Sky Sports.com

Foreman: king of the comebacks

Years went by. There were failed comebacks - when the shoulder kept coming out - periods of inactivity, and even retirement, but Francis persevered.

Adam Smith on Dean Francis
Quotes of the week

WAYNE ELCOCK v DARREN McDERMOTT
British Middleweight title
Live on Friday Fight Night
10pm, Friday, Sky Sports 2

Comebacks can be amazing in the sport of boxing. So often we're shown the extraordinary will, courage and belief that lie deep down inside these proudest of men.

We have seen fighters who haven taken long career breaks return brilliantly and there are also the tales when boxers somehow find the resolve and the punches to actually come back within a specific fight, which on the surface seems virtually impossible.

Classic and unexpected endings that spring immediately to mind are the astonishing way in which Julio Cesar Chavez, down on the cards and on the verge of losing his unbeaten record, dramatically stopped Meldrick Taylor with just two seconds remaining!

Plus, of course, one of the greatest fights of modern times when, after the most intense of wars, Diego Corrales incredibly hauled himself off the canvas twice in the 10th round to stop Jose Luis Castillo in the very same session.

The heavyweights have long had a history of re-building and bouncing back. Muhammad Ali proved time and again that he was indeed 'The Greatest' - often when given little chance of repeating success.

George Foreman came up with the most amazing of return feats when he regained the world title in 1994 Twenty years after losing it to Ali, Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer at the grand old age of 45.

Revenge

Britain's cult hero Frank Bruno deserves credit for returning after losing his three previous world title challenges by knockout. Bruno finally came good against Oliver McCall, while Lennox Lewis had to rebuild from his two knockout defeats, by exacting revenge on both McCall and Hasim Rahman.

On a domestic level, there was the unbelievable way in which Danny Williams won the British crown in 2000 against Mark Potter. Williams dislocated his right shoulder during the fight, and basically boxing with one arm, managed to find the punches to stop Potter against all the odds. It was sensational and I remember my colleague Jim Watt's reaction at the time: "If you'd seen it in a Rocky movie, you wouldn't believe it."

Jim was very impressed again last Friday Fight Night as Dean Francis returned from the same type of injury that befell Williams.

A decade ago Francis looked as though he was on course for a world title challenge. At super-middleweight he was a potent force. But his right shoulder cruelly 'popped out' when he tackled American Undra White. That, coupled with problems outside the ring, left Francis looking like he would never be the same fighter again.

Years went by. There were failed comebacks - when the shoulder kept coming out - periods of inactivity, and even retirement, but Francis persevered. Then, three operations and an alteration of style later, he became a predominantly one-armed fighter.

Still, he managed to blitz Ovill McKenzie to win the Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight title, and last Friday, put that same belt on the line and aimed for the British crown in an all-Hampshire clash with Portsmouth's Tony Oakey.

Steamroller

Oakey, two years younger, and in the form of his life was favourite, and his intense come-forward pressure for the first 6 rounds negated Francis's flashy bursts. Francis was badly cut, and time and time again, the Basingstoke boxer looked tired. His mouth was gaping open and it seemed that Oakey would eventually steamroller him. Francis looked virtually beaten.

But somehow Francis seemed to find a second wind, and some deep inner strength. He started to get combinations together and, having used his right arm sparingly for the first six rounds, began to let it go.

Oakey started to tire and you felt, after such an energy-sapping battle that something surely had to give. It did. Incredibly Francis found the punches to floor and beat Oakey. The Portsmouth battler was stopped for the first time ever, in the ninth round, amidst extraordinary scenes.

It was a huge triumph for Francis who showed that careers and fights can be turned right around in the most unbelievable manner. Dean told Ed Robinson afterwards: "I am a Spartan, a warrior. That's what it's all about, having the heart."

Credit to Oakey and his fans too, who played such a part. Now the question is whether Oakey can fight back from this setback?

Unbeaten

This week Wayne Elcock must come back from a world title defeat to defend his British Middleweight crown. It is yet another interesting domestic tussle as Elcock meets the unbeaten, unheralded Darren McDermott.

To add to the spice, it's a derby for the third week in a row. We saw passion and drive in a tartan tussle between John Simpson and Paul Appleby, and then that thunderous battle of the south last week with Oakey and Francis. Now it's a match that has the Midlands buzzing.

Elcock did well to re-build after a crushing first-round defeat to Lawrence Murphy when he was blasted through the ropes! He beat the former World title challenger Howard Eastman to win the Lonsdale belt, but a tough trip to Basel ended in a fifth-round defeat to the IBF king Arthur Abraham.

No disgrace there, and back at British level, Elcock's fine. Yet Team McDermott believe the time is right. The tall, fit body-puncher steps up in class, and there are plenty of knowledgeable ring insiders who give McDermott the edge. A good local ticket-seller, he's been brought up the quiet way (off TV), and I haven't seen too much of him, but I'm hoping we are impressed.

This one seems to have a bit of everything. It was initially postponed because of a chest infection to Elcock, there has been verbal sparring between the camps, and this is greatly-anticipated in the Midlands. It's Birmingham versus the Black Country.

In another enticing blend, Elcock has the experience and seasoning, McDermott the unfulfilled promise. It may once more come down to who wants it the most, and who's prepared to go that bit further to get it? Will McDermott come of age? Can Elcock make a successful return to see off his mandatory rival?

Reminder

One true gladiator who keeps coming back is Michael Gomez. There's even a movie being made about his colourful life. The Manchester maverick is full of talk and self-belief ahead of his Mission: Impossible against the super-skilled Amir Khan.

To be honest it looks as hard a match for Gomez as Gary Lockett had with Kelly Pavlik a few weeks ago. I've always had a soft spot for Michael, but I can only see a very quick and convincing conclusion from Khan to this one.

Still you never know in boxing. Dean Francis has served a pointed reminder to everyone how deep these warriors are prepared to dig.