Dillian Whyte has offered his thoughts on Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois, predicting a mid-late rounds stoppage where the winner is compelled to “take a lot of punishment”.

Their heavyweight contest will take place at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena on May 9, with Wardley making the first defence of his WBO world title.

The 31-year-old was upgraded from ‘interim’ to full champion after Oleksandr Usyk, who still holds the WBC, IBF and WBA titles, decided to vacate his WBO strap.

This occurred following Wardley’s stunning 11th-round finish over Joseph Parker last October, when he cemented himself as the leading contender for Usyk.

Rather than facing the formidable Ukrainian in an undisputed showdown, though, the Ipswich man is gearing up to headline a Queensberry card against former world champion Dubois.

Having not fought since his fifth-round stoppage defeat to Usyk last July, Dubois is eager to prove that he remains a world-class operator, capable of ending any fight with his destructive fists.

The 28-year-old has previously showcased his power in consecutive stoppages over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua, but must now face a hard-hitting champion who boasts the same 95% knockout-to-win ratio.

Speaking with IFL TV, former world title challenger Dillian Whyte, who is also Wardley’s manager, declared that his man should be the last one standing.

“Mid-late [rounds], Fabio will stop him. Fabio’s going to have to take a lot of punishment, though.

“It’ll be a tough fight early. But I ain’t got no problem [seeing] Fabio coming through and knocking him out.

“Fabio likes to get hit. I always say, ‘Bro, stop getting hit early. You don’t need to. You’re very athletic and very fast and very awkward’. But he likes to trade off early.”

Indeed, Wardley has shown tremendous grit to overcome torrid battles with the likes of Frazer Clarke, Justis Huni and Parker, always fighting fire with fire whenever he seems in a spot of bother.

Ahead of the Darby Munro Stakes, Anthony Freedman tempered expectations for Beskar, while dismissing the three-year-old’s “stupid odds” as unwarranted.

Drawing the second-widest price at $81, the gelding upended expectations by sitting handily and repelling the challenge of Agarwood ($19) and Caffe Florian ($12), who closed strongly.

“To be fair, he should never have been that. He did run third in a Group Three last start, so $80 is probably ridiculous,” Freedman said.

“It’s still a bit of a surprise.

“He’s a horse that’s got good talent. He does a lot wrong and makes a mess of a few races, but it all went (well) for him today.

“He ran third in the Kindergarten Stakes here last year, so maybe this works better for him, in Sydney.”

Beskar achieved third in the Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) on his second start, endured variable form in winter and spring, but showed sharpness lately with third to Pallaton in the Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last month.

Freedman always recognised the talent in the gelding, hampered by small setbacks, necessitating a learning curve in his preparation.

“He’s sound now, and we train him very differently,” Freedman said.

“We don’t do any work with him. It takes a while to work some horses out.

“He’s one of those horses who is never one hundred per cent. You get him as good as he can be and keep him happy and don’t work him.”

With victory in Saturday’s Darby Munro Stakes (1200m), Beskar eyes the Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on April 11, as Freedman ponders next steps.

“I hadn’t looked that far. We will think about it,” he said.

Horses like Autumn Glow, successful 12 months back, highlight the quality of Darby Munro Stakes winners.

Visit premier betting sites to check racing betting markets for the Darby Munro Stakes.

James McDonald and Chris Waller’s unstoppable Sydney team tied two of Australian racing’s treasured records when Aeliana notched a dramatic win in the Group 1 $1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Aeliana provided McDonald with his 129th lifetime Group 1 victory, levelling the benchmark for Australian-resident jockeys established by Damien Oliver of the Hall of Fame.

The pair also attained their 54th collaborative Group 1 result, mirroring the feat of fabled partners George Moore and Tommy Smith.

The champion rider and Hall of Fame conditioner outright claimed both marks 35 minutes subsequently via Autumn Boy in the Group 1 $750,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

Although her stablemate Lindermann threatened to dampen the mood by making the mare labour hard, Aeliana orchestrated the perfect start to McDonald and Waller’s big day.

The jockey revealed the short neck score was “not how the script’s supposed to go” regarding his 129th Group 1 record match.

“Aeliana is just incredible, her tenacity to find the line was just superb,” McDonald said.

