The rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk has been set for this winter, according to the latest update from Saudi Arabia’s general entertainment authority.
Fury and Usyk finally held their highly-anticipated bout earlier this month after what felt like an eternity of ‘will they won’t they?’, a fight which ended in the Ukrainian delivering the Manc boxer’s first-ever professional defeat and becoming the first undisputed heavyweight in 24 years.
However, with the new unified champion having won the match via a split decision, Fury was quick to insist that he believed he should have been named as the victor, even going so far as to suggest that the judges let their sympathies for the war in Ukraine affect the final decision.
In truth, there was also a rematch clause built into the contract, so the announcement of Fury vs Usyk II itself comes as no surprise, but now we look to have an official date for the fight already.
BREAKING: Rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury confirmed for December 21st in Saudi Arabia 🚨 pic.twitter.com/RajBxtPYwa
As per Saudi official Turki Alalshikh, who shared the news on his own social media, the second bout will take place during the festive period, with the next instalment of what will likely go on to be a trilogy of fights scheduled for 21 December 2024.
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Alalshikh went on to add: “The world will watch another historical fight again. Our commitment to boxing fans continues. We hope you enjoy it.”
With Usyk remaining unbeaten in all of his 22 professional fights at the age of 37, many argued he was well within his right to retire as an undefeated champ like many other boxers coming towards the end of their career, however, it seems that another edition of Riyadh Season will be arriving later this year.
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As the official state-run entertainment festival and programme for Saudia Arabia and boxers receiving big paydays to host fights in the Middle East, you can expect many other blockbuster fights to take place in the Gulf state for the foreseeable future too.
While neither camp has yet come out to confirm the fight has been agreed upon or shared any form of update/announcement, but with the host nation itself seemingly giving the green light publicly, it looks to be a done deal.
That being said, we all know how many times these two called off previous scheduled dates for the long-awaited boxing match so don’t be too surprised if the date gets pushed back somehow – though a big fight just before Christmas does sound like a nice early gift.
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Do you think Fury can bounce back to win all four belts, or will Usyk once again prove himself to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time?
Former Manchester City player Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife
Danny Jones
Ex-footballer Joey Barton has officially been found guilty of assaulting his wife following his two-day trial in the capital this week.
Barton, who played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and a number of other clubs, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 March, following an incident back in June 2021.
The former midfielder left his wife, 37-year-old Georgia Barton (McNeil), with a bleeding nose and a bruise on her forehead following a drunken row at their home in London.
Barton is said to have grabbed and pushed her to the floor before kicking her in the head. Married in 2019, the two have four children and are thought to still be together.
The 42-year-old was still employed in professional football as the manager of Bristol Rovers at the time, but he was ultimately sacked in October 2023.
His wife called 999 at the time, telling police that he had hit her, but later retracted her statement.
Born in Huyton, Merseyside, the chief magistrate Paul Goldspring recognised that the one-time England has a history of violence.
He was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, meaning he won’t serve time unless he commits another offence and has been ordered to pay £2,138.
Since dropping out of mainstream football, in particular, Barton has come under heavy criticism for allegations of racism, sexism and controversial right-wing politics; he even started an ‘anti-woke’ podcast called Common Sense with Joey Barton.
Back in June of last year, he was ordered to pay £35,000 in damages to settle a libel claim with presenter Jeremy Vine after a series of inflammatory comments made online.
The Radio 2 presenter sued Mr Barton earlier this year, after the former footballer wrote a series of posts suggesting Mr Vine had a sexual interest in children.
He also accused of threatening fellow former pro, Eni Aluko, after a torrent of abuse regarding her punditry online – the ex-England international even went so far as to say she no longer felt safe staying in the country.
The Hundred is calling for up-and-coming presenters to co-host this year’s tournament
Danny Jones
The Hundred 2025 is fast approaching and cricket’s fastest-growing tournament is once again asking for aspiring presenters to join their roster of co-hosts and help cover the action.
The fast-paced 100-ball format is entering its fifth year and next to T20, you find a more accessible and thrilling form of cricket, so it’s no wonder the competition is gaining a greater audience each year.
With that in mind, the need for a top-notch broadcast team is more crucial than ever but just like those who backed The Hundred in its infancy, they’re looking to invest in future creatives and on-screen talent.
Are you someone looking to get into presenting or know someone who is? Keep reading.
For the fifth year in a row, we want you to be part of #TheHundredRising! 🎤
So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty straightforward: The Hundred is looking for eight up-and-coming presenters to join their team of main venue hosts up and down the country.
Tasked with guiding and talking fans through an action-packed five weeks across all host cities, successful applicants will be responsible for building excitement and atmosphere inside the seven cricket grounds on each match day.
From player and pundit interviews to crowd engagement and interactive other activations with partnered brands, not to mention members of this year’s live music lineup, you’ll be a key part of putting out the top-quality sports and entertainment product they promise every year.
The best part of all is that no prior hosting experience is necessary – this is all about platforming you and The Hundred as a whole.
Successful applicants will be mentored by the main hosts at their respective venues and will attend a two-day workshop with special guests to get them ready to hit the stage this summer.
The ‘Rising Hosts’ scheme has been set up in tandem with their dedicated event production agency, Progress Productions, which will be in charge throughout the application and selection process.
Shortlisted applicants will then have their details shared with the ECB (English Cricket Board) who will be involved when it comes to making their final decisions.
It goes without saying that even if you just love sports or just want to find a way into the industry, this is an opportunity that is not to be missed.
Danny Jones -
29th May 2024 
