Sport Features

Subterms

    More stories

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      Inside family company Sartonk, who make amazing boxing belts for likes of Mayweather, Tyson and Canelo in New Jersey

      by

      FROM a tiny warehouse in Union City, New Jersey the ultimate accessory for the world’s best boxers are painfully handcrafted.US company Sartonk are responsible for creating the amazing looking WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO championship belts.
      The late Ardash Sahaghian was the man responsible for handcrafting boxing belts from the 1970sCredit: Instagram / @sartonk
      Sahaghian designed belts for different boxing federationsCredit: Instagram / @emaijian
      Mayweather shows off two belts designed by Sahaghian, including the WBC beltCredit: Reuters
      Their story started 45 years ago, when Romanian immigrant Ardash Sahaghian began working at an uptown jewellery shop.
      He was asked by his jeweller boss Phil Valentino if he would be interested in making belts for the emerging boxing organisations.
      The first belt he made was a reproduction of a classic Rocky Marciano championship belt from the 1950s.
      In the mid-70s, as boxing bodies were established, Sahaghian was then commissioned for nearly every belt.
      In 2017, after dedicating his life to his craft, he passed away at the age of 95 – five years after he was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame as boxing’s master craftsman
      Now, it’s his grandson Edward Majian who handles Sartonk’s production line. This is their incredible story.
      THE GOLDEN PERIOD
      Sahaghian, who is of Armenian descent, had a tough existence in Romania.
      After he was tortured in a Communist prison camp in his homeland, he eventually fled with his wife, Nazeli to South Africa and Brazil, before settling in the United States.
      There, he became a shoemaker, leather craftsman and toolmaker. All would put him in good stead for his future career as belt connoisseur.
      It was at a jewellery shop owned by Paul Valentino Sr, a boxing fan with ties in the sport who was already designing belts for boxers, he would find his calling.
      Critical Sahaghian wasn’t keen on Valentino’s designs and told his boss he could do better.
      Sahaghian, who passed away in 2017, made his first belt in the mid-1970sCredit: Instagram / @sartonk
      Mike Tyson’s WBC belt was one of many designed by Sahaghian during boxing’s golden period for belt makingCredit: Instagram / @sartonk
      Mexican champ Canelo Alvarez shows of Sartonk’s most recent designsCredit: Getty – Contributor
      “Take the key. You make what you like,” Sahaghian recalled Valentino telling him in an interview with NJ.com before his death.
      Between the 1970s all the way through to the 1990s, Sahaghian contributed to boxing’s golden period when it came to championship belt design.
      His work was worn on the waists and shoulders of great champions including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao.
      Most recently, it’s Mexican brawler Canelo Alvarez who is decorated with Sahaghian’s WBA, WBC, and WBO belts.
      And despite losing his titles to Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua kept his belts designed by Sartonk.
      The Ukrainian fighter was seen returning them to AJ after the fight, and will now receive his own. Each fight, once they become a champ, has the belt as a keepsake for their journey to the top.
      “He really revolutionised how championship belts were made,” president of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, Henry Hascup revealed.
      ”He’s the modern inventor or designer of these belts. He takes great pride in his product.”
      HANDING ON THE BATON
      Enjoying near anonymity, Sahaghian worked tirelessly well into his 90s in a small concrete floor workspace
      He turned up five days a week, while his wife painted the belt medallions on her kitchen table.
      But it was his grandson Edward Majian who knew he had to protect Sahaghian’s legacy.
      Sahaghian’s grandson Edward Majian took over the family business in 2017Credit: Instagram / @emaijian
      The business was renamed Sartonk to protect Sahaghian’s legacyCredit: Instagram / @sartonk
      In 2009, the business became Sartonk – derived from the Armenian word Zartonk which means ‘rebirth’.
      The ‘Z’ was changed to an ‘S’ in honour of Sahaghian.
      Majian, who had shadowed his grandad in the studio for so long, took over the mantle.
      And the quality hasn’t been allowed to slip, either.
      HANDMADE
      The belts, themselves, are usually 44 inches long and weigh between three to four kilograms – with Majian keeping a close eye on proceedings and his small workforce.
      An old but reliable Singer sewing machine is used to create the intricate stitching and designs.
      However, they begin life as a mould made of organic rubber – and look more like a film reel tin than a championship boxing belt.
      “The currency we work in is our craftsmanship and the respect we have for these fighters,” Majian said.
      “Boxing is the sport of the oppressed. These fighters are not coming out of gated communities. For many, boxing has saved their lives.”
      Majian refers to the belts as “devotional art” –  gold-plated and crystal-studded to honour the warriors that wear them.
      “We’re creating symbols of victory and triumph,” Majian revealed.
      “We all have this Rocky inside us, waiting to be unleashed.
      The belts are handcrafted by Majian and his teamCredit: Instagram / @sartonk
      Gold-plated and crystal-studded, Sartonk belts are designed for championsCredit: Instagram / @emaijian

      “I’m often confronted by angry boxing fans who say there are too many belts.
      “But each one of these belts is something to aspire to, something you work for.”
      And you can bet the next time a boxer wins one, that’s precisely how they will look at it too.
      Tyson Fury admits he was outboxed by Steve Cunningham but still says he got the job done More

