Early on Saturday morning I was picked up by three of my friends on th way to Newquay Airport for a weekend away in the capital. We planned ages ago to go and watch some boxing, so that’s exactly what we did.
Despite being in the departure lounge as early as quarter past ten on Saturday morning, it was definitely time for a beer, so we decided to get the weekend started with some ale and Guinness before boarding the little turboprop Dash-8 to Gatwick. It was a gorgeous flight up, really sunny and with almost no turbulence. I like flying at the best of times, so it was a real treat for me, although it was odd to be sat in the sunshine in a plane, drinking a gin and tonic and listening to music and not being on my way abroad. I love the fact you’re above the clouds so it’s always glorious up there.
Once we landed it was a quick dash to the Gatwick Express for the half-hour ride into Victoria station, then a short trip up the line to Oxford Circus to find a pub to watch the FA Cup final in and get some food (and a few more beers…). Stuffed, merry and dazzled by the sunshine outside the pub (it’s weird how when it’s darker inside and you’ve got a beer in your hand, your brain assumes it’s night-time!), we hopped aboard the tube and then the DLR to Beckton and the hotel. We didn’t get long there, just enough time to freshen up and get changed, then it was back on the DLR and tube and off to Upton Park for the evening’s entertainment.
It wasn't exactly packed when we got there....
Frank Warren put on a full card of decent fighters, but we got there too late to see Billy-Joe Saunders and Frankie Gavin. It didn’t matter too much, the place was still filling at that point and the atmosphere was a bit subdued, but I did get to watch Danny Williams doing what Danny Williams does best lately – not throwing any punches and getting his ass handed to him. Chisora needed less than two rounds to finish the fight, and with a bit of luck, Williams’ career. On his day, he was a good fighter, but recently it’s been almost painful to watch him lumbering around like a walking punchbag, I hope he retires now for his sake.
Once dusk set in the stands started filling properly and we got on to the two fights I really wanted to see. First up was James DeGale taking a shot at the interim Super-Middleweight title, and he was on top form. Between him and Haye we’ve got some exciting boxers coming through now, and he went in swinging as soon as he realised that a) he was hurting Horton, and b) Horton couldn’t hurt him. It only lasted a few rounds and the combination that finished him off was awesome, I can’t wait to see how he develops over the next couple of years. Last up was the main event as local boy (local to West Ham at least) Kevin Mitchell took on Katsidis. I know a lot of people wanted to see Mitchell win, but I really didn’t think he’d be able too, Katsidis on his day is awesome. Katsidis didn’t disappoint either, he destroyed Mitchell over four rounds with an amazing display of power.
...but things soon picked up.
The atmosphere in the ground was brilliant, I’d never sat in the terraces at a big ground like that, and the Hammers fans singing and chanting really added to it. There were a few ‘tense’ moments when die-hards looked like they were looking to start something, but luckily it died out. Marching back through the streets with ~15,000 other people was an experience, and one I’m glad I don’t have to repeat on a regular basis. By the time we’d fought through the crowds on the underground and made it back to the hotel we were flagging badly; a combination of tiredness and a hangover I think. Still, the night’s boxing action wasn’t over yet, so we headed to bed with an alarm set to get up and watch the Khan vs Malignaggi fight from New York. Khan absolutely schooled him after a frantic first few rounds, it was great to watch, and I really hope he avoids any big money fights against has-beens and goes straight for unifying the division. The way he’s going, it’s looking very realistic now.
The trip back was pretty much the same as the way there, nothing to speak of really, except for just avoiding the ash cloud before the airports got shut down this morning. A massive hotel breakfast was the perfect end to a great weekend away. Being back to work today was a bit depressing, but with the prospect of a holiday in Spain just 10 working days away, I’m not going to complain for now ;).
My mementos from the weekend, which should really include Plymouth Gin miniatures