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    Jake Paul sensationally backed to BEAT Nate Diaz in MMA fight by ex-UFC star amid £10m rematch offer

    JAKE PAUL has been backed to sensationally BEAT Nate Diaz in MMA by ex-UFC star Matt Brown. The YouTuber-turned boxer this year signed for the Professional Fighters League, a competing promotion to the UFC.
    Jake Paul beat Nate Diaz over ten roundsCredit: GETTY
    Paul, 26, is coming off the back of a ten-round points win over ex-UFC star Diaz, 38, in August.
    And both the American and the PFL have proposed a rematch in the cage and offered up to £10million.
    But Diaz has seemed uninterested and Brown insisted he has reason to.
    He told MMAFighting: “Jake Paul, I’m going to pick him to win. I’m going to pick him to beat Nate Diaz in MMA.
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    “We already know he can outbox him. When was the last time you saw Nate Diaz take someone down?
    “But I don’t think he’ll be able to take him down, even if he tries to [take him down].
    “He’s way, way undersized. Jake Paul is so much bigger than him. I don’t know what weight it will be at, probably 185.
    “Nate’s not a great wrestler, it’s going to end up staying on the feet. What difference would it be [from their boxing match] if it stays on the feet?”
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    Ex-high school wrestler Paul has called to fight Diaz in his MMA debut and Brown believes the styles clash favours the American well.
    He said: “First, Nate rarely throws elbows. Really doesn’t throw kicks a whole lot. He’s primarily an MMA boxer.
    “His MMA style is he pressures you, he outboxes you and pressures you until you take him down or grab hold of him, which, that’s what he wants. Now he can do his jiu-jitsu game. It’s just a bad matchup.
    “I wouldn’t pick very many people to be able to do that, but I don’t think Nate will be able to take [Paul] down and we already know what’s going to happen on the feet.
    “Jake will train for kicks and elbows and knees and all that stuff and they might have a little effect.
    “But I don’t see Nate finishing him with a kick or even really chopping him down or elbowing him. It’s just not his style.”
    Matt Brown backed Jake Paul to beat Nate Diaz in MMACredit: Getty More

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    I’m training with Anthony Joshua ahead of his next fight, fans will finally see AJ looking more like his old self

    ANTHONY JOSHUA has been backed to return to his former self after linking up with trainer Ben Davison. The two-time heavyweight champion returns on December 23 in Saudi Arabia against Otto Wallin.
    Anthony Joshua ahead of his next fight
    And he will do so under the guidance of Davison – who formerly worked with Tyson Fury – for the first time.
    Former WBA featherweight champ Leigh Wood has been in the gym with AJ and he warned to expect a vintage Joshua.
    Wood, 35, told Boxing News: “He’s on the right path, and I can’t wait for his fight in December.
    “I think you will see AJ be more clear and decisive with what he’s doing in there, because I feel like he’ll know what he needs to do – whereas in previous fights, he’s a bit apprehensive.
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    “[It’s like he’s] thinking, ‘It don’t feel right,’ or half-guessing and not confident in what he’s doing but just doing it anyway.
    “I know for this fight he will be clear and decisive, knowing what he needs to do and going out and doing it.
    “A lot of people will say, ‘AJ’s looking more like his old self,’ and that will be because of these things he’s doing.
    “Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s an AJ knockout [against Wallin].”
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    Joshua has been cornered by American Derrick James for his last two fights, a points win to Jermaine Franklin, 30, and KO over Robert Helenius, 39.
    But James has been in his Texas base with Ryan Garcia, 25, who faces Oscar Duarte, 27, tonight.
    Joshua, 34, has stationed himself in the UK for his fight with Wallin, 32, which led to his decision to go with Davison.
    And Wood – who became won the world title under Davison – has seen AJ’s improvements first hand.
    He said: “The approach he’s got with Ben, he’s like a sponge – he’s absorbing all the information.
    “A lot of people look at it and think, ‘He’s training with Ben, is he mad?’ But like I’ve said, Ben [is] way ahead.
    “I’ve said this many times, and people can quote me, because I know in 10 years’ time they’ll be like: ‘Leigh Wood told us.’
    “I didn’t have to tell you. Look at my fights I’ve had; I’ve been underdog time and time again, [but] I’m getting these results.
    “Is it because I’m superhuman, or is it because I’ve got a mint team? Do the maths.
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    “I can see a lot of similarities between AJ and myself in the way he’s learning. He’s always asking questions and wants to know how it works.
    “Sometimes you’re trying to learn something and it doesn’t click straight away, then it’s a good feeling when you get it.”
    Joshua and Otto Wallin ahead of their fightCredit: Getty More

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    Tyson Fury has a ‘big problem’ ahead of Oleksandr Usyk fight as rival says Gypsy King’s ‘mindset is not in boxing’

    TYSON FURY has a “big problem” heading into his fight with Oleksandr Usyk, according to Zhilei Zhang. Fury and Usyk are signed to the heavyweight division’s first ever four-belt unification on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.
    Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to fight on February 17Credit: EPA
    It comes off the back of the Gypsy King’s crossover clash with ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou, 37, in Riyadh.
    Fury was astonishingly floored by the boxing debutant and deemed fortunate to walk away with a controversial points win.
    It has left Zhang, 40, questioning the unbeaten WBC champion’s mindset heading into the historic undisputed title decider.
    He told The Metro, via Freebets.com: “I think it is simple, Fury didn’t train for this fight [against Ngannou].
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    “To be honest with you, he is not the version we are used to seeing.
    “I can see his mindset is not in boxing at the moment, he is doing commercial things, he is doing PR, marketing, different things, but not boxing.
    “And in this business, you can’t really fool yourself. You can’t fool training.
    “After the fight [against Ngannou] in his press conference and interviews he said he had a good training camp for that fight.
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    “If that is the case, he has a very big problem going into the Usyk fight.”
    Despite Zhang’s blast on Fury, he hopes the British superstar leaves Saudi with all the belts so he can challenge for them.

    He said: “I hope it is Tyson Fury.
    “And I want to tell him: My brother, train hard and do the right thing and get four belts and give them back to me when I see you in the ring.”
    Zhilei Zhang wants to fight FuryCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

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    Who is Moses Itauma?

    BRITISH boxing could have its new star in the making with heavyweight force Moses Itauma. The Kent fighter went 7-0 in a one-round demolition job against Michal Boloz.
    Moses Itauma has won most of his fights by knockoutCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    But Itauma will have his eyes on bigger prizes to come, most notably a world heavyweight title.
    Mike Tyson holds the record for becoming the youngest world heavyweight champion at the age of 20.
    Itauma, 18, has set his sights on doing it even earlier.
    Who is Moses Itauma?
    Itauma was a monster of a fighter in the amateurs, regularly stopping opponents as he won honours at world youth level.
    He quickly signed with Frank Warren, whom his brother Karol fights for, and got his pro career underway in January.
    Five of his seven win have come by knockout, and he’s looking to become world champion by spring 2025.
    He told SunSport earlier this year: “Me and my brother have talked about me breaking that record and just looking at the dates and the maths, it is very doable.
    “Karol told me, ‘If anyone can do it then you can.’ And I believe I can do it.
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    “The current world champions now are in their thirties and the ones that are coming up, supposedly to replace them.
    “I reckon I can do all of them.”
    Earlier this year, Itauma met Tyson, who offered him advice about fighting lower calibre fighters.
    “Any fighter is a quality fight because anything can happen in there. Anything,” Tyson said.
    “Do you know what I am saying? There is no such thing as bums.
    “I used to say people were bums until I made that comeback to box that division.
    “Then I realised that there were no bums. That’s hard work.”
    Itauma, from Chatham in Kent, won 24 fights as an amateur and will be looking to get back in the ring by February, possibly on the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk card. More

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    Nathan Gorman vs Bohdan Myronets LIVE RESULTS: Latest updates as Tyson Fury’s cousin LOSES – Stream for FREE

    NATHAN Gorman LOST to Bohdan Myronets on points tonight in Bolton. Cousin of Tyson Fury, Gorman was determined to bounce back following his loss to Fabio Wardley last year.
    But he was unable to become the guile of Myronets in the ring, losing on the judges scorecards.

    Follow all the action with our live blog below…
    Chloe Watson vs Justine Lallemand (Round 2)
    Lallemand comes out of her corner in positive mood.
    She lands a combination of punches showing Watson she means business.
    Watson comes back into the round and manages to find a way through the Lallemand defence.
    The first two rounds, it is difficult to separate the two fighters who have both landed points scoring punches.
    Chloe Watson vs Justine Lallemand (Round 1)
    This European title fight offers huge opportunity for both fighters.
    Both fighter start positively in this ten-round contest.
    Watson is landing some punches on Lallemand and gets her on the ropes but the bell saves her.
    Quite an even first round, Watson just edging it.
    Next up…..Chloe Watson vs Justine Lallemand
    Nathan Gorman vs Bohdan Myronets
    That is a big blow to the career of Nathan Gorman.
    All the talk before the fight was of him planning on having a go at the British title in the division.
    Hopes of that seem distant now after a defeat that may even spell the end of his career.
    Take nothing away from Bohdan Myronets, he fully deserved his win this evening.
    Bohdan Myronets wins 77-76 on judge’s card
    Nathan Gorman vs Bohdan Myronets (Round 8)
    Myronets needs to dig deep in this final round as the pundits have him one round up on his opponent.
    A draw would seem like defeat now after his form in the earlier rounds.
    He lands a good right hand, pushing Gorman back.
    The Ukrainian goes over the top with a right and lands.
    Gorman is showing no urgency, it almost seems he is struggling to find the energy.
    Into the final minute of the fight, Gorman goes with a big left that Myronets feels.
    The bell sounds, it is all down to the judge’s decision now.
    Nathan Gorman vs Bohdan Myronets (Round 7)
    The pressure is on Nathan Gorman now.
    He needs to do something big to win this fight.
    Just edging the next two rounds will probably not be enough for him to win the fight on the card.
    Gorman is landing more punches now but needs to do a lot to swing the judge’s decision to get a win.
    Myronets has dipped in the last few rounds and needs to keep to the boxing that saw him get into a position to win this fight.
    Nathan Gorman vs Bohdan Myronets (Round 6)
    Gorman is constantly having to have his shorts pulled up by his corner and the referee.
    He does not look like he has lost the weight to justify that, in fact fighting at his heaviest weight tonight.
    Gorman needs to find some urgency as he may only have six minutes to save his career after this round.
    Myronets is not looking in any danger but at this weight you can be knocked out by that one punch.
    Nathan Gorman vs Bohdan Myronets (Round 5)
    If Myronets can win this one, it will be seen as an upset.
    Gorman is well behind his opponent in the scoring currently.
    He just seems to be trying to keep the Ukrainian at bay but manages to connect with a left hook.
    Myronets lands another good uppercut and is looking the busier of the two fighters.
    Nathan Gorman vs Bohdan Myronets (Round 4)
    Myronets lands another right and follows it up with an uppercut that connects also.
    The Ukrainian is landing more power punches in this round.
    Gorman is warned by the referee for punching around the back of the head.
    Nathan Gorman vs Bohdan Myronets (Round 3)
    Gorman is continuing with the attempts at big hooks but even when they are catching Myronets, they are glancing blows.
    Myronets is feeling them a little still but trying to counter with his own punches.
    His is fighting to his game plan still, looking to wear out Gorman.
    Myronets is probably just ahead on the scorecard.
    Nathan Gorman vs Bohdan Myronets (Round 2)
    It has been 370 days since Gorman’s last fight.
    The cousin of Tyson Fury, he is looking to find his rhythm still.
    Myronets is landing jabs but nothing that seems to be rocking Gorman at all.
    With this being an eight round fight, it could be all about who has more in the locker in the latter rounds.
    Nathan Gorman vs Bohdan Myronets (Round 1)
