Sport

Daniel Dubois v Anthony Joshua: Nick Campbell not shocked by bout

Published

4 hours ago

September 23, 2024

Daniel Dubois v Anthony Joshua: Nick Campbell not shocked by bout

“He went from Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, Anthony Joshua – three dangerous hard fights and he has come through them all with flying colours, so I think anybody that doubted him or had any questions over stuff that happened to him in the past, it has all been answered now.”

Campbell has boxed with a number of the world’s leading heavyweights and believes the ruthlessness of Dubois is something that stands out.

“I have sparred Tyson Fury, I have been with Joseph Parker for a few camps, I have been in with Agit Kabayel and Martin Bakole, so I have sparred a lot of the boys in the top 10,” he said.

“I get asked this question a few times – who is the biggest puncher you have ever been in with? And, in sparring, it is probably Daniel Dubois. I’ve shared probably over 50 rounds with the guy in the last two camps so I know how hard he can punch.

“But I will caveat that by saying Daniel’s mentality is that when you are in there, his job is to seek and destroy – it is a one-track mindset with him.”

Campbell pointed out that Dubois is not just “a hell of a puncher”.

“He is a good boxer, he has got great feet, which doesn’t really get spoken about, he has got a good boxing brain, he has got a fantastic jab,” he said.

Campbell took up boxing as an amateur in 2017 following a top-level rugby career with Glasgow Warriors and Jersey Reds.

Since turning professional in 2021, he has won six of his seven fights and will return to the ring in Birmingham next month brimming with renewed “confidence” from being asked again to spar with one of the world’s best.

“Don Charles, Daniel’s coach, said to me, ‘you need to use this as a springboard for yourself – you need to have this known that you have been in there and shared the ring with somebody of Daniel’s class and calibre’,” Campbell revealed.

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Sport

Manchester United new stadium: No public cash going on club’s stadium plans

Published

19 mins ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Manchester United new stadium: No public cash going on club's stadium plans

No public money will be spent on Manchester United’s plans for revamping their Old Trafford home for the time being, the mayor of Greater Manchester has confirmed.

Andy Burnham has outlined ambitions to redevelop the stadium alongside a “mixed use” neighbourhood featuring apartment blocks, shopping centres and new public transport stations.

The club’s owners are currently considering whether to pursue a £2bn plan for a brand new 100,000-seat stadium or redevelop the existing ground.

However, a freight rail terminal situated behind the stadium needs to be moved to free up land to make room for any expansion and Mr Burnham suggested some taxpayers’ cash could go into infrastructure needed to move it to Merseyside.

Old Trafford, which currently has a capacity of 74,310, has been Manchester United’s home since 1910.

While it will be up to the club to fund any new stadium or refurbishment, the mayor said it was possible some taxpayer cash could go into infrastructure for the new neighbourhood in the future, to help build transport links.

Mr Burnham has now called on the government to fund plans to connect the under-construction Parkside freight terminal on the St Helens-Wigan border to the West Coast Main Line, which could cost in the region of hundreds of millions of pounds.

“What you have here is the huge potential to fix the rail system of the north west of England,” he said at the Labour conference in Liverpool.

Mr Burnham added taking the freight to Parkside and out of Manchester city centre “fixes things for passengers”.

“They won’t have to have the freight disruption,” he said. “What that then does is free up the space around Old Trafford so the club is able to have all of its options looked at and has the biggest possible footprint to use so it can bring forward the most ambitious regeneration.

“We hope it’s the best football stadium in the world, which brings benefits to residents around it.”

The mayor was joined by ex-Manchester United and England star Gary Neville, who sits on a taskforce created by the club to evaluate the best options for the future of Old Trafford.

Neville said he was “not bothered if it’s either” a new stadium, or the existing one being refurbished.

“The most important thing is Manchester United end up with a world-class stadium,” he added.

“I’m more interested in the overall masterplan in the surrounding area. We have seen what happens when you put football at the heart of that regeneration.”

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Sport

Rafael Nadal: Former world number one included in Spain’s Davis Cup squad

Published

40 mins ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Rafael Nadal: Former world number one included in Spain's Davis Cup squad

Nadal missed the US Open because he said he would not “be able to give my 100% at this time”.

He then pulled out of the Laver Cup earlier in September, saying he believed there are “other players who can help the team deliver the win”.

Nadal also missed the Australian Open in January through injury and decided not to play Wimbledon to focus on the Olympics.

He previously hinted at retirement later this year, but said before the French Open he was not “100%” certain that would be the last time he played at Roland Garros.

