James Slater

Tua and Ustinov weigh-in for heavyweight showdown, a trim Tua ready to give it one last shot

YouTube video
The David Tua-Alexander Ustinov heavyweight clash, a big deal in New Zealand but in truth nowhere else, will see a Tua who has gotten himself in his best physical condition for some time. Tipping-in at a trim and solid 236-pounds – to giant Ustinov’s 292 – Tua knows he will have to retire if he loses.

Now in his forties, the Samoan powerhouse is coming off a points loss to Monte Barrett. The real carrot for Tua in this fight is the vague possibility of a shot at Wladimir Klitschko should he get the job done in style. But can Tua, even an in-shape version, get inside on the much taller Ustinov and detonate his bombs? A true David Vs. Goliath showdown, this fight could be lively, or it could go the other way and be a dull affair. If Ustinov uses his height, reach and strength and is content to jab and then tie Tua up, how will the much shorter man be able to cope?

continue

If James Toney wins “Prizefighter” – what then?

YouTube video
With just hours to go until tonight’s intriguing edition of “Prizefighter: UK Vs. USA” gets underway – and with the debate continuing as to whether or not former multi-weight ruler James Toney should even be participating – the betting odds have shifted in the 45-year-old’s favour.

Toney, a veteran of 88 pro outings dating back to the tail end of the 1980s when his marvellous career began, has surprised many by getting himself in good physical shape (at least Toney looks to be in good shape, having dropped something like 50-pounds) and tipping-in at a lowly (for him) 217-pounds. This, and the fact that Toney has been matched with relative novice Matt Legg (who has just 7 pro bouts to his name) in his first fight, must be what has influenced the bookmakers.

continue

Mayweather-Khan is on for May 3rd in Las Vegas, according to The Daily Express!

mayweather644According to an article from UK newspaper The Daily Express – an article that has been read by many people online – the Floyd Mayweather-Amir Khan fight that has been talked about as a possibility for some time will indeed go ahead next May.

The publication reports how the fight has been “finalised” for May 3rd at Mayweather’s second home of The MGM Grand in Vegas. No source is cited in the article but in truth it will not shock too many fans if the paper is correct and hasn’t jumped the gun. Many fans will, however, be angry if Khan gets this massive opportunity.

continue

Latest Prizefighter tournament line-up complete: James Toney enjoys star status

IMG_47921Fight fans can expect an interesting, hopefully exciting, latest instalment of the popular “Prizefighter” tournament on November 14th. Set to go out, as usual, live on Sky Sports, the latest tournament is another international heavyweights edition, with a Team USA Vs. Team UK element added for further intrigue.

The full eight-man line-up has been confirmed by Matchroom Sports as follows:

James Toney (USA)
Jason Gavern (USA)
Brian Minto (USA)
Damian “Bolo” Wills (USA) – (stepping in for Sherman “Tank” Williams, who pulled out for some reason)

Larry Olubamiwo (UK)
Michael Sprott (UK) – (stepping in for an injured Sam Sexton)
Matt Legg (UK)
Tom Little (UK)

continue

November 7th 1988 – Sugar Ray Leonard Vs. Donny Lalonde: “For All The Gold” – 25-years on

YouTube video
It was one of the biggest and most controversial catch-weight world title fights in boxing history, and almost as soon as Sugar Ray Leonard-Donny Lalonde was announced fans wrote into top magazines such as KO and The Ring, complaining how Leonard had massively stacked the deck in his favour.

To refresh the memory of fight fans:

Leonard, at the time of November of 1988 already a three-weight world champion (welterweight, light-middleweight, middleweight), wanted more gold and to get it he persuaded Lalonde to defend his WBC light-heavyweight title against him at Caesars Palace. But there was a catch (pardon the pun!). Lalonde, a natural 175-pounder, had to drop down to the newly-created super-middleweight weight limit of 168-pounds because – in either a stroke of contractual genius or a stark example of gaining an unfair advantage – Leonard had seen to it that the newly-gilded WBC 168-pound strap would also be on the line.

continue

Ricky “Hitman” Hatton hits York!

Boxing legend and former light-welterweight king Ricky Hatton was in my hometown of York, England yesterday, the Manchester warrior a guest of honour at a dinner. Joined by York hero and former European, British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champ Henry Wharton, Hatton mingled with fans, posed for photos, signed autographs and then took to the microphone to speak about his fantastic career.

continue

Barrera-Hamed: The fight that closed the show for “The Prince”

naseem553Back in April of 2001, “Prince,” Naseem Hamed, then sporting a perfect 35-0 record, faced “The Baby Faced Assassin,” Marco Antonio Barrera, then holding a 52-3 pro ledger in one of the biggest featherweight fights in recent history. What took place in the ring proved memorable.

The showdown, at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, was widely expected to provide another exciting knockout night for “Naz” – instead we saw a would-be great humbled almost to the point of retirement.

Who can forget the way Hamed, by now trained by the great Emanuel Steward, took so long in coming out of his dressing room for battle? A good fifteen or twenty minutes passed before Barrera, who had made his way to the ring with no fuss at all, was joined by the U.K superstar who was attempting to gain similar status in America. On the way to the ring, carried in as he was by a huge, sort of hoop/swing that held him aloft, Hamed was pelted by unimpressed fans, who threw beer over the deeply religious, non-drinking Muslim. The irony was not lost!

continue

Almost 40-years on: “The Rumble in The Jungle” remains Ali’s finest hour

YouTube video
In some ways, the epic interview/speech the great Muhammad Ali gave immediately after he had shocked the world in regaining his heavyweight crown with an incredible 8th-round KO over an “invincible” George Foreman in October of 1974 was as memorable as his ring performance. Ali, who had been stripped of his crown unfairly in 1967, was now back on top of the world and he would be damned if he didn’t let his emotions out in words moments after he’d regained what was rightfully his!

“All of you bow, all of you crawl, all you suckers who write Ring magazine, Boxing Illustrated, never again make me an underdog; until I’m about 50-years-old – then you might get me,” Ali bellowed into the microphone held by the late David Frost. And how he was entitled to say such words.

continue

Danny Williams: The Warrior who can’t quit – will face Oleg Maskaev in Russia November 4th

maskaev3Two ageing heavyweights who really should be happily enjoying retirement will meet in Russia on November 4th. R-Sport reports how Oleg Maskaev, the former WBC heavyweight champion, will face Britain’s Danny Williams in Krasnodar, Russia. 44-year-old Maskaev, 38-7(28) was to have faced Corey Sanders in a rematch of a 2002 meeting which was won by Sanders via 8th-round TKO, but Sanders was unable to get a visa to travel to Russia. 40-year-old Williams, who has a 44-18(33) record (having lost his last eight outings, half by stoppage) was available and has been brought in at short notice.

Maskaev, known as “The Big O,” launched his latest comeback in December of 2012, and since then he has picked up two wins (a 3rd-round TKO over Owen Beck and, last time out in May of this year, a ten-round UD over Jason Gavern). Williams should certainly have quit at least a couple of years ago (he is unable to get a licence to box in Britain), while Maskaev, also way past his best, appears to have at least something left.

continue