Editorials

Does this Englishman Hold the Longest Streak in Boxing?

Floyd Mayweather who? His win streak doesn’t even compare to this Englishman’s.

009_Mayweather_interviewed Photo by Esther Lin/Showtime

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is expected to extend his undefeated record to 49-0 come Sept. 12. But on the same day across the pond in the United Kingdom, Ibrar “Smokin'” Riyaz has a chance to increase his lead on Mayweather and the rest of the competition for likely the longest streak in boxing.

Ibraz (4-85-3) currently holds a winless streak of 78 professional bouts, drawing twice amongst 76 losses. After winning four of his first 14 fights, he has been unable to record a win since April 2010, over half a decade ago. To his credit, however, Ibraz only has three more knockout losses than Mayweather.

His next fight, against the 1-0 Danny Bharj, marks the Englishman’s 16th fight of 2015. He has traded fists with some fine domestic talent, most recently logging in six rounds in a rematch with Gary Sykes in July. Sykes was one fight removed from challenging for the British super featherweight title (again) and coming up short (again), this time to another former opponent of Ibraz, the talented Liam Walsh, the best 130-pound fighter in Britain outside of Stephen “Swifty” Smith.

Casual fans might surely find it odd to see a boxer stack losses sky high in this kind of unrelenting fashion, especially in a fighting world that worships that sublime “O.” And while it would be easy to say a man like Ibraz lacks any acumen whatsoever in the prize ring, this isn’t always the case.

The unbeaten Nathan French, Ibraz’s latest opponent, had choice words to say about him, per Grimsby Telegraph, following his points win over the brawler last month:

“Riyaz came to have a go and showed he was up for a fight.”

“He’s small, but solid,” French continued. “He was tough to catch clean—you can tell he’s a tough kid.”

Journeymen like Ibraz actually play a pivotal role in the fight game.

These men are typically well-conditioned athletes with crude or awkward styles and a flexible schedule who promoters can count on to provide their prospect some necessary experience and rounds under their belt, even at a moment’s notice.

Boxing has always had an abundance of these reliable workhorses.

Just last weekend, Robin Deakin, dubbed “Britain’s Worst Boxer,” scored his first win in nine years, snapping his 51-fight losing streak.

Another journeyman who comes to mind is Reggie Strickland. Strickland fought 359 times from 1987 to 2005, mostly out of Indianapolis. He handed over ring time to world champions from welterweight (Cory Spinks) to light heavyweight (Tavoris Cloud), losing on a record 276 separate occasions in the process.

Continuing this trend are two boxers not only fighting the same weekend as Ibraz but also on the same billing at the GL1 Leisure Centre in Gloucestershire, England: Kevin McCauley (11-103-6) who is riding hot on a 59-fight winless streak and William Warburton who sports a ledger of 16-82-7.

All three men are taking on novices with under five professional fights to their name.

Not every boxer can be the millionaire, super technician Mayweather is but they all help make up this sport of ours.

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