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.

Terence Crawford would make 137 pounds for fight with Vasyl Lomachenko – for $10 million!

Terence Crawford would make 137 pounds for fight with Vasyl Lomachenko – for $10 million!

We don’t know how serious he was being, but Terence Crawford’s trainer Brian McIntyre told Ringtv.com yesterday that his fighter would work hard enough to make 137 pounds so as to fight Vasyl Lomachenko – if the staggering sum of $10 million gets put on the table. McIntyre, with a laugh, said Crawford, the reigning WBC and WBO super-lightweight champ, would drop down three pounds to fight the current WBO super-featherweight king.

“If they put $10 million to make 137 we’re going to make 137,” the trainer said. “We’re going to make 137. But I know it’s not going to happen. Terence would beat the (****) out of Lomachenko. He too damn small.”

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Joshua-Molina, Crawford-Molina, Parker-Ruiz – Three big fight prediction for this weekend

Joshua-Molina, Crawford-Molina, Parker-Ruiz - Three big fight prediction for this weekend

There is no shortage of boxing action this weekend, with a number of big and important fights going down in various locations. The three fights that have attracted a good deal of the attention are the Anthony Joshua-Eric Molina fight (Yes, the under-card fight of Dereck Chisora Vs. Dillian Whyte has also attracted plenty of press and fan interest, but the word now is that the fight might not even happen. As a result of Chisora’s desk-throwing wobbler, the BBB of C must decide whether or not to allow the fight to go ahead), the Andy Ruiz Jnr-Joseph Parker clash and the Terence Crawford-John Molina Jnr showdown.

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Anthony Joshua says he will retire in five years, “provided everything goes to plan”

Anthony Joshua says he will retire in five years, “provided everything goes to plan”

Although he has had just 17 pro fights – fight number 18 comes this Saturday night against challenger Eric Molina – Anthony Joshua is already speaking about when he plans to call it a day and retire. The reigning IBF heavyweight champ, speaking with The Mirror, says that if things go to plan he will retired in five years at the age of 32.

Joshua says he could retire today if he wanted to, as he is happy. Yet right now, the 27 year old is enjoying boxing and he wants to leave behind a legacy.

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Miguel Cotto-James Kirkland looms for February 25

Miguel Cotto-James Kirkland looms for February 25

According to a piece on ESPN.com, Miguel Cotto will return to action on February 25, against a fighter who will also be coming back from a substantial layoff. Cotto, who is zeroing in on retirement having pretty much done everything – winning world titles in multiple divisions and engaging in numerous super-fights – is set to face Texan banger James Kirkland.

The fight, which both fighters have agreed to, is scheduled to take place at a facility inside the Dallas Cowboys stadium in Frisco, Texas. The bad news (for those who see anything good about this match-up in the first place) is that the fight will be a pay-per-view offering on HBO. Who knows what we can expect to see in a fight between Cotto, 40-5(33) and last seen losing a competitive fight with Canelo Alvarez 13 months ago, and Kirkland, 32-2(28) and last seen getting crushed by Canelo over a year-and-a-half ago.

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Wladimir Klitschko anxious to get back in the ring: “This year has been very frustrating”

Wladimir Klitschko anxious to get back in the ring: “This year has been very frustrating”

Back in 1994, when heavyweight legend George Foreman challenged Michael Moorer in an attempt to regain his old heavyweight belts, he had not fought for 17 long months. When Wladimir Klitschko, a modern day legend, challenges Anthony Joshua (planned for next April, dependant on AJ beating Eric Molina on Saturday) in an attempt to regain the IBF and WBA titles, he will have been out of action for a similar amount of time.

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WATCH: Dereck Chisora loses plot at presser, throws table at rival Dillian Whyte – VIDEO

YouTube video

Today at the final press conference to promote this Saturday’s Dereck Chisora-Dillian Whyte clash for the British heavyweight crown, things got well and truly nasty. Chisoa, angered at an apparent “death threat” hurled at him from his bitter rival (no, seriously, fight fans, in this day and age of pre-fight shenanigans, some staged, others not, this particular feud is as REAL as it gets) suddenly picked up a portion of the head table and threw it at Whyte; with it just missing promoter Eddie Hearn’s head.

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A Case For The Cruisers: is cruiserweight the most exciting division in boxing today?

A Case For The Cruisers: is cruiserweight the most exciting division in boxing today?

Fight fans who tuned in saw a great card in Moscow this past Saturday, and it was a card that was predominantly highlighted by cruiserweights. We saw hard-hitting Murat Gassiev decision the unimaginably tough Denis Lebedev in a great fight, and we saw the lethal banger that is Dmitriy Kudryashov – arguably the single hardest one-punch terminator in the sport today – ice Santander Silgado in typically chilling fashion.

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David Haye says he’d have “fun” against “robotic” Anthony Joshua, predicts KO win inside three rounds

David Haye says he'd have “fun” against “robotic” Anthony Joshua, predicts KO win inside three rounds

While a good number of fight fans may well agree with David Haye’s prediction that he will “demolish” Tony Bellew when they meet in their heavily hyped fight next March, these same fans may raise an eyebrow at the former WBA heavyweight champ’s claim – made yesterday – that he would knock unbeaten star Anthony Joshua out inside three rounds.

Haye, aged 36 and having boxed just three rounds since the summer of 2012, says that everything he has seen of the reigning IBF heavyweight champ tells him he would not only have a short night against him but that he would even enjoy the fight, and have “fun.” Haye calls the 17-0(17) British star “robotic” and he insists there are just too many holes in his overall game for him to be able to cope with “The Hayemaker.”

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Hughie Fury puts out Tweet saying Wilder wants to fight him, Feb. 25th – “I’m happy, make this fight”

Hughie Fury puts out Tweet saying Wilder wants to fight him, Feb. 25th - “I'm happy, make this fight”

A Deontay Wilder-Hughie Fury fight has been spoken of before now, at least as a possibility, and yesterday, in a Tweet by unbeaten Hughie, cousin of course of troubled former world heavyweight king Tyson, an actual date for this would-be fight appeared. 22-year-old Fury, 20-0(10) Tweeted the following:

“I’m ready for the big fights. Wilder wants it 25th Feb. I’m happy please make this fight @boxnationtv @MGM_Manchester @HennesseySports.”

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