Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
FRESH from a savvy showcase win over Natasha Jonas on Friday night, The Ring and unified welterweight world champion Lauren Price cast her eye on Mikaela Mayer’s WBO title defence against Sandy Ryan in three weeks’ time. Continue reading “Price explains Mayer-Ryan prediction before ‘great fight’ in March 29 rematch”
IBF/WBC welterweight champion Natasha Jonas embarks on a big fight week knowing there aren’t many left for her, though Olympic champion and unified titleholder Lauren Price could serve as a willing adversary further enhancing the 40-year-old’s legacy come Friday night.
Continue reading “Natasha Jonas on her relationship with ‘gentle giant’ Joe Gallagher”
ANB ARENA, SAUDI ARABIA — They had to wait four months longer than expected, though Saturday night proved one of sweet vindication for newly-crowned undisputed light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol’s team, headed by manager Vadim Kornilov as Artur Beterbiev was dethroned. Continue reading “Kornilov uneasy about 114-114 scorecard before Bivol details his lingering injuries”
ANB ARENA, SAUDI ARABIA — They say revenge is a dish best served cold. Dmitry Bivol weathered a storm en route to a gutsy majority decision victory over Beterbiev, tying their series at one win apiece and claiming undisputed light-heavyweight gold, setting up a trilogy after yet another razor-thin duel going the full championship distance. Continue reading “Dmitry Bivol claims undisputed light-heavyweight titles after another razor-cloze Artur Beterbiev duel”
Jai Opetaia is two weeks removed from his latest assignment – another stoppage win – dismissing former sparring partner David Nyika in four rounds to retain his IBF/Ring Magazine titles after original opponent Huseyin Cinkara withdrew through injury. There was to be no fairytale story, though Opetaia still fancies unifying a cruiserweight division with movement aplenty at the top. Continue reading “Opetaia: Whether boxing or navigating politics, you’ve always got to adapt”
In an extravagant hotel lounge area putting mine to shame deep in Usyk-Fury 2 fight week, I picked the brains of esteemed boxing coach-and-analyst Teddy Atlas on a series of topics, most notably looking ahead to David Benavidez’s sophomore appearance at light-heavyweight vs. David Morrell after an underwhelming debut vs. his former charge Oleksandr Gvozdyk last summer. Continue reading “Atlas: Benavidez has the minerals to flourish at 175lbs, ahead of Morrell bout”
Frank Warren was left a nasty surprise ringside upon hearing the scorecards for Usyk-Fury 2, as the Queensberry chief has again had to console his man after Tyson Fury suffered a second consecutive defeat – this time a 12-round unanimous decision, compared to a split loss by the Ukrainian on May 18. Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2: Warren anger at judges’ second-half scoring, Fury again falls short”
Oleksandr Usyk weighed in at a career-highest 221lbs on Friday – 55 pounds lighter than Tyson Fury – though while plenty was said in the build-up, whether it be judging replacements, rules meeting disputes and more drama besides, the Ukrainian did as he always does: win. Fury’s flashes of vigour and encouragement ultimately weren’t enough during their immediate rematch. Continue reading “Usyk weaves his magic to leave Fury flat, retains unified world heavyweight titles”
On an eight-fight undercard preceding the much-anticipated heavyweight rematch, it felt fitting Moses Itauma wasted no time with a career-best victory in the night’s co-feature just days before he turns 20 after Serhii Bohachuk capped an unforgettable 2024 campaign with another all-action showing against a brave short-notice opponent, showing the difference in levels. Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2 undercard: Itauma blasts McKean in a round, Bohachuk bullies Davis”
Fernando Barbosa, one of the agreed upon judges for this weekend’s much-anticipated heavyweight rematch, has fallen ill and needs replacing. The problem? Both camps want separate replacements to take his place and two US-based judges have flown to Riyadh as they seek every possible advantage… Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2: Judge Barbosa falls ill, rival camps in dispute over replacement official”
Press conference delays and an 11-minute staredown wasn’t exactly on the bingo card for Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2, deep into the depths of an eagerly-anticipated fight week, but at this stage nothing should come as a surprise. Jostling for heavyweight gold this weekend, it was advantage Usyk. Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2: Tyson blinks first in 11-minute staring contest to finish presser”
Having seen Tyson Fury narrowly miss out on undisputed heavyweight gold seven months ago today, Queensberry chief Frank Warren believes his man doesn’t have to make as many adjustments as some might think before his immediate rematch with Oleksandr Usyk this weekend. Instead, he told me, the outcome of their second Saudi showdown will come down to two factors. Continue reading “Usyk-Fury 2: Warren believes rematch is about attrition, who lost more in May?”
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