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.

Tony Bellew-David Haye: could this fight really happen?

YouTube video

Talk is cheap, as we know, and the mere fact that brand new WBC cruiserweight champ Tony Bellew has called out David Haye, insisting he would beat him and KO him, does not mean the fight will actually happen. But Bellew, who overcame a very capable and dangerously avoided fighter in Ilunga Makabu on Sunday night, has got the attention of the former undisputed cruiserweight king. Haye, as fans know, is campaigning as a heavyweight these days (since 2008 in fact) but he has not ruled out a fight with Bellew.

Team-Parker want big fight with David Haye in UK, say a win would make him a superstar in England

Team-Parker want big fight with David Haye in UK, say a win would make him a superstar in England

Joseph Parker’s promoter Deal Lonergan has revealed how he has been in talks with the UK’s Eddie Hearn about the idea of having Parker, the mandatory challenger for Anthony Joshua’s IBF belt, fighting on a Joshua under-card this November. The plan is to make Parker a big name in the UK, so as to make the upcoming Joshua-Parker fight that much bigger. Lonergan also spoke to The New Zealand Herald about his desire to match his unbeaten fighter with former champ David Haye.

Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor super-fight rumours persist, Floyd uploads fight poster on Instagram

Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor super-fight rumours persist, Floyd uploads fight poster on Instagram

Talk of a possible Boxing Vs. MMA super-fight between Floyd Mayweather Junior and Conor McGregor refuses to go away, as seemingly unrealistic as it is that the fight actually takes place. Last night, in adding to the speculation that the fight might happen, Mayweaather uploaded a fight poster hyping the would-be fight – with images of himself and McGregor and the title: Mayweather Conor Live on Pay-Per-View. There is no date on the poster.

David Price back to winning ways, now wants shot at Anthony Joshua

David Price back to winning ways, now wants shot at Anthony Joshua

Last night, on the under-card of Tony Bellew’s fantastic KO win over the dangerous Ilunga Makabu, heavyweight contender David Price returned to winning ways. Fighting for the first time since his July 2015 KO loss to Erkan Teper – who subsequently failed a post-fight drugs test and was banned from boxing – 32-year-old Price made short work of Czech Republic heavy Vaclav Pejsar. Price decked the 9-2(8) 31-year-old in the opening round and finished the job in the 2nd. Pejsar is no top contender, but he had never previously been stopped and he had won his previous four fights.

Tony Bellew in bullish mood ahead of title fight with Ilunga Makabu, eyes cruiserweight clash with David Haye!

Tony Bellew in bullish mood ahead of title fight with Ilunga Makabu, eyes cruiserweight clash with David Haye!

Tony Bellew is supremely confident heading into tonight’s WBC cruiserweight battle with fellow puncher Ilunga Makabu in his native Liverpool. Bellew, who will go to war at the home ground of his beloved Everton football club, insists nothing Makabu, 19-1(18) can do will prevent him from realising his dream and capturing the vacant green belt. Bellew is sure his moment of destiny has arrived and he is even talking about who he would like to fight after he’s beaten Makabu: none other than former undisputed cruiserweight champ and former WBA heavyweight ruler David Haye.

Surely the end for Sugar Shane Mosley; thanks for the great fights

Surely the end for Sugar Shane Mosley; thanks for the great fights

We surely saw the final ring appearance of the once great Sugar Shane Mosley last night. Beaten to the punch by the thankfully not too murderous-punching David Avanesyan in an interim WBA welterweight showdown, the 44-year-old looked nothing like the sizzling lightweight sensation he once was. Those people who said all along that Mosley should not come back were proven right; even if Mosley proved he still has heart and the stomach for a fight.

Conor Benn makes it 2-0 as a pro with points win over Luke Keleher

Tonight on the Ricky Burns-Michelle Di Rocco card in Glasgow, Scotland, 19-year-old super-lightweight Conor Benn won his second pro bout with a four-round points win over Luke Keleher. Benn was unable to get the KO he seemed desperate to get, but he won the exciting if scrappy affair with his sheer, sometimes quite reckless aggression. 29-year-old Keleher, who did well not to be overwhelmed and indeed gave as good as he got in a couple of the all-action rounds, falls to 2-5-1(1), he has not yet been stopped as a pro. Benn won by the sole scoring official’s card of 40-36 but Keleher may feel aggrieved not to have been awarded at least one even round.

Evander Holyfield says Anthony Joshua has “a great chance” at breaking Marciano’s legendary 49-0 record

Evander Holyfield says Anthony Joshua has “a great chance” at breaking Marciano’s legendary 49-0 record

It’s one of the most famous and revered set of numbers in the sport of boxing: heavyweight immortal Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record. Ever since “The Rock” said goodbye to the ring with his perfect ledger, have heavyweights tried to break the record the hugely popular fighter (hugely popular in both life and in death) left behind. Larry Holmes came closest, in 1985, when he defeated Carl Williams to extends his record to 48-0. A controversial and very bitter (for Holmes) loss to Michael Spinks in a heavily hyped fight that same year ruined Larry’s aims to tie with Marciano’s magical numbers.