Boxing

THE boxing ex-boyfriend of Diletta Leotta has been rushed to hospital for emergency brain surgery.Daniele Scardina is said to be in a serious but stable condition after falling ill at the gym following a sparring session on Tuesday.
Boxer Daniele Scardina was rushed into hospital for emergency brain surgery after collapsing at the gymCredit: Getty – Contributor
Scardinia previously dated sports broadcaster Diletta Leotta, now with Newcastle keeper Loris KariusCredit: @dilettaleotta
As reported by Sky Italia, the 30-year-old was training ahead of his debut at light-heavyweight on March 24.
However, that Milan showdown with Cedric Spera is expected to be postponed because of the shocking turn of events.
Scardina was rushed to the Humanitas Clinic in Rozzano, Milan at around 5pm.
The boxer – nicknamed King Toretto – finished his training session early because he did not feel well and is said to have felt pain in his ear and leg in the locker room.
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The Italian collapsed and fell unconscious before the emergency services were called to the gym and took him to hospital, where medics deemed the surgery necessary.
Scardina boasts an impressive 20-1 professional record but lost his WBO inter-continental super-middleweight title in his last fight in May 2022.
Fans took to social media to share messages of support for the popular boxer, while former girlfriend Leotta posted on Instagram.
The Dazn journalist – who is now dating Newcastle goalkeeper Loris Karius – wrote: “Forza [come on] Dani,” after covering Juventus’ 4-2 Turin derby win over Torino.
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Diletta reportedly broke up with her ex-fiance in 2019 and started seeing Scardina shortly afterwards.
Within 18 months, though, she was in a relationship with actor Can Yaman.
But now the Italian is with Karius, and was at Wembley to support her man in Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United.
Leotta took to her Instagram story with a message of support More

CONOR BENN has sensationally slammed the WBC’s egg-based explanation for his doping saga and turned the finger at the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association for allegedly bungling his tests.The 26-year-old welterweight failed two VADA tests in the summer, for female fertility drug clomifene, leading to the British Boxing Board of Control cancelling his mega-money clash with Chris Eubank Jr at the 11th hour.
Conor Benn has slammed the WBC’s egg-based explanation for his doping sagaCredit: PA
The star shared clips of him training hard in the gym on TuesdayCredit: Instagram / @conorbennofficial
Benn has always protested his innocence and, alongside expert doping lawyer Mike Morgan, delivered a 270-page document to the Mexican sanctioning body raising serious questions about VADA’s handling of his case and mentioning the rare but documented instances of eggs creating clomifene red flags in athletes.
The World Boxing Cancel – eager to wash their hands of the subject – accepted the EGG-cuse, which led to Benn getting pelters on social media, having previously explained that his diet is largely plant-based.
But the son of British ring legend Nigel has hit back at the flimsy statement – that did more harm than good – and demanded answers from America-based VADA.
In a lengthy statement he said: “In my defence to the WBC and the 270-page document provided to them, at no point did I indicate that I failed any of my VADA tests due to contamination of eggs.
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“The WBC instructed its own experts to analyse my supplements and diet and they concluded that egg contamination was the most likely cause.
“The report prepared by my science and legal team contained extensive analysis of both tests and concluded that there was clear evidence of fundamental flaws and irregularities.”
Benn insists that one of his samples returned negative results THREE times but a FOURTH attempt on the same urine recorded a trace of the banned substance.
The father-of-one is also adamant that – according to the rules – he sent a legal representative to America to witness his B sample being opened, only for her to be refused access.
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He added: “These critical findings were endorsed by an independent scientist who provides accreditation for laboratories and his opinion was that the many issues were so troubling and serious that the lab could lose its accreditation.
“My defence is not a technical defence to exploit a loophole.
“I am convinced the substance was never in my system and I certainly never knowingly ingested it.”
This is all in stark contrast to the statement the WBC released, which cleared VADA – the company they pay to run their Clean Boxing Programme – and Benn to return to their rankings.
It read: “there were no failures in the procedures related to sample collection, sample analysis, or violations of Mr Benn’s B Sample rights that would justify questioning or invalidating the adverse finding.
“And Mr Benn’s documented and highly-elevated consumption of eggs during the times relevant to the sample collection, raised a reasonable explanation for the adverse finding.”
Despite the catalogue of failings Benn claims he has against VADA, SunSport understands he is still not willing to share his data with the British Boxing Board of Control, nor UK Anti-doping.
Until the BBBofC sees some evidence they will refuse to licence Benn or permit him to fight on these shores, pushing him toward a career resumption in the Middle East.
But Benn was first to rip up his licence in mid-October – before a hearing could take place – as he believes there is a bias and agenda against him and his father, a notion the Board strongly denies, and he will never apply for a BBBof C licence again.
Conor Benn could have to resume his career in the Middle EastCredit: Instagram / @conorbennofficial More

JAKE PAUL has admitted he is “emotionally hurt” after losing to Tommy Fury on Sunday night.The Problem Child fell to a split decision loss to his long-time rival in Saudi Arabia.
Jake Paul lost to Tommy Fury on SundayCredit: Getty
Paul, 26, has now vowed to use the pain of defeat to spur him on to bigger and better things.
Having claimed to have made $30million (£24.7m) from the fight, he tweeted: “The business of the event was a massive success.
“Doesn’t mean I’m not emotionally hurt by the loss. But I am not going to sit here and sulk.
“I am going to use that hurt to fuel my path forward to never feel this way again.”
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Paul has been largely philosophical since his bruising defeat.
The ordinarily brash YouTuber-turned-boxer first posted: “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.”
He later added: “To all my young fans, I love you. Don’t be saddened by my loss. Life is full of ups and downs.
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“You just have to learn from your failures and come back better. Hard work, hard work, hard work. I will be back.”
Immediately after the fight, Paul claimed that Fury had agreed to a rematch.
But following the first defeat of his career, Paul has been tipped to instead face fellow YouTuber KSI next.
And the Brit’s promoter Kalle Sauerland wants to see it happen.
He told Sky Sports: “Regardless of [Paul’s defeat], it’s still the blockbuster fight of crossover boxing.
“It’s a fight I expect to take place. We’ve been in discussions before Sunday and we’ll see what happens now with the situation of the rematch.
“But KSI and our side have made it very clear we want that fight and I have no reason to believe that Jake Paul and his team don’t want that fight either.
“It’s a fight that will fill any stadium in the world, and a fight that I do believe will happen this year.”
KSI could be up next for Jake PaulCredit: Getty More