Chris Carlson

Chris Carlson has been covering boxing for over two decades, joining Boxing247.com (formerly East Side Boxing) in 2011. He is the Host and Producer of The Rope A Dope Radio Podcast, streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker, iHeart Radio, Amazon Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. Follow him on Twitter @RopeADopeRadio for fight talk, updates, and sharp analysis.

Groves and Eubank Jr. Top Marquee in Manchester 

Groves and Eubank Jr. Top Marquee in Manchester 

This Saturday night, live from the Manchester Arena George Groves meets Chris Eubank Jr. in a highly-anticipated bout. Will athleticism and work rate do the trick for Eubank Jr.? Or will experience and skill secure a victory for Groves?

The World Boxing Super Series has provided a much needed boost to the early months of the boxing year. Usually it takes a while for the sport to build steam into the spring and summer months. Not the case thanks to back to back WBSS weekends featuring entertaining and competitive fights in Usyk/Briedis and Gassiev/Dorticos. 

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Gassiev vs. Dorticos: A War in the Making 

Gassiev vs. Dorticos: A War in the Making 

The second semifinal of the World Boxing Super Series takes place this Saturday night in Sochi, Russia. On paper, this cruiserweight matchup between Murat Gassiev and Yunier Dorticos is by far the best opportunity of producing a fight of the year outcome. Both men have legit one-punch power as proven in recent fights. Prior to the WBSS neither fighter had much of a chance to secure large paydays against high-end talent. Now they find themselves a win away from an opportunity to become undisputed outright.

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Aleksandr Usyk vs Mairis Breidis  (Preview & Prediction)

Aleksandr Usyk vs Mairis Breidis  (Preview & Prediction)

Oleksandr Usyk and Mairis Breidis meet head-up in a cruiserweight unification bout at Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia. Back in July 2017 this division sparked a buzz amongst avid followers of the sport once it was revealed all major sanctioning bodies would be involved in the World Boxing Super Series. The ho-hum quarterfinals played out as more of opportunity to get all 4-fighters on the same schedule. Now the time has come for the big boys to find out if they measure up versus the elite.

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Loma vs. Rigo: Autobahn Chess (Lab Coat Required)

Loma vs. Rigo: Autobahn Chess (Lab Coat Required)

A pair of two-time Olympic gold medalists, match wits in a game of high-speed chess, with the winner in the driver seat for fighter of the year. A quality matchup on ESPN this Saturday night will be accompanied by an excellent lead-in program. Top Rank founder, Bob Arum made an intriguing matchup, now it’s up to these two elite-level practitioners to shine.

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Miguel Angel Cotto: Show Some Respect

Miguel Angel Cotto: Show Some Respect

This Saturday night live on HBO, Miguel Cotto takes a final bow at his home away from home, Madison Square Garden, in New York City.  The Puerto Rican faithful will get a chance to see their legend one last time. His opponent, an odd choice in Sadam Ali, should be just what the doctor ordered for Cotto to walk away in the sunset. Beyond a few of the early rounds when Ali’s speed and movement could be effective, this should be a fairly easy victory for Miguel.

To be fair Golden Boy Promotions attempted to secure a tougher task but failed when they attached future options on Mikey Garcia and Errol Spence. Jessie Vargas claimed the money wasn’t right it’s also rumored Danny Garcia refused the offer as well. And since we’re being fair, it’s fair to say they could have tried someone in the deep and talented junior middleweight.

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The Anthony Joshua Sweepstakes

The Anthony Joshua Sweepstakes

Eddie Hearn and his prized-possession Anthony Joshua have taken the world by storm the last two years. Matchroom Sports flagship fighter has created a buzz never seen before in the United Kingdom by packing over 168,000 fans into stadium events in 2017 alone. Joshua’s epic-mash-up with former heavyweight kingpin Wladimir Klitschko put him over the top.

Anthony has all the necessary ingredients from the GQ-model looks to his chiseled-frame wrapped up in a humble personality. Did I mention the boy who grew up some 10 minutes away from Wembley Stadium now as a full-grown adult has real skills and a huge heart? Those attributes were on full display as Joshua caught his second breath able to rise to the occasion as many legendary pugilists have in the past. The total package nearly derailed last April between rounds 6 and 8. Joshua was dead tired having exuded too much energy in the 5th trying to end the fight and celebrating too early.

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