James Slater

The greatest living former heavyweight kings

The greatest living former heavyweight kings

With the recent sad passing of the great Joe Frazier, and the even more recent – in fact still numbing – passing of The Greatest, Muhammad Ali, the world was robbed of two of the finest heavyweight world champions in history. Indeed, Ali and Frazier, who of course gave us THE most fierce and most celebrated rivalry in all of sports, were the king of kings. Ali and Frazier may no longer be with us on this physical plane, but they will live forever.

This distinction, or honour, is one only truly special fighters receive – Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Robinson and Joe Louis included. But who are the finest, the greatest, the most special former world heavyweight kings who are still with us? In short, who are the greatest living former heavyweight rulers?

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Dillian Whyte responds to Antonio Tarver’s challenge: “I’d smash him to pieces!”

Dillian Whyte responds to Antonio Tarver’s challenge: “I’d smash him to pieces!”

Once-beaten British heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte returns to action for the second time since his exciting, but losing, December 2015 fight with Anthony Joshua on July 30, when he will face a TBA in Leeds. Whyte spoke to Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson at yesterday’s press conference to promote the stacked Leeds show – topped by the hugely popular Josh Warrington against Patrick Hyland and also featuring Luke Campbell in action and Tyrone Nurse against Tommy Coyle – and he spoke of the problems he has in getting himself a decent fight.

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Carl Frampton leaves for New York, says there will be no mistakes in Santa Cruz fight

Carl Frampton leaves for New York, says there will be no mistakes in Santa Cruz fight

Unbeaten Irish warrior Carl Frampton today flew to New York for his step up to featherweight title challenge of Mexican warrior Leo Santa Cruz. The fight is still 27 days away, July 30, but Frampton said he made mistakes in his previous trip to America, when he was twice knocked down in his points win over Alejandro Gonzalez Junior – and one of these mistakes, Frampton told ESPN.com, was not getting to El Paso soon enough.

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Isaac Chilemba angered at “disrespect” from Kovalev, vows to “teach him some manners” on July 11th

Isaac Chilemba angered at “disrespect” from Kovalev, vows to “teach him some manners” on July 11th

Isaac Chilemba feels he has been, and is being, disrespected by Sergey Kovalev as he approaches his July 11 shot at the light-heavyweight champ. Chilemba of South Africa is annoyed at the way Kovalev’s big November fight with Andre Ward has been announced and that he is seen as nothing more than a “stepping stone” for Kovalev. Speaking with Sowetan Live, Chilemba, 24-3-2(10) says he will make unbeaten puncher Kovalev pay for his disrespect and make history on the same night.

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Erkan Teper defeats Derric Rossy in controversial return bout, David Price’s trainer “fuming”

Erkan Teper defeats Derric Rossy in controversial return bout, David Price’s trainer “fuming”

Last night in his native Germany, “suspended” heavyweight Erkan Teper returned to the ring for the first time in almost a year, since his European title winning fight with Britain’s David Price. As fans may recall, Teper failed a drugs test after the 2nd-round KO he scored last July, and was suspended for two years. Yet he was allowed, controversially so, to box yesterday because the ban was only directed towards EBU-sanctioned bouts. Last nights bout, against New York’s Derric Rossy, was sanctioned by the German Boxing Commission – (The BDB) who are, we read, supposed to be keeping strict checks on Teper.

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Pac-Man business manager: “The promoter is trying to convince Manny to fight in October, but it won’t happen”

Pac-Man business manager: “The promoter is trying to convince Manny to fight in October, but it won’t happen”

Does superstar boxer turned senator Manny Pacquiao really want to fight again, or is it just his promoter Bob Arum who wants him to do so? Arum recently revealed how he had put the date of October 15th “on hold” for a Pacquiao ring return. Arum stated how he believes the former eight-weight king wants to fight again, and he reserved the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas for Oct. 15th, “just in case.”

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Anthony Joshua expecting a good fight between Wilder and Arreola

Anthony Joshua expecting a good fight between Wilder and Arreola

It’s a pretty quiet upcoming period for fight fans, with not too much scheduled between now and the July 23rd unification clash between rival 140-pound champions Terence Crawford and Viktor Postol, and then not too much set for the month of August. This coming Saturday, July 9, we should have all been settling down to the eagerly awaited rematch between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko, but due to Fury’s injured ankle, it looks like we will have to wait and wait for this one.

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Jessie Vargas losing patience with Kell Brook fight, looking at fighting return with Tim Bradley instead

Jessie Vargas losing patience with Kell Brook fight, looking at fighting return with Tim Bradley instead

WBO welterweight ruler Jessie Vargas is losing patience with regards to his supposed upcoming (but still not officially announced) unification clash with IBF 147-pound champ Kell Brook. Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn has admitted to some “frustrations” in getting the fight finalised with a set date – due in large part to trying to make the GGG-Eubank Junior fight for around the same time period of late August/September – but Vargas is beginning to look elsewhere.

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DeMarcus Corley still chopping away at 42, wins Jamaican “Contender” tournament

Arguably the single most experienced, seen-it-all-done-it-all active fighter in the sport today, former WBO 140-pound champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley’s pro record really does read like a who’s who of the 140 and 147-pound divisions. The amazing southpaw from Washington DC has, during his 20 year pro career, fought the following big and recognisable names: Randall Bailey X2 (a win and a loss), Zab Judah (a loss), Floyd Mayweather Junior (a loss), Miguel Cotto (a loss), Ener Julio X2 (two wins), Junior Witter (a loss), Devon Alexander (a loss), Marcos Maidana (a loss), Paul McCloskey (a win), Ruslan Provodnikov (a loss) and Viktor Postol (a loss).

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“Suspended” Erkan Teper to return to action tomorrow, will face tough Derric Rossy

“Suspended” Erkan Teper to return to action tomorrow, will face tough Derric Rossy

Fight fans will likely know the name Erkan Teper. The powerful 6’5” heavyweight from Germany scored what was initially viewed as an impressive 2nd-round KO over Britain’s David Price in July of last year. But later, Teper failed a drugs test and the win was changed to a no-decision by some (although not all). Price is still rightfully angered at the way he was cheated – only recently returning to the ring, picking up a win on May 29 and subsequently being reinstated in the top-15 with the IBF where he was ranked prior to the “loss.”

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