The Collins dictionary says Rivalry is ‘competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field.’ Lord of the Rings Producer Peter Jackson once said “Rivalry doesn’t help anybody” – he obviously wasn’t making this statement in relation to sport and certainly not boxing. In order for a boxer to reach the summit of his sport and be recognised as a true great then an intense rivalry with another fighter is essential.
If we look back in history the great and fondest memories of the past involve eras where fighters were embroiled in great battles taken to another level due to the rivalry between the fighters:
Heavyweights in the 60’s and 70’s Ali, Frazier, Foreman and Liston.
Middleweights of the 80’s Leonard, Hearns, Hagler and Duran.
Then more recently closer to home the Super Middleweights of the 90’s Collins, Eubank and Benn.
On the other hand we see how Wladimir Klitschko has not gotten the recognition he deserves and how he has been a victim of his own dominance through the years with the lack of a credible rival.
Thankfully that is not the case currently in the Super Bantamweight division where we have one of the most exciting rivalry’s in British and world boxing today and best of all on 27th February Carl Frampton will step into the ring and go to battle with Scott Quigg live on Sky Box Office.
The anticipation and excitement to see this great rivalry finally come to a head next month is at fever pitch. Even Scott Quigg recently commented that this fight is bigger than even he had anticipated.
I was at the Manchester Arena the last time a big Ireland v England fight was staged there when Paul McCloskey fought Amir Khan and the atmosphere was incredible. February 27 will be electric also and up another level.
Anyone who has been to big fight nights in Belfast know that the atmosphere created by the local fight fans are the best in the business. The recent press conference there was crazy, loud, noisy and hostile along with thankfully an under-current of good humor, all in good spirit. Expect more of the same next month and more, the roof shall be raised, millions shall be earned and it is all down to that one magic ingredient, rivalry.
Tigers Bay, the Jackals Den is a tough working class loyalist estate in north Belfast, home of the IBF Super bantamweight champion of the world.
In the other corner Bury, Greater Manchester, has given us Scott Quigg the WBA Super Bantamweight champion of the world.
For most of their lives they lived unaware and uninterested in the others existence now their careers are inextricably linked and it appears they will be forever judged by the outcome of when their worlds collide next month and who comes out victorious.
Years of hard work, sacrifice, blood sweat tears and dreams will reach a crescendo and culminate when Quigg and Frampton meet in Manchester next month. Who will have their hand raised?
Both unbeaten Scott Quigg made his professional debut back in 2007 and has since built up a professional record of 31 wins 2 draws and 0 losses.
Frampton debuting in 2009 boasts a perfect CV with 21 wins and 0 loses. The long journey of winding roads and a roller coaster of emotions and opinion brought these two on the fans radar soon into their professional careers around the year 2010 when both were picking up British titles and the question started being asked, who is the best?
The intriguing part of this rivalry is how divided opinion has now become especially recently after their latest performances.
Frampton for years has been the more respected of the two in terms of boxing ability and widely predicted to come out on top if they were to fight. However Quigg, not having the amateur grounding which Frampton has, has been developing a lot more in his professional career and appears to have been making the more significant improvements of the two.
This appeared most notable in his dismantling of Kiko Martinez as in his last fight as Frampton chugged his way to victory in El Paso Texas.
All bets were off, it is now just opinion and only on the night when these two great ambassadors for the sport finally meet mano a mano after years of talk, speculation and hype will we finally know who is better.
Add into the mix the battle of the two fantastic trainers in Shane McGuigan and Joe Gallagher only further whets the appetite. A Frampton win will forever give him legendary status, he will go down in history as one of the greats in Irish sport.
A Quigg win will finally give him the recognition he insatibaly craves and probably deserves that he is a true world champion and a great fighter. All will be decided soon – Rivalries, don’t you just love them.
– Kieran Hinphey / @Hinph15
Leave a Reply