Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
IBF world welterweight champion Natasha Jonas intended to rematch Mikaela Mayer after their entertaining 10-round Liverpool headliner, but factors outside her control meant the American ventured elsewhere – beating a Brit in the process – to become a two-division world titleholder last month. Now, their paths may align next year as the Scouser eyes 2-3 more fights before retiring. Continue reading “Natasha Jonas clarifies stance on Mayer rematch, retirement and return timeline”
Seven months after their thrilling first contest for British heavyweight honours, Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke 2 feels like a fitting chief support bout before another division gets an undisputed world champion when unbeaten light-heavyweight pair Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol duel for a piece of boxing history. Read what all had to say, on the eve of weigh-in day in Riyadh. Continue reading “IV Crown: Final presser as war awaits in Wardley-Clarke 2, Beterbiev jaws at Hearn”
Hours after contrasting victories for Joshua Buatsi and Hamzah Sheeraz on the Joshua-Dubois undercard at a sellout Wembley show on September 21, I spoke to former WBO super-featherweight world champion-turned-analyst Barry Jones for his thoughts on both unbeaten boxers as well as previewing this weekend’s undisputed light-heavyweight showdown in Saudi Arabia. Continue reading “Barry Jones interview: Where next for Buatsi and Sheeraz? Beterbiev-Bivol pick”
Spanish reports claim Manchester City are ready to activate the €60m (£50.2m) release clause for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi in January, while Torino’s Samuele Ricci and Porto’s Alan Varela are among the alternatives being suggested as versatile centre-back John Stones has publicly insisted this past week he can fill in for the Euro 2024 champion after ACL and meniscus surgery.
Continue reading “City search for January addition, many linked after Rodri’s season-ending injury”
Three-and-a-half years removed from being the big acquisition in a bold trade from Chicago for All-Star big man Nikola Vucevic, Wendell Carter Jr enters Year 7 with a shiny $59m contract extension set to kick in next season as part of a youthful Orlando core hoping they can bridge the gap among their Eastern Conference rivals from plucky overachievers to genuine title contenders. Continue reading “Orlando lock up their immediate future after Carter Jr gets three-year, $59m deal”
Unified middleweight world champion Janibek Alimkhanuly voiced his displeasure at having to travel for a mandatory defence, but after being hospitalised for dehydration deep into fight week before the original July 13 date, couldn’t afford to be picky against Andrei Mikhailovich on Friday night. Now, the unbeaten Kazakh’s doubled down on his undisputed ambitions. Continue reading “Deja vu? Janibek urges fellow middleweight world champions Adames, Lara for bouts after R9 Mikhailovich KO”
WBA world featherweight champion Nick Ball scored knockdowns in round three and seven en route to a destructive tenth-round stoppage victory against savvy veteran challenger Ronny Rios on his Liverpool homecoming during the first of what he’ll hope proves to be multiple title defences at 126lbs, as the 27-year-old called for a rematch with WBC titleholder Rey Vargas afterwards. Continue reading “Ball batters Rios, defends WBA world featherweight title with R10 TKO win”
Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka. Now it’s the turn of world number one and reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek as the latest top player searching for a new coach before the 2025 campaign begins, having announced her split from Tomasz Wiktorowski after three successful seasons together. Continue reading “Coaching carousel continues as Swiatek splits from Wiktorowski after three years”
Joaquin Buckley looks to stay perfect at 170lbs against a two-time former title challenger in Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson and edge closer towards serious championship contention, while the women’s bantamweight division features moving parts – Ketlen Vieira feels Kayla Harrison’s MMA resume is overstated before their title eliminator on a night where the title may again change hands. Continue reading “UFC 307: Buckley eyes Wonderboy scalp at welterweight, Vieira critical of Harrison”
Friday night’s blockbuster three-team trade has now been finalised on the eve of pre-season, after the moving parts were agreed upon in a surprising move for cross-conference sides keen to improve wherever possible following deep postseason runs last term. New York already look much different than last term, but will their summer splash prove decisive in their championship charge?
Continue reading “Stunning three-team trade official, Towns is NY-bound as Randle has a new home”
Kieran Farrell, a former Central Area lightweight champion, was forced to cut short his career at 22 in 2013. A decade on, he’s part of Daniel Dubois’ training team and the Mancunian was honest about the IBF world titleholder’s preparations for an evening catapulting him into a new light, toppling Anthony Joshua as the former unified heavyweight king eyes an immediate rematch.
Continue reading “Dubois’ coach Kieran Farrell: Easier than we thought, rematch unwise for Joshua”
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