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”
Continue reading “Eddie Hearn expects Pacheco to headline May show, Christian Mbilli among options”
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — In the Mandarin Hotel’s lounge area, a fan spots Hamzah Sheeraz and asks for a picture. He’s not the only one. Soon enough one turns to three and before long, the 25-year-old’s engaging in conversation as he gears up for his maiden world title shot against WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames, some 11 miles from here, on February 22. Continue reading “Hamzah Sheeraz and embracing the weight of expectation”
Many believe Carlos Adames is being served up as a showcase opportunity for Hamzah Sheeraz to be crowned a world middleweight champion later this month, from the unfavourable treatment he’s received in trying to arrive early to the relative inactivity endured in recent years. One man who isn’t of that opinion: Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn – who has watched Sheeraz’s progress. Continue reading “Eddie Hearn: Hamzah Sheeraz is quality, but a serious underdog vs. Carlos Adames”
Dalton Smith ended a 10-month layoff in style this weekend, dropping Walid Ouizza twice in a one-sided opening round en route to securing European honours at 140-pounds. Yet the Yorkshireman wants more on the world stage and after his Jose Zepeda scalp in 2024, may have to venture stateside to get it. Continue reading “Hearn on Dalton Smith’s options, as Walid Ouizza KO earns him European honours”
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”
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”
First-round stoppage victories over Fredrick Lawson and Thomas Dulorme across three months kicked off an eventful calendar year for Vergil Ortiz Jr in 2024, campaigning in a new weight division and looking to replicate his exciting welterweight success against elite junior middleweight opposition. We spoke about his last fight, Tim Tszyu criticism ahead of his Israil Madrimov matchup. Continue reading “Vergil Ortiz Jr rejects notion Tim Tszyu isn’t an elite boxer, says Aussie can rebuild”
It feels like just yesterday, Zhilei Zhang was ripping up the script with a pair of emphatic stoppage victories in the English capital as the divisional landscape dramatically shifted again. Now, he faces another younger, ambitious and unbeaten heavyweight looking to announce himself among the super elite at his expense. So, I spoke to his trainer Shaun George for the inside track. Continue reading “Exclusive: Zhang’s trainer Shaun George talks lessons learned as Kabayel awaits”
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