    Gorman goes in with a big hook from the off but misses.
    It seems his tactic is to ‘go big or go home’.
    Myronets is looking to weather the storm and wear him donw.
    Gorman is carrying a lot more weight than his opponent, as a result, his punches don’t carry as much power.
    Fight night continues in Bolton
    We have three more fights ahead in the next part of the billing.
    It all starts with Nathan Gorman getting back into the ring after some lay-off.
    There could be some ring-rust for the heavyweight as a result.
    Main billing for event coming up
    We now approach the main fights of the evening now.
    Not that we are complaining about what we have seen already.
    It has been some good quality boxing in Bolton so far.
    Mathew Rennie vs James Moorcroft
    Despite there only being one judge scoring the fight, he reached a fair decision with that fight.
    Both boxers gave good accounts of themselves but over the course of the eight round, Rennie just edged it, which was reflected in the close score being only two points.
    Moorcroft boxed well and landed some good hits but Rennie seemed to land more scoring shots.
    Mathew Rennie wins the fight by judge’s score
    Mathew Rennie vs James Moorcroft (Round 8)
    Rennie starts the round well, coming on the front foot and landing punches.
    It seems to spur Moorcroft into attacking boxing and he lands some good punches himself.
    Over the course of the fight, you would have to say Rennie has landed more scoring punches.
    Both fighters and throwing, and landing, big punches.
    This final round is a bit of a slugfest.
    Mathew Rennie vs James Moorcroft (Round 7)
    The penultimate round of this bout.
    Moorcroft keeps coming forward, while Rennie is trying to send his responses from the backfoot.
    Rennie is moving well and manages to dodge the big shots his opponent is going for.
    You would have to feel that Rennie is impressing more on the scorecard, meaning Moorcroft needs a massive final round.
    Mathew Rennie vs James Moorcroft (Round 6)
    Credit where it is due to both boxers.
    When one lands a good punch, the other immediately responds.
    The fight is taking its toll on both fighters more now.
    Rennie is trying to land those uppercuts as Moorcroft walks in.
    Not much to choose between the two in that round.
    Mathew Rennie vs James Moorcroft (Round 5)
    Moorcroft is giving a really good account of himself here.
    With Rennie’s record, many expected this to be a far more straightforward fight for him.
    This one is quite an even round until Rennie lands a good uppercut.
    These shots do not damage Moorcroft but will no doubt drain the tank a little more.
    Moorcroft then lands a right hook which Rennie responds well too.
    Mathew Rennie vs James Moorcroft (Round 4)
    Rennie is showing some good feet movement as his opponent advances.
    Moorcroft is looking to come on the attack more and land some big jabs.
    Both fighters are looking like they have plenty in the tank still.
    Moorcroft lands a big jab to the jaw in the closing stages of the round.
    He seems to be getting through Rennie’s defence more and more.
    Mathew Rennie vs James Moorcroft (Round 3)
    Rennie is changing stances all of the time and getting caught.
    When he switches to southpaw is definitely having more success.
    Moorcroft has landed some good punches in the round but Rennie has landed more scoring shots in that round.
    Mathew Rennie vs James Moorcroft (Round 2)
    Both fighters exchange punches early in the round.
    Moorcroft’s reply to a jab puts him on the backfoot somewhat.
    Neither fighter has landed anything to cause their opponent big problems so far.
    Rennie is throwing some bigger punches but not connecting.
    Mathew Rennie vs James Moorcroft (Round 1)
    This one is scheduled to be an eight-round contest.
    Rennie looks to work the jab in the early stages.
    Both boxers look quite busy in the first round.
    Moorcroft has gone into the round more as the round went on as Rennie seemed to take his foot off the gas.
    Even round all in all. More

