Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
NINE months to the day of a surprisingly wide 12-round decision defeat by Willy Hutchinson in Riyadh, British light-heavyweight contender Craig Richards will find himself navigating choppy waters on away soil once again – this time knowing another loss could spell the end of his decade-long professional career.
Continue reading “McCrory matchup is career-defining for Craig Richards, Hearn and Sims agree”
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”
Many expected this to be tactical and tense over twelve rounds. Instead, Olympic champion Galal Yafai wasted no time with a clinical showing en route to the seventh stoppage win of his career, clinching the WBC’s interim world flyweight title after a dominant display to banish Sunny Edwards’ revival ambitions. His ex-amateur rival announced an immediate retirement post-fight. Continue reading “Yafai stops Edwards in six to win WBC interim flyweight world title, rival retires”
It’s a much-anticipated matchup more than five years in the making, and in six weeks’ time, we’ll finally crown an undisputed king at 175lbs when unified champion Artur Beterbiev boxes long-reigning WBA titlist Dmitry Bivol in a battle of two unbeaten Russians. Even as time has passed, the general public appear split on who will prevail and how this fight will be won and lost.
Continue reading “Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol: At long last, light-heavyweight will have one undisputed king”
.jpg)
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”
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”
British and European light-heavyweight champion Dan Azeez has the momentum, having boxed three times in three different countries over the past nine months. Joshua Buatsi may have won the domestic strap four years ago, but the Olympic bronze medallist still hasn’t yet reached the world championship heights many tipped for him given such amateur pedigree. Now, one Londoner’s unbeaten streak will end on October 21. Who has the nerve? Continue reading “Joshua Buatsi vs. Dan Azeez presser: Both pledge to bring war on October 21 in WBA light-heavyweight world title eliminator”
After news of unified light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev’s serious jaw infection prompted an official postponement at the weekend, more information has since surfaced about when fans should expect his proposed mandatory title defence against Callum Smith to be rescheduled. Continue reading “Beterbiev-Smith pushed to November earliest, after champion’s jaw surgery”
Now that a date has been confirmed for Artur Beterbiev’s latest defence of his unified light-heavyweight titles, some videos have emerged of the 38-year-old on the heavy bag in the gym. Former super-middleweight world champion Callum Smith is next in mid-August, and he’s “possibly the biggest challenge,” of the long-reigning titlist’s career according to his trainer Marc Ramsay. Continue reading “Artur Beterbiev’s trainer Marc Ramsay calls Callum Smith biggest challenge yet”
His decision win over London rival Craig Richards long forgotten, light-heavyweight contender Joshua Buatsi turned 30 in March and celebrated by signing an exclusive multi-year agreement with BOXXER. Two months later, he headlines against a fellow unbeaten hopeful: Poland’s Pawel Stepien, hungry to seize credentials the Olympic bronze medallist has steadily built at pro level.
Continue reading “Joshua Buatsi ends a year-long layoff vs. Pawel Stepien, and must keep winning”
WBO interim super-middleweight champion John Ryder has insisted he hasn’t gone to Guadalajara, nor brought multiple team members with him, for a holiday before this weekend’s Mexico showdown. The 34-year-old has experienced an exhausting road to reach this point, but the timing couldn’t be any better to face the 168lb undisputed king Canelo Álvarez. Will it matter? Continue reading “John Ryder endured an arduous road to a Canelo title shot, at the best possible time”
Having had a few months to recuperate and reflect after exceeding expectations in a spirited defeat by long-reigning world champion Artur Beterbiev on January 28, two-time world title challenger Anthony Yarde tells me of his desire to have two fights before 2023 ends and maintain momentum, aware the light-heavyweight division is in a fantastic place right now. Continue reading “Exclusive: Anthony Yarde interview – Plotting his way back into contention”
Mo and Sports 