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.

Which Pound-for-Pound star will get revenge this year: Pacquiao or Gonzalez – or neither?

Which Pound-for-Pound star will get revenge this year: Pacquiao or Gonzalez – or neither?

There have been a number of big boxing upsets this year (and, if the betting wishes of the high rollers are to come true, there will be another one witnessed this Saturday night in Las Vegas) but to many, the respective losses Manny Pacquiao and Roman Gonzalez suffered rank as the biggest shocks of 2017.

As fans know, Gonzalez, when closing in on Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 ledger, fell foul of teak-tough Thai fighter Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (AKA Wisaksil Wangek) in March, the Nicaraguan losing his super-flyweight crown. While in July, Pacquiao lost his welterweight title to big Australian outsider Jeff Horn in another stunning decision.

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Miguel Cotto says he’s absolutely made up his mind: 2017 will be his final year in the ring – will he go out a winner?

Miguel Cotto says he's absolutely made up his mind: 2017 will be his final year in the ring – will he go out a winner?

Though his fight has been somewhat overlooked due to the so-called Super Fight that will take place on the same night in Las Vegas, future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto’s Saturday night fight against Yoshihiro Kamegai could turn out to be a memorable one – for a few reasons.

Firstly, the fight set for Carson, California could be an action fight, a slugfest even; and secondly, the fight that will see Cotto and Kamegai duel for the vacant WBO 154 pound title could be the Puerto Rican great’s final ring appearance. 36 year old Cotto hasn’t said Saturday’s bout will be his swansong but he has said that no matter what, 2017 will be his final year in the ring.

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Marciano Junior says a Mayweather win on Saturday will not break Rocky’s record

Marciano Junior says a Mayweather win on Saturday will not break Rocky's record

49-0 – arguably the most famous numbers in boxing history. They belong to the great Rocky Marciano, heavyweight king of the 1950s, and having retired with such a perfect, unblemished record, Rocky holds a special place in sports. But this Saturday night in Las Vegas, Floyd Mayweather Junior will go to 50-0 if he defeats Conor McGregor, and he will break Marciano’s record. Or will he?

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UPSET! Where would a McGregor win over Mayweather rank amongst the biggest shockers in boxing?

UPSET! Where would a McGregor win over Mayweather rank amongst the biggest shockers in boxing?

James “Buster” Douglas KO10 Mike Tyson. Leon Spinks W15 Muhammad Ali. Cassius Clay WRTD7 Sonny Liston. James J. Braddock W15 Max Baer. Lloyd Honeyghan WRTD6 Don Curry. Antonio Tarver KO2 Roy Jones Junior.

Each of the above stunned the boxing world, some of these wholly unforeseen results shocking the whole world; sporting and otherwise. The question now is, where would a Conor McGregor win over Floyd Mayweather rank alongside these momentous boxing upsets?

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IBF orders Terence Crawford to defend against mandatory challenger Sergey Lipinets; but will the unified champ choose to vacate?

IBF orders Terence Crawford to defend against mandatory challenger Sergey Lipinets; but will the unified champ choose to vacate?

Boxing moves fast these days and the sanctioning bodies move even faster. Less than 48 hours after scoring a scorching 3rd round KO win over Julius Indongo to unify all four major belts at 140 pounds, Terence Crawford was ordered to make his first mandatory defence; so reports ESPN.com

The IBF ordered the unbeaten Crawford to face Sergey Lipinets of Kazakhstan but living in Los Angeles. The 28 year old is unbeaten at 12-0 (10) and he KO’d a good fighter in Lenny Zappavigna to become the IBF mandatory challenger. Still, it’s likely not too many fight fans will be overly familiar with Lipinets, certainly not to the extent that they will get too excited over the prospect of seeing Crawford defend against him.

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Lennox Lewis on Mayweather vs McGregor: Is he going to throw a kick?

Lennox Lewis on Mayweather vs McGregor: Is he going to throw a kick?

Heavyweight great Lennox Lewis, who occasionally works as a guest commentator now that his own boxing career has ended, is not looking forward to this Saturday’s big, heavily hyped Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor crossover fight. In fact, in speaking with BBC Sport, Lewis referred to the fight as “a farce.”

Lewis said he will not be travelling to Las Vegas to watch the fight “unless they pay me to commentate on it.” Lewis, however, did say there is some mystery to the fight – “everybody wants to know what’s going to happen,” he said.

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Vasyl Lomachenko vs Guillermo Rigondeaux close for December 9, to go out on ESPN

Vasyl Lomachenko vs Guillermo Rigondeaux close for December 9, to go out on ESPN

They are arguably the two most naturally talented boxers fighting today (although with his brilliant performance on Saturday night, Terence Crawford is ranked as number-one in the eyes of many fight fans) – and promoter Bob Arum wants to match them together in what he says would be an “historic” fight.

Vasyl Lomachenko Vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux – a fight that has been in the works, at least as a possibility, for some months; due in large part to the unbeaten Cuban’s campaign on social media – is reportedly very close to being made for December 9 in New York, with ESPN set to televise.

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Terence Crawford plans move to welterweight: There is only going to be one name

Terence Crawford plans move to welterweight: There is only going to be one name

Terence Crawford just keeps getting better and better. The brand new unified, WBC/WBO/IBF/WBA super-lightweight ruler was expected to defeat Julius Indongo, but not too many people predicted a quick, brutal 3rd round KO win for him. Most had last night’s fight down as either a distance fight or at least one that would go into the later rounds.

Crawford knew though. He had gone on record, his team and himself, saying before the fight that he would score a KO, and that he did, with one of the best body punch finishes you’ll see all year. The scary part, though, is this – Crawford, at age 29, is not yet at his peak. How much better, or greater, can the two-weight champ become?

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60 years ago today: Another fighter having his pro debut met a guy named Floyd in a much derided “mismatch”

60 years ago today: Another fighter having his pro debut met a guy named Floyd in a much derided “mismatch”

There will be no world title on the line on Saturday night when Conor McGregor, making his boxing pro debut, will climb into the ring to face huge betting favourite and common sense favourite, Floyd Mayweather Junior. However, there once was a fight, perhaps more derided and ridiculed than the upcoming bout, that saw a man make his pro debut AND challenge for a world title at the same time.

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