James Slater

Six Rounds With Alfredo Evangelista: The former European heavyweight champ speaks on Ali, Holmes, Snipes, Spinks

Six Rounds With Alfredo Evangelista: The former European heavyweight champ speaks on Ali, Holmes, Snipes, Spinks

Spain’s Alfredo Evagelista is, along with Earnie Shavers, Larry Holmes and Leon Spinks, one of the last surviving former fighters to have gone toe-to-toe with an ageing, yet still hugely influential Muhammad Ali.

As with Shavers and Spinks, Evangelista is best known for his fight with Ali. It was back in May of 1977, some forty years ago, when a 22 year old Evangelista entered the ring against the 35 year old Ali. A huge underdog, the challenger who was born in Uruguay surprised quite a few people by pushing Ali all the way to the final bell, losing a 15-round unanimous decision in Landover, Maryland.

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The GGG-Canelo winner; Pound-for-Pound NO.1?

The GGG-Canelo winner; Pound-for-Pound NO.1?

Is light-heavyweight ruler Andre Ward currently deserving of being right at the top of the mythical pound-for-pound rankings? More than likely he is, considering his recent stoppage win over Sergey Kovalev, his overall dominance, at two weights, and his perfect unbeaten record.

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Australian legend Jeff Fenech on what Jeff Horn has to do to beat Pacquiao “Twist him, twist his knees, use your weight, bully him!”

Australian legend Jeff Fenech on what Jeff Horn has to do to beat Pacquiao “Twist him, twist his knees, use your weight, bully him!”

Australian fighting legend Jeff Fenech, who ruled over three weight classes during an exciting career that was somewhat stifled by bad hands, knows all about the rough stuff. A genuinely tough man, the former bantamweight, super-bantamweight and featherweight champ liked to make it rough, rough, rough for his opponents; even employing borderline illegal tactics on occasion.

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Deontay Wilder likely to return in September/October – Hearn doubtful Dillian Whyte will land shot

Deontay Wilder likely to return in September/October – Hearn doubtful Dillian Whyte will land shot

WBC heavyweight ruler Deontay Wilder, last seen halting a game Gerald Washington in February, is expected to return to the ring in September or October according to his promoter Lou DiBella, who spoke with Sky Sports.

British promoter Eddie Hearn has sent an offer for Wilder to defend his belt against former British champ and current top-10 contender Dillian Whyte, but it’s an understatement to say Wilder’s response to Hearn was extremely negative (to put it mildly – Wilder really laying into both Hearn and Whyte, with a number of offensive expletives; Wilder insulted at both the cash offer and the deal being on what the champ referred to as “your terms.”)

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Floyd Mayweather opens gym to media, is pushing himself to the limit in training, “because losing is like death to him”

Floyd Mayweather opens gym to media, is pushing himself to the limit in training, “because losing is like death to him”

Superstar Floyd Mayweather yesterday let members of the media into the gym he is using as he trains for his upcoming crossover match with Conor McGregor, and by all accounts the 40 year old is pushing himself as hard as he always has for a fight. For despite the fact that most people see the August fight as one Mayweather can not lose – his sheer boxing brilliance combined with his vast experience being way, way, way too much for McGregor a complete boxing novice – “Money” simply cannot stand the idea of losing a fight; any fight.

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Golovkin says Canelo fight could he his last; De La Hoya envisages possible trilogy between the two stars

Golovkin says Canelo fight could he his last; De La Hoya envisages possible trilogy between the two stars

He finally has the big one; the defining fight of his career – yet middleweight king Gennady Golovkin says his September super fight with Canelo Alvarez could possibly be the last of his career. GGG says he feels great at age 35 – and you would be hard pressed to name a younger-looking, more fresh-faced 35 year old fighter, one who has had close to 40 pro fights and all those amateur bouts, in all of boxing – yet he is thinking about possible retirement.

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Canelo Alvarez says he wants to beat Golovkin decisively, so there will be no need for a rematch

Canelo Alvarez says he wants to beat Golovkin decisively, so there will be no need for a rematch

Middleweight rivals Gennady Golovkin and Saul Canelo Alvarez are now in New York, on the latest stop in their pre-fight press tour. As fans may have read, Mexican superstar Canelo has access to a rematch of the upcoming September 16 showdown, should he need one (GGG has no such luxury).

But, as quoted by RingTV.com, Alvarez said to the gathered media in New York that he aims to win the fight so clearly, so decisively in September that there will be no need for a second meeting. A dramatic KO win would of course give the once-beaten star what he wants – and Canelo has that KO victory on his mind.

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Tony Bellew: I would have no problem dealing with Andre Ward

Tony Bellew: I would have no problem dealing with Andre Ward

As fight fans probably know, unified light-heavyweight champ Andre Ward, for many the reigning pound-for-pound king, has expressed a serious interest in moving his considerable talents up to the cruiserweight division; maybe even the heavyweight division.

This may or may not happen, but already, since he made his possible intentions known, one big-name cruiserweight has come out and said he would be more than wiling to accommodate Ward in his 200-pound debut: Tony Bellew. Bellew, who was given the title of WBC cruiser “Emeritus champion” after his move up to heavyweight (and a win over a one-legged David Haye this March) has informed Sky Sports he would be more than willing to get it on with the unbeaten Ward.

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David Lemieux-Billy Joe Saunders go at it on social media, both say they want the fight

David Lemieux-Billy Joe Saunders go at it on social media, both say they want the fight

We are all waiting for talented and unbeaten WBO middleweight champ Billy Joe Saunders to get a fight where he can really, truly prove his worth. The gifted southpaw has called out Gennady Golovkin, on numerous occasions, as well as other big names of his division and elsewhere; but the massive fights have, for one reason or another, proven elusive for BJS.

All set to fight dangerous, sawn-off banger Avtandill Khurtsidze on July 8, Saunders saw that intriguing fight fall apart due to his would-be challenger’s shocking arrest for, well, all manner of seriously alleged things. So without a dance partner when he seriously needs one (Saunders has boxed just once since December of 2015) the 24-0(12) champ might just have found one in monster puncher David Lemieux.

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Whose thumping of the great Wladimir Klitschko was more impressive; Joshua’s or Fury’s?

Whose thumping of the great Wladimir Klitschko was more impressive; Joshua's or Fury's?

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have been going back and forth on social media, engaging a war of words ahead of, we hope, a super fight between the two giants. Both men are unbeaten, talented and have a genuine claim to being the best heavyweight in the world – and it is their respective wins over Wladimir Klitschko that give both AJ and “The Gypsy King” the right to claim their dominance over the division.

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