Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke saw his career-best night end rather disastrously on Saudi shores earlier this month and after the initial shock — surgery, well-wishes as well as accepting a lengthy rehabilitation process — had dissipated, the 33-year-old insisted he’s mentally up for the challenge once more after a R1 KO defeat by Fabio Wardley. Will his body follow suit? Continue reading “Frazer Clarke counting on experience as challenging recovery from KO continues”
Two-division world champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez readies himself to box as the chief support on a busy Philadephia-based undercard next weekend, when IBF welterweight titleholder Jaron Ennis returns and looks for a more emphatic showing in his Karen Chukhadzhian rematch on November 9. Having just inked a contract extension with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable, the 24-year-old spoke about the importance of loyalty and more as Pedro Guevara awaits. Continue reading “Bam expresses love for Matchroom life before Guevara title defence on Nov. 9”
Following months of speculation surrounding his future, British heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley has inked a multifight deal with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions. The rematch against Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke has officially been confirmed as part of a seven-fight undercard on the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol bill in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 12. Continue reading “Wardley inks multi-fight Queensberry deal, as Clarke rematch set for Oct. 12”
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I spoke to world champion boxing coach Manny Robles last week after he was announced as the new coach of LA Elite in the Team Combat League about a variety of topics: ranging from why he decided to explore a new venture in an ever-changing sport, his corner work for Rafael Espinoza’s stunning world title win over Robeisy Ramirez to an overview of 2024 and much more besides. Continue reading “Exclusive: Manny Robles interview – 2024 plans, predictions after coaching Rafael Espinoza’s world featherweight title win”
Katie Taylor took the mic and spoke defiantly after a career-best win in her Chantelle Cameron rematch, after which she described it as her real homecoming six months after a first defeat in-front of a raucous Dublin crowd: “Whoever doubted obviously doesn’t know me. The last fight was the worst of me, this was the real me and when I box this way, no-one can beat me.” Continue reading “Taylor edges past Cameron, two-weight undisputed champion as Dublin rejoices”
Undisputed lightweight world champion Katie Taylor enters this weekend’s world title rematch against Chantelle Cameron as the prefight underdog – understandably so – but there’s plenty at stake besides bragging rights, six months after their first bout at light-welterweight for the 32-year-old’s belts in a weight division above the Irishwoman’s natural size saw her fall short. Continue reading “As Cameron returns to Dublin, Taylor knows her second chance awaits Saturday”
Harlem Eubank showed spite and punch selection to produce a career-best display in his beloved Brighton hometown against seasoned veteran Timo Schwarzkopf last Friday – dropping and eventually stopping him in R11. A welterweight move appears next for the 29-year-old, hitting his prime and making a name for himself when many didn’t think it possible a few years back. Continue reading “Harlem Eubank’s career-best display a fitting one given the Brighton backdrop”
Callum Walsh’s Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach declared his belief that the rising Irish southpaw, still only 22, will become a world champion at some stage over the next year. Judging by his latest display, a gutcheck over ten rounds as he headlined the Madison Square Garden Theatre overnight, the light-middleweight prospect still has work to do before reaching that ambitious goal. Continue reading “154lbs prospect Callum Walsh withstands Ismael Villarreal firefight to stay unbeaten”
IBO light-heavyweight world champion Lyndon Arthur has been shortlisted to face WBA titlist Dmitry Bivol in a voluntary defence, either next month or early January, according to the long-reigning champion’s manager Vadim Kornilov – who also touched on the difficulties involved with securing the 32-year-old’s next fight after an inactive year typified a frustratingly stagnant 175lb division. Continue reading “Lyndon Arthur on shortlist for Dmitry Bivol bout, per WBA champion’s manager”
Tyson Fury was expected to carry Francis Ngannou for a few rounds, then drop and eventually stop the former UFC heavyweight champion on the Cameroonian’s boxing debut. Instead, he had to rise from the canvas in round three and narrowly squeezed past with a split decision nod after 30 minutes, as the long-awaited undisputed world title fight against unified champion Oleksandr Usyk was again put on ice. What happens next, is unclear.
Continue reading “Sail into the sunset? Carl Froch, George Groves question Fury’s desire after Ngannou display – they’re not alone”
Why haven’t the WBC stripped him? Just another money grab, wasting his prime years. Those are some of the phrases used to describe Fury-Ngannou before their Riyadh showdown this weekend and as fight week begins, the outside noise will pale into insignificance once the two heavyweights from differing disciplines do battle after their loaded undercard on Saturday night. Continue reading “Fury-Ngannou: However you feel about it all, their lucrative exhibition bout is here”
Janibek Alimkhanuly was patient, hurt Vincenzo Gualtieri repeatedly en route to a sixth-round stoppage win over the now-former IBF middleweight champion as the hard-hitting Kazakh scored a second KO in five months and successfully unified two titles at 160lbs overnight. Naturally, it’s only intensified his thirst to become undisputed but the division’s future at the top remains uncertain. Continue reading “Janibek Alimkhanuly unifies WBO, IBF middleweight world titles after logging R6 KO vs. gun-shy Vincenzo Gualtieri”
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