Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
LONDON, England — Stoic and set for a Las Vegas flight to start training camp this weekend, Johnny Fisher was full of quiet confidence that he’ll produce a standout showing come May 17, silencing all doubts hanging over from his topsy-turvy display against ex-sparring partner Dave Allen in December.
Continue reading “Johnny Fisher fully focused and Vegas-bound to start camp before Allen rematch”
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — There’s nothing quite like the night before a big fight, or in this case, a supercharged bill stacked with world championship bouts galore and stakes aplenty. Continue reading “After a boisterous weigh-in day, Bakole’s late arrival keeps intrigue hanging”
Continue reading “Joseph Parker stays cool in the chaos as Last Crescendo show must go on”
Now-former English heavyweight champion Solomon Dacres was left dazed on the canvas, his unbeaten record erased and an excellent training camp all for naught by a motivated challenger in David Adeleye during their long-awaited December duel. A first pro loss won’t define his rebuild, the 31-year-old insists. Continue reading “Dubois’ sparring partner Dacres optimistic after Adeleye loss, eyeing April return”
Australian heavyweight contender Justis Huni (12-0, 7 KOs) kicked off his 2025 with a second-round TKO win over Shaun Potgieter in the co-feature as Jai Opetaia made another successful IBF cruiserweight world title defence, blasting past David Nyika on the Gold Coast, January 8. His manager, Mick Francis, tells me why a Moses Itauma matchup could happen this year after elbow surgery. Continue reading “Mick Francis: Huni set for elbow surgery, would take Itauma bout “in a heartbeat””
It feels like just yesterday, Zhilei Zhang was ripping up the script with a pair of emphatic stoppage victories in the English capital as the divisional landscape dramatically shifted again. Now, he faces another younger, ambitious and unbeaten heavyweight looking to announce himself among the super elite at his expense. So, I spoke to his trainer Shaun George for the inside track. Continue reading “Exclusive: Zhang’s trainer Shaun George talks lessons learned as Kabayel awaits”
BOXXER chief Ben Shalom was optimistic when previewing the 2025 calendar, providing updates across various weight divisions with activity and momentum in mind during the Azim-Lipinets media day before their first show this year in Sheffield, headlined by Callum Simpson on Saturday night. Continue reading “Ben Shalom: Riakporhe, Clarke and Whittaker all set to return in April”
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”
Frank Warren was left a nasty surprise ringside upon hearing the scorecards for Usyk-Fury 2, as the Queensberry chief has again had to console his man after Tyson Fury suffered a second consecutive defeat – this time a 12-round unanimous decision, compared to a split loss by the Ukrainian on May 18. Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2: Warren anger at judges’ second-half scoring, Fury again falls short”
Oleksandr Usyk weighed in at a career-highest 221lbs on Friday – 55 pounds lighter than Tyson Fury – though while plenty was said in the build-up, whether it be judging replacements, rules meeting disputes and more drama besides, the Ukrainian did as he always does: win. Fury’s flashes of vigour and encouragement ultimately weren’t enough during their immediate rematch. Continue reading “Usyk weaves his magic to leave Fury flat, retains unified world heavyweight titles”
On an eight-fight undercard preceding the much-anticipated heavyweight rematch, it felt fitting Moses Itauma wasted no time with a career-best victory in the night’s co-feature just days before he turns 20 after Serhii Bohachuk capped an unforgettable 2024 campaign with another all-action showing against a brave short-notice opponent, showing the difference in levels. Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2 undercard: Itauma blasts McKean in a round, Bohachuk bullies Davis”
Fernando Barbosa, one of the agreed upon judges for this weekend’s much-anticipated heavyweight rematch, has fallen ill and needs replacing. The problem? Both camps want separate replacements to take his place and two US-based judges have flown to Riyadh as they seek every possible advantage… Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2: Judge Barbosa falls ill, rival camps in dispute over replacement official”
Mo and Sports 