Sport

Boxing legend Joe Calzaghe is hosting two charity dinners and Q&As in Greater Manchester this year

A must-not-miss for any die-hard fight fan.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 14th August 2024

British boxing legend Joe Calzaghe CBE is coming to Greater Manchester for not one but two charity dinners, interviews and Q&A sessions later this year.

The former unified WBA, WBC and WBO champion retired back in 2009 as one of the UK’s greatest-ever fighters, boasting an undefeated record of 46-0 and plenty of iconic victories to his name.

It’s fair to say the London-born Welshman has a lot of stories to tell and with some of his biggest-ever bouts coming here in Manchester, including his Arena fight against David Starie and the legendary ‘Judgement Day’ win against Jeff Lacy to claim the Super Middleweight World Championship.

So, with that in mind, the 52-year-old has decided to bring two special ‘An Evening Joe Calzaghe’ events to the region where he enjoyed so much success, hosting one in Manchester and another at Edgeley Park, the home of Stockport County Football Club.

joe calzaghe edgeley park
young joe calzaghe
joe calzaghe hotel football
Credit: The Manc Group/Supplied/Tea Chimp (via Flickr)

Ringing the opening bell at Edgeley Park on Friday, fans of the ‘Pride of Wales’ and boxing in general will be able to get up close and personal with the sporting legend. 

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Starting from humble beginnings, Calzaghe – who also became known as the ‘Italian Dragon’ due to his Italian heritage – rose through the ranks and went on to face off against some of the all-time greats in the industry such as Mikkel Kessler, Chris Eubank, Roy Jones Jr and more.

He also came out on top on every single occasion.

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Rated by fellow fighter, friend and Manc boxing legend Ricky Hatton as “the greatest British fighter we’ve ever had”, Calzaghe’s record-breaking flawless across multiple weight classes fell nothing short of a sight to behold over the 15 years he spent in the ring.

Certified as the longest-reigning super-middleweight world champion in boxing history, having held the WBO title for over ten years and defending it against a total of 20 opponents (a shared record in the division alongside Sven Ottke) he was an absolute force to be reckoned with.

And soon you’ll be able to see him in the flesh over in Trafford, just across from the Theatre of Dreams, or right in the heart of SK.

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The two evenings with feature a two-course dinner, live interview, Q&A session and an auction for charity, not to mention some other surprise in store at each date on his UK tour, which makes its first stop in Manchester next month.

Calzaghe will also take to the stage alongside comedian and impressionist, Al Foran, who will be bringing boatloads of belly laughs to warm guests up for a knockout evening.

Even more excitingly, VIP ticket holders will be able to meet Joe in person for a photo and signing opportunity just before dinner is served.

You can grab your tickets to see Joe Calzaghe at Edgeley Park on Friday, 20 September, or at Hotel Football on Thursday, 24 October HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Supplied/The Manc Group

Sport

Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet named coach of the year after historic quadruple-winning year

Danny Jones Danny Jones Matt Peet wins SJA Committee coach of the year award after quadruple-winning season

Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet has been named coach of the year by the Sports Journalists’ Association Committee (SJA) following his record-breaking season with the champions.

Peet led the Greater Manchester side to four Grand Slams in a single calendar year, a feat never seen before in the Super League era, achieving the historic feat with a Grand Final win over Hull KR at Old Trafford last month.

In recognition of his incredible 2024 campaign in charge of the Warriors, the Wigan-born local hero was awarded the SJA Committee Award, handed over to the most outstanding coach each year, on Wednesday, 20 November for the second time in his career.

The 40-year-old won the prestigious accolade during his first season with the club back in 2022 but it’s fair to say this one will feel even more special.

The Warriors began the season by defeating Penrith Panthers at The Brick Community Stadium to lift a record-equalling fifth World Club Challenge before success in the Betfred Challenge Cup Final saw Wigan beat fellow North West outfit, Warrington Wolves, at Wembley Stadium in June.

