Sports
Anthony Joshua offered interim fight before Usyk rematch
Anthony Joshua has been offered an interim test with either Joe Joyce or Daniel Dubois before taking a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
The British star is now set to face Usyk in a rematch after talks of a step-aside offer to allow Tyson Fury to face the Ukrainian collapsed.
He will bid to become a three-time heavyweight champion and regain his belts, but will need a much stronger performance than in their previous meeting in September.
Promoter Frank Warren has called for Joshua to face either Dubois or Joyce if he needs a fight before facing Usyk later this year.
“If he wants to fight before hand, fight Joe Joyce or Daniel Dubois,” Warren told the Lowdown by Queensberry Promotions. “They are very, very good fights.
“Well I would think it will happen, Joshua priced himself out with the demands he was making.
“That was the straw that broke the camel back as far as Tyson is concerned.
“I think that he has nowhere else to go.
“What else is he going to do?
“That is the fight out there for him and if he doesn’t take it, Usyk will move on.
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“I don’t know what he would do, the titles are tied up with Usyk and Tyson.
“No-one else has got the titles.”
Joyce is currently the WBO’s leading contender for a title shot but is yet to be confirmed as a mandatory challenger with the heavyweight picture exceptionally busy with two big fights in the pipeline.
Meanwhile Dubois has bounced back since his defeat to Joyce and is looking to follow the WBA ranking route to assert his own position in securing a title shot.
However Joshua is likely to move straight into a shot at Usyk with the view to challenging the winner of Fury’s clash with Dillian Whyte for the undisputed titles if he can secure revenge.
He has begun training ahead of a potential rematch and is expected to announce a new coaching addition to his team to help redeem his defeat.
Hearn has admitted that an agreement is largely in place for the rematch with Usyk’s team and it is just a case of setting a date and a venue.
“That deal with AJ vs Usyk is very simple,” Hearn told Mirror Fighting.
“The deal is already done, terms are all agreed, it is literally just a conversation to say ‘Oleksandr it is April the whatever at Wembley, see you there mate’.
“With those guys it will be easy but it was people’s desire to try and come up with this other plan that prolonged everything. If that plan cannot be put in to place we should all just move on.
“Joshua hasn’t signed any non-formal agreement to step-aside, I am interested in looking to take the best opportunity for him to fight the winner of that fight to determine the best heavyweight in the world for a lot of money.”
Eagle
Sports
Ronaldo playing in Saudi league for money like me – Ighalo
Ronaldo playing in Saudi league for money like me – Ighalo
Ex-Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has disclosed that the decision of Cristiano Ronaldo and other top footballers to ply their trade in Saudi Arabia was informed by pecuniary motives.
Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr last year in a stunning three-year deal that would see him earn €210.704 million in total.
Other top footballers, who have made names for themselves in Europe, have also moved to Saudi Arabia as the the oil-rich middle east nation injected massive cash into league in order to make it a football powerhouse.
Reacting to the move of Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia and the influx of big players to the Saudi league, Ighalo said the motivation behind these moves was money and not passion.
Ighalo made this known during an interview with sport journalist, Oma Akatugba.
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He said. “See people that are going to Saudi Arabia, big players. Is Ronaldo still playing for passion? He has made more than 100 times what I have in my life, but he still went to Saudi. You want to tell me that is passion? No, it’s for money.
“It’s only when we Africans say it they will say we like money. But these people don’t care, some of them want to be highest paid and all that,”
Ighalo left mainstream Europe for Chang Chung Yatai in 2017 after playing for Lyn, Udinese, Granada, Cesena, and Watford.
At Yatai, he earned a reported €200,000 weekly salary, before moving to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua where he also commanded a similar wage.
Ighalo spent one year in Shanghai before moving to Manchester United on a six-month loan deal.
After that, the 34-year-old joined Al Shabbab, where he started earning €170,000.
Ronaldo playing in Saudi league for money like me – Ighalo
Sports
MLS: Messi’s double keeps Miami on top of the league table
MLS: Messi’s double keeps Miami on top of the league table
Lionel Messi showcased his brilliance with a double and an assist for Sergio Busquets as Inter Miami secured a 3-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday, keeping them at the summit of Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference.
Despite a shaky start that saw Franco Negri inadvertently deflect a corner into Miami’s net within two minutes, Messi swiftly equalized in the 11th minute after Luis Suarez redirected a rebounded shot from the Argentine.
Messi continued to menace Nashville’s defense, narrowly missing another goal before providing an exquisite cross for Diego Gomez, whose header was denied by Nashville keeper Elliot Panicco.
Miami capitalized on their momentum as Busquets, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, nodded in a corner just before halftime, giving Miami a well-deserved lead.
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However, Miami suffered a setback as Gomez was stretchered off with an ankle injury, adding to their injury woes.
Although Nashville dominated possession in the second half, Miami remained resolute defensively. In the 81st minute, Messi sealed the win by converting a penalty after Leonardo Afonso was fouled in the box.
With this victory, Messi extended his impressive goal-scoring record to nine goals in as many games across all competitions for Miami.
Reflecting on Miami’s performance, manager Gerardo Martino praised his team’s resilience, particularly considering their depleted squad due to injuries.
Despite Miami’s success, Columbus Crew faced a tough battle, twice coming from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against Phil Neville’s Portland Timbers.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati clinched a 2-1 win over Atlanta United, with Luciano Acosta playing a pivotal role in their comeback victory. This highlights an eventful day in Major League Soccer.
MLS: Messi’s double keeps Miami on top of the league table
Sports
Arsenal beat Wolves to return to top spot
Arsenal beat Wolves to return to top spot
Arsenal put their Champions League disappointment firmly in the past by beating Wolves at Molineux and moving back to the top of the Premier League.
Having blown their chance to leapfrog Pep Guardiola’s side six days ago by losing at home to Aston Villa and then being knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich on Wednesday, it was a welcome triumph for Mikel Arteta’s men.
Leandro Trossard’s strike in the last minute of the opening period may not have been the most eye-catching of the Belgian’s career, but it was perfectly timed.
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It came at the end of a half where Arsenal seemed to have gotten stuck after a bright start and nearly fell behind to Gary O’Neil’s injury-ravaged side.
The visitors dominated the second half too, but were unable to carve out the clear chances that would have allowed them to take the game out of reach.
Captain Martin Odegaard added the second deep into stoppage time at the end of the game, turning in from a tight angle after his initial cross had been blocked.
The result means Arsenal are now a point clear of City, with a better goal difference but having played a game more.
They have the chance to apply some significant pressure to the defending champions when they entertain beaten FA Cup semi-finalists Chelsea on Tuesday.
Arsenal beat Wolves to return to top spot
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