James Slater

Overwhelming majority of fight experts picking Garcia big over Broner; can “The Problem” silence his critics?

Overwhelming majority of fight experts picking Garcia big over Broner; can “The Problem” silence his critics?

Adrien Broner will certainly be proving a lot of people wrong if he can do as he says he will, and beat Mikey Garcia on Saturday night. Arguably the hottest fight of the summer period (when boxing’s calendar is usually pretty empty, admittedly) the 140 pound clash has got plenty of people talking.

Garcia is the favourite in both senses: fans want and are rooting for him to win, and he is the betting favourite. Broner will likely be greeted to more than a few boos when the action starts, and he knows it. But Broner appears to be extremely focused, perhaps more so than at any time in is largely successful and exciting career.

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“Smokin’” Joe Frazier’s daughter launches petition for Philly street to be named after him

“Smokin'” Joe Frazier's daughter launches petition for Philly street to be named after him

Muhammad Ali has a street named after him, so too does the flamboyant promoter who earned millions from the epic battles Ali and his fiercest rival, “Smokin’” Joe Frazier thrilled the entire world with. And now, in what seems only fitting, only fair, former heavyweight king Frazier could soon have a street named after him.

As per a piece on Yahoo! Sport, Joe’s daughter, Weatta Frazier Collins has started a petition to re-name Glenwood Avenue in downtown Philadelphia as Joe Frazier Boulevard. Already the petition has almost 6,000 signatures – 5,800 in all.

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Tyson Fury has apparently announced his retirement from boxing, again

Tyson Fury has apparently announced his retirement from boxing, again

Tyson Fury is notoriously known for changing his mind again and again, and for making statements he pretty much retracts soon after making them. But, taking the former, unbeaten world heavyweight champ at his word once again, it seems the 28 year old has announced his retirement from boxing.

Fury often releases messages via social media, but his latest message, put up on instagram earlier today, is apparently a goodbye to boxing.

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UK TV bidding war still going on for rights to Mayweather-McGregor – how much will UK fans have to pay – £100!?

UK TV bidding war still going on for rights to Mayweather-McGregor – how much will UK fans have to pay - £100!?

We are just one month away from the monstrously hyped Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor “Super Fight,” yet here in the UK there is still no confirmation regarding just who will televise the August showdown.

According to Eddie Hearn, who spoke with both IFL TV and Business Insider, the following have put in their respective undisclosed bids for the rights: Sky, Box Nation, ITV, BT Sport.

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Dillian Whyte to face blast from the past heavyweight Michael Grant on Crawford-Indongo bill

Dillian Whyte to face blast from the past heavyweight Michael Grant on Crawford-Indongo bill

British heavyweight and top contender Dillian Whyte, 20-1(15) will make his US debut on August 19, as he will fight on the big 140 pound unification showdown between Terence Crawford and Julius Indongo. But those fans who were hoping the 29 year old “Body Snatcher” would look to make a splash by way of tackling a formidable foe can forget it.

Whyte is scheduled to face, get this – 44 year old former contender Michael Grant, 48-7(36). The bout is optimistically scheduled for eight rounds according to invaluable boxing site BoxRec. Okay, as a tune-up affair, Whyte was never going to risk his career, but Grant, really? In his day, sure, Grant, all 6’7” of him, would have given Whyte all the trouble he could handle. But today, coming off three straight stoppage losses, Grant looks like mere cannon fodder for Dillian.

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Rating the “Rocky” films in order of greatness

Rating the “Rocky” films in order of greatness

They are without a doubt the most famous, the most celebrated, even the most cherished boxing films ever. They are the “Rocky” movies, all six of them (seven if you include the highly successful spin-off “Creed;” soon to have its own sequel) and fans in their many millions continue to be moved, inspired and pumped up by a viewing of either episode in the saga.

In short, the “Rocky” films have a genuine greatness to them; it is undeniable. Boxing fans, more than everyday movie fans, may love the efforts of Sly Stallone and co more than most, but pretty much anyone can find, and does find, something to enjoy in all six offerings.

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Tony Bellew-David Haye in talks for a December return, but Haye must agree to Bellew’s purse split demands

Tony Bellew-David Haye in talks for a December return, but Haye must agree to Bellew's purse split demands

Both Tony Bellew and David Haye will fight in December; it’s just a case of whether or not they will fight each other in a rematch or face someone else. It has been revealed how the two are in talks for a December rematch – courtesy of The Star – but that Haye, who sensationally lost to Bellew in March, must agree to Bellew’s purse split demands for the fight to take place.

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Garcia vs Broner: So who wins?

Garcia vs Broner: So who wins?

Adrien Broner insists he is more serious and more focused than at any other time in his entire career; and he had better be telling the truth. This Saturday’s must-win fight (must-win for both men) against Mikey Garcia sees Broner enter the ring as big an underdog as he has ever been. Can “The Problem” rise above the odds?

Broner knows he’s not the fan favourite to win but he says he will be “100-percent” and that he wanted this, a tough fight. To his credit, Broner, a multi-weight champ, has never been stopped in his career, where he has suffered two defeats – to Marcos Maidana, who for many people “exposed” Broner and burst his bubble, and to Shawn Porter. But will Broner get stopped by Garcia on Saturday? Could he even get knocked out cold? Is this the fight that ends Broner’s time as an elite fighter?

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James Toney recalls his disastrous move into MMA, says his fight with Randy Couture “has nothing to do with Conor McGregor”

James Toney recalls his disastrous move into MMA, says his fight with Randy Couture “has nothing to do with Conor McGregor”

Fight fans surely remember the time boxing great James Toney met MMA great Randy Couture in one of the first big-name crossover fights of its kind. It was back in 2010 that Toney, agreeing to fight Couture under MMA rules, climbed into the cage.

The fight, one that saw Couture win inside a round (just over the three-minute mark, having “choked” Toney) was a big deal, even if it was nowhere near as big as the upcoming Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight. Mayweather will of course fight MMA’s McGregor under boxing rules; something Toney tells Sky Sports he would have loved to have done in a return fight with Couture.

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