Sheffield Snippets by Ian McNeilly Nov 25th 2007

Some ringside bits and bobs from Friday night's Sheffield bill. Sheffield always seems to be undergoing a face lift of some kind. I understand that part of the plan is to knock down the Grosvenor Hotel, where Glyn Rhodes and others have staged small hall shows down the years. If so, I'll miss it. Yes, I know it's a bit of a dive but that's all part of its charm. It's cheap even if it isn't always cheerful. It's bang in the town centre too and the bar is only a few yards from the ring. Sigh. Bumped into Mr Bristol Boxing in the hotel lobby, otherwise known as Chris Sanigar. He said he was making a social call to see his mate Rhodes on his way to a bill in Burnley. Boxing started a little bit late. I think it was due to the late arrival of the medic. Can't these hugely paid, moonlighting GPs sort themselves out? Of course, one can't start without them and the claret that flowed in the Wilson-Travis bout made this quite clear. A chat with Doncaster referee Howard Foster elicited the info that he'll be the man in the middle for the upcoming bout between Amir Khan and Graham Earl. He's looking forward to it. A note to debutant Senol Dervis – if something is troubling you, it is not wise to tell everybody in the place about it if you intend to box on. Young Dervis had a problem with his right arm and gesticulated as much to his trainer, Oliver Harrison. He might as well have pointed to it and told fellow debutant Chris Kitson, “Hit me here!” Kitson's trainer Rhodes certainly didn't miss it. “His arm is hurting. Or his arse. I don't know which. Anyway, jump on him.” Kitson did. Credit to Dervis for riding it out to a points loss. Paul Royston doesn't win many. Two to be precise. He's only been boxing for nine months but his loss to Lee Edwards was his thirteenth fight. “He's earning some good money,” said his trainer and manager, Dave Coldwell. Royston and Edwards enjoyed themselves. Paul couldn't get out of the way of Edwards jab so just smiled and waved him on. Edwards smiled back and speared his jab into his face another hundred times, just to get the point across. What with British boxing being in the middle of a renaissance, Coldwell is very busy at the moment, travelling here, there and everywhere with his different charges.  He's got his own show coming up at the Don Valley Stadium on December 5th too. Edwards did get tagged once or twice. “Come on Lee, your lass hits you harder than that!” encouraged stablemate Ryan Rowlinson. “SHUT UP, Rawlinson!” reprimanded young bantamweight Ross Burkinshaw from the other side of the ring, grinning like an errant schoolboy. Ross ‘The Boss' wasn't happy that I said I thought he'd been a little fortunate to get a draw last time out against Shaun Docherty but, as I told him, you've got to call ‘em as you see ‘em. “I was gutted afterwards and didn't want to speak to anyone. I know I got a draw but as far as I'm concerned it wasn't good enough and it feels like a loss.” Burkinshaw says his promoter Frank Maloney is trying to get him involved in the title shake up in Britain's newest division, the super-flyweights. There's so few of the little lads out there these days that if Ross keeps progressing he'll get a title shot of some kind down the line. His arms were aching a bit as he'd been left with the short straw of taking the pads and warming up Billy Boyle, who's twice the size of Ross. The team spirit in the Rhodes camp is great and was exemplified by the gym's big fish, John Fewkes. He was always out there for the first few rounds of his lads' fights but would disappear half way through to go and help out whoever was on next. I've heard a whisper that the Board will mandate John Murray and Fewkes for the English title. “Everyone goes on about how good John Murray is. And he is good at what he does. But I'm confident I'd beat him if that fight came off.” Fighting fireman Jez Wilson had invested in some flaming red ring attire and it didn't go to waste as he came out on top in a messy, bloody brawl against fellow officer, Nigel Travis. Travis looked like a henchman from a 1970s spy film. His already battered fizzog took a pounding and he was leaking claret all over the place. His head was doing some damage as Wilson was cut over his left eye, left ear and scalp. Ugly. But entertaining. The Grosvenor was as busy as I've ever seen it for Boyle's fifth successive win. He can shift a few tickets. “There's only a few from the regiment,” said ex-Para Boyle. “Some are Wednesdayites…they're just from all over, really.” Popular lad, who weighed a career lightest 12st 10lbs. How come he's so light? “It's called training!” pointed out Rhodes. Back to the bar for a couple. Into town with the lads for a few more so they can show off their bumps and bruises and dissect the fights into the early hours. I hope they don't knock the Grosvenor down just yet.

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