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      in Motorsport

      VIP ‘black cards’, ‘rude’ celebs & OnlyFans models swarming the paddocks…how the Miami GP became the Coachella of F1

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      AMERICANS like to go BIG – and the Miami GP, being held this weekend, is no exception.Since first hitting the calendars in 2022, it’s become an extravagant affair packed full of big-name celebs and influencers, with even the race itself becoming overshadowed by the glitz.Like Coachella, the Miami GP has become a celeb and influencer hotspotCredit: GettyA-listers like Kendell Jenner have been spotted swanning around the paddockCredit: APSand is imported to create an exclusive “beach club” areaCredit: APIt’s now one of the F1 season’s biggest showpieces, a crucial part of their strategy to boost its popularity in the States. Last year saw celebs like Kendell Jenner and LeBron James pay the race a visit, and even Donald Trump showed up in a surreal appearance that caused security a headache.And just like the music festival Coachella, it’s now full of internet-famous influencers who – many suspect – haven’t got a clue about F1 itself but spend their time snapping selfies and posing with drivers A record-breaking 275,000 fans turned up to watch McLaren’s Lando Norris clinch his first ever victory, and organisers are hoping this weekend’s race will be even bigger.Read More FeaturesThe Florida event has courted chaos ever since the inaugural race was held three years ago and it was decided to build the circuit at the city’s Hard Rock Stadium, home to local NFL team the Miami Dolphins.It nearly didn’t happen at all, after a handful of nearby residents filed a lawsuit over noise pollution complaints – though this was thrown out by a judge.A makeshift circuit was cobbled together – but it proved a dud, having to be resurfaced twice ahead of the race and seriously lacking grip. Many of the drivers lambasted it, with Sergio Perez labelling it “a joke” and Lando Norris accusing the designers of just “winging it”. Most read in MotorsportBut it would turn out that the track would be the least of the driver’s worries.Come 2023, the spectacle was even more intense, much to their dismay.Fernando Alonso goes public with stunning new girlfriend Andrea Schlager after whisking her to US for Miami GP Prior to the race, each driver was required to present themselves in a full-on WWE-style showcase, led out one-by-one past an honour guard of cheerleaders, announced by the rapper LL Cool J.Meanwhile, in the background, Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am conducted a black-tie-clad 30-piece orchestra. Little wonder then the drivers found the showbizzy spectacle “distracting”. “I don’t think there’s any other sport in the world that 30 minutes before you go out to do your business that you’re out there in the sun, all the cameras on you and making a bit of a show of it,” said George Russell.“None of the drivers like it,” added Lando Norris.“We do so much publicity for the fans [but] as drivers we all just want to sit down and focus on what we need to focus on.”Influencer heavenToo bad for them, then, that the Miami GP has only gone from strength to strength and is a must-attend event for everyone from A-list actors to Z-list influencers. The 2024 Miami GP was won by Lando NorrisCredit: GettyModels and influencers shell out for pricey tickets to access to exclusive areasCredit: GettySecurity requirements made Trump’s visit quite the headache for organisersCredit: GettyEven political big hitters have gotten involved – including last year when none other than Donald Trump himself turned up.Ten days before his visit the secret service spent hours scrutinising and surveying the venue for threats. Everything was given the all clear – but then just hours before the race his security team ordered major shutdowns in areas of the paddock.“The Secret Service blocked off the walkway in the middle of the paddock for 20 minutes, and the teams were losing it because they were like, ‘I have to cross,’” recalled Tyler Epp, President of the Miami GP.His bright orange tan lined up with the McLaren team’s colours, at least, and he even told Norris that he was the British star’s “lucky charm”.And given how much Miami has become a hotspot for OnlyFans stars, with the sunny Florida weather always providing a great excuse to strip down to the bare essentials, it’s no wonder the GP event has become a hit with online models.There have been some celebrities that no one even knows were hereTyler EppWhile Trump was swanning around one part of the paddock giving his congratulations to Norris for his win, OnlyFans actress Veronica Rajek took the chance to pay the McLaren team a visit.Motoring media even fell for a hoax back in August that claimed OnlyFans was set to become the new title sponsor of the Alpine F1 team.The sensationalised spectacle that the race day has turned into has left plenty of die-hard fans wondering if all these famous faces have any clue about the sport itself.After all, despite being the voice of racing, not many of them seem to know the legendary Martin Brundle.’Rude’ celebsBack in 2022, the Sky Sports commentator was prowling a very crowded grid when he came up to tennis ace Venus Williams.But she was too busy saying hi to all the other famous faces and barely registered what he was saying, in an awkward but hilarious encounter.“What’s the question?” she laughed before whisking herself off somewhere else. OnlyFans star Veronika Rajek posed for pictures with the McLaren teamCredit: AFPEd Sheeran performed over the weekend at last year’s GPCredit: GettyKendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton even found time to hobnob with each otherCredit: GettyVenus and Serena Williams on the grid at the Miami raceCredit: GettyFast forward to 2024, and a huge list of celebs popped in to catch the racing – including Shakira, Rory McIlroy, Kendall Jenner, and tycoons Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. And with neighbours Inter Miami going from strength to strength, boss David Beckham also made an appearance, as did Zinedine Zidane.Even Taylor Swift turned up in the city, alongside her boyfriend NFL superstar Travis Kelce – proof enough that the Hard Rock stadium will be the place to be seen this Sunday – though Taylor skipped the race itself.Perhaps her presence would have been too awkward for driver Fernando Alonso, because at one point rumours were swirling that the pair briefly dated. Fortunately for the VIPs – and maybe to make up for Martin Brundle always trying to nab them for a chat – the GP’s organisers are careful to keep the general public far away from them.Some celebs are even rumoured to attend in secret.We’re trying to create an environment to make special memories that will last a lifetimeTyler EppBeyonce and Jay-Z reportedly rocked up in 2022, while Michelle Obama attended as a guest of Lewis Hamilton.“She showed up right on time, got to experience a session, and was in and out very, very quietly,” explained Tyler Epp.“There have been some celebrities that no one even knows were here.”Also on offer is a “Black Card” experience. It allows the rich and famous to drive on a special, entirely separate lane off the highway, taking them straight into a luxury car parking zone.“You don’t have any interaction with the general population from the time you leave your hotel to the time you get to your seat. It’s all very protected and private,” added Tyler in an interview with Motorsport mag.Fake beach clubsMaybe this attention to detail will let Miami become the new Monaco. The inner part of the circuit gets turned into the Hard Rock Beach ClubCredit: APFans were left bemused by the fake waterCredit: APSky’s Craig Slater takes a ‘swim’ in the fake marinaCredit: ReutersBut then again maybe not – given the much-mocked attempt to copy the Mediterranean city with a fake marina was created by painting the ground blue, which even Sky’s Craig Slater attempted to have a “dip” in.They even stuck ten massive yachts inside it and imported heaps of fake sand to create a “VIP Beach Club”.It was slammed as tacky – but to access this luxurious lake of concrete in the middle of the circuit, guests had to shell out at least $1,000.And it was $2,000 on top of that if you wanted a deck chair. When it was first revealed in 2022, bemused fans compared the set up to the notorious Fyre Festival.At least they had two pools to relax in and a performances from big hitters The Chainsmokers to enjoy as well.Forget Coachella itself – because now, the entire GP weekend has turned into something of a music festival in its own right.In 2024, both DJ Steve Aoki and Ed Sheeran delivered performances to revellers at the Hard Rock Beach Club.And the entertainment on offer during race week is now spilling outside of the stadium itself, with the whole of Miami gripped by GP fever.Venues across the city are getting into the F1 spirit, including art exhibitions dedicated to exploring racing culture, and exclusive racing-themed pop-up bars in luxury hotels sponsored by F1’s partner, the champagne company Moët & Chandon.Just be ready to shell out $550 – and that’s for the most basic package on offer. This year, the Hard Rock beach club will once again be delivering a star-studded line up with performances by Pitbull, Kygo and DJ Tiësto.But given the Miami GP competes with two others F1 races in the states – in Austin and Las Vegas – organisers aren’t ashamed to say they go out of their way to make the Florida race weekend stand out.Read More on The Sun“We’re in the memory making business at the end of the day, and we’re trying to create an environment to make special memories that will last a lifetime,” added Tyler Epp.“That’s our goal.”More than 275,000 fans are expected to attend this weekendCredit: Getty More