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    Brit bare-knuckle boxer Decca Heggie to be deported from Philippines in ‘fugitive’ row as he posts tearful ‘last video’

    A BRIT bare-knuckle boxer is to be deported from the Philippines after he was detained as a suspected fugitive from the law.Derek “Decca” Heggie, 40, posted a final farewell video to his followers online after cops uncovered details of his alleged criminal past.
    Brit bare-knuckle boxer Derek ‘Decca’ Heggie is to be deported from the Philippines back to the UKCredit: instagram/@decc_a2023
    Heggie has been locked up in Mandaue City as a suspected fugitiveCredit: ViralPress
    Heggie, originally from Montrose in Angus, Scotland, was paraded on TV by Filipino authorities alongside a US criminal as it was announced he would be booted out of the country.
    The fighter was also allowed to make a video for his YouTube followers as he was put behind bars.
    A tearful Heggie said: “This is going to be my last video for a while.
    “They’ve got me detained for three months in the detention centre.
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    “I’m going to get out as soon as possible.”
    Heggie has endured a turbulent life, having spoken of a ten-year battle with drug addiction and mental health issues.
    The fighter-turned-actor tasted fame after featuring in the gangster film The Corrupted.
    Performing alongside household names such as Timothy Spall, Hugh Bonneville and Scot David Hayman, Heggie played a crime boss’s right-hand man.
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    But it is bare-knuckle fighting where the Scotsman made the majority of his money.
    He became a British champion and earned thousands for his troubles, with the majority of events organised by the travelling community.
    In 2021, he was left covered in blood alongside another fighter after the pair fought non-stop for over ten minutes in a boxing gym.
    He recently announced that he planned to return to Scotland to open up a training HQ in Edinburgh.
    But the Philippine Bureau of Immigration has now claimed that Heggie is a wanted fugitive in the UK.
    However, no approach has been made by the British government, according to the Daily Record.
    A UK-based source told the paper: “The material emerging from the Philippines does not tally with the detainee’s record in the UK.
    “The Philippine Bureau of Immigration will regularly deport people they deem to be undesirable and Heggie possibly falls into this bracket.”
    Heggie is temporarily detained at the bureau’s office in Mandaue City but will be transferred to the bureau’s warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

    Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Heggie and the American criminal with him were being held at the same time because they are both being deported.
    “They will be included in our immigration blacklist to prevent them from re-entering the country,” he added. More

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    Dana White blasts KSI’s ‘LYING’ team over Misfits PPV buys in X-rated rant on ‘horrible’ shows

    DANA WHITE has blasted Misfits Boxing’s claim that their PRIME card did over a million pay-per-view buys.The influencer boxing promotion – which was founded by internet sensation KSI – put on a stacked card for its Manchester card in October.
    KSI locked horns with Tommy Fury on the Misfits Prime cardCredit: GETTY
    Logan Paul co-main evented the show. -which reportedly did 1.4 million pay-per-view buysCredit: GETTY
    UFC president Dana White has emphatically rubbished that rumoured numberCredit: GETTY
    KSI topped the bill against Tommy Fury, while Logan Paul faced Dillon Danis in a co-main event grudge match.
    It was claimed that a whopping 1.4 million people parted with their hard-earned cash to watch the social media stars do battle, a number veteran promoter White doesn’t buy for a second.
    The UFC Chief Executive told the Nelk Boys: “I haven’t heard about anybody selling a lot of pay-per-views lately.
    “Let me tell you how hard it is to sell 1.3 million pay-per-view buys.
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    “And if you did sell 1.3 million – if you sold 700,000 pay-per-view buys – they’d put putting on fights f***ing 10 times a year.
    “When you hear those kinds of numbers fly around the pay-per-view world, they’re lying motherf*****s. Don’t ever believe that s**t.”
    Despite the glaringly obvious lack of skill and technique, the influencer boxing scene has caught on like wildfire among Gen Zers.
    And White, like many others, can’t understand for the life of him why.
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    Dana White insists Misfits would be doing cards every week if they really did 1.4m buysCredit: Getty
    He said: “Anybody who’s been on any of these f***ing horrible boxing shows.
    “And I like Logan [Paul] and some of these guys that are involved in this s**t, if you come out and you say you did 1.3 million pay-per-view buys on your event, you’re lying through your f***ing teeth.
    “Lying through your teeth.”
    The MMA mogul added: “The amount of money you’d f***ing make, they’d be doing pay-per-views all the f***ing time.
    “Let me tell you what, every pay-per-view distributor out there would want them, and Showtime wouldn’t have went out of business.”
    It didn’t take long for White’s comments to come to the attention of KSI’s manager and Misfits co-president Mams Taylor.
    And he didn’t hold back in his response to the UFC supremo, writing on X: “I know all the REAL numbers for every event.
    “Don’t play w[ith] me or I’ll go Fofty on EVERYONE!!”
    KSI’s manager Mams Taylor hit out at Dana White after learning of his rant More

