David Haye’s June fight was called off because of injury

This is a chronicle of a fight foretold, a fight made at a time when nobody wants to freely admit too much about the David Haye and Tyson Fury showdown.

i Newspaper
 
TheIPaper
The Independent around the web
E-break Time
Independent Crossword
Left to right: Deontay Wilder, Amir Khan, Anthony Ogogo and Audley Harrison at a press conference in Sheffield on Thursday

Boxing: Amir Khan has most to lose as British trio
take to the canvas

Amir Khan and Audley Harrison enter the ring tonight in fights they need to win to stay in boxing’s lucrative deep end, and Martin Murray has a task without precedents in front of nearly 50,000 in Buenos Aires.

Darren Barker stops Kerry Hope on Saturday 8 December. It was one of 58 fights that took place in Britain that night

Bunce on Boxing: Record 58 fights in one night reveals a booming business

On Saturday 8 December a new record was set for professional boxing in Britain when 58 fights took place on one night. The previous highest record was set on a cold Monday night on February 4 1952 at a time of great upheaval and hardship. I have no idea how many of the fighters on that night 60 years ago had picked up the gloves during their national service but I would imagine the figure is high.

Amir Khan has been defeated three times as a pro boxer but hopes for a fresh start with new trainer Virgil Hunter

Boxing: Virgil Hunter on a mission to curb Amir Khan’s bravery in make-or-break fight

Boxer and trainer have reputations on the line as Molina poses threat to new partnership

Ronnie O'Sullivan has missed ranking tournaments in China and Australia since landing his fourth Crucible title

Snooker: Ronnie O’Sullivan to make shock comeback at next year’s World Championship

Ronnie O’Sullivan has accepted an invitation to make a shock comeback at next year’s World Championship at the Crucible, where he will defend his crown after holding a series of secret meetings with the the World Snooker chairman, Barry Hearn.

The sporting week ahead (18/11/12)

Today

Boxing: Frank Maloney performs retirement u-turn

In a typically honest and fierce revelation, Frank Maloney has revealed he has undertaken a dramatic change of heart in his decision to retire from boxing after rediscovering his hunger following the painful loss of his Sky Sports television deal.

David Haye on his way to victory over Dereck Chisor

James Lawton: Disabling left hook left Briton with little but heart

Last time it was The Man in the Hat who was said to have helped derail Amir Khan's journey towards a super-fight with Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao. This time there was no doubt about how reality was imposed. Sadly, but maybe inevitably, it was by nothing more ornate than a disabling left hook thrown by the ill-considered Danny Garcia.

Danny Garcia connects with a right hand while Amir Khan is out for the count

James Lawton: Let's reflect on Amir's honest intentions rather than Haye's fresh insults

Khan must realise the folly of fighting in a way best suited to his opponent

Winky Wright was sent by Quillin sprawling at one point from the type of punch that would have missed by feet in his counter-punching pomp

Bunce on Boxing: When chasing a dream turns into a nightmare

The perils, risks and dangers of fighting too long, coming back after a break and still chasing a dream in the ring claimed a couple of victims last weekend in very different circumstances.

Johnny Tapia attracted an adoring, massive crowd at York Hall in 2002

Bunce on Boxing: Johnny Tapia, a great fighter who dodged bullets but not needles

Tapia was crazy, but he could still fight when he made his York Hall debut

Ricky Burns: 'Trash talk won't win anything'

Klitschko the elder finally agrees to fight Haye

Vitali Klitschko announced last night that he will fight David Haye for the WBC world heavyweight title. “I can announce that my next fight will be with David Haye,” he said in Düsseldorf after his younger brother Wladimir had knocked out Jean-Marc Mormeck to retain his WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight crowns.

Floyd Mayweather Jnr is at the core of debates and double bluffs

Bunce on Boxing: Khan in a big game of matchmaking poker

Martinez is not big on games and told Mayweather: "Fight or shut up"

Something For The Weekend: 12/11/2011

It's squeaky bum time for...

