More stories

  • in

    Anthony Joshua claimed he sparred against rival Tyson Fury for a Rolex watch over 10 years ago

    ANTHONY JOSHUA has called time on his big rival Tyson Fury – and revealed they once sparred for a brand new Rolex watch.The former British world heavyweight champ was just an amateur when he first fought the Gypsy King.
    Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury sparred for a Rolex in 2010 when the Watford star was just an amateur
    AJ revealed that he read in boxing bible Boxing News that Fury was in London looking for sparring partners – and if anyone knocked him down they would get his expensive Rolex watch.
    Joshua told Sky Sports: “This was early on when I was an amateur and I didn’t know who Tyson was.
    “I was reading in Boxing News he was going around London gyms asking if anyone knocks him out they get to keep his Rolex.
    “Me and him had a straight war. We both have heart.
    “I didn’t get to knock him out. He said afterwards ‘Watch out for this kid, he will be champion of the world one day’.
    “And he got his prediction right.”
    AJ posted pictures before he hit the big time and this one was taken around 2010, when he would have sparred with FuryCredit: Instagram / @anthony_joshua

    anthony joshua news
    Any talk of a possible fight between AJ and Tyson Fury appears seemingly over, after Joshua was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk for a second time last month.
    Fury disposed of British rival Dillian Whyte back in April and revealed he was planning on retiring from the sport.
    However, he has since called out the Ukrainian for a blockbuster fight in December, which Usyk has said he can’t do because he’s nursing injuries and wants to spend time with his children. More

  • in

    UFC legend Conor McGregor believes his boxing has improved since Floyd Mayweather fight ahead of possible rematch

    CONOR McGREGOR claims his boxing technique has improved since fighting Floyd Mayweather.The Irishman, 34, has been out of action since he was forced to retire from his bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021 after suffering a broken leg.
    Conor McGregor explained how his boxing technique has improvedCredit: Rex Features
    McGregor returned to his first ever boxing coaches at the Crumlin amateur club, with former Olympian Phil SutcliffeCredit: Instagram @thenotoriousmma
    And he could be set for a sensational rematch with Mayweather in the next year, if recent reports are to be believed.
    The UFC superstar made his ring debut in 2017, losing in ten rounds to all-time great Mayweather.
    In the open workout before the fight, McGregor was ridiculed for his unusual warm up in the ring before hitting various bags for 12 rounds at the UFC’s Performance Institute in Las Vegas.
    McGregor returned to his first ever boxing coaches at the Crumlin amateur club, with former Olympian Phil Sutcliffe, for the first time ever, cornering him in the octagon.
    Before he beat Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds in 2020, McGregor was filmed back at the UFC’s PI.
    There the southpaw revealed he is sitting down on his punches to generate more power, opposed to his more unconventional karate-style strikes displayed three years ago.
    McGregor said: “I actually look at the Mayweather [fight], the shots on the bag and the way I was punching and I actually can’t even watch that.
    “I shiver when I see the way I was throwing my punches back then. I just wasn’t sitting right on them, just floating through the air.
    MOST READ IN SPORT

    McGregor was beaten by Floyd Mayweather on his boxing debutCredit: Getty – Contributor
    “Now I’m getting into positions and sitting in. Got to go through everything to learn, to truly learn. Experience is the best teacher of all.”
    McGregor neglected to bring in a boxing coach before his loss to Mayweather with striking trainer Owen Roddy instead leading the camp alongside John Kavanagh.
    They will now instead work alongside those who first taught McGregor how to box.
    McGregor has continued boxing training with a Mayweather rematch tippedCredit: Twitter / @TheNotoriousMMA More

  • in

    Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger reveals hardest XI he has faced from ‘best ever’ Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo

    REAL Madrid star Antonio Rudiger named his best XI of stars he has faced during his career – reserving special praise for the ‘best ever’, Lionel Messi.The German defender, now 29, revealed all in an interview with Sky Sports in 2020.