“She’s been building to something like that and I’ve got to give credit to the second horse because they made us work.

“Nash (Rawiller, rider of Lindermann) is a genius when it comes to race tempo. He got things on his own terms, and Damian (Lane, rider of Trinity College) was just sitting off him the whole way.

“It wasn’t ideal, that’s for sure, because he had a picnic up in front. But I was on a good horse and she deservedly won that one.”

Aeliana, sent off at $1.60, required the full Rosehill straight to collar the resilient front-runner Lindermann ($16), winning by a short neck to deliver Waller a further Group 1 quinella.

Sir Delius ($3) under Craig Williams tracked Aeliana closely and loomed as the danger on the corner but was unable to quicken, beaten by just over a length for third.

Waller hit his 190th Group 1 career milestone and noted Aeliana truly had to “fight for it” as Slipper Day fans erupted watching the barnmates clash thrillingly.

“The crowd was awesome, that’s what racing’s all about,” Waller said.

“These great horses being everyone together to enjoy the sport and that was a great spectacle.

“He’s (Lindermann) a good horse on his day and I think Nash controlled the race really well.

“Aeliana had to be good to win and obviously Sir Delius on our back, that gave me a bit of a scare when he came with us.

“But you could just see, they sort of broke clear of him and then it was a fight between the stablemates.

“It didn’t really matter who won but obviously for James today – it’s a big one.”

Starting with Delectation for their debut Group 1 in 2015, Waller and McDonald’s haul of 54 in 11 years stands as phenomenal.

“I’m just lucky to train lots of good horses and have an association with a terrific young man,” Waller said.

Winless this preparation after her Derby rout entering the Ranvet, Aeliana had filled second in four Group races trailing the likes of Via Sistina and Autumn Glow, making her Group 1 conquest a favourite and rightful outcome.

Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds campaigns Aeliana, furthering the premier syndicator’s Golden Slipper Day legacy.

Martin’s brilliant colt Sebring landed the 2008 Golden Slipper, and now Aeliana joins as her third Ranvet Stakes winner with Theseo doubling up in 2009-10.

A quick turnaround into the Group 1 $1.5 million Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill next Saturday has not been discounted by Waller.

“I’m not sure about the Tancred but the distance is no problem,” Martin said.”A seven-day back-up isn’t ideal but I will see how a few others go today and then we will try to map it all out tomorrow.”

Rawiller praised Lindermann’s “amazing performance” for his fighting second.

“He picked himself up off the canvas there at the 100m and really rallied,” Rawiller said.

“I thought for a stride we could worry her out of it but she is a top mare in her own right.”

Rider Craig Williams of Sir Delius targets the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 11 at Royal Randwick.

“Sir Delius is flying,” Williams said.”The winner beat us by three and a bit lengths the other day so we shortened that margin down to about a length.”He felt like he still has more racing improvement to come on and he’s right in line for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes now.”

Visit betting sites to find racing odds for the Ranvet Stakes.

Tyson Fury sung the praises of Jared Anderson in 2023, with the heavyweight prospect now promising to live up to such expectations.

‘The Gypsy King’ shared multiple rounds of sparring with Anderson in preparation for his rematch and trilogy showdown with Deontay Wilder, both of which he won by stoppage.

But while Fury has hailed the American in numerous interviews, saying he is the “heir to the heavyweight throne”, only time will tell as to whether his premonition holds any weight.

Sure enough, the future of Anderson’s career seemed in serious jeopardy after he suffered an emphatic fifth-round stoppage defeat to Martin Bakole in 2024.

In fairness, ‘The Real Big Baby’ could have done with a few more development fights, before facing an opponent with Bakole’s experience and physical attributes.

But while Anderson could be forgiven for rolling the dice in such a way, it is far less easy to look beyond his last outing, against Marios Kollias, in February 2025.

Back then, the talented operator produced a lacklustre display, and even appeared to be troubled by his limited opponent, before claiming a unanimous decision victory.

Hoping to keep such performances in the past, though, Anderson has now taken to social media and expressed his ambition to prove he is far more than a hype job.

“Now I’m coming for everything. No exceptions.”

