Tag: Matchroom

Boxing

Rewind: Jai Opetaia UD12 Maris Briedis last July, as IBF cruiserweight world champ faces Jordan Thompson this week

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Jai Opetaia during the IBF cruiserweight title fight between Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on July...

IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia makes his UK debut this weekend and in the build-up, has publicly insisted he’s preparing for a war against European champion Jordan Thompson. Before their Wembley Arena clash on Saturday night, let’s rewind back to the Australian southpaw’s last outing – a career-best result – stunning Mairis Breidis and seizing a version of the world title at 200lbs. Continue reading “Rewind: Jai Opetaia UD12 Maris Briedis last July, as IBF cruiserweight world champ faces Jordan Thompson this week” →

Boxing

Olympic flyweight champion Galal Yafai blasts past Tommy Frank within a round

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2020 Olympic gold medallist Galal Yafai needed just 100 seconds to dispatch former British champion Tommy Frank as the Birmingham-born flyweight contender wasted no time in his maiden main event, producing an assertive display which will again accelerate his own path towards world title contention. Continue reading “Olympic flyweight champion Galal Yafai blasts past Tommy Frank within a round” →

Boxing

Fight week rewind: Joshua’s blunt UD12 win over Jermaine Franklin, on April 1

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Jermaine Franklin punches Anthony Joshua during the Heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin at The O2 Arena on April 01, 2023...

Most expect Anthony Joshua will score a stoppage victory over short-notice replacement Robert Helenius this weekend, especially with the Deontay Wilder-sized carrot that may be lingering ringside in London on Saturday night. These are the same people who assumed he’d crush Jermaine Franklin in April too, so what happened that night in his first fight under new trainer Derrick James? Continue reading “Fight week rewind: Joshua’s blunt UD12 win over Jermaine Franklin, on April 1” →

Boxing

Late-notice opponent or not, Joshua aware of stakes vs. Helenius in presser

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As the rebuild back to the top table at heavyweight continues with far from ideal circumstances, Anthony Joshua is in must-win territory this weekend against Robert Helenius. We all know that, but it can’t be like his UD12 Jermaine Franklin victory on April 1 either – it’s got to be an emphatic, confidence-boosting knockout. Isn’t always so simple though, really? Continue reading “Late-notice opponent or not, Joshua aware of stakes vs. Helenius in presser” →

Boxing

Robert Helenius steps into the breach, will face Anthony Joshua on Saturday night

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Swedish-Finnish boxer Robert Helenius gestures during a press conference in New York City on October 13 ahead of his WBC heavyweight championship...

Three days after the rematch between former two-time heavyweight Anthony Joshua and long-time rival Dillian Whyte was cancelled after Whyte returned an ‘adverse finding’ in a drug test, an announcement today confirms Robert Helenius – one of Joshua’s previous sparring partners – will step up on less than a week’s notice to box him in Saturday’s headliner from London’s O2 Arena.
Continue reading “Robert Helenius steps into the breach, will face Anthony Joshua on Saturday night” →

Boxing

Andy Ruiz, Otto Wallin open to late-notice Anthony Joshua fight as Whyte returns ‘adverse finding’ in random drugs test

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Anthony Joshua, promoter Eddie Hearn and Dillian Whyte pose during the Anthony Joshua v Dillian Whyte 2 Press Conference at Hilton London Syon Park...

The heavily-anticipated rematch between former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and long-time rival Dillian Whyte, set for next weekend, has today been cancelled after news broke the latter returned an ‘adverse finding’ in a random VADA drugs test. Andy Ruiz Jr, who stunned Joshua in the summer of 2019, and respected Swedish contender Otto Wallin are among those who’ve expressed a willingness to step up on short-notice. Continue reading “Andy Ruiz, Otto Wallin open to late-notice Anthony Joshua fight as Whyte returns ‘adverse finding’ in random drugs test” →

Boxing

WBA light-heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol eyes October return, after Canelo rematch talks collapse

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Dmitry Bivol enters the ring before his WBA light heavyweight title fight against Canelo Alvarez at T-Mobile Arena on May 07, 2022 in Las Vegas,...

After undisputed super-middleweight world champion Canelo Álvarez recently signed a three-fight deal with PBC, kicking off against unbeaten middleweight titleholder Jermall Charlo in September, WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol has been left in the lurch as far as his next plans are concerned. Continue reading “WBA light-heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol eyes October return, after Canelo rematch talks collapse” →

Boxing

Cameron composed to retain undisputed titles in MD10 win, Taylor’s first pro loss

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Dublin , Ireland - 20 May 2023; Katie Taylor, right, and Chantelle Cameron during their undisputed super lightweight championship fight at the 3Arena...

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” →

Specials

Pros pick: Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron – Intrigue surrounds Dublin headliner, as it should

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Dublin , Ireland - 19 May 2023; Katie Taylor, left, and Chantelle Cameron face-off during weigh-ins, at Mansion House in Dublin, ahead of their...

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” →

Boxing

John Ryder endured an arduous road to a Canelo title shot, at the best possible time

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Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez and English boxer John Ryder pose for a picture during a press conference to present their fight on May 6, in Zapopan,...

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” →

Boxing

Eddie Hearn confirms plan moving forward for Cordina, Barrett and others

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Boxer Joe Cordina hugs Eddie Hearn after defeating Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov for the IBF World Super Featherweight title at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff...

Saturday proved a night to savour in Cardiff, as Joe Cordina regained the IBF world super-featherweight title he never lost in the ring – after emerging stronger from a pulsating 12-round war with unbeaten champion Shavkat Rakhimov. Read on as his promoter, Eddie Hearn, told me plenty afterwards. Continue reading “Eddie Hearn confirms plan moving forward for Cordina, Barrett and others” →

Boxing

Joe Cordina wades through danger, is two-time world champion after Shavkat Rakhimov battle

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Joe Cordina punches Shavkatdzhon Rakimov during the IBF Super Flyweight World Title fight between Shavkatdzhon Rakimov and Joe Cordina at Motorpoint...

Joe Cordina absorbed some big bombs and scored a sweet second-round knockdown of his own, en route to becoming a two-time world champion at super-featherweight, after navigating through danger before ultimately outpointing a relentless Shavkat Rakhimov showing via split decision (115-112, 114-113, 111-116) in-front of a boisterous Cardiff International Arena crowd.
Continue reading “Joe Cordina wades through danger, is two-time world champion after Shavkat Rakhimov battle” →