Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Since being outpointed by Liam Walsh in November 2019, British lightweight Maxi Hughes has won seven straight – including clinching IBO world gold last time out at former featherweight titlist Kid Galahad’s expense. One-time unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr makes his Stateside return this weekend, though the 33-year-old is confident he’ll spoil it Saturday. Continue reading “Maxi Hughes saying the right things as Kambosos Jr awaits tomorrow night”
WBO president Paco Válcarcel confirmed last week that Teofimo Lopez is relinquishing the lineal light-welterweight world titles he won over Josh Taylor the previous Saturday, as the 25-year-old is following through with his retirement claim – at least in the interim – as issues outside the ring require his undivided attention.
Continue reading “What Lopez’s retirement means for 140lb division, as Prograis squeezes past Zorrilla”
It’s been a week and change since Beneil Dariush’s eight-fight win streak was soundly snapped inside a round by the returning Charles Oliveira, emphatically making his claim for another lightweight championship challenge at UFC 289. The perennial contender and a highly-regarded coach gave their views on what a rematch would look like, against reigning champion Islam Makhachev. Continue reading “UFC 289: Dariush, coach Firas Zahabi give their say on Makhachev-Oliveira rematch”
Teofimo Lopez is a world champion once more, this time at 140lbs, after embracing the outside noise – letting it fuel his fire in more ways than one – en route to an impressive unanimous decision win over former undisputed titlist Josh Taylor. The Scotsman started promisingly but was exposed defensively and had no answers, as the 25-year-old dazzled before threatening a late finish.
Continue reading ““Do I still got it?” Teofimo Lopez silences critics as he outboxes Josh Taylor in UD12, seizes WBO light-welterweight title”
Her team described it as ambush mode. Chantelle Cameron played the spoiler role perfectly, en route to making the first defence of her undisputed light-welterweight titles with a majority decision victory against Katie Taylor in Dublin, inflicting the hometown star’s first pro career defeat overnight.
Continue reading “Cameron composed to retain undisputed titles in MD10 win, Taylor’s first pro loss”
Most of the 14,436 fans in attendance at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand fiercely disagreed with the verdict, but Devin Haney eked out a unanimous decision win over three-division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko to stay unbeaten at 30-0 after a tactical battle which swung the Ukrainian’s way in the latter rounds.
Continue reading “Haney retains undisputed lightweight titles with narrow UD win vs. Lomachenko”
Two weeks shy of 12 years since their first meeting as amateurs, undisputed light-welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron looks to play spoiler as Katie Taylor makes her long-awaited Irish homecoming tonight. Over the course of a month in the build-up to this bout, I spoke to a series of boxing folk – current and former champions among them – with some contrasting opinions to share. Continue reading “Pros pick: Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron – Intrigue surrounds Dublin headliner, as it should”
Two-weight world champion Shakur Stevenson did what he said he would against a previously undefeated contender in Shuichiro Yoshino – on his lightweight debut at the weekend – and now has his sights set on the Haney-Lomachenko winner this autumn. Is he ready to back up his bold comments?
Continue reading “Stevenson swarms Yoshino in R6 TKO win, before insisting he has bigger fish to fry”
The worst-kept secret in women’s boxing was announced on Saturday night, as undisputed light-welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron prepares to make the first defence of her belts against undisputed lightweight titlist Katie Taylor in nine weeks’ time on enemy territory. The 31-year-old described it as a surreal feeling, and now has a chance to avenge an amateur defeat 12 years later. Continue reading “Opportunity calls as Chantelle Cameron gets her legacy-building wish on May 20 against Katie Taylor”
Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev was thrust into deep waters and finished an arduous first title defence on his back, but did enough over 25 minutes to outpoint featherweight titlist Alexander Volkanovski in a clash of two champions which lived up to the billing in-front of a manic 14,124 strong RAC Crowd in Perth, western Australia. Volkanovski will face new interim titleholder Yair Rodriguez at 145lbs, after his second-round submission win over Josh Emmett. Continue reading “UFC 284: Makhachev outlasts spirited Volkanovski showing in instant classic, Rodriguez stops Emmett”
Before the promotion’s top two pound-for-pound stars do battle this weekend, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev believes he will make his first title defence an emphatic one against featherweight titlist Alexander Volkanovski, in the Aussie’s backyard. The 34-year-old, moving up a weight division to chase history, feels he is well-prepared to physically surprise Makhachev, having bulked up in the months since his decisive trilogy win over Max Holloway. Continue reading “UFC 284: Makhachev eager to secure a KO finish against ‘brick wall’ Volkanovski this weekend”
Alycia Baumgardner scored two third-round knockdowns en route to a hard-fought decision win over France’s Elhem Mekhaled to secure undisputed status at super-featherweight, before Amanda Serrano found herself thrust into a similarly tough battle against a relentless Erika Cruz display – also victorious on points – setting up a Katie Taylor rematch for May 20, with the Irish undisputed lightweight star watching ringside and making a post-fight appearance too. Continue reading “Amanda Serrano, Alycia Baumgardner seal undisputed titles after gritty decision wins”
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