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      in Boxing

      I KO’d a boxing world champion – then I went to jail for assault and had to hang out with heroin addicts

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      FORMER boxer and rugby league star Garth Wood has detailed his experiences in prison after being sentenced for assaulting his partner’s ex-boyfriend.Australian Wood, 45, played rugby for South Sydney and Balmain Tigers between 1997 and 2005, before turning his attention to the fight game.
      Garth Wood won 14 fights during his professional boxing careerCredit: Getty
      He was sentenced for assaulting his partner’s ex-boyfriend in JuneCredit: Getty
      He had his first professional bout in February 2007 and went on to accrue a record of 12 wins, four defeats and one draw.
      Most famously, he knocked out former super-middleweight world champion Anthony Mundine in the fifth round of their first fight in 2010.
      The pair rematched in 2011 as Mundine secured a unanimous points victory.
      Then, after hanging up his gloves, Wood was incarcerated for an attack he carried out on his partner’s ex in June of this year.
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      Now a free man once more, he has opened up about the drug problem in prison.
      Speaking on the I Catch Killers with Gary Jubelin podcast, he said: “I was expecting it [prison] to be more of a man’s man experience where everyone is a tough guy.
      “I thought I’d be confronted with guys who wanted to fight me, but a lot of it was drug addiction and mental health.”
      He went on to add: “There were seven blokes in Parklea who were all on the heavy s*** [heroin].
      Most read in Boxing
      “They all shared the syringe. Yet there was one bloke who had AIDS. He was the last one who was supposed to blast it.
      “It just shows you what they are willing to do for the addiction.”
      Wood also explained how he developed a way of staying in shape while behind bars alongside some of his other inmates.
      But while he did grow close to some of them, he also insists he came into contact with some dangerous people.
      He said: “I got with a gang of people – not a gang, people who wanted to train – and I tell you what, I did some of the hardest training sessions in there.
      “We did a lot of burpees, bear crawls, squats, push-ups. It was like a big circuit which went for nearly 40 minutes and the first couple of sessions I couldn’t walk for the next couple of days.
      “I met some really good people in jail, but there’s also some evil f***ing people as well, which I wouldn’t care to run into ever again.” More

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      in Soccer

      Micah Richards reveals he chose to become pro footballer ahead of shock other sport as Gary Lineker jokes ‘bad decision’

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      MICAH RICHARDS chose to become a professional footballer ahead of a shock other sport.The former England defender made the revelation on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football podcast.
      Micah Richards chose football over rugby league as a youngsterCredit: Getty
      He and Alan Shearer were both asked if they were good at any other sports growing up.
      This prompted Richards to explain his love of rugby league as a youngster in Leeds.
      “Rugby,” answered the ex-Manchester City star. “I was good at rugby.
      “Yorkshire lad, Leeds Leeds Leeds, Leeds Rhinos, of course I was. I was quick.”
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      Clarifying which code he played, Richards added: “Rugby league, yeah. I used to love it.
      “I had to pick out of going to rugby and going to football but I picked football and…”
      However, before he could continue, host Gary Lineker quipped: “Bad decision,” prompting all three to burst out laughing.
      After moving from Birmingham, Richards grew up in Leeds, the home of 11-time Super League champions Leeds Rhinos.
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      Gary Lineker joked that Richards made a ‘bad decision’Credit: The Rest Is Football
      He also spent time in Leeds’ academy as a striker before he was released.
      Richards later switched to defence and played for Oldham ahead of joining City’s youth system aged 14.
      His decision to pursue a career in football appears to have paid off, with the 35-year-old going on to win two Premier League titles with City.
      He also lifted both the FA Cup and League Cup during his playing days, alongside winning 13 caps for England.
      Since retiring, Richards has become a fan-favourite pundit on the BBC, Sky Sports and CBS. More

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      I played in the 2007 Rugby World Cup final for England… now I’ve bought a non-league football team