    • 213 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Barcelona kid Gavi, 17, has been likened to legend Xavi and is now Spain’s youngest ever international

      by

      BARCELONA kid Gavi, 17, has already gone down in the record books.When Luis Enrique named him in his first eleven in the Nations League semi final against Italy, he became Spain’s youngest ever international.
      Barcelona wonderkid Gavi provided a star turn against Bayern Munich as a subCredit: AFP
      Midfielder Gavi has been tipped as the next Xavi at the Nou CampCredit: Getty
      “It was his first game with Spain, but we already knew all about him,” Luis Enrique said after the game.
      “It’s not normal that he plays like that [at 17]. He’s a player with personality, enviable physical conditions and he plays our style of football. He plays like he’s at school or in his garden at home.
      “It’s a pleasure to have a player with that quality and character with us. We can say that he’s the national team’s present, not [just] the future.”
      And he deserved his bow for his country, after emerging on the scene at Camp Nou.
      Barcelona may have been on the receiving end of Champions League thumpings at home to Bayern Munich and away against Benfica, but Gavi is getting a valuable lesson in game time.
      The struggling LaLiga club have seen an opportunity to bleed a youngster that’s going to be integral to their success moving forward, as their fortunes suffer on the pitch.
      In the 59th minute against Bayern, boss Ronald Koeman brought teen wonderkid Gavi, 17, on for stalwart Sergio Busquets.
      15 minutes later, the attacking midfielder tried to burst through the Germans defence before he was expertly stopped by Dayot Upamecano. However, the potential was there to see and the crowd responded every time he touched the ball.
      On Wednesday, Gavi became his country’s youngest ever internationalCredit: Getty
      Perhaps he was lucky to stay on the field after consecutive fouls on Thomas Muller and Dayot Upamecano, but fans were already buoyed by what they had seen.
      Gavi, who has been likened to Spain legend Xavi, is the future of Barça’s and Spain’s midfield.
      ARRIVED FROM BETIS
      Although he already appears to have the Barcelona style of play engrained in his DNA, he didn’t join La Masia until he was 11.
      Originally from Los Palacios y Villafrance, some 18 miles outside of Seville, Gavi’s technical ability made him a standout.
      He played for Real Betis, scoring 96 goals in youth football, and getting scouted by Villarreal, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.
      But in 2005, it was Barcelona who convinced the talent his future belonged at the Nou Camp.
      Gavi, playing against Real Madrid as a kid, signed for Barcelona aged 11Credit: Instagram / @pablogavi10
      Gavi played last season in a mask after breaking his jawCredit: Getty
      “He is so technically gifted,” his former La Masia coach Franc Artiga told Goal.
      “He is capable of changing a what he is about to do in tenths of a second, and improvising under any circumstance of the game.
      “It is very difficult to find a player with these abilities, and with this speed of execution.”
      Gavi rose through the ranks and skipped U18 football to go straight into the U19 team last term.
      “Physically, this year he has evolved a lot,” Artiga said.
      “He has made the change and is now a very strong player.
      “This physique complements his technical quality and decision making. He now has the quality to protect the ball. His lower body helps him and has made him more competitive in the youth teams.”
      ‘HYPERCOMPETITIVE’
      As was proven by his over-eagerness in the tackle against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, Gavi’s competitive nature can get the best of him in the pitch.
      “He  is hypercompetitive,” Artiga revealed.
      “He is one of the most competitive players I know. That is something you have to stabilise.
      “He has improved a lot in the control of his emotions. He is always on top of them, while keeping a winning mentality until the last minute. He still, though, has room for improvement in this.”
      Last season, Gavi appeared for the Barcelona B team twice before he was promoted to the first team for this summer’s preseason friendlies.
      It was against VfB Stuttgart in a 3-0 friendly win, where he earned comparisons to ex-Barcelona star Xavi.
      So far, he has already appeared seven times for the Catalans in LaLiga.
      Gavi’s cameo against Bayern Munich had fans on their feetCredit: Rex
      Competitive Gavi does sometimes let his emotions get the better of him on the football pitchCredit: Getty

      But, they do want to ease him in gentle. After all, there is the belief he will be gracing the Nou Camp for years to come.
      Artiga divulged: “He plays and executes on instinct. More experience will help him be able to read the game, and not act so much on instinct.
      “We have to be patient, we have to let him reach certain objectives.
      “If we do things well and have a good environment, we will have Gavi for many years.”
      Lionel Messi tipped to return to Barcelona and retire after winning Champions League with PSG by Riquelme More

    • 238 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      How Bin Salman’s wealth compares to Man City chief Sheikh Mansour, with Crown Prince on verge of Newcastle takeover

      by

      BILLIONAIRE Mohammed bin Salman is moving closer to a £300million takeover of Newcastle.The Saudi government has lifted its ban on Qatari broadcaster beIN Sports, after they were locked in a brutal dispute as Doha-based beIN had its feed across the Middle East hijacked, which was believed to have been holding up a deal.
      The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is set to buy Newcastle for £300mCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Sheikh Mansour who has spent over £1billion as owner of Manchester CityCredit: Reuters
      And a deal could be completed as soon as Thursday, with Premier League permission, as Mike Ashley looks to finally conclude a sale of the Toon.
      Ashley, who bought the club for £135m in 2007, came close to selling it to Arab Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan in May 2019.
      But the latest takeover plan is part of the Saudi billionaire’s bid to take his nation into the 21st century.
      He sees the worlds of sports and entertainment as ways to lift his nation to become a global player.
      The crown prince funded the Anthony Joshua rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr which took place in the kingdom.
      Bin Salman, 36, has already set about improving the kingdom’s human rights record and giving women more liberty.
      His Toon takeover would mirror Abu Dhabi’s 2008 acquisition of City.
      Since then Sheikh Mansour, 50, has spent over £1billion on players and improving the club.
      In that time, City have won five Premier League titles, five League Cups and two FA Cups in the most successful period in their history.
      It’s reported that Bin Salman is motivated by a desire to compete with Abu Dhabi royal family member Mansour.
      But how does the Crown Prince compare to the Sheikh?
      We take a look through their lifestyle and wealth… and controversies.

