James Slater

James Slater has been a respected voice at Boxing247.com (formerly East Side Boxing) for over twenty years. Known for his deep knowledge of the sport, he covers everything from breaking news and historical features to exclusive fighter interviews. Throughout his career, Slater has spoken with world champions, rising prospects, and boxing legends alike, offering readers trusted insight and genuine passion for the fight game.

Anthony Joshua-Eric Molina a done deal for Dec 10?

Anthony Joshua-Eric Molina a done deal for Dec 10?

Eric Molina has been the frontrunner to challenge reigning IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua for a few days now and fans will not be at all surprised to see the Mexican/American in the ring with Joshua in Manchester on Dec 10. Yet so far there has still been no official confirmation from Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn.

Yet the fight is up on BoxRec and it seems we will see Molina tackling the 17-0(17) star next. What kind of a fight will it be? Molina, still judged my a number of people by the loss he suffered to Chris Arreola over four years ago, is sick of telling people he has improved since then, when he was inexperienced and it showed. Stopped in the 1st-round (after stunning Arreola himself with a good shot to the head) Molina has had a tough time making people forget about this defeat, but is Molina, 25-3(19) a different fighter today?

Terence Crawford-John Molina Jr likely for Dec 10

Terence Crawford-John Molina Jr likely for Dec 10

According to the man with all the news, Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, Terence Crawford will likely face John Molina Jnr on December 10 in the unbeaten WBC/WBO 140-pound king’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. Crawford, 29-0(20) dominated Viktor Postol in his last ring outing, back in July, taking the WBC belt he now holds along with his WBO.

Molina Jnr, 29-6(23) scored a big win in his last outing, back in June, when he out-pointed Ruslan Provodnikov over 12-rounds. Crawford will enter the ring on Dec 10 as a considerable favourite, but Molina Jnr is never a warrior who can be totally written off. The big news surrounding this match-up, though, is the fact that it will pit a Top Rank fighter against an Al Haymon fighter, without the need for a purse bid.

James DeGale: “My mega-fight would be against Golovkin!”

James DeGale: “My mega-fight would be against Golovkin!”

You can add super-middleweight champ James DeGale to the list of big names who want to fight feared middleweight king Gennady Golovkin. Southpaw DeGale, like GGG a former amateur standout, is the IBF 168-pound champion – and he will next face WBC super-middleweight champ Badou Jack in a big unification fight in January – but he sees GGG moving up one day.

Pacquiao-Golovkin! “That’s the biggest joke,” says Bob Arum – “How could anyone think I’d put Manny in with that beast!”

Pacquiao-Golovkin! “That's the biggest joke,” says Bob Arum - “How could anyone think I'd put Manny in with that beast!”

We’ve seen crazy, even unthinkable fights become reality in the sport of boxing, and just recently we’ve seen some shockers come off (see Canelo-Khan and Golovkin-Brook – both fights coming out of nowhere and causing genuine surprise and stun when first announced). But the recent article that appeared suggesting how promoter Bob Arum was seriously thinking about putting Manny Pacquiao in with middleweight king Gennady Golovkin has been totally discredited – by Arum himself.

Shannon Briggs: We know and I know David Haye is afraid of me

Shannon Briggs: We know and I know David Haye is afraid of me

Shannon “Let’s go, champ” Briggs is still talking about David Haye, although the 44-year-old appears to have lost hope of meeting him in the ring. For any fans that are still interested, Haye verbally agreed to fight Briggs if the former champ was able to get a license to box in the UK and then take a fight and win it on his May under-card. Briggs passed both tests, yet the fight never materialized.

Keith Thurman-Danny Garcia official March 4 – will Thurman feature in another Fight of The Year candidate?

Keith Thurman-Danny Garcia official March 4 – will Thurman feature in another Fight of The Year candidate?

Fans are looking forward to seeing a big welterweight unification showdown next March, thanks to the WBA/WBC unification between Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia being made official for March 4 (venue still to be determined but Barclays in New York a strong possibility) – and we could be in store for a Fight of The Year candidate. You know, the kind WBA welter champ Keith Thurman has already given us.

Thurman, 27-0(22) boxed just once this year, but he sure gave us an epic when he did fight; he and Shawn Porter giving us a thriller in June. Now, against Garcia – also unbeaten, at 32-0(18) – Thurman can be relied upon to thrill us all again. “One Time” will not have a tune-up ahead of the March clash, unlike like Garcia (who will face huge underdog Samuel Vargas in a Philly “homecoming” next month) but most people see the upcoming fight as a 50-50 affair.

Wladimir Klitschko says he hasn’t even thought about retiring, promises “a few big spectacular fights yet”

Wladimir Klitschko says he hasn't even thought about retiring, promises “a few big spectacular fights yet”

Wladimir Klitschko wants it to be known that he is not finished yet, not by a long shot. Though the former heavyweight king is currently injured (a minor injury forcing his planned Dec 10 challenge of IBF ruler Anthony Joshua to be delayed until next spring some time) and has already been idle for a longer period of time than ever before in his career, Klitschko says there are “big spectacular fights left in me yet.”

“Big” George Foreman rates the greatest heavyweights; doesn’t place himself very high!

“Big” George Foreman rates the greatest heavyweights; doesn't place himself very high!

There is no doubt two-time heavyweight king George Foreman has a lofty place amongst the greatest heavyweights, indeed all fighters, regardless of weight class, in boxing history. Yet today, the ever-modest 67 year-old says he does not feel he deserves to go in his OWN list of the greatest big men in history.

Speaking with Yahoo! Sports ahead of a meet-and-greet evening in London this Saturday, “Big” George was asked to break down his choices for the best heavyweights in history.