Tottenham and goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky had nightmare evening on Atlético Madrid’s pitch. The Ineos-Grenadiers team won the third stage of Paris-Nice. Arthur Fils qualified for the quarter-finals at Indian Wells.

Jermaine Franklin hopes a change of scenery and trainer will lead to an upset victory against the world’s hottest heavyweight.

Boxing has a funny way of building bonds between people who, in any other industry, would likely never even cross paths.

From an outside perspective, it is strange, for instance, to imagine a 32-year-old American moving to the UK – staying in Luton, of all places – and developing a relationship with a Londoner in his mid-60s.

But this, funnily enough, is exactly what has happened.

The story becomes slightly less peculiar, however, when it is revealed that the American is a heavyweight boxer and the Brit, a renowned coach, often refers to himself as a “heavyweight specialist”.

The mystery duo, of course, is Jermaine Franklin and Don Charles, who have joined forces ahead of the former’s clash with Moses Itauma in Manchester on March 28, previously January 24 before the Brit suffered a bicep tear in camp.

When Boxing News initially spoke with Franklin via a Zoom call several weeks ago, the words, “I’m in Luton right now”, came as a considerable surprise.

Naturally, an attempt was made to dig a little deeper, to at least find out who he had been training with, but the plot only thickened when Franklin gave a rather nebulous response.

“You know, I like to be kind of private with my stuff,” he says. “I don’t like to say too much, but we’re at ‘The Farm’.”

Just then, the word ‘farm’ arrived as a particularly revealing clue, enough for Boxing News to glean some further information from a credible source.

And, sure enough, the suspicion of a Franklin-Charles partnership was suddenly confirmed, inspiring a wry smile to appear across this reporter’s face.

“I like it here; it kind of reminds me of home,” Franklin continues, describing his new surroundings while, at the same time, remaining coy about his linkup with Charles.

Once again, though, the 6ft 3in contender leaves very little to the imagination, as anyone familiar with Luton would likely be able to picture the type of environment that he calls “home”.

“Growing up in Michigan was normal, I would say, like how most American kids grow up in an urban community,” Franklin says.

“Michigan’s a little rough, though; there are probably like five or six cities that are very rough around the edges.

“So, having to be in that environment, and find my own identity in life, I would say that it helped me become a fighter.

“Where I’m from, you can’t back down from a lot of stuff. If you back down, you’ll probably have more problems in the future.

“I’m not saying everybody in Michigan is a gangster, or that everybody’s tough, but there’s a lot of people that won’t take no s**t.”

As you might have already gathered, Franklin is one of those people that certainly “won’t take no s**t”.

That much became apparent following his promotional dispute with Dmitry Salita, which contributed to a major news story prior to the boxer’s showdown with Anthony Joshua in 2023.

Back then, Franklin took legal action against Salita Promotions, alleging unfair contract terms, and eventually found himself in a far more favourable position.

So now, while not being able to delve into too much detail, the ‘989 Assassin’ is nonetheless glad to have put that situation behind him.

“I really can’t speak on it, but the business of boxing is just kind of s***ty,” he says.

“Fighters have more power than what they think, and they need to know that everybody works for them.

“Without us, there’s no ‘everybody else’. A lot of us get pushed to the side and don’t get opportunities, because we don’t want to do something that somebody else wants to do, or we don’t agree with what they’re trying to do.

“We need a union or some s**t. We need something to keep checks and balances in order.

“[Having overcome] my situation, I’m so happy now. I can make my own decisions – I have the freedom of choice – and the thing I learned is to never let these people talk to you like you have to do something. It’s supposed to be a partnership, where we work together.

“If we’re not making decisions [together], then nobody’s making decisions. That’s the big thing about it – don’t let these people force you into situations that you’re not ready for.”

Now gearing up to face Itauma – a 21-year-old prodigy widely tipped for world championship glory – Franklin firmly believes he is well equipped to navigate such an almighty challenge.

