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    True story of Dicky Eklund – boxing champ-turned-crack addict who ended up in jail before inspiring Oscar-winning movie

    DICKY EKLUND inspired an Oscar-winning performance by Christian Bale for his depiction of the boxing champion-turned drug addict.Bale took Best Supporting Actor in 2011 for his role in The Fighter alongside Mark Wahlberg – who played Eklund’s brother Micky Ward. Former boxer Dicky Eklund in HBO’s ‘High on Crack Street’Credit: HBOChristian Bale with Dicky Eklund in 2010Credit: GettyChristian Bale played Eklund while Mark Wahlberg portrayed his brother Micky WardCredit: AlamyMicky Ward and Dicky Eklund in 2011Credit: GettyIt followed the story of how Eklund went from hometown hero who fought the great Sugar Ray Leonard for $7,500 (around £6,000) to a crack cocaine addict.His brother Micky meanwhile was attempting to break out of Lowell, Massachusetts, and into the big time in boxing.But 20 years before The Fighter’s release, Eklund featured in the grim true-life HBO documentary called “High on Crack Street”.It followed a group of drug users and drew back the curtain on the harsh reality of addiction. READ MORE IN BOXINGIn the episode, Eklund can be seen smoking from a crack pipe and reminiscing about his boxing past – and his 1978 loss to Sugar Ray.He is later arrested – for the 27th time – and his family put on a fundraiser to pay off the $5,000 bail. A group of locals, paying $10 apiece, watch back Eklund’s HBO fight against Leonard, which included a disputed knockdown against the legend. Eklund is eventually bailed and starts training brother Micky for a fight. Most read in BoxingAnd after Ward wins a bout, Eklund said: “I could’ve been probably up close to the champion of the world, maybe. If I lived the right life. Staying clean.”Eklund then went missing the day after brother Mickey’s fight and was found in a local crack house.A-listers in surprisingly humble cars & why Daniel Radcliffe feels ‘more comfortable in a £2k hatchback than a Ferrari’His trainer Mickey O’Keefe – who actually played himself in The Fighter – said: “The addiction’s too much for him. It’s real sad. “Sad because he’s got a family and kids at home. A little baby that depends on him.”Maybe the best thing for him is going to jail, maybe it will save his life.”The doc finishes with Eklund being sentenced to ten years in jail for a series of crimes including armed robbery. In that time, Ward went on to win titles and shared an iconic trilogy with the late Arturo Gatti which earned him $3million in total.Eklund only served five years in prison and came out to again train Ward. But he found himself in trouble with the law over the years, again getting arrested in 2006 on drug charges. Ward retired in 2003 after his trilogy loss to Gatti, who he later coached and became close friends with.His son visits him in jailCredit: HBOThis was Eklund’s disputed knockdown against Sugar Ray LeonardCredit: HBOThe American opened up a gym and trained fighters alongside brother Eklund, who was clean of drugs. Their story was so inspiring Hollywood’s Wahlberg spent years trying to get it green lit. Eventually, director David O Russell produced the 2010 classic The Fighter with Wahlberg co-starring alongside Bale and Amy Adams.Bale dropped TWO STONE to portray drug-addicted Eklund at just 10st 3lb. The two spent time together in local Lowell bars and boxing gyms – with Bale still in touch with Eklund and his son Dicky Jr to this day. He told GQ in 2022: “Dicky, he’s such a character. “He makes his presence felt all the time. I spent so much time hanging out with Dicky beforehand. Wahlberg played Eklund’s brother Micky WardBale won an Oscar for his performance”Being in Lowell, hanging out with him, going walking around, getting kicked out of bars, having almost every cop stopping and going, ‘Hey, hey Dicky!’ and then telling me a story about when they arrested him. “Going to the boxing gym, jumping in the ring and sparring with him — and oh my God, it’s really quite something when you might think you can, ‘Ah, I’ll be a decent boxer,’ you spar with other amateurs and whatnot, I’d done that a few times. “But when you get in the ring with a pro? Bloody hell.”The success of The Fighter fuelled demand for a sequel and a year after its release plans for a follow up were in place. Wahlberg wanted to tell the story of Ward’s legendary trilogy with Gatti and their friendship after battle. But the sequel sadly never came to fruition despite Wahlberg never losing hope. He said in 2022: “I was never really in the sequel business. “But The Fighter really lent itself for another movie because of Micky and Arturo Gatti’s trilogy.I could’ve been probably up close to the champion of the world, maybe. If I lived the right life. Staying clean.Dicky Eklund, speaking on HBO’s ‘High on Crack Street’“I’m always kind of looking for the next thing. But if the audience really wants it, and they really love it, and we can make one better than the first then I’d be willing to do it again, for sure.”Gatti was mysteriously found dead in 2009 in a hotel in Pernambuco, Brazil where he was on holiday with his wife and ten-month-old son.His wife Amanda Rodrigues was initially charged with murder after Brazilian authorities ruled Gatti’s death a homicide. But after the coroner’s autopsy report was released, they declared it was a suicide by hanging, and charges against his widow were dropped.Ward often pays tribute to his opponent and close friend – posting a picture of them this past April. He captioned it: “Happy 52nd Arturo! Not a day goes by I don’t think of ya buddy.”Eklund has two sons, Dicky Jr and Tommy, and a daughter named Kerry. READ MORE SUN STORIESDicky Jr works at the famed Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles where Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach took him under his wing. And Sean was an 11-4 fighter who owns a gym himself Massachusetts, meaning after all these years, boxing is still in the family. Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward’s trilogy was the rumoured plot for The Fighter 2Credit: GettyEklund and Ward pose togetherCredit: Instagram More

