It seems strange to talk of an unbeaten world champion needing to prove a point, but that’s where we are with the Edinburgh born super-lightweight champion, Josh Taylor (currently 19-0 as a pro). A former holder of all four of his division’s major belts, he is, in many ways, coming off a loss. Taylor may …
Josh Taylor v Teofimo Lopez – the fight to regain lost mojo Read More »
The Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) festival commemorates Mexico’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla, during the Franco-Mexican war. Particularly popular with the Mexican community living in the USA, especially California, celebrations feature traditional Mexican food and dress, enjoyed with an effervescent pride in all aspects of Mexican identity. In more recent …
Riding on the back of a period in which boxing continues to suffer a YouTube induced identity crisis, it’s reassuring to get back to a bit of truth. Two unbeaten young boxers, well schooled and dedicated, both thrilling talents on their own paths, both totally assured of their own destiny, yet only one can prevail. …
‘Juggernaut (noun): a massive, inexorable force… that crushes whatever is in its path’ (the Merriam Webster online dictionary.) You can watch boxing for a long, long time and still occasionally find a fighter who baffles you. Heavyweight world championship contender, Joe Joyce certainly fits that category. Watching Joyce box can be quite a challenging intellectual …
Joyce v Zhang – Battle of the plodders for a place among the elite Read More »
It seems a long time now since the early pro career of Anthony Joshua. After winning Olympic gold in 2012, his public image may have been artificial and stage-managed, but his fights were not. Until his up-and-downer with ageing former champ, Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, AJ appeared a fearsome seek-and-destroy heavyweight, capable of walking through …
Do we really need a new AJ? Getting the old one back would do… Read More »
“Did you ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?” One thing no-one can say about Nottingham’s WBA featherweight champion, Leigh Wood, is that he does things the easy way. After turning pro in 2011, he paid his dues for a full decade before landing big opportunities. A British title win in 2021 put …
As the old cliché reminds us, when two fighters get in a ring, you never really know. Despite so-called experts applying scientific analysis to predictions, checking recent form and dissecting styles, upsets happen in boxing. Sometimes, even unthinkable ones. If Buster Douglas can beat Mike Tyson (1990), Lloyd Honeyghan can beat Don Curry (1986), Randolph …
Lions in the camp? Yarde needs the whole zoo to beat Beterbiev Read More »
In keeping with an era obsessed with box-sets and Netflix mini-series, the mysterious tale of Chris Eubank Jr airs its next episode on Saturday night. Exclusive on Sky Box Office for £19.95, the 33-year-old Brighton enigma and former WBA ‘interim’ middleweight champ takes on Liverpool’s Liam Smith, the former WBO super welterweight titlist, at the …
Is the Eubank show nearing its finale? Eubank Jr v Smith, preview and prediction. Read More »
It’s been an interesting year for boxing. The sport continues to struggle with an identity crisis, as YouTube interlopers blur the lines between real, professional pugilism and teenage fantasy. Meanwhile the fractured nature of the pro game, with promotional ties, broadcaster affiliations and multiple governing bodies, also means the conversation is still too often one …
Boxing year in review – Top Fights of 2022 and Fighter of the Year Read More »
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what has gone wrong at West Ham. But it is obvious, to everyone except the manager it seems, that something has. After finishing 6th then 7th in the previous two seasons and reaching the Europa League semi-final with incisive, counter attacking football, David Moyes banished the demons of his …
Adapt or Die, as David Moyes’ West Ham prepare for crunch match with Brentford Read More »