HOTTEST
ESPANYOL will be dreaming of a miracle as they look to overturn their 4-0 defeat by Wolves suffered last Thursday. Nuno Santo’s side are heavy favourites to progress to the next round of the UEFA Europa League and will be looking to replicate their first leg victory over the Spanish side on foreign soil. Ruben […] More
ANTHONY JOSHUA defends his world heavyweight titles against unbeaten Oleksandr Usyk in a HUGE showdown later this year.AJ, 31, saw talks for his big fight with Tyson Fury collapse and now takes on No 1 contender Usyk instead.
It’s Oleksandr Usyk up next for Anthony Joshua
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When is Joshua vs Usyk and what time is fight?Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk will take place on Saturday, September 25, it has been confirmed.
The venue is the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London.
It is expected the ring walks for the big fight will start around 10pm.What TV channel and live stream is it on?
Who is fighting on the undercard?
Heavyweight star Hughie Fury will be featuring on the undercard, according to reports.
An opponent for the former world title challenger, 26, has yet to be announced.
The remaining undercard names have yet to be announced.
How the fighters compareWhat have they said?
Joshua: “I wanted to go like August but change of opponent, completely different style, the team said push it back a little bit, prepare properly.
“This is a fight I need to win because I was at the final destination on that road to undisputed but now we have a pit stop we have to make with Usyk.” MoreGARETH SOUTHGATE’S long-awaited England squad has finally been unveiled.The Three Lions boss revealed the 26 players he is taking to Qatar on Thursday afternoon.
Southgate announced his England squad on ThursdayCredit: EPA
England’s 26-man squad for the World Cup
And it is a special moment for the likes of Callum Wilson, James Maddison and Conor Gallagher who were all included.
But it was heartbreak for the likes of Ivan Toney, Tammy Abraham and James Ward-Prowse who all missed out.
Now attention turns towards the starting line-up and how Southgate will organise the team for the tournament – which begins for England against Iran on November 21.
Here are three starting XIs that could be fielded during the World Cup.
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3-4-3 with Maguire, Sterling and Foden but NO Mount or Saka
How England could line up at the World Cup
This is arguably the most likely line-up for England should they come up against a bigger side in the latter stages of the tournament.
Southgate is expected to resort to a back three when faced with more difficult opposition – and that would almost certainly mean Harry Maguire on the left of a back three.
John Stones and Kyle Walker would likely line up alongside him – although Walker is a doubt for the start of the tournament.
Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice seem the obvious choices in central midfield, flanked by Kieran Trippier and Luke Shaw.
And then up front Southgate has frequently put trust in Raheem Sterling to play off Harry Kane – with the Chelsea man repaying that faith with three goals at the Euros.
The other spot is up for debate – with Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden expected to be battling it out.
Right now, though, Man City man Foden may just have the edge.
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4-3-3 with Mount and Maddison but NO Trippier or Sterling
Another way England could shape up in Qatar
Many believe that for the group stage games Southgate should let the chains off a little and go with a back four.
Fixtures against Iran, USA and Wales will likely present England with the task of trying to break those sides down.
That could mean Walker switches to right-back and Trippier drops out.
Maguire and Stones would likely keep their places – although Eric Dier, Conor Coady and Ben White will be pushing Maguire all the way.
Shaw remains the obvious choice at left-back, with Bellingham and Rice in midfield.
But a three in the middle of the park could see Mason Mount enter the fold – another of Southgate’s most-trusted players.
And then up front the manager could decide to switch things around a bit with Foden swapping to the left and possibly James Maddison coming off the right.
3-4-3 with White, Phillips, Alexander-Arnold and Grealish but NO Maguire, Shaw, Bellingham or Foden
A third way England could line up at the tournament
The final line-up is another 3-4-3 but with a number of changes to the personnel.
Jordan Pickford, Stones, Rice and Kane are the only four who make it into each of SunSport’s three line-ups.
And for this last one we have dropped Maguire – who is coming under fire for his form and lack of minutes at Manchester United.
Dier and White are two of the best-placed defenders to replace the Red Devils captain thanks to their form so far this season.
Trippier is the only other recognisable left wingback option in the squad behind Shaw – and he played there at the Euros.
The cry for Trent Alexander-Arnold to feature is something which will not go away. Southgate may test it out at some point.
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Bellingham would seem the natural partner to Rice in midfield, but a returning Kalvin Phillips has thrived in an England shirt and could yet resume his relationship with the West Ham man in front of the defence.
Then in attack, Jack Grealish is another forward player Southgate could turn to if he is looking to unlock a defence, with Saka also very adept at doing the same thing. MoreISAAC CRUZ has vowed to gain revenge for his mentor Manny Pacquiao, by beating Floyd Mayweather’s protege Gervonta Davis. Cruz steps in on five weeks notice over the weekend to challenge for Davis’ secondary WBA ‘Regular’ title.
Isaac Cruz and his promoter Manny PacquiaoCredit: @isaacpitbullcruz98Gervonta Davis pictured with mentor Floyd MayweatherCredit: Scott Hirano/Showtime PPV
It comes six years after his promoter Pacquiao was bitterly beaten by Mayweather over 12 rounds in the most lucrative fight of all time.
The Filipino icon tirelessly pursued a rematch with his American long-time rival, but was constantly knocked back.
Now, with the boxing legends both retired, they are nurturing the next generation of rising stars.
And Cruz has set his sights on inflicting payback for PacMan by handing Davis a shock first career defeat.
He told SunSport: “You can say it’s a war of the prodigies, between the two pupils.
“My goal will be to leave Manny Pacquiao Promotions on top and make Manny proud of the fact Manny Pacquiao was able to prevail against Mayweather Promotions in the end.”FREE BETS: GET THE LATEST BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS AND FREE BETS
Davis, 27, signed for Mayweather, 44, in 2015, just two years after making his professional debut.
Since then, he has won belts in three divisions, winning 24 of his 25 unbeaten fights by knockout, owning a 96 per cent stoppage ratio.
He is heralded as one of the most exciting fighters in the world and unsurprisingly compared to his mentor, despite their differing styles.
Mexican Cruz, 23, on the other hand is a wildcard opponent, chosen to replace Rolando Romero, 26, who was pulled from the event amid sexual assault allegations.
The lightweight contender is 22–1–1 and nicknamed ‘The Pitbull’ due to his relentless and tenacious fighting style.
But he is a soft spoken outsider who started boxing at the age of seven, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
And, like Pacquiao, Cruz turned pro at just 16-year’s-old to fight his way to a better life.
Isaac Cruz is nicknamed ‘The Pitbull’Credit: SHOWTIME
Gervonta Davis knocking out Leo Santa CruzCredit: SHOWTIME
PacMan in 2001 became an overnight sensation when he travelled to Las Vegas as an unknown former flyweight champ.
But after he knocked out South African Lehlohonolo Ledwaba on short notice, everyone knew the name Manny Pacquiao.
In a repeat scenario, having taken the opportunity of a lifetime to fight Davis, sub Cruz is hoping to put in place the lessons he has learned from Pacquiao.
He said: “The main thing I took away from being under Manny Pacquiao’s wing, is the fact that work ethic is everything.
“You always have to believe in yourself and go after your dreams, dreams that you had as a kid and the dreams that you have right now.
“With work ethic and desire, and the will to win, everything is possible.” MoreSERGIO RAMOS scored a stunning free-kick to seal Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory over RCD Mallorca at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, taking Los Blancos above Barcelona at the top of LaLiga. Zinedine Zidane’s side have made their temporary home a mini-fortress since the season’s resumption, now winning three out of three games there. Ramos bent […] More