TWICE now, in the space of 13 months, Chris Billam-Smith has worn the expression of the boy on the playground infuriated with the classmate who, rather than kick the football, appears to get a kick out of picking it up with his hands every time it comes anywhere near him. Reminded often that they are…
CHRIS Billam-Smith is still the WBO cruiserweight champion after grinding out a 12-round points decision over Richard Riakporhe. Headlining in Selhurst Park, it wasn’t always pretty, but Chris gained revenge for his 2019 split decision loss to the same man, taking the fight by scores of 116-111 and 115-112 twice. “Tempo is the key,” said…
THE RESULT: Gervonta “Tank” Davis landed a highlight-reel knockout win after an uppercut, followed by a left hand, flattened Frank Martin in the eighth round of their main event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Davis retains his WBA lightweight title in the process. KEY MOMENTS: Martin made an encouraging start in the opening three rounds…
THE RESULT: The debut of David Benavidez at light-heavyweight is a successful one, beating former WBC world champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk by unanimous decision. Benavidez controlled proceedings and earned three winning scorecards of 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112. KEY MOMENTS: The entire three minutes of the opening round set the tone for the fight. Benavidez typically put…
LIAM Paro is the new IBF super-lightweight champion after dethroning Subriel Matias over 12 rounds. Earlier in the evening, Richard Riakporhe struggled with the weight of home crowd expectations and Matias did the same in the Coliseo Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu, Manati. That was due to a superb display from Paro, who arrived as the…
9.11 p.m. PT / 5.11 a.m UK TANK’S EXORCISES THE GHOST WITH EIGHTH-ROUND KNOCKOUT Whenever Gervonta Davis wins by knockout the reaction you get from the crowd is always one of the most deafening in all boxing. The violence is shocking, yet awesome. Tank finished Martin in the corner with a one-shot, left hook knockout after…
THE career of Chris Billam-Smith is now reaching a stage of “making memories” according to the WBO cruiserweight champion. On Saturday night the 33-year-old retained his title to level the score at 1-1 in his rivalry with Richard Riakporhe five years on from their original encounter. Billam-Smith’s second defence was another big-time event outdoors at…
By Alan Dawson AHEAD of his light-heavyweight debut tonight against Oleksandr Gvozdyk at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, David Benavidez confirmed to Boxing News that he has held talks with the Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh. Alalshikh has been responsible for a wave of super-fights in Saudi Arabia, including Tyson Fury vs. Francis…
BN weekly columnist Joe Hughes calls for a ‘Tank’ step-up and warns that all that glitters in boxing is not necessarily gold. There has been news this week of a potential takeover of the world’s biggest boxing promotional companies by representatives of Saudi Arabia. This could drastically change the sport, hopefully for the better. Creating…
THE RESULT: Abass Baraou makes a successful first defence of his European super-welterweight title against a spirited effort from Macauley McGowan. After 12 rounds, Baraou was awarded a unanimous decision verdict (117-111, 119-110, 118-110). KEY MOMENTS: The body shots from Baraou were a constant thorn in the side of McGowan. Baraou’s quality shone through and had…