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      A FORMER England Rugby player is one of the surprise people involved in the takeover of non-league club Yeovil Town. The National League side have finally changed ownership after weeks of speculation.
      Ex-Rugby star Paul Sackey (right) and Matt Uggla are among the main faces heading up the Yeovil takeoverCredit: Rex
      The SU Glovers group confirmed it had “taken on the stewardship” of the club earlier this week.
      And former England World Cup star Paul Sackey is among the group involved, it has emerged.
      The ace was a part of England’s rugby union side who got to the 2007 World Cup Final before losing to South Africa.
      But now he has moved onto pastures new and is looking to help turn Yeovil’s fortunes around after a difficult few years.
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      The bid is believed to be headed up Sackey, businessman Matt Uggla and his mother Julie-Anne.
      Sackey and Uggla were interviewed about their intentions for the club in a video uploaded to Yeovil’s social media channels.
      Sackey, 43, said: “We love the history of the club. We’ve done a lot of research and background on the club and we love it.
      “It’s got such a passionate fanbase. It’s a big club but the position it’s in now, it’s probably too big for this place, so we want to bring [the club] back to where it needs to be.”
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      Uggla added: “We’re really excited. It’s taken some time to get to this point but we’re really excited to be here and we’re hoping that we can move the club forward and bring it back to where it belongs.”
      Yeovil were relegated out of the EFL in 2019 after 16 consecutive seasons in the football league.
      Their mission for the rest of the season is to avoid being relegated again with the Glovers only out of the National League bottom four on goal difference. More

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      in Soccer

      Charlton’s mystery takeover bidders revealed as Lenagan family – owners of Rugby League giants Wigan Warriors

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      CHARLTON ATHLETIC’S mystery takeover bidders are the Lenagan family — owners of Rugby League giants Wigan Warriors.The League One outfit have been a target for several parties but now the Lancashire-based family are close to a deal.
      Charlton’s takeover bidders have been revealed as the Lenagan FamilyCredit: Getty
      Family head Ian Lenagan is the RL club’s chief but has big football interests from his time at Oxford and as EFL chairman.
      His son Simon may be the family representative who steps in at Charlton as their main man if they conclude a move to buy 80 per cent of the club.
      Owner Thomas Sandgaard wants to sell the majority of the Addicks and recently brought in a new management team.
      Director of football Andy Scott was at Oxford during Lenagan’s reign while “deal fixer” Charlie Methven had links with the U’s before moving to Sunderland.
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      Methven also has allies at Charlton with the new regime and — despite denials — is a main player behind the scenes.
      The group should have no problems with approval for their plans.
      Charlton are 12th in the League One table amid a turbulent campaign.
      Dean Holden replaced Ben Garner as Addicks boss last month after a disappointing start to the season.
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      Holden’s side earned a 2-1 win over Lincoln on Saturday after beating Portsmouth in midweek.
      The Addicks are nine points above the third tier’s relegation zone and the same amount off the playoffs. More

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      in Soccer

      Watch as Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium is dramatically transformed for England’s Rugby League World Cup semi vs Samoa

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      ARSENAL’S Emirates Stadium has been dramatically transformed for England’s Rugby League World Cup semi-final against Samoa. The goals at either end were changed from a rectangle to the letter H.
      Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium was transformedCredit: Twitter
      The North London venue is hosting England’s Rugby League World Cup semiCredit: Twitter
      England play Samoa on SaturdayCredit: Twitter
      Lines were redrawn and rugby posts were installedCredit: Twitter
      Staff worked tirelessly to redraw the lines on the pitch and the grass was carefully inspected.
      England’s rugby league World Cup semi-final opponents Samoa then trained on the pitch ahead of Saturday’s clash.
      Samoa caused an upset last weekend, defeating Tonga to reach the last four for the first time.
      However, things have been smoother for England, who have recorded convincing wins at every stage, with the most recent coming against Paua New Guinea with a 46-6 victory.
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      Confidence is sky high and England are charging towards a first final on home soil since 1995.
      England forward Victor Radley said: “We’re just worried about ourselves, not them.
      “They’re going to be stronger from the opening day, but we’re going to be stronger too.
      “They’ve got a talented team and it’ll take 17 tough Englishmen to stop them.
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      “Luckily, that’s what we’ve got.”
      Play is due to get underway at 2.30pm and will be free to watch on BBC One.
      Samoa trained at the Emirates in preparation for the big gameCredit: Twitter
      England are heavy favourites for the semi-finalCredit: Twitter More

