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

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

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      David Adeleye is the heavyweight tipped by Tyson Fury as Britain’s next star who wanted to be an ARCHITECT before boxing

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      DAVID ADELEYE is building back his heavyweight career – after leaving behind plans to be an ARCHITECT before boxing.Adeleye first picked up the gloves at 12 but only three years later did he begin competing seriously as an amateur. David Adeleye was once tipped as the future of the heavyweight divisionCredit: instagram @davidadeleyeAdeleye has sparred Tyson Fury beforeCredit: instagram @davidadeleyeHe has also sparred Anthony Joshua beforeCredit: Instagram @davidadeleye1He would later win national titles before turning professional in 2019 having also studied business management at the University of Wolverhampton.And Adeleye, 28, told The Ring Magazine: “I wanted to be an architect when I was younger.”I look at buildings and I’m intrigued about how they’re made, who made it, who came up with the ideas. “You’ve got to have some sort of adventurous mind to be an architect. I think I’m an adventurous person and a creative person.”READ MORE IN BOXINGAdeleye rushed to 12-0 and also became known as a sparring partner to the stars, including Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.The Londoner was such a regular in Fury’s Morecambe camp that he even got insured on one of the Gypsy King’s cars. Fury also sung his praises, once saying: “David Adeleye is the future of this division. “I told him the other night in the changing rooms, I said, ‘You’ve got believe in yourself Dave, because you’re going to take over the division, mate.’ Most read in Boxing”And he’s great sparring, very very good sparring. If he was no good to me, then I wouldn’t bring him into my training camps.” Adeleye suffered his first defeat in October 2023 following a brutal knockout loss to Fabio Wardley. David Adeleye and Jeamie TKV forced apart in explosive row ahead of Joe Joyce undercard fight But he bounced back with victory ten months later with an equally savage first-round stoppage of Solomon Dacres in December.Adeleye won the English title that night and now fights for the British belt against ex-sparring partner Jeamie Tshikeva – looking to settle bad blood. The bout lands on the undercard of Joe Joyce’s headline bout against Filip Hrgovic in Manchester.Adeleye warned: “No judges needed. That W’s coming home with me and so is the British title. “When I let these hands go, everyone knows about it. I’m an aggressive person. They’re all going to know about it. Trust me.”Adeleye – who has 12 KOs in his 13 wins – graduated with a degree and even did a dissertation on the business aspect of boxing. And he said: “I still kind of want to do [architecture], maybe. Read More on The Sun”One of my teachers disheartened me by telling me how long the course was at university and it was a long process and whatnot.”Maybe one day, you never know.”Adeleye faces Jeamie TKV for British titleCredit: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry Promotions More

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      Major blow to shamed ex-footballer Joey Barton as thug’s business faces being struck off

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      DISGRACED footballer Joey Barton’s personal company faces being struck off for failing to file accounts on time.A business run by ex Manchester City star Barton, who was convicted of kicking his wife in a drunken row this week, has been served with an order to close.Joey Barton’s personal company faces being struck off for failing to file accounts on timeJoey Barton Promotions has not published legally required accounts and is now facing being struck off by Companies House.The firm faces a fine of £375 for failing to submit the documents which were supposed to have been published by Christmas Eve. If they are not filed by April 1, the fine will double to £750.The business’s last financial details for 2022 were published in June 2023 and revealed it was £58,539 in the red.The firm had just £2,301 in cash at the bank and the only other assets are computer equipment worth £1,958 and a debt of £148 owed to the business.READ MORE ON JOEY BARTONBut it was plunged into the red as it owed creditors £60,988, the accounts showed.This week Barton avoided jail for pushing his wife over and kicking her in the head after an incident at their home in southwest London in June 2021.Barton, 42, was convicted of assault and given a 12-week sentence, suspended for two years – meaning he will not go to prison unless he commits another offence.Wife Georgia Barton, 38, was left with a lump on her forehead and a bleeding nose after the attack in Kew.Most read in FootballBarton was arrested in his bedroom – still drunk – on the night of the attack, Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told.He has a chequered history of violence which included burning team mate Jamie Tandy’s eye with a cigar, punching teammate Ousmane Dabo until he blacked out, and a six month prison sentence for punching a man 20 times before turning his anger on a 16-year-old in a Liverpool City Centre bust up caught on CCTV.Barton also owns between 25%-50% of a management consultancy Resolve Energy which employs 26 people and has nearly £670,000 in assets.Joey Barton ‘shoved wife & kicked her in head as their kids slept upstairs’ More