      Wealth
      Neither of the pair are struggling for cash.
      Bin Salman has an estimated personal wealth of around £13billion – although he has almost the full riches of Saudi Arabia at his fingertips.
      Sheikh Mansour’s personal fortune is believed to be somewhere in the region of £17billion.
      Politics and business
      Bin Salman is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the son of the King and the de facto leader of the Gulf state as King Salman is unable to fully rule because of dementia.
      Bin Salman is also the deputy prime minister and defence minister and has attempted to present himself as a moderate reformer.
      The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin SalmanCredit: AP:Associated Press
      In 2019, for the first time Saudi women were allowed to to travel abroad, register to marry or divorce and apply for official documents without the consent of a male guardian.
      Mansour is the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
      However, while Bin Salman has focused on his political career as leader of Saudi Arabia, Mansour has spent much more time on his personal business portfolio.
      Mansour heads the International Petroleum Investment Company, which has stakes in a number of businesses around the world.
      The Manchester City owner has a 32 per cent stake in Virgin Galactic – investing more than £200m in the company in 2009 – as well as a 9.1 per cent stake in Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz and others.
      Mansour’s Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation also established Sky News Arabia and English-language newspaper The National.
      The Crown Prince meets HRH Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham PalaceCredit: PA:Press Association
      Family
      Bin Salman is part of the House of Saud, the ruling family of Saudi Arabia since 1744.
      The family has some 15,000 people, although the majority of the power and the wealth sits with around 2,000 of them.
      The Al Saud family has a reported combined wealth of £1.3TRILLION – with many political commentators stating that amount is a huge under-estimate.
      Mansour is the half-brother of the current president of the UAE and a member of the ruling Al Nahyan family.
      The oil-rich family have an estimated combined wealth of at least £150billion and have driven the building of holiday hotspot Dubai.
      Mohammed bin Salman could complete a deal for Newcastle United in a £3o0m deal on ThursdayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Bin Salman is married to Sarah bint Mashhoor – known as the ‘Barbie Princess’ – in 2008, the couple have four children.
      There are unconfirmed rumours that the Saudi has three other wives.
      Sheikh Mansour has two wives and six children.
      He married Sheikha Alia bint bint Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed in the mid-1990s, with whom he has one son and Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
      Manal, who has two daughters and three sons with Sheikh Mansour, is the president of the Dubai Women Establishment.Homes and holiday
      Both Sheikh Mansour and Mohammed bin Salman have full access to the lavish presidential palaces where their families call home.
      Both are lovers of the Costa del Sol in Spain and Mansour bought the 20,000-acre Los Quintos de San Martin in 2016 for £42million.
      His family also own and regularly stay at the Emirates Palace hotel, described as a ‘seven-star’ hotel in Abu Dhabi.
      Sheikh Mansour reportedly snapped up Los Quintos de San Martin in Spain for £42m in 2016
      The family-owned Emirates Palace has been described as the best hotel in the worldCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Sheikh Mansour owns this mansion in MoroccoCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Bin Salman went one better, however.
      In 2015 he splashed out on the world’s most expensive home – the £230MILLION Chateau Louis XIV, west of Paris.
      From the exterior, the Chateau Louis XIV appears to be a 17th-Century chateau, constructed in a similar style to the nearby palace at Versailles.
      On closer inspection, however, this is not the case: it was built after developer Emad Khashoggi demolished a 19th-Century building that had previously stood on the 57-acre site.
      The new-build 10-bedroom home is designed to look like a 17th-century palace and boasts a cinema, deluxe swimming pool and glass-bottomed moat to watch koi carp.
      Fountains can be controlled by a tablet or mobile phone, while the 57-acre plot has immaculate gardens and a maze.
      A statue of Louis XIV made of Carrara marble stands watch over the grounds.
      Mohammed bin Salman owns the world’s most expensive home – the £230million Chateau Louis XIVCredit: Reuters
      The new-home is based on a 17th-century French mansionCredit: Reuters
      Built across 50,000 sq ft, it has 10 bedrooms, an indoor and outdoor pool and a moat circled by an aquariumCredit: Reuters
      The gardens of the £230m chateau in France owned by Mohammad bin Salman
      Yachts
      Bin Salman may win the battle on land, but Mansour wins the battle on the seven seas.
      That’s because although the Saudi owns the extravagant Serene, Mansour owns the Topaz.
      Not that any of us wouldn’t dream of being aboard the Serene.
      The 439ft 4in super-yacht was the ninth-largest in the world when it was built for vodka tycoon Yuri Shefler for £200million 2011.
      Bin Salman bought the boat, which houses 24 guests and 52 crew, in 2015 for an eye-watering £380million.
      Mohammed bin Salman splashed £380million on his superyacht, the SereneCredit: Alamy
      The Serene was in the top ten of world’s biggest yachts when it was built for vodka tycoon Yuri SheflerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Bill Gates once rented it for a week at a cost of $5million and it comes with seven decks, two helipads and a full saltwater swimming pool.
      However, in August 2017 she suffered significant damage to her hull after running aground off the coast of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
      Mansour’s yacht Topaz far outdoes the Serene.
      Built in 2012, the Sheikh coughed up more than £320m to build the 482ft yacht that comes with jacuzzis, two helipads, a swimming platform and eight levels.
      It is now valued at more than £400m.
      The Topaz super yacht is said to be worth £400m and is the fifth-largest yacht in the worldCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The Topaz boasts two helipads, three swimming pools, a cinema and eight levelsCredit: Splash News
      Cars
      Again, Mansour definitely has the more luxurious car collection.
      In fact, it appears that Bin Salman is barely interested in cars at all.
      Some reports claim he has a modest fleet (in comparison to other billionaires at least) with a Ferrari, Lamborghini and Bugatti in his garage.
      On the other hand, Sheikh Mansour can’t get enough.
      Mansour owns a  five per cent stake in Ferrari, as well as this £2.5m EnzoCredit: 4WheelsofLux
      The Sheikh’s Mercedes SLR-McLaren is worth £350,000Credit: 4WheelsofLux
      He also owns this Porsche 911 GT1 worth around £3mCredit: 4WheelsofLux
      His personal collection includes an £840,000 Lamborghini Reventon, FIVE Bugatti Veyrons – costing more than £1million each – as well as a £2.5million Ferrari Enzo and a £3m Porsche 911 GT1.
      Mansour was also instrumental in bringing Formula One to Abu Dhabi and has a stake in both Ferrari and Mercedes parent company Daimler AG.
      Sheikh Mansour is rarely seen at the EtihadCredit: Reuters
      Controversies
      Both men and their families have been linked with several humans rights abuses.
      Bin Salman is considered the architect of the war in Yemen, which included indiscriminate bombing, while he ordered the blockade of the country that sparked a famine and humanitarian crisis which has killed tens of thousands.
      Human Rights Watch director Sarah Leah Whitson described his regime as “despotism”, while there was international outcry when dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated in Turkey in 2018.
      In April this year, Saudi Arabia carried out a mass execution of 37 imprisoned civilians who had been convicted – 21 of those on the basis of confessions obtained under coercion and torture – of terrorism.
      They were executed by beheading, with two of the bodies left on public display.
      In 2018 and again in April this year, there were waves of arrests for women’s rights activists involved in the women to drive movement and anti male-guardianship campaign.
      Sheikh Mansour with former Man City star Sergio AgueroCredit: Manchester City FC – Getty
      Six of these arrested were tortured.
      Sheikh Mansour has been accused of using Manchester City and football to ‘launder’ the image of his state, having only been to one game in ten years.
      Homosexuality remains illegal and is a capital offence in the emirate.
      The ruling regime is also accused of a number of human rights abuses, while flogging, stoning and amputation all remain legal punishments.Sport
      Sheikh Mansour is a much more visible lover of sports.
      As well as his love of Formula One and football, Mansour is also the chairman of the Emirates Horse Racing Authority and the patron of a local half-marathon.
      He hasn’t just invested more than £1billion into Manchester City either, the City Football Group owns and part owns a host of clubs around the world.
      They bought New York City FC to Major League Soccer in the US and own Melbourne City in Australia.
      The holding company also has stakes in Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, Club Atletico Torque in Uruguay and Girona in Spain.
      There are plans to expand further into Europe and Africa.
      Apart from his link to Newcastle, Bin Salman’s only other link to the sporting world is the Saudi second division, which is named after him. More

