Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk undisputed rematch ruled out after major call
A rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk would reportedly not be for the status of undisputed heavyweight champion, due to a key ruling by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) this week. It was announced last week that WBC champion Fury and Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts, will box each other in Saudi Arabia – likely before the end of March. ESPN reported this week that the contract for the fight, which is set to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion in over 20 years, includes a two-way rematch clause. Therefore, the loser, whoever that may be, can ensure a second bout against the winner without having to fight a different opponent first. However, the IBF has ruled that the winner of Fury vs Usyk must box mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic before any rematch takes place, per ESPN. Otherwise, the winner of Fury vs Usyk will be stripped of the IBF belt, and their rematch will only be for the remaining belts. Croatian Hrgovic, who holds an unbeaten record, told ESPN: “The IBF wrote that if I won my last fight and if Usyk beat [Daniel] Dubois, the IBF would enforce my mandatory status to fight Usyk for the title. “The IBF has now allowed Tyson Fury and Usyk to do a unification first. The winner of that fight is mandated to fight me immediately after, with no other intervening fight, so I expect to fight for the heavyweight championship early next year. “I’m disappointed at the delay, but I will stay ready, and I won’t let it distract me from my goal of winning the title. Whether against Usyk or Fury, my time is coming.” Ukrainian Usyk, 36, retained his titles with a stoppage win over Dubois in August, after climbing off the canvas following a controversial low blow, which many viewers believed was a legal body shot by Dubois. Dubois’s promoter Frank Warren, who also promotes Fury, lobbied for a rematch but to no avail so far. Meanwhile, Briton Fury has not fought since December, when he retained the WBC title against Derek Chisora, whom he had already beaten twice before. Fury, 35, is set to fight former UFC champion Francis Ngannou next, facing the mixed martial artist in a boxing match in Saudi Arabia on 28 October. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Tyson Fury contacts cruiserweight champion for help before Oleksandr Usyk showdown Tommy Fury explains why he has ‘never been fan’ of KSI ahead of crunch boxing match Let’s get ready to rumble! Inside the ropes with boxing’s ring announcers
2023-10-07 02:21
Manchester United vs Arsenal LIVE: Women’s Super League team news, line-ups and more as Alessia Russo starts
Manchester United will host Arsenal in the second round of fixtures in the Women’s Super League at the Leigh Sports Village on Friday 6 October. Arsenal suffered a shock home defeat to Liverpool in the first WSL game last weekend, after failing to reach the group stages of the Champions League last month. It has been a rocky start to the season for Jonas Eidevall’s side, despite the talisman signing of Alessia Russo from Manchester United in the summer transfer window. Manchester United - under Marc Skinner - won their first match against Aston Villa 2-1. Follow all the action from the clash at Leigh Sports Village here: Read More Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall signs new long-term contract Arsenal break Women’s Super League record – but suffer shock Liverpool defeat Manchester United claim WSL victory with last-gasp goal against 10-player Aston Villa
2023-10-07 01:59
Deandre Ayton is embracing a fresh start with the Trail Blazers
Deandre Ayton came to the Trail Blazers in a three-team trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks
2023-10-07 01:51
Sancet only newcomer in Spain squad for European qualifiers against Scotland and Norway
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has made few changes to his squad that will face Scotland and Norway in upcoming European Championship qualifiers
2023-10-07 01:27
Dolphins place veteran LT Terron Armstead on IR with knee injury
Coach Mike McDaniel has confirmed that the Dolphins are placing veteran left tackle Terron Armstead on injured reserve because of a knee injury he suffered in Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills
2023-10-07 01:23
Jets cornerback D.J. Reed will sit out against the Broncos with a concussion
New York Jets cornerback D
2023-10-07 01:19
WR Chase Claypool traded from the Chicago Bears to the Miami Dolphins
Chicago has traded wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Miami Dolphins, ending the fourth-year player’s brief and disappointing tenure with the Bears
2023-10-07 01:16
The Jaguars expect to have three offensive pieces back in the lineup against the Bills in London
The Jacksonville Jaguars expect to have three key offensive players back for their second of back-to-back games in London
2023-10-07 00:29
Roy Hodgson admits Crystal Palace are in midst of a ‘serious injury crisis’
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson admits his side are in the thick of a “serious injury crisis” with midfielder Eberechi Eze becoming the latest player set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Eze’s hamstring issue ruled him out of selection for Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad after he featured last month, with the 25-year-old joining an ever-growing list of Palace players unavailable for Saturday’s home encounter with Nottingham Forest. Despite the latest blow, Hodgson made clear he had no intention of courting pity, pointing to the bigger picture as he sought to assure concerned supporters. Hodgson said: “There is no sympathy in the world of football for injuries and there is no point seeking sympathy. It happens to all teams. “We happen to be in the middle of quite a serious injury crisis at the moment, but we have to learn to deal with it and accept the situation and look forward to the time when our squad is bigger again when these players return. “OK, it’s not going to be in the next week or two, but the season doesn’t end until May so we have to keep that in mind as well.” Palace sit ninth in the Premier League table after seven matches and enter Saturday’s contest bolstered by their 1-0 victory