Shawn Porter aims for rematch with Keith Thurman

11/05/2017 James Slater

Former welterweight champ Shawn Porter never disappoints. Last night on the under-card of the Wilder-Stiverne rematch blowout, Porter decisioned a game Adrian Granados over 12 in an eliminator. Porter, who won by scores of 117-111 X3, is now 28-2-1(17). Granados, another warrior who is always involved in good action fights, is now 18-6-2(12).

Porter had one thing on his mind prior to last night’s imporatnt win and he has one thing on his mind now: a return fight with Keith Thurman. As fans know all too well, Thurman and Porter went to war in a great, great action fight in June of 2016, and Porter, having dropped a close 12 round decision, instantly made it clear that he wanted a rematch. With last night’s ninth round win Porter won yet another final eliminator for the WBC welterweight title Thurman currently holds, along with the WBA belt.

Viciously victorious over Stiverne, Wilder again calls out Joshua

11/05/2017 James Slater

Well, Deontay Wilder sure made Bermane Stivere eat his words last night in their basically pointless return fight. Ahead of the rematch, former WBC champ Stiverne boldly stated how “No-one ever knocks me out. It isn’t gonna happen.”

It did happen, though, inside the very first-round last night in New York as a rampaging, viciously determined Wilder absolutely crushed his sixth title challenger, scoring three knockdowns in rapid fashion. Whether or not Wilder’s critics will have been impressed with the win, the 38th KO win picked up by Wilder in his 39 pro wins, is another matter. Stiverne, in poor physical condition, was a slow and easy target, some will say, adding how Wilder simply could not miss. Still, Wilder has sickening power and until anyone beats him he has every right to claim he is “The Man” at heavyweight.

Agit Kabayel decisions Dereck Chisora in European title defence; the end for “Del Boy?”

11/05/2017 James Slater

Might we have seen the end of two formerly formidable, now faded heavyweights last night? We’ve surely seen the last of Bermane Stiverne, who has no possible way back from the quick first-round blitzing he fell victim to against WBC ruler Deontay Wilder, and we may have seen the end of British heavyweight Dereck Chisora – at least at top level.

Tyson Fury: I opened up the whole division, never get any credit for it

11/04/2017 James Slater

Tyson Fury insists he is ready to regain his status as the world’s premier heavyweight – a position he held for just a few months after upsetting Wladimir Klitschko two full years ago. As fans know, it wasn’t long after the big win in Germany that Fury all but imploded: battling depression, alcohol and drugs and food.

The long and largely entertaining career of Ricardo Mayorga surely comes to an end with stoppage loss to Andrey Sirotkin

11/05/201711/04/2017 James Slater

He fought, he drank beer, he smoked cigarettes, and he gave us plenty of entertaining nights and fights along the way, but “El Matador” Ricardo Mayorga surely reached the end last night in Russia.

The 44 year old, having actually won his previous fight this past April (over a 12-17-1 Jaudiel Zepeda who he TKO’d) retired on his stool after nine rounds against unbeaten Russian Andrey Sirotkin, now 14-0(4). Mayorga, who gave it a go while he was able, in the early rounds, falls to 32-10-1(26) and it is to be hoped this will indeed be the final tally for the wild man from Nicaragua.

Bermane Stiverne, at 254 pounds, will have a big weight advantage over Deontay Wilder, 220 – but will it help him?

11/03/201711/03/2017 James Slater

As fans may have seen, the weights are in for tomorrow’s return meeting between Deontay Wilder and Bermane Stiverne. WBC heavyweight ruler Wilder came in at 220 pounds, which is about normal for him, but Stiverne raised plenty of eyebrows by tipping in at a hefty 254.

Luis Ortiz is banned from WBA-sanctioned fights for one year; removed from ratings

11/03/2017 James Slater

Unbeaten Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz really blew it when he tested positive for a banned substance a few weeks ahead of his scheduled WBC title challenge of Deontay Wilder. Not only did the 38 year old southpaw ruin that intriguing fight, but Ortiz has now lost the mandatory status he had with the WBA – meaning Ortiz can no longer challenge current WBA (and IBF) ruler Anthony Joshua; not for a year anyway.

Ten years ago today: Joe Calzaghe beats Mikkel Kessler in his “finest fight”

11/03/2017 James Slater

Joe Calzaghe, arguably the finest super-middleweight in history, scored a huge win a decade ago today when he decisioned Danish hero Mikkel Kessler over 12 gripping rounds. Today when looking back, Calzaghe, who of course retired at a perfect 46-0, has a number of fights to look back on and feel very, very proud.

But Joe has one fight as his pick for his finest, his best; the one he is most proud of. It is the win over Kessler that took place in Cardiff in front of around 50,000 fans. Some fans may point to Calzaghe’s great win over Jeff Lacy as his finest showing, some to his win over Bernard Hopkins.

Bellew-Haye II under-card shaping up: Joe Joyce, Skoglund-Fielding and more to come

12/18/202311/02/2017 James Slater

Will the December rematch between bitter rivals Tony Bellew and David Haye prove to be … read more

Shannon Briggs says he’s been in talks with Warren for a fight with Fury; says he’s nobody’s tune-up!

11/02/2017 James Slater

Shannon Briggs has taken to social media (again) to announce how he has been in talks with promoter Frank Warren regarding a bout between he and the possibly set to return Tyson Fury. It goes without saying that absolutely nothing is close to close to concrete as far as these two great talkers are concerned (will Fury ever fight again? Will Briggs get a license to box in the UK himself?) but Briggs is eager to be the first man Fury faces upon his will-it-won’t-it-happen comeback.