The commentary for Fitz Cheeseman was doing my head in. Yes Cheeseman boxed very well early, but because nobody expected him to go on the back foot the way they were drooling over it was a bit OTT. The first round was fairly even but on my card I gave it to Fitz, there was a round in the middle (I think it was the 5th) which was a clear Fitz round and I had Fitz winning the last 4 rounds of the fight - that's 6 rounds right away so that's already a draw. If you then give Fitz any of 2,3,4,6,7,8 he's won the fight? So not the huge robbery Cheeseman is making out... in the way he stormed out for the ring etc. Also I thought Hearn talked bollocks during the interview after the fight, Fitz didn't get any credit after just winning a British title. It seemed to be me like SKY were pushing for a Cheeseman win.... perhaps because Fitz put Matchroom Golden Boy Fowler on his arse....
Sky (Matchroom) were exactly the same after Fitz took Fowler out in his own back yard. If you had no clue whatsoever and watched both fights, you wouldn't think that Sky (Matchroom) were promoting Fitz. Quite the opposite. Fitz wins both fights. Fitz sells tickets. Fitz (as Eddie correctly said, he got one thing right) has the City of Preston 100% behind him. Yet they (Sky) never, almost ever, give Fitz any credit whatsoever before, during or after the fight unless its post fight through gritted teeth after he has won. British might be his level, who knows (personally I think he'll win both Commonwealth and European) but Sky and Matchroom HAVE to 100% get behind him. I posted a thread on here in August 2018 about Fowler v Fitz and the majority on here favoured a Fowler win (I didn't, obvs!) and I completely understand why due to his lack of prime air time and Sky promotion unlike the exposure granted to Fowler. Blame Sky for that. Fitz was always talked about in the slipstream when both Ted and Fowler were mentioned, like an afterthought to make up the numbers of domestic LMW. He was given two stiff tests, for this stage of his career, and he has won both. The Sky narrative HAS to change, both pre, during and post fights. Eddies face after both fights tells the true story. If I was Fitz and his team, I would leave Fowler behind. Let him (Fowler) fight Cheeseman, Conway, Eggington. One more thing Matchroom, it once might have been labeled "Fowler v Fitzgerald". Not anymore despite your best efforts to hoodwink people. Another example of blatant favouritism and bias towards one over the other despite one being victorious with 2 belts around his waist. It will be "Fitzgerald v Fowler". Whoa Scotty Fitzgerald!!
I agree with this pretty much in its entirety. I’ve never really done this but I had to mute the commentary for the fight half way through. The fact is Cheeseman has been getting punched in the head a lot so his performance was a huge surprise, particularly for me. But you don’t win rounds for doing better than you were expected to do, which is exactly what Macklin and Smith done. I’ve seen this before with Sky, they get on the ride with a performance and can’t get off. It took them absolutely ages to recognise the Fitz was doing well against Fowler for example. I don’t see why Sky wouldn’t want Fitz to do well. He sells loads of tickets, is talented and has a high ceiling. I think Hearn has that connection with Sims so he would have wanted Cheeseman to fight from that perspective. It wasn’t a robbery and Scott on IFL was too honest in my opinion, saying he knew it was close and wouldn’t have been surprised if he lost. I only say that because it will fuel Cheeseman’s whinging about getting jobbed. He didn’t. The first 6 rounds were very close and Fitz easily won the last 4. It’s difficult to win every round of a fight between 1-8 by pot shotting, especially when you are getting pushed based in each minute of those rounds – bear in mind the judges don’t have Smith/Macklin bleating in their ears either! For the record the general betting market was heavily favouring Fitz at the end of the 11th (1/2 in most places) so that should tell you want you what you need to know. Bearing in mind Fitz easily won that round as well.
I suspect the reason Fitzgerald isn’t favoured by Matchroom is because of his perceived unreliability, they see him as a bit of a loose cannon who could go off the rails and disappear at any moment. He’s a risky investment. He’s talented and well supported so they should be protecting that investment by giving him support. Keep him focussed by getting him out regularly and building him up and have someone keeping a close eye on him. Promise him the big fights if he keeps his head screwed on.
I would love Adam Smith to get caught in bed with a fifteen year old boy and get jailed, he is a biased little bastad. I don't get why they were favouring Cheeseman but they definitely were, Fitzgerald is the more marketable fighter for me.
Just watched it back on YouTube and it’s as nauseating as I first remember. Had Fitz by 2 sober scoring it. What I don’t like is the zooming in on Fowler the whole time as if he’s the man and winner of this is challenging him. Wish they’d get Malignaggj even for smaller shows like this, he’s one of very few I can bare.
Proper odd how they repeatedly mentioned Fitz and his problems outside the ring with cocaine and booze, unless I missed it not one mention of Cheese gambling his entire purse away and not being able to pay his corner? I don't really think the viewer needs to hear either but if you call it for one you should for the other.
See my post about a minute ago on the "Newcastle Card" thread. Been talking with my mates away from here and we find it very very odd Eddies reaction to Fitz winning both fights, like he expected and wanted Fitz to lose. Something is building tension in the relationship, if there is one, between Fitz and Eddie/Matchroom, based upon what my mates and I have seen and heard post fight both times in the ring. Hearn always has to mention Fowler. Rematch this, rematch that. F++k off Eddie.