Calzaghe's date with the Executioner

World champion for eleven consecutive years. Unbeaten in 15 years as a professional. Joe Calzaghe’s career stats make impressive reading, yet it isn’t really until last year that the public began to give him the recognition he has deserved. His fight in November against Mikkel Kessler made him undisputed super-middleweight champion of the world, and he went on to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The only other boxer to win the award in the past twenty years was Lennox Lewis in 1999.



Calzaghe will put his unbeaten record on the line in Las Vegas on the 19th April when he faces Bernard Hopkins at light heavyweight. It perhaps suggests the power dynamic in boxing that the two top British boxers, Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe, have both had to step up a weight and travel to the USA to land their dream fights. James Finch, a 32 year old accountant thinks that this is "One of Calzaghe’s toughest fights to date. He's stepping into America for the first time and that could work for or against him. If he handles the pressure of being over there he’s certainly the favourite and I’d have loved to have seen this fight five years ago when arguably both fighters would’ve been in their prime."




Calzaghe’s first fight at light heavy will not be an easy one, but he will go into it as firm favourite over 43 year old Hopkins. The American, nicknamed ‘The Executioner’ is one of only 7 fighters in history, a list including Calzaghe, that has reigned as world champion for ten consecutive years. Hopkins will use all his experience in the ring, and will have many tricks up his sleeve that he has learned over the twenty year span of his career.

Calzaghe’s critics highlight the fact that the Welshman has no really big names on his CV, but there has not been many out there for him to fight over the past decade. A victory against Hopkins would go someway to correcting this and could well lead to a fight against the other big US name of the time, Roy Jones Jr. Defeat for Joe though and the critics will say that it proves what they have always said that his record is a false one established against inferior fighters. Thomas Cranford, 54, had this to say; "This is possibly the first real test of his career. Yes he has a fine unbeaten record, but its disappointing he hasn’t really had the big names yet. If he wins this one he’ll certainly be a household name in America." For the big Welshman then, there is everything to lose, but victory would go even further to cementing his place in the boxing hall of fame.



Useful links:

BBC sports build up in pictures
British boxing preview
Calzaghe Hopkins official fight promo on Youtube
Calzaghe career highlight video on Youtube

The rise of British boxing

The past year has seen British boxers rise to the top of the public’s attention in the UK. 50,000 fans were in the Millennium stadium in Cardiff to see Joe Calzaghe defeat Mikkel Kessler last November, and over 1 million people purchased the Ricky Hatton v Floyd Mayweather fight on Sky pay per view last December. With other top fighters such as David Haye, Amir Khan and Enzo Maccarinelli, boxing is really booming here.

The success looks set to continue this summer, with 7 fighters already guaranteed a place in the Beijing Olympics, and potentially up to 11 qualifying. The Olympics provide a great platform to shine in front of television viewers that may not have seen the sport before or been sceptical about its quality. The Athens Games saw the emergence of a 17 year old Amir Khan who caught the public’s imagination, and a similar star may rise in the Far East.

Boxing is not without its detractors though. Clearly there are ever present risks of serious injury, and to many the violent nature of the sport makes it a barbaric past time for thugs and hooligans. Risks exist in many sports though. Downhill skiing, the luge, motor racing to name but a few where competitors participate knowing that one false move can result in serious injury, even death. With a professional referee, and sensible trainers a fighter in trouble should be stopped before serious damage is done.

Boxing though has proved the undoubted benefits it can have in run down communities. Many rough areas have seen boxing gyms save youngsters from turning to a life of drugs and crime. Boxing can channel the energy and anger of children who may have had a hard upbringing or fallen in with bad influences. It also has the benefit of providing a place to go, meet friends and interact with others for young children whose only meeting place otherwise is a street corner.

Useful links:

BBC sport Olympics

The Guardian blog anti-boxing

Video on Youtube

Top ten British boxers

View Larger Map

This is a map I created for my digital newsroom assignment 2. It shows the top ten British boxers and their home towns based on the rankings on the BBC sport website.

England v New Zealand 4th test

I made this video using pictures taken from www.flickr.com of England's 4th test of their tour of New Zealand last month.

England's test series with New Zealand begins today and the big selection news is Tim Ambrose making his debut at wicket keeper. Writing for BBC Sport, Jonathan Agnew had this to say of the decision; "It rather sums up England's progress over the last couple of years that Tim Ambrose will become the seventh wicket-keeper to pull on the gloves since midway through the last Ashes tour."

On the Guardian website, Lawrence Booth also mentions this statistic; "Australian-born Ambrose will become England's seventh wicketkeeper since the retirement of Alec Stewart in 2003 - a statistic that increasingly resembles a stain on the selectors' copybook and places an intolerable burden on the shoulders of the softly spoken 25-year-old. Rightly or wrongly, one missed catch will trigger off the whole debate all over again."

A big boost for England is the recovery from injury of Ryan Sidebottom, who probably showed the best form of the England bowlers during the recent one day series. "The recovery of Nottinghamshire left-arm seamer Sidebottom was a major fillip for England." (BBC Sport)

England captain Michael Vaughn has called for a big performance from his side. Quoted on The Times website Vaughn said; "The senior players have to pass on as much knowledge as they can to the other players but collectively we all have to perform. You don't win Test series with individuals, you win them by everyone mucking in together, working hard and really fighting for each other."

