James Slater

Jesus Soto Karass: Give This Man A World Title Shot!

002 Soto Karass victory IMG_1761Last night in San Antonio was quite simply boxing at its very best. The Golden Boy card – surely the leading candidate for Card Of The Year (if there is such an award) – gave us three, count them, three, great fights; two of which are definite FOTY candidates. With the televised opener (at least it was on BoxNation, and how grateful should UK fight fans be for that channel picking up last night’s card!) we had a very good fight in Keith Thurman-Diego Chaves, while with the two epics that were Omar Figueroa-Nihito Arakawa and Jesus Soto Karass-Andre Berto we had unforgettable action delivered by way of two breathtaking slugfests.

The WBC interim lightweight battle was truly awesome, with both guys hammering away at each other with scarcely a jab or anything resembling a clinch in sight all night. That fight may not be topped as far as 2013’s FOTY award goes, but last night’s main event sure came close. Andre Berto, once looked at as a star and a future pound-for-pound talent, showed a ton of heart in his must-win war with Mexican warrior Soto Karass, but he didn’t win. A huge setback, the 12th-round TKO may well have ended Berto’s chances of being an elite fighter.

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Carl Froch-George Groves WBA/IBF title fight confirmed for later this year; date and venue to be announced soon

Georges_GrovesIt’s official: Carl Froch will defend his WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles against unbeaten countryman George Groves later this year at a venue in the UK to be determined soon. The exact date is also TBA but both men appeared live on Sky Sports News at 12 noon UK time today, to talk about the fight.

Froch, unable he said to get rematches with Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward right now, is excited about giving the UK fans a domestic fight that will contest two major world titles.

“I think this fight is a real treat for the fans,” Froch said. “Some people have said George Groves is not in the same class as me, but there is no danger of me underestimating him. I will take this fight very, very seriously and will bring my A-game as I always do. Groves has done everything asked of him and Eddie Hearn has done a great job getting him the mandatory position. I will prepare like I’m fighting one of the best fighters in the world.

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Dereck Chisora Takes Away Malik Scott’s Unbeaten Record With Controversial 6th-round Count-Out

chisora101Tonight at Wembley, Dereck Chisora got back to winning ways with a 6th-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Malik Scott. The ending, at the very least a slightly controversial one, came at the two minute and 56-seconds mark of the 6th.

Chisora, in improving to 17-4(11) said after the fight that he wants to go back to Germany to fight the Klitschkos, again in the case of WBC king Vitali. Scott, now 35-1-1(12) said “everyone knows I beat the count,” yet otherwise took the defeat graciously.

So, now to the controversy. Scott, ahead on the cards at the time of the stoppage and having boxed very well, was belted by a right hand shot that landed on the back of the head as he was on the ropes. Scott went down, smiling as he did so, appearing relatively unhurt.

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Building The Perfect Heavyweight!

Begging the pardon of Alexander Povetkin (who gets the next shot), the David Haye-Tyson Fury winner, Deontay Wilder and the tough and avoided Kubrat Pulev, but no-one looks like defeating heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko. Older brother Vitali, if he risks his fine record by sticking around too long and battling Father Time might, just might, be the victim of a young fighter being smack bang in the right place at the right time, but “Dr. Steel Hammer” looks set to walk away having remained unbeaten since way back in April of 2004.

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Harlem: Host To Boxing Royalty In A Golden Age (A work of fiction)

robinson464633It’s the middle of a magical year in a magical decade and we are in a magical place for boxing. Only boxing royalty is present this night, that and the finest, most gifted artists, writers and performers of the day. The one and only Miles Davis, enveloped in silhouette, plays for the guest of honour, while Sugar Ray’s fellow boxing masters, the ones he has personally invited to his latest post-fight celebration, sit and drink and revel and talk boxing and money and fame and immortality as they bask in the glory they have each long since grown accustomed to enjoying.

Archie Moore, the seemingly ageless light-heavyweight champion, sits at the piano, almost silently tickling the keys as accompaniment to the heavenly playing of the jazz great. Joe Louis, arguably the finest heavyweight of all time, sits and sips on a short, “The Brown Bomber” looking slightly uneasily towards the door as he does so. Then the music stops and our hero makes his entrance.

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Kell Brook’s “Big Name” In Planned September Fight: Might It Be Mosley?

mosley45445Unbeaten Kell Brook put a frustrating number of months behind him last night in Hull, in stopping tough rival Carson Jones in the 8th-round of a largely one-sided fight. Looking “Special” indeed at times, Brook – who impressed with his left jab and his right hooks to the head – advanced to 30-0(20). Perhaps more importantly, is the “big name” an “excited” Eddie Hearn spoke of having lined up for Brook in Sheffield in his next bout in September.

Already, fans are wondering who this big name will be (Hearn is expected to make announcement this week). Brook’s main goal is of course to fight for and win a world title, but the September bout doesn’t figure to be a title shot. Instead, look for Brook to attempt to bag himself a valuable, statistically impressive win over a “name” and then get his long-awaited shot at world glory.

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Haye Vs. Fury News – Haye’s Trainer Adam Booth: “10,000 Tickets Sold In Three Hours”

Heavyweight rivals David Haye and Tyson Fury continued their war of words on Sky Sports’ Ringside show tonight, just an hour or so after their heated press conference in London. The fight, one that Fury promoter Mick Hennessey is calling a “super-fight,” all set for Manchester on September 28th, is sure to attract a massive audience – with the pre-bout build-up already proving hugely entertaining.

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Haye Vs. Fury Official – Press Conference To Announce Showdown Set For Thursday In London

haye54It’s finally official: British heavyweight rivals Tyson Fury and David Haye will fight on September the 28th in Manchester.

Haye signed the contract for the fight yesterday, and now Fury has agreed to the exciting-looking match-up that may well captivate British audiences.

“David Haye and Tyson Fury, both world-ranked, charismatic and dangerous, have agreed to a highly anticipated domestic showdown on Saturday 28th September at the Manchester Arena,” a statement from Hayemaker Promotions read. “It marks not only the biggest heavyweight encounter of 2013, but also the biggest fight staged in Britain in many years.”

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Gennady Golovkin: Superstardom Awaits!

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Matthew Macklin: ‘Golovkin Is Way Way Better Than Martinez’

Who could have possibly failed to have been mightily impressed by Gennady Golovkin’s one-punch KO over the very experienced Matthew Macklin last night? “GGG,” was being spoken about as the single hardest puncher in boxing today BEFORE his brutal body shot win over the brave and gutsy, and usually durable Macklin – now, fans everywhere are even more excited about the softly spoken fighter from Kazakhstan who holds the WBA and IBO 160-pound titles.

Many good experts felt Macklin – who had pushed Felix Sturm and Sergio Martinez hard in previous title challenges – would test the unbeaten 31-year-old. Instead, Golovkin, 27-0(24) won in sensationally devastating style. But the ride could be just beginning for “GGG,” his team and his ever-growing number of fans. Traditionally, boxing fans adore a puncher, to the extent that they are ready and willing to part with hard cash to see one in action. Golovkin, as surely everyone agrees, is a pure puncher. More than that, though, Golovkin has skills, speed, class and a fine boxing brain. The sky really is the limit for him.

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