The Davis Cup quarter-finals take place 19-21 November, with the semi-finals following on consecutive days before the final on Sunday, 24 November.

Reigning world number one Jannik Sinner is set to lead defending champions Italy, who will seek to become the first team to retain the title since 2013.

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MMA

Alex Pereira ‘breaks game first and shoots on Khalil Rountree’

Published

41 mins ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Alex Pereira ‘breaks game first and shoots on Khalil Rountree’

John Wood thinks Alex Pereira will resort to wrestling Khalil Rountree at some point during UFC 307.

Rountree (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) challenges light heavyweight champion Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in the Oct. 5 main event from Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Rountree vowed not to wrestle the former two-division Glory Kickboxing champion to find success. His head coach Wood doubled down on that promise, and went as far as saying it’ll be Pereira needing to change up his game plan.

“I believe, honestly, my gut, I think Pereira shoots on Khalil,” Wood told ESPN. “I think he’s the one that breaks game first and shoots on Khalil to try to get that takedown, because that’s actually something he’s done. I mean, we ain’t shooting over here, I can tell you that.

“Khalil can – it’s not like we don’t train MMA, wrestling, wrestling defense, all these things. … I think Alex shoots first, but yes, I would be shocked if this fight goes five rounds. Someone is going out on their shield. It’s going to happen, and obviously I think I know who it is.”

According to DraftKings, Rountree is a +350 underdog against Pereira, who’s a -455 favorite to retain his title. Pereira is coming off knockouts of Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka in the past six months. Rountree made it five straight wins when he knocked out former title challenger Anthony Smith in his most recent appearance in December 2023.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

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Football

Elland Road capacity to expand to 53,000

Published

42 mins ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Elland Road capacity to expand to 53,000

Elland Road can currently hold 37,645 supporters

Nigel French/PA Wire Inside Elland Road stadium — Elland Road can currently hold 37,645 supporters

Leeds United Football Club has announced plans to increase the capacity of its stadium to accommodate 53,000 supporters.

The Elland Road ground can currently hold 37,645 fans and has been full for every home match played in the last six years.

There are also 26,000 supporters on the waiting list for season tickets.

The plans would also see the ground modernised to meet UEFA Category 4 regulations for “elite” European stadia.

Paraag Marathe, chairman of Leeds United and president of the club’s owners, 49ers Enterprises, said: “We recognise how important Elland Road is to the Leeds United fans and the wider community.

“The opportunity to refresh a century-old stadium, coupled with the legacy of Leeds United, is unprecedented.

“Our plans reinforce our commitment to the long-term success of the club and I am excited that we are going to be able to welcome thousands more supporters to every game, in a stadium that retains the unique atmosphere of Elland Road.

“We look forward to sharing our plans with supporters and the local community for their input.”

‘Enhanced atmosphere’

The capacity of the new Elland Road would be the seventh-largest of any club ground in the country.

The stadium has been the team’s home since Leeds United was formed in 1919.

Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “Expanding and enhancing the existing ground will allow many more fans access to games while protecting the unique Elland Road atmosphere.

“This investment can also be a catalyst for wider regeneration plans for south Leeds, which represents an opportunity of national significance.

“Getting there will be easier with work to improve Leeds Station and the introduction of a White Rose rail station, along with the potential of a proposed mass transit route from the city centre close to the ground.

“We’ve had some very positive initial meetings with their team and look forward to working with them on this important vision, to ensure this project moves forward and unlocks significant benefits to the city and its communities.”

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.

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Sport

Watch: The Monday Night Club

Published

1 hour ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Mark Chapman and guests debate the weekend’s football.

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MMA

On To the Next One: How has Sean O’Malley handled UFC 306 loss?

Published

1 hour ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

On To the Next One: How has Sean O’Malley handled UFC 306 loss?

Sean O’Malley went from having “zero excuses” for his UFC 306 title loss to Merab Dvalishvili, to now telling the MMA world he believes he should’ve gotten the victory at Sphere. How has O’Malley been handling himself following the loss, and are you surprised by the flip-flop reaction?

On a special Q&A edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss the fallout from O’Malley’s loss, and the narrative that Dvalishvili is “ducking” Umar Nurmagomedov — and why that’s just ridiculous. Additionally, questions include Dana White being ready to enter the boxing space, the UFC’s next TV and broadcast deal, the A.J. McKee vs. Paul Hughes bout for the PFL PPV, who Movsar Evloev may end up fighting at UFC 307, Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, Mike Perry’s new boxing promotion, and much more.

Watch the latest edition of On To the Next One in the video above. Audio-only versions of the podcast can be found below, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.