    And he named a host of Premier League stars, including two current Liverpool players.
    But when asked who he believed to be the greatest player of all-time, Rudiger aimed to settle the debate by claiming it would be Messi for him.
    The Blues defender – who left the Blues this summer for LaLiga- said: “If I had to pick one it would be Messi.
    “Is he the best ever? I didn’t see Pele or Diego Maradona playing because that was not my time, so it’s Messi.”
    Check out what Rudiger had to say on every player in his best XI…
    GOALKEEPER – Manuel Neuer
    “There were some times, around 2014, where he was unbeatable. He was the goalkeeper.
    “There are a lot of good goalkeepers, I played with Alisson at Roma, he’s a beast, and I’ve played with Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Bernd Leno.
    “There are a lot of good goalkeepers, but I pick Neuer.
    Most read in football
    “In the 2014 World Cup against Algeria, I was watching from home and he was unbeatable, he was almost playing like a defender, clearing up the long balls Algeria put over the defence.
    “He took everything and I was shocked.”RIGHT-BACK – Aaron Wan-Bissaka
    “This guy is hard to beat, with his tackles – his sliding tackle is amazing.
    “He is progressing very well, and I like him very much.”
    CENTRE-BACK – Sergio Ramos
    “Everyone knows why, this guy knows how to do his job in defence and is also very important at offensive set pieces.
    “He is a commanding defender and a great anywhere.”
    Van Dijk and Robertson both make it into Rudiger’s best XI
    CENTRE-BACK – Virgil van Dijk
    “In the last two years, he’s shown he is definitely one of the best, even maybe the best at the moment. He is a beast.
    “You always look up to those kind of players because these two centre-backs are, at the moment, the best centre-back, so of course you can learn something from them.
    “Everyone has their own style of playing, but you can learn from them.”
    LEFT-BACK – Andrew Robertson
    “This guy doesn’t stop running, he is active the whole time, going forward and backwards.
    “He is very good at crossing and overall, both defensively and offensively, he is doing a very good job.”
    CENTRE-MID – Andres Iniesta
    “The vision he had for football was massive, I’d never seen anything like it.
    “His combination game was top class.”
    Kante and De Bruyne start in the midfield of Rudiger’s XI
    CENTRE-MID – N’Golo Kante
    “The guy is everywhere, and he loves to tackle.
    “These kind of players look for the contest, they find it and they win it, that is impressive, especially when you consider what kind of guy he is.
    “Wow.”
    CENTRE-MID – Kevin De Bruyne
    “I played against him in Germany.
    “In those days, it was hell to play against Wolfsburg because they were a really tough side with good quality players, and of course he was the best in that team.
    “He has everything; his crossing, passing, the way he shoots on his left and right foot and his technical ability – he is really, really good.”
    Ronaldo and Messi start on the wings in Rudiger’s toughest opponents XI
    RIGHT-WING – Lionel Messi
    “The next two stand out, they are in a different world, they are different quality.
    “When you’re playing against Messi, the feeling you have is that it’s just up to him, if he is in a good mood or is having a good day you cannot stop him.
    “That is my honest opinion.”
    LEFT-WING – Cristiano Ronaldo
    “The same applies with Ronaldo. They have two different ways of playing, one to try and score goals and the other is enjoying his football.
    “If I had to pick one it would be Messi. Is he the best ever? I didn’t see Pele or Diego Maradona playing because that was not my time, so it’s Messi.”
    STRIKER – Sergio Aguero
    “For me, he is a top striker. He’s small, compact and a goalscorer who scores for fun.
    “He’s the type of striker that if you give him an inch that’s enough, it’s tough to mark him.
    “For a big defender, his centre of gravity is very low and it’s difficult because of his good movement.” More

  • in

    Biggest earning boxing matches ever, including Floyd Mayweather’s £678m fight with Pacquiao to Mike Tyson’s £146m bout

    FLOYD MAYWEATHER has well and truly lived up to his ‘Money’ nickname by dominating the list of highest earning boxing fights of all time.The pay-per-view king divided opinions throughout his 50-0 career but always delivered results in the ring – both in terms of performance and pay cheque.
    Floyd Mayweather dominates the list of richest boxing fights of all time
    Heavyweight legend Mike Tyson was also well compensated through his up and down campaign – earning roughly £400m in total.
    And here, SunSport runs down the most lucrative fights of all time.
    1. Mayweather vs Pacquiao, May 2015
    Dubbed ‘Fight of The Century’, fans’ five-year wait for the two pound-for-pound kings to meet finally ended in 2015.
    Unfortunately, despite the longwinded build-up the bout did not deliver in terms of excitement – but did so in revenue.
    Mayweather’s tactical masterclass as he outpointed Pacquiao sold a record 4.6m PPVs and recorded the highest gate in history.
    Their purses were also unprecedented, as the fight became the richest of all time.
    Mayweather vs Pacquiao breakdownPPV – £333million
    Gate – £58.7m
    Mayweather’s purse: £223.5m
    Pacquiao’s purse: £122m
    Total: £678m

