Boxing: Elcock can improve
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It is obvious Birmingham's Wayne Elcock is still some way short of being considered the best middleweight prospect in Britain. And on Saturday night he was fortunate to survive and win a deserved points decision against the Belarussian Yuri Tsarenko.
It was Elcock's 10th fight, but, at 28, he is clearly running out of years to acquire the necessary amount of learning fights before making the move from novice to decent fighter. At the Wembley Conference Centre, Tsarenko nearly finished Elcock in round nine of what was a very ordinary 10-round encounter.
If Elcock and his management, who have optimistically dubbed him the new Randolph Turpin, truly believe in their elderly prospect's ability, then they will have to take a good, long, hard look at the available list of British middleweights and take a risk, because Elcock will not learn unless he has more fights like Saturday's encounter.
There are several so-called prospects in Britain who would undoubtedly benefit from the kind of 10-round work-out that Elcock had, and there are some hopeful signs that promoters are willing to take slight risks with their over-protected product.
Elcock could have so easily met another one of the seemingly endless list of losers that parade in the opposite corners for house fighters to beat, but thankfully he met Tsarenko and came out on top. And hopefully his next fight will be an improvement.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments