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.

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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Happy Birthday Roberto Duran

Happy Birthday Roberto Duran

Turning 66 years old day is the great, the hugely celebrated Roberto Duran. One of the finest “born fighters” in history, Duran lit up the sport in a major way for years. Arguably the finest living fighter today, Duran did everything his way.

Turning pro in February of 1968, Duran won a UD over four-rounds against a guy named Carlos Mendoza. Roberto would go on to score a number of brutal KO’s and he would also collect no less than four world titles in different weight classes – lightweight, welterweight, light-middleweight and middleweight being the divisions this legend conquered.

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Deontay Wilder arrested and charged with marijuana possession

Deontay Wilder arrested and charged with marijuana possession

While we fans and the man himself await his next fight, WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder has run into a little bit of trouble. According to a news story in The Tusacaloosa News paper, Wilder was arrested yesterday in his home town.

Pulled over in his car, Wilder’s Cadillac was found to have some marijuana inside. The unbeaten KO artist was arrested and later released on a $1,000 bail. According to Wilder’s attorney, Paul Patterson, the drugs belonged to someone other than Wilder, who had loaned out his car whilst being out of town.

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More on Mayweather McGregor: Fight will be at 154 pounds, with 10oz gloves

More on Mayweather McGregor: Fight will be at 154 pounds, with 10oz gloves

For those fight fans that are interested, further details have come out on the “Super-Fight” that is now official for August 26 – Floyd Mayweather versus Conor McGregor. Dana White, in speaking with Fox Sports, said the fight will be fought over a scheduled 12 rounds, it will be fought at the light-middleweight limit of 154-pounds and the two fighters will fight using 10oz gloves.

White, doing his best to further hype the fight as a genuinely competitive match-up, said that in his opinion Mayweather “struggles with southpaws.” The MMA warrior from Ireland is of course a southpaw and maybe, just maybe, White will be proven right, and Floyd will, for a round or two, struggle with McGregor’s stance.

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Carl Froch looks back on his loss to Andre Ward…

Carl Froch looks back on his loss to Andre Ward...

… insists he was not outclassed, says he would have stopped Ward had the fight been a 15-rounder

Like the rest of us, former super-middleweight king Carl Froch is interested to see what happens in Saturday’s big rematch between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev. Froch, these days content in retirement from the ring and working as a pundit for Sky Sports, of course faced Ward, down at super-middleweight, in the “Super-Six” final.

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Carl Frampton set to go to war with another Mexican warrior, will face Andres Gutierrez July 29

Carl Frampton set to go to war with another Mexican warrior, will face Andres Gutierrez July 29

Carl Frampton certainly likes fighting tough Mexican warriors. The former super-bantamweight and featherweight ruler will face Andres Gutierrez in Belfast on July 29. The fight will be a WBC featherweight eliminator.

Frampton, 23-1(14) was last seen losing a close decision in his rematch with Mexico’s great Leo Santa Cruz, having previously decisioned him in an earlier, more action-packed fight. Now wanting to fight for another world title and become a three-weight king, “The Jackal” has not in any way picked an easy or safe opponent in the 35-1-1(25) 23 year old from Guadalajara.

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Alexander Povetkin – Andriy Rudenko will now contest WBO title

Alexander Povetkin - Andriy Rudenko will now contest WBO title

As fans may have read, Russia’s Alexander Povetkin will return to action on July 1st. The former WBA heavyweight champion who has suffered his share of out of the ring issues – testing positive for illegal stimulants; which ruined his big fight with Deontay Wilder, set for last summer – will face Ukrainian Andriy Rudenko, 31-2(19) on a big card in Moscow.

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Tyson Fury on him Vs. Joshua: “If it doesn’t happen it will be like Lennox Lewis-Riddick Bowe”

Tyson Fury on him Vs. Joshua: “If it doesn't happen it will be like Lennox Lewis-Riddick Bowe”

Of all the must-see, must happen fights that we didn’t actually see, because they didn’t happen, the 1990s heavyweight classic that would have been Lennox Lewis-Riddick Bowe has to be one of the biggest disappointments. Back and forth these two stars and rival champions went, only for the fight to fail to get off the ground.

Former heavyweight king Tyson Fury does not want a fight between himself and Anthony Joshua to go the same way: nowhere. Just this week, unbeaten WBA/IBF champ Joshua called Fury out, saying this is the fight the fans want and therefore it is “top of my list.”

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