Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
David Benavidez got what he wanted, a world-class opponent in former IBF world champion Caleb Plant – who posed questions aplenty for the 26-year-old. It required patience, especially with a trigger-happy referee, but he finished viciously in a commanding decision win before calling out undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez, who returns on May 6 vs. John Ryder. Continue reading “Benavidez’s barrage of punishment decisive vs. spirited Plant display, as he calls for Canelo clash”
His matchup against Liam Smith may be less than a month away now, but that hasn’t stopped former world title challenger Chris Eubank Jr from reiterating his desire to secure a Gennadiy Golovkin showdown in 2023 for the Kazakh’s middleweight world titles – while retaining an interest in rescheduling the Conor Benn matchup, despite the 26-year-old’s positive drugs test. Continue reading “Eubank Jr insists he wants once-cancelled Golovkin matchup in 2023, provided he beats Smith”
After his Oct. 8 showdown with Conor Benn was cancelled, Chris Eubank Jr’s world title pursuit resumes against former super-welterweight world champion Liam Smith. Both are in the back half of their respective careers and after contrasting routes back to top contention, they collide in Manchester on January 21. So, who said what at the first official press conference yesterday?
Continue reading “Chris Eubank Jr vs. Liam Smith: Given their world title ambitions, neither can afford to lose on Jan. 21”
John Ryder probed, picked his punches perfectly and is the WBO interim super-middleweight world champion – mandatory challenger for one of Canelo Alvarez’s undisputed titles – after Zach Parker retired before the start of R5 with a broken right-hand in their headliner. Prior, there were impressive KO wins for Hamzah Sheeraz and Dennis McCann among others. Continue reading “Ryder boxes clever before Parker’s injury-enforced retirement, is now WBO interim 168lb champion”
There was less fanfare this time around, in a different continent against another fearsome Mexican champion. WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol got the job done all the same in his 10th world title defence and ultimately eased to a wide UD victory (118-110, 117-111, 117-111) over Gilberto Ramirez, inflicting the 31-year-old’s first professional defeat before calling for the much-anticipated unification bout against compatriot Artur Beterbiev in 2023.
Continue reading “Unification next? Bivol dismantles Zurdo to defend WBA LHW strap, then calls for Beterbiev clash”
After all that talking, bold predictions and a five-fight stoppage streak, WBA mandatory challenger Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez finally has his chance tomorrow night to inflict Dmitry Bivol’s first career defeat and seize the WBA light-heavyweight strap in Abu Dhabi. Before then though, here’s a look back at two of the 31-year-old’s recent victories – against Sullivan Barrera last summer and Dominic Boesel in May – as he gears up for the biggest fight of his career. Continue reading “Rewind: Before LHW title shot vs. Bivol Saturday, a look back at two of Zurdo Ramirez’s recent TKO wins”
Another compelling domestic duel. This one arrives November 26 as John Ryder looks to build on his split decision win over Daniel Jacobs, presenting an acid test for the unbeaten Zach Parker. Who said what, ahead of next month’s WBO interim super-middleweight title clash? Continue reading “John Ryder vs. Zach Parker media day: Who said what, ahead of November 26’s main event?”
Roy Jones Jr didn’t bother watching. Shawn Porter declared Canelo’s stock has now fallen. Oscar de la Hoya, whose Golden Boy Promotions firm was responsible for the first two instalments, used much stronger language altogether. ESPN said GGG’s legacy was secured – despite another chastening defeat – while Bleacher Report called the undisputed 168lb champion the sport’s king once again. So after Saturday night, which is closest to the truth? Continue reading “Canelo ends Golovkin trilogy with UD win to retain his 168lb titles as expected, but underwhelms”
As the legendary pair finish their preparations before doing battle in their long-awaited trilogy clash for Canelo Álvarez’s undisputed super-middleweight titles on Saturday night, I take a look back at their rematch four years ago this month (Sept. 15th) – with controversy aplenty about the decision for the second time in twelve months… How will things be different a third time? Continue reading “History revisited: Canelo’s R12 MD win over Golovkin, in previewing this weekend’s trilogy bout”
Although he’s set to make a mandatory defence of his newly-won WBO light-heavyweight title before this year is up against Anthony Yarde, Artur Beterbiev hasn’t been shy about the fact he has bigger fish to fry at 175lbs: a undisputed fight with fellow unbeaten champion Dmitry Bivol.
Continue reading “Beterbiev questions Bivol’s eagerness to fight for undisputed, hopes deal can get done”
This was billed as a clash of two heavy-handed champions, yet it was the boogeyman at 175lbs who raced to score four knockdowns en route to maintaining his unblemished record (18-0, 18 KOs). For all the talk surrounding Anthony Yarde’s WBO mandatory status for another world title shot, it’s increasingly difficult to see the powerful Brit overcome this test later this year.
Continue reading “Beterbiev blasts past Smith Jr inside two rounds – sorry Yarde, there’s bigger fish to fry”
It wasn’t perfect, but domestic duels rarely are. Joshua Buatsi’s world title ambitions got another boost as he started well and led throughout en route to a unanimous decision victory over Craig Richards, in a battle of south London which didn’t disappoint from the O2 Arena. Continue reading “Buatsi stays unbeaten at 16-0 with impressive UD win over domestic rival Richards”
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