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      in Boxing

      I begged Daniel Dubois to call off sparring session after freak mistake but Anthony Joshua rival showed a touch of class

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      BOXING prospect John Hedges once begged Daniel Dubois to call off a sparring session after landing an accidental blow. The cruiserweight was body sparring – meaning no face shots were allowed – at trainer Mark Tibbs’ gym. Daniel Dubois ahead of his fight with Anthony JoshuaCredit: GettyJohn Hedges formerly sparred DuboisCredit: Mark Robinson NMCPool Matchroom BoxingBut Hedges was given a fright when of his punches strayed too high and hit Dubois upstairs. Hedges, 22, told Boxing Social: “Me and him got on really well to be honest with you – we trained together for about three months.”We were training down at Newlands at the time, still under the Tibbs banner and it was just one of them things. It’s a freak accident. “Sometimes, being scared – and I’ll be honest with you, I was scared – I’m trying to defend myself and he’s a big man. READ MORE IN BOXING”Believe it or not, even if you duck to hit him his head’s still there. He’s got a big head on him and Joshua will know that when he gets in the ring with him.”But I accidentally hit him on the way out to defend myself and I had to try and call the spar off but it carried on. “I was going ‘Daniel please, I didn’t mean to, no malice in it’ but it’s one of them ones.”Thankfully for Hedges, that day Dubois was feeling forgirveful. Most read in BoxingJoshua vs Dubois fight predictions THIS weekend Wembley will witness one of the biggest all-British fights of all-time.But who will emerge victorious under the famous arch? Some of the biggest names in boxing have been having their say…Oleksandr Usyk: “My favourite is Anthony Joshua but I am very bad at predictions. But I will predict Anthony Joshua.”Dillian Whyte: “I just think that it’s one of those fights where it is a genuine 50/50 fight in my opinion.”Joe Joyce: “I was initially edging with Joshua but I don’t know, Dubois is coming on.”Frazer Clarke: “As heavy-handed as Dubois is and as good a fighter as he’s becoming, I still have to go for Joshua.”Francis Ngannou: “Even though Joshua lost against Usyk twice and Dubois fought Usyk and almost knocked him down and almost won, I would still give this to Joshua.”Click here for more fight predictions for Anthony Joshua vs Daniel DuboisCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHedges, who is 10-0, said: “It’s boxing and Daniel’s a gentleman, he’s a very good man. “And it was nice just to get the rounds in – I just wanted the experience. I think I was a super-middleweight at the time it’s crazy.” Dubois, 27, will not be so forgiving on Saturday night when he defends his IBF title against Anthony Joshua, 34, at Wembley. Anthony Joshua reveals he swears by 12-word motto in brutal dig at Daniel Dubois before Wembley Stadium showdown More

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      in Soccer

      Watch as Marcus Rashford has medicine ball whacked off his abs as Man Utd star takes up boxing in international break

