Tommy Fury has clinched the win over Jake Paul in a long-awaited showdown that took place in Saudi Arabia last night.
It’s been a very long time coming, with the fan frenzy and media attention having been growing by the day – but the 23-year-old Manchester-born professional boxer – who is the younger brother of two-time world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury – has only gone and done it.
Fury fought hard to defeat the controversial YouTuber and media personality Jake Paul in a split-decision after eight rounds.
The judges scored it 75-74 Paul, 76-73 Fury, and 76-73 Fury.
The highly-anticipated fight between the former Love Island contestant and the internet star – which had been dubbed as ‘The Truth’ – was originally scheduled for 2021, but was postponed after Fury pulled out due to broken ribs and a bacterial infection, which he said at the time was “heartbreaking”, and insisted he wanted the fight to happen “more than anything”.
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After the initial call-off, the fight between the pair was rescheduled for August 2022, but Fury pulled out once again – this time due to visa issues and being denied entry to the US.
Two postponements later, the Fury v Paul hunger was stronger than ever and the fight rescheduled for Sunday 26 February in Saudi Arabia – where Fury came out on top after a tense and action-packed meeting between the pair.
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Tommy Fury defeats Jake Paul in long-awaited fight / Credit: BT Sport Boxing (via Twitter)
“For the past two-and-half years, this is all that’s consumed my life,” Fury said after the match.
“Tonight I made my own legacy – I am Tommy Fury. I had a dream I would win, people doubted me, but everyone can take note now. I had the world on me, pressure on my shoulders and I came through. This is a world title fight to me, this is my destiny, my fate.”
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Dedicating his win to his family, Fury added: “I want to dedicate this win to my new baby girl Bambi at home and my Mrs. I love you and I can’t wait to see you.
“This fight was for you. Bambi, this belt is for you.”
Fury gave praise to his opponent saying he “took some good shots” and that he is “a far better boxer than I thought he was” – adding that “if he wants a rematch, bring it on.”
Jake Paul – who only made his professional boxing debut in 2020 – cited illness as the reason for his performance and loss.
“I felt flat,” he explained after the fight.
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Don’t judge me by my wins, judge me by my losses. Congrats to Tommy, his team and his family. Thank you to everyone that tuned in. Saudi Arabia thank you as well. I will be back.
The Strokes announce first Manchester gig in two decades
Daisy Jackson
The Strokes are finally set to return to Manchester for the first time in years, announcing a huge arena show today.
The iconic indie rockers have shared details of a new European tour, which includes a night at the massive Co-op Live arena here in Manchester.
The news comes hot off the heels of their celebrated Coachella set over the weekend.
The Reality Awaits Tour, named after their upcoming seventh studio album, will take The Strokes to Manchester as well as London and Newcastle, plus several cities across Europe.
The Strokes broke into the industry back in 2001 with their seminal debut album Is This It, which spawned massive indie anthems like Last Nite, Hard To Explain, and Sometimes.
Since then, they’ve released six studio albums, all of which have climbed into the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart.
You can expect to hear all sorts of fan favourites, like Reptilia, Juicebox, and You Only Live Once, plus new music including their latest single The New Abnormal.
Co-op Live said: “This is set to be an unmissable show as they come to Co-op Live for the first time and we can’t wait!”
Last time The Strokes played in Manchester, it was at the O2 Apollo way back in 2006 – the same year they supported Foo Fighters at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
They played Lytham Festival more recently, but haven’t ventured back into Manchester itself since.
The Strokes will play at Co-op Live in Manchester on 26 October 2026.
Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday 17 April HERE, with a number of pre-sales beginning from Wednesday 15 April.
Manchester Museum to close much-loved section for ‘major’ £200k redevelopment
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum has announced that it’s planning to close of its best-loved exhibitions.
Thanks to a grant of £200,000 from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, Manchester Museum is planning a major redevelopment of its much-loved Vivarium.
The Vivarium has sat at the heart of Manchester Museum for more than 60 years, and is a centre for globally-significant conservation projects, caring for around 30 different amphibian and reptile species – many of which are critically endangered – in a bid to inspire generations of visitors.
Thanks to a pioneering partnership with Panama Wildlife Conservation Charity, which is just one of many projects designed to safeguard the future of endangered species and develop learning programmes that raise awareness of threats to biodiversity, Manchester Museum houses the world’s only captive ‘back-up’ population – which is why the redevelopment of the Vivarium is so important.
The funding grant will help to ‘revitalise’ public displays, and create new state-of-the art facilities and bespoke naturalistic environments for the amphibian and reptile species cared for by the Vivarium.
It will also allow the development of dedicated facilities for schools, teaching, and visiting tour groups, which the Museum hopes will ‘further enhance’ the gallery’s potential for learning.
During the redevelopment – which has been named the ‘Habitats of Hope’ project – new permanent displays will also be created that explore the connections between its wider collections and the animals it cares for.
Manchester Museum is set to close one of its much-loved sections for ‘major’ £200k redevelopment / Credit: Supplied
“Habitats of Hope speaks to how wonderful and how vulnerable the world’s rarest amphibians are” commented Georgina Young, who is the Head of Collections and Exhibitions at Manchester Museum.
“Major investment means Manchester Museum can match the highest standards of animal care with a more accessible visitor experience, while weaving stories of research, conservation, partnership and action that stretch from thriving ponds in Manchester to hyper-biodiverse ecosystems in Costa Rica and Panama.”
Emily Sergeant -
27th February 2023 