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    Who is Decca Heggie? Bare knuckle boxer arrested in the Philippines

    DECCA Heggie is a bare-knuckle boxer turned actor with a dark past. But what do we know about the fighter — and his recent arrest? 
    Bare-knuckle boxer Decca Heggie is facing deportation from the Philippines.
    Who is Decca Heggie?
    Derek “Decca” Heggie was born in Carlisle in Cumbria on November 22, 1983, and has some Scottish heritage. 
    He started his career as a bare-knuckle boxer, a form of boxing where fighters wear no gloves or padding on their hands. 
    Since retiring, he has also been involved in organising fights between other fighters, saying: “We’re stopping what would be worse violence in some cases.
    “We’re ‘fighters first’ because of that, the fighters get looked after because I know what it takes to step in there and do it.”
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    Beyond organising fights, the former-boxer has shifted his career to podcasting and acting. 
    Heggie presents the Official All of Nothing Podcast, where he interviews “some of the most notorious and controversial figures from all around the world.
    Heggie has been vocal about his issues with mental health and drug addiction. 
    In 2018, he published an autobiography titled “Prizefighter – The Searing Autobiography of Britain’s Bareknuckle Boxing Champion”. 
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    What is Decca Heggie’s fight record?
    Heggie was unbeaten following a total of 15 fights before retiring from the sport.  
    While bare-knuckle boxing is legal, Heggie said that his first three fights were illegal. 
    Speaking to Vice, he said: “One in the gangster’s back garden, then I went over to America and had two illegal fights out there — I won all of them. 
    “Bareknuckle is always linked to the underworld.”
    Bare-knuckle boxing is brutal — a 2021 fight between Heggie and Danny Christie, also from Carlisle, resulted in both being covered in blood, after fighting non-stop for ten minutes in a boxing gym, 
    Bare-knuckle boxing is one of Britain’s oldest sports, with records of early fights dating back to 1641.
    Why has Decca Heggie been arrested in the Philippines?
    On December 1, 2023, it was revealed that Heggie was facing deportation from the Philippines after alleged details of a past criminal conviction came to light.
    A UK source said: “The material emerging from the Philippines does not tally with the detainee’s record in the UK. 
    “The Philippine Bureau of Immigration will regularly deport people they deem to be undesirable and Heggie possibly falls into this bracket.”
    Taking to social media, Heggie told his followers: “I’ve done nothing wrong. I will fight this to the end.”
    What films has Decca Heggie been in?
    Heggie has a few film acting credits to his name, including 2019’s The Corrupted, starring Sam Claflin, Timothy Spall, and Hugh Bonneville.

    He has also featured in 2017’s My Name is Lenny, 2021’s Twist, and Netflix’s Jagame Thandhiram, also in 2021. 
    Heggie also appeared in two episodes of Bulletproof in 2020, available on Amazon. More