The best of Benny

Memories of 2022

Like a bad relationship, boxing left me saying ‘never again’ as I walked out the door. Yet I’m back for more...

Greene, Greene grass...

Resurgent Louis reaping the rewards for believing in himself on away soil, writes Matt Bozeat

TRIBUTES TO MORRIS

The ex-General Secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, John Morris, passes away

STEVE SMOGER, 1943-2022

Another Hall of Fame referee passes away

‘Basic safety measures neglected’

Team Avanesyan raise questions about Terence Crawford’s damaged gloves following recent bout, writes Terry Dooley

OLD HEAD

Ivan Robinson is far removed from those two brawls with Arturo Gatti, but training up-and-coming boxers always gives him the itch to return

HOLIDAY READING 2002

The greatest boxing books

New Year’s Eve fireworks

For fight fans, the fun rises in the East on the biggest party night of the year, writes Elliot Worsell

SEASON’S GREETINGS

A difficult year in many ways but plenty to be thankful for

ARISE, KING BILLAM-SMITH

LETTER OF THE WEEK

THE PANEL

WHAT WAS THE MOST EXCITING FIGHT OR MOMENT

10 COUNT

HEAVY WORK The 10 fights to make at

THE LAST FIGHTS

From a south coast superstar and a Marvin Hagler tribute act to the darkness of lonely cameos

JOSHUA’S EARNED THE RIGHT

‘AJ’ finds himself under fire for a throwaway comment to GQ at a stage of his career when caution and care are surely necessities, writes George Gigney

The Rage of ‘Innocence’

Conor Benn will likely need more than Instagram statements to win his battle in the court of public opinion

“I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER”

Carl Froch revisits one of British boxing’s most compelling rivalries, writes Declan Warrington

“FROCH NAILED IT”

Away from the crowd, and therefore the temptation to entertain, George Groves revisits his rivalry, and friendship, with Carl Froch, writes Declan Warrington

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Illustration: NICK BOND In the Beginning T’WAS the

ABOUT HAUSER:

Thomas Hauser has authored 33 books about boxing

SOUTH COAST SLAYER

Billam-Smith impresses his hometown fans again on an entertaining card

Ten out of ten

A full house in more ways than one, writes Andy Whittle

BEECH PARTY

James just too busy for previously unbeaten Hamza

BLADE TOO SHARP

Foster eases back to winning ways

JOLLY BOYS

Lythgoe and co enjoy a lively Sunday afternoon, writes Daniel Etchells

Winter Box Cup

Colebourn and Pumphrey just two of several standouts at the two-day tournament in Leigh

HOWE SNEAKS IT

Stephens pipped in battle for super-heavyweight belt

Lynch ends on a high

Reese up to No.2 in the world rankings, while headliner Jalolov shows class again

RED CORNER REBORN

Coventry club comes back from extinction

NICOLA HOPEWELL

Andrew Fairley meets a boxer who can make her own clothes

“DON’T FORGET ALL THE GOOD THINGS”

Robert Smith, the General Secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, reflects on a difficult year that included controversial decisions, failed drug tests, mismatches and the spectre of Daniel Kinahan. He speaks to Matt Christie

The Bromance

Once the bitterest of enemies, 2022 was the year when Carl Froch and George Groves let bygones be bygones to become close friends

Greatest heavy weight fights

The most dramatic tussles in history 50 SHANNON

THE GREATEST IN DUBLIN

Fifty years after Muhammad Ali was charmed by Ireland as much as Ireland was charmed by Ali, Declan Warrington recounts the week of ‘The Greatest’s’ transformative fight with Alvin ‘Blue’ Lewis at Dublin’s Croke Park

“ALL IT WILL TAKE IS A FEW TWEAKS”

Savannah Marshall has activated her rematch clause with Claressa Shields and fully expects things to be different next time. She tells Roy Kelly about the first fight, her relationship with Peter Fury and her thoughts on three-minute rounds