’s home town) watched as he boxed 12 rounds in what is being called a classic fight. Like all good fights it was well balanced with both sides putting on a great show. Froch dominated more rounds than the French-Canadian Pascal but it was certainly not one-sided.

Froch’s jab eventually wore down Pascal who nevertheless remained standing and gave almost as good as he got. Despite being of a slighter build Froch took some massive hits but stayed steady.

“Carl’s the most exciting fighter in world boxing and he didn’t have to take risks like that. What he’s done is going to make him a marquee star because not only did he beat a brilliant challenger, he beat him in style.”

Mick Hennessy

Froch has said that he was injured in training prior to the fight but refused to postpone despite having a cracked rib and a perforated eardrum. His next aim (as it has been for years) is to take on Joe Calzaghe before he retires. Froch is confident that he can defeat the Welsh Dragon.

“They traded like old-fashioned gladiators. The first five rounds were thrilling, and after Froch appeared hurt in the fifth and sixth, a superb assault in the seventh round appeared to break the 26-year-old Pascal’s self-belief.”

Gareth A Davies

Froch’s odds on various sport betting and online gambling sites were around 4-9 to win which makes sense considering his record, unbeaten in 24 professional fights, with 19 knockouts. Video of the fight can be seen here.