Joshua vs Povetkin fight could be closer than you may think

12/05/2017 James Slater

Might we see an Anthony Joshua-Alexander Povetkin fight next year some time? This particular match-up, one that seemed to have virtually no chance of happening a while back, in light of the Russian star’s failed drugs test, could be closer than you may think.

As Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn explained to Sky Sports, he will be having a meeting with WBA president Gilberto Mendoza soon, and one of the topics for conversation will be AJ’s new WBA mandatory challenger. Luis Ortiz may be back in business with the WBC, but he is still no longer the WBA mandatory. Hearn is waiting to see who will take “King Kong’s” place:

70 years ago: The great Joe Louis has his mind set on retirement but is cruelly denied

12/05/2017 James Slater

70 years ago today, legendary heavyweight king Joe Louis, “The Brown Bomber” was edging towards what he hoped would be a happy, content and thoroughly satisfactory retirement from boxing. Louis was no ego-driven talent, forever in search of ‘one more win.’ Instead, his world title defended well over twenty times, Joe wished to call it a career and spend his time playing golf.

But, as history tells us, this is not how things transpired.

Luis Ortiz to return to action this Friday, will face little-known Daniel Martz in Florida

12/05/2017 James Slater

Unbeaten Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz, who was recently cleared to fight by the WBC – the governing body agreeing how “King Kong” was guilty of taking medication for high blood pressure and nothing more and that this was the reason he failed a drugs test ahead of his aborted November fight with Deontay Wilder – will return this Friday night in Florida.

Roy Jones Jr. still wants to fight UFC star Anderson Silva – even if he uses PEDs

12/04/2017 James Slater

Boxing legend Roy Jones Junior is still not anywhere close to calling it a day it seems. The former pound-for-pound king turns 49 in January, yet he is still on the lookout for big fights; one in particular. For years now, the once untouchable middleweight/super-middleweight/light-heavyweight has been talking about, and trying to get done, a crossover fight between himself and former UFC king Anderson Silva.

Will Miguel Cotto’s retirement stick? Oscar De La Hoya for one is not sure

12/04/2017 James Slater

As fans know, the sport of boxing is absolutely littered with great fighters who, despite announcing their retirement, were simply unable to walk away and stay away for good without making a comeback. Right now, 37 year old future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto sounds about as convincing as is imaginable when he insists that, yes, his comeback WILL stick; that he will fight no more.

Chris Eubank Junior vows to take over from Mayweather, “become the next star in America”

12/04/2017 James Slater

With the (apparent) retirement of superstar Floyd Mayweather Junior – “apparent” because there are still some suggestions that say the 40 year old will indeed box again – Floyd himself denying any such notions; for now at least – who is the current biggest star in US boxing? The probable answer is Canelo Alvarez; the Mexican hero being hugely popular in many countries other than his own, America included.

That rarity in boxing: Going out a winner

12/03/2017 James Slater

The great Muhammad Ali failed to do it, Sugar Ray Leonard failed to do it, George Foreman also came up short. While the greatest boxer of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson, failed to tick this particular box himself. And on Saturday night in New York, Miguel Cotto’s name was added to the long, long list of great, great fighters who were unsuccessful in their attempts at going out as a winner in their final fight.

What next for new WBO 154 pound champ Sadam Ali?

12/03/2017 James Slater

We all knew Sadam Ali could box, and last night’s win over an admittedly faded (but still great) Miguel Cotto put “World Kid” on the world stage once again. Ali, 26-1(14) has rebounded well from his March 2016 stoppage loss to Jessie Vargas, the 9th round TKO being the sole defeat on the record of the 29 year old.

Ali rebounded to beat three solid fighters in Saul Corral, Jorge Silva and Johan Perez, and now he has the scalp of future Hall of Famer Cotto on his resume. What next for the new WBO super-welterweight champ? Ali has shown he is as fast as a 154 pounder and he was down at welterweight (where the loss to Vargas took place) and he has looked strong also. It would be great to see Ali in there with the other reigning 154 pound champions – Jermel Charlos, Erislandy Lara and Jarret Hurd.

Classy Cotto waves goodbye on a loss, heads to The Hall of Fame

12/03/201712/03/2017 James Slater

Arguably the finest fighter to have come out of Puerto Rico, four-weight champion Miguel Cotto said goodbye last night in New York, leaving the sport he lit up in a major way with class and dignity. Cotto doesn’t go out with the win he and his fans wanted – a faster, younger, bigger Sadam Ali instead winning a pretty wide 12 round UD over the 37 year old great, but Cotto goes out on his own terms all the same.

Cotto was unable to cope with the speed and movement of Ali, 26-1(14) and the former king also injured his biceps in the seventh-round. Dropping a decision that read 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 again, Cotto walks away with a 41-6(33) record. But more than that, Cotto walks away “feeling good,” with no excuses.

Does Gennady Golovkin still have to go up in weight in order to become a truly great fighter?

12/02/2017 James Slater

Recently, middleweight king Gennady Golovkin spoke of the possibility of moving up a division to super-middleweight – if “a big fight is there.” Go back a few months, and the critics were telling everyone how GGG has to move up if he’s to be remembered as a true great. Do people still feel this way after all Triple-G has achieved as a middleweight?