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      in Soccer

      ‘Mind your business’ – Roy Keane fumes at Jordan Pickford after England nearly suffer ultimate embarrassment

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      ROY KEANE blasted Jordan Pickford after the goalkeeper’s mix-up with Marc Guehi left England on the cusp of conceding against Latvia.The Three Lions overcame a frustrating low block to beat the visitors 3-0 in their 2026 World Cup qualifier at Wembley.Roy Keane blasted Jordan Pickford after his mix-up with Marc Guehi at 0-0Pickford came flying out to the edge of his box and distracted GuehiBut with the score at 0-0 in the 18th minute, England almost conceded in embarrassing fashion after a horrendous mix-up.Latvian striker Vladislavs Gutkovskis raced through on goal after a fine run while duelling with Guehi.But Pickford raced out to the edge of his box to intercept him and instead put Guehi off after a miscommunication.The ball ran between the pair of them and Gutkovskis got away with no-one in the England net. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSBut Gutkovskis missed an open goal after hitting the side netting from an angle after rounding Pickford.When analysing the confusion at half-time, Keane blamed the Everton keeper and had some strong words for his part in the kerfuffle.Speaking on ITV, Keane said: “Poor from England. Goalkeepers get bored sometimes.”But Pickford comes up, and you feel like saying to Pickford ‘mind your own business, let the defender deal with it’, so I’d be looking at Pickford there.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“He’s obviously had his hand up there at the end saying ‘it’s my fault’, but he doesn’t have to come up that far.”Ian Wright was on the same wavelength and said Pickford should have “trusted” Guehi to deal with it.Here’s what has happened to England’s lost football groundsBut despite Keane’s comments, it was a great night for Pickford who drew level with Joe Hart and David Seaman on 75 caps.As such, only Peter Shilton has more caps for England than the former Sunderland stopper.Elsewhere, Keane said England’s performance was nothing special.The Manchester United legend added: “If this was a school report it would be a C-plus.”It’s a good start for the manager to get two wins on the board. But the end product wasn’t great.”There’s lots more to come from them. It was OK.”The Ireland legend also couldn’t resist a dig at Arsenal at half-time.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe praised Myles Lewis-Skelly for winning the free-kick from which Reece James opened the scoring with.Keane said: “Lewis-Skelly here…he’s obviously learned that well at Arsenal over the years. It’s 50-50.” More

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      in Soccer

      My life has been ruined working for ex-Premier League owner millionaire & legendary horse gambler – he owes me THOUSANDS