More specifically, a series of not-so-pleasant life experiences have allowed him to view the task through a certain lens, suggesting that his mental fortitude is far from manufactured.

“Being where I’m from has made me not scared of stuff, which can be a danger hazard in some ways, but I have no fear,” he insists.

“In the ring, I’m not worried about what they [his opponents] can do, or how they can hurt me. I’ll tell those people to their face: ‘I’m prepared to die in here. And, if you’re not prepared to do the same, you might wanna choose something else to do.’

“That mentality alone never lets me waver or steer away from what I’m here to do. I’m here to fight, so we’re going to fight to the end.

“I just feel like we’re warriors in here. What warrior do you know that goes into battle without being prepared to die?

“No warrior will ever be able to go to war if he’s scared of the outcome. In this sport, I know what can happen. Not saying that I want it to happen, but I know the dangers of it.”

While speaking with Franklin, it soon becomes clear that this man has taken his mind to some painfully dark places.

Perhaps most remarkably, the American learned that his father had passed away just two weeks before his last outing, an upset win over Ivan Dychko in September, but nonetheless remained focused on the task at hand and emerged victorious.

That Franklin even stepped through the ropes is ultimately testament to his character.

And now, with Charles in his corner, the sizeable underdog looks to once again upset the odds, this time against a fighter hailed for his dynamic footwork and explosive attacks.

“[Itauma has] got good feet, but not like everybody praises them to be,” Franklin opines. “He’s not dancing – he’s just moving forward and backward.

“No disrespect to him, but I haven’t seen any specialness with his footwork. I can do the same s**t that he does, so I don’t see it as an advantage.

“He’s not moving like a damn [Vasily] Lomachenko or something. In my eyes, it’s nothing super-special.”

It is hardly surprising that Franklin, unlike the rest of us, views his opponent as a vastly inferior version of the man that has been knocking out heavyweights for fun.

For him, this is merely another opportunity to prove that, when the chips are down, he has what it takes to leap over any hurdles that are placed in front of him.

Whether he can prove this against an extraordinarily talented youngster in Itauma, however, remains to be seen. But locking himself away on some secret “farm”, with a not-so secret “heavyweight specialist”, can’t do his chances any harm.

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s yard saw hints of Buggsy’s promise before his purchase from the Ready To Run sale the previous year.

The Harry Angel colt justified the faith by capturing his maiden victory in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1000m) at Sandown last Wednesday.

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Sold for $300,000 at Inglis Ready To Run in October, the colt enjoyed an immediate freshen-up.

Kent Jnr mentioned the rest served the two-year-old well, particularly after dominating a Caulfield Heath trial recently, preparing him for debut.

Under Craig Williams at $2.20 odds-on, Buggsy triumphed by 1-¼ lengths ahead of Money Honey ($11) and Macedon Mission ($71) a neck further back.

“He was very well prepared by Hanover Lodge, but you can tell he lacks that race experience,” Kent Jnr said.

“He was off the bridle quite early but then had to dig deep and his best work was late.”

The colt will sharpen up with racing, but Kent Jnr was impressed by his composure at Sandown.

“He’s quite a busy brained horse at home,” Kent Jnr said.

“I think it’s testament to our system. He’s been to the Rosehill stable, transferred to the Cranbourne stable and that’s really brought him on, and he had a Caulfield trial as well.

“Craig’s so good with young horses. He gives them a good experience, gives invaluable feedback to us and the owners.

“I would say that would be the shortest he wants to go. He came off the bridle early and was strong past the post and you would imagine 1100 (metres) or 1200 would suit him better.”

Plans for the preparation will follow observation of the colt’s recovery on Thursday.

“That was a nice introduction, and I see no reason why he would train off,” Kent Jnr said.

“He’s a vibrant colt that eats very well and is full of energy, but tomorrow may tell a different story.

“Whatever the case he’s going to keep improving.”

Discover leading betting sites offering racing betting markets for Sandown fixtures.

