Kevin Anderson prepares for Francis Jones by fighting rematch with Nuumbembe by Terry Dooley Sep 14th 2007

Kevin Anderson defends his British welterweight title on his own turf in Scotland tonight against Franny Jones. Anderson, from Buckhaven, sought an unlikely sparring partner for his preparations. Anderson has been working with Bob Shannon lately; this has enabled the Champion to boost his stamina as well as giving him a new dimension to his sparring. After all not many men get to spar rematches with a fighter who took away their title. This opportunity was presented to Anderson by his sometime gym mate Ali Nuumbembe – who went to Scotland and took away Anderson's Commonwealth title in February – and the Namibian sparred some tough rounds with Anderson. Anderson worked with Shannon for his fight with Eamonn Magee in May and must have liked what he learned as he returned to prepare for his fight against Franny Jones, who is coming off a win against Neil Sinclair. For Anderson this fight represents an opportunity to tweak his skills further, the fight with Magee saw him moving with considered cool, always his forte, then stepping in with sneaky shots such as the right hand that floored Magee, for the first time in Eamonn's career, in the final round of Anderson's points stroll. For his part Jones has mixed with good British names. However, when losing to Stuart Elwell in a round, Franny must have thought his title chances had gone out off the window. On a roll since that fight Jones must be fully confident after his win over, a faded it must be said, Swain. For his part Anderson's trainer Bob Shannon will be looking to dull the pain of seeing his fighter Andy Morris defeated in London last week. It is another British title night for Shannon and he must hope this one is different than last weeks. Anderson told BBN earlier this year that he brought Shannon in after witnessing Nuumbembe grew in strength as their fight progressed. Kevin had looked wonderful in the early part of the fight only for Nuumbembe's fitness and desire to culminate in an explosive left hook to the body that almost cut Anderson in half in round 8. Kevin seemed to lose everything under the force of this blow before losing his title in a close run fight. Kevin now feels that his work with Shannon has augmented his work in Scotland. As the fights progress Anderson can work on exhibiting what his gym rapport with Shannon brings to Kevin's game. It is essential they gel, as the boxer-trainer axis is fundamental to a fighter's success. Despite being a sport conceived in heaven boxing seems to live in the midst of hell, or purgatory at least. Just as Dante needed a Virgil to guide him through hell the boxer needs a trainer to constantly remind him that he is mortal. Shannon is a good choice for Anderson to work with. Experienced in the sport Shannon went through the hell of parting with a fighter who was close to him in Wayne Rigby before going through the purgatory of guiding his boys through contention. Now, aside from the setbacks boxing throws your way, Shannon is in the place he wanted to be in. Training title calibre fighters for title fights. Anderson has shown over his career, both amateur and professional, that he has a good deal of talent to mould. Kevin can look tidy and economical when putting his shots out as well as having a massive heart and aspirations. Anderson showed all his qualities, even some bad ones, in his double, British and Commonwealth, title fight with Young Mutley. A low right hand allowed Mutley to land fierce left hooks early in the fight, Kevin also came square on as Mutley stepped around him and was wide open to hooks for this reason also. Despite being dropped heavily in round 2 Anderson withstood the best Mutley could offer. He then watched his man tire before turning the fight around with two left hooks, one to the temple and one to the chin, to stop a shattered Mutley in the 10th round. Some disputed the stoppage but Mutley was out on his feet. Unlike Anderson, who was hurt numerous times in the fight, Mutley did not claim his opponent; consequently the stoppage was well timed. Despite going onto lose that close fight with Nuumbembe Kevin maintained the confidence of a Champion when out-boxing Magee. This confidence was again in place as BBN watched Kevin spar his rounds with Nuumbembe. Anderson stayed tight in sparring, Ali's fast slashing shots were deflected by a high guard, then Kevin would move into range to land his own shots. As the rounds went by you could see Kevin maintain his balance whilst stalking Ali into corners or countering in mid-ring. They were tough rounds; afterwards Anderson told BBN that he is improving all the time as he develops his already storied pro career. It was far removed from the torrid welcome to the gym Kevin received sparring with David Barnes in April. Anderson is looking fit, strong and his guard is tighter than it was back when he fought Mutley last year. Shannon enthused to BBN about his work with Kevin; he rates the Scottish fighter highly and feels that Anderson coming off the loss to Ali to work with the men who beat him shows that Kevin is a true boxing man. Bob is understandably hurting over Morris' loss last week but boxing is a tough sport, the nitty-gritty does not welcome prolonged contemplation over yesterdays upset when tomorrow's triumph waits. You have to take your knocks and come back strong in boxing; even the ring card girls who last it out are the ones who are tough enough to shrug off the verbal jibes they receive at ringside. Anderson himself, more so than his opponent tomorrow, has shown an ability to come back strong, both during and after a fight. When floored heavily by Mutley Anderson could have been the subject of a ‘What happens next?' trivia question with the apparent answer being ‘The fighter still on his feet went on to win the fight'. Yet such was Anderson's mental and physical strength the fighter on his feet in that frozen frame, Mutley, was taken out of the fight whilst still on his feet. Such is the drama of boxing. Tonight's fight is unlikely to be as fraught as a night at the opera. Anderson is favoured to retain his title by stoppage, perhaps around the mid-rounds mark, and this seems the most likely result. Photos by Allan Stevenson

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