Article first appeared at Roundtable Boxing As Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn emerge from the darkness and drills of their respective training camps and into the dwindling light of boxing’s gaze, their shared animosity, whether real or contrived, is a reminder of the many great rivalries that have been woven into the tapestry of British boxing history. The dynastic element of their story is a unique one and elevates their place in the folklore of the sport beyond the sum of their respective abilities.

In a pulsating encounter in London, Fabio Wardley of Ipswich found a way to stop Kiwi Joseph Parker in the 11th round and in doing so positioned himself as Oleksandr Usyk’s next opponent for the Undisputed Heavyweight title. Wardley’s rise from the anonymity and peculiarities of White-Collar boxing to the cusp of such opportunity is both romantic in its appeal and astonishing in its reach.

Inside Dave Allen, he of the self-deprecation and tales of humility, regret and over hand right, lives a capable heavyweight. One of much greater boxing acumen than his lack of preparation invariably exposes to the watching public. Much of his enduring box-office appeal is founded on whimsical charisma, improbable durability and, well, man-child Yorkshireness. An area of England known for its grit, community and truculence.

The moment Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed fell to the floor simultaneously in final round of the fictional Rocky II rematch, Balboa rising to beat the count and win the title, fight fans could be forgi...

As is customary for British title fights at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, a venue situated in the heart of London’s East End and steeped in fight history, Kieron Conway and George Liddard offered a compelling fight for those who gathered, and the handful of customers DAZN hasn’t yet ostracised. Champion Conway entered the ring as the tried and trusted, Liddard as the upstart in a rush.

Article first published at BigFightWeekend.com October 2nd 1980. The Last Hurrah. 45 years ago, Larry Holmes beat up his hero. A fight which sickened those watching on who loved his hero too. Muhammad Ali had reached into his deep reserves of magic and found there were no more miracles to summon. Aged 38, Ali’s feet were now slow, his energy sapped by a decade of grueling encounters with Frazier, Foreman and Norton, weight drained by misuse of Thyroid pills and the first creep of neurological demise becoming ever more evident.

Successive governments clobber households and small businesses by hiking interest rates to manage inflation, but don’t inconvenience corporations.

Article first appeared at BigFightWeekend.com This Saturday in Las Vegas, alas no longer the singular mecca of boxing that once it was, Terence Crawford reaches the final scenes of his decorated career on the grandest stage of all. A 17-year voyage in which he has become undisputed champion in the Lightweight, Junior Welterweight and Welterweight divisions. It is a compelling assembly of titles in an era more famous for the obstacles the sanctioning bodies impose on those pursuant of transcendent glory than the fights won to overcome them.

Article first published on BigFightWeekend.com Ricky Hatton’s impact on British boxing during an illustrious 15-year career is difficult to over state. The council estate beginnings were as important as the Vegas venues he would eventually reach in carving out his place in the affections of the tens of thousands who would follow him to the States, famously drinking the bars dry, and the many millions who loved him from afar.

A variety of Norwich gyms and sports centres are offering free passes today, September 24, to celebrate National Fitness Day.

Article first appeared at AndysBetClub   Saturday, Wembley Stadium. A fight for the undisputed Heavyweight title. Is there a more tantalising prospect in sport? On the night, the brilliant Ukrainian Oleksander Usyk, 23-0 (14ko) will seek to confirm his status as the King of the division and the master of his generation by defying the hard-charging Brit, Daniel Dubois, 22-2 (21ko). …

Article first appeared at BigFightWeekend.com Every match made in a boxing career is, essentially, a crossroads fight. Terminology widely applied to bouts between fighters on an upward trajectory and an opponent trying to arrest decline or prove it to be a false narrative. Crossroads fights tend to have something at stake for both parties subject to the grasp the veteran has on the remnants of his ambition and the potential that pulses beneath the novice’s bravado.

Article first appeared at BigFightWeekend.com A biblical name. Laden with promotional opportunity. A southpaw with dynamite in both hands, Moses Itauma could be the next special heavyweight.    It is a familiar path, a familiar sales pitch. Young, powerful, fast. Crashing through the professional losers, the part-timers and then the vaguely known, to the peripheral, the stout, the sturdy and the once were.

Article first appeared at BigFightWeekend.com As an ever larger cohort of fight fans are exposed to the prodigious talents of heavyweight Moses Itauma, the degree of comfort they feel with the media comparing him to the once imperious Mike Tyson will largely be governed by the plasticity of their thinking. Or put more simply, their age. It isn’t a mirror Itauma sought, but promotionally his career has been benchmarked against Tyson as the narrative that he could become champion at a similar age hung heavy in early press releases.