The Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk fight has reportedly been agreed, according to the Mancunian boxer’s American promoter, with an early 2023 date set to be announced soon.
Bob Arum of Top Rank – the company that represents Fury in the US – told Sky Sports on Wednesday, 21 December that “the two fighters have agreed to fight each other next” following the 34-year-old’s most recent trilogy fight against Derek Chisora, sealing yet another victory.
Taking aim at Anthony Joshua, Arum said that “With Fury and Usyk we’re dealing with two adults, not a lot of [rubbish] back and forth”, adding that he’s “very confident” the match-up will go ahead without any interim fights
For the longest time, the hope was that The Gypsy King would face off against Joshua in the much-anticipated all-British bout. However, after lots of ‘will they won’t they’ and AJ’s second defeat to Usyk in his August rematch, the appetite seems to have dwindled. Now, this is all fight fans seem to want:
Arum went on to insist that Usyk is a ‘good friend’, describing the Ukrainian as “very intelligent and Tyson [as] Superman, both as an athlete and as an intellect.”
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The promoter said that the only details left to firm up are the date and the venue, though he assured that the fight is definite and “will happen in the first four months of next year.” That’s what we like to hear.
As for where it will be held, despite numerous offers from the Middle East, he said that both camps are excited by the prospect of meeting on the world heavyweight champion’s home turf, admitting that “to go back to Wembley… before 95,000 people really stirs up the blood.”
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Despite Fury previously calling out his opposite number and suggesting that, like AJ, Usyk was too scared to fight him, it would seem the 35-year-old is more than up for the task He shared this just a few days ago:
So, it looks like we’ll be getting Fury vs Usyk early next year and, fingers crossed, on British soil. The atmosphere will no doubt be electric.
We can only hope this fight goes ahead as planned and doesn’t fall into the same trap AJ vs Fury did before fans lose patience and interest.
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Can Tyson take that final step towards unification before he ‘retires’ once again or will Usyk finally be the one to finally challenge the boxing juggernaut and dish out his first loss?
Featured Image — BT Sport/Tyson Fury/Oleksandr Usyk (via Instagram)
Sport
Stockport County to introduce safe standing at Edgeley Park
Danny Jones
Stockport County will soon be introducing safe standing at Edgeley Park as part of the pending stadium development plans.
The Hatters may have just missed out on promotion to the Championship, but it’s still been an exciting few years for the club that has seen a fresh surge in young new supporters in addition to their passionate lifelong followers.
In more fantastic news for fans, County have announced that brand new safe standing sections will be installed across the ground.
Confirming the news on Wednesday, the club said: “After receiving all necessary approvals and working closely with safety authorities, we are set to install rail seating in two designated areas of the stadium.
Stockport County is thrilled to announce the introduction of safe standing areas at Edgeley Park ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 season.
Visit the club site for more details on this exciting new development ⤵️#StockportCounty
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) May 28, 2025
As detailed on the club website, there will be two new dedicated safe-standing/rail-seated zones – one in each main stand: the back five rows of seats in the Cheadle End’s upper tier and the back two rows of the Vitality Railway End.
With Stockport Council greenlighting plans for League One side to expand their home capacity, this reconfiguration is set to accommodate a total of 849 County fans and/or supporters.
Although this all depends on final approval from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), the aim is to deliver a “vibrant and dynamic environment for both home and away fans at Edgeley Park.”
The official statement goes on to explain that the push for safe standing is not just to provide more matchday options for those in attendance, but in hopes of further “enhancing the atmosphere and improving the overall matchday experience for those who prefer to stand.”
Couty has insisted that “The rail-seating system incorporates a barrier for every seat, ensuring that supporters are protected from a sudden surge or crowd movement.”
Safe standing is part of the larger Stockport County stadium redevelopment plans.
Addressing early concerns in a ‘What This Means for You’ section, they go on to add: “Season ticket holders currently in the affected rows will be contacted directly by the Club over the coming weeks with details on their options, including relocating to a seated area if they prefer not to stand.
“Information regarding new season tickets and matchday tickets in the safe standing areas will be released in due course.
“We believe this is another significant step forward for Stockport County and will further enhance the already incredible atmosphere at Edgeley Park. We look forward to seeing and hearing the renewed energy in these new sections.”
The safe standing plan is set to be introduced for the upcoming 2025/26 season, with the administration hoping to make this their last in the third tier. Do you see them going up next year?
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press Shot (via SCFC)
Sport
Rio Ferdinand is stepping away from TNT Sports after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Manchester United legend and ex-England international Rio Ferdinand has announced he will be stepping away from TNT Sports, leaving more than a decade with the broadcaster.
Ferdinand has spent the best part of the last 10 years serving as a leading pundit and analyst, as well as hosting his own ‘Rio Meets’ online series – the interview format of which has been replicated on his YouTube channel.
However, after having been one of their main anchors both under the BT Sport and even more so since the inception of the rebranded TNT Sports Football umbrella, the 46-year-old has confirmed he has now quit their regular coverage following the Champions League final this weekend.
In a lengthy statement on social media, the ex-Man United defender, who also played for Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth and QPR, described it as a “difficult decision.”
Taking time to thank the network for their “tremendous support” over the years, especially those “behind the scenes, whose work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.”
The talented centre-back retired in May 2015 after more than 500 appearances and 81 national team caps, making an almost immediate switch into punditry and remaining a household name.
Rio has also remained a popular figure at Old Trafford and, indeed, across various parts of Manchester since leaving United in 2014.
For instance, his self-titled Foundation has carried out some truly transformational local outreach across various boroughs, as it has back in his home city of London.
Responding to the news, TNT Sports said nothing more than “Thanks for everything, Rio”; meanwhile, fellow former Red, Danny Simpson (who retired last year and also works as a pundit/presenter for MUTV) added: “You’re going to be missed, bro. Every time you’re on, you give us all the mad insight.”
However, he has promised he will remain in the media industry, continuing to work under the Rio Ferdinand Presents digital brand and pursuing “other business interests”.
With his ‘Rio Reacts’ and ‘Vibe with FIVE’ series regularly raking in millions of views, he might not be on the box during European nights but you’ll still be seeing plenty of him.
Danny Jones -
21st December 2022 
