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Irish Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish star backed to bounce back as ex-world champ tells of being 'rock bottom'
Kurt Walker is backing himself to bounce back from his first career defeat after losing to former IBO world super bantamweight champion Liam Davies. The Lisburn man gave it his all and produced a performance to be proud of as he went 12 rounds for the first time in Nottingham, losing via unanimous decision. 'Experience let me down," said Walker afterwards as he admitted: "I learned a lot." 'The start wasn't working. I was able to change, not many people can do that, so I've done my first 12 rounds. Maybe pacing it wrong at the start and just doing the wrong things at the wrong time just let me down, I think." The Tokyo Olympian grew into the contest after Davies put him under pressure early on and showed his quality amateur pedigree as he ducked and dived and landed punches on the counter. The three judges scored the bout 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112, the first and last of which looked tough on Walker, who moves to 12-1 following the bout, while Davies is now 17-1, having won the IBF International featherweight title with the victory. '12 rounds is hard. He was good, he was simple, but good with them long arms," added Walker. "I thought I'd be able to deal with it on the boxing side, but he's done very well. "He was far better than his last defeat, because he didn't fall for the same mistakes, but it's a fight I learned from." Walker's manager Jamie Conlan echoed the words of his fighter, saying: "We didn't envision it at the start, that Kurt Walker was going to press Liam Davies back and have the more success, and he did. When he was pressing the action, he was the one having success. "At distance, Davies' reach and his punch output was winning him the exchanges. It's the first 12-rounder, first time being in the away corner. A lot of firsts tonight and his first loss as a professional, but one that he can really build on and not be disgraced about. "It's not the end of the world at all, definitely not. He took a big opportunity here, it didn't work out tonight, but hopefully in the long term, it's more beneficial to him than what another routine points win would have been at home. He sort of showed what he's all about." An emotional Davies also paid tribute to the 30-year-old as he reflected on what had been a tough period for him after suffering his first defeat to Shabaz Masoud last November. "I went from on top of the world last year to rock bottom," said the Englishman, who moved up to featherweight for the bout. "I had hard times and I had to cry to my wife, she knows what I've been through and I'm proud of myself for showing up and showing out, keeping it all bottled inside to dig in tonight and that's why I'm going to be a world champion again." He added on his opponent: "Very impressed with Kurt Walker, didn't expect as tough a fight as I got but I've got to give full credit to him. "He should be proud of himself and I've been there, I had my first loss and he can come back. "We're all humans, we have to take losses, not just in boxing, in sport, in general life and you have to dig in and find a way through it, you have to keep going till you see light at the end of the tunnel and that's what I've done these last six months. "I ain't spoke on it much, I kept it in and I've done myself proud tonight. It's not the best performance but I'm proud of myself."
Irish Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Anthony Cacace beats Leigh Wood as Englishman's corner throws in towel
Anthony Cacace retained his IBO super-featherweight world title in style on Saturday night as he stopped Leigh Wood in Nottingham. For the third fight in a row the Belfast man defeated a two-time world champion as he recorded the ninth stoppage victory of his career to take his record to 24-1. What had been predicted to be a fight of the year contender perhaps didn't live up to the expectations in the early rounds, but an explosive eighth round saw Wood's corner throw in the towel. The referee began a count earlier in the round after Wood had bounced off the ropes following a huge shot from Cacace and the hometown fighter was in trouble from that moment on. Moments later, Cacace began to unload with uppercuts, but it was a left to the body that sent Wood backwards before 'The Apache' immediately followed up with a left hook. Wood began to run around and as he got towards his corner, his trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel as the huge Nottingham Forest fan suffered the fourth loss of his career from 32 bouts. Cacace came into the fight aiming to follow up an incredible 2024 after victories over Joe Cordina to win the IBF world title and Josh Warrington on the Daniel Dubois v Anthony Joshua card at Wembley, while it was Wood's first fight since stopping Warrington in October 2023. The Andersonstown man vacated the IBF belt to take the fight against Wood as it was more lucrative in terms of money, but he will now be in line for further world titles. Meanwhile, Kurt Walker suffered the first defeat of his professional career earlier on the card as he lost to former IBO super bantamweight world champion Liam Davies. The Lisburn man gave it his all and produced a performance to be proud of as he went 12 rounds for the first time, losing via unanimous decision. The Tokyo Olympian grew into the contest after Davies put him under pressure early on and showed his quality amateur pedigree as he ducked and dived and landed punches on the counter. The three judges scored the bout 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112, the first and last of which looked tough on Walker, who moves to 12-1 following the bout, while Davies is now 17-1, having won the IBF International featherweight title by beating Walker. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Anthony Cacace v Leigh Wood live fight updates from Nottingham