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    Meet Oscar de la Lawyer, UK’s first boxer and solicitor who’s named after ring icon and wows clients with his black eyes

    OSCAR McCRACKEN is the country’s first solicitor by day and fighter by night – and the owner of arguably boxing’s greatest nickname.The 25-year-old’s uncle Rob used to train Anthony Joshua and still works as Team GB’s head amateur coach.Oscar McCracken is a solicitor by day and fighter by nightCredit: Blanche Canvas Official
    He was actually named after boxing legend Oscar de la HoyaHis boxing nickname is amazingly Oscar de la LawyerCredit: Blanche Canvas Official
    His father Spencer was also a welterweight fighter – so it was only a matter of time till his son, Oscar, entered the family business. But Oscar tells us: “My dad never wanted me to box.” So instead he played football, captaining his county and even having trials with Birmingham City – his boyhood club.But Oscar was always in the boxing gym – from as far back as he can remember – sparring pro fighters by his teenage years.READ MORE SPORTBy his 18th birthday, Oscar decided he too wanted to be a boxer, like his uncle, dad and brother Spencer Jr before him.But his old man – who had 19 wins, four losses and one draw – had just one rule – study for another career at the same time. So Oscar enrolled into the University of Worcester and achieved a First Class LLB Law with Honours degree in 2022. He was also gearing up for his pro debut when his dad came up with quite possibly boxing’s most ingenious monikerMost read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSIt all started when Oscar travelled to the Cayman Islands to help corner Matt Windle – a former Commonwealth champion.An argument broke out with a promoter when a cocksure lawyer – who thought he could talk his way out of the dispute – chimed in. Usyk spotted ‘giving Anthony Joshua tips on how to beat Tyson Fury’ in ringside footage at Beterbiev vs Bivol 2.mp4But he was not the only man of the law in the building that day. Oscar said: “An issue cropped up between the promoter and a couple of others. “Then a lawyer came in and thought he was going to just start telling everybody what was what. “But obviously he didn’t know that I’ve got a legal background as well, so we ended up in a bit of an argument – well, discussion.“And after it was fully rectified after quite an intense hour or so. My dad just said, ‘See, I told you Oscar de la Lawyer would sort it.’“The whole room just went up, all the fighters, all the managers, promoters everything, and I thought, ‘Oh, you’ve just thought of the name.’ It’s perfect.” Oscar was actually named after American great De La Hoya too – such was his dad’s love for the Golden Boy. He said: “My dad was a big fan of him back in the day, so that’s what I’m named after.’I didn’t expect any of this’“So it’s just mad how it’s come around now that it just fits perfectly off Oscar de la Hoya, but I can’t believe how much it’s picked.”I didn’t expect any of this.”His dad revealed the amazing nickname to millions on social media – and it also received an extra push thanks to the People’s Paper.Oscar revealed: “The Sun actually did an article! My phone was going, I was playing football because I still play football – I play Saturdays. “I got off the pitch and my phone was going insane. I was like, what’s going on there? ‘Have you seen in this? You’re in The Sun! “I didn’t know anything about this. And from then on it’s just been all about the name, yeah, people love it.” Oscar is a year away from becoming a fully-qualified solicitor and is currently working in the corporate and commercial sector.But Oscar wants to one day mix his two passions to protect young up-and-coming fighters from boxing’s shady, fame-hungry characters.McCracken is a trainee solicitorCredit: Blanche Canvas Official
    And he is also 3-0 as a boxerCredit: Blanche Canvas Official