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      Chris Eubank Jr’s torment over painful 6-year rift with idol dad… and how legend’s ‘crazy’ demands ‘cost his son £3m’

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      AS Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr face up in the ring tomorrow at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, not even the screaming crowds and bright lights will be able to hide a very conspicuous absence.While Benn will have his dad Nigel backing him up in his corner, Chris Eubank Sr will be nowhere to be seen – despite this fight opening another chapter in a more than three-decade-old Eubank-Benn rivalry.Chris Eubank Jr and his father have been caught up in an ever-deepening rift since 2019Credit: Getty Images – GettyThe legendary boxer has called Saturday’s fight, between his son and Conor Benn, a “disgrace”Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdTheir relationship has been damaged by the passing of Chris Eubank Jr’s brother, Sebastian, in 2021Credit: Instagram @chriseubankjrChris Eubank Sr has branded the fight a “disgrace” and accused his son of “making a mockery” of the family legacy – even calling for his boxing licence to be revoked after the younger Eubank cracked an egg over Benn’s face in a February press conference.But while the build-up to Saturday’s fight has exacerbated the rift, the fallout is nothing new – dating back to 2019.In recent years their fractured relationship has been overshadowed by the tragic death of two members of the family, while promoter Eddie Hearn even claimed Eubank Sr cost his son millions.Ahead of the showdown, 35-year-old Eubank Jr has faced an uphill battle to shed enough weight, with Benn poking fun at the “pain” his rival had been experiencing at a press conference on Thursday.Read More Boxing“What is pain, though?” Eubank Jr hit back.“I have a 31-year old brother who is buried in the desert in Dubai, that is pain. I have a son, three years old, he asks why can’t I see my daddy? Why can’t he take me to school? That is pain.“My own father, a man I idolised for my entire life, and he doesn’t speak to me. We haven’t spoken in years and he thinks I’m a disgrace. “These things are what pain is to me.” Most read in BoxingFor years, Chris Eubank Jr. could count on his dad’s support as he rose up to establish himself as a fighter in his own right. The father and son pair would often be sat side by side at press conferences, with Eubank Sr. helping to coach and manage his son’s career, and providing Eubank Jr. with critical feedback in between rounds.Driven by Rejection, Defined by Greatness | Behind the Gloves: Chris Eubank SnBut this close relationship would eventually come to an end, with a professional – and personal – break-up that left the younger Eubank heartbroken.“We don’t talk, he has shown no interest in my career for a long period of time now. He’s shown no interest in me in a long period of time,” he said in October.“As somebody who’s lost a son, I think that’s a pretty insane thing [for my dad] to be doing, an insane way to be acting – to kind of not be speaking to your remaining kids.”Fighting demonsEubank Jr added that he still wishes his father will have a change of heart and be there the night of the fight.“I would love for him to be involved. The fact that I even have to say that is insane. How is that even a thing?” he says.“His son is gonna fight the son of his arch-nemesis, [from] all those years ago when he was a world champion. How is it a thing that he may not be there?”The build-up to Eubank Jr vs Benn has reheated the rivalry between the boxing familiesCredit: GettyChris Eubank Jr’s dad was constantly by his side as he established himself as a boxerCredit: GettyEubank Jr says their rift began when he chose to forge his own careerCredit: GettyDoubling down on these feelings in March, he told Piers Morgan: “I still hope he’s there on the night, just like [Benn’s] old man will be. I honestly don’t know. I hope and I pray that he is, and I will do things to try and get him there.“He needs to be able to get over whatever demons he’s fighting. Now, this fight is either gonna enable him to get over those demons or unfortunately it’s gonna make those demons grow. I don’t know.”Conor’s father Nigel also urged Eubank Sr to attend, telling the BBC: “I don’t want him having a disagreement with his son.”We all want you there, so we can see each other after the fight and hug each other and say it is all over – so be there my friend.”Eubank Sr. hasn’t been seen in his son’s corner since 2019, and given their recent comments, it doesn’t seem like their relationship will be healing any time soon.By this time, Eubank Jr felt ready to start taking more control over his career – rather than simply becoming another version of his dad. But his father did not take this move well.“My old man was always next to me, and it got to a stage where I decided that I needed to walk my own path. He was not happy with that decision. That’s the start of it,” Eubank Jr told Morgan.I think it’s going to take me being out of boxing for him to come back into my lifeEubank Jr“I had to step out of that cycle because I felt it wasn’t working, and as my own man, I had learned enough and had done enough in the game to do my own thing, to walk my own path and not follow someone else,” he told the Mirror.Tragically, Eubank Jr added that he’d have to ditch his love of boxing to rebuild any relationship with the man who had given him so much.“At this moment in time, he’s having trouble separating the business and the boxing and the coaching from being just my dad.“I think it’s going to take me being out of boxing for him to come back into my life. I hope that’s not the case, but that’s how I see it.”I’m very appreciative of everything he did and everything he taught me throughout my life and my career, but I want to be my own man, and that’s what I’m doing now.”Family painHowever, their gap only widened after a pair of tragic deaths within the family. Much of Eubank Sr’s fury has been directed at the fact that his son is having to shed so much weight, fearing that boiling down to the 160lb needed will risk needless damage – akin to what left Eubank Sr’s own brother paying the ultimate price.Eubank Sr still mourns the death of his brother Simon, who faced a debilitating battle with dementia caused by boxing injuriesCredit: Instagram @harlemeubankThe older Eubank and his nephew Harlem lost Simon in 2023Credit: Louis WoodEubank Jr has had to drastically cut down his weight in order to make the cut for SaturdayCredit: https://www.instagram.com/chriseubankjr/“I don’t want my son getting down to 160lb. And that is why I have spoken about people trying to murder my boy by boiling him down to 157lb,” Eubank Sr told The Sun while choking back tears.“Trying to boil my son down to 157lb a few years ago, would have killed him. You might think the word ‘killed’ is a bit strong but my brother is dead from boxing. He lost his life from boxing, with frontal lobe dementia. “In the end, Harlem was feeding him with a baby bottle, he had to feed his own father. I didn’t have the strength to go and see my brother in the last six months of his life because he was locked in spasm all of the time he was awake,” he added.“That is boxing and 20 losses at the hands of the promoters. It’s a business and a racket and when you keep bringing the same guy in to lose, he ends up being killed.“He was my brother. It is real for us.”Chris Eubank Jr hasn’t made one decision, he doesn’t breathe without his dad’s say soEddie HearnEubank Sr’s brother, Simon, passed away aged 61 in September 2023 after a harrowing battle with dementia, believed to have been brought on by injuries sustained in the ring.In response, Eubank Jr’s promoter Ben Shalon agreed that trying to reach 157lb was “crazy”.“It was irresponsible for everyone involved that we asked Chris Eubank Jr to get 157. [It was] absolutely crazy that that was ever agreed to but we’re here now. He’ll make the weight and he’ll be ready to go,” he added, in reference to Saturday’s fight.Tragically, Eubank Jr also lost his brother, Sebastian, after the 29-year old passed away from a heart attack in Dubai in 2021.“That affected [my dad] in a deep way – it affected all of us,” he told Piers Morgan.“Mental health is a real thing. “That incident, coupled with the fact that we were already not seeing eye to eye, destroyed a large part of the relationship.”‘Crazy’ demandsBut the cost of the animosity has been financial as well as emotion, according to promoter Eddie Hearn, which may have driven the younger Eubank’s decision to step out of his dad’s shadow.In 2016, Eubank Jr was being lined up for a £3million bout against WBC, IBF, and WBA belt-holder Gennady Golovkin. Promoter Eddie Hearn blames Eubank Sr’s “crazy” demands for Eubank Jr missing out on a £3million bout in 2016Credit: GettyEubank Sr and his lawyers never ended up signing the contract for the fight against Gennady GolovkinCredit: PA:Press Association More

