Tony Bellew, left, and Nathan Cleverly acknowledge the applause after their WBO light-heavyweight title fight. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA Nathan Cleverly ensured this was not a day Wales will have to forget completely by retaining his WBO light-heavyweight crown against Tony Bellew in a steamer of a contest fuelled by the two men's enmity. The count was 114-114, 116-113, 117-112 in the champion's favour, and at the end both men could grin and accept that the bad blood should be discarded after each Read more

Nicola Adams was the first female boxer to represent England and she expects to do well in the European championships in Rotterdam for Great Britain. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA When women's boxing makes its first competitive appearance at an Olympic Games next summer, Nicola Adams will have more reason than most to feel a sense of pride. During her 16 years as a fighter Adams has heard all the arguments about why women should not be allowed to practise the noble art and experienced first-hand Read more

Nicola Adams is one of Britain's best hopes of a gold medal at the European championships in Rotterdam. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Rotterdam is the destination for some of Britain's finest female fighting talent this week when six of the country's top boxers will compete in the Netherlands for the European championships. The tournament, which starts on Monday, is the biggest event of the year for the country's leading fighters and serves as a crucial benchmark with the Olympic Games on the horizon. Read more

David Haye won the WBA heavyweight crown when he beat Nikolay Valuev in 2009. Photograph: David Ebener/Actionplus With a smile and a slice of chocolate cake for his 31st birthday David Haye confirmed his retirementon Thursday, but hinted that if Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko made an offer to fight him he could return to the ring. Speaking at his Vauxhall gym on the date he always maintained would mark his career end, Haye, the former heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion, said: "No matter Read more

Natasha Jonas is one of seven female boxers competing for three places in Britain's Olympic team. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire/Press Association Images Progress towards 2012 I've been in great form all year, but to win gold at the European championships this year was one of the proudest moments of my career. I'd done it before in 2009 but to do it in the year before the Olympics was even better because it showed I was hitting form at just the right time. Fighting as a light-welterweight is Read more