    MOST READ IN SPORT
    2. Mayweather vs McGregor, August 2017 
    After it was announced UFC star McGregor would cross over to face Mayweather, it was instantly called ‘The Money Fight’.
    And it lived up to its name as the figures show.
    But it did not manage to surpass the PPV and gate record previously set two years before by Mayweather and Pacquiao.
    Mayweather, who won in ten rounds, matched the purse he made against PacMan, while McGregor’s net worth skyrocketed after his commendable boxing debut.
    Mayweather vs McGregor breakdownPPV – £325m
    Gate –  £44m
    Mayweather’s purse: £223.5m
    McGregor’s purse: £70m
    Total: £662.5m

    3. Mayweather vs Canelo, September 2013 
    When Canelo challenged the pound-for-pound No1, boxing fans tuned it to see if the puzzle to beating Mayweather could finally be solved.
    But yet again Money came out on top with a points decision and laughed all the way to the bank as the fight broke a then PPV record with 2.2m sales and £120m in revenue.
    Despite over 16,000 packing into MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the gate for the headliner only brought in £20m.
    Still it ranks as the third richest fight in boxing history, with Canelo going on to become a star of his own since the humbling defeat.
    Mayweather vs Canelo breakdownPPV – £120m
    Gate – £20m
    Mayweather’s purse:  £65m
    Canelo’s purse:  £9.7m
    Total: £214.7m

    4. Mayweather vs De La Hoya, May 2007
    When Mayweather stepped up to light-middleweight to beat De La Hoya – it was the last time he would do so as the B-side fighter.
    The win cemented the brash American – then known as ‘Pretty Boy Floyd’ – as the sport’s No1.
    It initially broke box office records and Mayweather adopted the Money nickname afterwards.
    Although a lucrative rematch failed to materialise, it was one of many mega-money paydays for Mayweather.
    De La Hoya vs Mayweather breakdownPPV – £110m
    Gate – £15m
    De la Hoya’s purse: £42m
    Mayweather’s purse: £20m
    Total: £187m

    5. Evander Holyfield vs Mike Tyson II, 1997
    After Holyfield outboxed and stopped Tyson for the heavyweight title in 1996, it set up a lucrative rematch the following year.
    But it would be remembered for all the wrong reasons, as Tyson twice bit Holyfield before being disqualified in round three.
    Later known as the ‘Bite Fight’ it raked in 1,990,000 PPV buys – still the highest number bought for a heavyweight fight.
    Their purses made up the highest combined figure for any fight until it was broken ten years later.
    Holyfield vs Tyson 2 breakdownPPV – £81.4m
    Gate – £11.6m
    Holyfield purse: £28.4m
    Tyson purse: £24.3m
    Total: £145.7m

    6. Lennox Lewis vs Mike Tyson, 2002
    Lewis and Tyson finally settled the score in 2002 – but it came too late.
    Tyson was a fading heavyweight while Lewis reigned as the undisputed champion, going on to win in round eight.
    Highly-priced tickets finally managed to sell with 15,000 attending the fight and breaking box office records.
    Despite selling less than Tyson’s rematch against Holyfield, it still raked in £90m in PPV sales.
    Lewis vs Tyson breakdownPPV – £90m
    Gate – £14.2m
    Lewis: £14.2m
    Tyson: £14.2m
    Total: £132.6m More

  • in

    Inside Bernie Ecclestone’s family, including baby Ace, eldest daughter Deborah, 67, and seven grandchildren

