Derek Bilton

Nov 28, 2024 | dazn.com | Derek Bilton

The festive season is just around the corner but in truth, all boxing fans are hoping for in terms of a Christmas wish list in 2025 is more of the same. Thanks to Riyadh Season and the game-changing Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority, there has been a seismic shift at the heart of boxing whereby the biggest fights are now being made on a consistent basis. We are just a few weeks out from Oleksandr Usyk vs.

Nov 20, 2024 | dazn.com | Derek Bilton

It's been a longA long time coming, but I knowA change gon' comeOh yes, it willSo crooned the irascible Sam Cooke, staunch friend of Muhammad Ali and a man considered one of the most influential soul artists of all time. And those unforgettable lyrics began playing loud and proud in my head last week when I started reading about Turki Alalshikh’s latest move. His Excellency’s influence on the noble art in the last two years cannot be overestimated.

Nov 14, 2024 | dazn.com | Derek Bilton

Tyson returns this weekend. According to the Oxford Dictionary, ‘nostalgia’ is defined as a ‘sentimental longing for the past.’And make no mistake, there will be millions of people tuning in to watch Mike Tyson on Friday night in the hope he can roll back the years and add another brutal KO to his highlight reel.

Nov 11, 2024 | dazn.com | Derek Bilton

In a week where Donald Trump was making headlines around the world, the story of another come back ‘President’ raised a few quizzical eyebrows in the boxing business. Ike ‘The President’ Ibeabuchi is the great “what if” heavyweight from the 1990s. In an era that saw heavyweight legends such as Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe and Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko do their thing, some boxing insiders involved with him swear Ibeabuchi was the best of the lot.

Jul 30, 2024 | planetsport.com | James Richardson |Derek Bilton

The 22-year-old began very well against seventh seed Taylor Fritz but, in the full heat of the sun and with temperatures well over 30 degrees, his challenge faltered and he eventually fell to a 6-7 (3) 6-3 6-2 defeat. From late in the second set and through the decider, Draper was barely able to chase down balls, with his resistance quickly running out.