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      The insanely lavish worlds of F1 tycoons…from Red Bull boss’s private island to £30million Bond villain-style mansion

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      AS things heat up ahead of this Sunday’s Bahrain GP, the Gulf State will soon be crowded with the jets and supercars of the rich and famous.It’s fair to say there’s a lot of money in the world of F1 – and drivers and team staff alike certainly get paid handsomely.The late Eddie Jordan certainly knew how to enjoy his £85million fortuneCredit: AlamyEddie was among the most flamboyant of the F1 tycoonsCredit: GETTYRed Bull owner Mark Mateschitz inherited an entire tropical island from his fatherCredit: jason busch/LHW.comBut at the very top of the motor sport pyramid are the people who don’t just run the teams, but own them. And when you combine a net worth of millions – or in many cases billions – with a love of fast cars, you can be sure you’re dealing with a flashy spender.After all, if you can afford an F1 team, you might as well own a yacht on the side – or a Pacific island getaway when you need a break.It’s a sport that attracts some pretty big characters, just like the late Eddie Jordan, who went from flogging salmon on the streets to amassing a fortune of £85million.Read More FeaturesBut his riches are small fry to what others in the business are worth – such as Mercedes’s Toto Wolff, worth a whopping $1.6billion.And even Toto’s wealth is dwarfed by Red Bull owner Mark Mateschitz, who has a net worth of over £30billion. So what have they been spending it all on?Join us as we dive into the lavish lives of the biggest F1 tycoons.Most read in MotorsportBrave Eddie Jordan’s final public appearance just weeks before his deathToto WolffAfter trying his hand as a racing driver before moving into the boardroom, Toto Wolff bought a 30 per cent stake in Mercedes in 2013 for an estimated $50million.And as Mercedes moved up the rankings, so did his wealth increase – making the Austrian worth around a whopping $1.6billion today, according to Forbes. It’s no wonder Toto Wolff takes such an active role in ensuring his teams success – because he owns a third of itCredit: GettyThe Mercedes part-owner enjoys diving off his 49 metre-long superyacht off the coast of MonacoCredit: Instagram/totowolff_originalA video Toto posted to his Instagram shows he isn’t afraid to take his cars – in this case the iconic Mercedes-Benz SL from 1954 – for a spinCredit: Instagram/totowolff_originalOnce living near the team’s base in the UK, Wolff and his family have now moved to Monaco, close to where many of the drivers live.He’s also reported to own an 18,000 square foot mansion in Switzerland, which was reportedly bought for $62million.Unsurprisingly, the 53-year old owns a stunning car collection which features plenty of rare Mercedes. Wolff has frequently been spotted driving round Monaco in his Mercedez-Benz SL from 1954, worth around £1million, as well as the more modern Mercedec-AMG GT R, which sells for around £150,000-190,000.But brand loyalty hasn’t stopped him from also reportedly owning a Bugatti Veyron, a Ferrari LaFerrari, and also an iconic Ferrari F40  which he allegedly sold for some £1.2million. And when road travel doesn’t cut it, he can be spotted relaxing on the 49-metre-long superyacht UU, which he is thought to own – though he is thinking of designing one himself. Eddie JordanThe late Eddie Jordan owned properties around the globeCredit: AlamyEddie Jordan bought the spectacular yacht Blush for £32millionCredit: BLUEI PRODUCTIONSFrom trading on the streets of Dublin to securing iconic sponsorship deals – once convincing delivery firm DHL to repaint all their vans with his famous “Jordan yellow” – the late Eddie Jordan certainly reaped the rewards of his hard graft.Among his lavish assets was Sunseeker’s biggest ever yacht, which he bought for a cool £32million back in 2014, named Blush.Also under his ownership was a stunning 45-metre sailing yacht that let him enjoy times spent near the coast.Over the years, he amassed a massive – and very valuable – collection of F1 memorabilia, including the very car Michael Schumacher made his debut in.And like other team owners, he had multiple properties around the world including a palatial manor in Surrey, a house in Ireland, and a pad in Monaco.He also owned a £750,000 flat in Tooting, London, which he raffled off in 2017 to the lucky winner of the £10-to-enter competition. Lawrence StrollHaving made a fortune in the luxury fashion industry selling shares in brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors, the Canadian businessman is thought to be worth over £2billion.The 65-year-old tycoon is also part-owner of the Aston Martin racing team – and is the dad of their star driver, 26-year-old Lance. Lawrence Stroll, owner of the Aston Martin team, made his fortune selling shares in luxury fashion brandsCredit: The TimesThe Canadian billionaire hosted his 60th birthday party on board his massive yacht Faith, which was attended by the likes of Sarah Ferguson and Catherine Zeta-JonesCredit: PAHe is the proud owner of the Ferrari 250 GTO, which is thought to be worth over £50millionCredit: RexThough based in Geneva, Stroll also owns homes in London, Quebec, and also a £70million pad on the Caribbean island on Mustique where he wed Brazilian stunner Raquel Diniz, 35.When it’s race weekend in Monaco, you can find him on board Faith – a 96-meter superyacht which Toto Wolff has said is the nicest boat he’s ever been on, worth around £200million.Featuring a glass-bottomed swimming pool, beach club, and wet bar, it hosted stars such as Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas for Stroll’s Great Gatsby-themed 60th birthday bash.Recent reports, however, suggest he’s sold the vessel on – downsizing to a 78-metre-long yacht instead.But it’s cars he really loves, amassing a collection reportedly worth over £140million.This includes a Ferrari 250 GTO, one of the most valuable cars in the world with a price tag north of £50million. Also in his garage are multiple LaFerraris, a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB he snapped up for a cool £20million, as well as McLarens and a Ford GT. Ron DennisSir Ron Dennis made a handsome penny from selling his McLaren sharesCredit: GettyWork started last week on his new £30million Berkshire mansionThe enormous property includes underground Roman-style baths, and a private tunnel to the River ThamesAlthough his split from McLaren was far from amicable, Sir Ron still walked away with £275million after selling his shares back in 2017.And what better way to enjoy retirement than to build yourself a £30million ‘Bond villain’ mega-mansion that’s set to be one of the most lavish homes in the country.Work began last week on the 77-year-old’s new Berkshire home for the, which will feature a Roman baths-style underground swimming pool and even a secret tunnel to the Thames to access his boat.There’s also extensive staff quarters, a room just for glassware and crockery, and a hair salon for when you don’t have time to nip down the massive drive to the local barbers. I am a pretty wealthy guy. So why wouldn’t I have some exotic cars?Sir Ron DennisIt goes without saying that the tycoon – who started life as a mechanic – is a massive car nut, once owning four go-karts built by McLaren for his own personal use.And planned for the new mansion is an underground garage complete with turntable to house his fleet of vehicles, including a McLaren worth £5million.“I love my McLarens,” he once told MailOnline.“I am a pretty wealthy guy. So why wouldn’t I have some exotic cars?”, he added.Aerial pictures taken of the plot near Henley-on-Thames last week show that diggers have moved in to start excavating the site. Mark MateschitzMark Mateschitz is one of the world’s youngest multi-billionairesCredit: GettyThanks to the Red Bull fortune, Mateschitz owns a private island in the South PacificCredit: http://www.laucala.comThe Austrian had enough spare cash to snap up Bernie Ecclestone’s extraordinary collection of motorsCredit: Tom Hartley Jnr/PA WireIt’s hard to avoid being rich when you’re Mark Mateschitz – son of Dietrich, co-founder of the Red Bull beverage and sporting empire who passed away three years ago.Dubbed Europe’s richest millennial, Forbes estimates the 32-year-old’s net worth to be north of £30.8billion, making him the 31st richest person on the planet.And Mateschitz has proved keen to carry on his father’s connection to F1, as evidenced by an enormous purchase he made just this month.The young billionaire is the new owner of Bernie Ecclestone’s private car collection – featuring 69 Grand Prix cars estimated to be together worth £500million.The Red Bull owner is thought to own multiple castles and villas across his native Austria, and his rumoured to have a £43.5million pad in swanky Knightsbridge.Also inherited from his dad is the island of Laucala, Fiji, a billionaire’s playground with a luxurious private resort – which even has its own airline to ferry visitors to and from the tropical paradise. And as if the Red Bull billions weren’t enough already, Mateschitz is currently dating heiress to the Swarovski crystal fortune, Victoria. Together, they’re working on a brand new getaway – a multi-million pound villa Marbella, close to where Victoria’s mother lives. Bernie EcclestoneBernie Ecclestone celebrating his 90th birthday with wife Fabiana FlosiCredit: Instagram @fabianaecclestoneEcclestone named his £30million superyacht after his daughter, PetraCredit: RexBernie Ecclestone’s daughter, Petra, is thought to be the owner of this giant 57,000 square ft. Beverly Hills home which was reportedly bought for $150millionCredit: Splash NewsHe enjoys lavish holidays with wife FabianaCredit: fabianaecclestone/InstagramThe F1 supremo himself has amassed billions of the decades, and the 94-year-old certainly knows how to spend it.As we revealed, he was once the owner of a car collection worth around £500millionAmong his property empire was a London home overlooking Kensington Palace, which sold for £57million, and he bought his daughter Tamara a £70million London mansion complete with gold bathtub and 50 staff. He’s now living in Switzerland in a £23million chalet called Le Lion, located in the resort town of Gstaad, along with his wife Fabiana Flosi.Ecclestone – who has an estimated net worth of £1.85billion – also owns not one, but two massive yachts.Read More on The SunThe £30million Petara, named after his daughter, can accommodate up to 12 guests and boasts a spacious interior.Then in 2022, he snapped up the 63 metre-long Force Blue for the bargain price of £6.6million, which features a spa, cinema, and nightclub onboard. 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      in Boxing

      My fiancé’s OnlyFans nude pics had huge impact on relationship, reveals Olympic boxer Nicola Adams after love split