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      MARCUS RASHFORD has stunned fans after sharing a breathless training video.The Manchester United star is yet to score this season but has been busy in the gym and training pitch over the summer and current international break.Marcus Rashford swapped football for boxing glovesCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordThe Man Utd ace shared training videos to InstagramCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordHe was seen wearing a club training kit and white gloves while hitting a punching bagCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordHe also trained by hitting punching padsCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordRashford also kept limber by hopping side to side over a beamCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordIn a bid to find his scoring boots and get back to his best form, the 26-year-old has been getting to grips with a new training regime.Rashford shared a video of his new gruelling workout to his Instagram page, which has 17 million followers. Captioning his post: “Mix it up,” Rashford ditched a football to show off his skill with a pair of boxing gloves.The forward was seen wearing a club training kit while in the ring with a pair of white boxing gloves and hitting both punching pads and a punching bag.READ MORE ON MARCUS RASHFORDRashford was then seen stepping in and out of a hoop and jumping side to side over a beam.The United academy graduate also shared a video to his story of his training. In the video, he can be seen without a top on and tensing his abs while getting punched in the stomach before he is later seen having a medicine ball bounced on there.The next exercise shows Rashford grabbing the heels of a trainer and lifting his legs up before being jabbed in the stomach as he drops them down.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSArm curls, battle rope and weight pushing activities are all also seen in the video, with Rashford visibly panting with his arms on his knees at the end of the workout.Reacting to the clip, one fan said: “Scary hours, but not for us.”I rebuilt Rashford’s wrecked Rolls-RoyceA second said: “He’s about to be a nightmare for all the opposing players.”A third said: “You are gonna have another great season.”Another said: “Almost time to show the world again.”A fifth added: “Marcus on the beat.”Rashford will be hoping to get back on the scoresheet when United travel to Southampton this weekend.While he is yet to score or assist, he leads the Red Devils squad in terms of big chances created with three.Rashford also trained his core by being hit in the ribsCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordRashford has 17 millions followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordHe was also seen using a medicine ball while laying on the floorCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordHe trained his core by lifting his legsCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordHe was then punched in the abs by his trainerCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordHe also trained using ball weightsCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordHe was also seen using arm curlsCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordRashford also used battle rope and was seen stepping in and out of the tyreCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordHe pushed weight around the gymCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordHe was visibly knackered by the end of the workoutCredit: Instagram @marcusrashfordMan Utd player ratings vs LiverpoolMANCHESTER UNITED had a horror show against Liverpool as they lost 3-0.Casemiro was so bad he was taken off at half-time.But were there any positive performances at Old Trafford?Andre Onana – 5Nothing he could do about any of Liverpool’s goals and made a few saves to prevent the scoreline from getting worse.Noussair Mazraoui – 5Came close to scoring in the first half and looked solid enough against Diaz although he did push up too high before Liverpool’s opener.Matthijs de Ligt – 4Left Diaz and Domink Szobozslai in acres of space for the opening goal but was left in a tricky spot thanks to Casemiro’s error. Booked for a shocking late tackle on Diaz.Lisandro Martinez – 3Lost Diaz for the second goal which meant the Colombian was able to score unmarked from the penalty spot.Also guilty of giving away the ball too easily and was not tight enough with his marking.Diogo Dalot – 4Was caught out pushing up too quickly for the first goal and did not do enough to stop Mo Salah’s cross in the build-up to Liverpool’s second.Looked dangerous in attack at times but too infrequently as he had plenty of defensive work to do since Rashford did not track Trent Alexander-Arnold.Casemiro – 2A horror show in the first half as he gave the ball away in the lead up to both of Liverpool’s goals.He was caught on the ball for the second after a shocking misplaced pass left his defence vulnerable for the opening goal. Hooked at half-time.Kobbie Mainoo – 4Fell victim to the Casemiro curse as he was shrugged off the ball in a terrible position, allowing Liverpool to add a third with ease.Bruno Fernandes – 5Was United’s most creative spark but that is not saying much. Tried to get his side going in the first half but looked short of ideas and inspiration after the break.Alejandro Garnacho – 4Still appears to be a little rusty and is yet to hit the heights he reached last season.Marcus Rashford – 3Nothing came off for the out-of-sorts forward who must be running out of chances before he is dropped.Joshua Zirkzee – 4Quiet up-front and had little influence on the wing as well, but missed a clear-cut chance with his head and should have turned in Rashford’s cross which he met at the far post.SubsToby Collyer (for Casemiro, HT) – 5A difficult game for the youngster to make his Premier League debut but he put himself about and won a few tackles.Harry Maguire (for De Ligt, 69mins) – 5Shored things up at the back as Liverpool took their foot off the pedal.Amad (for Garnacho, 69mins) – 5Provided a spark on the right and looked more lively than Garnacho.Christian Eriksen (for Zirkzee, 86mins) – N/ANot on long enough to make an impact. More

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      in Soccer

      Man Utd boost as £50m summer signing Ugarte destroys fitness fears with incredible Uruguay feat

