Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
AS excitement grows and expectation builds surrounding Ezra Taylor, the 30-year-old light-heavyweight found himself at ease on Saudi shores as a spectator for the Last Crescendo card before making his first outing of 2025 a short one at York Hall this past weekend. He knows and relishes the tougher tests to come. Continue reading “Ezra Taylor excited for a big 2025 campaign, as Troy Jones awaits in May”
LONDON, England — Liam Cameron looks jaded and tells anyone in earshot he’s only had two hours’ sleep. This won’t stop him refusing to break eye contact with Ben Whittaker during their tense face-off, the day their much-anticipated rematch has been announced for April 20, nor doing a cluster of one-to-one interviews with the assembled media. Continue reading “Ben Whittaker: I’ll leave no doubt against bullish Liam Cameron in April 20 rematch”
NINE months to the day of a surprisingly wide 12-round decision defeat by Willy Hutchinson in Riyadh, British light-heavyweight contender Craig Richards will find himself navigating choppy waters on away soil once again – this time knowing another loss could spell the end of his decade-long professional career.
Continue reading “McCrory matchup is career-defining for Craig Richards, Hearn and Sims agree”
ANB ARENA, SAUDI ARABIA — They had to wait four months longer than expected, though Saturday night proved one of sweet vindication for newly-crowned undisputed light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol’s team, headed by manager Vadim Kornilov as Artur Beterbiev was dethroned. Continue reading “Kornilov uneasy about 114-114 scorecard before Bivol details his lingering injuries”
ANB ARENA, SAUDI ARABIA — They say revenge is a dish best served cold. Dmitry Bivol weathered a storm en route to a gutsy majority decision victory over Beterbiev, tying their series at one win apiece and claiming undisputed light-heavyweight gold, setting up a trilogy after yet another razor-thin duel going the full championship distance. Continue reading “Dmitry Bivol claims undisputed light-heavyweight titles after another razor-cloze Artur Beterbiev duel”
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”
Sunny Edwards touched on a variety of topics, from the next best thing in heavyweight boxing to lobbying for a potential Anthony Yarde vs. Lyndon Arthur trilogy in 2025, as the recently-retired former world flyweight champion embraces his new role in a sport that made him a millionaire household name. Continue reading “Now-retired Edwards excited for British boxing’s future, argues for Yarde-Arthur 3”
In an extravagant hotel lounge area putting mine to shame deep in Usyk-Fury 2 fight week, I picked the brains of esteemed boxing coach-and-analyst Teddy Atlas on a series of topics, most notably looking ahead to David Benavidez’s sophomore appearance at light-heavyweight vs. David Morrell after an underwhelming debut vs. his former charge Oleksandr Gvozdyk last summer. Continue reading “Atlas: Benavidez has the minerals to flourish at 175lbs, ahead of Morrell bout”
The night Chris Billam-Smith claimed world cruiserweight gold in Bournemouth was Shane McGuigan’s proudest moment as a coach to date. Yet the trainer knows his hard-working champion needs more than just willpower and desire to dethrone newly-crowned WBA titleholder Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez during their much-anticipated WBO, WBA unification in Riyadh this weekend. Continue reading “McGuigan: CBS needs a mixture of Bivol, Goulamirian gameplan for Zurdo success”
Almost a year to the day since their original matchup was scheduled and shelved after a pectoral muscle tear, UFC heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones finally faces two-time former titleholder Stipe Miocic in an encounter no-one asked for – yet we’re getting it nonetheless – while interim champion Tom Aspinall will watch cageside after defending his status against Curtis Blaydes in late July. Continue reading “UFC 309: Oh yeah, Jon Jones returns again this weekend… but Stipe’s an easy target”
Two-time world light-heavyweight title challenger Anthony Yarde makes his return this weekend after an eight-month layoff against another unknown opponent in Latvia’s 17-1 pro Ralfs Vilcans, aware that his contractual situation and existing future at world level remain unclear at a time where the divsional landscape is starting to become clearer after last weekend’s undisputed bout. Continue reading “Anthony Yarde clears air before Oct. 19 return, after signing one-fight Boxxer deal”
A characteristically slow start was importantly overshadowed by a strong finish in the championship rounds as Artur Beterbiev’s aggressive pressure and never-ending jeopardy behind his punching power saw the 39-year-old edge past Dmitry Bivol to win undisputed light-heavyweight honours after a 12-round technical battle between two unbeaten champions that didn’t disappoint. Continue reading “Beterbiev crowned undisputed king after razor-thin majority decision win vs. Bivol”
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