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      BOXING champion and Strictly star Nicola Adams has opened up about her heartbreaking split from girlfriend Ella Baig.In an exclusive interview with The Sun on Sunday, the Olympic fighter has revealed that she struggled with ex-fianceé Ella’s work as an OnlyFans model during their seven-year relationship.Boxing champ Nicola Adams has split from her fiancee Ella BaigCredit: SplashNicola admits that Ella’s OnlyFans had a big impact on their relationshipCredit: ella.baig/InstagramElla posts nude snaps on the ­platform and engages in explicit chat with fans.Nicola said: “I have always been incredibly supportive of Ella’s career and the choices she has made, including her work on OnlyFans.“She is an amazing woman, and I admire her confidence and ­independence.“However, as much as I respect what she does, I can’t deny that it has had an impact on our relationship.”READ MORE ON NICOLA ADAMSThe couple have a two-year-old son, Taylor Nate, born via IVF using one of Nicola’s eggs.The 42-year-old former flyweight, who is the first British woman to win an Olympic boxing gold medal, said: “I’ve always considered myself to be mentally strong, but I’ve found this situation challenging at times and have had to reflect on how ­sustainable it is — especially as we raise our son together.“Parenthood changes your perspective on so many things, and I’ve had to be really honest with myself about my emotions and what’s best for our family.‘Both been to therapy’“Ella and I have shared so much love and happiness and, no matter what happens, my respect and admiration will never change.Most read in Boxing“Right now, we’re navigating this as openly and honestly as possible, with the priority being our little boy.”Speaking from her home in Dubai, Nicola revealed that the couple tried several months of therapy before calling it quits.Olympic boxing champ Nicola Adams on becoming a mum through IVFShe said: “The decision to split has been a gradual process.“We first discussed the notion of breaking up five months ago and came to the decision over a period of time.“We’ve both been to therapy, ­separately and together, to try to help heal our trauma, and we decided that it would be easier for us to split.“We need to be apart — it’s a lot easier to fix yourself.“It’s been hard because Ella has been my best friend for so long, so not having her there has been a big change for me and I’m still getting used to it. We’ve tried to keep it amicable and do things as a family for Taylor.”Nicola has been open in the past about her difficult childhood, ­growing up in poverty and pain in Leeds, throwing herself into boxing as protection from her violent father, named Innocent.A 2021 Prime Video documentary — named Lioness after her old nickname in the ring — also highlighted a rift with her mother and long-time supporter, Dee, who she is estranged from.Nicola believes she is still coming to terms with what she went through as a child.She said: “I have a lot of childhood trauma. I don’t want to pass any of it on to Taylor.“I do a lot of meditation and see a therapist to help me combat it. I can also see trauma in other people too.”Nicola is determined to give her son the best childhood possible. She said: “Our early years experiences are worlds apart.“I grew up on a council estate in Leeds in a single-parent household, I didn’t have anything to do.Ella posts nude snaps on the ­platform and engages in explicit chat with fansCredit: instagram/ella.baigNicola on her way to beating Sarah Ourahmoune to retain Olympic flyweight title in Rio in 2016Credit: Getty“There were people in my neighbourhood drug dealing and stealing cars — it was very different to how he is living now.“Even as a two-year-old he has a full social life, going swimming, having golf lessons and listening to music.“Thanks to the career I have had, I don’t have to work as hard as my parents did. I never got to see them, whereas I can spend so much time with Taylor.“Taylor is super-happy and ­confident. He is really independent and I love the person he is evolving into. He is a bundle of joy.”In 2020, Nicola made TV history when she became the first same-sex pairing on Strictly Come Dancing with Russian pro dancer Katya Jones.Unfortunately the pair had to pull out of the competition when Katya caught Covid, but Nicola thinks they could have won the Glitterball trophy.I do a lot of meditation and see a therapist to help me combat it [trauma]. I can also see trauma in other people too.Nicola AdamsShe said: “It was such a cool ­experience.“Learning how to open up and perform was awesome.“People still recognise me from the show and they have no idea about my sporting history.“I still talk to Katya. She really got the best out of me, and I liked the fact she had just as much energy as I did, so we were able to really get the dance moves right. It was a good partnership.“I definitely think we would have made the finals. I’m confident we’d have won. It was just unlucky that she got Covid.”Nicola admits that Ella struggled with the show as they were isolated during the height of the pandemic.The former couple have a two-year-old son, Taylor Nate, born via IVF using one of Nicola’s eggsCredit: Nicola Adams/InstagramNicola said: “It was lonely for Ella. We filmed during lockdown so we had to be in a bubble.“Ella wasn’t able to go see friends, so when I’d be out training from like 9am to 9pm, I think it was quite tough for Ella being alone for that amount of time.“Then the only people she’d get to see when we came back was either me or Katya.“I think it would have been a nicer experience if we’d have done Strictly now, where you can talk to everyone.“We couldn’t even interact with the other dancers or contestants — it wasn’t as social as the show normally is.”But she did not fall victim to the Strictly curse and enjoyed later ­teaching Ella the dance moves.Nicola said: “In some ways there are some good points as I was able to teach her all the dances.”Read More on The SunWhile Nicola is not currently ­dating, she is looking forward to new work projects this year, including ­acting in a movie and launching a podcast with the BBC.She said: “I don’t want a rebound relationship, I just want to focus on my work and being a good mum.” More

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      Prince William stuns TNT pundits with football knowledge as Villa-loving future King is branded ‘man of the people’