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      MANUEL UGARTE has destroyed fears regarding his fitness after his incredible performance for Uruguay.Erik ten Hag previously claimed that the £50.8million midfielder may need time to get up to speed to start in the first team.Manuel Ugarte has destroyed fears regarding his fitness after his incredible performance for UruguayCredit: APThe midfielder produced an impressive display in the World Cup qualifier against ParaguayCredit: AFPUnited signed the star was £50.8million this summerDespite being drafted into the starting lineup by head coach Marcelo Bielsa, Ugarte showed no signs of rust during Uruguay’s 0-0 draw with Paraguay.The 23-year-old produced an impressive display in the World Cup qualifier before being subbed off in the 79th minute after completing 52 passes and winning 12 duels across the clash. Bielsa praised the “great” Ugarte and explained that his ability to recover the ball was something that the fans “celebrated the most”.He told reporters: “We had players with a great ability to recover the ball.READ MORE ON MAN UTD“In fact, I think this is what the fans celebrated the most; the number of balls recovered by our two full-backs and Ugarte.”And after the match, Ugarte revealed his readiness to dive into action with Ten Hag’s squad.Ugarte said: “I’m very happy, very hungry and very excited,’ Ugarte said shortly after wrapping up his move. “I feel very good, I have prepared myself. The truth is that I haven’t played many minutes since the season began, but physically I feel very good.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSManuel Ugarte vs Parguay79 minutes played87% accurate passes9/12 Ground duels won3/4 Aerial duels won0 Dribbled past1 Chance createdUnited have had a disappointing start to the season, securing only one win from their first three Premier League matches.Following Ugarte’s performance, Ten Hag will be relieved that the player’s fitness is not a concern. ‘Will you let me finish’ snaps Gary Neville live on Sky Sports as Man Utd legend refuses to answer Carragher’s questionThe Dutchman claimed last week that it might take “a couple of weeks, maybe even months” to “build him into the team.”Manuel Ugarte the next Roy KeaneBy PHIL THOMASNEARLY two decades have passed since Roy Keane led Manchester United into battle for the final time.It left a gap in the engine room that the Red Devils have never really come close to filling in the 19 years that have followed.Many tried and some managed it in flashes and, although the trophies still rolled in for a time, there was no snarling, bring-it-on warrior prowling the midfield.Until now… until the imminent capture of a man who views a 50-50 challenge like a starving Labrador staring at a side of ham.For three months, United have licked their own lips at the prospect of a midfield marshalled by Uruguayan tough guy Manuel Ugarte.Finally, they have their man.Ugarte is pretty much a ball-winner pure and simple.Rarely will you see him pinging 40-yard passes to split a defence.But ending his days with half the reputation of Keane and a fraction of his silverware would still mean a hell of a career. More

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      in Soccer

      Inside Raheem Sterling’s first meeting with Arsenal team-mates in dressing room after controversial Brighton draw

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      RAHEEM STERLING met his new Arsenal teammates for the first time in the dressing room in the aftermath of their 1-1 draw with Brighton.And the 29-year-old is ready to hit the ground running thanks to a specialised individual fitness programme alongside a former Three Lions coach. Raheem Sterling signed for Arsenal on loan from Chelsea on Deadline DayCredit: GettySterling visited the Arsenal dressing room after watching the 1-1 draw vs BrightonCredit: GettySterling is expected to train for the first time at London Colney todayCredit: GettySterling was in the stands at the Emirates for the Seagulls clash – hours after joining the Gunners on a season-long loan from Chelsea on Deadline Day.Having only seen his Arsenal switch confirmed at around 2am on Saturday morning, Sterling was unable to make the squad, instead showing support for his new club alongside his family.And he was given a great reception from the Arsenal fans just before kick-off with his name read out over the tannoy system.Joined by another late loan capture in Bournemouth keeper Neto, Sterling made his way down to the changing rooms at the final whistle to introduce himself to members of the squad he was yet to catch up with.read more arsenalIt was a game that saw Arsenal drop points after Declan Rice’s controversial sending off for two yellow cards in either half.Sterling is expected to take part in his first full training session at London Colney today – reuniting with boss Mikel Arteta who was Manchester City’s assistant under Pep Guardiola between 2016 and 2019.SunSport understands that Arsenal are anticipating Sterling to be a fast learner under Arteta as a result, with the player raring to go to prove himself after being brutally axed from the Chelsea squad. Sterling has been keeping fit away from Cobham over the last two weeks with England’s former lead physical performance coach Ben Rosenblatt – who stepped down from his role in June 2023 after seven years.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe pair have worked together for pre-seasons in the past, and have recently made use of Sterling’s state-of-the-art fitness facilities at his home in West London.Sterling could be thrown into a Prem debut for Arsenal straight after the international break due to Rice’s suspension ahead of the trip to face North London rivals Tottenham on September 15.Arsenal travel to Man City later this month More

