James Slater, Author At Boxing News

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

May 29, 2016 by James Slater

Shane Mosley - 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.

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

May 29, 2016May 28, 2016 by James Slater

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

May 28, 2016 by James Slater

Anthony Joshua, Evander Holyfield - 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.

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.

Lou DiBella says no opponent yet picked for Wilder’s upcoming voluntary, confirms it will not be David Haye

May 28, 2016 by James Slater

Deontay Wilder - Though Mexican/American contender and former two-time world heavyweight title challenger Chris Arreola is, according to a number of sources, the current frontrunner to face WBC champ Deontay Wilder in his upcoming voluntary defence, promoter Lou DiBella has said that so far no choice of opponent has been decided. DiBella, speaking with Sky Sports, discussed the fact that the available opponents for the fight, targeted for July, consist of “slim pickings.”

Though Mexican/American contender and former two-time world heavyweight title challenger Chris Arreola is, according to a number of sources, the current frontrunner to face WBC champ Deontay Wilder in his upcoming voluntary defence, promoter Lou DiBella has said that so far no choice of opponent has been decided. DiBella, speaking with Sky Sports, discussed the fact that the available opponents for the fight, targeted for July, consist of “slim pickings.”

Joseph Parker’s promoter claims his fighter will conquer Britain: “We’ll beat Joshua then KO Whyte, Haye, Chisora, Fury!”

May 27, 2016 by James Slater

Joseph Parker - British fight fans may not like it, and it’s likely British heavyweight stars Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and David Haye will not find it amusing either, but Joseph Parker’s manager Dean Lonergan has gone on record as saying his fighter will knock out any and every British heavyweight Parker may face after winning the IBF belt from Anthony Joshua. Parker earned a shot at Joshua’s IBF belt with a hard-fought 12-round points win over Carlos Takam last week, and he is eyeing a shot at A.J this year or early next.

British fight fans may not like it, and it’s likely British heavyweight stars Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and David Haye will not find it amusing either, but Joseph Parker’s manager Dean Lonergan has gone on record as saying his fighter will knock out any and every British heavyweight Parker may face after winning the IBF belt from Anthony Joshua. Parker earned a shot at Joshua’s IBF belt with a hard-fought 12-round points win over Carlos Takam last week, and he is eyeing a shot at A.J this year or early next.

Chris Arreola the frontrunner to face Deontay Wilder next, sources say

May 27, 2016 by James Slater

Chris Arreola, Deontay Wilder - According to a number of publications - The LA Times and RingTV.com to name just two - Mexican/American heavyweight Chris Arreola is very much in the frame to challenge WBC king Deontay Wilder in Wilder’s next fight, his fourth voluntary title defence. In fact, Lance Pugmire of The LA Times, in revealing info he has received from “two officials close to the situation but unauthorised to speak publicly about the talk,” writes how Arreola is Wilder’s choice as far as his next challenger.

According to a number of publications – The LA Times and RingTV.com to name just two – Mexican/American heavyweight Chris Arreola is very much in the frame to challenge WBC king Deontay Wilder in Wilder’s next fight, his fourth voluntary title defence. In fact, Lance Pugmire of The LA Times, in revealing info he has received from “two officials close to the situation but unauthorised to speak publicly about the talk,” writes how Arreola is Wilder’s choice as far as his next challenger.

Eubank Junior on how he would beat GGG: “I see slowness, I see a weak defence”

May 27, 2016May 27, 2016 by James Slater

Chris Eubank Jr, Gennady Golovkin - British middleweight champ Chris Eubank Junior keeps talking about world middleweight king Gennady Golovkin and a potential fight between the two. And Eubank Jr, not at all lacking in confidence and self belief, insists he can beat the feared puncher known as Triple G. In fact, take away Golovkin’s power, Eubank says, and GGG becomes a “slow” fighter with “a weak defence.”

British middleweight champ Chris Eubank Junior keeps talking about world middleweight king Gennady Golovkin and a potential fight between the two. And Eubank Jr, not at all lacking in confidence and self belief, insists he can beat the feared puncher known as Triple G. In fact, take away Golovkin’s power, Eubank says, and GGG becomes a “slow” fighter with “a weak defence.”

Speaking with Voice Of Sport, 26-year-old Eubank Jr, said the only way Golovkin beats him is by knocking him out; something he insists would not happen if the two fought.

Gerald Washington cuts short his vacation to prepare for shot at Deontay Wilder

May 26, 2016May 26, 2016 by James Slater

Deontay Wilder, Gerald Washington - In a story that neatly follows on from the article regarding just who WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder - who has been granted the right to take a voluntary defence in light of what happened with his mandatory defence against Alexander Povetkin - will fight next, unbeaten Gerald Washington has revealed how he has cut short a vacation in Hawaii so as to get back in the gym and prepare for what he calls an opportunity he has been waiting for for a long time.

In a story that neatly follows on from the article regarding just who WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder – who has been granted the right to take a voluntary defence in light of what happened with his mandatory defence against Alexander Povetkin – will fight next, unbeaten Gerald Washington has revealed how he has cut short a vacation in Hawaii so as to get back in the gym and prepare for what he calls an opportunity he has been waiting for for a long time.

Sugar Ray Leonard on Floyd Mayweather Junior: “He would have held his own in my era, I would have beat him”

May 26, 2016May 26, 2016 by James Slater

Floyd Mayweather Jr - Whenever the subject of Dream Fights comes up, fans often ponder what would have happened had classy, skilful and artistic welterweights Sugar Ray Leonard and Floyd Mayweather Junior met. Mayweather, who walked away with a stunning 49-0 ledger (maybe for good, who knows) believes he is “T.B.A,” The Best Ever. This opinion on the part of “Money” is not shared by all fans, but some people do agree with his bold claim.

Whenever the subject of Dream Fights comes up, fans often ponder what would have happened had classy, skilful and artistic welterweights Sugar Ray Leonard and Floyd Mayweather Junior met. Mayweather, who walked away with a stunning 49-0 ledger (maybe for good, who knows) believes he is “T.B.A,” The Best Ever. This opinion on the part of “Money” is not shared by all fans, but some people do agree with his bold claim.

With Wilder permitted another voluntary title defence, fans are wondering who the WBC champ will fight next

May 26, 2016 by James Slater

Deontay Wilder - As fight fans are sure to be aware, reigning WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder has been granted permission by the Mauricio Sulaiman-led organisation to make another voluntary defence while the whole Alexander Povetkin mess gets thoroughly investigated. Sulaiman wrote, in his official statement regarding the situation that saw the May 21st Wilder-Povetkin mandatory fight get called off (whether or not it has been called off for good remains to be seen) how Wilder, “has the right to make a voluntary defence of his title as reasonably soon as possible.”

As fight fans are sure to be aware, reigning WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder has been granted permission by the Mauricio Sulaiman-led organisation to make another voluntary defence while the whole Alexander Povetkin mess gets thoroughly investigated. Sulaiman wrote, in his official statement regarding the situation that saw the May 21st Wilder-Povetkin mandatory fight get called off (whether or not it has been called off for good remains to be seen) how Wilder, “has the right to make a voluntary defence of his title as reasonably soon as possible.”