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      CLUTCHING his TNT Sports mic, Prince William casually dissected the tactics his beloved Aston Villa might employ against Paris Saint-Germain.“I think we all saw the Liverpool game and PSG’s intensity,” he told wide-eyed pundits Rio Ferdinand and Ally McCoist in a live six-minute TV masterclass.Prince William speaking at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on Wednesday nightCredit: TNT SPORTSWills talking tactics with pundits Rio Ferdinand, left, and Ally McCoist before Villa’s match with Paris Saint-GermainCredit: TNT SPORTS“They gave a lot of pressure, they pressed very high. And so I think for Unai tonight, and the team, it’s about managing that press.”For the uninitiated, the future King was warning that Villa’s manager Unai Emery needed a game plan to cope with PSG’s ploy of defending high up the pitch.Seasoned internationals Ferdinand and McCoist nodded in agreement.This was the house of Windsor as we’ve rarely seen it.READ MORE ON PRINCE WILLIAMA monarchy shedding its stuffy image for something more modern is a PR triumph.But make no mistake, Will’s deep love and knowledge of the ­people’s game is absolutely genuine.Shortly before Wednesday’s Champions League tie kicked off, William added: “Unai likes it when teams come on to them and play quite a high press but obviously there’s a limit. Can we get around the press? Can we beat it? So I’m thinking long ball a bit.”The punditry was fast turning into a public relations triumph as social media buzzed with approval.Most read in FootballRelaxed in a casual jacket, William then began analysing PSG’s new approach of targeting youngsters rather than big-name players.He said: “I think not having Mbappe there, I think the PSG guys have talked about that quite a bit in the media, around not having the superstars maybe makes it a bit more of a gel.Prince William on fatherhood & football | Royal Exclusive Special“Vitinha in the midfield, I’ve been really impressed by, bearing in mind he was at Wolves two, three years ago and he could hardly get a game, and now look at him.”For a man once known more for polo than the Premier League, it was impressive stuff.Ex-England and Manchester United star Ferdinand told him: “Do not go for a punditry job, please, because I could be out of the game.”Fans watching at home were equally impressed.‘Passion we all share’One said: “Better analysis than most pundits.” Another supporter added: “He knows his stuff, defo.”Others remarked on William’s accent which has lost the regal ­formality of his elders.Times Radio presenter Andrew Neil said: “Charles and Anne speak in the same mannered, old-fashioned, upper-class way as their parents. William is much more normal.”The Prince was also seen in the tunnel, greeting the Villa players with encouraging hugs after they had warmed up on the pitch.It’s difficult to imagine Prince Philip or King George VI greeting Tyrone Mings with the welcome “big man!” and an endearing embrace.William also hugged Marcus Rashford and was heard saying, “Marcus, nice to see you, I missed you earlier.”Welcoming Marcus Rashford, top, while wishing Aston Villa players luck before they took to the pitchCredit: ESPNOnline gossip among fans questions if William may have influenced the player joining Villa from Manchester United.To top it off William, 42, was later seen in the stands with son George, 11, celebrating wildly when Villa went 1-0 up (they later lost 3-1).Last month the Prince told Shaun Custis — The Sun’s Head of Sport — that he lurks on Villa fan internet forums under a random name.And in January the Prince enjoyed a cider with eight diehard Villa fans in a Birmingham Wetherspoon pub.Looking a little at odds in jacket and tie, he nonetheless impressed his fellow Villans.Student Daniel Jones, 18, from Burntwood, Staffs, said the Prince was a “lovely guy, proper down-to-earth” who “loves Villa and the passion we all share”.Unlike that other Villa fan, ex-PM David Cameron, the Prince won’t be muddling the team up with those other claret and blues, West Ham.While William undoubtedly enjoys relieving the stresses of life cheering on the Villa, the telly punditry and the immersion in the game is also a slick PR move.Wills celebrating Villa’s shock lead with Prince George in standsCredit: GettyPrince William looking down alongside Prince George during the game, which Will’s team lost 3-1Credit: SplashThe Prince’s aides will have thought carefully before sending him out live on air with Ferdinand and McCoist.Royals usually favour sport which involves a four-legged nag.Although the late Queen presented the World Cup to Bobby Moore at Wembley in her white gloves — and attended a clutch of FA Cup finals — horse racing was her great love.Prince Philip liked carriage racing, Princess Anne eventing and Prince Harry polo.William’s promotion of football compares with his brother’s love of the equestrian sport which isn’t generally known for having players brought up on council estates.This is what Prince Harry said on the Netflix website about his recent five-part documentary called Polo: “This series offers audiences an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look into the passion and determination driving some of the world’s elite polo players, revealing the grit behind the glamour.”Better analysis than most pundits.Football fanThe show was mauled by critics and questions were asked about ­viewing figures.Meanwhile, William’s away days with the Villa are dragging the ­monarchy into the modern world.It presents a youthful and less formal side to the Prince of Wales away from charity visits and royal tours.Appearances at Premier and Champions League games flash around the globe at a time when the Commonwealth is being stress-tested.When William accedes to the throne he will be head of state of — at least currently — 15 nations including Canada, Australia and Jamaica.A 2022 tour of the Caribbean by William and Kate has gone down in history as a misjudged howler.The poor optics included pictures of the royals shaking hands with Jamaican children through wire fences and a military parade in which the pair stood dressed in white in an open-top Land Rover.Local campaigners saw it as a throwback to colonialism.Seeing the future monarch and his son as down-to-earth footie fans won’t harm his global image.Zooming on e-scooterAnd don’t bet against William turning up at the USA World Cup in 2026, a land where image is everything and the rival Sussex brand vies for attention.The Prince will know American opinion pours into Britain via social