Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Rafael Espinoza exceeded expectations as an unheralded underdog in the best way possible last December and two days shy of the one-year anniversary since his 12-round firefight with Robeisy Ramirez, the 30-year-old gets another opportunity centre stage to banish Olympic champion and former titleholder Robeisy Ramirez on a night headlined by two world championship rematches. Continue reading “Espinoza-Ramirez 2 fast approaching – the new champ’s saying all the right things”
Sam Noakes didn’t extend his knockout streak but bossed proceedings from start-to-finish against esteemed former European lightweight champion Yvan Mendy in their York Hall main event to unify British, Commonwealth and European titles at 135lbs – the first to do so since Dave Charnley in 1961 – as manager Francis Warren hinted at big plans for the 26-year-old afterwards.
Continue reading “Noakes notches career-best win, outboxes Mendy to become new European champion”
Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk was supposed to have unfolded a week ago today, with two other championship bouts on the undercard – featuring the return of IBF super-featherweight world titlist Joe Cordina. While the three-month delay complicates matters out of his control, the Welshman has been clear on his stance should he be unable to secure unification bouts at 130lbs. Continue reading “Cordina’s unification desire lingers as IBF world champion enduring unclear future”
Three-weight world champion Shakur Stevenson retired, then quickly circled back faster than Teofimo Lopez, left agitated by the politics of a sport he’s known his entire life. Now 26 and settled as one of the four titlists at 135lbs, the Olympic silver medallist must look inwardly if he’s to live up to the sky-high greatness many have long tipped him for. Will his last display prompt that? Continue reading “Addressing the Shakur Stevenson-shaped problem at lightweight, and well, beyond”
Joe Cordina was the first to acknowledge Saturday night wasn’t his best showing, but the 31-year-old would’ve learned from the experience and more importantly, remained unbeaten after a majority decision (114-114, 116-112 x 2) win over a gamely effort by Edward Vasquez in their Monte-Carlo main event. Continue reading “Cordina compels future foes after edging majority decision nod vs. spirited Vasquez”
As the Welshman longs for future unification fights and big-money bouts to fully maximise the prime of his career, he faces an unheralded IBF super-featherweight world title defence this weekend in the form of Edward Vasquez in Monaco as WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster called for a unification bout this past week after winning a topsy-turvy firefight against Rocky Hernandez. Continue reading “O’Shaquie Foster did his part, now Joe Cordina must complete Monaco mission”
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