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      in Boxing

      Watch as Sonny Bill Williams is brutally KNOCKED OUT by 48-year-old MMA legend Mark Hunt in huge upset

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      SONNY BILL WILLIAMS was stunned by a brutal knockout from his 48-year-old opponent in a major upset. The former New Zealand rugby star, 37, took on MMA legend Mark Hunt in Sydney on Saturday night.
      Sonny Bill Williams could not cope with the power of Mark HuntCredit: Stan Sport
      The ex-rugby ace was stunned and failed to recoverCredit: Stan Sport
      The New Zealander was knocked out in round fourCredit: Getty
      Hunt produced a magnificent display to stun WilliamsCredit: Getty
      But things did not go to plan for the 6ft 4ins Aucklander.
      Midway through the fourth round of the eight-round heavyweight bout, tubby Hunt went on the attack.
      Williams could do nothing to stop the barrage of heavy blows.
      And he was left down on his knees as the referee waved it off.
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      That in turn ripped away his unbeaten professional boxing record after nine straight wins.
      Williams started his pro boxing career way back in 2009 with the aim of using the combat sport to improve him as a rugby player.
      But since retiring from rugby in early 2021, he has focused fully on the ring.
      Williams beat Waikato Falefehi by a unanimous decision last year and then flattened former Aussie Rules ace Barry Hall twice in his first-round KO win in March.
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      Many expected him to maintain his winning streak against Hunt.
      The All Blacks icon worked his way into the fight over the first three rounds, starting to take control and work out how to deal with Hunt’s short height but serious power.
      However, it all went wrong in the fourth.
      SBW – tipped to fight Jake Paul next – was floored by a big right hand from Hunt but got up in time to beat the count.
      Hunt refused to back off, though, and unleashed a relentless series of punches, to which Williams had no response.
      And with the ex-UFC veteran refusing to give in, it was all over in a staggering result.
      Williams made a strong start over the first three roundsCredit: Getty
      Hunt posed serious danger with his huge powerCredit: Getty
      Williams looked stunned as the fight ended in defeatCredit: Getty
      There was plenty of respect between the two fightersCredit: Getty
      Williams dropped to his knees, gutted and hurt, as Hunt celebrated wildly with his kids – before announcing he was done.
      Hunt said: “I’m smiling not because of the win, but I’m smiling because this is the last time I walked into a ring of combat of any sorts.
      “My first thought after was ‘s*** I want to do that again!’, but no [I won’t be back in the ring again].”
      Williams added: “I would like to say it was an honour to share the ring with Mark Hunt tonight, the Super Samoan.
      “I tried my best but it wasn’t good enough.
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      “Not too much positives to take from that, but to share the ring with a legend like Mark, it was special.
      “Also to see a lot of Polynesian brothers get a chance on the card was special. Whatever happens happens.” More

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      in Boxing

      Mouthwatering British sporting summer calendar revealed as ‘Fury vs Joshua on July 24’ added to Euro 2020 and Wimbledon

