Now former Red Devils team-mate Bardsley is keen to follow in his footsteps, by lacing up the gloves and joining the KSI-founded promotion.
The ex-defender, 39, said: “I’d certainly be interested in getting into the ring like Danny Simpson. I’ve had people ask me the question and I spoke to Simo about it recently.
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“I’ve spoken to Wayne Rooney about a potential fight of his own but the issue he has is that he wants to manage and coach and it would be a bit stupid to go on Misfits or something like that and fight a YouTuber when he’s coaching.
“But for me, I’m keen, Simo has spoken to someone at Misfits who spoke to some YouTubers but I don’t think there has been any takers yet which is unfortunate because I like to think I can give it a go.
“If someone offered me a few quid for a fight, I certainly wouldn’t turn it down.”
Bardsley – who launched his own property business after retiring – added to OLBG: “We had no idea that the boxing clip would go viral because we didn’t even know it was being filmed.
Sky Sports pundits announce never-before-seen broadcast for huge Arsenal vs Man Utd clash
“It then got released and sold and it was just one of those things, we’d probably had one too many drinks and then got the gloves out.
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“People sometimes forget that we are just normal lads from normal backgrounds and that’s just what lads do sometimes.
“We had a swing and chinned each other a few times, we both like our boxing and I got the better of him on that occasion.
“Wayne Rooney vs Jake Paul would definitely sell out Wembley, you can imagine the audience that would bring in, both in person and online as well.
“The younger generation would be mad on all the build-up and the clips on their phones, the influencer boxing scene is huge and they’re filling their pockets now.
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“Would Wayne beat Jake Paul? It’s tricky because Jake Paul has done it for a long time now and Wayne hasn’t done it at that level in front of a huge audience.
“He played football in front of millions before Jake Paul was on the scene but fair play to him, now he is doing it on the big stage and getting paid fortunes.
Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to reject contract offers from Liverpool, West Ham stand firm on Mohammed Kudus’ £85m release clause, Xabi Alonso set to leave Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to reject offers to renew his contract at Anfield as Real Madrid press on with negotiations to sign the 26-year-old when his current deal expires next summer. (Relevo – in Spanish), external
West Ham are expected to stand firm on Ghana attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus’ £85m release clause with Arsenal and Liverpool both monitoring the 24-year-old. (Mail – subscription required), external
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso will leave the Bundesliga club at the end of the season despite signing a contract until 2026, with Real Madrid set to be his next destination. (Eurosport Spain – in Spanish), external
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Barcelona are interested in Wolves’ Spanish left-back Hugo Bueno, 22, who is currently on loan at Dutch side Feyenoord. (Sport – in Spanish), external
Real Madrid have made a first enquiry into signing Bayer Leverkusen’s German international centre-back Jonathan Tah. Barcelona, Bayern Munich and clubs from the Premier League are all said to be tracking the defender, whose contract with Leverkusen expires at the end of the season. (AS – in Spanish, external)
Nottingham Forest are under no pressure to sell Brazilian 22-year-old centre-back Murillo in January after interest from Real Madrid. The defender is valued at £40m. (Daily Mail, external)
Manchester United and Liverpool are keeping tabs on Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson, 27, after his fine start to the season. The London club are said to be reluctant to let the American leave during the season, ruling out a possible January move. (Football Insider, external)
NEW YORK – The stars of UFC 309 main card athletes came face to face for the first time during fight week following Thursday’s pre-fight press conference.
With fight week festivities rolling on, the athletes for the card took the stage to answers questions from the media, then engaged in staredowns ahead of Saturday’s event, which takes place at Madison Square Garden (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+).
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In addition to the Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic heavyweight championship main event, the anticipated five-round lightweight rematch between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler, as well as the middleweight main card bout of Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig was also in attendance and participated in faceoffs.
Watch the video above to see the full pre-fight press conference faceoffs ahead of UFC 309.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
NUNO MENDES hit back at Cristiano Ronaldo’s moan about Portugal stars crying off international duty.
Roberto Martinez’s side lead group A1 by three points going into Nations League finales against Poland and Croatia.