    • 213 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      Inside Tyson Fury’s amazing car collection, from luxury Rolls-Royces and Ferrari supercars to a humble Mini Cooper

      by

      THE Gypsy King boasts chariots that have been the envy of the sporting world over the years.Tyson Fury, 33, is gearing up to face Deontay Wilder in a trilogy fight this weekend.
      Tyson Fury boasts an epic car collection through the yearsCredit: Refer to Caption
      Fury has also been seen cruising around hometown Morecambe in a £10k Mini CooperCredit: Refer to Caption
      And show he be victorious, the WBC champion – said to be worth around £40million – could add to his impressive car collection.
      Over the years, Fury has been seen behind the wheel of a beautiful Ferrari GTC4Lusso worth around £250,000.
      But on the opposite end of the scale, the heavyweight boxer has also squeezed his giant 6ft 9in frame into a 1993 Mini Cooper that would’ve cost not more than £10,000.
      Here’s a look inside Tyson’s motors through the years.
      THE FASTEST
      Fury is a big fan of the Ferrari brand, having previously owned a California which he sold to a pal.
      His GTC4Lusso is the priciest car in his garage, which has a value of around £250,000.
      He added it in 2019, after he confirmed his second fight with the Bronze Bomber.
      It’s a speedy supercar too – able to hit 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds.
      Fury added a £250,000 Ferrari GTC4Lusso to his car collection in 2019Credit: BackGrid
      THE MOST EXPENSIVE
      The Rolls-Royce Phantom is one of the classiest motors you can get.
      And, of course, it comes with a hefty £360,000 price tag that only the mega-rich can afford.
      Fury had one, regularly posing on social media with it over the years.
      However, he sold it when he suffered with depression and his life spiralled out of control.
      The most expensive motor Fury ever owned was a £360,000 Rolls-Royce PhantomCredit: BackGrid
      Fury sold the car when his life hit rock bottomCredit: Refer to Caption
      LOVES A ROLLER
      Fury also owned a Rolls-Royce Cullinan alongside his brilliant Phantom.
      But again, with the trappings of fame and wealth too much to stand, he decided to flog it.
      The Wythenshawe fighter even posted an emotional video on YouTube waving goodbye to the motor as it left his drive.
      He claimed to have swapped it for a used Volkswagen Passat that cost him £500.
      Fury was also believed to own a Rolls-Royce Cullinan worth £300,000Credit: Alamy
      MOST RIDICULOUS
      Everybody knows a Mini Cooper isn’t exactly the roomiest vehicle on the market.
      Worse still, if you are as tall as 6ft 9in and weigh around 20 stone, it’ll be a tight a squeeze fitting into one.
      But that didn’t bother Tyson, who was seen in a £10,000 Mini Cooper driving around Morecambe.
      He even, unashamedly, shared an image giving the thumbs up inside the British icon.
      6ft 9in Fury squeezes his frame into his 1993 Mini CooperCredit: Refer to Caption
      ITALIAN STALLION
      He matches cars with his mate, Billy Joe Saunders.
      In 2019, Tyson showed off his red Ferrari Portofino motor, alongside Saunders’ similar model in a car park.
      The Portofino usually retails at around £170,000 for a base model.
      Astonishingly, it has a top speed of 198 mph.
      Tyson Fury shows off his matching Ferrari Portofino with friend Billy Joe SaundersCredit: Instagram @gypsyking101
      The red Portofino carries a price tag of around £170,000Credit: Instagram @gypsyking101
      OUT OF RANGE
      As Tyson began his recovery from mental health issues and substance issues, he treated himself to a Range Rover.
      But, he wasn’t going to get any old Range Rover – splashing the cash on a £65,000 Sport SVR.
      Even better, he got it wrapped in camo.
      “Massive thanks to @automotivefashion for wrapping my SVR, looks & feels great. Army edition,” he shared on social media with a snap of his motor.
      This £65,000 Range Rover Sport SVR was specially wrapped in camo for FuryCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      NICE WAGON
      In 2016, Fury was spotted driving a Mercedes-AMG G class SUV.
      The £160,000 is one of the most luxurious vehicles around and is favoured by plenty of Premier League stars.
      Fury’s is personalised with blacked out windows, with one having an etching of his famous nickname’s initial ‘GK’.
      A year before that, he took to Twitter to show off an original G Wagon from 1991.
      A personalised G Wagon with ‘GK’ signature on a blacked out window was Fury’s ride in 2016Credit: Maverick Photo Agency More