    McCracken was named after American legend Oscar de la HoyaCredit: Getty Images – GettyHe said: “Would you want to go and get a manager who’s sticking his face on TV every five seconds, never boxed a day in his life? “But you know, he gets on with the big promoters because he’s got a big mouth, but he can’t guide you.“He’d put you in the wrong fights. That’s why so many prospects are getting beat now. “Or would you want to go with a manager who one had the balls to fight? “I don’t need to fight, but I’ve done it myself because I’ve got respect for fighters and I know how hard it is, and you can see that I’ve done that as well.”Oscar – who welcomed baby son Arthur into the world in November – lives next door to dad and coach Spencer. He is up by 6am for his runs, in the office by 9am, then back into the gym by the evening for more exhausting training. Oscar said: “Sometimes I get in there, my dad’s got like two lads from a different gym waiting to spar me. I didn’t even know I’d be sparring. I’ve had a couple of like little marks and black eyes and that and gone in the office and everyone’s had a look, but what do you expect it’s boxing?“I’m walking into a gym, I could be absolutely knackered and then I’ve got two people waiting. They’re thinking, ‘I don’t care about the law thing.’ “They’re thinking, ‘I’ve got a McCracken here I can smash up and I can go and tell everybody I’ve battered one.’“So then it’s about you’ve got to find the dog in you then of getting through, getting through the session and seeing how much you want it.“If I didn’t want it, there’s no way I would have gotten to my third fight because of how hard it is.” Oscar only just begins winding down by 8.30pm when he eats dinner and puts his son to bed – but it’s now baby Arthur who inspires his long hard days. He said: “Before I had my son, it was all about history but now, I want to lead by example. “I want him to grow up and think, ‘Bloody hell, my dad became a lawyer, which was hard enough from being from a proper working class background anyway, and then being a pro boxer at the same time.’’Like any boxer, Oscar wears his battle scars as a badge of honour – and his clients are big fans.McCracken with brother and trainer Spencer JrCredit: Blanche Canvas Official
    McCracken turned pro without amateur experienceCredit: Blanche Canvas Official
    Oscar’s uncle Rob formerly trained Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty Images – GettyHe said: “The firm that I’m with now are fully behind me and clients love it as well.“It’s a talking point, isn’t it? ‘Do you know your solicitor’s also a pro boxer? Then, they’re Googling you and you’re coming up and everything – they love it.“Obviously, I’ve had a couple of like little marks and black eyes and that and gone in the office and everyone’s had a look, but what do you expect, it’s boxing?”Oscar – like his family before him – does not want his son to be a boxer – but if history is anything to go by it will be hard to stop. He laughed: “I hope he don’t box. But listen, it’s like an illness in this family.“You just end up getting sucked into it somehow or the other, and people expect you to be able to fight as well.”Oscar has been rubbing shoulders with Britain’s best since he can remember with uncle Rob having coached Joshua and Carl Froch among others.Whatever you do today, make sure you get a picture with him because he’s gonna be a heavyweight world champion, 100 per cent. He remembers heading up to Team GB’s Sheffield training HQ to watch Carl Froch spar Tony Bellew in 2011.It was there he met a hulking 6ft 6in super-heavyweight known as AJ – who was a year away from winning Olympic gold.Oscar said: “Robbie was like, ‘Mate, whatever you do today, make sure you get a picture with him because he’s gonna be a heavyweight world champion 100 per cent. “I was like, Really?’ He was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. He was super friendly, put his arm around you, just so down to earth and humble.“Obviously he hadn’t achieved anything then in terms of what he’s done now, but I took a picture with Joshua and yeah, I’ve been to virtually all his fights.”Oscar is now 3-0 having most recently beat Shane Smith and now looks ahead to another year juggling life as a lawyer by day and being a boxer by night.He said: “Three fights in my first year, I think that’s quite good considering how much I’ve got going on.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I’ll sit down with my dad and and see what he says and we’ll start putting a bit of a bit of a plan together. “There’s definitely scope to go and do something, but obviously it’s just about managing it correctly and not taking it on too much because obviously I’ve got a lot, a hell of a lot going on in my life, but I’m committed to boxing 100 per cent.” McCracken welcomed baby son Arthur into the world in NovemberCredit: @mccracken1 More

