Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
JANIBEK Alimkhanuly is three weeks away from his latest world title defence, a unified middleweight champion on a seemingly never-ending pursuit of undisputed status at 160lbs, but as this interview begins, there’s something he wants to get off his chest. Continue reading “Janibek confirms coaching change, open to super-middleweight move”
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”
The sight of Arnold Barboza Jr and Teofimo Lopez verbally jawing at one another through a video call during last month’s Last Crescendo bill certainly filtered through to Jack Catterall. Seeing them confirmed for a championship clash in Times Square on May 2 days later would’ve felt even worse. Continue reading “Hearn maintains Catterall’s team want him to jump straight back in big fight”
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”
CO-OP LIVE ARENA, MANCHESTER — Arnold Barboza maintained discipline and composure, even when things threatened to go against him, edging a split decision win over Jack Catterall to claim the vacant WBO interim world junior-welterweight title on Saturday night. His father, Barboza Sr, told me how. Continue reading “Barboza hails flawless display, Sr. lifts lid on ‘crazy’ gameplan in Manchester upset”
Keyshawn Davis is a week away from his first world championship contest against WBO lightweight titleholder Denys Berinchyk and while widely expected to pass that Valentine’s Day test with flying colours, there’s one particular name he’ll inevitably be linked to from their amateur days. Continue reading “Hearn: If he beats Berinchyk, what’s Keyshawn Davis’ biggest fight? Andy Cruz”
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”
Australian heavyweight contender Justis Huni (12-0, 7 KOs) kicked off his 2025 with a second-round TKO win over Shaun Potgieter in the co-feature as Jai Opetaia made another successful IBF cruiserweight world title defence, blasting past David Nyika on the Gold Coast, January 8. His manager, Mick Francis, tells me why a Moses Itauma matchup could happen this year after elbow surgery. Continue reading “Mick Francis: Huni set for elbow surgery, would take Itauma bout “in a heartbeat””
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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