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Portugal defender Nuno Mendes hit back at Cristiano Ronaldo’s commentsCredit: EPA
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Ronaldo said he was disappointed in his team-mates dropping outCredit: AFP
Like England, Portugal have had a number of drop-outs and Ronaldo, 39, raged: “There’s nothing better than representing your country, your culture, your children.
“That’s why I’m disappointed by some players.”
Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha is the latest to withdraw, heading back to his club for treatment on a muscle injury.
But Paris Saint-Germain defender Mendes, 22, is expected to play alongside Ronaldo against Poland.
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He said: “I’m very proud to represent Portugal.
“I think it shows, I give my all on the pitch and in training. Ronaldo has his opinion. I have mine.”
“Gareth was hot on that and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions if that started to drift from certain players.
“It’s a shame this week obviously. I think it’s a tough period of the season and maybe that’s been taken advantage of a little bit.
England ratings vs Greece (1)
“I don’t really like it if I’m totally honest. I think England comes before anything, any club situation.
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“The joy to play for England. I think Gareth brought that back. Every camp, people were excited to come, every camp people wanted to play for England.”
You never know what type of answer you might get from Mike Tyson if you ask him a question, and it doesn’t matter how old you are. A kid interviewer found out in an all-too-real way this week.
The child, who appears to be no older than 13, got some on-on-one time with Tyson on Wednesday either before or after the press conference to promote his Netflix boxing match with Jake Paul. What could’ve (and even should’ve) been a fun and light interview took an unexpected dark turn when she asked Tyson about his legacy. Things got a little too deep for a kid her age!
Here’s her question:“In your return to the ring for this fight, you are setting a monumental opportunity for kids my age to see the legend Mike Tyson in the ring for the first time. What type of legacy would you like to leave behind when it’s all said and done?”
Whoever got Tyson to agree to this interview, there’s no way they expected it to go like THAT. Talking about death and dropping F-bombs in an interview with a little girl? Yikes!
Perhaps Tyson forgot in the moment that he was talking to a kid.
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Paul vs. Tyson.
The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, that’s on you.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill believes that Charles “deserves” the chance to lead the team out at a raucous Windsor Park as a reward for his consistent form.
“For me it was an easy decision, Shea is a player since we have put in the team that has taken huge responsibility, putting an armband around him doesn’t change that,” he added.
O’Neill is confident that Charles has the qualities both on and off the pitch to thrive in the role.
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“Shea has got the attributes to play at the highest level of the game and the temperament to do so and that is what you look for as a captain.
“Whether he has the armband or not he is going to be a leader on the pitch and since I have come in he has been available for every game, played every game so as a manager what more can you ask for.”
The manager also feels that Charles playing regular first team football in the Championship – on loan at Sheffield Wednesday from Southampton – has only helped his game.
“The biggest benefit to Shea playing in the Championship has been his improvement in his ability without the ball. We all know his abilities with the ball, but he has really improved without the ball,” O’Neill continued.
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“Shea doesn’t need coached he needs games, the more games he plays will just elevate him.”
Luke Littler produced a stunning fightback to beat Mike de Decker 10-9 and reach the Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals.
The 17-year-old was 9-7 down and on the brink of exiting the tournament, but won three consecutive legs to secure a meeting with Jermaine Wattimena.
Littler had taken a 2-0 lead but De Decker got on level terms, then seemed to have the momentum as the match wore on.
The Belgian built an 8-4 cushion but Littler rallied with an 11-dart leg.
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De Decker had a chance to win with a checkout of 170, but missed the bullseye before Littler squared the match at 9-9.
In the deciding leg Littler held his nerve and nailed treble 18, double 16, to seal victory and a place in the last eight.
“I don’t know if I enjoyed that. I’ve got to feel for Mike. I didn’t think I was in the game, but I know I can always switch that gear,” Littler told Sky Sports.
“Early on I was at my normal pace but towards the end I was taking an extra second, and that helped me. I might have to throw like that from now on.
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“I didn’t think I could overturn the deficit [in the final session]. I just can’t believe it.”
Earlier in Wolverhampton, Wattimena progressed after winning a 10-9 thriller of his own against Dimitri van den Bergh, while Gian van Veen cruised to a 10-2 win over Ryan Joyce.
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