Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON — Karriss Artingstall and Jasmina Zapotoczna were crowned new champions at featherweight and flyweight respectively in contrasting 10-round contests, on the undercard of Lauren Price’s punch-perfect display against Natasha Jonas in their welterweight world title unification. Continue reading “Jonas-Price undercard: Artingstall claims British title, Zapotoczna stuns Watson”
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — It was an unforgettable week for manager Vadim Kornilov, overseeing redemption as Dmitry Bivol avenged his first career defeat by Artur Beterbiev to become the undisputed light-heavyweight king. Later this year, a super-bantamweight stablemate could join him in rarefied air if recent positive discussions are to be believed. Continue reading “Kornilov: Inoue-Akhmadaliev being discussed for September 14 in Japan”
Ellie Scotney reaffirmed her desire to become undisputed super-bantamweight champion after skilfully outpointing Mea Motu in Nottingham, starting a promising 2025 campaign with another world title victory. However, another Matchroom-based titleholder in the division directly above is also of interest… Continue reading “Ellie Scotney calls out Skye Nicolson after unifying 122lb titles – Hearn responds”
In a duel between two unbeaten British super-bantamweights, Shabaz Masoud’s discipline saw him silence critics with a skilful 12-round split decision win over the much-fancied Liam Davies during their Birmingham headliner – history repeating itself between local foes dating back to their amateur days. Continue reading “Masoud tames Davies in Birmingham during repeat of their amateur rivalry”
Ahead of a proposed matchup against undisputed champion Naoya Inoue, IBF and WBO mandatory challenger Sam Goodman believes he’s seen enough from the Japanese star’s stoppage win over Luis Nery on Monday to provide him with the tools for an unlikely upset victory later this year. Wishful thinking? Continue reading “Anyone can be beat, insists mandatory challenger Goodman as Inoue bout next”
Things got off to a disastrous start. Yet they ended with a familiar finish as undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue responded well to early adversity – being caught clean and dropped for the first time in his career – to outsmart, bait and overwhelm two-division titlist Luis Nery through excellent punch placement on a memorable evening in Japan’s Tokyo Dome.
Continue reading “Undisputed 122lb king Inoue rallies after career-first knockdown, stops Nery in six”
Raymond Ford recovered from a sluggish start in style, scoring a dramatic last-gasp knockout over Otabek Kholmatov to win the vacant WBA featherweight gold last Saturday. Footage released post-fight showed him talking with his promoter Eddie Hearn, all but confirming a world title unification bout against Nick Ball – provided the Scouser succeeds in a career-best challenge Friday. Continue reading “Raymond Ford did his part, now Nick Ball must best bullish Rey Vargas in Riyadh”
Continue reading “A week on: Inevitable Inoue breaks down Tapales, becomes undisputed champ again”
Dennis McCann vs. Ionut Baluta was compelling viewing for as long as it lasted, before their gripping super-bantamweight clash was halted after McCann’s cut worsened in the ninth round and they went to the judges’ scorecards – majority draw – a contentious outcome to finish a fiery night of fights at York Hall. Continue reading “McCann-Baluta ends in majority draw, after frantic battle is stopped prematurely”
Unbeaten super-bantamweight contender Dennis McCann vowed during Wednesday’s press conference that we’ll see the very best of him before his maiden main event matchup tonight against former European champion Ionut Baluta. The 29-year-old is riding a high after recovering from danger to outwork then-unbeaten prospect Andrew Cain – so will history repeat itself here? Continue reading “Dennis McCann vs. Ionut Baluta: Compelling super-bantamweight battle tops tonight’s York Hall show”
In a battle of two unbeaten world champions, you could see a shift from round one and the outcome wasn’t close. Naoya Inoue was dominant en route to a vicious eighth-round stoppage against now-former unified super-bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton, before shaking hands for a November undisputed matchup with newly-crowned WBA, IBF champion Marlon Tapales.
Continue reading “Naoya Inoue outboxes and stops Stephen Fulton, now a four-weight world champion”
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