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      in Boxing

      Inside Conor McGregor’s first gym where coaches spotted talent aged 12… but knew he wasn’t destined to make it as boxer

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      CONOR McGREGOR showcased his raw talent aged just 12 – but his coaches knew his future was never destined for the boxing ring. McGregor wandered into the Crumlin Boxing club with muddy football boots as a youngster and immediately impressed head trainer Phil Sutcliffe. Conor McGregor’s first gym was Crumlin BoxingMcGregor has returned back to the club to train and boxHe poses to the crowd during a fundraising eventMcGregor has made shock appearances to box in local eventsAnd despite later choosing a career in mixed martial arts over boxing – he remains Sutcliffe’s most famous graduate from the gym. It is now over two decades since McGregor trotted into the club on his first day but Sutcliffe said: “Course I remember…”When he walked in, I told him he had to take his boots off.“He was playing football against Crumlin United. He was a little blonde kid, good looking kid, but he had his football boots on. READ MORE IN MMA“You don’t walk on the floor with your football boots full of mud, so we told him to take them off.“He started punching the bags. I said if you want to join, get your ma’ and da’ down. You have to fill in a form and apply.”The gym is located on Dublin’s south side and has been producing champions since the 1940s.Chief trainer Sutcliffe is an Irish amateur boxing great, having competed in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics.Most read in BoxingMcGregor returns to Crumlin to box in fundraisersHe uses the boxing club for his MMA trainingCoach Phil Sutcliffe with McGregorCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSSutcliffe coached McGregor through his teens and has no doubt he had the skills and making of a future boxing champion.But at 16 he chose MMA over the sweet science – sacrificing his potential as a top pugilist.I leant Conor McGregor £60 for tools when he was a young plumber… he paid it back 15 YEARS LATER with incredible gestureSutcliffe said: “In pure boxing ability he was as equal to them but he didn’t put in enough for the one talent. “It’s like if you wanted to play rugby but you play on the soccer pitch. It’s hard to master the two. “If you want to play rugby you need to be tough, you want to be fast but in soccer you want to be skillful, you want to be avoiding. “It’s the same in the boxing. If you want to box, you stay boxing. But Conor mastered the ability of reading. Reading the shot that comes at you.“He always mastered that from an early age of 12, he was able to avoid, he was able to move comfortably.”  McGregor’s choice of MMA over boxing paid off having become the UFC’s greatest star – but at the time Sutcliffe could not see the vision. He admitted: “I was never fond of mixed martial arts, I thought it was barbaric until I got involved and saw the amount of work these boys have to put into it.“I saw it and thought, This is interesting.'”  A huge mural of McGregor drapes the wallMcGregor is not the only boxing legend commemorated in the gymMcGregor also sponsors the gymCrumlin is nicknamed ‘The School of Excellence’McGregor only returned to boxing once in 2017 when he lost in ten rounds to American great Floyd Mayweather. In the aftermath of his defeat, the southpaw returned to his roots and Crumlin coaches to be part of his training and corner team. McGregor made sure to give back to the gym that first honed his skills having paid thousands to renovate the club.Pictures of the UFC legend training and boxing drape the gym walls while there is a huge mural dedicated to his success.But he is not the only legendary fighter commemorated in the gym with paintings of Mike Tyson, Ricky Hatton and Roy Jones Jr filling the walls. McGregor still visits during his training camp to sharpen his boxing and was doing so before his scheduled return on June 29.But he was forced to pull out of the comeback fight against Michael Chandler, 38, due to a toe injury with his UFC future still in the air. McGregor has been linked with a return to boxing in the past to fight the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Canelo Alvarez. READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd Sutcliffe hopes to see it having not been part of the Mayweather bout. He chuckled: “I hope he boxes for me, I’ll get another payday!” McGregor kitted out the coaches with new gearThis is the ring where McGregor sparsHe bought the club all new boxing equipmentThe gym is located in Dublin 12 More

