Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — In the Mandarin Hotel’s lounge area, a fan spots Hamzah Sheeraz and asks for a picture. He’s not the only one. Soon enough one turns to three and before long, the 25-year-old’s engaging in conversation as he gears up for his maiden world title shot against WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames, some 11 miles from here, on February 22. Continue reading “Hamzah Sheeraz and embracing the weight of expectation”
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”
Canelo Alvarez did as most expected he would, a third-round knockdown the catalyst as he humbled unbeaten challenger Edgar Berlanga during an arduous 12-round affair to defend his unified super-middleweight world titles before again insisting he was the best once more. Terence Crawford watched ringside while Dmitry Bivol returns in an undisputed bout on Oct. 12, so what’s next? Continue reading “Canelo adds Berlanga to list of hungry lions tamed with UD12 win – what’s next?”
Many questioned whether the hype was premature after a blunt display over ten rounds during a showcase co-main event opportunity four months ago. In response, #1 WBO world ranked super-middleweight contender Diego Pacheco delivered another highlight reel moment in passing the toughest test of his career thus far overnight against Maciej Sulecki with bigger plans on the way. Continue reading “Pacheco’s plaudits return with career-best win over Sulecki as 168lb options emerge”
Terence Crawford is three-and-a-half weeks removed from beating Israil Madrimov to become a four-division world champion and per the WBO today, WBC and WBO champ Sebastian Fundora has been ordered to face the star in a unification bout ambitiously slated for this winter, should the two sides agree terms within a 30-day timeframe before purse bids are sent. Will they though? Continue reading “WBO orders Fundora-Crawford to unify titles, after latter’s UD12 Madrimov win”
Terence Crawford went the 12-round distance for the first time in eight years on his debut in another new weight division but emerged stronger for it to become a four-division world champion after a competitive chess match against Israil Madrimov, seizing the WBA light-middleweight world championship and WBO interim title following their slow-burning headliner from LA’s BMO Stadium.
Continue reading “Crawford becomes four-weight world champion after edging beyond Madrimov”
Having become undisputed welterweight world champion this time twelve months ago after dismantling Errol Spence Jr, three-division titlist Terence Crawford has some newfound shine behind him. He looks to make it a fantastic fourth next weekend at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium against a new titleholder – by no means an easy task – in the form of heavy-handed Uzbek Israil Madrimov. Continue reading “Crawford cranking up legacy before 154lb debut vs. WBA world champ Madrimov”
Sure, it was against someone with only one bout in six years, but Zach Parker displayed brief flashes of the world-ranked contender a fight away from boxing Canelo Álvarez at 168lbs. Instead, a badly broken hand saw the recently-retired John Ryder seize the WBO interim title and a career-high payday in Mexico last May, and now the Derby man prepares to linger between two weight classes. Continue reading “A step in the right direction for Zach Parker, as he floats between two divisions”
Jaron Ennis’ new promoter Eddie Hearn insisted the prime priority is for the 27-year-old to unify a welterweight division devoid of longtime champions Errol Spence Jr and former undisputed king Terence Crawford, as the appetite for the Philly fighter to finally face the latter has again intensified following his fifth-round TKO win over former Crawford opponent David Avanesyan on home turf.
Continue reading “Crawford again the buzzword, as Ennis stops Avanesyan in Philly homecoming”
Canelo Alvarez marked Cinco de Mayo weekend with his best showing for a while – vulnerabilities still lingering – logging an impressive decision win over unbeaten contender Jaime Munguia to make the fourth defence of his undisputed super-middleweight world titles, before insisting he remains the sport’s top dog as questions over a decline have persisted after recent displays.
Continue reading “Canelo drops Munguia, retains undisputed 168lb world titles again with UD12 victory”
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”
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