Holders Paris Saint-Germain produced a strong performance to defeat Chelsea FC 5–2 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie on Wednesday night.

In another big match, Real Madrid CF also took a big step towards the quarter-finals after beating Manchester City FC 3–0, with captain Federico Valverde scoring all three goals.

Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt continued their impressive run with a 3–0 victory over Sporting CP, while Arsenal FC were held to a 1–1 draw away to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

PSG 5–2 Chelsea

PSG took a big advantage into the second leg after two late goals from substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Bradley Barcola opened the scoring with a fine half-volley into the top corner. Chelsea responded when Malo Gusto equalised for the visitors.

However, Ousmane Dembélé restored PSG’s lead on a quick counter-attack after earlier forcing goalkeeper Filip Jørgensen to push a shot onto the post.

Chelsea again fought back through Enzo Fernández to make it 2–2, but Vitinha soon put PSG ahead again.

Late goals from Kvaratskhelia — a powerful strike and a close-range finish — sealed the win for the team coached by Luis Enrique and gave them a strong lead before the return leg in London.

Real Madrid 3–0 Man City

Real Madrid were in full control against Manchester City thanks to a brilliant hat-trick from Valverde.

The Uruguayan captain opened the scoring in the first half after receiving a long pass from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, rounding Gianluigi Donnarumma and finishing calmly.

Valverde added his second goal seven minutes later with a powerful left-foot shot before completing his hat-trick with a fine volley just before half-time.

Madrid had a chance to increase their lead in the second half, but Vinícius Júnior saw his penalty saved.

Bodø/Glimt 3–0 Sporting CP

Bodø/Glimt continued their dream Champions League campaign with a comfortable victory over Sporting.

Sondre Brunstad Fet gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot, while Ole Didrik Blomberg doubled the advantage just before half-time.

Kasper Høgh then scored his fifth Champions League goal in five matches to make it 3–0 and put the Norwegian side in a strong position before the second leg.

Leverkusen 1–1 Arsenal

Arsenal needed a late goal to avoid defeat away to Leverkusen.

After a goalless first half, Leverkusen took the lead early in the second half when Robert Andrich headed in from a corner after a quick attack that started from kick-off.

Arsenal pushed for an equaliser and were rewarded late on when substitute Noni Madueke won a penalty. Former Leverkusen forward Kai Havertz calmly converted the spot kick to secure a 1–1 draw.

Other results

Earlier matches on Tuesday saw Galatasaray SK defeat Liverpool FC 1–0, while FC Bayern Munich thrashed Atalanta BC 6–1.

Atlético Madrid also claimed a 5–2 win over Tottenham Hotspur FC, and Newcastle United FC played a 1–1 draw with FC Barcelona.

Upcoming Champions League dates

The second legs of the Round of 16 will take place on 17 and 18 March 2026.

The quarter-finals are scheduled for 7/8 April and 14/15 April, while the semi-finals will be played on 28/29 April and 5/6 May.

The final of the competition will be held on 30 May 2026 in Budapest. ⚽

Valverde is not always the headline act for Real Madrid, but unquestionably one of the team’s most versatile and reliable players. On Wednesday night, he deservedly took the headlines.

This isn’t the first time he’s stepped up in big moments either.

Last Friday, in Real’s La Liga fixture at Getafe, with the game at 1-1, he claimed a 94th-minute winner to keep their title hopes alive.

In the 39 games he’s played this season, he’s started 37, with his versatility impressing boss Alvaro Arbeloa as he covers defensive and midfield positions.

Valverde covers huge distances in every match, presses opponents, recovers the ball and drives Madrid forward.

Currently, Valverde is Real’s second captain after Dani Carvajal, a recognition of the standing he has earned in the dressing room and trust of the coaching staff.

It hasn’t been an easy season for him.

With Carvajal and Alexander-Arnold injured for large parts of the season, the Uruguayan was forced to play at full-back, despite his preference to play centrally in midfield.