It's a huge night of boxing in Nottingham as Anthony Cacace defends his IBO world super featherweight title against Leigh Wood. Belfast southpaw Cacace enjoyed an extraordinary 2024 as he stopped Wales' Joe Cordina in Saudi Arabia to win the IBF world title, before beating Leeds' Josh Warrington on the Daniel Dubois v Anthony Joshua card at Wembley a few months later via unanimous decision. 'The Apache' vacated the IBF belt earlier this year to opt for a bigger payday against Wood over a mandatory defence - and the winner of tonight's fight will be in line for massive bouts going forward. Cacace is joined on tonight's card by Lisburn fighter Kurt Walker, who faces former IBO super bantamweight world champion Liam Davies. Victory for Walker would be a massive statement on a big stage. It will be the 30-year-old Tokyo Olympian's first time fighting over 12 rounds, with the vacant IBF International featherweight title on the line. There are 12 bouts in total taking place, with Walker's the penultimate fight before the main event. All the action will be streamed live on DAZN, with the main part of the card starting at 7pm. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email. The main event is expected to start around 10pm. It's a busy evening of action, with 12 fights in total on the card, which started at 3.15. Good evening and welcome to our live blog for Anthony Cacace v Leigh Wood. The past year has been nothing but incredible for Belfast hero Cacace, who recorded life-changing victories over Wales' Joe Cordina and Josh Warrington of Leeds on two massive shows. 'The Apache' now only wants the big fights and faces Leigh Wood in the Nottingham man's hometown as 'Leigh-thal' moves up in weight for his first fight in 19 months. Wood was last seen in action when stopping Warrington in Sheffield in October 2023 and returns to action in the same arena that he famously knocked Michael Conlan out in dramatic circumstances back in March 2022. A former two-time world featherweight champion, Wood is known for his power, but Cacace believes the Englishman has never faced a harder hitter than him. It's a fascinating contest and one many, including promoter Frank Warren, believe could be a fight of the year contender. We'll keep you up to date with all the action here throughout the evening.
South China Morning Post
04-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong triathletes ‘embracing National Games pressure', as coach sends warning on legacy
Oscar Coggins said Hong Kong's triathletes were 'embracing the pressure' of trying to deliver success in November's National Games, as head coach Andrew Wright urged government officials to not blow their chance to create a meaningful legacy for triathlon in the city. Advertisement The rejuvenated Coggins produced a consummate performance in Sunday's Central Harbourfront relay test event, as he opened up a big lead over the field during his second leg. An otherwise understrength Hong Kong eventually finished third, but on an encouragingly smooth weekend for organisers, further evidence that Coggins has overcome past mental and physical difficulties provided a notable boost for the city team. A Tokyo Olympian in 2021, Coggins had eight months away from the sport after his unhappy Asian Games withdrawal in September 2023. 'He's such a brilliant athlete … we need to keep him happy, then he will be challenging for [National Games] individual and relay medals,' Wright said. 'He's the best I've seen him, physically and mentally, and we've not done that much work in the past two years, so there's big room for improvement.' Wright identified Coggins' 'running consistency' as the main area to address. Advertisement 'We will keep the volume high and increase his work at gold-medal speed,' Wright said.
NBC Sports
22-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Masai Russell, Grant Holloway lead winners at USATF Indoor Championships
Olympic hurdles gold medalists Masai Russell and Grant Holloway added U.S. indoor track and field titles to their resumes on Staten Island, New York, on Saturday. Russell claimed her first U.S. indoor title in the 60m hurdles in 7.74 seconds, a personal best by one hundredth and the world's best time of 2025. She was followed by Grace Stark (fifth at the Paris Games) in 7.76, Christina Clemons (Tokyo Olympian) in 7.81 and Alia Armstrong (fourth at 2022 World Outdoor Championships) in 7.87. Holloway extended a decade-plus win streak in the men's 60m hurdles. He clocked 7.36, matching his own fastest time in the world this year. Holloway owns the four fastest times in history (7.27, 7.29, 7.29 and 7.29). USATF INDOORS: Full Results USATF Indoors crown national champions and determine spots on the team for the World Indoor Championships from March 21-23 in Nanjing, China. In most events, the top two finishers who have met the world championships qualifying standard during the qualification window will be eligible for the world team. Russell has said she will not go to World Indoors, choosing to focus on the start of her outdoor season this spring. Holloway has said he plans to go to Nanjing, where he can become the first hurdler to win three consecutive World Indoor titles. In other events Saturday, Nikki Hiltz edged Shelby Houlihan — 8:48.28 to 8:48.43 — in the women's 3000m. Hiltz claimed their first U.S. 3000m title and on Sunday can win a fifth consecutive U.S. 1500m title (indoors and outdoors). Hiltz said they do not plan to race World Indoors, also choosing to focus on the outdoor season, according to media on site. Houlihan, the outdoor American 1500m record holder, is returning this season from a four-year ban after testing positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone in December 2020. Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Katie Moon cleared 4.80 meters for her fifth U.S. indoor pole vault title. Moon said she will not go to World Indoors, citing her age (33), the Achilles injury she had last year and the upcoming long outdoor season (worlds are in September). USATF Indoors conclude Sunday, live on NBC and Peacock from 1-3 p.m. ET. Quincy Wilson, who last summer won 4x400m relay gold at age 16 to become the youngest male Olympic track and field medalist, will bid for his first senior national title in the indoor 400m. OlympicTalk,
