David Payne ... at The Sweet Science

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Features by David Payne

	[Feb 2, 2007] Oscar who? The solitary life of a boxing fan Striking up conversation, as a stranger or local in the pubs and bars of England, is a simple task.

	[Jan 19, 2007] The Winner Doesn't Take It All: Ricky Hatton British boxing fans are demanding of their champions; we Brits love to tear down a winner.

	[Jan 18, 2007] Knowing You're Born: A Boxer's Tale with Alan Bosworth I arrived at the Northamptonshire home of veteran British Light-Welterweight contender Alan Bosworth.

	[Jan 14, 2007] Déjà vu All Over Again: From Wayne Alexander to David Haye Britain supposedly boasts a European champion, a Commonwealth champion and an Inter-Continental champion.

	[Dec 7, 2006] Scott of the anarchic Reports revealed not only had Harrison failed a weight check last weekend. He'd also been unwilling and unable to make a catch-weight.

	[Nov 23, 2006] Failure to Launch: Dodson Finally Meets Froch Whilst the history of the fight is littered with bad luck and disappointment, the delay has also allowed interest to grow.

	[Oct 20, 2006] Is the Rocky road boxing's only path to redemption? The sixth installment of the Rocky Balboa story could be the sport's most endearing, conspicuous and, arguably, final great white hope.

	[Oct 16, 2006] Hatton: The Mancunian Candidate It's certainly been a peculiar and circuitous route back to contender at 140 lbs. for the "Hitman." Does Ricky really want the super-fights?

	[Oct 11, 2006] Calzaghe Faces Next 'Challenge' Cameroon's Australia based Sakio Bika becomes the 42nd man to try to blemish Joe Calzaghe's pristine professional record this weekend.

	[Oct 6, 2006] Harrison Signs Up For the Helter-Skelton The career of Audley Harrison sucked hard on the oxygen of publicity this week as he bravely announced his challenge to Matt Skelton.

	[Dec 13, 2005] Requiem for a Heavyweight: Audley Exposed When the curtain went back, the spotlight lurched toward him and Audley Harrison's moment of truth arrived, he got stage fright.

	[Nov 29, 2005] The Natural: Carl Froch The loquacious Nottingham puncher Carl Froch afforded me some time ahead of a clash with British-based South African Ruben Groenewald on December 2nd.

[Nov 14, 2005]
Behind the Smile: Ali Nuumbembe
Ali's story is a timeless parable of generosity and one man's determination to triumph over the adversity that plagued his early life.  More ...

[Nov 1, 2005]
Losing in Victory with Junior Witter
Witter's recent win over Colin Lynes, in defense of his British, Commonwealth and European belts, moved him closer to a shot at Floyd Mayweather.  More ...

[Oct 27, 2005]
Jennings Survives British Barnburner
Michael Jennings climbed off the canvas to successfully defend his title in an absorbing, punishing contest with Bradley Pryce.  More ...

[Sep 25, 2005]
Jamie Moore than enough for Walker
Jamie Moore, the scowling, muscled British champion, repelled the challenge of David Walker in the fourth round in Manchester, England.  More ...

[Sep 8, 2005]
Frank Warren: A Boxing Survivor
Frank Warren is a man chastised at every turn based on the entirely subjective notion that he matches his fighters too cautiously.  More ...

[Aug 25, 2005]
Joan Guzman: King to a Republic
From the rough Guachupita neighbourhood of Santa Domingo, boxing has unearthed another rough diamond: Joan "Lil' Tyson" Guzman.  More ...

[Aug 23, 2005]
Holyfield Ignores the Lesson of King Canute
Evander Holyfield, a God-fearing man from a combative world, is aiming, metaphorically at least, to take up King Canute's challenge.  More ...

[Aug 15, 2005]
Blue-Collar Boxing Hero: Robert Wiggins in Conversation
Robert Wiggins is a fighter so blue-collar he still works seven days a week on the Rhode Island docks.  More ...

[Aug 11, 2005]
Audley Harrison: His Mission Is Incomplete
Rare commodities like Olympic gold medalists are traditionally pursued, signed, nurtured and guided by established promoters.  More ...

[Jul 23, 2005]
In The Footsteps of Giants: Alex Arthur vs. Boris Sinitsin
When Alex Arthur destroyed Laszlo Bognar in 2001, there were few doubters of the Edinburgh fighter's pedigree and potential.  More ...

[Jul 21, 2005]
"Tonight I'm Gonna Party Like It's 1999": A Boxing Decade Ends
Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins' loss last weekend essentially brought down the curtain on the 1990s.  More ...

[Jul 15, 2005]
Big Fight Live: Boxing Returns to ITV
Nigel Benn, the definitive TV fighter, once proclaimed whilst working for rival network BBC: "I preferred boxing when it was on ITV."  More ...