    • 213 Shares129 Views

      in Boxing

      Inside Deontay Wilder’s amazing car collection, from a £430k alligator-skin wrap Lamborghini to a metallic bronze Hummer

      by

      THE Bronze Bomber loves his motors.Deontay Wilder, 35, has amassed a £30million fortune during a boxing career that’s left many of his opponents dazed and confused and hitting the canvas.
      Deontay Wilder, worth £30m, has splashed the cash on carsCredit: Instagram
      The motors in Wilder’s garage are a knockoutCredit: Alamy
      And his car collection is also a knockout, featuring a very special Lamborghini, a gentleman’s Rolls Royce, as well as a good, old American favourite.
      As Wilder gets ready to face Tyson Fury for a third time – at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday – SunSport takes a look at the Alabama native’s fine garage.
      It’s just as impressive as his famous right hook.
      LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR, £430,000
      In 2015, after claiming the WBC heavyweight title from Bermane Stiverne, Wilder wanted to treat himself – and why not?
      He rolled up to Exotic Euro Cars in Woodland Hills, California, and reportedly splashed around £430,000 on a special Lamborghini Aventador.
      What made this Aventador stand out from the crowd was its faux alligator-skin wrap that would even leave Floyd Mayweather jealous.
      This £430k Lamborghini Aventador is Wilder’s most extravagant possession and has a faux alligator-skin wrapCredit: Instagram
      Boasting a cream leather interior, it’s unlike any Lamborghini we’ve ever seen.
      A coat of bronze was added to the wrap – after all he is the Bronze Bomber – to complete the look.
      The Aventador can reach a top speed of 217 mph, and is one of the fastest Lamborghinis ever manufactured.
      It has a 700-plus horse power V12 engine that can reach 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds.

      ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM, £347,000+
      Every man of wealth should have a Rolls-Royce, after all it’s a true gentleman’s car. Lucky for Wilder he has two.
      His Phantom is a convertible, perfect to cruise around in with those hot, Alabama summers.
      You won’t be shocked to discover that the Phantom is the most expensive Rolls-Royce available on the market.
      Again, Wilder has his custom-made with a bronze metallic coat that’s fitting with his Bronze Bomber moniker.
      His model, the Phantom VII, has a 563 horse power V12 engine that’s capable of hitting 60 mph in 5.1 seconds.
      Deontay often shares snaps sat on the bonnet of this beast on social media, and who can blame him.
      It’s certainly a ride of beauty.
      Wilder rests on the bonnet of his Rolls-Royce PhantomCredit: Instagram
      A gentleman’s car, the Phantom is worth more than £347kCredit: Instagram
      Wilder often takes his Rolls-Royce for a spin with the hood downCredit: Instagram
      HUMMER H2, £70,000
      There was a time when you couldn’t move for Hummers in the US, especially among the sporting elite.
      However, the car manufacturer GM stopped making the Army-inspired SUVs in 2010.
      That’s now made the Hummer a collector’s item, something Wilder is well aware of, which is why he owns one.
      Reportedly worth around £70k, it’s bronze (again!) and it even has its own nickname – the Bomb Zquad Mobile.
      The 34-inch custom bronze and chrome star wheel rims are also engraved with the words Bomb Zquad on them.
      There was recent speculation that Wilder parted with his prized possession, but this was never confirmed.
      Another prized possession of Wilder’s is his Hummer H2, which was discontinued from 2010Credit: Instagram
      The nickname for Wilder’s Hummer H2 is the Bomb Zquad MobileCredit: Instagram
      ROLLS-ROYCE CULLINAN, FROM £269,310
      Wilder’s most recent purchase, he was spied driving the Rolls-Royce SUV back in August 2019.
      Just like his Lamborghini Aventador, the champ has wrapped the expensive motor in glorious fashion.
      His Rolls-Royce has a mottled black and bronze snakeskin finish, as well as a smooth leather interior.
      The hub caps surrounding the 26-inch wheels are customised with Wilder’s now famous logo.
      Wilder had his Roller souped up by Dreamworks Motorsports in North Carolina by Adam Wolfe.
      The moment it was delivered to him, he took to Instagram to record a video of his new wheels.
      Wilder shows off his recent wrapped Rolls-RoyceCredit: Instagram
      This Rolls-Royce Cullinan is a stunning vehicle that’s part of Wilder’s collection
      Wilder had it custom wrapped in a mottled black and bronze snakeskin finish
      Wilder took to Instagram to share his purchase with his followers
      DODGE CHALLENGER, £30,000+
      There’s nothing like a muscle car to complete your enviable garage.
      The cheapest motor in Deontay’s collection, you could argue that it’s his finest looking.
      His Dodge Challenger came with a starting price of around £30,000, but you can bet with extras and the custom paint job he had done to it, it’s now worth a lot more.
      Impressive hub caps, special side-opening doors and sprayed in shades of red – this motor looks like it belongs to the Fast & Furious franchise.
      We bet it drives like a dream too, thanks to a powerful 6.2-litre V8 engine.
      A £30k Dodge Challenger is the cheapest car in Wilder’s collectionCredit: Instagram
      Wilder’s Dodge Challenger looks like a car from the Fast & Furious franchiseCredit: Instagram
      SUZUKI HAYABUSA, FROM £14,500
      When four wheels won’t cut it, Wilder has been known to try two to get some kicks.
      Back in 2014, he shared an image of a Hayabusa that had been jazzed up with an exterior that looks like it belongs in a Mad Max film.
      The Hayabusa was designed with the sole intention of being the fastest production motorbike of its day.
      Incredibly, it can reach a top speed of 186 mph. Opening the throttle reveals its brutal power.
      “Imma keep riding my baby as long as the weather’s right,” Wilder wrote in a Tweet with a pic of the beautiful bike.
      Wilder’s Suzuki Hayabusa looks like something out of a Mad Max filmCredit: Instagram
      POLARIS SLINGSHOT, FROM £15,500
      The ultimate boy’s toy.
      Lewis Hamilton and Shaquille O’Neal also own the three-wheeled Polaris Slingshot that’s on every petrol head’s wishlist.
      And Deontay Wilder has shared images on social media, zooming around town on one.
      Launched in 2015, the Slingshot is capable of reaching 0-60 mph in under five seconds and is practically a street-legal go-kart.
      It’s powered by a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine that was built in Germany alongside Mercedes-AMG V8 hardware.
      Who knew Wilder was such an adrenalin junkie?
      Like Lewis Hamilton, Deontay Wilder has a three-wheel Polaris SlingshotCredit: Instagram
      Deontay Wilder boards private jet to Las Vegas for Tyson Fury trilogy fight More

