Boxing

Dubois’ sparring partner Dacres optimistic after Adeleye loss, eyeing April return

David Adeleye knocks out Solomon Dacres during the British Heavyweight title fight between Solomon Dacres and David Adeleye at OVO Arena Wembley 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”

Specials

Exclusive: Zhang’s trainer Shaun George talks lessons learned as Kabayel awaits

Zhilei Zhang of Team Queensberry has his gloves tied by trainer Shaun George during the Queensbury v Matchroom 5v5 Media Workouts ahead of his...

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”

Boxing

Dubois: My time and redemption story, after R5 KO world title win vs. Joshua

13 months ago, Daniel Dubois was downtrodden and downbeat on his way back from Wroclaw after suffering a second career defeat – this time with contentious circumstances preceding it – against Oleksandr Usyk. Who would’ve thought, little over a year later, that he’d have knocked out the country’s superstar at a record Wembley crowd and become a legitimate world titleholder himself? Continue reading “Dubois: My time and redemption story, after R5 KO world title win vs. Joshua”

Boxing

Chisora outlasts Joyce in gruelling ten-round firefight as Garner, McCann win big

There’s still life in the old boy, as Derek Chisora scored a ninth-round knockdown and edged beyond Joe Joyce in their 10-round headliner from a raucous O2 Arena. Moses Itauma produced another statement showing at heavyweight, after Dennis McCann closed his Ionut Baluta chapter and a new English welterweight champion was crowned elsewhere on a busy undercard. Continue reading “Chisora outlasts Joyce in gruelling ten-round firefight as Garner, McCann win big”

Boxing

Don Charles hails Dubois’ maturity, declares himself the missing jigsaw piece

Daniel Dubois during a press conference at the OVO Arena, Wembley, London. Picture date: Wednesday June 26, 2024.

After consecutive stoppage wins over previously unbeaten duo Jarrell Miller and now-former IBF #1 heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic, Daniel Dubois’ head trainer Don Charles has praised the 26-year-old’s boxing evolution, three months before the newly-upgraded world champion boxes former two-time unified titleholder Anthony Joshua at Wembley in an exciting London duel. Continue reading “Don Charles hails Dubois’ maturity, declares himself the missing jigsaw piece”

Specials

Exclusive: David Nyika wants activity, spot on Joseph Parker undercard in Q3 of 2024

David Nyika punches Michael Seitz during the Cruiserweight fight between David Nyika and Michael Seitz at Kingdom Arena on May 18, 2024 in Riyadh,...

Although he got tagged more than many expected from his latest step-up in opposition, New Zealand’s unbeaten cruiserweight talent David Nyika improved to 9-0 and passed the latest test with a fourth-round stoppage win over Germany’s Michael Seitz. Afterwards we spoke about what’s next, things to take from his showing and being inspired by a former world champion compatriot.
Continue reading “Exclusive: David Nyika wants activity, spot on Joseph Parker undercard in Q3 of 2024”

Boxing

Pauls holds Heaney to split draw after Davies wins IBO world title in Birmingham

Nathan Heaney is still British middleweight champion, but only just after a hard-fought split draw over twelve rounds against English titlist Brad Pauls in their Birmingham headliner overnight. Elsewhere, Liam Davies wasted no time seizing IBO world gold at 122lbs with another fast finish after big wins for Pierce O’Leary and Dennis McCann among others on a busy undercard. Continue reading “Pauls holds Heaney to split draw after Davies wins IBO world title in Birmingham”

Analysis, feature pieces

Fury-Ngannou: However you feel about it all, their lucrative exhibition bout is here

Francis Ngannou trains with coach Dewey Cooper at the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou open workout on September 26 at Ngannou's private gym in Las...

Why haven’t the WBC stripped him? Just another money grab, wasting his prime years. Those are some of the phrases used to describe Fury-Ngannou before their Riyadh showdown this weekend and as fight week begins, the outside noise will pale into insignificance once the two heavyweights from differing disciplines do battle after their loaded undercard on Saturday night. Continue reading “Fury-Ngannou: However you feel about it all, their lucrative exhibition bout is here”

Boxing

Zhang defends WBO interim world HW title with destructive R3 KO in Joyce rematch

Zhilei Zhang had Joe Joyce’s number the first time, and stepped through the gears early on before producing an even quicker stoppage – this time more brutal – five months later in their heavyweight rematch to defend his WBO interim heavyweight championship against the Brit. It sets up lucrative bouts with the division’s elite names as he called out WBC titlist Tyson Fury post-fight. Continue reading “Zhang defends WBO interim world HW title with destructive R3 KO in Joyce rematch”

Boxing

Zhang on motivation, making training developments and targeting Joyce’s eye

Zhang Zhilei of China celebrates after defeating Joe Joyce of Britain in their WBO heavyweight interim title boxing match in London, Britain, April...

Zhilei Zhang ripped up the script in April, making a fool of those who overlooked him and snatched the WBO interim world heavyweight title from Joe Joyce on enemy territory. Now, the 40-year-old needs to do it again in their rematch to set up a seismic 2024 as bigger fights await Saturday’s winner, something he has taken into consideration with an enhanced training camp this time around. Continue reading “Zhang on motivation, making training developments and targeting Joyce’s eye”

Boxing

Joyce on fluctuating weight, desire to improve and more before Zhang rematch

Joe Joyce during a press conference at TalkSport Studios, London. Picture date: Thursday June 29, 2023.

Joe Joyce has had time to reflect on his first career defeat and as this weekend’s heavyweight rematch edges ever closer, the former WBO interim world champion is steadfast in wanting a return to the top table – but needs to right the wrongs from five months prior against Zhilei Zhang. Plenty was said about his weight for their maiden matchup, but what does the Juggernaut think?
Continue reading “Joyce on fluctuating weight, desire to improve and more before Zhang rematch”

Boxing

Joe Joyce’s trainer Ismael Salas admits he too overlooked Zhang, ahead of rematch

Joe Joyce during a Media Workout ahead of his fight with Zhilei Zhang at Bronx Boxing Gym on April 12, 2023 in London, England.

Zhilei Zhang utilised his laser-like left hand to sting Joe Joyce into submission on away soil five months ago, and after inflicting the Juggernaut’s first professional loss earlier this year, looks to prove it was no fluke in just over two weeks’ time. The Brit’s trainer, Ismael Salas, admitted he also overlooked the Chinese contender – but insisted that won’t be the case second time around. Continue reading “Joe Joyce’s trainer Ismael Salas admits he too overlooked Zhang, ahead of rematch”