Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Ben Shalom and Sky have embraced Adam Azim as their fast rising star, which the 22-year-old’s head coach Shane McGuigan believes is justified and reinforced by the increased maturity from an ambitious contender eager to assert himself on the world scene – starting with a former champion Saturday. Continue reading “McGuigan hails Azim’s maturity before Lipinets test, Billam-Smith’s return set”
Dalton Smith ended a 10-month layoff in style this weekend, dropping Walid Ouizza twice in a one-sided opening round en route to securing European honours at 140-pounds. Yet the Yorkshireman wants more on the world stage and after his Jose Zepeda scalp in 2024, may have to venture stateside to get it. Continue reading “Hearn on Dalton Smith’s options, as Walid Ouizza KO earns him European honours”
Ellie Scotney reaffirmed her desire to become undisputed super-bantamweight champion after skilfully outpointing Mea Motu in Nottingham, starting a promising 2025 campaign with another world title victory. However, another Matchroom-based titleholder in the division directly above is also of interest… Continue reading “Ellie Scotney calls out Skye Nicolson after unifying 122lb titles – Hearn responds”
Two-and-a-half years after their catchweight clash was set, then dramatically cancelled on fight week after news of a failed drug test, Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will now box in a two-fight series later this calendar year. Continue reading “Chris Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn: Two-fight deal set, rematch guaranteed by December”
In town for the Ring Magazine awards, WBC light-welterweight world champion Devin Haney made an appearance at the famed Peacock Gym where he met old friends, including Anthony Yarde’s trainer Tunde Ajayi, as news over the 26-year-old’s return continues to rumble on after a mentally draining 2024 campaign. Continue reading “Yarde’s trainer Tunde Ajayi on Haney’s comeback: “Great things are coming!””
BOXXER chief Ben Shalom was optimistic when previewing the 2025 calendar, providing updates across various weight divisions with activity and momentum in mind during the Azim-Lipinets media day before their first show this year in Sheffield, headlined by Callum Simpson on Saturday night. Continue reading “Ben Shalom: Riakporhe, Clarke and Whittaker all set to return in April”
Activity and consistency is the key for Adam Azim in 2025, having promised to produce an emphatic display and announce himself on the world scene at 140-pounds when facing former IBF world light-welterweight titleholder Sergey Lipinets with the IBO world title available in BOXXER’s headliner on Feb. 1.
Continue reading “Azim-Lipinets presser: Slough rising star insists he’ll end Kazakh’s career on Feb. 1”
Sunny Edwards touched on a variety of topics, from the next best thing in heavyweight boxing to lobbying for a potential Anthony Yarde vs. Lyndon Arthur trilogy in 2025, as the recently-retired former world flyweight champion embraces his new role in a sport that made him a millionaire household name. Continue reading “Now-retired Edwards excited for British boxing’s future, argues for Yarde-Arthur 3”
Joe Cordina lost his IBF super-featherweight world title in startling fashion on Saudi shores seven months ago and while he’s been raring to go in a new weight division after suffering a first professional defeat, the Welshman doesn’t have leverage nor seemingly a promotional deal with which to pursue the big fights he’s long been coveting. That won’t stop him searching for more in 2025. Continue reading “After rollercoaster 2024, Cordina can’t wait to get into lightweight mix in 2025”
Lawrence Okolie made fast work of overmatched former sparring partner Hussein Mohamed earlier this month with a first-round knockout win to produce a memorable Queensberry debut, though his trainer Joe Gallagher has told me they’re already eyeing a March or April return for a former two-weight world champion seeking greatness as the 32-year-old’s heavyweight foray ramps up. Continue reading “Okolie’s trainer Joe Gallagher: One more, then ready for the big heavyweight fights”
In an extravagant hotel lounge area putting mine to shame deep in Usyk-Fury 2 fight week, I picked the brains of esteemed boxing coach-and-analyst Teddy Atlas on a series of topics, most notably looking ahead to David Benavidez’s sophomore appearance at light-heavyweight vs. David Morrell after an underwhelming debut vs. his former charge Oleksandr Gvozdyk last summer. Continue reading “Atlas: Benavidez has the minerals to flourish at 175lbs, ahead of Morrell bout”
Frank Warren was left a nasty surprise ringside upon hearing the scorecards for Usyk-Fury 2, as the Queensberry chief has again had to console his man after Tyson Fury suffered a second consecutive defeat – this time a 12-round unanimous decision, compared to a split loss by the Ukrainian on May 18. Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2: Warren anger at judges’ second-half scoring, Fury again falls short”
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