    FORMULA ONE mogul Bernie Ecclestone became a father for the fourth time at the grand old age of 89 back in 2020.The ex-F1 chief and his third wife Fabiana, 46, welcomed baby Ace, now two, into their extravagant world.
    Bernie Ecclestone became a father in 2020 at the age of 89Credit: Getty – Contributor
    His latest arrival made for a remarkable family tree – starting with Bernie at the top, his children and then his grandchildren.
    Here SunSport breaks it down for you, in full.BERNIE ECCLESTONE, 91
    The patriarch of the family, Bernie was born in Suffolk in 1930.
    Worth £2.5billion, Ecclestone had been associated with F1 since the 1950s – during the 1958 season he entered two Grand Prix races, but failed to qualify for either.
    In 1972 he became a team-owner, acquiring Brabham, which he ran for 15 years.
    Two years later, Ecclestone formed the Formula One Constructors Association, emerging as chief executive in 1978.
    In 2017, Bernie was removed from his position after the Formula One Group was taken over by Liberty Media.
    Not bad for the son of a fisherman, who left Dartford West Central Secondary School at 16 and first worked as an assistant in a chemical laboratory testing gas purity.
    Most Read In Sport
    BETTING OFFER: GET £30 IN FREE BETS WITH SKY BET
    Earlier this year Ecclestone was arrested in Brazil while carrying a gun as he boarded a private jet to Switzerland.
    Then in a TV interview he astonishingly claimed he would “take a bullet” for Russian president Vladimir Putin, before issuing a grovelling apology.
    Ecclestone shares a thought with Lewis HamiltonCredit: AP:Associated Press
    Niki Lauda, right, drove for Ecclestone’s Brabham racing teamCredit: Getty – Contributor
    IVY BAMFORD, FIRST WIFE
    Not much is known about Bernie’s early years, when he ran motorcycle shops and car dealerships.
    His first wife, a local girl called Ivy, was believed to be two years older than the businessman when they married in 1952.
    They welcomed daughter Deborah three years later, but the marriage fell to pieces and they drifted apart.
    It’s unknown if Ivy, who would be 92 today, is alive.
    SLAVICA RADIC, WIFE NO2
    Bernie married the 6ft 2in former Armani model Slavica in 1985, three years after they met at a promotional event at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.
    Despite the height difference (Slavica stands a foot taller than Bernie), a language barrier, and an age gap of 28 years they remained married for 23 years.
    In 2009, she topped the Sunday Times’ Rich List in the “richest divorcees” category – getting a reported £740million settlement.
    They have two daughters, Tamara and Petra.
    Wife No2 Slavica Radic stands 6ft 2in tallCredit: Getty – Contributor
    Radic, the mother of Petra and Tamara Ecclestone, was a former Armani modelCredit: Getty Images
    In a divorce settlement Radic received a reported £740million payoutCredit: GC Images – Getty
    FABIANA FLOSI, WIFE NO3
    But Bernie met Fabiana in 2009 at the World Motor Sport Council, marrying three years later in a private ceremony at their £23million Swiss chalet in Gstaad.
    She helps run his coffee plantation in Brazil, where their brand Celebrity Coffee is produced.
    In 2016, her mum Aparecida Schunk was kidnapped and a ransom of £28million was demanded.
    Nine days later, she was found safe.
    In 2020, they welcomed their first son together, baby Ace.
    A year later in 2021 Fabiana was named as Vice-President for Sport in South America by the FIA, F1’s governing body.
    Bernie Ecclestone met Fabiana in 2009Credit: Getty Images – Getty
    46-year-old Fabiana hails from BrazilCredit: fabianaecclestone/Instagram
    Fabiana helps Bernie run his coffee plantation in South AmericaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    DEBORAH, ELDEST DAUGHTER, 67
    Deborah has preferred to stay out of the limelight, despite her famous family connection.
    The only child from Bernie’s first marriage, she is said to have followed her dad into business.
    It is believed she has two children of her own.
    However, their names and ages are unknown.
    TAMARA, 38
    Bernie’s first child with Slavica, Tamara has dabbled with modelling, presenting and reality TV.
    For the 2009 F1 season, she presented motorsport coverage for Sky Sports Italia.
    In 2011 she starred in Tamara Ecclestone: Billion $$$ Girl on Channel 5 and then in ITVBe’s Tamara’s World in 2017.
    In-between, the brunette beauty appeared nude in Playboy magazine.
    Brunette beauty Tamara once appeared in Playboy magazineCredit: Getty – Contributor
    Bernie and Tamara share a tight bond
    Tamara Ecclestone lives with her family in a £70m West London homeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    She has one daughter, Sophia, eight, from her seven-year marriage to Jay Rutland.
    They live in a lavish £70million mansion, a stones throw from Kensington Palace.PETRA, 33
    Arguably the more famous of Bernie’s socialite daughters with Slavica, Petra is now based in Los Angeles.
    At 19, she launched menswear label FORM, which was sold in Harrods.
    Her personal life was splashed across the front pages after an acrimonious £5.5billion divorce row with ex-husband James Stunt, who she split with in 2017.
    She was granted sole custody of their three children, Lavinia, nine, and twins James and Andrew, both six.
    And last May, Petra gave birth to a baby girl with fiancé Sam Palmer, but has remained tight-lipped on her name, which gives Bernie seven grandchildren ALL younger than his latest child.
    Petra Ecclestone is now based in Los AngelesCredit: Getty – Contributor
    Petra had an acrimonious divorce from James Stunt in 2017Credit: twitter/Petra Stunt
    Petra has four children, giving Bernie seven grandchildren in totalCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    I want to be a dad again at 90 and I don’t need Viagra, says ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone More