    • 275 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      River Plate beat Boca Juniors with ex-Man Utd defender Marcos Rojo getting a red card, but the fans are the real stars

      by

      CINEMA goers all over the world are watching the same James Bond film. They have no power to change the ending of ‘No Time To Die,’ even if they want to.Football is different. A football crowd is not made up of passive spectators.  The fans are an active participant in the spectacle.
      River Plate fans cheers on their side against rivals Boca JuniorsCredit: Getty
      They create the atmosphere – which is both an attraction in itself, and a factor able to influence what happens on the field.
      The crowd can lift a team to new heights, or the nervousness in the stands can transmit itself to the players.
      And the crowd can make you glad you went to a game even if the football was disappointing.
      This is especially true in Argentina, where the atmosphere is something special. The rhythm and the fervour of the chants can lodge in the brain.
      In recent times, when the best players are transferred abroad at an early age, the atmosphere created by the crowd can be the best thing about going to a game in Argentina.
      It hurt, then, to have eighteen and a half months without supporters in the stadium.
      But, with the coronavirus pandemic under relative control, fans were back this weekend for the first time since the middle of March 2020 – that is, home fans only – Argentina has a problem with fan violence.
      And, as yet, only half of stadium capacity.
      So there were around 35,000 in the ground for the biggest of them all – River Plate against Boca Juniors.
      It was no coincidence that this weekend was chosen for the return of supporters. The government did badly in recent mid-term elections.
      In a country where football is so important, bringing fans back was an obvious response, an attempt to raise the nation’s morale.
      And River v Boca is a huge event. There was plenty at stake on the field.
      With the championship at the half way stage River took the field in second place, while Boca have thrown off a bad start and put together an eight game unbeaten run to move up to sixth. 
      A win on Sunday would put them well into contention for a title bid.
      River Plate played host to Boca Juniors last weekendCredit: Getty
      Ex-Man Utd defender Marcos Rojo saw red in the fiery clashCredit: AFP
      But first they – and the River players – would have to get used to playing in front of fans again. The entire emotional dynamic of the occasion had altered – which became clear very early.
      Twice in the first few minutes there were mass flare ups, with players from both sides running to get involved in a pushing skirmish.
      After just seven minutes referee Fernando Rapallini brought the two captains together and issued a warning. Marcos Rojo was clearly not paying close attention.
      After shaking off some injury concerns, the former Manchester United player has become an important part of the Boca line up.
      His experience and quality, both defending and setting moves in motion, have been important in Boca’s run of good form. But his lack of cool now decided the game.
      Twice in quick succession he went to ground and committed risky fouls.  The first time Rappallini reached for the yellow card. And the second, too.  On another day Rojo might have got away with the second challenge.
      But the warning had already been given. Rapallini had made it clear that the only way to control the game was to take a hard line. And so, after just fifteen minutes, Rojo had seen red.
      It ended Boca as an attacking force – before they had begun. Their most creative player, Colombian attacking midfielder Edwin Cardona was sacrificed as Boca went to their bench to bring on another centre back.
      And if the River fans were singing then, they were soon screaming in joy. In the next few minutes Julian Alvarez scored two superbly taken goals.
      Alvarez, 21, is the best thing that domestic Argentine football has produced in the last few years.
      A mobile, talented and intelligent support striker, he was linked in the summer with Aston Villa, and, to these eyes at least, he has plenty in common with former Villa park idol Gary Shaw, whose brilliant career was so cruelly cut short by injury.
      The match turned into a celebration, with River fans giving vent to a year and a half of frustration at not being able to go to the stadium, which has been remodelled in their absence.
      River’s Julien Alvarez proved to be the match-winner with two goalsCredit: EPA
      But it was the fans, back in the stadium for the first time since March 2020, that were the stars of the showCredit: Getty

