Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
It was a slow start, very messy for sustained periods and physically gruelling as expected. Yet that all paled into insignificance for Chris Billam-Smith, who scored three knockdowns en route to a stunning world championship win over twelve rounds against now-former titlist Lawrence Okolie – his former stablemate – as 15,000 cheered their local hero on at the Vitality Stadium.
Continue reading “Billam-Smith beats Okolie via MD12, is new WBO world cruiserweight champion”
So, we’re here now. The wait is over, a jam-packed Saturday schedule with three UK boxing shows featuring world title fights, but only one in a stadium. Chris Billam-Smith on home soil at Bournemouth’s Vitality in-front of 15,000, looking to dethrone unbeaten WBO cruiserweight champion and former stablemate Lawrence Okolie, achieving a dream many wouldn’t have thought possible.
Continue reading “Chris Billam-Smith interview: Riakporhe, visualisation, retirement plans and more before tonight’s world title fight”
Light-heavyweight world contender Joshua Buatsi ended a 50-week layoff as he cruised to a decision victory over ten rounds against Poland’s Pawel Stepien, ending the 32-year-old’s unbeaten streak in Birmingham overnight. Given the fanfare surrounding his exclusive BOXXER deal, many were left short-changed.
Continue reading “Buatsi measured in wide UD win vs. Stepien, but leaves you wanting more”
WBO interim super-middleweight champion John Ryder has insisted he hasn’t gone to Guadalajara, nor brought multiple team members with him, for a holiday before this weekend’s Mexico showdown. The 34-year-old has experienced an exhausting road to reach this point, but the timing couldn’t be any better to face the 168lb undisputed king Canelo Álvarez. Will it matter? Continue reading “John Ryder endured an arduous road to a Canelo title shot, at the best possible time”
Bournemouth have won three straight away games to boost their chances of Premier League survival, and in a month’s time today their fans hope one of their own can make it a summer to savour when Chris Billam-Smith challenges for his first world title at the Vitality Stadium. I spoke to him about that, and much more, as WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie awaits him next. Continue reading “Exclusive: Chris Billam-Smith interview – A month away from his first world title shot”
Having had a few months to recuperate and reflect after exceeding expectations in a spirited defeat by long-reigning world champion Artur Beterbiev on January 28, two-time world title challenger Anthony Yarde tells me of his desire to have two fights before 2023 ends and maintain momentum, aware the light-heavyweight division is in a fantastic place right now. Continue reading “Exclusive: Anthony Yarde interview – Plotting his way back into contention”
Zhilei Zhang took Joe Joyce’s best punches, beckoned him forward, and repeatedly stung the 37-year-old with a steady diet of left hands in what proved a commanding victory on away soil. Joyce’s right eye was closing, the fight stopped midway through R6, and a new WBO interim heavyweight champion has been sealed as the valiant Brit experienced his first professional defeat.
Continue reading “Zhang stuns Joyce with R6 TKO, crowned new WBO interim heavyweight champion”
Having watched Tim Tszyu’s career-best win against former champion Tony Harrison on the Showtime broadcast earlier this month, undisputed light-middleweight titlist Jermell Charlo has provided an injury update and given a two-month summer timeline for the first defence of his 154lb titles. Continue reading “Jermell Charlo rehabbing broken hand, targets July-August for title defence vs. Tszyu”
In a main event tussle of two 10-0 unbeaten heavyweights, David Adeleye reigned supreme with a second-round TKO finish against Ukraine’s Dmytro Bezus on Friday night, topping the York Hall bill after well-earned title victories for Mark Chamberlain, Henry Turner and more besides. Continue reading “Friday night at York Hall: David Adeleye claims WBO European HW title after R2 TKO vs. Dmytro Bezus”
He told everyone that would listen. Yet you had to see to believe: Liam Smith becoming the first man to drop, and stop Chris Eubank Jr with a rather emphatic fourth-round TKO win during their PPV main event on January 21. Talk immediately turned to the latter’s rematch clause, a potential illegal elbow, weight complications and much more besides earlier this month. Continue reading “Rip up the script: Rewind to Liam Smith’s stunning R4 TKO win vs. Chris Eubank Jr, what’s next?”
Although it will have been at least a year since his last bout once the three-belt welterweight champion returns, Errol Spence Jr pushed back the idea of tune-up fights and said he wouldn’t be as motivated in training as he would if the opponent was a more known quantity who posed more danger. The 32-year-old, rumoured to defend his titles against PBC stablemate Keith Thurman next, is expected to finally face WBO champion Terence Crawford sometime this year.
Continue reading “Errol Spence Jr rubbishes idea of tune-up fights, with April-June timeline for his next bout”
After a 13-month layoff, Terence Crawford shook off the ring rust against a competitive opponent in David Avanesyan – better than most expected – en route to a big KO finish. He discussed his free agency status afterwards and in 2023, the WBO welterweight champion must do all he can to secure the division’s most pressing fights before father time deems it too late. Continue reading “Crawford crunches Avanesyan with R6 KO on his career night, but now the big fights must be made”
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