  • in

    Aubameyang takes Chelsea’s cursed No 9 but can he finally beat jinx that defeated Lukaku, Morata, Higuain and Torres?

    BRAVE Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will take on the poisoned No9 shirt at Chelsea, following his move to the West London giants.The former Arsenal striker, 33, completed a last-gasp deadline day transfer to the Blues from Barcelona for £12million, with Marcos Alonso going the other way.
    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang moved to the Chelsea on transfer deadline dayCredit: Getty
    Aubameyang has taken on the cursed No9 jersey at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty

    Immediately, he showed off his new jersey for the cameras and number choice at his unveiling.
    But that No9 shirt has jinxed many a great striker before Auba’s arrival.
    £97.5million flop Romelu Lukaku was the most recent star to wear it. However, he was shipped off to Inter Milan on loan after failing on his Stamford Bridge return – and Thomas Tuchel admitted no one wanted to wear the number.
    Incidentally, through the years Aubameyang has worn the No14 at Arsenal, No17 at Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona, No7 at Saint-Etienne, and the No11 at Monaco and Lille.
    Read more in sport
    For his country Gabon, who he boasts 30 goals in 72 games for, he does wear the No9 jersey, so he could be ready to break the mould.
    Below we run through the strikers who have fallen foul of Stamford Bridge’s doomed jersey…
    ROMELU LUKAKU, 2021-2022
    Heralded as the signing that would help the Blues fight Man City and Chelsea for the title, Lukaku arrived for a blockbuster £97.5million fee.
    Most read in Football
    Things didn’t work out that way, though, with the giant Belgium striker struggling with his fitness.
    Boss Tuchel froze him out after he suffered a crisis in front of goal and couldn’t adapt to the German tactician’s style of play.
    He managed just 15 goals in 44 games, before he was sent on loan to Inter Milan this summer for the season.
    His future at the club is up in the air at the moment.
    Romelu Lukaku ended up falling foul of No9 curse and flopped at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
    In the Premier League Lukaku managed just eight goals
    CHRIS SUTTON, 1999-2000
    In 1999, Sutton moved to West London from Blackburn for a then mega £10million.
    He had made a name for himself at Norwich, then won the title with Blackburn so he had pedigree.
    However, he struggled with the burden of the price tag and style of play – scoring just one goal in 39 games.
    Sutton was sold the following summer to Celtic for £6m, where he found his form again.
    Chris Sutton was an expensive mistake by ChelseaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    MATEJA KEZMAN, 2004-2005
    It was the year Chelsea won their first Premier League title, but it wasn’t because of this Serbian forward.
    In truth, Kezman had some big boots to fill in Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink when he arrived from PSV in a £6m deal.
    But after he tore shreds out of defences in the Dutch league, he couldn’t repeat that feat on our shores.
    Four goals in 25 games later he was sold to Atletico Madrid.
    Mateja Kezman couldn’t replicate the form he showed at PSV for ChelseaCredit: PA:Press Association
    KHALID BOULAHROUZ, 2006-07
    Perhaps Chelsea were trying to break the curse at this point, or take the pressure off their strikers.
    But in 2006 they gave Dutch defender Boulahrouz the No9 shirt, following his £9m move from Hamburg.
    Nicknamed ‘The Cannibal’, he failed to dislodge John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho.