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    Former Premier League star, 33, leaves China in tears after earning £175m in seven years as ‘bubble’ era comes to an end

    FORMER Chelsea star Oscar has left the Chinese Super League after earning £175MILLION in seven years. The Brazilian joined Shanghai Port in 2017 for £60m and went on to win three league titles in the Far East. Chelsea star Oscar has left Chinese Super League Shanghai PortCredit: https://www.instagram.com/oscar_emboaba/Oscar was left in tears as he bid goodbyeHe leaves with three league titles in ChinaBut now his contract, worth around £25m a year, has expired leaving him a free agent aged 33 meaning he is the last of the Chinese Super League “bubble” to leave.And the midfielder was left in tears after his last game for Shanghai as he waved goodbye to fans. Oscar was recently linked with a move back to Europe while Internacional in his homeland Brazil are also monitoring his situation. Inter manager Eduardo Coudet said: “Our only goal, the player we are going to try moving forward, is Oscar. I want to bring in Oscar.READ MORE IN football”I’ve already spoken to his manager, he can’t stand me anymore. I want Oscar.”The board ask me not to talk, but sometimes I talk too much.”Oscar left Internacional in 2012 when Chelsea landed the exciting star.He spent four-and-a-half seasons at Stamford Bridge where he racked up 38 goals in 203 appearances for the Blues.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSDuring that time, the 48-cap Brazil international won two Premier Leagues, the League Cup and the Europa League as well as the club’s Goal of the Season award twice.But he stunned fans when he became one of the highest-profile footballers to leave for the Chinese Super League.The ex-Sao Paulo star surpassed 200 games for Shanghai Port and captained the side. Oscar guided the Red Eagles to the Chinese Super League title in both 2018, 2023 and 2024 – as well as the FA Super Cup in 2019.How Ruben Amorim unleashed Rashford with game-changing Zirkzee role ahead of Man Utd v Arsenal More

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    I won the World Cup with France and starred in England, now I’m an actor who has appeared alongside Oscar winners

