News

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua set terms and agree date for ‘long-awaited’ showdown

AJ-Fury might be actually be happening. For real this time. We hope...

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 13th September 2022

After being talked about for years and called off on multiple occasions, it looks the Anthony Joshua v Tyson Fury might finally be happening.

Anybody else getting déjà vu?

The future of the long-awaited, all-British bout had been cast into uncertainty ever since a cancellation in the eleventh hour back in August 2021, however, it looks as though there might have been another breakthrough.

Tweeting on Tuesday, 13 September, Joshua’s management company 258 MGT and promoters Matchroom Boxing confirmed that they had ‘accepted all terms presented to us by Fury’s team for a fight Dec 3rd last Friday.

As the post goes on to explain, the announcement was delayed due to the Queen’s death despite an agreement being reached last Friday (9 September).

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Moreover, Fury’s representative Frank Warren – who had already downplayed his supposed retirement by insisting a heavyweight unification fight against Oleksandr Usyk ‘will be made’ – responded a short while later, stating that the ‘contract will be with you very soon’.

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It looked more doubtful than ever that AJ-Fury would ever materialise again after the former lost his rematch against Usyk in August and the ‘Gypsy King’ bid ‘bon voyage’ to the sport following his victory against Dillian Whyte back in April.

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It was only last month that the 34-year-old shared the tragic news that his cousin Rico Burton had been killed in a ‘senseless’ stabbing in Altrincham.

Having used his fight career to advocate for causes such as mental health, Fury will no doubt be looking to raise similar awareness for better knife control across the UK as he looks set to return to the ring once again.

The last AJ-Fury date was due to take place overseas in Saudi Arabia and although his previous fight was held at a sold-out Wembley, it is looking increasingly likely that the match-up with be hosted at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

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The Welsh national stadium has a capacity of nearly 75,000 and was also where Joshua successfully unified the world heavyweight titles by beating Joseph Parker in 2018.

It’s all set up for a photo finish – here’s hoping there’s no last-minute drama this time.

Featured Image – Tyson Fury (via Twitter)

News

Manchester palaeontologist unearths bones of what may be the largest known marine reptile

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A Manchester-based palaeontologist has unearthed the bones of what may be the largest known marine reptile.

This new identification is a crucial part of a fascinating eight-year long discovery journey.

It all started when a seasoned fossil collector named Paul de la Salle found a giant jawbone on Lilstock Beach, near Bridgewater in Somerset, back in May 2016, and then father and daughter, Justin and Ruby Reynolds from Devon, found the first pieces of a second jawbone and another giant bone while searching for fossils on the beach at Blue Anchor, also in Somerset, in May 2020.

And now, a palaeontologist at the University of Manchester (UoM) Dr Dean Lomax, has identified the fossilised remains of the second gigantic jawbone that measures more than two metres long.

Experts have identified these bones as belonging to the jaws of a new species of enormous ichthyosaur – which is a type of prehistoric marine reptile – and astonishing estimations suggest the oceanic titan would have been more than 25-metres long.

Dr Lomax has been working together with Justin and Ruby Reynolds, along with Paul de la Salle and several family members, since the father-daughter duo first contacted them about their groundbreaking discovery in 2020.

A Manchester palaeontologist has unearthed bones of what may be the largest known marine reptile / Credit: UoM

“I was amazed by Justin and Ruby’s find,” Dr Lomax commented.

“In 2018, my team and Paul de la Salle studied and described Paul’s giant jawbone, and we had hoped that one day another would come to light.”

He explained that Justin and Ruby’s new specimen was “more complete and better preserved” than the first find, and that he “became very excited” at the chance to learn more following their discovery.

As mentioned, the Manchester-based research team, led by Dr Lomax, revealed that the jaw bones belong to a new species of giant ichthyosaur that would’ve been about the size of a blue whale, and they have called the new genus and species Ichthyotitan severnensis – which means ‘giant fish lizard of the Severn’.

The bones – which represent the very last of their kind – are around 202 million years old, and date back to the end of the Triassic Period in a time known as the Rhaetian.

During this time, the gigantic ichthyosaurs swam the seas while the dinosaurs walked on land.

The University of Manchester, where Dr Dean Lomax works as a palaeontologist / Credit: UoM

Ichthyotitan is not the world’s first giant ichthyosaur, but the discoveries by Paul, and Justin and Ruby, are said to be “unique among those known to science”, as they appear roughly 13 million years after their latest geologic relatives – including Shonisaurus sikanniensis from British Columbia in Canada, and Himalayasaurus tibetensis from Tibet in China.

Speaking on the confirmation of the bones’ identification this week, Dr Lomax said: “This research has been ongoing for almost eight years.

“It is quite remarkable to think that gigantic, blue whale-sized ichthyosaurs were swimming in the oceans around what was the UK during the Triassic Period.

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“These jawbones provide tantalising evidence that perhaps one day a complete skull or skeleton of one of these giants might be found.”

Featured Image – UoM

News

Northern Quarter favourite Pie and Ale has sadly closed down

Danny Jones Danny Jones Pie and Ale Manchester closed down

Beloved Northern Quarter eatery and pub Pie and Ale has sadly and quietly closed its doors this week in yet another gutting bit of news for the Manc hospitality sector.

Known for its legendary homemade pies, great selections of ales, craft beers and lagers, not to mention a great little pub when it comes to watching live sport, it’s long been considered an NQ institution.

Unfortunately, however, as confirmed by a sign posted in the window, Pie and Ale has now closed for business after more than a decade.

Safe to say, we’re absolutely gutted, as we’re sure everyone else is.

Credit: The Manc Eats

While no official announcement has been made on their social media as yet, which will no doubt receive love and sadness from its loyal following, the sign in the window simply reads: “Pie and Ale has unfortunately ceased trading. Apologies for any inconvenience.”

The local favourite which was always hailed for being great value for money – celebrated especially for its popular pie and a pint for under a tenner deal – also served up great nibbles and light bites as well as dessert specials.

Although the Lever Street spot previously shut down for a short spell back in 2018 due to what they labelled as “unforeseen circumstances” before reopening just two months later, this latest update looks pretty definitive.

Sister-site Bakerie also ceased trading back in April 2019, with husband and wife founders, Alyson Doocey and David Cook, admitting that all independents had been “feeling the squeeze”.

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While we have few other details at this stage, it does look like Pie and Ale has indeed closed down for the foreseeable future.

A mainstay on our list of the best pies in Manchester since day dot and just the latest in the list of losses in 2024 so far, they will be sorely missed.

We sincerely hope this is like last time and will keep our fingers crossed that we see the pie pros and expert pourers back in business at some point.

RIP to an NQ icon.

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

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