      Boca’s objective after the break appeared to be to keep the score down. River repeatedly came close to adding to their lead. Finally, inside stoppage time, Boca grabbed a consolation with their only serious effort.
      The final score of 2-1 gives them some dignity, but hands the points to River Plate.
      And without fans it could all have turned out very differently.
      Boca spend night at police station after RIOTING, ‘attacking cops and threatening Atletico Mineiro chief with IRON BAR’ More

    • 213 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      Meet John Fury, heavyweight champ Tyson’s bare-knuckle fighter dad who was once sent to prison for eye-gouging

      by

      TYSON FURY’S rise to heavyweight boxing glory is largely down to one man – his father John.The 33-year-old boxer’s life featured in ITV’s warts-and-all documentary Tyson Fury: The Gypsy King.
      Tyson’s dad John Fury was a boxer, going pro in bare-knuckle fighting
      John went to prison in 2011 after gouging another man’s eye outCredit: PA:Press Association
      His Irish-born dad was a boxer too, fighting 13 professional bouts.
      He also fought bare-knuckle fighting and claims he won £100,000 in one bout.
      John Fury, 55, also served four years of an 11-year sentence for gouging a man’s eye out in a sickening attack.
      And such is John’s influence on his son, it is believed he is the reason why Tyson parted ways with long-term trainer Ben Davison last year.
      Just like Tyson, life began in the ring for John.
      He had very little choice. Born in Galway, it was a family tradition to enter the fight game.

      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      And he was good at it too.
      Standing at 6ft 3in, John fought 13 times as a pro boxer in the 1980s and 90s for a record of 8-4-1 at heavyweight.
      The fights I had were usually over within seconds. I weren’t an especially big puncher, but, once I got going, I’d not stop swinging until they were out coldJohn Fury
      His one title fight ended up being a defeat against Yorkshire-born Neil Malpass in 1989.
      Journeyman Malpass pummelled John and won on points in a ten-round contest.
      John fought four more times after that, retiring after losing his final fight against Steve Garber at the G-Mex Centre in Manchester in 1995.STREET FIGHTING MAN
      But he was also more than handy at bare-knuckle fighting.
      John, who later coached Tyson and his brother Love Island star Tommy, told the Daily Star: “In 1992, I fought the ­so-called ­champion at the time, an Irishman whose name I can’t even remember, over in Ireland.
      John Fury fought 13 times, winning eight fights during his boxing careerCredit: Rex Features
      John Fury was ringside to see Tyson Fury become heavyweight champion of the worldCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      John believes he can be a mentor to son Tyson Fury now after his prison reformationCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “With stakes and everything, I came up over a hundred grand.
      “The fights I had were usually over within seconds.
      “I weren’t an especially big puncher, but, once I got going, I’d not stop swinging until they were out cold.
      “I’d not come up for air. I just wanted to kill. I’d hit them with fists, elbows, head, teeth and feet until they dropped and give best [surrendered].
      “If they didn’t, I’d kick their face off, it was up to them. Afterwards, shake hands and on to the next one.
      “In my twenties I was a really ­formidable force.”
      When he quit fighting he became Tyson’s trainer, steering him to the British title after just eight contests.
      Born in Galway, Ireland Johns family were travellers who foughtCredit: Rex Features
      Tommy Fury returned to the boxing ring after becoming a huge reality TV starCredit: Getty Images
      NAMED HIS SON AFTER MIKE TYSON
      When Tyson Fury was born back in 1988, Mike Tyson ruled supreme as undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
      But the baby was three months premature and weighed just 1lb.
      Fury was given slim chances of survival by doctors, but proved he was a fighter from birth.
      Father John Fury explained on ITV’s documentary Tyson Fury – The Gypsy King: “He was just a pound in weight.
      “The doctor said he probably won’t make it, he’s very weak.
      “I said to all them doctors, he won’t be small, I said he’ll be nearly 7ft tall, 20 stone, the next heavyweight champion of the world.
      “I thought, ‘There’s only one name fitting for him, he’s fought hard to become a person living in this world.’
      “Mike Tyson was the best in the world at that time.
      “Tyson Luke Fury – that’s his name.”
      A TIME FOR REFLECTION
      Fighting got John in serious trouble in 2011.
      A 12-year grudge with Oathie Sykes boiled over and John tried to gouge his foe’s eye out in a fight at a car auction.
      John, the self-confessed ‘hardest man in Britain’, broke down in court as he plead for a lenient sentence.
      He told the court: “I’m worried about my son. His boxing career is on the line.
      “If I could give my own eye to him to get back to my children I would do – I’m begging you for my life.”
      But Skyes offered a different testimony, saying: “It was like he was trying to pull his finger into my brains through my socket.”
      John Fury got in a row with Oathie Sykes, blinding his foeCredit: Rex Features
      Fury once called himself the hardest man in BritainCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      RELEASED WHEN HIS SON WAS CHAMP
      In 2015, John was released from prison after serving four years of his sentence.
      Two months later, his family were celebrating Tyson becoming heavyweight champion of the world after his epic victory against Wladimir Klitschko in Germany.
      John was ringside, and he couldn’t have been prouder of his boy.
      Reformed John was also ready to be a calming influence on his son’s life.
      John told the BBC: “Sometimes his mental state can carry him away but I can understand and help with that.
      “I’ve been very unlucky, but very lucky as well because my son has remained undefeated [during my time in prison] and come on in leaps and bounds.
      “But when I think he is going down the wrong way I can pull him up and tell him ‘we don’t need that’.”
      The Fury clan were happy to be reunited after John’s prison releaseCredit: Instagram @tommytntfury
      NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK HIS MIND
      Since his release, John has become a media pundit for his son’s fights, primarily those in the US because he can’t get a visa to travel to the States due to his criminal record.
      Fury admitted: “I’ve been a naughty boy and there is no point hiding it. I’m not allowed in the country.”
      He’s appeared on BT Sport, and was critical of Tyson’s trainer Ben Davison after his son struggled to overcome Otto Wallin, surviving a nasty gash on his eye that required plastic surgery to fix.
      It was no coincidence that Davison was relieved of his duties after that fight.
      He told BT Sport: “I’ve never seen him as bad.
      “He looked weight-drained, he looked like he’d left it all in the gym to be honest with you.”
      Not mincing his words, he added: “I’m being honest about it, he’s my son, I’m a straight talker, that’s the worst I’ve seen my son.
      John Fury often appears on BT Sport to talk about his son’s fights
      It is believed John Fury is the reason Tyson split with long-term trainer Ben DavisonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “But what I can say? I’m very proud of the way he mauled his way through it, he showed world class heart and he will come again.
      “He needs to go back to the drawing board and see what’s gone wrong here. And be honest to look in the mirror and say, ‘Things ain’t gone right.’
      “He needs to look where he’s gone wrong. I’ve half an idea, but that’s for my own.”
      Tyson Fury’s dad John tells Deontay Wilder his son will ‘retire him’ and warns he needs to learn from Anthony Joshua More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Inside Oldham’s crisis, as fans protest against owner with demos featuring a coffin and Boundary Park pitch invasions

