James Slater

James Slater has been a respected voice at Boxing247.com (formerly East Side Boxing) for over twenty years. Known for his deep knowledge of the sport, he covers everything from breaking news and historical features to exclusive fighter interviews. Throughout his career, Slater has spoken with world champions, rising prospects, and boxing legends alike, offering readers trusted insight and genuine passion for the fight game.

Garcia vs Broner: Is this the fight where Broner gets KO’d?

Garcia vs Broner: Is this the fight where Broner gets KO'd?

Adrien Broner, seemingly every fight fans’s favourite bad boy, is a pretty heavy underdog going into his July fight with unbeaten Mikey Garcia; if not on the boards then perception-wise. Ask a fan, and around eight or nine out of ten of them will tell you Broner gets beaten on July 29.

Broner knows he’s not the fan favourite to win but he says he will be “100-percent” and that he wanted this, a tough fight. To his credit, Broner, a multi-weight champ, has never been stopped in his career, where he has suffered two defeats – to Marcos Maidana, who for many people “exposed” Broner and burst his bubble, and to Shawn Porter. But will Broner get stopped by Garcia next month? Is this the fight that ends Broner’s time as an elite fighter?

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Eubank Jr vs Abraham IBO title fight on for July, will go out on ITV pay-per-view in UK

Eubank Jr vs Abraham IBO title fight on for July, will go out on ITV pay-per-view in UK

Reports in Germany say the Chris Eubank Jr-Arthur Abraham fight, which was making the rounds a few days ago, is on for July 15 at The SSE Arena. Further reports (thanks, World Boxing) say a big presser will take place soon to officially announce the fight; which is set to go out on the ITV pay-per-view platform Eubank signed on to back in February of this year.

A good fight, an interesting fight, this one will mark a step up for the former British middleweight champ who, in his last fight in February moved up to capture the lightly regarded IBO strap at 168. Eubank Jr. will defend this belt against the seasoned Abraham.

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Adonis Stevenson destroys Andrzej Fonfara in rematch: A real fight next?

Adonis Stevenson destroys Andrzej Fonfara in rematch: A real fight next?

The above headline might seem harsh, but it is written as a result of frustration. WBC light-heavyweight king Adonis Stevenson, just how good is he? This might come across as a pretty dumb question; after all, Stevenson has been champion for four years and he has made eight successful defences of his green belt, but his big title winning KO over Chad Dawson aside, “Superman’s” quality of opposition has not exactly been elite level.

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Deontay Wilder furious at Johnny Nelson, responds to the Sky pundit’s claims he was KO’d twice by Klitschko during sparring

Deontay Wilder furious at Johnny Nelson, responds to the Sky pundit's claims he was KO'd twice by Klitschko during sparring

Earlier this week a story ran where former cruiserweight champ and current Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson claimed in an interview that he knew of the time Deontay Wilder was KO’d twice when the Alabama warrior sparred Wladimir Klitschko. According to Nelson, this tale – “the worst kept secret going” – is true and Wilder was not only “knocked out cold twice,” but also put down a third time by a Klitschko body shot.

Nelson claims all of this happened over the “various occasions” that Wilder sparred Klitschko. It hasn’t taken long for the reigning and undefeated WBC heavyweight king to respond. And guess what, Wilder refutes everything Nelson said.

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Slugfest in Russia! Kudryashov avenges loss to Durodola with 5th round stoppage

Slugfest in Russia! Kudryashov avenges loss to Durodola with 5th round stoppage

Tonight in Russia, cruiserweights Dmitry Kudryashov and Olanrewaju Durodola met in a rematch of their 2015 slugfest – and this time they surpassed the excitement stakes, big time. Tonight’s war saw Kudryashov avenge his sole pro loss via 5th round stoppage, his brutal left hand sending Durodola down and then, after shaking the Nigerian, forcing the referee’s stoppage.

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Ali at his peak: Unbeatable?

Ali at his peak: Unbeatable?

A half century ago, the world was being dazzled, baffled and entertained by a heavyweight champion who fought like no heavyweight before him. Muhammad Ali, aged 24 and approaching his absolute peak, had won the crown a couple of years earlier and he had made the title retentions he registered since shocking the greatly feared Sonny Liston look almost easy.

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New book counts the number of punches “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali took

New book counts the number of punches “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali took

Today, June 3rd, marks the first anniversary of the death of the one and only Muhammad Ali; without a single doubt the most famous boxer of all time. The tributes continue to come in thick and fast for the three time world heavyweight champion who would have been 75 today had he not lost his long and extremely brave battle with Parkinson’s.

The books continue to roll in, too – even though, as has been pointed out by more than a few boxing aficionados, there surely cannot be anything to write about Ali that hasn’t already been written. We’ve had “The Real Story,” with Ali’s autobiography, released way back in 1975, we’ve had another endorsed account of Ali’s life, with the 1991 effort by Thomas Hauser, and we’ve had hundreds, if not thousands of Ali books since.

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Pacquiao-Horn fight tops Nelson-Fenech; becomes Australia’s biggest ever fight with 40,000 tickets sold

Pacquiao-Horn fight tops Nelson-Fenech; becomes Australia's biggest ever fight with 40,000 tickets sold

Manny Pacquiao’s global popularity is not in doubt. At all. USA Today reports how Pac Man’s upcoming July fight in Australia, against local hero Jeff Horn, has already shifted 40,000 tickets, this making it the biggest fight in the country’s history – the previous record of 38,000 tickets sold for the big super-featherweight rematch battle between Azumah Nelson and Jeff Fenech.

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Tony Bellew still craves revenge over Adonis Stevenson; says he’d go back down to cruiserweight if Stevenson came up

Tony Bellew still craves revenge over Adonis Stevenson; says he'd go back down to cruiserweight if Stevenson came up

A whole lot has happened to Liverpool’s Tony Bellew since his 2013 stoppage loss to defending WBC light-heavyweight champ Adonis Stevenson – most of it good. Shortly after the painful loss, the sole stoppage loss “Bomber” has suffered as a pro, he moved up, Bellew subsequently capturing the WBC cruiserweight belt and even having some odds-defying success as a heavyweight.

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Marco Antonio Barrera: Heading to The Hall!

Marco Antonio Barrera: Heading to The Hall!

One of Mexico’s finest, smartest and most resilient fighters, the great Marco Antonio Barrera will be inducted into The Hall of Fame in Canastota next week (along with, for one other true great, Evander Holyfield). Barrera thrilled millions of fans a number of times, his incredible fights lighting up the lower weight classes in a huge way.

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