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Chris Eubank Jr ignores dad’s advice
to fight Conor Benn despite weight concerns
Chris Eubank Jr will ignore his father’s pleas to pull out of his fight against Conor Benn overweight concerns, Tony Mogan reports for Metro Sports.
Eubank Jr and Benn will follow in their father’s footsteps when they meet at the O2 Arena on 8 October, fighting at a catchweight of 157lbs.
It requires Benn, who has enjoyed a blistering rise as a welterweight, to come up from 147lbs and for Eubank Jr to drop down from 160lbs, where he has recently been campaigning at middleweight.
‘If you come in beneath that weight, you put your life in danger and no one can put my son’s life in danger. I have already lost one son. It is not going to happen,’ said former middleweight and super-middleweight champion Eubank Sr, who tragically lost his son Sebastian last year.
‘He cannot go beneath 160lbs. If Nigel wants his son to fight my son, effectively, he has got to do that at 160lbs, and that he is not doing.’
32-year-old Eubank Jr acknowledges he is taking a major risk with next month’s fight and insists he would have never taken such a step against an opponent he views as a ‘killer’.
Eubank Jr and Benn collide on 8 October (Picture: Getty)
But 25-year-old Benn does not meet that criteria, according to the Brighton fighter.
‘As fighters we take chances, we gamble, and I don’t believe Conor is going to be able to take me into deep waters,” Eubank told Telegraph Sport.
‘Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t feel that that’s what he’s going to be able to do, so I agreed to this weight.
‘If I was going in there with someone that I considered a killer, I would never do anything like this, I just don’t see that pedigree or grade from Conor so I’m taking the risk of cutting to a weight I’ve never been before and I’m taking the risk of not being able to fully hydrate after the fight.
‘Is it a concern? I mean I guess so yeah, I’ve never had to do anything like this in my career so I don’t know how my body is going to react, I don’t know how I’m going to feel on the night, I know I’m not going to be 100 per cent.’
Benn is undefeated in 21 fights, winning 14 by knockout while Eubank Jr has two defeats on his 34-fight record, coming against Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves.
Why Joshua agreed to fight Fury
Eddie Hearn has explained that Anthony Joshua agreed to a fight with Tyson Fury as he feels it could be his last opportunity to face him, Eoin Harte writes for PA Pundit Arena.
Joshua isn’t coming into the proposed fight in the greatest form, as he has lost his last two bouts against Oleksandr Usyk, while Fury remains undefeated in his professional career.
Nonetheless, Joshua agreed to a 60/40 purse split and a date of December 3rd, with broadcasters, understood to be the final hurdle to clear before the fight can officially be announced.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn was speaking to Sky Sports and explained that Joshua believes this could be his one chance to fight his fellow British heavyweight.
Eddie Hearn on Anthony Joshua.
“He thinks, ‘This is my only chance because if he fights Usyk, win or lose I think he’ll retire.’ Or you never know with Fury, he could just never fight again,” Hearn explained.
“The reason he accepts these terms is he feels this is the only chance he’ll get to fight Tyson Fury. So, therefore, okay, it would have been better to come off a victory but we’re here and [Joshua thinks], ‘I can beat him and I feel good.’
“When he drew to [Deontay] Wilder, we offered Fury the fight against AJ and we offered him 60-40 and he said no and he said I’ll only take 50-50. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to push back on some of the terms.
“But in the end, it was AJ who overruled and said no just accept it. He’s always believed he can beat him.”
Can AJ turn his fortunes around?
Joshua is already back in training camp after agreeing to Fury’s terms, although while he may be in peak physical condition, it may prove harder to pick himself up mentally.
The former world heavyweight champion was clearly emotional after his second consecutive loss to Usyk, and although he improved significantly on his performance from the pair’s first fight, it wasn’t enough in the end.
Fury of course is well aware that Joshua may not be full of confidence heading into their fight, and he hasn’t given his long-time rival much time to prepare.
Antonio Conte threatens Ndidi, Iheanacho
The latest Leicester City news from LeicestershireLive brings you what Antonio Conte has said ahead of the game against Tottenham on Saturday
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte insists his team must be “angry” against Leicester City on Saturday evening.
