The Panel look back at their biggest boxing gambles
Froch, Nelson, Bellew, Smith, Coldwell, Moore and Barker
Saturday 12 November 2016 11:50, UK
It is officially called the 'Casino de Monte-Carlo' and with high-risk fights on a packed card on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports, we asked The Panel what their biggest boxing gamble was.
Jamie McDonnell is putting his world title on the line away from home, Stephen Smith is looking to upset the odds and become a world champion and Martin Murray knows he will not get another chance to become one if he loses.
And in the shape of Luis Ortiz, we could be seeing the new heavyweight jackpot. But what dangerous punts did our Panel take during their careers?
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Tony Bellew
It was a continual gamble: sticking at light-heavyweight. The serious struggle began when I fought Ovill McKenzie, so we are talking seven fights and two-and-a-half years. It was a dangerous thing to do and looking back I thought I looked good, had a six-pack, it was working. But every day in camp, I had to get up at 5.30am and was running six miles on an empty belly.
Looking back on it, it was a ridiculous gamble and it didn't really pay off in terms of titles, did it? I should've been doing that differently. Now I know there are proper ways to lose weight but I would never come close to doing it now. It came to a head in the Adonis Stevenson fight. I knew I only had four, maybe five rounds in me and as soon as his first punch landed, I though I only had one round in me. Making the weight for that was the end. I don't regret it.
Carl Froch
I took a few, like fighting Mikkel Kessler out in Denmark and the Lucien Bute but I guess my biggest gamble was taking on Jermain Taylor, out in America, for my first world title defence. He wasn't the mandatory and I could have taken an easy touch and everyone who watched it saw I could well have lost it all.
I didn't really have to go out to Connecticut for a start but Showtime were offering the money and I could have just said 'I am the champion, he comes over here' but I didn't. It might have been calculated to an extent, but it was definitely a gamble - and one that paid off.
Paul Smith
I've taken a few, to be honest with you. The Andre Ward fight was probably the biggest gamble. To beat Ward, you have to knock him out, and I went in there with a puncher's chance. It was a small chance, but it was a chance. I will fight anyone in the world. We're that type of people, fighters, who will fight anyone if it makes sense.
It was a great gamble. I didn't get the win, but from what I got from it, sharing the ring with Ward and topping the bill. Another few boxes were ticked. It was a big gamble, but it was worth it.
Johnny Nelson
Looking back, it might have been a pivotal moment but it was probably my first world title shot against Carlos De Leon. I was just too young, mentally, emotionally and physically. The opportunity came to me so I took it and was told if it doesn't happen it doesn't, if it does, it does, but even if I had won, I'd have probably lost it in two or three fights.
Don't get me wrong, it was my first world title chance and of course I got caught up in it all but it all came down like a tonne of bricks when that first bell went. As soon as I heard that sound, and had I known then what I knew now, it was only going one way. I was too green, too much pressure on my shoulders and yes it was a gamble I lost, but not in the long run.
David Coldwell
It was probably when I was with Ryan Rhodes and chased the fight with Jamie Moore. At the time everyone though Jamie was going to hammer him and he was the favourite but I believed Ryan would win and I pushed for it and pushed him down that route.
It was a massive gamble in everyone else's eyes but I knew Ryan would beat him. The thing is, everything in this sport is a bit of a gamble, but you have to believe in the choice you've made. If you've chosen someone or something, you have to believe in it and stick with it. There's no second-guessing yourself and in poker terms, you have to go all in.
Jamie Moore
Taking a fight for the British and Commonwealth titles against Michael Jones at five days' notice. I had lost my unbeaten record four fights before and at the time people were saying - on the back of the loss - that I wasn't as good as everyone thought I was going to be.
I was supposed to be on Jones' undercard on a six-rounder and Paul Samuels was supposed to be fighting but pulled out. I had a feeling it would happen and when Steve Wood rang me to see if I would take it, I didn't think twice. I then rang the missus and she asked how much I was getting for it and I didn't have a clue. If I'd have lost to Jones, they'd have been two losses on my record, ruined confidence and sent me back a long, long way.
Darren Barker
My biggest gamble was 100 per cent taking on Sergio Martinez. He was one of the most-feared fighters around at the time, a bit like Gennady Golovkin is at the moment. It wasn't long after knocked out Paul Williams, which won knockout of the year. It was frightening.
Nobody wanted to go near Martinez, I was struggling with injuries, was a little bit inactive and had not competed anywhere near his level. It was a massive gamble but one that in the long term, stood me in good stead. I knew I could upset the odds and of course it didn't go my way on the night but it was a no-lose gamble.
Watch Luis Ortiz, Jamie McDonnell, Stephen Smith and Martin Murray live from Monte Carlo, from 7pm, Saturday, live on Sky Sports 2.