Now I’m coming for everything. No exceptions. pic.twitter.com/ENhoVOSgsO

— Jared BigBaby🍼 Anderson (@jaredanderson41) March 22, 2026

The 26-year-old, who has been promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank since his professional debut, is reportedly finalising a co-promotional deal with Frank Warren’s Queensberry.

Anderson is then expected to face Solomon Dacres on May 9, featuring on the undercard of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois at the Co-op Live Arena, Manchester.

Ready for the Minnesota Vikings to draft another quarterback? Inside a draft not known for quarterback talent? That’s the latest and greatest theory from former Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions passer Chase Daniel, who says Minnesota should get into bed with Alabama’s Ty Simpson.

The Simpson idea exists, though the roster board points the Vikings in other directions.

The Vikings would probably have to spend their 18th overall pick on Simpson, and some are not enthused by the idea.

Minnesota Should Pass on the Alabama Quarterback

Simpson is expected to be the second signal-caller off the board after Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.

Chase Daniel: Vikings Should Consider Ty Simpson

Simpson to Minnesota should be a thing, says Daniel.

He said in a video on Twitter (X) late last week, “The second that Kyler signed with KOC, in my opinion, J.J.’s done there. They’re not giving J.J. a chance to win the QB1 job. It would surprise me, very much so. You don’t sign there to be a backup to J.J. McCarthy. I think J.J. McCarthy’s days with the Vikings are done.”

“I do, and so that’s why I think you have to entertain drafting Ty Simpson. You’re not sure what Kyler’s going to do. It’s a one-year deal, $1.3 million. I just think if Ty can go to KOC, and there’s a lot of things that can happen, but with that offense, come on, man.”

Vikings fans saw Daniels’s video and largely rolled their eyes. He also claimed on the same platform over the weekend that Carson Wentz’s new $3 million contract means McCarthy is on his way out. Generally speaking, Daniel is known as a hot-take merchant on social media.

The Vikings Have Enough QB Options Right Now

Listen, the Vikings have roster needs at the moment — center, cornerback, safety, defensive tackle, and perhaps [a young] running back — but quarterback isn’t one, not after signing Murray and Wentz in the last week and a half.

Murray is in line to start at QB1, barring a surprise upset from McCarthy, who will evidently battle for his old job at training camp and in the preseason. Wentz will likely fill the QB3 job, unless he scores an upset over McCarthy at the QB2 hole.

And the franchise has last year’s undrafted free agent Max Brosmer. The University of Minnesota alumnus struggled tremendously in the regular season after a strong preseason, but he remains in the team’s roster orbit.

Unless Vikings fans and NFL media are severely overvaluing the Vikings’ opinion of Murray and McCarthy, Simpson isn’t needed. There’s no room.

Simpson’s Scouting Report

Simpson is expected to be picked somewhere in Round 1, likely in the middle or back half. He could also fall to Round 2, as this particular draft is weak at the quarterback spot and seems to be saving the main event for 2027.

The Alabama alumnus is comparable to NFL passers like Case Keenum, Jake Browning, Taylor Heinicke, and Mac Jones.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein on Simpson:

Former five-star prospect who waited his turn at Alabama and raised his profile in a single season as the Tide’s starter. Simpson is mechanically sound from a footwork and release perspective, providing a favorable foundation to work from. He’s above average as a processor and decision-maker, but timing and anticipation remain works in progress. Arm talent and velocity are average, which limits his success. His repeatable process should help iron out ball placement inconsistencies the more he plays. Simpson is unfazed by shell coverages and is decisive when attacking intermediate zone pockets for chunk gains. He can break contain and move the sticks with his legs, too. Learning to cut bait and avoid sacks needs to be prioritized. One-year starters rarely “boom” so he’ll need a patient staff and a clear developmental roadmap to fill in the missing pieces.

Avoiding the “Kenny Pickett” Mistake

In 2021, the NFL draft showcased a similarly dry QB crop and didn’t even have a Fernando Mendoza at the top of the board. So, needing a quarterback, the Pittsburgh Steelers reached for Kenny Pickett, who didn’t last long on Mike Tomlin’s team and has been passed around the NFL since the start of 2024.

Because this class features Mendoza and then “the rest,” a team might be tempted to draft Simpson early, solely because it needs a young quarterback in the pipeline. Think of it this way: next year, Simpson might be considered a non-1st-Rounder, as that class will have many more options.