over Manchester United last time out, with defender Joachim Andersen providing the decisive strike. Hodgson, aware of his dwindling resources, said: “We are going to be dependent now, really, on the players who have come in to take their places in doing a good job, which to be fair they have been doing. “I’m very satisfied with the way the team has been playing, and we’re a squad, so there is no point complaining about injuries. They do happen and you must never feel sorry for yourself. “One or two of the players who have come in, in the last two or three weeks, who have not necessarily played from the start, have come in and done exceptionally well. That is the way we have got to look at it.” While Hodgson refused to set a timeframe for Eze’s return, he did concede that the injury was “serious” and “the severity of the injury might suggest it’s as long as that.” Michael Olise, among Hodgson’s other key attackers, has not played this season as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury of his own, while summer signing Jefferson Lerma – also out with same problem – remains ruled out. Odsonne Edouard, yet another member of Palace’s hamstring woe-club, has progressed and could start against Forest at Selhurst Park, while Brazilian Matheus Franca is still working his way back to match fitness, but is “no longer injured”. Dean Henderson, James Tomkins and Naouirou Ahamada all remain unavailable. Read More Ollie Watkins extends stay at Aston Villa with new long-term contract Mikel Arteta: Arsenal must be at best in every department to beat Man City We’re not top-four contenders: Unai Emery plays down Aston Villa’s strong start Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino knows importance of Burnley game after two wins Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola ponders how to replace Rodri against Arsenal Ange Postecoglou accepts Liverpool denied ‘legitimate goal’ by VAR error
2023-10-07 00:19
Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff all advance to the semifinals at the China Open
Elena Rybakina advanced to her eighth semifinal of the year by beating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 7-5, 6-2 at the China Open
2023-10-06 23:59
Mikel Arteta: Arsenal must be at best in every department to beat Man City
Mikel Arteta said Arsenal’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City was important for confidence but admitted the Gunners will need to be “at our best in every department for 100 minutes” if they are to repeat that success in the Premier League this weekend. Arsenal beat Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning side on penalties in August after Leandro Trossard’s dramatic stoppage-time equaliser cancelled out Cole Palmer’s opener at Wembley. However, that result between the teams has been the exception in recent years. City had beaten Arsenal in eight successive matches heading into the Community Shield, while Guardiola’s men are currently on a 12-match winning streak against the Gunners in the Premier League. In fact, Arsenal have to go back to 2015 for the last time they claimed victory over City in the league, and Arteta knows what level of performance his side must produce on Sunday if they are to end that winless run. “It was an important one for us (winning in Community Shield),” Arteta said. “Having success against City is something you have to value, the way we played as well and it gave us confidence and a lift that we can beat them. “One thing for certain is that we know we will have to be at our best in every department for 100 minutes and then we will have a chance.” An Arsenal victory this weekend would see them move two points clear of current leaders City, but Arteta dismissed any suggestion it would be a season-defining result. One thing for certain is that we know we will have to be at our best in every department for 100 minutes and then we will have a chance. Arteta on Manchester City “It will be a big boost energy and confidence-wise but apart from that and the three points, nothing else,” he said. Arteta highlighted Guardiola’s strengths as a manager and noted his fellow Spaniard’s decision to play Bernardo Silva at left-back in previous meetings was unexpected. And the Gunners boss, who was Guardiola’s assistant at City between 2016 and 2019, credited his compatriot’s willingness to change tactics in games. “Every year we have new tools, new players and different things,” Arteta said. “We know each other, we expect things from each other but it is down to the players. “I didn’t expect him to play Bernardo at left-back. “Yes (expect Pep do make big changes in games) and he does that in big games. “He’s done it this season as well. Against different opponents he does different things and that’s a big quality of them (City) because they can change. “They can do this during the game, at half-time and that’s a strength, they can dominate.” Although City have dominated this fixture in recent years, Arteta took encouragement from his side’s performance in the Emirates clash between the two on New Year’s Day 2022. Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal the lead but City levelled through Riyad Mahrez’s penalty and, with the Gunners down to 10 men following Gabriel’s red card, snatched a stoppage-time winner through Rodri. Arteta, who missed the fixture following a positive Covid test, believes that match was a big step forward for Arsenal and that they learnt some valuable lessons. He said: “I could feel it from home and it was a huge step. It was a big one, with the way we played but we ended up losing the game and took some big lessons from it as well, but a lot of positives.” Read More We’re not top-four contenders: Unai Emery plays down Aston Villa’s strong start Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino knows importance of Burnley game after two wins Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola ponders how to replace Rodri against Arsenal Ange Postecoglou accepts Liverpool denied ‘legitimate goal’ by VAR error Erik Ten Hag knows Man Utd have ‘dropped in levels’ and need to improve fast Going through or going home? – Ireland v Scotland talking points
2023-10-06 23:21
Motor racing-Verstappen fastest in Qatar Grand Prix practice
By Alan Baldwin DOHA Max Verstappen lapped fastest on Friday in the only practice session for a Qatar
2023-10-06 23:16