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      A FORMER employee of millionaire ex-Premier League owner and horse racing kingpin Terry Ramsden says he has ruined her life.Scarlet Hewett, 29, is thousands of pounds in debt after a company fronted by the mulleted entrepreneur failed to pay her for months – and is now at risk of becoming homeless.Scarlet Hewett is owed thousands of pounds by SBS Group LtdCredit: David DysonFormer Premier League investor Terry Ramsden is thought to be in DubaiCredit: YouTube/Star SportsRamsden, pictured in 1986, previously invested in Premier League club Chelsea and owned Walsall FCCredit: AlamyShe worked in admin for SBS Group Ltd, which lists Ramsden, 72, as director on Companies House, for around 12 months before successfully taking the firm to court over unpaid wages.But it has never paid a penny of the £6,500 ordered by a tribunal in June 2023, with Ramsden understood to be now living in Dubai.The businessman – who previously had a 30% stake in Chelsea FC and fully owned Walsall FC – told staff to call him “the extra terrestrial”, according to Scarlet.Meanwhile, she has fallen into rent arrears and has been diagnosed with painful fibromyalgia, which she believes was brought about by the stress of chasing down her money, and is having ongoing therapy for her mental health.“He needs to be brought to justice, it’s just disgusting – he’s ruined my life,” she told The Sun.Scarlet began working for SBS in Liverpool Street, London, in May 2022, mostly to answer the phones.But the chaotic nature of the job – including organising baffling boxfuls of paperwork and online files – “nearly gave me a nervous breakdown”, she said.Scarlet added: “I was hired to answer the phones, initially, but the phones would never ring.”Most read in FootballThe salary was £28,000 but after around eight months, she says the company suddenly stopped paying her at all – and she only continued working there in the hope of getting the money owed to her.Scarlet said by the end, she had refused to do any more filing and often worked from home – though continuously messaged and rang Ramsden asking for her pay.Dark underbelly of UK’s ‘unemployment capital’ as brazen shoplifting gangs stop traffic to flog ‘stolen to order’ goods… while junkies claim they’re ‘too ill to work’“It just didn’t seem like any job I’d ever had,” she explained.“I then felt scared to leave the job, even though I wasn’t getting paid. Eventually I had to put a stop to it and said ‘I’m taking you to court’.”She continued: “I’d sit and tremble and want to cry, and I’d just think ‘this man…but I need my wages and need to pay my rent’.”She said there was only a handful of other staff, with the company initially based at an office above The Ivy restaurant before moving across the street soon after she started.Scarlet said she had no idea who Ramsden was when she went for the interview, describing him as a “bit showy and talking a lot about himself”.“I’ve worked in other corporate places and you do get that sometimes… I thought ‘it’s fine, I need a job and it’s close to where I live.“‘What’s the worst that can happen in a professional setting?’ If only I’d known.”She said Ramsden still had his famous mullet but it looked “dishevelled”.“He used to call himself the extra terrestrial. He’d want to be called that. ‘I’m out of this world, baby, I’m extra terrestrial’.”Scarlet represented herself at the tribunal hearing on June 20 2023, which was held online, and SBS failed to send any representation.In a judgement document seen by The Sun, it is stated Scarlet “suffered unlawful deductions from her wages in the sum of £6,574.99”, and she had not been paid for the months of February through to May 2023.The respondent was subsequently ordered to pay the sum, which took into account tax deductions.It also stated the company “failed to respond” to the “tribunal’s communications or to the claimant”.Who is Terry Ramsden?Terry Ramsden, from Enfield, North London, is an investor and gambler who became a millionaire in the 1980s through horse betting and the Japanese stock market.Born into a working class family and leaving school at 16, he grew his initial fortune with lower stakes betting. He struck big in 1984 when he paid £500,000 for a horse named Katies days before the Irish 1,000 Guineas at Curragh.Despite being at odds of 20 to 1, the horse won and Ramsden pocketed around £2.5million.In the same year he purchased Edinburgh-based firm Glen International and within three years it was making a turnover of £3.5billion.Ramsden, 72, was during this period the UK’s 57th richest man, with an alleged peak net worth of approximately £150million.In the mid to late 80s he used horse racing and the Japanese stock market to grow his wealth substantially.At one point he owned over 100 horses and started a record company called Influx Records.He also had a 30% stake in now-Premier League football club Chelsea and owned Walsall FC.The 1987 stock market crash and Japanese asset price bubble burst coincided with big losses on the racetrack and Ramsden’s fortune was dented to the tune of around £100million.In 1991 he was jailed in LA for six months while awaiting extradition to the UK for fraud, and declared bankruptcy in 1993. The same year he pleaded guilty to recklessly inducing fresh investments into Glen International and was given a two-year suspended sentence.In 1997 Ramsden breached the Insolvency Act after hiding £300,000 worth of assets and served 10 months in prison. After his release he created a equities trading system, which grew to be worth £250million.In 2003 he was cleared by the Jockey Club to own and race horses again and in the same year his horse Jake The Snake won a maiden stakes race at Lingfield.Ramsden has a son named Jake and an ex-wife Lisa.In his heyday, the businessman was the quintessential self-made man of the Thatcherite era.Standing at just 5’4″ tall and with his trademark mullet, he became something of an icon of Britain in the 1980s.He’s quoted as once saying: “I’m a stockbroker from Enfield. I’ve got long hair and I like a bet.”  However, it added that 15 minutes before the start of the hearing, SBS sent an email “saying it would not be attending” and gave the reason “it was only a small company without an HR team”.The document goes on to say, in the same email the company stated it had “repeatedly told” Scarlet and two other named employees “that the only reason they had not been paid was that there was no funds and that as soon as there were funds, expected soon, they would be paid in full up to date”.The judgement goes on to describe how Scarlet had been in “severe financial anxiety since February 2023, in overdraft and at risk of losing her rented accommodation”.It adds: “She has repeatedly tried to contact the Respondent in every way possible but without success.”And: “The Respondent has repeatedly promised payment ‘next week’ but this has never materialised.”The document said the tribunal was “satisfied” with the evidence seen, including the SBS email “which appears to admit liability” over the unpaid wages, adding: “Judgement is given accordingly.”Scarlet has also since had to go to another court hearing in a bid to not be left homeless.“I nearly lost my flat, I had to go to court to save my flat and pay my bills. I’m in so much debt now,” she explained.“What he’s done, if you could see me, I am a shell of the person I was.“Working for him has shaken me, like a domino effect.”READ MORE SUN STORIESShe added: “For a young girl, to ruin my life this much, and I’m really struggling to get back on my feet because of the trauma of this man.”The Sun has attempted to contact Ramsden for comment.Scarlet represented herself in courtCredit: David DysonRamsden in his heyday was one of Britain’s richest peopleCredit: Rex More

