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.

Tyson Fury starts first day of training camp for Klitschko rematch, has plenty of weight to shift

Tyson Fury starts first day of training camp for Klitschko rematch, has plenty of weight to shift

Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has begun his training for the July 9th return fight with Wladimir Klitschko, with Fury entering camp for day-one earlier today. And the 27-year-old, by his own admission, really is a heavyweight, with plenty of excess weight to lose before the fight. Tyson will be training alongside his cousin, unbeaten prospect Hughie Fury, under the watchful eye of trainer and uncle Peter.

Peter Fury wrote in a Tweet earlier today how, “9th July the real journey begins,” and those who know how Team-Fury work have faith in Peter having his fighter fully focused and ready for the fight at hand. Still, Fury, a big man indeed at 6’9” and around 250 to 255-pounds when in top fighting shape, needs to lose close to a fifth of that weight for the rematch. As Tyson Tweeted a couple of hours ago:

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DiBella hugely impressed and excited by Errol Spence Jr

DiBella hugely impressed and excited by Errol Spence Jr

Promoter Lou DiBella, who has been involved in boxing for many years – working with the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Paulie Malignaggi and many other world champions during his tenure in the sport – is hugely excited about his newest star, Errol Spence Junior. Speaking at the post-fight press conference for Spence Junior’s very impressive 5th-round stoppage of the durable and experienced Chris Algieri, DiBella said the southpaw welterweight “has the potential to beat anyone in the world today.”

“What this guy just did is scary,” DiBella said as quoted by RingTV.com. “The talent that he has, this guy’s ceiling is higher than anyone I’ve seen in a long, long time.”

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Can Wladimir Klitschko become a three-time heavyweight champion?

Can Wladimir Klitschko become a three-time heavyweight champion?

There will be a lot on the line on the night of July 9th; for Tyson Fury and for Wladimir Klitschko. Reigning and defending heavyweight champion Fury will be out to prove his title-winning effort against Klitschko was not a fluke, while Klitschko will be shooting for revenge. And history. If 40-year-old Klitschko can regain the crown against Fury, he will become just the second three-time heavyweight ruler in boxing history (along with Muhammad Ali; Evander Holyfield being the only four-time champ at heavyweight) and Wladimir will become the third oldest heavyweight champ ever (after George Foreman and Vitali Klitschko).

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Errol Spence Junior calls out Kell Brook; finally a great fight for the IBF welterweight champ?

http://youtu.be/4M0b_gucXe8

Unbeaten welterweight sensation Errol Spence Junior looked terrific in becoming the first man to stop Chris Algieri last night in New York. Fast, powerful, accurate and showing fine finishing skills, Spence Junior, now 20-0(17) passed the biggest test of his hugely promising career with apparent ease. Looking for all the world like a future world champion and superstar, Spence Junior seems to have that look the special fighters have.

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Iran Barkley speaks: “The Blade” on Hearns, Leonard, Duran, Benn and more

Iran Barkley speaks: “The Blade” on Hearns, Leonard, Duran, Benn and more

As he is often fond of saying whenever he grants an interview, former three-weight champion Iran Barkley never had things easy during his career. The blood and guts warrior who gave his all in memorable battles with the likes of Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Nigel Benn and others, can come across as bitter at times – bitter over how he feels he was not paid the type of big money he should have been and bitter over how he feels he was “robbed” in some of his fights.

But Barkley always gives a good interview – with a career full of great fights, how could he not – and today, recently married, the 55-year-old comes across as more upbeat and cheerful. ESB has had the pleasure of speaking with “The Blade” on a number of occasions and each time he has been kind enough to grant some of his time, Barkley has proven a very interesting subject.

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Cotto won’t take a fight in June as planned, will return later in the year – rematch with Canelo possible

Cotto won’t take a fight in June as planned, will return later in the year - rematch with Canelo possible

Dan Rafael of ESPN.com has reported how Puerto Rican great Miguel Cotto will not now be having a June 18th bout, as was originally planned. Cotto, who has not boxed since putting in a valiant but losing effort against middleweight champ Saul Alvarez, will now look at coming back towards the end of the year, ESPN.com reports, against a big name.

Cotto’s list of possible opponents for the now scrapped June date included James Kirkland and Diego Chaves, but neither guy was deemed suitable by HBO; either for a regular show or a pay-per-view headliner. Britain’s Kell Brook, the reigning IBF welterweight champion, was also a possibility but, depending on which source you choose to believe, either Cotto didn’t fancy the fight or Brook was unavailable on that particular date. In light of Brook’s recent and growing desperation to land himself a big and meaningful fight (his promoter Eddie Hearn was quoted as saying Brook would “walk to New York to fight Cotto”) it’s perhaps hard to believe the Sheffield man would have turned down the fight.

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Khan says a win over Canelo will “take away all the defeats I have had”

Khan says a win over Canelo will “take away all the defeats I have had”

Although Amir Khan has his critics, who suggest the former 140-pound king is not the great talent he himself believes he is, no-one can deny how Khan has always sought the big fights (he was absolutely desperate to get a Floyd Mayweather Junior and/or a Manny Pacquiao into the ring). Nor can anyone say Khan is not involved in exciting fight after exciting fight. And, for a fighter some more vocal critics have called “chinny,” “overrated” and a fighter who has been “exposed at top level,” Khan has a pretty good record.

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Hagler-Hearns: still the greatest fight in middleweight history – but what if there’d been a rematch?

Hagler-Hearns: still the greatest fight in middleweight history - but what if there’d been a rematch?

It’s just over three decades old (31 years ago today to be exact) but no fight has surpassed the epic three-round war between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas “Hitman” Hearns since it took place in Las Vegas in 1985 – certainly no middleweight fight has topped “The War.” With seemingly reckless abandon, the two greats, who were at their peak at the time of the showdown, launched into one another. Fans, experts and even the commentators could barely do anything but watch in awe as the magnificent warfare unfolded.

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Tyson Fury/Anthony Joshua won’t be fighting on the same night, Joshua sees sense and looks at other dates for first title defence

YouTube video

In the words of one boxing pundit, it would have been “promotional suicide” for rival British heavyweight stars to have fought on the same night. Yet for a time, it looked as though the world heavyweight king and the newly crowned IBF heavyweight champ would indeed go head-to-head on rival shows on July 9th. But today, in speaking with BBC Sport, Joshua said it is “most unlikely” he will now box on July 9th.

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Who are the 10 worst heavyweight champs in boxing history?

Who are the 10 worst heavyweight champs in boxing history?

Perhaps it’s disrespectful to even attempt to compile such a list: the 10 worst heavyweight champions in boxing history. After all, all boxers, from amateur to pro level, be they club fighters or pound-for-pound stars, deserve the utmost respect for having the bravery and the courage to do what they do. But still, in light of how much hard-earned cash fight fans must part with to see the big names, the champions, in action, such a list must on occasion be compiled.

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