Geo’s Weekly Round-Up

Geo’s Weekly Round-Up

By Geo Youngson

The theme of this weeks news sadly seems to be death. The combat sport world lost some good people this week.

Enzo Calzaghe – The father and trainer of legendary undefeated world champion Joe Calzaghe died this week. He passed away on the 17th of September at the age of 69. Enzo was the trainer at Newbridge Boxing Club and was responsible for fighters such as Enzo Macarinelli and Nathan Cleverly as well as guiding his own son Joe.
Rest in Peace, Enzo

Kid Yamamoto – Japanese fighting superstar Norifumi ‘Kid’ Yamamoto died on 18th September from Cancer at 41 years old. At one time Kid was considered one of the best in the world at his weight and his fighting style will always be remembered. He probably holds the unofficial record for fastest knockout.
Rest in peace, Kid

Glenn Robinson – And finally, we say goodbye to Glen Robinson who was the founder of the Blackzilians team. He took his money he made from his tool manufacturing company and tried to make the best MMA team in the world, and he got close. After the team split a few years ago his business life and health seemed to go down hill and he died of a heart attack on the 19th September.
Rest in peace, Glenn

REST IN PEACE USADA??

Next we mourn the death of the integrity of USADA and the UFC. Earlier this week repeat offender Jon Jones was hit with a 15-month ban for his second offence. They accept that Jones did not deliberately try to cheat, for the second time, despite not be able to find out how the substance got in his body.

More interesting was that Jones ban included a 30-month reduction for assisting USADA, essentially to snitch on everyone else. Either that or they used that as an excuse for letting Jones back early. I guess we will find out soon.
Seems crazy when you think that Fabricio Werdum recently got a two year ban for a first offense.

BELLATOR 205

Bellator 205 happened on Friday and most notable for me was AJ McKee getting a knockout win putting him at 12-0

And Patricky Pitbull got the knockout win over Roger Huerta. I remember when Huerta was riding high and had the looks, skills and charisma to be a real star, mainstream.

Disagreements with Dana White cause him to leave the UFC and he has really seemed to struggle since. It’s a shame because he seemed to have ‘IT’.

NURMAGOMEDOV AND MCGREGOR FACE OFF

It finally happened at the only scheduled press conference. Lightweight champ Khabib and Mr Charisma, Conor, shared a stage. Everyone has a view of what happened and who ‘won’ the press conference, whatever that means. For me all that happened was pretty much expected with Conor being his manic self and trying to sell the fight, and his whisky (Proper 12).Nurmagomedov was himself, very stoic and focused and not really saying much.

We did have the bonus of McGregor getting into it with Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz.

It was also announced that Conor McGregor had signed a new 8-fight deal with his whisky (Proper 12) to be promoted on the floor of the cage. Astute as ever Mr McGregor but I do wonder who he fights next, he ain’t fighting rank and file contenders but I suppose it will work itself out.

JOSHUA WINS

Anthony Joshua successfully defended his heavyweight titles with a knockout win over Alexander Povetkin. Joshua didn’t have it all his own way early on but it round 7 he was able to put it all together and stop Povetkin for the first time in his career. The biggest test for Joshua will clearly come from Fury or Wilder, who will face each other in December.

WOODLEY

Any hopes of Tyron Woodley defending his title again this year seem slim after he announced that he needed surgery on a broken hand.