A Great night in London (For some!)
Oct 30 Chessboxing at Bethnal Green Working Mens Club. First of all I have to praise Tim Woolgar for organising this event. Not only was the organisation meticulous but Big Tim also fought on the bill!
It was toe to toe stuff and Jim and myself did not pull our punches. Hes a very heavy hitter. My jab did a bit of good work early on but it was Jim's hook that got me. I have not seen the video yet so I cannot say whether it was a left hook or a right hook. I never saw it.
On the Chessboard I was black and we were very much even. Maybe i had a little better positioning by forcing a piece exchange and creating some asymmetry with pawns.
I have praised Big Tim already but I am going to praise him again for taking the fight with Konrad Mikalson. Konrad's opponent pulled out of the fight and Tim was the replacement.
A big difference in weight. Not that much difference in height. Tim at 6.2' against Konrad at 6.0' or 6.1'. Tim was definetely bigger framed and I do not think he threw his right hand to full pelt against a Big middleweight in konrad. Technically speaking this bout had the best boxing of the night.
Both boxers moved well with left-right combinations. It was long range stuff and Tim may have shaded the boxing component. But Konrad checkmated Tim in the fifth round to take the bout.
I met Konrad before the match and he is a pleasant individual. He is a Swedish man who works in the Czech republic. Now that is commitment....
to come all of the way from there to take the fight!
Now for the big one.... Andrew 'The Rock' Costello of Exeter against
German theatre actor Wolfram Von Shauffenberg. I gave Wolfram a handshake the day before the fight and I could tell he meant business
Wolfram could more be mistaken for an old fashioned wrestler than a boxer. To actually look at him. Hes a very powerful man and you would not want to fight him in a telephone box! I probably would........if given a chance to by Iepe!
But in a boxing ring there is much athleticism and there was one man in terrific shape competing and this was the big man from Exeter.
Andy checkmated Wolfram in the 3rd round which was a bloody pity (from a spectators point of view!)
The round of boxing over three minutes consisted of Andy firing his jab and following with his left cross. Followed by Wolfram grabbing. Andy would throw his favourite left hook at closer proximity. Before being man-handled by the Big German. Being walked backwards in the process.
Wolfram looked knackered after the round of boxing and Andy may have got a stoppage TKO if a second round of boxing had transpired. But with this sport you can win on the board or in the ring. Maybe if Wolfram had his way by one fall or one submission! Well done to Wolfram from coming from Germany to compete. His C.V. and physical presence gave an interesting facet to the event.
I also got the opportunity to meet Iepe Rubingh. The founder and first champion of this revolutionary sport. Hes a smashing fella and hopefully we will meet again when he sets me up for a match with Wolfram!
Last but certainly not least...Thanks to Stefano for all his help. I hope he will be getting in there next show.
