James Slater

“Twice Bitten,” The Story Of Holyfield-Tyson II A KO Read

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holyfield_tyson6442Review by James Slater: New York Post writer George Willis has delivered a fine read regarding the true story regarding one of the blackest days in boxing history. Willis, having done impeccable research, has produced the definitive read on the infamous second meeting between heavyweight legends Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.

Known universally as “The Bite Fight,” the spectacle that unfolded in Las Vegas in June of 1997 shocked everyone; fans, experts and casual viwers alike. Willis, in his addictive book, explains why.

More than just a book to cash in on the shocking behaviour of the then hugely unhinged Tyson, “Twice Bitten” also serves as a comprehensive biography of both heavyweight greats. With good coverage devoted to the formative years of both men, including when Tyson and Holyfield met for the first time, and the time the “obsession” Holyfield had of fighting Tyson first reared its head, Willis gives readers plenty of new information: such as, how a member of Team Tyson took to dying his white shorts black when no black ones were at hand, and what Holyfield trainer Don Turner feels about religion and boxing, and his take on God “picking the other guy to win.”

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Big Weekend Of T.V Boxing Ahead For U.K Fight Fans – And One Writer’s Pre-Fight Predictions

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stevenson22Fight fans in the UK are in for a huge night of televised boxing this coming Saturday night/early Sunday morning – those fans who have access to BoxNation and Sky Sports especially, although there will be terrestrial action on Channel 5.

BoxNation have secured the rights to the third instalment of the Marco Huck-Ola Afolabi series, which will take place in Berlin, Germany. Then, in the early hours of Sunday morning, BoxNation viewers will be able to tune in to the anticipated thriller that is Marcos Maidana Vs. Josesito Lopez, the action coming from Carson, California. This card also features the WBA interim title fight between light-middleweights Erislandy Lara and Alfredo Angulo.

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Charles Brewer Interview: “The Hatchet” Lists His Five All-Time Favourite Fights!

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Former IBF super-middleweight ruler Charles Brewer gave us plenty of thrills during his 16-year pro career (think his classic with Joe Calzaghe for one great fight) and “The Hatchet” is fondly remembered by fans for his all-action style. But what are the gutsy Philly warrior’s own personal favourites when it comes to watching other guys do their stuff?

It’s always great talking boxing with Brewer, who walked away with a 40-11(28) ledger back in 2005, and in a recent talk with the 43-year-old, Brewer gave me his top-five favourite fights of all-time:

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What Next For Carl Froch?

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Fans are still buzzing over last night’s terrific, all-action rematch battle between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler. The two intense yet (usually) respectful warriors met again three years on from their first classic, and the revenge win “The Cobra” scored over “The Viking Warrior” has left U.K fans feeling A: very proud B: very lucky to have such a great, fight-anyone-at anytime throwback of a fighter and C: very excited about who their very own modern day Rocky Marciano may face in the roped battlefield next.

Already, there is talk of a third, sure to thrill encounter between Froch and Kessler, as well as talk of a rematch between Froch and the man who was too tricky for him a couple of years or so again, Andre Ward. Either fight would be absolutely massive on either side of the Atlantic (or anywhere in Europe in the case of the rubber-match) and it’s probably fair enough for Froch, for far too long underappreciated, to take his pick.

In terms of sheer action, a third rumble between Froch and Kessler would be the best fight, but in terms of legacy and his placing in the history books, Froch needs to beat the sublime Ward.

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The Hardest Punchers In Boxing Today: From Heavyweight On Down!

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wlad45Last night in Atlantic City, in “The House That Gatti Built,” we all saw a brutal and highly efficient display of what all boxing fans both love and, deep down, crave: KO punching power. Argentine 140-pound KO King Lucas Matthysse blew away the previously unstopped Lamont Peterson, in so doing giving the sport a high-energy jolt of excitement.

For as much as we can appreciate a master boxer, like, say, a Floyd Mayweather Junior, there is nothing quite like a lights out master such as Matthysse. That said, who are the single hardest punchers in boxing today from heavyweight on down?

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The Guillermo Jones-Denis Lebedev War: The Good And The Bad Side Of Boxing

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lebedev3Bottom line, boxing is entertainment. That is why fans in their droves pay big money: to be entertained. But yesterday in Moscow, Russia, cruiserweights Guillermo Jones and Denis Lebedev gave way, way, way too much in the name of entertainment; the beaten and savagely beaten up Lebedev in particular. Looking like the Elephant man or actor Eric Stoltz in the film ‘Mask’, Lebedev, the entire right side of his face swollen, his eye perhaps permanently damaged, should have been pulled out long before he was counted out in the 11th-round of an absolute slugfest.

Forget the fact that veteran Jones – who showed an amazing chin, taking flush bombs to the head again and again – regained the WBA 200-pound belt and became the first man to halt southpaw Lebedev, the talking point of this fight was and will continue to be the sickening eye injury Lebedev sustained.

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Who Will Floyd Mayweather Junior’s Next Five Opponents Be? Who Should They Be?

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05 So much for Floyd Mayweather Junior slowing down even a little due to age/inactivity/jail time. “Money May” may be 36-years-old now and he may have fought just four times in the last three years, but, as he showed last night in totally dominating a tough but outclassed Robert Guerrero, Mayweather is as great as ever. The two months in jail proved to be totally irrelevant, and any suggestions Guerrero or anyone else might have made about Floyd having slowed down a little were blown clean out of the water.

In short, Mayweather made it look easy last night. Looking as razor-sharp as ever, his right hand especially, “Money” made “The Ghost” look like a somewhat clumsy amateur on occasion. The problem, once again, was Mayweather won so easily the fight became boring for many fans; some of them leaving The MGM Grand before the fight ended. These people may be guilty of failing to appreciate a master at work, but fans want entertainment and, bottom line, there is no fighter out there capable of making Mayweather work hard enough for a thrilling, competitive fight to break out. Floyd is simply head and shoulders above everyone else at 147 and 154-pounds. It might be that Mayweather will have to take on a big name from the talent-rich 140-pound weight class soon.

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Predictions For Tonight’s Fights! Fury/Cunningham, Cleverly/Krasniqi, Alvarez/Trout

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613 Not long to go now until tonight’s action packed evening of boxing action gets underway!

We have heavyweight action with Tyson Fury Vs. Steve Cunningham, we have an important light-heavyweight encounter between Nathan Cleverly and his mandatory, Robin Krasniqi, and we have a massive, tough-to-call light-middleweight unification bout between future megastar “Canelo” Alvarez and Austin Trout.

The action takes place in New York, London and San Antonio, Texas. All three cards have some interesting supporting bouts, but it’s the big three that are most exciting for fans.

Here, and for what it’s worth, I give my three fight predictions:

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