Ricky Hatton

The first fight of the Hitman's new career as a trainer takes place at the Oldham Sports Centre tonight, when Hatton will be in the corner for his undefeated welterweight charge Adam Little's bout against Billy Smith.

Andrew Selby is a genuine Olympic medal prospect but faces a box-off even to be selected for the Games

Bunce on Boxing: Two Olympic certainties but one sure loser

There was a time when there were so few realistic British Olympic medal winners, in what seemed like an endless list of summer Games, that the hopes of "nicking" a bronze were pinned on the shoulders of just one kid. Times have changed and this Friday at York Hall in east London two boxers, one from Wales and one from England, will begin a best-of-three series to determine who fills the flyweight position next summer.

Career Services

Day In a Page

Independent Travel Shop See all offers »
Lake Como and the Bernina Express
Seven nights half-board from only £749pp Find out more
California and the golden west
14 nights from only £1,599pp Find out more
Paris by Eurostar
Three nights from only £259pp Find out more
Prague, Vienna and Budapest
Seven nights from only £599pp Find out more
Paris and the Cote d’Azur
Seven nights from only £579pp Find out more
Special report: How my father's face turned up in Robert Capa's lost suitcase

Special report: How my father's face turned up in Robert Capa's lost suitcase

The great war photographer was not one person but two. Their pictures of Spain's civil war, lost for decades, tell a heroic tale
The unmade speech: An alternative draft of history

The unmade speech: An alternative draft of history

Someone, somewhere has to write speeches for world leaders to deliver in the event of disaster. They offer a chilling hint at what could have been
Funny business: Meet the women running comedy

Funny business: Meet the women running comedy

Think comedy’s a man's world? You must be stuck in the 1980s, says Holly Williams
Wilko Johnson: 'You have to live for the minute you're in'

Wilko Johnson: 'You have to live for the minute you're in'

The Dr Feelgood guitarist talks frankly about his terminal illness
Lure of the jingle: Entrepreneurs are giving vintage ice-cream vans a new lease of life

Lure of the jingle

Entrepreneurs are giving vintage ice-cream vans a new lease of life
Who stole the people's own culture?

DJ Taylor: Who stole the people's own culture?

True popular art drives up from the streets, but the commercial world wastes no time in cashing in
Guest List: The IoS Literary Editor suggests some books for your summer holiday

Guest List: IoS Literary Editor suggests some books for your summer holiday

Before you stuff your luggage with this year's Man Booker longlist titles, the case for some varied poolside reading alternatives
What if Edward Snowden had stayed to fight his corner?

Rupert Cornwell: What if Edward Snowden had stayed to fight his corner?

The CIA whistleblower struck a blow for us all, but his 1970s predecessor showed how to win
'A man walks into a bar': Comedian Seann Walsh on the dangers of mixing alcohol and stand-up

Comedian Seann Walsh on alcohol and stand-up

Comedy and booze go together, says Walsh. The trouble is stopping at just the one. So when do the hangovers stop being funny?
From Edinburgh to Hollywood (via the Home Counties): 10 comedic talents blowing up big

Edinburgh to Hollywood: 10 comedic talents blowing up big

Hugh Montgomery profiles the faces to watch, from the sitcom star to the surrealist
'Hello. I have cancer': When comedian Tig Notaro discovered she had a tumour she decided the show must go on

Comedian Tig Notaro: 'Hello. I have cancer'

When Notaro discovered she had a tumour she decided the show must go on
They think it's all ova: Bill Granger's Asia-influenced egg recipes

Bill Granger's Asia-influenced egg recipes

Our chef made his name cooking eggs, but he’s never stopped looking for new ways to serve them
The world wakes up to golf's female big hitters

The world wakes up to golf's female big hitters

With its own Tiger Woods - South Korea's Inbee Park - the women's game has a growing audience
10 athletes ready to take the world by storm in Moscow next week

10 athletes ready to take the world by storm in Moscow next week

Here are the potential stars of the World Championships which begin on Saturday
The Last Word: Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale's art of manipulation

The Last Word: Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale's art of manipulation

Briefings are off the record leading to transfer speculation which is merely a means to an end