British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that former footballer Wayne Rooney has spoken to him about the possibility of arranging a crossover boxing exhibition match.
Now that is something we’d be willing to pay the PPV for.
Speaking on Gary Neville’s new YouTube series with Sky Bet, Stick to Football, the Matchroom Sport chairman was fielding questions about the likelihood of everything from Joshua vs Fury, taking over from his father as a boxing promoter, to how much money influencer boxing is making the industry.
It was at this point, whilst the panel were watching clips of Neville, Jamie Carragher and Ian Wright sparring for fun and fighting at charity events, that Hearn confessed that the Manchester United legend turned full-time coach has actually got in touch about fighting on multiple occasions.
Could Wayne Rooney step into the boxing ring against Jake Paul? 🤔
I mean, how good/funny/totally daft would this be?
“After every big fight — and he won’t mind me saying this — especially with a YouTuber, sometimes [Wayne] Rooney will fire me a message”, said the 44-year-old.
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“I actually said to Wayne, who had a very limited amateur pedigree but could still fight, imagine the shape you’d get in, I told him. Wayne Rooney against Jake Paul at Old Trafford, imagine that.”
With Neville joking, “Did you see him against Phil Bardsley?” — a reference to an old clip of Rooney getting knocked out after by the fellow ex-pro in his kitchen, which got a huge laugh around the table — Hearn insisted that the retired footballer could get in some serious shape with the right training.
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The 37-year-old recently took the Birmingham City manager’s job after departing MLS club DC United, so while we don’t expect he’ll be taking a sabbatical to get in the ring any time soon, given that coach enjoyed a bit of boxing back in his younger days, you can never say never.
Elsewhere in the interview, Hearn also addressed the age-old question of whether or not Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury will ever come to fruition, to which he simply said it “has to happen”.
Adding that regardless of whether AJ gets a fight and potentially loses against US heavyweight Deontay Wilder or if Fury ultimately loses against Oleksandr Usyk — a fight that now looks to have been signed once again — he insists the interest in this long-awaited match-up is still there.
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Admitting that he’s Anthony Joshua’s “number one fan”, Hearn also went on to insist that not only can he win if he ever gets the chance to fight either of them but that he’d do it “in style”, having told talkSPORT last month that he believes Joshua could “knock out” both Wilder and Fury. Big words.
Whether you back him or not, I think we can all agree on one thing: a Wayne Rooney vs Jake Paul boxing match would genuinely be one of the most watched sporting events in history. You can watch Hearn’s appearance on Stick to Football in full down below:
If Eddie Hearn actually manages to get Wayne Rooney a boxing match against one of the Paul brothers we’ll love him forever.
Exciting new CGIs released of £500m Therme Manchester wellness resort as construction continues
Emily Sergeant
As construction continues on Manchester’s massive wellness resort, some new CGIs have now been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed, construction of the £500 million Therme Manchester wellness resort officially began last September after several years of planning, and now developers have released some exciting new CGIs – with an update on how construction is going, as a new milestone has been reached this week.
Set to open to the public in 2029, Therme Manchester will become one of the largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world.
Visitors can expect to make the most of a 10 pools – both lagoon and wave pools included – thermal bathing, multi-sensory sauna rituals, steam rooms, 18 water slides, affordably-priced luxury spa therapies, and health and fitness experiences.
Exciting new CGIs released of Therme Manchester have been released / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of Therme Manchester will be three distinct zones, each offering a different way to spend time at the resort.
Play will bring together water-based fun and attractions for families and visitors of all ages, and Restore will focus on thermal bathing and restorative experiences designed to help visitors unwind, while Relax will offer spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
The latest CGIs showcase the design as it develops – including the resort’s extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, and its 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.
Construction is still underway on the £500m wellness resort / Credit: Supplied
The plans also feature a new public plaza designed to strengthen connections between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.
Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort.
“We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.”
Therme Manchester was initially touted as a £250m project that would complete in 2025, but it’s now up to £500m and is scheduled to complete it 2029.
It marks one of the most significant building developments to ever take place in the North.
Featured Image – Supplied
Sport
Manchester City release limited-edition Blossoms shirts exclusively in new flagship store
Daisy Jackson
Manchester City have released a limited run of special Blossoms shirts, which will be available exclusively at the new flagship City Store.
Etihad Airways has donated the front-of-shirt space for the special drop, which celebrates the Stockport band’s lifelong support of Man City and will fundraise forCity in the Community’s 40th anniversary.
The Manchester City x Blossoms collab features the band’s logo across the chest of the 2024/25 season’s away shirt – one of the Club’s most popular designs in recent years.
Profits from sales of the shirts will be donated to CITC to support its 40th anniversary fundraising, which empower healthier lives with city youth through football.
Blossoms have just secured their fifth UK number one album with their latest release, ‘Songs From The Wedding Cake’, and will soon be heading on an arena tour that includes two massive shows at the Co-op Live.
There’s a very limited run of the Man City Blossoms shirts, available in sizes small to large, which will exclusively be sold at the new flagship CityStore.
The shirts have dropped in-store this morning, with further drops to be released around the band’s tour dates this November and December.
As for that new City store – it’s a whopping 21,000 sq ft, three-floor space at Medlock Square, right beside the Etihad Stadium, and is the biggest shop in the club’s history.
The new flagship has opened today in collaboration with PUMA and Stichd, and features a new, interactive ‘Make It Yours’ customisation station as well as an expanded range of Manchester City products.
Danny Jones -
19th October 2023 