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      in Soccer

      Jude Bellingham prowls around like Batman villain Bane during training in high-tech oxygen mask

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      JUDE Bellingham prowls around like Batman villain Bane during training.The England star, 21, was put through his paces yesterday by Real Madrid coaches who used a high-tech oxygen mask to track his fitness.Real Madrid coaches made star player Jude Bellingham use a high-tech oxygen mask to track his fitnessCredit: InstragramThe device looked similar to the one worn by Tom Hardy’s character Bane in The Dark Knight RisesCredit: Planet PhotosKylian Mbappe and Luka Modric were also seen in the devices — similar to the one worn by Tom Hardy’s character in The Dark Knight Rises, at their Valdebebas base.Jude wrote online: “Little by little, preparing for Sunday at home.”Fitness coaches say the masks help them devise individual fitness plans.It comes as Real Madrid winger Rodrygo sparked controversy after claiming he deserves as much hype as Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.READ MORE ON JUDE BELLINGHAMThe 23-year-old scored his team’s only goal as Los Blancos drew 1-1 with Mallorca on Sunday.Bellingham, Mbappe and Vinicius – the superstar trio now dubbed BMV by some fans – failed to make much of an impact throughout the match, leading Rodrygo to comment on the fanfare surrounding them.The Brazil international took to a WhatsApp chat to write: “Hi guys, yesterday the result was not what we wanted.”In La Liga every point makes the difference in the end. I’m happy with the goal and with the growth of the team.Most read in Football”Last week they talked about the trio of Bellingham, Mbappe and Vini, but they are going to have to add the R of Rodrygo to that acronym. We have a quartet of attackers and the rest of the team. What is Jude Bellingham’s goal celebration and what does it mean? More

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      in Boxing

      I walked away from pro MMA career to become Conor McGregor’s photographer… now he’s helping me make Misfits Boxing debut