    Injuries didn’t help his cause, and he made just 20 appearances before he was loaned out to Sevilla.
    Khalid Boulahrouz, left, made just 20 appearances for the BluesCredit: Reuters
    STEVE SIDWELL, 2007-08
    The ex-Arsenal trainee was a strange signing by the Blues.
    After four years impressing at Reading, he was snapped up by Jose Mourinho on a free transfer.
    Michael Essien and Frank Lampard were the midfield pair the Special One would turn to, which meant Sidwell made just 25 appearances before he was sold to Aston Villa.
    The No9 shirt was free again for a new incumbent.
    Steve Sidwell failed to establish himself at Stamford Bridge after Jose Mourinho signed himCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    FRANCO DI SANTO, 2008-09
    It was Argentine youth prospect Di Santo who had the shirt (and dreams) pinned on him when Sidwell departed.
    A £4m signing from Chilean side Audax Italiano, the centre forward just couldn’t find his striking boots.
    He made 16 appearances, mostly as a sub in fairness, but never looked like scoring.
    Di Santo was sold to Wigan, a season after a poor campaign with Blackburn on loan.
    Argie Franco Di Santo failed to score in 16 games for ChelseaCredit: PA:Empics Sport
    FERNANDO TORRES, 2011-15
    Chelsea fans will argue his goal against Barcelona in the Nou Camp to seal a spot in the final of the 2012 Champions League was worth his £50m transfer fee alone.
    But for some reason, the Spain legend could never really get going in a Chelsea shirt.
    And it wasn’t English football that was a struggle – because over four years at Liverpool he scored 81 goals in 142 games.
    However, 45 strikes in 172 games for the Blues was a poor return for ‘El Nino’.
    Fernando Torres couldn’t replicate the form he showed at Liverpool at Stamford BridgeCredit: Reuters
    RADAMEL FALCAO, 2015-16
    After a disastrous spell at Manchester United, Chelsea knew they were taking a gamble on Falcao.
    The Colombian striker arrived on loan with the idea of making the move permanent from Monaco in 2015.
    Struggles with his fitness and the pace of the game saw him restricted to just 12 games.
    Worse still, he only managed one goal.
    Radamel Falcao was a disaster during his loan at Chelsea – scoring just once in 12 gamesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    ALVARO MORATA, 2017-18
    Another huge fee was shelled out for Spain striker Morata, who arrived in 2017 for £60m.
    A lot was expected of the ex-Real Madrid star, who managed 15 goals in his first season.
    Morata even tried to change his shirt number to 29, but things got even worse in his second campaign with the club when he scored just five Premier League goals.
    The striker returned to LaLiga with Atletico Madrid with his tail between his legs in 2019.
    The expectation on Alvaro Morata’s shoulders was too much for the Spaniard who floppedCredit: Getty – Contributor
    GONZALO HIGUAIN, 2019
    It was Maurizio Sarri’s dream signing – and a striker he knew how to get the best out of after managing the Argie at Napoli to great success.
    But the Higuain who scored 91 goals in 146 games in Naples three years prior was a shadow of his former self in England.
    Fears over his fitness and pace ended up to be true.
    And despite scoring a brace in his third game against Huddersfield, he couldn’t replicate his goalscoring form from his Serie A days.
    Six months, 19 games and five goals later, he returned to Juventus. Ironically, his boss was Sarri again.
    Gonzalo Higuain struggled for fitness during his time in West LondonCredit: Reuters More

  • in

    How Martin Braithwaite was Barcelona’s RICHEST player despite £85k-a-week wages before having contract terminated