media and the value of being well-regarded on the other side of the Atlantic.Villa have a Wembley FA Cup semi-final this month and could reach the Champions League semis.Broadcasters will be clamouring for Wills to take the mic to offer his words of footballing wisdom.The Villa punditry — and other recent nods to informality — provide clues to what a King William V monarchy will look like.On a trip last month to Estonia, William posed for dozens of pictures with well-wishers.Living in Adelaide Cottage without a live-in nanny, he was spotted zooming around nearby Windsor castle last year on an e-scooter.The Prince likes to arrange his formal day around the school run, and trips abroad as King are likely to be shorter and punchier.Formality and, perhaps, some of the pomp and pageantry will be out.There was no public investiture when he became Prince of Wales.William will now have to delicately balance the mystique of the monarchy and its age-old rituals with shifting its image into the 21st Century.Read More on The SunHis performance in Paris this week will have endeared him to many.As a footie pundit might say, the boy done good.Wills’ nerdy footballSUN readers were already well aware of how good Prince William’s football knowledge is after my interview with him last month.But, as if it needed confirmation, TNT pundits Rio Ferdinand and Ally McCoist tested him out ahead of the clash between PSG and William’s team, Aston Villa, in the Champions League on Wednesday.Wills didn’t hesitate as he assessed the importance of Villa managing PSG’s high press and analysed the improvement in the French team since the departure of superstar Kylian Mbappe.His nod to Vitinha, PSG’s Portuguese midfielder, and his development since his days at Wolves was proper nerdy football.But when it came to predictions, the Prince let his heart rule his head, going for a 2-1 Villa win.Ally, however, proved he is still king of the pundits as he correctly went for 3-1 to PSG. More

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      From Arsenal & Man City to Leicester & Leeds Utd – do you fit into AI’s idea of how a stereotypical football fan looks?

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      ARTIFICIAL intelligence is ­everywhere – even taking on the ­terraces of our top football clubs.  That’s because these images are all computer-generated ­likenesses of terrace stereotypes – based on the fans of a string of top clubs. It’s all the work of social media site Reimagine UK.  Do you and your club’s fans match up to how AI sees you? Find out hereCredit: GettyTheir tech wizards get ’bots to scour thousands of fan pictures and descriptions of supporters to analyse the defining traits of each. Then the site, which has tens of thousands of followers online, uploads the results, and no, they’re not real people – before you think you recognise that bloke from down the pub.  The Newcastle entry is a nod to Toon legend Paul Gascoigne’s pal Jimmy “Five Bellies” Gardner, the Brighton bloke gets a seagull, and the West Ham man has an, er, food-stained shirt.  Here, Mike Ridley reveals the full line-up so you can compare them to your footie-loving pals.  READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSWest Ham  With spilt gravy and beer belly, AI gives West Ham fans a hammeringCredit: ReimagineUKHAMMERS fans eat all the pies and spill gravy down their shirts, the bots would have you believe – and this gent looks like he’s had his fill of steak-and-kidneys.  This Blades fan is all smiles as Sheffield United eye Premier League promotionCredit: ReimagineUKTHIS Blades bloke comes across as a cheerful chappie – and maybe rightly so, as they are looking like contenders for promotion to the Premier League.  Tottenham fan keeps snapping selfies to distract from his team’s tough season, perhaps?Credit: ReimagineUKWHAT’S with the constant selfies, lad? Maybe it’s to take his mind off the latest disappointing results, as his side languish downtable in the top flight.  This Chelsea fan loves the bling, but can he really afford it with those ticket prices at the Bridge?Credit: ReimagineUKLOVING the bling as much as the Blues’ megabucks players, is this fella. Most read in FootballBut you have to wonder how he can afford it, given the price of tickets nowadays.  This trendy Arsenal fan’s too cool for a red and white scarf, according to AICredit: ReimagineUKTHIS one’s been to a hipster North London hair salon – and maybe that’s why AI reckons he’s too trendy to team his shirt with a red and white scarf.  Five bellies and two chins in tribute to Gazza’s pal – but he’s still smiling. Could Europe be calling next season for this Toon fan?Credit: ReimagineUKNewcastle fans take over Covent Garden ahead of Carabao Cup final against Liverpool and bid to end 70-year trophy waitOF course, it had to be – five bellies and two chins, in tribute to Gazza’s portly pal. But he looks pretty pleased. Maybe he fancies boozing in Europe next season?  The topknot hunk with shades and a hipster beard is a Seagulls fan – and he’s got the bird to prove itCredit: ReimagineUKTHE topknot hunk with the shades and hipster beard is a big fan of the Seagulls and can often be seen with one perched on his shoulder. Like you do.  This surfer dude really Leeds the way as his team pushes for promotion to the Premier LeagueCredit: ReimagineUKA SURFER dude beard, headband and neckerchief suggests someone feels like the cock of the north, merrily eyeing up promotion to the Prem.  After analysing thousands of Reds fans, AI couldn’t find a smile – no surprise after this season’s disastersCredit: TikTok/@reimagineukAFTER crunching thousands of pictures of Reds fans, AI couldn’t come up with anything more upbeat than this – little surprise given this season’s calamities.  They may be struggling at the bottom of the Premier League, but the bling and thoughtful look show they’ll always remember their 2016 gloryCredit: ReimagineUKTHEY may be at the wrong end of the Premier League but the proud bling, and philosophical face, suggest topping it way back in 2016 will never be forgotten.  Sporting a bit of a 1970s Paul McCartney lookCredit: ReimagineUKKOP a load of this! There’s maybe a bit of a 1970s Paul McCartney hair thing going on here, in tribute to the Beatles legend. Love, love yourself, fella.  Man City may not be on top right now, but AI says their fans are still smiling from years of successCredit: ReimagineUKCITY are, for once, not bossing things – but AI has seen so many of their happy fans in recent years it reckons they are still smiling from ear to ear.  More

