Gavin Rees' performance on the weekend was stunning, yet a lot of people here seem to think the fight was a fix and that M'Baye was either shot or threw the fight. Few consider Rees to have been worthy of the right to challenge for the title in the first place. No-one gave him any chance of winning. M'Baye probably thought he would have an easy defence. At the time Rees was ranked in the top 15 by the WBA (put there by Warren?), was undefeated with a 50% KO ratio and had held the WBO IC featherweight title. If you take a look at BOXREC most of his opponents had really bad losing records. Despite the gulf in class, size and experience Gavin Rees clearly beat the WBA champion by using a proper gameplan, skill, workrate and his small size to his advantage. M'Baye looked crap, but maybe Rees made him like that. Rees and his team should be credited for what they achieved. He won the real WBA belt without a shadow of a doubt (no dodgy decisions) and can hold his head high, knowing that he is undefeated, no one gave him a chance and he did not win an interim title or get bashed up like Nicky Cook. (who was supposed to have a good chance of winning) All of Wales should be proud of him, even if England don't appreciate the result. It will be interesting to see what happens next. If he gets blown away in his next fight, then he will be able to tell stories down the pub of how he was the WBA champion. Many a good fighter from these shores will never have the chance to say that. Is Rees the first WBA champ from the UK since Barry McGuigan? (I know Hamed beat Vasquez but he was stripped before the fight)
I give Gavin nothing but credit. I was a nervous wreck by the end of that fight! I think he's got some serious fitness issues which need addressing but he fought the perfect fight against M'Baye. I doubt he'll hold onto the title for long but to think that a little town like Newbridge currently has two genuine world champions and a great ESB poster like me is staggering.
i'm english, appreciate the result but just think the whole situation is dodgy as ****. mbaye was clearly trying by the end of the fight but just not good enough
Rees fought the fight of his life, but he didn't really hurt him. M'baye looked very passive and didn't use his reach. He beat him fair and square, but every challenger will have a good change against rees
This fix **** is bollocks. Cut it out. Dunky you ****, why did you bring this up? Let a man enjoy his win. I was rooting for Rees throughout.
Hatton was the WBA champ v Maussa. WBA Still gave Hamed the belt. Lewis was WBA champ. You didn't think this WBA thing through did yuo?
i didn't realise that. i just remember checking the lww and lw rankings when the fight was made and not spotting rees in the top 20. the fight was most likely not fixed, but as i said, you cannot doubt the dodgyness of the match-up in the first place...and most people were saying that at the time the match was made, not after rees got the win. but credit to rees though for taking his chance as i really didn't think he had it in him :happy edit...i just noticed that rees was ranked in the top 15 before the fight... 1. Andreas Kotelnik 2. Marcos Rene Maidana 3. Dimitri Salita 4. Yodsanan Nanthachai 5.Lamont Peterson 6. Willy Blain 7. Demitrius Hopkins 8.Timothy Bradley 9.Cesar Rene Cuenca 10. David Torres 11.Gavin Rees 12. Breidis Prescott 13. Victor Ortiz 14.Daudi Bahari 15. Norio Kimura
i dont think anyone thinks the result was a fix ....but can anyone answer how Rees got/deserved a title shot.
The gulf was between BM and Lennox. No you caught me out there, Hamed still not convinced. I did'nt think Lewis was, but I guess I was wrong there. Hatton, bugger, two WBA belts.......
Rees was the perfect fighter to beat M'Baye. M'Baye hates people who are on him all the time and throws single shots as his predominant weapon. Ree's kicked his ass.
Why did I bring it up? Cos thats what I was thinking. No need to call me a **** though, but I suppose when the admin starts throwing insults at me its time to call it a day, as when a mod starts mud slinging with a mere mortal poster, theres only going to be one winner, & it aint going to be me. So I am going to jump before I am pushed thankyou ESB, & goodnight.