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      Dana White gives brutal response to working with rivals Bob Arum and Oscar de la Hoya after UFC boss enters boxing

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      DANA WHITE gave a brutal response to working with rivals Bob Arum and Oscar de la Hoya after entering the boxing business. The TKO group that owns and controls the UFC and WWE announced the launch of their anticipated boxing league alongside Turki Alsheikh. Dana White is moving into the boxing businessCredit: GettyUFC boss White and WWE president Nick Khan will work with Saudi supremo Alsheikh in the new boxing venture. It remains to be seen whether White will do business with promoters like Arum and De La Hoya – who he has criticised in the past. And he said on the matter: “I mean, let’s hope not! I would never say never but that is not what I plan to do.” White fell out with De La Hoya after the boxing legend slammed Conor McGregor’s 2017 crossover fight with Floyd Mayweather. READ MORE IN BOXINGAnd Arum spent years blasting the sport of MMA during the UFC’s early rise – causing friction with White. But the UFC boss has praised Arum for his longevity while also speaking positively about Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren before. Details on TKO’s new boxing venture remain a mystery but White will look to follow the same model that has made the UFC a global powerhouse. White said after UFC 314: “If you think about the UFC when we bought the company we had three letters, the old octagon and 12 contracts. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”We had to build the thing from the ground up. I think the sport of boxing is so broken that it needs to be built from the ground up again. “And that’s what I’m focussed on doing. (Alsheikh’s) got some commitments from the next 18 months with a lot of guys and a lot of fights and a lot of different promoters. Eddie Hearn jokes he is ‘totally finished’ after UFC boss Dana White enters boxing with Turki Alsheikh”But I talk a lot about USA Tuesday Night Fights – the best up and coming fighters all fought on that show and then became big pay-per-view stars. “And it’s the same thing that happened with the UFC. We started on Spike TV, we built stars and they became pay-per-view stars. “I want to do the same thing with boxing.” Jon Anik, with Turki Alalshikh and Dana WhiteCredit: Getty More

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      Eddie Hearn jokes he is ‘totally finished’ after UFC boss Dana White enters boxing with Turki Alsheikh