Conte is looking for a reaction from his team after they lost 2-0 to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday, as he looks to put things right at Leicester’s expense.
While laying out what those watching the game can expect from his team, he is also wary of the threat Leicester can pose. He pointed to City’s trophy wins in recent years and said the Premier League table is “not faithful” to Brendan Rodgers ‘ side.
“We have to feel, we have to be a bit angry, and to try and have a good reaction,” Conte said, per football.London. “Because now we have the possibility to play another game in the Premier League, and for us it’s important to get a win, but at the same time you know you’re playing against Leicester.
“The table at the moment is not faithful to them because we are talking about a really good team, a good squad. We are talking about Brendan Rodgers who is a really good manager who won a lot in his career. For this reason, we have to pay great attention.
“When you play against Leicester…and Leicester I think in England they became a good team, a difficult team to play. Don’t forget that they won the Premier League with Claudio Ranieri. They won an FA Cup, maybe two years ago, three years ago. They won the Community Shield against Manchester City.
“We are talking about a club that in the last seven years they won. They won something in England. It means that we are talking about an excellent club, a good squad, a good manager, and great ambition. That’s it.”
Antonio Conte warns Tottenham players
ahead of the Leicester clash
Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte made it clear to his Tottenham players that no one is irreplaceable prior to the squad’s visit to Leicester City.
Brendan Rodgers ‘ Leicester city are in the capital to play an unbeaten Spurs side after six games in the current Premier League season but are now groggy from their initial loss of the season to Sporting during Champions League action in midweek.
Arthur and Paulinho scored late in Lisbon helping the Portuguese side to secure a 2-0 win that takes Sporting atop the north London team in Group B at the end of two matches.
Conte promised there would be certain tweaks to his side before the final group game ahead of the international break. The Italian is also pressing his side for a “good reaction” with “a bit of anger” against the very dangerous City team, hinting that he is not perturbed over dropping one or two players in securing his intended outcome.
“There are not players [who are] undroppable. This has to be very clear,” Conte said. “There is no player who is undroppable.
“If I tell this, it’s only to try to help my players and to try to avoid injuries. To try to have players at the top of their form and to have a good performance. I’m telling this only to protect my players and to give them the possibility to be [at] the top at every moment.
“You know very well, you can play one game well, another so and so, another score, another not. My task is to try to protect my players, protect the team and also to find the right way to have a good result.”
Fixtures
Friday 16th September 2022
- Aston Villa vs Southampton: 8:00 pm
- Nottingham Forest vs Fulham: 8:00 pm
Saturday 17th September 2022
- Wolves vs Manchester City: 12:30 pm
- Newcastle vs Bournemouth: 3:00 pm
- Tottenham vs Leicester: 5:30 pm
Sunday 18th September 2022
- Brentford vs Arsenal: 12:00 pm
- Everton vs West Ham: 2:15 pm
Oghenekaro Etebo departs Stoke City
Joins Greek side, Aris
Stoke City has officially confirmed that Nigeria international midfielder Peter Etebo has completed a permanent transfer to the Greek side, Aris, reports Edwin Emeanua for Sports Joust.
The 26-year-old made 51 appearances for the Potters after joining the Club in the summer of 2018.
We want to take this opportunity to wish Peter well for the future, Stoke City’s official site stated.
Abuja High Court halts NFF election
Stops Sports Minister, Pinnick from conducting
NFF election
On Thursday, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Federal High Court halted Youth and Sports Minister Sunday Dare and President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, from performing the scheduled September 30 NFF executive election in Edo, Edwin Emeanua reports for Sports Joust.
In his ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by Celsus Ukpong, the counsel for the plaintiffs, the Court enjoined the minister, Mr. Pinnik, or any person taking action on their behest, to sustain the existing state of affairs until the hearing and resolution of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
“Counsel for the claimants informed the Court that the defendants are taking action that will adversely affect the subject matter of this case.
“Parties are at this moment ordered to maintain status quo ante pending a final order of this court,” Justice Ekwo ruled.
Justice Ekwo subsequently defaulted the case to October 31 for a hearing.
The submission referenced FHC/ABJ/CS/1376/2021, Harrison Jalla, Chief Victor Rumson Baribote, Austin Popo, and the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) are listed 1st to 4th plaintiffs in that order.