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      Footballers are great role models… but they need to be able to go partying, like I did, says Jack Wilshere

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      HAVING been hailed as the new Paul Gascoigne after making his senior England debut at 18, Jack Wilshere got a reputation for a party lifestyle.The former Arsenal midfielder’s career, including a stunning double strike during the Three Lions’ European Championship qualifying match against Slovenia in 2015, was then hampered by a catalogue of injuries.Former footie ace Jack Wilshere with daughter Siena and wife Andriani last yearCredit: Eleven Miles.Family man Jack with Andriani and the kidsCredit: InstagramJack is helping to get fans learning lifesaving CPR skillsBut now aged 33 and a coach — currently with Championship side Norwich City, and previously Arsenal under-18s — he understands the pressures on young football stars.Like former Three Lions manager Sir Gareth Southgate, he knows how much these kids need role models.The dad of four will run next month’s London Marathon in aid of the British Heart Foundation and is backing a campaign inspiring the nation to learn lifesaving cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.While at Arsenal, Jack helped coach now 18-year-old wonderkids Myles Lewis-Skelly — who last week scored on his full England debut in our World Cup qualifier win against Albania — and Ethan Nwaneri, now with the Three Lions under-21s.Read more on Jack WilshereBut he also believes players need to be allowed to let their hair down when not on club time.He made headlines in 2010 when he was arrested 18 days after making his full England debut in a friendly against Hungary at Wembley, coming on as a late substitute for Steven Gerrard.He was given a police caution following the late-night brawl — where it turned out he had played peacemaker.But Jack tells The Sun: “I always thought I was sensible enough to know the right times to go out and when not to — and it’s important that the players have some downtime.Most read in Football“Of course, the world has changed a little bit and there’s so many things young people, young players can do, but downtime is important, as are the people around you.”After England crashed out of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil in the group stage, Jack was pictured with a cigarette as he partied in a Las Vegas pool with goalkeeper Joe Hart.Jack Wilshere’ ‘out of his comfort zone’ in first coaching role since shock Arsenal exit But that was in downtime between duties with England and Arsenal.Plenty of footballers, such as England’s Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish, have been haunted by shots of them partying.But Jack says: “I don’t ever really look back and think, ‘I should not have done that’.”During his career he won FA Cups with Arsenal in 2014 and 2015, 34 England caps including six man-of-the-match awards, and scored two Premier League goals of the season.After ten years at Arsenal, until 2018, he was at West Ham for two years before spells at Bournemouth and Danish side Aarhus. But injuries — particularly ankle but also knee and back — forced him to retire in 2022 aged 30.Goals of the seasonHe then became head coach of Arsenal under-18s before leaving last October to become a first-team coach at Norwich.He has taken advice from former England pals Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who all moved into football management.Jack says of coaching: “It’s a comp-letely different skill set. You have to learn how to lead people.“You have to learn how to inspire people and keep them inspired and convince them to buy into something.”Gareth Southgate spoke last week about how such inspiration needs to be passed on to young men, throughout society, to stop them falling under the spell of toxic online influencers such as misogynist Andrew Tate.Jack has son Archie, 13, and 11-year-old daughter Delilah by former girlfriend Lauren Neal, as well as daughter Siena, seven, and six-year-old son Jack by his now wife Andriani Michael.He says: “We have to be careful about the messages we expose them to, which I try to do, and try and limit their access to social media, and try to give them opportunities to have role models.Jack, pictured in 2010, was a young talent at Premier League side ArsenalCredit: PA:Empics SportJack parties in Las Vegas back in 2013Credit: Splash News“Archie’s 13. As he gets older, things might change. But at the moment his role models are footballers, and he wants to be a footballer, and he’s driven to do that.”Jack — who has been married to Andriani, daughter of his barber, for almost eight years — believes that footballers are great role models for young men.His sons now worship the latest England sensations.He says: “I think about my son, and another son who’s five — they have role models, they love Jude Bellingham, they love Bukayo Saka.“When I grew up, I had David Beckham, I had Joe Cole, I had Frank Lampard.”Meanwhile, football is playing a role in saving lives by asking fans to learn CPR — the emergency procedure of chest presses and rescue breaths to restore breathing and circulation after the heart stops.Sky Bet and the English Football League’s Every Minute Matters cam-paign aim to get 270,000 football fans to learn this by next month — and 235,000 already have. The British Heart Foundation has its own 15-minute online course, RevivR.Jack learned CPR because his eldest child Archie has epilepsy, which causes seizures.Jack reveals: “The first time it happens you don’t know what’s going on, what it is. It was quite scary. So we wanted to learn CPR as a family.”I don’t ever really look back and think, ‘I should not have done that’.Jack GrealishBritish Heart Foundation ambass-ador Jack is now backing the Sky Bet EFL Every Minute Matters Relay — a 4,000km “jaunt” across the country starting today in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and Plymouth, and ending four weeks later in London on Easter Monday.Fans of all 72 clubs in the English Football League will run, walk and cycle legs of various lengths.Fan favourites “Big Sam” Allardyce, Troy Deeney and Dion Dublin are also taking part.Jack, though, is also training for the London Marathon on April 27 — and the hard yards have been more difficult than he reckoned. He admits: “It’s tough. I never thought that I’d have to actually run that far.”Waiting for him at the finishing line will be daughter Siena, whose potentially fatal heart condition insp-ired Jack to help the British Heart Foundation.In February last year, Siena under-went an operation to fix a hole in her heart. Jack was so stressed by the fear of losing her that he lost almost a stone in weight.He adds: “People said to me, ‘Why are you doing the marathon? You’re crazy’. And, yes, it will be hard, it will be tough, there will be moments where I probably will doubt if I’ll get across the finish line.“But I will get across the finish line and Siena will be there waiting for me. That’s thanks to the British Heart Foundation, thanks to the doctors, and that’s something I’ll always be in debt for, grateful for.”Siena is now fit and well, getting back to a normal life, although Jack says: “We’re a little bit more careful with her, and probably give her a little bit more TLC than the others.”Daughter’s heart opThe marathon will see him pitted against former England teammate John Terry, and Jack says with a laugh: “If I was you, I’d put your money on him.”Chelsea centre-half John was the Three Lions captain when Jack broke into the side as a teenager. The hardman skipper was an inspirational leader who helped guide the young player on and off the pitch.Jack says: “It was something I’d never experienced before. He talked through the whole game — my positioning, how to do this, how to do that. He taught me a lot and showed me what a real leader was.”Jack now hopes to become a manager but is happy to take his time and learn. The success of Southgate taking England to two European Championship finals in a row, in 2021 and 2024, inspires him — like other English managers, such as Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe and Graham Potter at West Ham.But he has no beef with the Football Association having given the England manager’s job to German Thomas Tuchel, ex-boss of Chelsea.Jack says: “I love it, it’s a big step from the FA. Gareth’s done a fant-astic job, and as a young English coach to have someone like Gareth at the top of the tree gave us belief.READ MORE SUN STORIES“But with the players we’ve got now, it’s so important we maximise that, and we’ve got the best guy to do that. Thomas is a proven winner.”Sky Bet and the EFL have joined forces in support of the British Heart Foundation to host the Sky Bet EFL Every Minute Matters Relay. To learn CPR in just 15 minutes with the BHF’s free, online tool, search ‘RevivR’. More