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      PHOTOGRAPHER Dave Fogarty was picturing a career in professional MMA – until Conor McGregor came calling. The Irishman was an amateur champion with World and European medals to his name. Photographer Dave Fogarty with Conor McGregorCredit: Instagram Fogarty training for his boxing debutCredit: Instagram And while training to be a fighter, he picked up the camera as a hobby to do while out the gym and snapped in local Irish shows. That is how he was introduced to McGregor – who later became his boss after the UFC icon offered him a job as his personal photographer. Fogarty, 34, told SunSport: “I definitely could’ve turned pro. “It was definitely on the cards and something I thought about but when my amateur career had come to an end is when I started working full time for Conor.READ MORE IN BOXING“The time commitment working with Conor wouldn’t work with the full time commitment of doing pro MMA. “So I obviously chose to continue working with Conor.”Despite walking away from a fight career, Fogarty has never left MMA. That is because he is on call 24/7 with McGregor, meaning he is always in the gym and around the world’s biggest fights. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFogarty is among McGregor’s most trusted confidants. The talented snapper is part of McGregor’s core team who travel around the world with him.Watch disgusting moment Conor McGregor dislocates then resets his toe in training as injury sees him pull out of UFC 303Fogarty joins nutritionist Tristan Kennedy and strength coach Julian Dalby along with a padman and masseuse wherever McGregor goes. He said: “The man doesn’t take holidays, he doesn’t take vacations. He’s always doing something, when he’s away, the team is always away with him. “Like he says, there’s a gym on the yacht. Even if he’s on his yacht, he’s still training. He trains all year round. It’s great to be surrounded by that.” Fogarty – who has continued to train since his last MMA bout in 2017 – has captured McGregor’s meteoric rise through his lens. He revealed: “It’s mad. When you step back and see what it must be like for him. “Because when all that stuff is happening, I’m just in work mode making sure I get the pictures and have it covered.  “So to step back and see that’s what he does, day in and day out. That’s his life, it’s crazy. Conor wears different hats. You can be around him sometimes and he’s Conor, your friend and you’re having a buzz. And then, when it’s time to get to work and he becomes the boss.Conor McGregor’s photographer Dave Fogarty “It becomes normal until you step back and realise that it isn’t normal.” Fogarty teased that an upcoming project he worked on with McGregor is due to be released soon. And he opened up on how his close friend can just as quickly flip to strict boss at any moment. He said: “Conor wears different hats. You can be around him sometimes and he’s Conor, your friend and you’re having a buzz. “And then, when it’s time to get to work and he becomes the boss there’s times when I’m taking pictures and it hasn’t been his vision. “And, he’s told me about it. He’s let me know, that’s when it’s Conor the boss. “But there’s times when he loves the pictures and we’re having a buzz. “There’s times where he’s Conor McGregor, head of McGregor Sports & Entertainment or Claymore Productions.’I’ve soaked it all in’“I don’t want people telling me all the time my pictures are great, they’re not always great, no one’s are. “I think it’s important to have that relationship.” Fogarty will now call on McGregor’s expertise as he prepares to make his fight return – this time in the boxing ring. He has signed to Misfits Boxing – home to celebrity-style crossover bouts – and faces their lightweight champion Deen the Great on August 31 in Dublin. Fogarty will be coached by McGregor’s first ever trainer, Irish boxing great Phil Sutcliffe. When travelling with McGregor, he will work under the same coaches and recovery team hired by the UFC legend. He will then jet back to do his sparring under the watchful eye of two-time Olympian Sutcliffe. Fogarty does not rule out McGregor coming to support on the night and will make use of everything he has learned over the years while observing his boss. He is now preparing to make his boxing debutCredit: @ginger_beard_photosHe said: “I’ve soaked it all in. I’ve structured my training camp the exact same way I’ve seen Conor structure his. That’s where I’ve got the blueprint from. “It’s a very precise, measured and calculated way of doing it and it’s the optimal way of doing it. “Obviously, being around Conor and seeing how he’s done it is the way I’ll do it. He’s one of the best minds in combat sports history. “He’s a phenomenal coach, you saw on The Ultimate Fighter how dedicated he is to it, how dedicated and enthusiastic he is. “I’ve taken in so much from him, being around and seeing how he puts his training camps together. “It’s been a huge inspiration to how I’m going to do this.”Fogarty will challenge for Deen’s lightweight belt and prepares to take on a brash-talking unbeaten American. He said: “I’ve said it from the start, He is good. I’m not going to take anything away from him or discredit him. READ MORE SUN STORIES“He is a good fighter, a bit of a mouth, bit arrogant and cocky, but look, he is a good boxer. He’s got power in both hands, moves his head well, moves his feet well. “So I think it’s a big challenge and the hardest fight in the division being the champion. But I’m here for big fights and big opportunities.” Fogarty at the famed Crumlin Boxing ClubCredit: Instagram More

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      in Soccer

      England fan looks unrecognisable after shedding SIX STONE in five months to become bodybuilder and Team GB prospect

