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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”
Chris Eubank Jr started well, didn’t get overzealous as many have come to expect, and was sharp with punch output en route to a tenth-round finish of a sluggish Liam Smith avenging his first career stoppage loss. Seven months later in the same venue, he silenced critics – at least for now – before calling out Conor Benn and two-time middleweight world champion Gennadiy Golovkin. Continue reading “Eubank Jr drops, stops Smith to score R10 finish with career-best display in rematch”
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”
He told everyone that would listen. Yet you had to see to believe: Liam Smith becoming the first man to drop, and stop Chris Eubank Jr with a rather emphatic fourth-round TKO win during their PPV main event on January 21. Talk immediately turned to the latter’s rematch clause, a potential illegal elbow, weight complications and much more besides earlier this month. Continue reading “Rip up the script: Rewind to Liam Smith’s stunning R4 TKO win vs. Chris Eubank Jr, what’s next?”
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”
He was underestimated pre-fight, a significant underdog and didn’t do himself many favours through four rounds last Saturday night in Las Vegas. But after an encouraging R5, Battersea’s Denzel Bentley steadied the ship and battled through a series of hard-hitting exchanges that would’ve demoralised most, to frustrate WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, during a second-half sequence which has many critics suggesting the Kazakh is overrated.
Continue reading “A week on: Denzel Bentley’s stock rises after spirited title fight showing vs. Janibek Alimkhanuly”
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”
The tagline for this event – legacy is earned – couldn’t be more apt. WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol produced a career-best showing and justified the pre-fight caution with a UD win over undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez, throwing a spanner in the Mexican’s future plans by boxing with deadly discipline to inflict his second pro defeat.
Continue reading “Brilliant Bivol breaks down Canelo en route to UD win, retains WBA light-heavyweight title”
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