Mark Butcher

12 articles

Slick Herring retires Frampton in six
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Slick Herring retires Frampton in six

Carl Frampton’s dream of becoming a three-division world champion was cut down by brutal reality as a razor-sharp Jamel Herring dissected him in six, fairly one-sided rounds at Caesars Palace in Dubai on Saturday night. The Northern Irishman immediately announced his retirement in his post-fight interview. WBO super-featherweight champion Herring was in career-best form, picking […]

The eight true champions of boxing
Features

The eight true champions of boxing

With over eighty men currently claiming to be ‘world champions’, Mark Butcher wonders how boxing would look if the sport returned to an eight division era with a solitary title-holder leading the way in each weight class. Who would be the last men standing? Long before Dillian Whyte first headlined a ‘stacked’ Pay-Per-View and the […]

Calzaghe vs Froch: Who was the greatest?
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Calzaghe vs Froch: Who was the greatest?

Joe Calzaghe is living proof that nice guys can win. Carl Froch could probably wind up the Dalai Lama. The cult of personality shouldn’t matter when determining greatness, but it seems to be a factor when assessing the attributes of Britain’s two best super-middleweights of recent times. Froch’s often abrasive personality and seemingly bottomless pit […]

Tyrone McCullagh: Moving on
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Tyrone McCullagh: Moving on

With his elusive, catch-me-if-you-can style, you might say Tyrone McCullagh has already mastered the art of social distancing.  Having gained kudos in defeat against the battle-tested Ryan Walsh in their Golden Contract semi-final in February, McCullagh is ready for another run at the big fights once the shadow of Covid-19 moves away from sport and […]

With Tyson and Holyfield in shape, Impact Boxing proposes ‘Veteran Boxing League’
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With Tyson and Holyfield in shape, Impact Boxing proposes ‘Veteran Boxing League’

With a 53-year-old Mike Tyson whipping himself back into fighting shape and old rival Evander Holyfield, 58, swiftly following suit, the likelihood of middle-aged boxing legends making a comeback, for charity or otherwise, has become an unnerving possibility.  Other former greats have apparently expressed an interest in returning, prompting promoters Impact Boxing to propose a […]

Apinun Khongsong: The Thai puncher with Josh Taylor in his sights
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Apinun Khongsong: The Thai puncher with Josh Taylor in his sights

On the other side of the world, a young man is waiting for a global pandemic to pass and a fresh day of destiny.  Apinun Khongsong, the IBF’s No.1 contender at 140lbs, was homing in on a mandatory engagement with unified champion Josh Taylor on May 2 when Covid-19 intervened and placed his world title […]

Marquez counters Morales jibes over Pacquiao fights
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Marquez counters Morales jibes over Pacquiao fights

They never met in the ring, but Mexican boxing legends Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales have been jousting outside of the ropes.  Four-weight world champion Morales lit the touch paper this week after suggesting they never fought because Marquez was not competing at the same level when ‘El Terrible’ was in his prime.  Morales […]

Bivol would drop to 168lbs for Smith clash
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Bivol would drop to 168lbs for Smith clash

Light-heavyweight king Dmitry Bivol says he is willing to drop down a division to face WBA Super 168lbs champion Callum Smith and become a two-weight world champion. Russian Bivol (17-0, 11 KOs) has held the WBA 175lbs crown for over two-and-a-half years, registering six successful defences in that time, while chasing a major showdown with […]

Nelson adds caution to Tyson comeback talk
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Nelson adds caution to Tyson comeback talk

With footage of a 53-year-old Mike Tyson punishing the pads and hinting at a return to the ring catching fire on the internet, former WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson has cautioned against any comeback by the two-time heavyweight king. Nelson, who also campaigned at heavyweight before winning his cruiserweight crown and defending it a record […]

The best pound-for-pound fighter in the UK revealed
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The best pound-for-pound fighter in the UK revealed

In boxing, arguments rage over pretty much anything you can imagine outside of the ring. One long-running bone of contention centres on the mythical pound-for-pound ratings where boxing aficionados try in vain to rank the number one fighter in the sport across 17 weight divisions. It’s a near thankless task and there’s no definitive right […]

Khan won’t box behind closed doors
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Khan won’t box behind closed doors

Amir Khan is wary of boxing behind closed doors and says he will not rush back into the ring if the sport returns in July, with the Coronavirus pandemic still rife across the world. The British Boxing Board of Control is currently in discussions with promoters regarding stout safety measures that would need to be […]

The Power And The Glory – The 10 Greatest Mexican Boxers In History
Features

The Power And The Glory – The 10 Greatest Mexican Boxers In History

Mexico and boxing are joined at the hip. Perhaps no other nation embodies the fight game than Estados Unidos Mexicanos, the uncompromising spirit of this battling nation is captured in its fighting men. From fearless brawlers to razor-sharp stylists, it’s in the DNA of Mexicans to take life’s hardest blows, but rarely relent. As Raymond Chandler […]