James Slater

James Slater has been a leading voice at Boxing247.com  (East Side Boxing) for more than two decades. His expertise lies in writing news, detailed historical articles, and conducting interviews with fighters across the globe. Over his career, Slater has spoken with world champions, prospects, and legends, bringing unique insights to both current events and boxing’s rich history. Slater’s long-standing commitment to the sport has made him a trusted source for fans who want context, reliability, and passion in their boxing news.

Canelo says he’d like to “take out thorn in his side” with a Mayweather rematch

Canelo says he'd like to “take out thorn in his side” with a Mayweather rematch

As he gears up for the biggest fight of his career, Mexican star Saul Canelo Alvarez is thinking, at least a little, about the second biggest bout of his career – the one he lost to Floyd Mayweather. Canelo, in being quoted by The Star, says he is not exactly obsessing over Mayweather and getting “Money” back in the ring with him, but he says a rematch is definitely something he would like.

As fans know, Mayweather put on a sensational, nearly flawless display in September of 2013, outboxing the 23 year old and taking his unbeaten record from him. Canelo may have looked like the epitome of a crushed fighter spiritually that night, or rather he did at the end of it, but he would love to face Mayweather again. Canelo says he learnt a lot from the 12 round defeat.

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De La Hoya on what will happen if Canelo loses to GGG: “So be it. As long as he gives us a great fight”

De La Hoya on what will happen if Canelo loses to GGG: “So be it. As long as he gives us a great fight”

What do modern day legends Thomas Hearns, Meldrick Taylor, Joe Frazier and Pernell Whitaker all have in common? They all achieved greatness in defeat (or in the case of “Sweet Pea,” greatness was achieved by way of a draw).

Hearns went to war with Marvin Hagler, in losing elevating his own legend enormously. Taylor came within seconds (just two to be exact) of becoming the first man to defeat the greatest Mexican fighter of all-time, Julio Cesar Chavez. While Frazier pushed the greatest heavyweight in history to the point of seeing death.

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15 years ago today: Oscar De La Hoya triumphs in his biggest Grudge-Fight as he KO’s Fernando Vargas

15 years ago today: Oscar De La Hoya triumphs in his biggest Grudge-Fight as he KO's Fernando Vargas

As he approaches the biggest Grudge-Fight of his promotional career, Oscar De La Hoya can today look back on the biggest, nastiest Grudge-Fight of his own ring career: the one with “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas.

This fight, appropriately dubbed “Bad Blood,” was a 154 pound clash that managed to live up to its considerable hype. Simply put, these two warriors did not like each other; Vargas especially having an intense dislike for “The Golden Boy.”

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Arum, Team-Parker furious over British referee, judge being assigned to Fury title defence

Arum, Team-Parker furious over British referee, judge being assigned to Fury title defence

Promoter Bob Arum and the entire team behind WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker are extremely angry at the way both a British referee and a British judge have been appointed ahead of the upcoming September 23rd title defence Parker will make against Hughie Fury.

According to Arum, who promotes New Zealand’s Parker, The British Boxing Board of Control has “completely disregarded WBO protocol and their contract with Parker to appoint neutral officials.” Referee Terry O’Connor has been given the job of third man in the ring, while an English judge who will score the bout along with two other officials has also been assigned.

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Exclusive Interview with Eddie Gregg: “The heavyweights from the 1980s would blow everyone away today”

Tall, athletic and possessing fast hands and above average punching power, New Yorker Eddie Gregg should perhaps have gone further than he did. The 1980s contender, most famous for his 1986 KO loss to Gerry Cooney, became a favourite at The Felt Forum, and it was whilst fighting at this venue that Gregg won his only pro title – stopping an unbeaten Carlos Hernandez to collect the New York State heavyweight title in February of 1985.

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Deontay Wilder vs Luis Ortiz reportedly a done deal for November 4 in Brooklyn

Deontay Wilder vs Luis Ortiz reportedly a done deal for November 4 in Brooklyn

Deontay Wilder Vs Luis Ortiz: it’s a potentially explosive heavyweight match-up that has been listed as a possibility for some months, and now, according to numerous news sources, the fight has been nailed down for November 4 in Brooklyn. According to a piece on Yahoo! Sports, promoter Lou DiBella has neither confirmed nor denied the fight, saying to writer Kevin Iole, “Wait until you see what Deontay is up to.”

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Can Golovkin – Canelo top even the epic Hagler-Hearns war!

Can Golovkin - Canelo top even the epic Hagler-Hearns war!

It remains the benchmark all big fights are measured by: it is the epic, never to be forgotten three-round war between all-time greats Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas “Hitman” Hearns. And with expectations mighty high going into Saturday night’s huge middleweight showdown between Gennady Golovkin and Saul Canelo Alvarez – both warriors very possibly being all-time greats of the future – some people are even suggesting the 1985 classic could be topped in terms of mesmerising two-way action.

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The Dillian Whyte conundrum – who will fight him?

The Dillian Whyte conundrum – who will fight him?

British heavyweight Dillian Whyte is far from the best heavyweight in the world; he has been brutally KO’d by current WBA/IBF champ Anthony Joshua and he has laboured, at least a bit, during some of his winning fights. But what Whyte is, or what he appears to be, is a fighter willing to take on all comers, to fight the best.

Of course Whyte wants the most lucrative fights out there and of course he says a world title shot, should one come up, would take precedent over any other fight. But Whyte believes in himself and in his talents.

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Pulev promoter Sauerland says if Pulev hurts Joshua the way Klitschko did, “There’s only one winner”

Pulev promoter Sauerland says if Pulev hurts Joshua the way Klitschko did, “There's only one winner”

Is IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev a genuine threat to IBF/WBA heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua? In actuality, yes he is, as ANY heavyweight who can punch is a threat to any other big man of the sport; but most experts and fans see the October 28 fight as a win for AJ.

One person who naturally disagrees is Pulev’s promoter Kalle Sauerland, who tells Sky Sports how any young champion who is “learning on the job,” as is the case with Joshua, shouldn’t be messing around with his experienced fighter. Sauerland says Joshua has flaws and that Pulev will be looking to exploit them next month.

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