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      EDDIE HEARN joked that he is “totally finished” now Dana White has entered the boxing business with Turki Alsheikh. UFC boss White and Saudi supremo Alsheikh finally announced their long rumoured boxing venture together. Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alsheikh and Dana WhiteFrank Warren with Turki Alalshikh and Eddie HearnCredit: Matchroom BoxingIt will be spearheaded by the TKO group that owns and controls the UFC and WWE – and now has a foot in the boxing world. Alsheikh has spent the last two years using his deep pockets to help turn boxing around by spending huge sums to make the best fights happen. And he even offered enough to get rivalling promoters like Hearn and Frank Warren to do business together. But now White has teamed up with Alsheikh – fans online have goaded that boxing’s old guard will soon be yesterday’s news. READ MORE IN boxing When SunSport put this to Hearn, he said with his trademark Essex grin: “Totally finished! Yeah. “We did have a business before Saudi Arabia and obviously we’ll continue to have some.”But we’ve loved being involved with Riyadh Season and His Excellency, it’s been hugely beneficial for us and the sport and our fighters and we expect that to continue.”It is unclear yet what TKO’s boxing league will look like – with even Hearn in the dark about the sport’s new players. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHe said: “I’ve known about it for probably over six months and kind of waiting for an announcement but don’t really know anything about the format of it.”I saw some aggressive things said in the press release about one belt and all this kind of stuff but we’ll see how it plays out.”When does WWE-backed TKO Saudi boxing league start and what does it mean for Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren?TKO announced they will look to host “four large scale super-fights” across 2025 and 2026 as well as building up-and-coming talent. And after a recent turnaround in working with his rivals, Hearn opened the door to breaking bread with White & Co. He said: “If it suits us, if it suits our fighters, and if we’re asked to be, yeah, definitely consider it.”I mean, I think it’s great that Dana White’s getting involved with boxing. TKO is a great company, he’s a great promoter.”I think it shows you where boxing’s at, I don’t believe boxing’s broken. “I think we can always work on improving it but no, I think it’s exciting to see what kind of structure it’s gonna deliver.”Canelo Alvarez, 34, and Terence Crawford, 37, are set for a super-fight in September in Las Vegas, rumoured to be promoted by TKO. And after ESPN did not renew their contract with Bob Arum’s Top Rank stable, TKO could be headed to the sports network. Hearn said: “I think in the press release said about building stars and building talent, so is it lesser known fighters?READ MORE SUN STORIES”I mean, it looks like they’ve got the ESPN deal from Top Rank which is obviously massive. “And that can build stars, so listen, they’re smart guys. I’m sure they’ll come up with a structure that has potential.”White and the TKO group announce their boxing venture with Turki Alalshikh More

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      in Soccer

      Former EFL star who won trophy at Wembley now runs £10MILLION business after breakdown prompted him to quit football

