Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
LIVERPOOL STREET, CENTRAL LONDON — Anthony Cacace can’t help but smile. This time last year, unexpected fight delays saw his proposed IBO/IBF super-featherweight unification with Joe Cordina postponed three months. He’s pitched a career-best campaign since then and this week, fields questions from yours truly in preparation of his Leigh Wood assignment in a May 10 headliner.
Continue reading “Anthony Cacace content to continue upsetting the big guns, one at a time”
Dalton Smith’s growing legion of fans includes an unlikely former world champion across the transatlantic pond, one two years younger and three weight divisions lighter but nonetheless eager to maximise his talents and retire before the sport’s relentlessness diminishes his quality of life.
Continue reading “Hearn: Raymond Ford-Edward Vazquez 2 likely option on Ennis-Stanionis undercard”
Joe Cordina lost his IBF super-featherweight world title in startling fashion on Saudi shores seven months ago and while he’s been raring to go in a new weight division after suffering a first professional defeat, the Welshman doesn’t have leverage nor seemingly a promotional deal with which to pursue the big fights he’s long been coveting. That won’t stop him searching for more in 2025. Continue reading “After rollercoaster 2024, Cordina can’t wait to get into lightweight mix in 2025”
Rafael Espinoza exceeded expectations as an unheralded underdog in the best way possible last December and two days shy of the one-year anniversary since his 12-round firefight with Robeisy Ramirez, the 30-year-old gets another opportunity centre stage to banish Olympic champion and former titleholder Robeisy Ramirez on a night headlined by two world championship rematches. Continue reading “Espinoza-Ramirez 2 fast approaching – the new champ’s saying all the right things”
Rotherham’s light-middleweight prospect Junaid Bostan ended a six-month layoff with a third-round stoppage on short-notice to improve to 10-0 as a pro, while there were contrasting decision wins for James Flint and Pat McCormack on the Catterall-Prograis card, which finished earlier than expected after the evening’s co-main event was cancelled two hours before ringwalks. Continue reading “Catterall-Prograis: Bellotti-Gomez shelved as Bostan, Flint and McCormack all prevail”
Continue reading “Cordina’s complaints are warranted, but now stuck in limbo between two weights”
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”
Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk was supposed to have unfolded a week ago today, with two other championship bouts on the undercard – featuring the return of IBF super-featherweight world titlist Joe Cordina. While the three-month delay complicates matters out of his control, the Welshman has been clear on his stance should he be unable to secure unification bouts at 130lbs. Continue reading “Cordina’s unification desire lingers as IBF world champion enduring unclear future”
Three-weight world champion Shakur Stevenson retired, then quickly circled back faster than Teofimo Lopez, left agitated by the politics of a sport he’s known his entire life. Now 26 and settled as one of the four titlists at 135lbs, the Olympic silver medallist must look inwardly if he’s to live up to the sky-high greatness many have long tipped him for. Will his last display prompt that? Continue reading “Addressing the Shakur Stevenson-shaped problem at lightweight, and well, beyond”
Joe Cordina was the first to acknowledge Saturday night wasn’t his best showing, but the 31-year-old would’ve learned from the experience and more importantly, remained unbeaten after a majority decision (114-114, 116-112 x 2) win over a gamely effort by Edward Vasquez in their Monte-Carlo main event. Continue reading “Cordina compels future foes after edging majority decision nod vs. spirited Vasquez”
As the Welshman longs for future unification fights and big-money bouts to fully maximise the prime of his career, he faces an unheralded IBF super-featherweight world title defence this weekend in the form of Edward Vasquez in Monaco as WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster called for a unification bout this past week after winning a topsy-turvy firefight against Rocky Hernandez. Continue reading “O’Shaquie Foster did his part, now Joe Cordina must complete Monaco mission”
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