    DENMARK striker Martin Braithwaite was reportedly the RICHEST player in Barcelona’s squad when Lionel Messi left before having his contract ripped up.The 31-year-old has a property empire in the US, believed to be worth a whopping £216MILLION.
    Martin Braithwaite was believed to be Barcelona’s richest player after Lionel Messi’s exitCredit: AFP
    The 31-year-old, who is married to journalist Anne-Laure Braithwaite, owns a property empireCredit: INSTAGRAM / @annelaurebraithwaite
    According to Marca, Braithwaite’s company is worth $250m – around £216m.
    The ex-Barcelona star is believed to have invested around £617,000 into the business with his uncle, Philip Michael, in 2017.
    NYCE Companies is now reportedly 25 times bigger than it was five years ago, with Braithwaite and Michael owning 1,500 apartments.
    And the pair are said to have another 500 properties in development around Philadelphia and New Jersey.
    READ MORE FOOTBALL STORIES
    Speaking to Danish website BT last year, Michael said: “It started with our family having been in the real estate business for a long time.
    “Here you will find that one of the ways you can build a fortune and secure your future financially is by investing in real estate. And that’s what I’ve been doing with my dad and Martin since I came over here.
    “Martin’s role is very much about how we do in terms of strategy and vision in the long run.
    “He is involved, but not so involved that it distracts him from football.”
    Most read in Football
    Braithwaite is married to French journalist Anne-Laure Braithwaite after spending four years at Ligue 1 side Toulouse.
    The couple have two kids together and the striker is stepfather to another two from his wife’s previous relationship.
    Messi does have more cash than the Denmark international – believed to be worth $400m (around £289m) before joining Paris Saint-Germain on a mega-money two-year deal last summer.
    But once the Argentine legend left, Braithwaite’s reported wealth made him the richest player in Barca’s squad – despite only earning the 20TH-HIGHEST wage, said to be around £85,000 a week.
    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    However, his deal was terminated on deadline day as the Nou Camp giants desperately tried to trim their squad and wage bill.
    Although Braithwaite’s bank balance is healthy, he struggled to buy any kind of form in the Barca team.
    The former Middlesbrough man has scored just FIVE goals in 44 LaLiga games for the Spanish giants after his controversial move in February 2020.
    Barcelona were allowed to buy Braithwaite outside of the transfer window as an ’emergency signing’ – but his former side Leganes were not allowed to replace him and were subsequently relegated by just a point.
    The Danish international was asked to mutually end his contract earlier in the summer when Xavi deemed him surplus to requirements and no one submitted bids for him.
    Read More on The Sun
    But Braithwaite refused, allegedly demanding a £4m pay-off with his contract paid out in full.
    Just hours after his release from Barcelona, the free agent signed a three-year contract with city-rivals Espanyol. More

  • in

    Canelo Alvarez underwent insane body transformation as he piled on muscle for light-heavyweight fight against Bivol

    CANELO ALVAREZ underwent an incredible body transformation before his light-heavyweight fight with Dmitry Bivol earlier this year.But the Mexican superstar lost to the 175lb Russian in Las Vegas on May 7.
    Canelo beefed up for his light-heavyweight clashCredit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
    But he lost to Dmitry Bivol in MayCredit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
    Canelo showed off his bulky physique ahead of the boutCredit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
    Canelo was looking to win a world title at light-heavyweight for the second time after he beat WBO champion Sergey Kovalev in 2019.
    But defeat meant he was unable to extend his 16-fight unbeaten run and failed to win Bivol’s WBA title.
    Canelo looked significantly beefier in the photos he took while preparing in the gym.
    He movde up from super-middleweight – where he beat Avni Yildirim, Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant last year.
    READ MORE IN BOXING
    He looks a lot bigger now than he did for his super-middleweight fights in 2021Credit: Getty
    And the seven extra pounds are clearly impacted his frame as he looked bigger during the contest.
    Next up for Canelo is the highly anticipated third instalment of his trilogy fight with Gennady Golovkin on September 17.
    The pair fought to a controversial draw in 2017 – a contest many felt Golovkin won.
    They then rematched the following year and Alvarez took the victory by majority decision.
    Most read in Boxing
    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    The third fight will be broadcast live on DAZN – the streaming service is available for a fee of £7.99 per month.
    Golovkin, 40, has won four fights since his loss to Alvarez, 32, and the Kazakh’s trainer Joel Diaz accusing Canelo of waiting for his man to get old.
    Golovkin’s coach Diaz told Fight Hub TV: “We’ve already seen the first one and the second one.
    “If you ask me personally what I think, and you want to hear it without filters, what for? It’s been four years already.
    “They waited for him to get old. What for?” More