Having sealed the League Leaders’ Shield following a final-round win against local rivals Salford Red Devils, the Warriors then went on to beat Hull – who were competing in their first Grand Final – to become the first team of the Super League era to lift all four trophies within the space of just 12 months.

Speaking on the award via an official club statement, Peet said: “I’m very proud and very grateful to be selected by the committee. It reflects really well on our organisation, our club, players and rugby league in general.

“We never set out with an ambition to win the quadruple, we just set out to improve and learn. It’s not an award rugby league is synonymous with, so to know our sport is getting some recognition, it makes me very proud to be at the forefront of it.”

He went on to tell Sky Sports that it was the “energy and the atmosphere” of Wigan that helped get them across the line after so many games, insisting that they “had the whole town behind [them]”.

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It’s a truly fantastic achievement and to have the award brought home to Greater Manchester once again is wonderful news no matter who you support.

The fixtures for the 2025 Super League season are set to be released tomorrow (Thursday, 21 November), with the action getting underway in February as usual. The Summer Festival of Rugby League will also return after a year off with a blockbuster May Bank Holiday weekend in Newcastle.

Not only will it be a decade since the event was first held in the Toon but it also marks the Magic Weekend’s 18th birthday.

As for SJA coach of the year Matt Peet and the Warriors, it’s looking like a question of just how many titles can they defend next year.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Sky Sports

Sport

Pep Guardiola agrees new contract to stay at Manchester City for at least one more year

Danny Jones Danny Jones Pep stay at Man City for one more year new deal

Blues will be delighted to hear that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is staying after agreeing to sign a contract extension that will keep him at the club for at least one more year.

The Catalan coach and supremely talented tactician has won all there is to win with Man City and after completing not only a record-matching treble but making history by becoming the first English team to win four Premier League titles in a row, you could argue his Etihad project is well and truly completed.

Guardiola, who joined City back in 2016, has gradually been creeping towards the end of his most recent contract, leaving those slowly searching for his replacement and the fan base wondering what the future holds for their next chapter.

But it turns out they don’t have to worry about life after Pep for a little while longer, as the 53-year-old has now extended his stay for at least another season. The blue moon that has loomed over Manchester for the best part of a decade isn’t going anywhere just yet.

Breaking the news on Tuesday evening, 19 November, The Athletic‘s Sam Lee revealed that Pep Guardiola will remain head coach for another season after agreeing to a new one-year deal.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager, who is comfortably one of the most decorated and celebrated coaches in football history, was due to leave the club at the end of the current campaign.

However, although his contract would have seen him depart by June of next year, this new deal will now see him stay in post until the summer of 2026, which will talk his tenure to a full 10 years.

Although City themselves are yet to confirm the signing amid the international break, it’s only a matter of time before they deliver the news all Blues have been waiting for – news that will no doubt come as a huge relief given the immense success he has brought to East Manchester.

Despite waiting until now to seemingly decide his future, the man himself has actually been pretty clear on the matter, insisting that he “fell in love” with the club from the moment he got here and saying as far back as 2020 that “unless they [CFG] sack me, I will stay here.”

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Better still, while the details of the agreement are yet to be fully detailed, the report says that his new contract also includes the option to extend for a further year beyond that, meaning we could be looking at Pep in the dugout until 2027.

Should City go on to close the gap on current league leaders Liverpool, it would mean Guardiola would have overseen five title wins with the same team in a row: a feat only matched by very few in European football, most notably Juventus and Bayern Munich, the latter having managed 13 consecutive years.

Who knows if/when Guardiola will actually leave the Etihad Stadium for a new challenge, all we know is he changed modern football forever and has given Manchester – a city already spoilt in this respect – some of the most impressive football it’s ever seen.

All we do know is that the beautiful game’s passionate, bald, tiki-taka extraordinaire known simply as Pep is staying in 0161 for the time being and there are countless fans who are absolutely buzzing about it.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Optus Sport/Sky Sports (via YouTube)/Rufus46 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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