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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”
Two-time WBC interim heavyweight world champion Dillian Whyte had a rugged evening’s work, but got the job done after seven exhausting rounds against former Daniel Dubois opponent Ebenezer Tetteh, finishing his 2024 campaign with a second successive stoppage victory – though signs of physical decline leave the 36-year-old with difficult matchmaking decisions coming. Continue reading “Dillian Whyte closes 2024 with R7 TKO win vs. Ebenezer Tetteh in Gibraltar headliner”
Almost a year to the day since he was dethroned as WBO cruiserweight world champion, Lawrence Okolie ended Lukasz Rozanski’s unbeaten 15-0 record with a destructive first-round knockout win on enemy soil in Rzeszow, Poland. Now, he’s keeping his options open as a heavyweight move has again been teased – but has he done enough to settle at world-level against tougher opposition? Continue reading “After icing Rozanski in a round, Okolie’s second chapter begins at bridgerweight”
British heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley remained open to pursuing other options besides an immediate rematch with Frazer Clarke after last weekend’s 12-round back-and-forth battle headlined BOXXER’s O2 Arena card on Easter Sunday. His coach, Ben Davison, said the Ipswich man must get his nose fixed permanently while clamour for part two of their domestic duel is clear to see. Continue reading “Wardley, coach Davison reflect on Clarke draw – desire for rematch already obvious”
Armed with new improvements to his ever-changing team, Anthony Joshua has benefited from refreshing activity of late and continues that next weekend against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, buoyed by a moral victory on debut vs. Tyson Fury last October. Given the carrot dangling in the air for both here, the Brit must be sharp to avoid another banana skin.
Continue reading “Knockout Chaos: Finally active and in a groove, Anthony Joshua cannot leave Riyadh with regret next weekend”
Most expect Anthony Joshua will score a stoppage victory over short-notice replacement Robert Helenius this weekend, especially with the Deontay Wilder-sized carrot that may be lingering ringside in London on Saturday night. These are the same people who assumed he’d crush Jermaine Franklin in April too, so what happened that night in his first fight under new trainer Derrick James? Continue reading “Fight week rewind: Joshua’s blunt UD12 win over Jermaine Franklin, on April 1”
As the rebuild back to the top table at heavyweight continues with far from ideal circumstances, Anthony Joshua is in must-win territory this weekend against Robert Helenius. We all know that, but it can’t be like his UD12 Jermaine Franklin victory on April 1 either – it’s got to be an emphatic, confidence-boosting knockout. Isn’t always so simple though, really? Continue reading “Late-notice opponent or not, Joshua aware of stakes vs. Helenius in presser”
The heavily-anticipated rematch between former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and long-time rival Dillian Whyte, set for next weekend, has today been cancelled after news broke the latter returned an ‘adverse finding’ in a random VADA drugs test. Andy Ruiz Jr, who stunned Joshua in the summer of 2019, and respected Swedish contender Otto Wallin are among those who’ve expressed a willingness to step up on short-notice. Continue reading “Andy Ruiz, Otto Wallin open to late-notice Anthony Joshua fight as Whyte returns ‘adverse finding’ in random drugs test”
Tyson Fury made the third defence of his WBC heavyweight title with a predictably one-sided tenth-round stoppage win against domestic rival Derek Chisora during their trilogy bout – eight years on from their second bout. Beforehand, there was a courageous comeback win for Daniel Dubois while Karol Itauma and Denys Berinchyk were among the victors on the undercard. Continue reading “Tyson Fury retains WBC title with R10 TKO in Derek Chisora trilogy, as Usyk and Joyce watch ringside”
Sure, you can only beat what’s in-front of you. However, after blasting overmatched opponent Trevor Bryan with a fourth-round KO in Miami over the weekend as expected to capture the WBA’s (Regular) heavyweight title, Daniel Dubois and his team must now intensify his challenges if he’s to erase the Joe Joyce loss as little more than a premature gutcheck in future. Continue reading “After his R4 blasting win over Bryan, Dubois must now step up the gears again”
Messy and slow rather than the barnstormer both promised, Tyson Fury asserted full control early and retained his WBC heavyweight strap with a sixth-round TKO win over British rival Dillian Whyte as a record 94,000 crowd watched at Wembley. Afterwards, he insisted it’s now time to retire before leaving the door open for exhibition fights, like a hybrid matchup vs. UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou: who was among the interested audience ringside. Continue reading “Fury fires R6 uppercut to TKO Whyte, retains WBC belt again before retirement talk resumes”
When you cut through all the noise, from underhand tactics and disingenuous politics to multiple legal issues and controversy besides, Dillian Whyte’s excruciating wait for a WBC heavyweight title shot finally ends this Saturday on home soil at Wembley against compatriot and former sparring partner Tyson Fury. Will the wait be worth it? Not many believe so. Continue reading “Whyte typically bullish ahead of long-awaited title fight vs. heavily favoured Fury”
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