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      ‘He wanted to get the truth’ Tributes pour in for Sun’s Mr Boxing Colin Hart after ‘greatest’ reporter’s death

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      LEGENDARY Sun boxing writer Colin Hart was hailed as “The Greatest” yesterday following his death at the age of 89.Colin had worked for The Sun since its launch in 1969 and was still passing on his unmatched sporting knowledge to readers until a few days before his passing.Sun boxing writer Colin Hart was hailed as ‘The Greatest’ yesterday following his death at the age of 89 (pictured with Lennox Lewis)Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdBarry McGuigan said: ‘Colin was a master when it came to boxing journalism’Credit: GettyThe brilliant sports journalist covered eight Olympic Games, motor racing and even showjumping in a stellar career.But he will forever be remembered as one of the wisest and most authoritative ringside figures in the world of boxing, whose heroes led a stream of warm tributes yesterday.British great Frank Bruno called him “Mr Boxing” and told how Colin was his hero.He said: “When it comes to the kings of boxing reporters, Colin was the undisputed champion. read more on colin hart“No one else will ever lay a glove on him. RIP, my friend.”Fellow former world champion Lennox Lewis said: “He was clearly the leader of the boxing press pack. “I knew that he wanted to get to the truth and tell the truth and if he upset people along the way, so be it.”Another ex-world title holder, Ricky Hatton, added: “Colin was one of the first people to congratulate me when I was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame.Most read in Boxing“He had previously been inducted himself, and I know how proud he was of that — he will be sadly missed.”Former middleweight hero Michael Watson — whose career was ended by a near-fatal injury in his fight with Chris Eubank — called The Sun writer “a boxing man through and through”.Boxing legend Colin Hart reveals how Larry Holmes was targeted by ‘rednecks’ in build-up to Gerry Cooney fightHe added: “Colin cared about us fighters and he campaigned for us.“I felt like he was in my corner during my boxing career and definitely after it.”Former super-middleweight world champ Joe Calzaghe added: “Colin was a real giant of boxing writers and there will never be another like him.”Boxing promoter Frank Warren described him as a “dear friend” and a “superb journalist”, adding: “Colin has been there since the start of my journey in this great sport. “It simply will not be the same without him.”Ring favourite Barry McGuigan said of Colin’s death — coming soon after that of US heavyweight hero George Foreman this weekend: “Colin was a master when it came to boxing journalism. “We are losing all the good ones.”The Sun’s Editor-in-Chief ­Victoria Newton added: “Colin was a brilliant writer who was hugely admired by all of us.“It takes a special journalist to still be at the top of their game approaching the age of 90.“He was never afraid to take on the scariest of heavyweights with his sharp pen and was working in an industry he loved right until the end.Chris Eubank called Colin ‘a boxing man through and through’Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdColin speaks to Mike TysonCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd“The number of warm and heartfelt tributes which have come in say everything about how he was revered and respected around the world.“Colin was the best of The Sun — The Greatest.”Cockney Colin grew up in London’s East End during the Second World War and recalled cowering in Tube stations from the German bombs.He was a life-long supporter of West Ham but fell in love with boxing when his gran took him to see his first professional bill at a local baths when he was ten.Colin’s career in newspapers began with the East London News Agency at 17 before work as a crime reporter and news editor following his national service.But he later switched from news to sport and joined the fledgling Sun newspaper where he quickly established himself as a star.Colleagues and rivals marvelled at his ability to compute every detail from fast-moving sporting events then talk them down a phone line to go directly into print.His talent was such that he stayed at the top of his game for decades, despite shunning modern communication methods which transformed the profession.He was — almost certainly — the only journalist still working up until recently who never owned a mobile phone and still preferred to bash out his reports on a clattering, old-school typewriter. After he gave up smoking, the gruff, white-haired newspaper great was known for chewing on an ever-present toothpick in one corner of his mouth while talking out of the other.Colin never pulled his punches as he covered every epic heavyweight clash involving Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Joe Frazier during the 1970s.He was also ringside at all the epic bouts involving British boxing greats, from Henry Cooper and Joe Bugner to Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.Colin ‘retired’ when he turned 65 in 2000 but continued to write columns for another 25 yearsCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdBut the most memorable clash of the Sun man’s career was spent in Zaire covering the incredible Rumble in the Jungle classic between Ali and Foreman in October 1974.Foreman — then a terrifying 25-year-old brute — was expected to humble ageing icon Ali but was lured into an astonishing sucker-punch knockout in round eight.Colin described covering the fight as the “most bizarre ten days” after watching locals worship Ali like a god. He added: “At 25, Foreman wasn’t the smiling carefree giant who resembled a benign Buddha that we saw in his latter year. “He was surly, bad-tempered and far from lovable — his fists were like two wrecking balls.“But I had a gut feeling Big George lacked stamina, which is why in Sun Sport I picked Ali to beat him in nine rounds.”Ali would become a personal friend of Colin in his later life and trusted him to break the news of his diagnosis with Parkinson’s.Colin “retired” when he turned 65 in 2000 but continued to write columns for another 25 years, and attend big fights.He also ran with the Olympic torch down South East London’s Old Kent Road in 2012.And he carried on passing on his knowledge to colleagues, combined with hawk-like analysis of fight game skills and weaknesses.In 2017, after Joshua had knocked out Wladimir Klitschko in an epic battle at Wembley, he said the bout ranked in the top ten he had ever witnessed. But he also said that he believed Fury — who had beaten Klitschko two years earlier — was a better fighter.Colin watched his last major heavyweight bout only last year in Riyadh where he saw Fury’s first pro defeat against Oleksandr Usyk.And yet again, he had correctly predicted the result.READ MORE SUN STORIESColin died after a short illness days short of what would have been his 90th birthday on April 6. He is survived by wife Cindy, and daughters Laura and Lisa.Colin with his family after he ran with the Olympic torch down Old Kent Road in 2012Credit: Peter Jordan – The SunColin with boxing promoter Frank Warren who described him as a ‘dear friend’Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More