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.

Lennox Lewis the latest to weigh-in on Mayweather-McGregor; “I wouldn’t buy it on pay-per-view”

Lennox Lewis the latest to weigh-in on Mayweather-McGregor; “I wouldn't buy it on pay-per-view”

Everyone it seems, has an opinion on the upcoming cash bonanza that will be the Floyd Mayweather Vs. Conor McGregor clash. Retired heavyweight great Lennox Lewis is the latest big name to weigh-in on the much maligned August 26 “Super-Fight,” and Lewis doesn’t have anything good to say about the crossover bout.

“I can’t take it serious,” Lewis told The Star. “Mayweather is the best in his weight class, no one can touch him in boxing. He’s a pugilist of the highest order, so for another man from a different sport to fight him? It’s just ridiculous to me. They are two totally different sports. Floyd will stop him. He’s just too good at boxing for McGregor and McGregor is too inexperienced at boxing. He can’t use his other styles.”

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Forget PPV, Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn will be live on ESPN

Forget PPV, Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn will be live on ESPN

In what is great news for fight fans, for their pockets especially, it has been confirmed how superstar Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming fight will go out live on ESPN. The reigning WBO welterweight king will of course face unbeaten Australian puncher Jeff Horn in Brisbane on July 2, at the start of his planned world tour.

And though Pac Man has been a huge draw on pay-per-view over the years, and though his popularity remains enormous, Top Rank have decided to give fight fans the upcoming fight for free as it were.

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Andre Ward Vs. Anthony Joshua!? You’ve gotta be kidding, Virgil Hunter

Andre Ward Vs. Anthony Joshua!? You've gotta be kidding, Virgil Hunter

Is it a joke, or is the joke on us – or will it be? As fight fans may or may not have read, man of the hour Andre Ward, fresh off his controversial rematch win over a fuming Sergey Kovalev, is looking at his next move. And, according to his great trainer Virgil Hunter, a move up to heavyweight, to fight, get this – Anthony Joshua, is what could come next. Hunter says this is the fight that he himself would like to see.

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Andre Ward insists he’s “serious” about possibility of moving up to cruiserweight, heavyweight

Andre Ward insists he's “serious” about possibility of moving up to cruiserweight, heavyweight

It’s all about Andre Ward right now, with the unbeaten, unified light-heavyweight king under the spotlight in one huge way. Talk is probably just getting going regarding the low blow controversy, while the debate as to whether or not Ward, with his stoppage win over the previously unstopped Kovalev, is deserving of the top spot on the pound-for-pound charts, is also a hot topic.

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Whoever said Guillermo Rigondeaux was boring! Yet more controversy with the Cuban’s after-the-bell KO of Moises Flores

Whoever said Guillermo Rigondeaux was boring! Yet more controversy with the Cuban's after-the-bell KO of Moises Flores

Last night’s big card in Las Vegas seems destined to go down as one of the most controversial boxing events in many a year. We all know what happened in the main event rematch between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev – with the low blows thrown and landed by Ward infuriating Team-Kovalev.

But if that wasn’t enough (and it sure was), the chief supporting bout was also covered in controversy – even if far less people are talking about what happened in the Guillermo Rigondeaux-Moises Flores super-bantamweight title fight.

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Floyd Mayweather gives first interview since McGregor fight made official: People all around the world demanded this fight

Floyd Mayweather gives first interview since McGregor fight made official: People all around the world demanded this fight

Floyd Mayweather is a happy man right now, a very happy man. Whether the glee “Money” is seemingly unable to hide is down to the enormous payday his upcoming fight with MMA star Conor McGregor will bag him, or whether, as Floyd claims, it’s down to “giving the people all around the world what they want,” is down to opinion.

But the 40 year old superstar gave his first official (if brief) interview on the August 26 “Super-Fight” yesterday. Speaking with BSO TV, the 49-0 all time great said his retirement came to an end simply because fans “demanded this fight.”

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Exclusive interview with Mario Daser – the self-made millionaire turned pro boxer

Exclusive interview with Mario Daser – the self-made millionaire turned pro boxer

Fighting for anything but the money, unbeaten cruiserweight Mario Daser of Germany could well be looked at as an usual case. A self-made millionaire (Mario having done very well in the property market) the 13-0(6) contender says it is his life’s goal to win a world title.

The 28 year-old made believers of some with his last fight, an upset stoppage win over a past his best but still vastly experienced, and betting favourite, Ola Afolabi. Daser is rightfully proud of the third-round stoppage win he score on May 19th; and he now aims to go on, improve, and then “beat an even stronger fighter” than the former interim WBO champ.

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Guillermo Rigondeaux: I don’t understand this myth of me not having knockouts

Guillermo Rigondeaux: I don't understand this myth of me not having knockouts

Of all the almost criminally avoided boxers over the years, Cuban master Guillermo Rigondeaux has to be close to the very top when it comes to a fighter being swerved. Despite being a superb talent, a pound-for-pound star, the 36 year old has not been able to land himself the big fights his considerable talents more than deserve. No wonder Rigondeaux is frustrated.

Tomorrow night, “El Chacal” will climb into the ring with a good fighter in his mandatory challenger, the unbeaten Moises Flores, and the southpaw hopes bigger fights will finally come after the fight that will snap an eleven month enforced inactive spell.

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An angry Sergey Kovalev storms out of presser; round-one to Andre Ward?

An angry Sergey Kovalev storms out of presser; round-one to Andre Ward?

While the recently confirmed Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor “Super-Fight,” “Freak Show,” or whatever you choose to call it, has seemingly snatched more than its share of attention; boxing fans remain fully interested in tomorrow night’s rematch between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev.

An extremely tough fight to pick (unlike Mayweather-McGregor; with the overwhelming majority picking Floyd to school the MMA star), the rematch of last year’s controversial bout won by Ward has genuinely bad blood. This was shown in quite stunning detail at yesterday’s final press conference for the light-heavyweight return.

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