Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko: the last great world heavyweight title fight

04/30/201711/03/2016 James Slater

June 2003, The Staples Centre, Los Angeles. The date and venue are familiar to fight fans, heavyweight fight fans especially. Why? Because we saw a great action fight between two huge heavies, both well above the mid-240-pound range, we saw blood and gore, we saw huge bombs landed, we saw heart and courage on the line, and we were left wanting to see a rematch. The task today is quite simple: name a world heavyweight title fight since that has ticked that many boxes.

But the biggest reason fans still talk about this fight, won by Lewis via corner retirement on the part of Klitschko at the end of the sixth round, is because we all wonder what might have happened; what would have happened.

Ten years ago: Floyd Mayweather captures Welterweight title with commanding win over tough Carlos Baldomir

11/04/201611/03/2016 James Slater

It wasn’t Floyd Mayweather’s most thrilling fight, nor was it one of his biggest, but a decade ago (Nov 4, 2006), “Pretty Boy,” as Mayweather was still calling himself at the time, scored a good win that led to a genuine super-fight. In November of 2006 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay, a 29-year-old, 36-0 Mayweather boxed his third fight as a welterweight and he picked up both the lineal and the WBC 147-pound titles.

Chisora and Whyte come face to face at presser, exchange barbs, both promise KO victory

11/03/2016 James Slater

Bitter heavyweight rivals Dereck Chisora and Dillian Whyte came face to face today at a press conference to further promote a British heavyweight title fight that in truth needs no further hype. These two DO NOT like one another and even if reigning British champ Whyte has made a habit of engaging in a war of words, verbally attacking a number of his previous opponents, the simmering intensity between these two is as real as it gets.

Before today’s presser, promoter Eddie Hearn was admittedly concerned over the two big men coming to blows or doing something generally crazy. This, thankfully did not happen (although these two have been involved in out-of-the-ring shenanigans before; remember Chisora’s infamous “bottle” incident with David Haye in Germany?)

Freddie Roach likes the idea of Pacquiao vs. Canelo, says Pac-Man can outbox Alvarez “very easily”

11/02/2016 James Slater

Reigning and defending WBO welterweight champ Jessie Vargas almost certainly does not like it one bit, but it does seem as though fight fans and members of the media are talking more about who returning superstar Manny Pacquiao may or may not face in his next fight after the Las Vegas clash with Vargas this coming Saturday night. There is interest in Pacquiao-Vargas but the fight does not have anything like the buzz previous Pacquiao fights had.

Hearn says Joshua cannot afford to give Molina less than 100-percent of his attention; won’t even think about Klitschko mega-fight until Dec 10 is done

11/02/2016 James Slater

Eddie Hearn has said whilst speaking with Kugan Cassius of IFILM TV that the response to the recently announced Anthony Joshua-Eric Molina fight has been “lukewarm” in the UK, although better in the US, where Molina, 25-3(19) is of course far better known. Hearn said he has once again heard the moans and groans regarding why the December 10 fight, and it’s card, will be pay-per-view on Sky Box Office.

Lucas Browne-Shannon Briggs is on: Big Daddy Vs. Big Mouth!

11/02/2016 James Slater

Shannon Briggs has finally landed himself a big fight. The 44-year-old former lineal and WBO ruler first chased, harassed and pestered Wladimir Klitschko for a fight, then Briggs turned his attention towards David Haye. Niether of these two took the bait (although Haye appeared to come close, verbally promising the vocal veteran a fight but then either opting to run away, according to Briggs, or not being able to find a pay-per-view platform, according to Haye).

Kell Brook says his weight “has settled down,” “ I could still make welterweight;” eyes possible fights with Spence, Pacquiao, Khan

11/01/2016 James Slater

Kell Brook is still the reigning IBF welterweight champion and he has until February 24 of next year to decide if he wants to defend that title against mandatory challenger Errol Spence Jnr or move up to 154. As fans know, Brook bulked up for a middleweight title challenge of Gennady Golovkin in September, and the Sheffield fighter says he now craves further massive fights.

But will these come at 147 or at 154? Brook says the broken eye socket he suffered at the damaging hands of GGG is now “healing well,” and that his weight has “settled down.” Still, Brook is not yet sure if his future lies at welter or junior-middle. However, Brook told ESPN.com that he is very much interested in facing the likes of Manny Pacquiao (who Brook expects to beat Jessie Vargas this Saturday, via points verdict) Amir Khan, Spence and the Danny Garcia-Keith Thurman winner – so maybe Brook will look to try to hold onto that IBF belt.

George Foreman big on Anthony Joshua, says he will reign for ten years if he can get past Klitschko

11/01/201611/01/2016 James Slater

Heavyweight legend George Foreman was a guest of honour in London over the weekend, meeting and greeting those fans of his who were lucky enough to attend. And while he visited London, “Big” George paid Londoner Anthony Joshua, the reigning IBF heavyweight champ, some very big compliments.

Foreman is often guilty of saying nice things to nice people, but the former two-time king of kings does seem to genuinely rate Joshua very highly; this despite AJ being just 17-0(17) as a pro right now.