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.

Carl Froch puts an end to all Gennady Golovkin fight talk: “It’s not happening”

11/16/201611/16/2016 James Slater

With rumour and talk continuing to circulate suggesting former super-middleweight king Carl Froch could be on the verge of ending his over two-year retirement to face reigning middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, it has taken Froch himself to end such talk. It’s not going to happen, not now, not ever.

Writing a piece for Sky Sports web site, “The Cobra” said he has not even spoken with either Tom Loeffler or Eddie Hearn and that although he feels he could beat GGG as he is just too big for him, he is not going to end his retirement for such a fight.

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Will Gennady Golovkin ever get his defining fight?

11/16/2016 James Slater

Is Gennady Golovkin a great middleweight, worthy of being ranked alongside the special ones such as Marvin Hagler, Carlos Monzon, Bernard Hopkins and, perhaps the best of the lot, Sugar Ray Robinson? No, he isn’t – – but he might be one day.

There is no denying GGG’s qualities: his withering punching power, his accuracy, his ability at cutting the ring down on anyone he fights and his speed and punch variety. Indeed, Golovkin seems to have it all – except for one thing: a defining fight. Golovkin is so desperate to bank himself a career-definer, he (or his team) are even looking to lure a 39 year-old Carl Froch out of retirement. GGG has also spoken of his willingness to go up or down in weight in search of that one sparkling win all the greats seems to have on their resume.

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Trey Lippe Morrison to return to action in December

11/15/2016 James Slater

Currently carving out his own name as a heavyweight contender is Trey Lippe Morrison, son of the late Tommy Morrison. The unbeaten 27-year-old is now 12-0(12) and Morrison is coming off an impressive one-round stoppage win over Ed Latimore. The Latimore fight, which was Morrison’s Showtime debut, was supposed to be his toughest test to date in a pro career that began in February of 2014, instead Morrison got the September fight done and dusted in quick time.

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A none too clever move from Cleverly? Nathan wants a rematch with Sergey Kovalev next year

11/15/2016 James Slater

Welshman Nathan Cleverly, the reigning WBA light heavyweight champ, remembers well the beating world number-one Sergey Kovalev put on him back in August of 2013, yet he says he wants a rematch next year. Speaking with ESPN.com, Cleverly, who lost his unbeaten record to Kovalev inside four rounds, says he expects “Krusher” to defeat Andre Ward on Saturday night and that he will then face him for a second time.

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British heavyweight David Allen: I’m made of marble. I’ll stand and trade with Luis Ortiz

11/15/2016 James Slater

Could once-beaten British heavyweight David Allen be the fighter who “comes to win” against Luis Ortiz in the Cuban’s next fight, set for December 10 in Manchester? Promoter Eddie Hearn was as dissatisfied as anyone else with Ortiz’ wide but dull decision win over a negative Malik Scott at the weekend, vowing later to find a far more game opponent for “King King” on the Anthony Joshua-Eric Molina bill.

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Miguel Cotto says 2017 will be his final year as a fighter

11/14/2016 James Slater

Puerto Rican legend and guaranteed future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto says he will fight until the end of next year and then retire. The former four weight king, speaking with Carlos Narvaez of El Vocero newspaper, said he will continue working with Roc Nation, “with the same intensity,” but that after December 31 2017 he will fight no more.

Cotto, 40-5(33) and now aged 36, has not fought since dropping a competitive decision to Canelo Alvarez, in a middleweight title fight, last November 21. There is a possibility the two will meet in a rematch, but Cotto insists such a fight will have to happen before the end of next year or it will not happen.

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The Muhammad Ali who crushed Cleveland Williams: could anyone have beaten him?

11/19/201611/14/2016 James Slater

Mike Tyson? Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko? Joe Louis? Lennox Lewis? Rocky Marciano? Any other heavyweight you care to mention! Would the Muhammad Ali of 50 years ago today – when he was every bit an unhittable, lightening-fast, lethal-punching fighting machine against Cleveland Williams – have beaten any of them?

Historians call it Muhammad Ali’s peak performance; his defining, shining moment of true brilliance in a career filled with majesty. This is the Ali-Cleveland Williams fight from 50 years ago: November 14th 1966. “Ali never danced like that again,” one writer wrote. “That version of Ali would have beaten any heavyweight in history,” a number of experts have claimed.

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Froch-Golovkin Super-Fight! Could it still happen?

11/14/2016 James Slater

If the fight actually took place, how many fight fans would tune in, and pay to do so? It’s a guaranteed great fight that might actually have a small chance of getting made: Gennady Golovkin-Carl Froch! Wow, yes, wow. Yes, super-middleweight warrior and former champ Carl Froch is retired, but, as the saying, the adage, goes – they all come back.

And, according to GGG promoter Tom Loeffler, there is a possibility – just a small one – that “The Cobra” might be enticed to come back to fight the feared middleweight king. Speaking with IFL TV in Monaco at the Ortiz-Scott card, Loeffler said, with a smile (or maybe a mischievous grin) that he and Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn are working on a GGG-Froch match-up. This is a match-up that can only be described as a potential super-fight, one that millions of fans would cheerfully pay to see unfold it it was made a reality.

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Disappointment over Ortiz-Scott, Hearn says he will find “someone who will come to win” for Dec 10 return

11/13/201611/13/2016 James Slater

Cuban heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz, by his own admission, and that of his promoter, was dissatisfied with the decision victory he pounded out over Malik Scott last night in Monaco. Ortiz, who won via lopsided scores on the three cards, blamed Scott’s negative tactics for the dull encounter. Ortiz wanted a showcase in his Matchroom debut but it failed to materialise.

Fans are split now on whether or not the powerful southpaw is as good as it once appeared. Any fighter can have a less than spectacular night, and Scott was less than willing to go to war, but is Ortiz the big threat to the likes of Deontay Wilder (who of course crushed Scott inside a single round a few years back in a non-title fight) and Anthony Joshua that many felt he was? Is age catching up with Ortiz who, at 37, is no spring chicken?

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Hughie Fury confirms he is in talks with Deontay Wilder, is confident he can beat him

11/13/201611/13/2016 James Slater

It seems there is a pretty good chance we could see a Wilder-Fury fight next year after all: Wilder Vs. Hughie Fury. With big Tyson out of the way due to well-documented problems, it could be up to cousin Hughie, himself a big guy, to face the reigning WBC heavyweight king. Speaking with The Mirror, the unbeaten contender confirmed how his team are currently in talks with Wilder over a possible March fight.

And Hughie, who claims he was offered “silly money” to fight IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua – turning down the poor offer – is convinced he has what it takes to defeat Wilder.

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