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      LEE BROWN enjoyed one hell of a career in the Football League.Two Wembley wins, more than 400 EFL appearances and a reputation as one of football’s nice guys.Lee Brown during AFC Wimbledon’s match with Salford City, one of the last games of his careerCredit: RexBrown celebrates securing Bristol Rovers’ promotion back to League One with a 92nd minute winnerCredit: PA:Press AssociationBrown, left, celebrates winning the EFL Trophy at Wembley in 2019Credit: ReutersStarting out at QPR, he really made a name for himself at Bristol Rovers, scoring a dramatic 92nd minute winner on the final day of the 2015-16 season to secure back-to-back promotions for The Gas.He moved across to Portsmouth in June 2018, winning the EFL Trophy at Wembley the following season in front of 80,000 fans, before returning to his London roots and finishing his career at AFC Wimbledon.At 33, Brown rejected a new deal at Plough Lane, instead opting to pursue “other business interests”.Dubbed ‘Lee from football’ wherever he went for his bubbly personality and jokey antics on the pitch, Brown has now lifted the lid on the man behind the mask in a candid new interview.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLSpeaking to the Portsmouth News’ chief reporter Neil Allen, the former Pompey man revealed football “had to go” as two worlds collided.He admits he could have easily carried on playing, and was still a regular in the AFC Wimbledon defence, but behind the scenes all was not well.He said: “I had to quit for my own sake. I was in a dark place, I’d had a mental breakdown, something had to give.‘I could no longer juggle football full-time and run a full-time business.”Most read in FootballNow 34, Brown runs a thriving property business called B3 Homes. He employs 20 staff, and boasts an impressive portfolio of luxury pads, with many selling for well in excess of £1million.B3 Homes “develop niche, high-end residential homes across London and the South East”Credit: Instagram b3.homesInside one of the properties Brown’s property portfolio has builtCredit: www.b3homes.co.ukJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSAmong the current projects are a £1.3million house in Purley, a plot of three more houses in the same area and an ultra-modern detached family home in Warlingham.It all started when, at 26, he used his £25,000 savings pot to buy a house in the Filton area of Bristol, and built another house in its garden.Harry Redknapp phoned me up out of the blue to sign for ‘f***ing s****’ team – it was one of best moves of my careerHe had no money left to pay people to help build the house for him, so ended up doing it in his spare time while still playing League One football!Brown continued: “I’d never held a tool in my life, but I have this obsessive nature where I need to learn about everything.” If I was doing the plumbing, I would research how to be a plumber and, all of a sudden, knew how to run pipes. I would sit there until 3am until it sunk in.”Lee Brown wheels away in celebration after scoring for PortsmouthCredit: RexThe business grew and grew, but eventually Brown reached breaking point.He recalled former working from as soon as training finished until extremely late at night, and working again before hitting the training pitches the following morning.But it all became too much for him, and football had to go.”I was building six houses over in Purley, two in Cobham, while training every day and playing matches on a Saturday.”I lived in a pressure cooker, rocking in the chair at points because of so much stress.”I could not cope, physically or mentally. I had to give up football – or I would have been a goner.”Brown admits he shut off those around him, and the tipping point was when he broke down in tears in AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson’s office.Lee Brown lifts the Vanarama Conference Playoff Final trophy as Bristol Rovers secured their return to the Football LeagueCredit: Getty Images – GettyEx-Spurs and Charlton man Jackson gave Brown a fortnight off, regularly checking in on the veteran defender.He returned to the Wombles team in November 2024, making a further 22 appearances before bidding football farewell at the end of the season.Now almost a year into his post-football life, Brown is back to his bubbly self and is reaping the rewards of his hard work.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe finished: “I had to sacrifice my football career after biting off more than I could chew. But, sitting here now, I am good.Actually, I’m more than good. I’m happy.” More

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      Emile Heskey lands new job at security firm as England cult hero, 47, vows to make ‘huge impact’

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      EMILE Heskey has landed a shock new job as a security firm director.The move is the culmination of a lifelong friendship between the former England forward and Nottingham-based Octavian founder Sukhi Ghuman.Emile Heskey has landed a new job as a director at a security firmCredit: GettyHeskey won multiple trophies with Liverpool and LeicesterCredit: Getty Images – GettyHeskey, 47, said: “The company is a real route for progression for me. “I first met Sukhi at school and we’ve really worked on this relationship for the last 15 years.  “It’s my mission to encourage more athletes into the business world to not only learn, but also share their winning mindset and help businesses grow.”Octavian Security works alongside blue chip and public sector organisations to manage risk, provide manpower resource and protect their operations and interests.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe 62-cap England striker will juggle his new job with his role as the Head of Football Development at Leicester City Women.Ghuman said: “This is a move that has been long in the making.“Emile understands from his days at the top of football that you need inner strength and determination to succeed.“I can’t wait to watch him make a huge impact on Octavian.”Most read in FootballHeskey enjoyed a professional football career spanning more than two decades. CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSMaking his debut as a 17-year-old, Heskey won the FA Cup and the Uefa Cup and Uefa Super Cup with Liverpool.He also lifted four League Cups across spells with Leicester and the Reds and played 633 club career games, scoring 130 goals. Ex-England ace Emile Heskey facing bankruptcy in latest battle with taxmanHe also scored seven goals for England, including in the memorable 5-1 win away in Germany in 2001.He has two sons Jaden, 19, and Reigan, 17, who both play as forwards for Man City’s under-21s.Heskey Snr also enjoyed spells with Birmingham City and Aston Villa in his club career.Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More