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      A remarkable British sporting calendar is taking shape in what promises to be a summer to remember.After the coronavirus pandemic put sport on its knees 12 months ago, events such as the European Championships and Wimbledon were postponed and cancelled as fans were left with little entertainment.
      This summer promises to be a sensational festival of sport
      England will be hoping to win a first major tournament in 55 years this summerCredit: Getty
      Now, one year on from that we are set for one of the best ever summers of jam-packed British sport as spectators return to whip up a frenzy.
      It all kicks off on June 11 with the postponed Euro 2020 which is being played for the first time ever across 12 different European countries.
      But the semi-finals and final of the tournament – which ends on July 11 – are scheduled to take place at Wembley Stadium, the first major international final at the ground for 25 years.
      While the Euros are going on, there is also the small matter of Wimbledon returning for the first time in two years on June 28.
      Incidentally, the final at the All England Club will be played on the same day as the conclusion of the Euros.
      From June through to September a festival of cricket will also be taking place with England taking on Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a number of one-day internationals, before a five Test series with India.
      And to top it all off, the inaugural edition of The Hundred gets underway in July.
      In athletics there is the Diamond League Anniversary Games at the London Stadium, an event which takes place just five days before another huge day in Formula 1 with the British Grand Prix.
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      Hamilton will look to secure a record-extending eighth British Grand Prix victory this summerCredit: AFP
      Ben Stokes will be hoping he can drive England to victory over India in their five Test seriesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Wimbledon will make a triumphant return after being cancelled last year for the first time since WWIICredit: Reuters
      The day before the British GP there is also the small matter of the Rugby League Challenge Cup final at Wembley on July 17.
      And then perhaps the biggest one of them all could be confirmed in the coming days as Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury prepare for an undisputed heavyweight clash on July 24.
      The fight looks set to take place in the Middle East, but a 100,000 capacity crowd at Wembley Stadium has not yet been ruled out.
      Throw in a bit of golf action with The Open and Women’s British Open and you have yourself a blockbuster few months of UK sport.
      With events such as the London Marathon and Rugby League World Cup then rounding off 2021, it promises to be unquestionably one of the greatest ever years of British sport.
      You’d be a fool to miss it.
      The Anniversary Games at the London Stadium promises to be another special eventCredit: PA
      Hearn hits back at Tyson Fury’s dad John over lack of support for Anthony Joshua fight More

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      Incredible British sporting summer calendar revealed with potential Fury vs Joshua on July 24 added to Euros & Wimbledon

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      A remarkable calendar of British sport is taking shape in what promises to be a summer to remember.After the coronavirus pandemic put sport on its knees 12 months ago, events such as the European Championships and Wimbledon were postponed and cancelled as fans were left with little entertainment.
      This summer promises to be a sensational festival of sport
      England will be hoping to win a first major tournament in 55 years this summerCredit: Getty
      Now, one year on from that we are set for one of the best ever summers of jam-packed British sport as spectators return to whip up a frenzy.
      It all kicks off on June 11 with the postponed Euro 2020 which is being played for the first time ever across 12 different European countries.
      But the semi-finals and final of the tournament – which ends on July 11 – are scheduled to take place at Wembley Stadium, the first major international final at the ground for 25 years.
      While the Euros are going on, there is also the small matter of Wimbledon returning for the first time in two years on June 28.
      Incidentally, the final at the All England Club will be played on the same day as the conclusion of the Euros.
      From June through to September a festival of cricket will also be taking place with England taking on Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a number of one-day internationals, before a five Test series with India.
      And to top it all off, the inaugural edition of The Hundred gets underway in July.
      In athletics there is the Diamond League Anniversary Games at the London Stadium, an event which takes place just five days before another huge day in Formula 1 with the British Grand Prix.
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      Hamilton will look to secure a record-extending eighth British Grand Prix victory this summerCredit: AFP
      Ben Stokes will be hoping he can drive England to victory over India in their five Test seriesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Wimbledon will make a triumphant return after being cancelled last year for the first time since WWIICredit: Reuters
      The day before the British GP there is also the small matter of the Rugby League Challenge Cup final at Wembley on July 17.
      And then perhaps the biggest one of them all could be confirmed in the coming days as Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury prepare for an undisputed heavyweight clash on July 24.
      The fight looks set to take place in the Middle East, but a 100,000 capacity crowd at Wembley Stadium has not yet been ruled out.
      Throw in a bit of golf action with The Open and Women’s British Open and you have yourself a blockbuster few months of UK sport.
      With events such as the London Marathon and Rugby League World Cup then rounding off 2021, it promises to be unquestionably one of the greatest ever years of British sport.
      You’d be a fool to miss it.
      The Anniversary Games at the London Stadium promises to be another special eventCredit: PA
      Hearn hits back at Tyson Fury’s dad John over lack of support for Anthony Joshua fight More