It’s one of those weekends. One, where boxing elevates itself from, to some, an occasional view minority sport, to a gargantuan monolith. Whenever the heavyweight championship of the world is up for grabs it pulls in all sports fans and the average Joe (or Jane) in the street. This weekend is no exception and today …
Author Archives: robsbox64
Usyk v Joshua II – Same again ?
Article originally posted on 18/6/22 This week’s confirmation of the rematch for the heavyweight titles held by Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, due to be re-contested in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 20 August, has been met with the expected writing off to former champ Anthony Joshua’s chances. Almost to the extent that it’s not worth the Londoner …
The PressBox
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 16:15 local time The final press conference has been held for the big heavyweight title showdown, the ‘Rage on the Red Sea’ between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua, scheduled for Saudi Arabia this Saturday 20th. The main talking point in the conference was around competition. British challenger Anthony Joshua, in response to …
The Monday LunchBox
With no action in British rings over the weekend we’re into a ‘monster’ week in the build up to the big world heavyweight rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday 20th. The contest will be for The Ring magazine championship after last week’s retirement announcement from former lineal champ …
The Weekender
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” so said Conor Benn in yesterday’s London Bridge press conference to formally announce his forthcoming fight with Chris Eubank Jr. That, in essence is what we have in the 157lbs (11st, 3lbs) ‘catchweight’ contest at London’s O2 Arena on 8 October. Billed as ‘Born Rivals’ and co-promoted …
The Monday LunchBox
On Saturday (30th), at a rockin’ Bournemouth International Centre on the English south coast, local favourite Chris Billam-Smith successfully defended his European and Commonwealth cruiserweight (200lbs/14st, 4lbs) titles against London’s Isaac Chamberlain over twelve hard fought rounds. The contest, a contender for British fight of the year, topped an excellent night of action on the …
The Friday Faceup
The cruiserweight division (200lbs/14st, 4lbs) has never been glamorous. Stuck between light-heavyweight (175lbs/12st, 7lbs) and the unlimited enormity of the heavyweight division it has suffered a bit of a middle-child syndrome. Despite having some elite champions emerge from it such as Evander Holyfield and Oleksandr Usyk, it’s been difficult to love. This indifference has been …
The PressBox
It takes a special match-up to draw this writer across the Atlantic. In 1987 my first sortie was for ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler v ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard, a contest between two of the modern greats. I was 22 at the time, had just graduated and was boxing mad. With a close friend I spent three months …
The Monday LunchBox
Oldham, England’s Mark Heffron spectacularly won the British and Commonwealth 168lbs (12st) titles on a packed Queensberry card at the Copper Box Arena, London on Saturday. Heffron (28-2-1, 22 KO’s) dethroned Birmingham’s Lennox Clarke in an action packed contest by fifth round stoppage on 2.28 secs. The 30 year old Heffron had twice unsuccessfully contested …
The PressBox
Everyone likes a grudge match. This is a grudge match. Yesterday at the Banking Hall, London two undefeated fighters faced off to promote the first female main event that’s expected to sell out the O2 Arena in Greenwich on September 10. American, double-Olympic and multiple world champion Claressa Shields (12-0, 2 KO’s) faces England’s Savannah …
The Undisputed 