England go into the match as strong favourites and have a point to prove after their disappointing performances in the one day series. Geoffrey Boycott for The Daily Telegraph sees anything over than a convincing win as a let down; "England really need to beat New Zealand in the Test matches. Against a weak team, denuded by retirements and defections, anything else would be a pretty poor show."

Links:
Jonathan Agnew - http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tms/2008/03/england_must_beat_weakened_kiw_1.shtml
Lawrence Booth - http://sport.guardian.co.uk/englandinnewzealand2008/story/0,,2261603,00.html
BBC Sport match preview - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7273490.stm
The Times - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/cricket/article3481017.ece
Geoffrey Boycott - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/03/03/scboyc103.xml

This is a video I made as part of a practice exercise for my JN2053 module work. We had to collect images from www.flickr.com to illustrate an imaginary walk through preston from Avenham Park to the Foster Building.

View Larger Map

This is a practice exercise as part of the work I am doing for my JN2053 module. We had to create a map using Google maps. My map shows the Foster Building, part of the University, as well as West View Leisure Centre, with a link to a story about it.

England's bowling woes.

So what to make of England's one day series with New Zealand? Mike Atherton writing for the Telegraph online summed up The Three Lions performance well, "horrible in Wellington and Hamilton, mighty good in Auckland and mighty inconsistent elsewhere."

The farcical end to the final match overshadowed a New Zealand side who undoubtedly deserved their series crown. The game finished with the players in the dressing room amid confusion brought about by the notorious Duckworth-Lewis method. BBC radio 5 lives Jonathan Agnew blamed England's lack of a spin bowler for the defeat. "New Zealand, who read the conditions correctly, opted to play two spinners. England chose none and, unwisely, continued their policy of choosing just three front-line bowlers."

The problems in the bowling attack look set to worsen with the news that Ryan Sidebottom may miss the opening test which begins on the 4th March. The news from the England Cricket Board is that he "injured his right hamstring during the final one-day international in Christchurch on Saturday." and "will face intensive treatment to try to ensure he is fit and ready to take the new ball for the first Test. "

The view from inside the England camp is a little more optimistic however, writing for BBC sport, Graeme Swann had this to say of England's attack. "We have some brilliant guys coming in like Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison. That's in addition to James Anderson and Stuart Broad - it's an awesome line up."

England unquestionably have a point to prove, and will hopefully put in a strong performance in the first test.

Links:
Jonathan Agnew - http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tms/2008/02/england_pay_for_batting_uncert.shtml
Graeme Swann - http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tms/2008/02/england_continue_learning_curv.shtml
Mike Atherton -
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2008/02/24/scaths124.xml
England Cricket Board -
http://www.ecb.co.uk/england/fitness-worries-for-england,16466,EN.html

Sorry England slump to humiliating defeat

So much for an improved performance, England posted an even worse display than in the first match! Alastair Cook was the only player to come out with any credit in another dismal batting performance. Without his 53, England would barely even have posted 100, eventually stuttering to a total of 158. To say Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell had disappointing days at the office is a gross understatement after both gave up their wicket having faced only 1 ball a piece.

New Zealand's target was adjusted to 165 using the Duckworth-Lewis method after a 2 1/2 hour rain delay midway through the England innings meant the match was reduced to a 36 over affair. The opening pair for the Kiwis made light work of the England bowling and reached the target without the loss of a wicket after just 18.1 overs. Jesse Ryder finished at 79 not out and Brendon McCullum ended on 80.

England have 3 more matches in the one day series, travelling to Auckland next for the game this Friday. It is hard to imagine England sinking any lower than this latest result, and the more optimistic English fans will point out that with a victory in all 3 games England can still win the series. This seems a long shot however and the more immediate goal is merely to salvage some pride.

Links:
BBC match report - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7237278.stm

England in New Zealand

England will be facing New Zealand in the second of the one day series in a few hours. Following victories in the first four matches of the tour, two against Canterbury, and two 2020 wins against New Zealand the result of the first one day game on saturday was a huge disappointment for the English. Mustering merely a paltry 130 runs, the Kiwis easily reached the target after just 30 overs and with the loss of only 4 wickets.

Coach Peter Moores will most likely make changes to the team and Dimitri Mascarenhas may be recalled to the side for the game, after being dropped for the first match. Ravi Bopara would be the one to make way having only scored 3 runs in the opening game. Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen and captain Paul Collingwood will have to step up, scoring only 23 runs between them on saturday.

Elsewhere the England womens team were forced to settle for a draw in their one day series with Australia after the hosts won the fifth match in Sydney to tie the series at 2-2. The English were set a target of 211 and finished someway short, despite strong contributions from captain Charlotte Edwards and Lydia Greenway, the team were bowled out for 170 after 46.3 overs. They will remain down under for a solitary test match this weekend in Bowral.

Links:
BBC match report - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7234974.stm
BBC women's match report - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/womens_cricket/7238441.stm

Intro

I'm Tim from Kent in South East England. On this blog I will be attempting to write about what is going on in the world of cricket. Please take a look at the blogs of the others in my group using the links on the right. Paul is looking at rugby, and Andrew at tennis.