David Lemieux will still take something from 2017: The KO of The Year Award

12/18/2017 James Slater

He may not take too much solace from it, and in light of the very bad night he had on Saturday against the slicker than slick Billy Joe Saunders, in front of his home crowd, David Lemieux can’t be expected to – but the former champ is still on course to take something away from 2017: The KO of The Year Award.

It was back in March of this year when the former IBF middleweight king squared up with Curtis Stevens in another grudge-match. What was widely anticipated to be a war, one that either puncher may win, instead turned out to be one sweet night for Lemieux. It was in the third-round when it happened: Stevens, on the ropes and throwing a left hand, got beaten to the punch by Lemieux, who scored with a scorching left hook of his own that landed flush on Stevens’ jaw, sending him out like a light the split-second it found its home.

Amir Khan targets UK ring return in March: I think it is time

12/18/2017 James Slater

Not too long ago, reigning WBO middleweight champ Billy Joe Saunders expressed serious interest in having an all-British fight with Amir Khan. Now, in light of Saunders’ superb win and performance against David Lemieux, BJS is aiming for much bigger fights. In fact, the gifted southpaw wants a fight with either Gennady Golovkin or Canelo Alvarez; Canelo of course being the last man to have fought Khan, knocking him out in quite disturbing fashion last May.

The great Manny Pacquiao turns 39 today – will Pac Man fight again?

12/18/201712/17/2017 James Slater

All time great and absolute slam-dunk future Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao turns 39 today; an age where most fighters are happily (we hope) retired and firmly on the safe side of the ring ropes. 39 was once a seriously advanced age for a fighter, especially one who operates in the lower weight divisions, where sharp reflexes are essential. Pac Man as we know, started off his pro career scarcely weighing above 100 pounds.

Billy Joe Saunders: They [GGG and Canelo] won’t want to fight me now

12/17/2017 James Slater

So what next for reigning, undefeated, WBO middleweight champ Billy Joe Saunders? With last night’s hugely impressive display in totally outclassing a dangerous David Lemieux, a fighter Saunders defused, the gifted southpaw certainly put himself in a great position. Saunders cannot be ignored by the elite of the elite any longer, and it seems the big fights with either Gennady Golovkin or Canelo Alvarez, or maybe even both, will have to come.

Billy Joe Saunders wins wide 12 round UD over David Lemieux, retains WBO middleweight title

12/17/201712/17/2017 James Slater

Tonight in Quebec, Canada WBO middleweight king Billy Joe Saunders pretty much shut-out local hero David Lemieux in retaining his belt via lopsided 12 round unanimous decision. Putting on a masterclass, easily the single finest performance of his entire career, the unbeaten southpaw won by commanding scores of 120-108, 118-110 and 117-111.

Is Badou Jack the man to end the long reign of WBC light-heavyweight champ Adonis Stevenson? The fight to go ahead early next year

12/17/201712/16/2017 James Slater

The knock on knockout artist and long-reigning WBC light-heavyweight king Adonis Stevenson is the quality of challengers he has faced since winning the title by shocking Chad Dawson in a round back in the summer of 2013. “Superman” has retained his belt eight times – an impressive number on paper – but none of these challengers were what you could call elite-level operators.

Billy Joe Saunders, David Lemieux and some serious bad blood to see out boxing’s year (and a prediction)

12/16/2017 James Slater

“All I said was that he has short legs; that he has very short legs. I don’t know David to dislike him. I just didn’t like it when he started saying things about putting people dead in a coffin. That puts the sport into disrepute,” WBO middleweight champ Billy Joe Saunders, talking this week ahead of tonight’s defence against dangerous puncher David Lemieux in Canada.

Carl Frampton will fight on April 7 in Belfast; Nonito Donaire very much in the frame as foe for “The Jackal”

12/15/2017 James Slater

Former two-weight world ruler Carl Frampton will return to action in Belfast on April 7, his new promoter Frank Warren has confirmed (Warren replacing Barry McGuigan and Cyclone Promotions). Frampton, last seen having a way tougher time than expected with tough-nut Mexican Horacio Garcia, winning a hard-fought ten round decision, will likely fight at the SSE Arena and one big name who is firmly in the frame as being the dance partner of “The Jackal” is former world ruler and pound-for-pound entrant Nonito Donaire.

Orlando Salido’s retirement ends – after just five days!

12/15/2017 James Slater

Talk about one heck of a quick turnaround! Mexican warrior Orlando Salido announced his retirement from boxing shortly after losing a thrilling war with countryman Mickey Roman last Saturday night in Las Vegas. The 37 year old was stopped in the ninth round of a quite brutal and punishing fight, and afterwards, “Siri” said how all the tough fights had caught up with him and how he was “an old fighter now.”

Vasyl Lomachenko not pound-for-pound best says Terence Crawford’s trainer

12/16/201712/15/2017 James Slater

Is Vasyl Lomachenko the current best in the sport, pound-for-pound? This seems to be the general consensus, and not only that, but many fans, and experts, are wondering if the two-weight king will ever be beaten (yes, Lomachenko did lose, in his second pro outing, against an over-the-weight Orlando Salido, who emerged with a razor-close, debatable decision seemingly a millions years ago now).