“I have played many positions. I always try and give the best of myself and do what the coach asks,” he said on the eve of the City game. “I try and go forward, try and play on the wing, defence. Sometimes I have to do adapt. For me, that’s key.”

However, there’s no doubt Valverde has found brilliant form on the flanks and with Alexander-Arnold and Carvajal returning to the squad, they have linked up exceptionally.

It was ironic he told media on Tuesday he “wanted to keep the fans happy and proud”.

A first senior hat-trick to put Los Blancos a massive step closer to the quarter-finals will certainly have done that.

Pedro Neto has apologised for pushing over a ball boy during Chelsea’s 5-2 defeat by Paris St‑Germain in the Champions League.

The 26-year-old was seen putting two hands on the young ball boy in stoppage time of the last-16 first-leg tie, causing him to fall on to a chair and sparking a mass altercation between both teams at Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.

Asked about the incident on TNT Sports after the game, Neto said: “I want to apologise to the ball boy. I have already spoken to him.

“We were losing and in the emotion of the game I wanted to get the ball fast and I gave him a little push.

“I’m not like this. It was in the heat of the moment and I want to apologise. I gave him my shirt. I’m really sorry about it – I feel I have to apologise to him.

“My French is not very good, and [Portugal team-mate] Vitinha came over and said to him I was not like this.

“At the end he [the ball boy] laughed and I gave him my shirt and said sorry about 35 times. He could see what had happened and was happy with the situation.”

It is unclear whether Neto will face any further punishment by Uefa, but his actions came during a wider Chelsea collapse.

Head coach Liam Rosenior echoed the apology, adding: “I saw there was an altercation with the ball boy. But if there was anything from our side that was wrong or out of order, I apologise on behalf of the club.

“But I think Pedro has done so in interviews. I genuinely haven’t seen it back.”

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — After a lengthy and uncomfortable-looking range session, Rory McIlroy officially designated himself a “game-time decision” for the Players Championship.

“So, yeah, probably a game-time decision,” the career Grand Slam winner said during a short press availability on Wednesday afternoon. “But all indications are pointing in the right direction, so hopefully good night tonight. The drugs are working wonders, and then just keep it going from there.”

McIlroy has been absent from the typical early-week proceedings at the Players Championship as he deals with back spasms after tweaking something during a warmup session on Saturday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The spasms forced McIlroy to withdraw from the event before his third round on Saturday afternoon, casting sudden doubt on his availability at the Players, where he was scheduled to return as the defending champion.

On Wednesday, he arrived at TPC Sawgrass for the first time after making the quick trip up from Palm Beach, where he had been rehabbing with his physiotherapist. After arriving at the course, he engaged in a lengthy range session, hitting from his wedges all the way up to his six-iron while pausing briefly for pushups and other back stretches.

“I hit up until 6-iron on the range and it felt okay,” he said, cautioning that he was still taking the injury “hour-by-hour.”

McIlroy, 36, has dealt with an impressively clean bill of health throughout his playing career to this point. He said Wednesday that he has only dealt with a similar back injury once before in his career, at the 2023 Tour Championship. 

“I had this at the Tour Championship in 2023, and I remember on Thursday I was in so much discomfort and chipping it around and got through the round, and I remember on Sunday I felt like a whole new person,” McIlroy said. “So I’m hoping that it starts to progress like that.”

The Masters champion said he is not worried about aggravating the injury further by competing this week, though the injury is still causing him some level of discomfort.

“The sensitivity — it’s not even in the back,” he said. “It’s more just the muscles around it. The glutes and the hip flexors — and that’s just a little tight and a little angry.”

As of now, McIlroy is scheduled to tee off at 1:42 p.m. local time on Thursday afternoon in the Players Championship.

“Is it 20 hours until I tee off — or I’m supposed to tee off — tomorrow?” McIlroy said. “So, yeah, we’ll see. I’m taking it sort of hour by hour. But it feels better. That’s all I can say. I couldn’t stand to address the ball on Saturday morning on the range at Bay Hill, and it’s obviously better than that.”