[Jun 5, 2005]
Harrison Breaks Brodie's Heart
Scott Harrison emerged victorious from a savage encounter with domestic rival Michael Brodie Friday night. He finished the brave Englishman in the fourth round of their fight in Manchester.  More ...

[Apr 25, 2005]
Joe Calzaghe: The Dragon That Cried Wolf
To witness WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe at his pulsating, high-octane best is a breathless, frantic experience.  More ...

[Feb 15, 2005]
Lovemore N'Dou vs. Junior Witter is Dead!
"I'm heading home," says Lovemore N'Dou. "The fight isn't happening."  More ...

[Feb 15, 2005]
Lovemore N'Dou Talks Boxing
Always fit, always quotable, the self-styled "Black Panther" was in a confident mood ahead of his latest short-notice assignment.  More ...

[Feb 14, 2005]
Junior Witter: When the Cult Goes Mainstream
Britain's other world-class light welterweight, Junior Witter, has a rare opportunity to emerge from the long shadow cast by Ricky Hatton.  More ...

[Jan 31, 2005]
Scott Harrison Struggles To Status Quo
Squeezing positives from Scott Harrison's WBO featherweight title defence last Friday is not a popular occupation.  More ...

[Jan 25, 2005]
Scott Harrison Looking To Crash Party
This Friday Scottish featherweight title-holder Scott Harrison seeks to etch his name on the 126 and 130lb VIP party lists.  More ...

[Jan 20, 2005]
The Exciting Cruiserweight Division: Say what?
British boxing fans turn to the Cruiserweight division tonight when David Haye tackles Garry Delaney and Enzo Maccarinelli fights Rich LeMontagne.  More ...

[Dec 26, 2004]
The Final Curtain: Tyson, Holyfield and Jones Jr.
The final curtain is about to fall on the careers of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Roy Jones Jr.  More ...

[Oct 9, 2004]
Finding Peace in Boxing: Vanzie speaks out
Prize fighters, that rarest of men are united by one common goal. When the end of the road is nigh, fighters seek only one thing: peace.  More ...

[Sep 28, 2004]
'I'm the next Bernard Hopkins!': Lovemore N'Dou Interview
There are few more quotable personalities in boxing than Lovemore N'Dou. A leading contender in the Light Welterweight division, the 'Black Panther's' persistence knows no limit.  More ...

[Sep 22, 2004]
Hare v Barnes: A boxing treat, fingers crossed
The BBBofC decision to pit world-class Welterweight contender James Hare against blossoming champion David Barnes sparkled like the rarity it is.  More ...

[Sep 20, 2004]
British Welterweight Title Clash: To be or not to be?
David Payne interviews James Hare regarding his much anticipated welterweight clash with David Barnes.  More ...

[Sep 10, 2004]
Old-man Carl Thompson Stops Unbeaten Haye In 5
Veteran cruiserweight Carl Thompson tore up the script last night, knocking out David Haye in the fifth round of a tumultuous and often punishing contest at Wembley Arena, London.  More ...

[Sep 1, 2004]
Boxing Viper Returns
Flamboyant former British lightweight champion Bobby Vanzie returns to fistic action next week as a short-notice replacement opponent for Dave Stewart who was to face Peter McDonagh for the Southern Area Lightweight title.  More ...

[Aug 18, 2004]
More Matchmaking Frustration for British Boxing
Whatever the circumstances, the fans are yet again short-changed, and I cannot remember another year when so many top-level bouts failed to materialise.  More ...

[Jul 26, 2004]
Hatton v Harris: The frustration factor
When boxing fans discuss Ricky Hatton's next opponent, frustration is almost the name of the game.  More ...

[Jul 18, 2004]
British Boxing's Road to Redemption
On July 30th Britain's Danny Williams enters the ring to tackle the remains of the Mike Tyson myth carrying more than just the hope of finally fulfilling his undoubted potential.  More ...

[Jul 2, 2004]
Hatton To Face Spadafora Next
In an exclusive, David Payne talks to Frank Warren about Ricky Hatton's next opponent. Plus Warren on Audley Harrison, Mat Skelton and Bobby Vanzie.  More ...

[Jun 25, 2004]
In Boxing Sometimes Winning the Fight is Just the Beginning
When Bobby Vanzie, the slick, awkward Bradford born 'Viper' lost by decision earlier this month for the British Lightweight title, you would be tempted to cast aside his post fight bitterness as just another guy moaning about his face not fitting, just an  More ...

[Jun 17, 2004]
Meet you at the Crossroads Audley Harrison
This week the BBC dispensed with the services of Audley Harrison. Maybe then the BBC will learn to regret their decision and maybe, just maybe, Harrison will learn to thank them for it.  More ...