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.

On this day in 2000: Naseem Hamed gave us his final thrilling victory

On this day in 2000: Naseem Hamed gave us his final thrilling victory

On this day 17 years ago, Britain’s Naseem Hamed, the hardest puncher in featherweight boxing history, scored his final thrilling, memorable ring victory. Facing former amateur standout Augie Sanchez in Mashantucket in a fight that went out on HBO, Hamed scored a brutal KO win in defence of his WBO crown.

The fight, after a relatively uneventful opening round (uneventful compared to the sheer street-fighting element that was to come) became a sensational slugfest, with a ton of leather thrown from both sides, trips to the canvas from both fighters that could so easily have been scored as legit knockdowns, blood and finally a savage KO. Indeed, the action that came thick and fast over four rounds was all but impossible to keep up with.

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Anthony Joshua admits to “massive” disappointment over Klitschko’s decision to retire

Anthony Joshua admits to “massive” disappointment over Klitschko's decision to retire

Anthony Joshua wanted to do it again, and he hoped Wladimir Klitschko would, too. But, instead of taking the rematch he could have had with Joshua, 41 year old Klitschko decided instead to call it a career and retire from the ring.

The April fight the two giants gave us provided the heavyweight division with one massive buzz, the knockdown-filled Wembley fight full of action and switches in momentum. However, a sequel was not to be. AJ, now looking ahead to a mandatory title defence against Kubrat Pulev and then one against Luis Ortiz, admits he suffered “massive” disappointment over the news that Wladimir opted to call it quits instead of agreeing to rumble with him a second time.

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Win or lose tonight, will Terence Crawford move up to welterweight next?

Win or lose tonight, will Terence Crawford move up to welterweight next?

Terence Crawford, who has already won a world title at lightweight, has spent two years and four months of his impressive career fighting at super-lightweight; winning the WBO belt in April of 2015 and adding the WBC crown to his collection in July of 2016. Tonight, should Crawford do as most fans and experts predict, and beat Julius Indongo, he will hold all four major belts at 140.

The question, even if the answer seems to be an obvious one, is will Crawford move up to welterweight after tonight’s fight – win or lose? Most people feel he will win, so assuming he does, will Crawford, 31-0(22) choose to vacate the four belts he spent just under two-and-a-half years collecting and jump right up to 147 in his next fight?

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Dillian Whyte the latest boxer to express serious interest in switching to MMA

Dillian Whyte the latest boxer to express serious interest in switching to MMA

If you haven’t noticed (and which rock were you hiding under if you haven’t noticed!) more and more boxers are looking to test themselves against MMA fighters and vice-versa. Amidst all the hype and build-up surrounding August 26th’s “Super Fight” between boxing great Floyd Mayweather and MMA star Conor McGregor, more names from both disciplines are talking about switching sports.

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November 12 pencilled in for Horn vs Pacquiao II

November 12 pencilled in for Horn vs Pacquiao II

The eagerly awaited return fight between welterweights Jeff Horn and Manny Pacquiao is “almost there,” according to Top Rank boss Bob Arum. Ever since the July 2 win scored by big underdog Horn, fight fans, and Pacquiao and Horn himself have wanted the rematch.

Horn wants it to prove his upset decision win, derided by many as a bad decision, was no fluke. Pac Man wants it because he wants revenge. The fans want it because the first fight was so good. Now Arum says all signs point to November 12, once again in Brisbane, Australia (Arum had earlier said it would simply be too hot to fight in Australia at this time of year, but there are plans for a canopy to be put in place which will protect both the ring and the first ten rows of seats from the blistering heat).

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Is Terence Crawford the pound-for-pound best today if he beats Julius Indongo?

Is Terence Crawford the pound-for-pound best today if he beats Julius Indongo?

It’s an interesting fight that has attracted far less attention than should almost certainly be the case (due in large part to the quite incredible amount of press a certain fight set for August 26 has generated) – and tomorrow night’s 140 pound unification clash between Terence Crawford and Julius Indongo will see a new pound-for-pound ruler crowned.

This is the opion of Crawford anyway. Speaking with the media at yesterday’s final press conference before the big fight, Crawford said he “must” be looked at as the best boxer in the world pound-for-pound after he beats Indongo and adds his two belts to the two he already has in his possession. Crawford said there will be “no discussion” on the subject of who the pound-for-pound best is after he has dealt with the tall and dangerous Indongo; and of course, “Bud” is ultra confident he will pick up the win tomorrow.

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As a result of the eight-ounce gloves allowed for the fight, the odds drop in Mayweather Vs. McGregor

As a result of the eight-ounce gloves allowed for the fight, the odds drop in Mayweather Vs. McGregor

Much has been made of the Nevada State Athletic Commission allowing Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor to box whilst wearing smaller, eight-ounce gloves. A number of fight fans, along with some experts, are now giving the MMA star a better shot at pulling off what would absolutely go down in history as the biggest pro debut victory ever scored.

McGregor, 0-0-0 inside a boxing ring, to Mayweather’s majestic 49-0 numbers, is not quite the long-shot he once was in this fight – not in the opinion of his fans and not at the bookmakers. As per a piece on The Las Vegas Review-Journal, the odds at William Hill in Las Vegas changed quite significantly when news broke about the eight-ounce gloves being brought in to replace the standard 10-ounce.

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Carl Frampton and Barry McGuigan may be headed separate ways as their relationship hits the rocks

Carl Frampton and Barry McGuigan may be headed separate ways as their relationship hits the rocks

According to various reports coming out of Ireland, the once tight knit relationship between Carl Frampton, the fighter and Barry McGuigan, the manager may be headed towards a separation. Nothing has thus far been one hundred-percent confirmed, nor denied, but numerous sources – including BBC Sport NI – report that Frampton may be close to leaving Cyclone Promotions.

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Danny Jacobs still believes he beat GGG, says he’ll keep winning until “the public demand” a fight between he and the GGG-Canelo winner

Danny Jacobs still believes he beat GGG, says he'll keep winning until “the public demand” a fight between he and the GGG-Canelo winner

There is no doubt Danny Jacobs, with his closer than close decision loss to feared middleweight king Gennady Golovkin, took a good amount of the fear factor from GGG. So much so that a number of fans think Canelo Alvarez will beat Golovkin in their September showdown.

Once a fight most if not all felt GGG would win, Golovkin-Canelo is now a 50-50 fight in the opinion of nearly everyone; with perhaps a slight edge perceived for the Mexican superstar. And a great deal of the reason for this swing in opinion is the Jacobs-GGG fight. Jacobs, who along with his manager Keith Connolly, in speaking with RingTV.com, said he feels GGG was beaten back in March and that fans agree.

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