Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
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”
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”
Continue reading “CBS-Zurdo unification set for Nov. 16 in Riyadh as cruiserweight moving again”
Plenty was said, most of it negative, about WBO cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith holding firm on his desire to return in November-December time rather than be rushed into a unification bout with IBF titleholder Jai Opetaia a month earlier on Saudi shores. Now, the Brit is close to agreeing a Stateside showdown with newly-crowned WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez. Continue reading “Nov. 16 the targeted date as Billam-Smith praises Zurdo before proposed unification”
Fresh after a fantastic knockout win over Derrick Osaze and armed with a proud support team celebrating his latest highlight reel finish to close another York Hall show, I spoke with Denzel Bentley as he surveys the middleweight scene. Beforehand, there were several boxers ringside sharing updates about their respective return timelines, fight dates and what they would like next. Continue reading “Exclusive: Bentley open to Sheeraz-Denny winner as six boxers give return updates”
Composure was key for Chris Billam-Smith as he boxed smartly to blunt Richard Riakporhe on enemy soil at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park stadium, retaining his WBO cruiserweight world title against an old foe. Elsewhere, Jack Massey stifled Isaac Chamberlain to win European honours at 200lbs while Ben Whittaker’s critics will persist after a puzzling 10-round shutout in the co-main.
Continue reading “Billam-Smith avenges Riakporhe defeat with UD12 win to retain WBO world cruiserweight title”
Last year, WBO cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith achieved his dream by winning a world title at the home of his beloved Bournemouth football club. Before he can think about unification plans though, he enters into the lion’s den as defending titleholder itching to avenge his one pro defeat against Richard Riakporhe, a month shy of five years since their first meeting. Continue reading “Chris Billam-Smith interview: Defending champ excited to silence decline doubters”
Richard Riakporhe hopes to realise his dream in becoming a cruiserweight world champion at his beloved Crystal Palace’s football stadium this weekend, much like defending champion and former foe Chris Billam-Smith realised 13 months earlier on the south Coast. Five years after their first fight plenty has changed for both – is now the perfect time for history to repeat itself or not?
Continue reading “Richard Riakporhe interview: Relishing experiences before dream world title shot”
A man with more than a vested interest in this weekend’s Selhurst Park main event is Lawrence Okolie. He praised former gymmate Chris Billam-Smith a year on from their Bournemouth bout, but also questioned whether the WBO cruiserweight world champion can manage to go to the well again in deep waters against mandatory challenger Richard Riakporhe this weekend. Continue reading “CBS-Riakporhe 2: Okolie unsure about Billam-Smith’s durability vs. his local rival”
Almost a year to the day since he was dethroned as WBO cruiserweight world champion, Lawrence Okolie ended Lukasz Rozanski’s unbeaten 15-0 record with a destructive first-round knockout win on enemy soil in Rzeszow, Poland. Now, he’s keeping his options open as a heavyweight move has again been teased – but has he done enough to settle at world-level against tougher opposition? Continue reading “After icing Rozanski in a round, Okolie’s second chapter begins at bridgerweight”
Tomorrow night should see Jai Opetaia make the third defence of his IBF world cruiserweight title. Instead, it’s for a vacant belt in a rematch against the man who inflicted a double jaw break against him, less than two full years ago. Having made light work of two Brits in-between, the Aussie is on a mission to unify the cruiserweight division – and disrespect has fuelled that intensity. Continue reading “Disrespected, denied but stronger for the experience: Jai Opetaia is going nowhere”
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