Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
After consecutive stoppage wins over previously unbeaten duo Jarrell Miller and now-former IBF #1 heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic, Daniel Dubois’ head trainer Don Charles has praised the 26-year-old’s boxing evolution, three months before the newly-upgraded world champion boxes former two-time unified titleholder Anthony Joshua at Wembley in an exciting London duel. Continue reading “Don Charles hails Dubois’ maturity, declares himself the missing jigsaw piece”
Having inflicted Filip Hrgovic’s first pro loss on the Matchroom vs. Queensberry 5v5 card in Riyadh on June 1, Daniel Dubois has now been upgraded to become the full IBF heavyweight world champion after undisputed king Oleksandr Usyk had an extension request rejected and vacated – allowing Dubois vs. Anthony Joshua – two former foes – to box for world honours in three months’ time. Continue reading “Usyk vacates IBF heavyweight title, Dubois upgraded to full champion before Joshua bout on Sept. 21 at Wembley”
Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler was set to headline UFC 303 this weekend, before the former withdrew with a broken toe injury earlier this month. Two-division champion Alex Pereira has again stepped into the breach to save the card and is aware time isn’t on his side, another motivating factor for his refreshing activity as he prepares for a short-notice Jiri Prochazka rematch. Continue reading “UFC 303: Alex Pereira aware of his activity timeline, adds another short-notice save”
Jessica Pegula’s Wimbledon preparations were given a welcome boost as she won the first grass-court title of her career, saving five match points to do so in Berlin, while compatriot Tommy Paul extinguished Jack Draper’s whirlwind fortnight before ousting Lorenzo Musetti to win big in West Kensington.
Continue reading “Pegula clinches Berlin, Paul wins Queens as Americans gear up for SW19 in style”
As the race to Wimbledon is already underway on grass, the last two ladies’ champions are doubtful to feature at the year’s third Major after retiring from action in Berlin – first defending titlist Marketa Vondrousova after a worrying fall, then Elena Rybakina the following day with an unspecified illness. Continue reading “WIMBLEDON 2024: 2022 champ Rybakina, defending titlist Vondrousova both doubtful after Berlin retirements”
The market for Alex Caruso stretched far and wide, before the February trade deadline and quietly behind-the-scenes afterwards, but yet again Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti has done it – a straight swap with Josh Giddey – for the league’s most-coveted role player at a time of his career where he can seamlessly elevate a championship-contending team again.
Continue reading “Chicago trade Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey in surprise deal – OKC stay being shrewd!”
Two months on from the day of his surprise MD12 win over WBC light-welterweight world champion Devin Haney, NYSAC announced Ryan Garcia has been suspended for a year, that victory now changed to a no contest and fined his guaranteed purse money – as the fallout continues – after submitting two positive tests for the banned performance-enhancing substance ostarine. Continue reading “Ryan Garcia ban: 1-year suspension, fined $1.2m and more after positive drug tests”
Jack Massey boxed well to produce a UD12 upset over former British cruiserweight champion Isaac Chamberlain on the CBS-Riakporhe 2 undercard last Saturday, becoming the new European and Commonwealth titlist at 200lbs. Yet if you read what the 31-year-old said after getting this short-notice opportunity, you wouldn’t have been surprised with the eventual outcome. Continue reading “Jack Massey’s upset prediction aged perfectly vs. Isaac Chamberlain, but why?”
Continue reading “Dana downbeat about Chimaev, Whittaker aware of short-notice Aliskerov’s danger”
After being dismantled by longtime tormentor Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open quarters, Stefanos Tsitsipas returns to grass in Halle this week after a public split from physical trainer Christos Fiotakis where the highly-rated fitness coach went public with criticism on the 25-year-old’s ambitions and how they don’t match his work ethic. That assertion has been levelled at him before…
Composure was key for Chris Billam-Smith as he boxed smartly to blunt Richard Riakporhe on enemy soil at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park stadium, retaining his WBO cruiserweight world title against an old foe. Elsewhere, Jack Massey stifled Isaac Chamberlain to win European honours at 200lbs while Ben Whittaker’s critics will persist after a puzzling 10-round shutout in the co-main.
Continue reading “Billam-Smith avenges Riakporhe defeat with UD12 win to retain WBO world cruiserweight title”
Last year, WBO cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith achieved his dream by winning a world title at the home of his beloved Bournemouth football club. Before he can think about unification plans though, he enters into the lion’s den as defending titleholder itching to avenge his one pro defeat against Richard Riakporhe, a month shy of five years since their first meeting. Continue reading “Chris Billam-Smith interview: Defending champ excited to silence decline doubters”
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