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      ENGLAND fan Dan Clibbon shed a staggering SIX STONE in FIVE MONTHS and cut his body fat by 88 PER CENT to bag a national bodybuilding medal.And despite downing 10 pints-a-day in Germany supporting the Three Lions, the first-time-father-to-be is targeting a Team GB spot for October’s world championship.Dan Clibbon underwent a dramatic body transformation to compete in a bodybuilding contestThe England fan shed a staggering six stone in five months and reduced his body fat by 88 per centAnd the Stoke-born 25-year-old spoke exclusively to SunSport while supporting the Three Lions in GermanySelf-proclaimed “fat lad” Dan, 25, revealed guzzling lager and scoffing pizzas and kebabs left him with a body fat percentage of 40 and weighing 17st 4lbs before his drastic body transformation. But sobriety, a super strict diet and a gruelling daily regime of 4am weightlifting sessions, 10,000-step dog walks and 40 minute night-time cardio workouts left him unrecognisable with just five per cent body fat.Dan, who is 5ft 7in, weighed in at 11st 5lbs as he claimed bronze at last month’s Physical Culture Association (PCA) ‘Naturals’ contest in Telford.And at a streetside bar in Dusseldorf the day after England’s dramatic Euro 2024 quarter-final penalties win over Switzerland, hungover Dan told SunSport: “I’ve always been a big fat lad.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“But I’ve been doing powerlifting training for 11 years so I’ve always been strong too. “I’d always wanted to do a bodybuilding show so when I found out my girlfriend was pregnant in January, I thought ‘I’ll never have the chance to do it with a baby’.“So I entered the competition, knuckled down for five months, got on the cardio, got in good shape, won bronze and now I’m back on the beers again!”CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSSun reader Dan is ‘back on the beers’ after going sober for five months while trainingBut he says the intense regime was well worth it for the bronze medal he bagged at last month’s PCA Naturals in TelfordDan was virtually unrecognisable after five months of eating clean and training for up to three hours a dayThe 25-year-old has put on 1st 8lbs in the month since the competition but still looks fantastic in these pictures he posed for SunSport for in DusseldorfHaving returned from a holiday to Gran Canaria with girlfriend Kirah Barnes, 23, the couple learned their daughter was due on September 1.Most read in Euro 2024And that kicked structural engineer Dan into gear as his diet switched from junk food and pints of lager to protein and vegetables and eight litres of water-a-day. Stoke-born Dan said: “I was drinking a lot of beer. And although I was eating OK during the week, at weekends it was kebabs, pizzas, anything I wanted really. “But then I started training and all I was doing every day was going to work, walking 10,000 steps, doing cardio, lifting and eating a little bit of food.“I was shredded to the bone in the space of five months. I didn’t have a drink and ate chicken and lettuce basically the whole time.“My daily routine was wake up at 4am, 20 minutes of posing practice, weights sessions at the gym, go to work, go home, 40 minutes of cardio on the cross trainer, get my 10,000 steps in with the dog, more posing practice, back to bed and repeat the next day. For FIVE MONTHS.”Dan woke up at 4am every day to lift weights before workThe structural engineer told SunSport competitors apply fake tan to emphasise their definition under the artificial stage lightsDan said bagging bronze was ‘surreal’ after five months of sacrificeDan is expecting his first child in September as him and girlfriend Kirah prepare to welcome a daughterDespite joking that his girlfriend “hated” him during his intense regime, Southam-based Dan said it did not affect his social life. The Port Vale fan said: “My girlfriend is pregnant so there wasn’t an issue with me not drinking because she wasn’t drinking either.“And I’d still go out with the boys and do exactly what I wanted, I just wouldn’t be drinking.“But the eating was 100 per cent the hardest bit. And you’re doing it for so long, you get to a point where you only want chocolate. “I was so hungry it was ridiculous.“But I ate so much after the show. Burgers, chocolate, sweets, crisps, everything was gone!”Dan spent 40 minutes-a-night on his cross trainer at homeAnd he was drinking eight litres of water-a-day in the week before the competitionPort Vale fan Dan joked his girlfriend Kirah ‘hated’ him during his intense training periodDan was spurred on by the news he was going to have his first baby in SeptemberAfter five months of clean eating this post-competition donut went down a treatDan added: “In the week leading up to the show, I was drinking eight litres of water a day to get rid of all water weight from my system. “I was also taking Peak Max, which is a natural diuretic. And then it was just low carbs, high protein and s*** tons of cardio!“But it was definitely worth it. “When they called my name out and I got third place it was surreal because I had spent five months thinking about getting a medal.”Dan’s bronze last month qualified him to compete for Team GB in the PCA SuperSeries Natural final on October 6 in Seoul, South Korea. A world championship event.But the imminent arrival of his baby girl and the cost of the trip means he may be unable to accept the spot.Dan went from 40 per cent body fat to five in just five monthsDan travelled to Dusseldorf with mates Tom Vousden and Toby Poole who gleefully told SunSport how he had been making up for all the beers he missed out on when training. Especially as the trio watched England beat Switzerland on penalties in Saturday’s quarter-final in a pub packed with fellow Three Lions supporters.And despite putting on 1st 8lbs in the month since the show, Dan is desperate to make it to South Korea. He explained: “I said before Telford I would only do one show. But I’ve got the itch now and would like to do one more in Seoul. “I want to go again because I want to get some gold medals!READ MORE SUN STORIES“Maybe The Sun can sponsor me!”Dan has started an online coaching business to help others get into shape and he can be contacted via his Instagram page.Dan is hoping to travel to South Korea in October to compete for Team GB but needs a sponsor to cover the costs More