    FORMER Chelsea star Frank Leboeuf has shown his range since retiring from football, by becoming an actor in an Oscar-nominated film.Leboeuf, 55, starred for Chelsea in the Premier League between 1996 and 2001, making 201 appearances for the Blues and scoring 24 goals.
    Chelsea legend Frank Leboeuf has had quite a dramatic career change since retiringCredit: Getty
    Lebouef played a Swiss doctor in Oscar-nominated film The Theory of EverythingCredit: .
    Leboeuf won six trophies with ChelseaCredit: PA:Press Association
    While in England, the defender won two FA Cups, the League Cup and the Uefa Super Cup.
    Leboeuf starred on the international stage too, winning the World Cup with France in 1998 and then the European Championships in 2000.
    But since retiring from football in 2007, Leboeuf has had quite a dramatic career change.
    Rather than gracing fans screens on a football pitch, he now enjoys time on the big screen and TV as an actor.
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    Asked by the BBC about his new career, Leboeuf said: “I came back to my first passion which was movies and plays. When I was four years old I wanted to be an actor.
    “When I gave up my career I went to LA to learn the process of acting. We have a chance to have maybe two different lives and I wanted to try that and it works pretty well.”
    Indeed, Leboeuf’s passion for the performing arts eventually saw him land a role as a Swiss doctor in the 2014 film The Theory of Everything.
    On landing the role, he added: “I called my agent and said it (the audition) didn’t work very well and then about a week after she said ‘come on you French beep, you got it’!
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    “And I said ‘oh my god it’s fantastic’.”
    The Stephen Hawking biopic saw the film nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, while lead actor Eddie Redmayne, who plays Professor Hawking, won Best Actor.
    The movies nomination saw Leboeuf earn the unique title of the first person to win the World Cup and star in an Oscar-nominated movie.
    “For me it’s just the beginning for another career,” he continued.
    “I don’t want to stop there and say ok well I did that and was nominated but I only played three minutes.
    “What I want is maybe someday to have a role like Eddie Redmayne has and be able to show what I’m capable of but we’ll see.”
    Since his cameo in the film, Leboeuf has expanded his acting CV, starring in the French stage play Ma belle mere et moi neuf mois apres, as well as a host of French TV shows and movies.
    His most recent role came in 2020 when he starred in an episode of French detective TV show Commissaire Magellan.
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    However, Leboeuf remains determined to achieve his dream of landing his Oscar.
    Asked whether he would consider swapping a Best Actor Oscar for his World Cup winners medal, he said: “Why do you want me to swap when I can have both?” More

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    Watch keeper ‘do a Rivaldo’ as he falls to floor after ball is thrown to him… before it’s launched off his head

    ARGENTINA goalkeeper Joaquin Mattalia could be up for an Oscar after a dramatic performance when a football was thrown to him. Mattalia, 30, was in action for Argentine second tier side Racing Cordoba when he made his case for the gong.
    Joaquin Mattalia ‘did a Rivaldo’ during an Argentina second tier gameCredit: https://twitter.com/FerArrosagaray/status/1640541727097335810
    He dramatically flopped to the floor after the ball hit his headCredit: https://twitter.com/FerArrosagaray/status/1640541727097335810
    Rivaldo made headlines with his fall at the 2002 World CupCredit: BBC
    He fell over after the ball hit him during the 2-1 group stage win over TurkeyCredit: BBC
    Racing were visiting Independiente Rivadavia and drawing 1-1 at the time of the incident.
    With the game in injury time, Mattalia asked for the ball before flopping to the floor as it was thrown to him.
    He could then be seen appealing to the ref before the ball was launched at his head, seeing him dramatically drop to the floor again.
    The time-wasting antics saw Mattalia draw comparisons with Brazil legend Rivaldo.
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    The 74-cap Samba star famously flopped to the floor when the ball was booted at him for a corner during the 2002 World Cup.
    At the end of Brazil’s 2-1 group stage clash against Turkey, Hakan Usal booted the ball at Rivaldo to take a corner.
    However, the ball hit Rivaldo’s leg, seeing him drop to the floor before Unsal was sent off.
    And one fan could not help but draw a comparison between Rivaldo and Mattalia, saying: “Mattalia is Rivaldo in 2002…
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    “Terrible actor, nominated for the Razzies.”
    A second fan remarked: “Bro’s reaction to being hit by the ball lagged.”
    Another added: “People can be dramatic 😂.” More