In the injunction filed on September 2, NFF, Pinnick, and the minister are listed 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively.
Through the motion, the plaintiffs are asking for a temporary order restricting the defendants, their agents, employees, staff, officials, or electoral committee from arranging or performing any election into any executive office of the NFF until the hearing and conclusion of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
Through the affidavit of support for the motion, Fayenengigha Jacob, a counsel from the Ukpong chamber, deposed that the defendant’s actions are undemocratically motivated, adding that the defendants have also served with papers of the matter. Though the NFF and Pinnick have already entered their response in the case, the minister is yet to do so.
Jacob attested that a complaint in the case was how the NFF was being composed, leading to denying the majority of the interested parties and NFF members from imputing or contributing to the development of football in Nigeria.
Jacob submitted that this undemocratic leadership had caused a slump in the growth of Nigerian football.
The counsel for the plaintiffs noted that his clients could not participate in the recent congress held in Lagos for no reason.
“That the claimant had legitimately called on the leadership of the said body to set machinery in motion to amend the 2010 NFF statute deprive the majority of the NFF members such as the Professional Football Association, the league, the coaches body, and the players from participating in any election let alone of winning same.
“That the said leadership of the NFF, the 2nd defendant (Pinnick), his agents, privies refused or neglected to allow the due process to take place in amending the said 2010 NFF statute,” Jacob said.
Jacob contended that even as this case is still in Court, the defendants will announce, organize and conduct an NFF election this month.
Jacob stated that the defendants received the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction to stop them from carrying out any election into the executive offices of NFF until the conclusion of the main court case.
Jacob insisted that, while the motion on notice for interlocutory order to stop the defendants from disrupting the status quo in the process, the defendants have drawn out a timetable and set up an electoral committee to perform an election to the offices of the NFF on Friday, September 30, 2022, in Benin City, Edo State.
He contended that the Court would deny the Plaintive their intentions should the September election go ahead without hearing of the pending motions and substantive matters.
Mathias Pogba arrested for likely blackmail
over alleged plot to blackmail ex-Manchester United
midfielder
Paul Pogba’s older brother, Mathias, was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of participating in the blackmail plot against the ex-Manchester United midfielder, Metro Sports reports.
Mathias Pogba, and four others, were placed in police custody in Paris after being summoned for questioning over allegations that he was part of a group that attempted to extort €13 million (£11.2m) from the World Cup winner.
According to Le Monde, Mathias presented himself to investigators on Wednesday afternoon and will remain in police custody.
Inquiry sources have revealed that Pogba, who now plays for Juventus, handed over €100,000 (£85,000) after being escorted to a flat in Roissy-en-Brie, in the eastern suburb of Paris, in March.
Pogba claimed blackmailers ordered him to pay ‘protection money worth €1m (£860,000) a year, from the age of 16 when he first became a professional footballer.
Pogba had attempted to withdraw the full amount, but his bank did not grant the withdrawal.
Instead, the 29-year-old paid £85,000 to the gang but filed a criminal complaint after the group continued to press for more money.
Earlier this month, French prosecutors opened a judicial investigation following Pogba’s allegations.
A statement read: ‘Based on the findings of the preliminary investigation, the Paris prosecutor’s office launched a judicial investigation today relating to allegations against persons unknown, including blackmail by an armed gang, kidnapping or kidnapping with a release before the seventh day to prepare or facilitate the commission of a crime or an offense, and membership of a criminal conspiracy.’
However, Mathias Pogba accused his brother Paul of lying to the police.
‘All of Paul’s statements, from the hearing at the start of August – before my videos – to the response from his lawyers and the responses from his supporters, are only intended to drag my name through the mud,’ Mathias Pogba said in a TikTok video in August.
‘So I’m asking myself – why rush to affirm that what I had to say concerned just witchcraft?
‘Because it would be difficult to talk about the so-called blackmail in this case? So wouldn’t it be better to hammer home that the big brother is just a jealous, money-grabbing person, ready to do anything to discredit before he speaks? Isn’t that what all false accounts in my name mean? No, we don’t accept conspiracies here.’