Therefore, on top of the Vikings not needing a quarterback right now, they should avoid Simpson and a Steelers-like reach. If the Murray trial flops, Minnesota can explore a quarterback next year from the draft, if needed.

The ongoing conflict in West Asia is beginning to ripple through global supply chains, and even cricket has not remained untouched. Among the latest concerns is the availability of the Dukes cricket ball — a staple of Test and county cricket in England — whose complex manufacturing process makes it particularly vulnerable to international disruptions.

With England’s domestic season approaching, questions have emerged around supply consistency. While Dukes owner Dilip Jajodia has assured that provisions are in place to meet top-level demand, early signs suggest that the broader ecosystem of the sport could feel the strain.

Global supply chain exposed to disruption

Unlike many other cricket balls, Dukes is produced through a highly internationalised process. The leather is sourced from Aberdeen Angus cattle in Scotland and undergoes tanning locally before being shipped to South Asia — primarily India and Pakistan — where skilled artisans hand-stitch each ball. The semi-finished products are then sent back to England for final finishing and quality checks.

This multi-stage, cross-border chain is efficient under stable conditions but becomes fragile when global logistics are disrupted. The ongoing conflict in West Asia has affected key air corridors and cargo routes, forcing the rerouting of shipments, increasing transit times, and raising freight costs.

Priority given to elite cricket

Despite these challenges, Dukes has moved to protect the most critical segment of the game — first-class and Test cricket. Jajodia has indicated that the company anticipated potential disruptions and built sufficient inventory to ensure that top-tier matches proceed without interruption.

This prioritisation reflects the central role of the Dukes ball in England’s cricketing identity, where its pronounced seam and sustained swing are integral to match conditions. Ensuring uninterrupted supply for these fixtures has become the company’s primary objective.

However, this approach has had a knock-on effect. Reports suggest that some county teams have received reduced allocations, particularly for practice sessions and second-tier matches. While not severe enough to halt cricketing activities, these adjustments highlight the pressure building beneath the surface.

Seasonal demand intensifies pressure

The timing of the disruption has further complicated matters. England’s cricket season begins in April, a period when demand for Dukes balls rises sharply across all levels — from international fixtures to club cricket.

Typically, Dukes produces between 4,000 and 5,000 balls for first-class and Test cricket each summer, in addition to supplying leagues and recreational competitions. Even in normal conditions, this surge places considerable stress on the supply chain.

The current logistical uncertainty has amplified that pressure. Clubs and leagues, which rely on consistent access to match balls, are particularly vulnerable. Dukes has acknowledged the challenge and indicated that while supply may be stretched, efforts are being made to ensure minimum allocations across stakeholders.

Skilled craftsmanship limits rapid expansion

One of the defining characteristics of the Dukes ball is its craftsmanship. Each ball is hand-stitched by experienced workers, and maintaining consistency requires precision at every stage of production.

This reliance on skilled labour makes rapid scaling difficult. Unlike mass-produced goods, output cannot simply be increased at short notice without risking variations in quality. The process is also dependent on natural leather, which introduces its own variability.

As a result, even if demand rises due to supply gaps, Dukes cannot significantly accelerate production without compromising the very qualities that define the ball. This structural limitation makes the current disruption harder to offset through increased manufacturing alone.

Concerns persist over durability

The supply concerns come against the backdrop of recent criticism surrounding the Dukes ball’s performance. During India’s tour of England in 2025, players from both sides repeatedly raised issues about the ball losing hardness earlier than expected.

Even so, the overlap of supply concerns and performance debates has placed the ball under increased scrutiny ahead of a crucial season.

Limited alternatives for English conditions

While Dukes remains the standard in England and the West Indies, other manufacturers dominate different regions. The Kookaburra ball is widely used in Australia, South Africa, and ICC events, while the SG ball is preferred in India.

However, switching to an alternative is not a straightforward solution. Each ball behaves differently, shaped by its construction and the conditions it is designed for. The Dukes ball, with its prominent seam and ability to swing for extended periods, is uniquely suited to English pitches and weather.

Any shift away from Dukes would fundamentally alter the balance between bat and ball, impacting everything from swing to seam movement. For this reason, despite the current challenges, the ECB and counties are unlikely to consider a change unless absolutely necessary.