HAVING become undisputed champion in two weight classes where does Oleksandr Usyk now sit in the mythical pound-for-pound rankings? Listing the top 10 fighters in the world splits the boxing community with some insisting it’s a pointless exercise while others enjoy the debate as to who is the best fighter in the world. The sport…
1) We have a number one Although a list of 10, this is the only thing that really matters; that is, the only thing we really needed to learn from Usyk and Fury sharing a ring on Saturday in Riyadh. It took years to get there, then 12 rounds once we were finally there, but…
WBO super-lightweight king Teofimo Lopez returns to the ring on June 29 when he defends his belt against Canada’s Steve Claggett in Florida’s James L. Knight Center. The Calgary title challenger may be a bit of a mystery to some, but despite the seven losses on his record, Claggett is strong and capable of giving…
By Matt Christie, Editor of Boxing News WHETHER sitting ringside at a world heavyweight title fight, losing myself in the musty archives, interviewing a real-life superhero, or even squabbling with promoters, working at Boxing News has been the ultimate privilege. Today it is with biting sadness that I write this is my final issue as…
AFTER weeks of waiting, it was confirmed today that Chris Billam-Smith will defend his WBO Cruiserweight title against mandatory challenger Richard Riakporhe this summer. The date is set for June 15 outdoors at Selhurst Park – the home of Riakporhe’s favourite football team Crystal Palace FC – on a Boxxer promotion to be broascast live…
IT has been quite the career turnaround for Luis Alberto Lopez. Five years ago, the man known as ‘El Venado’ was cut across the eye and beaten on points by 15-0 Ruben Villa. For a lesser specimen, that defeat could’ve sent Lopez into a win-some-lose role. Instead, he brushed it off, set his feet and…
Interview by Declan Warrington BN: Please start by recounting the past two days of your life… TT: The first 12 hours was a whirlpool. Once everything settled, focus shifted. I’s a good learning curve. The past is the past. Only growth happens from experiences like this. I was here [in a rented property in Las…
BACK when Tim Tszyu started preparing for a fight on March 30 in Las Vegas, he had in mind a five-foot nine orthodox puncher whose best days many felt were behind him and whose inactivity had blighted recent progress. He trained with this exact opponent in mind, he imagined the things he would do to…
AT THE age of 33, and with two losses in his previous three, Mexican banger Oscar Valdez gets the kind of opponent one would expect from the expert matchmakers at Top Rank. Valdez needs a win, and furthermore, he needs to look good against an opponent who is known to fans. Enter Australia’s Liam Wilson,…
IT was announced this afternoon (March 28) that Juan Francisco Estrada will, as expected, defend his WBC super-flyweight against Jesse Rodriguez on June 29 in Phoenix, Arizona. As good a fight as you can make in boxing today, this quite brilliant battle between Estrada and Rodriguez will take place at Phoenix’s Footprint Center and will…
