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.

Donald Trump and Don King hold bizarre impromptu press conference – “Only in America!”

Donald Trump and Don King hold bizarre impromptu press conference - “Only in America!”

It’s no secret that Don King is, and has for a long time been, a Donald Trump supporter. The two larger than life public figures have a mutual admiration for one another and yesterday, in an impromptu presser that has to rank as one of the most bizarre even in the world according to Trump, the two faced a stunned media gathering in Florida.

Okay, this isn’t really a boxing story, but with not too much going on in the sport at this time of year, the Trump, King get together is at least interesting. The two men, without much warning, surprising those few reporters on the scene at Trump’s luxurious Mar-a-Lago club in sunshine Florida, appeared on a staircase and answered questions. Throughout the short session, King – who waved his customary US flag, as well as an Israeli flag – repeated his famous “Only in America” slogan, as well as Trump’s catchphrase “Make America Great Again.”

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Toney failed, Hopkins failed – can Roy Jones go out a winner?

Toney failed, Hopkins failed – can Roy Jones go out a winner?

Call them The Fabulous Three if you like, or maybe even Champions Forever. For between them, James Toney, Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Junior dominated the middleweight/super-middleweight divisions in the 1990s. A great trio of fighters who rivalled one another for supremacy (Jones and Hopkins fought as did Jones and Toney; what a shame Toney and Hopkins never got it on) each former middleweight king fought on into their forties.

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Joseph Parker’s co-promoter David Higgins says Parker “wants to unify the titles; is willing to lose trying”

Joseph Parker's co-promoter David Higgins says Parker “wants to unify the titles; is willing to lose trying”

Joseph Parker may have made history by becoming the very first heavyweight champion (WBO version) to come out of New Zealand, but the unbeaten star wants more – lots more. According to David Higgins of Duco Events, Parker is likely to be in attendance at Wembley in April when IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua meets former undisputed king Wladimir Klitschko in a fight that will also contest the WBA belt.

Why? Because Parker aims to call out the winner for a massive unification fight.

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So, who was 2016’s Fighter of The Year?

So, who was 2016's Fighter of The Year?

It’s that time again, and the various publications and boxing websites are listing their respective picks for Fighter of The Year. Far from an easy choice to make this year, there are a few great fighters who enjoyed a stellar 12 months and are arguably deserving of the honour.

Let’s break it down:

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Vasyl Lomachenko-Orlando Salido II in March?

Vasyl Lomachenko-Orlando Salido II in March?

It’s one of the most intriguing rematches in boxing and it could happen in March. Vasyl Lomachenko, for many The Fighter of The Year, has been beaten by just two fighters in his entire career, amateur and pro – and the pro defeat, to tough Mexican Orlando Salido, remains the sole unavenged blemish on the super-featherweight champ’s C.V.

But, according to “Hi-Tech” himself, the rematch is very likely for March, in either Las Vegas or Los Angeles.

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Deontay Wilder’s return to kick-start the 2017 heavyweight calendar

Deontay Wilder's return to kick-start the 2017 heavyweight calendar

Fight fans are hoping 2017 will provide them with a good, exciting year of heavyweight action. This year, largely dominated by reigning IBF champ Anthony Joshua (who was, with three title fights fought, the most active heavyweight champion) was no great year, but there are signs that 2017 could be a fine one for the big men of the sport.

The year will be kick-started by the ring return of Deontay Wilder, who will in February fight for the first time since injuring his hand and his biceps whilst throwing bombs at the rock of a head owned by Chris Arreola. Anxious to get back in there having endured just over seven months of enforced inactivity, Wilder, 37-0(36) will face a perceived soft touch in Poland’s Andrzej Wawrzyk on February 25 in Birmingham, Alabama.

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Artur Beterbiev: can anyone take his power?

Artur Beterbiev: can anyone take his power?

Light-heavyweight destroyer Artur Beterbiev gave boxing junkies one more slice of KO action last night in Quebec, and even if the action lasted less than three minutes, fight fans who wanted to see a little more fight action before Christmas were happy with the Russian power puncher’s latest handiwork.

Destroying Isidro Prieto in just 2:44 of the opening round, Beterbiev improved to 11-0(11); he has still to be taken beyond the seventh round. Prieto is both experienced and (usually) durable, having never been stopped, yet this meant absolutely nothing against the lethal-punching heir to the 175-pound throne. Indeed, people are now asking if any light-heavyweight – be it Andre Ward, Adonis Stevenson or Sergey Kovalev – can beat Beterbiev? Can any 175-pounder take the man’s power!

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Conor McGregor has a cheery Christmas message for Floyd Mayweather Junior!

Conor McGregor has a cheery Christmas message for Floyd Mayweather Junior!

There seems to be just one thing Conor McGregor wants for 2017, and that’s a super-fight (at least that’s what it would be billed as) with Floyd Mayweather Junior. For weeks now (or is it months?) McGregor and Mayweather have been going back and forth, exchanging insults.

And, despite the fact that there seems to be a slim at best chance that this fight actually takes place, they hype sure is big. The latest episode in the seemingly never to be concluded saga is the not all all Christmasy message the MMA star had for Mayweather on Instagram.

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Will 2017 see the return of Tyson Fury? Peter Fury says yes

Will 2017 see the return of Tyson Fury? Peter Fury says yes

So, Tyson Fury, the unbeaten, never-lost-the-belts-in-the-ring, former heavyweight champion – have you missed him? It’s been pretty quiet on the Tyson front these past few weeks, save for the odd Twitter outburst, and Fury has now been out of action for almost 13 months.

Fans everywhere know all about the troubles Fury encountered almost as soon as he arrived back home from Germany having sensationally relieved Wladimir Klitschko of his heavyweight titles, and ever since fans have been wondering if we will see Fury in any further big fights. The latest on this according to the man who knows him best, in trainer and uncle Peter Fury, is that “The Gypsy King” is back training and can be expected to fight again “around April/May next year.”

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Abel Sanchez on Danny Jacobs: he is absolutely the best fighter that we have fought – still thinks GGG beats him “easily”

Abel Sanchez on Danny Jacobs: he is absolutely the best fighter that we have fought – still thinks GGG beats him “easily”

Is Danny Jacobs a better fighter than David Lemieux? Matthew Macklin? Kassim Ouma? Daniel Geale? Trainer Abel Sanchez, who of course works with middleweight king Gennady Golovkin, says the man who will next share a ring with GGG is indeed better than all previous opposition the 36-0 star has faced.

Speaking with ESPN.com, Sanchez said that while he feels Triple-G defeats Jacobs, “decisively and easily,” he hopes the critics give his fighter plenty of respect for beating Jacobs on March 18.

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