      by

      FOR Oldham Athletic fans, the atmosphere at Boundary Park is toxic – and likely to only get worse.On and off the pitch, the Latics are a club in crisis with their followers pointing the finger at owner Abdallah Lemsagam.
      It’s the final nail in the coffin for Oldham Athletic fansCredit: Getty
      Fans have spent almost three years campaigning against owner Abdallah LemsagamCredit: Getty
      They have spent almost three years campaigning against the Dubai-based former agent in the fear that the club is heading for extinction under his regime.
      Since he took over in January 2018, Boundary Park has slowly but surely turned into a war zone with repeated protests by fan groups.
      Before a drab 0-0 draw with Hartlepool, police were forced to patrol a demo that featured a coffin inscribed : “RIP OAFC” and was placed outside the main door of the stadium.
      Supporters have taken to donning clown masks on a match day, echoing the belief that Oldham Athletic have become a circus.
      While there have also been pitch invasions, tennis balls and flares thrown onto the playing surface as the tensions rise.
      And although the club moved off the bottom of Football League Two last weekend on goal difference, despite losing at home 2-1 to Harrogate Town, the ill-feeling is still there.
      In 2019, fed up with not being heard, four fans launched Push The Boundary to communicate the concerns and dissatisfaction with the current owner regarding the handling of the football club, whilst raising awareness of its precarious state.
      Founding member Steve Shipman, 40, tells SunSport: “We started seeing the warning signs a few years ago and that things weren’t quite right.
      “We wanted to do something about it because we were just shouting into a big, black hole.
      “But we didn’t want to get to this point, where we’re near the bottom of the league, before people start to act and it’s too late.
      “We’ve been banging on the door for a couple of years. And initially we were trying to engage with the club, not necessarily saying we want the owner out.
      “We made the point of telling them fans weren’t happy, we gave them evidence of that through the form of surveys, but the owner chose to ignore it.
      Push The Boundary’s founding members, including Steve Shipman, far left
      Flares and tennis balls have been thrown onto the pitch as the fans protest against the clubs ownershipCredit: KIPAX
      “I think what we’ve seen recently with the protests is a culmination of that pressure, fans going on the pitch because they’re unhappy, and now he’s got no choice but to address it.
      “But the fact is, he could’ve done this a few years ago. Fans have got to a point now where enough is enough with the new manager appointments and false dawns.
      “And if he wasn’t going to listen to us, then the fans were going to take matters into their own hands.”
      SunSport has repeatedly highlighted the growing crisis at the club that was originally one of the Premier League’s founding members in 1992.
      Before the lockdown in March last year we reported that unless the controversial Moroccan paid debts of £575,000 to the ground’s leasehold owner Simon Blitz then he would put the club into administration.
      That threat, which Blitz would have carried out, followed a bitter war between the pair after Lemsagam sparked a two-month investigation by The Sun over his claims that he had found a £5.2M “hole” in the club’s finances
      Oldham Police were called in over Lemsagam’s allegations, relating to the construction of the ground’s new North Stand with £1.78M of local council money part of the so – called missing money.
      There was no case to answer by former director Blitz as SunSport confirmed.
      But depressed Latics supporters declare that Lemsagam very much does have one to answer following years of turmoil.
      And many believe that they are witnessing the last rites of the club founded 126 years ago.
      Abdallah Lemsagam has refused to cooperate with Oldham fans who don’t understand his intentions for the clubCredit: Rex Features
      An airplane displays a banner over Boundary Park calling for Lemsagam brothers to leave the clubCredit: Rex
      Shipman stresses what he would like to happen next.
      “The ideal situation would be if Lemsagam works with us and the supporters foundation to help facilitate his exit from the football club,” he says.
      “Let’s work towards something that gets him the most money that allows him to walk away.
      “But what we don’t want is if he brings someone in on his own accord, because he’s already proved he can’t be trusted.”
      Back in March, Lemsagam appointed Keith Curle as manager to save the club from relegation.
      Astonishingly, he is the ninth coach to work for the Moroccan, and before his arrival there were on-going accusations of Lemsagam’s interference in team matters, even down to the selection of certain of his favourite players against others.
      Lifelong Latics fan and Manchester United legend Paul Scholes lasted only 31 days in the job, saying he could not work due to Lemsagam’s meddling.
      Wages of players and staff have frequently been delayed, there have been near misses in terms of administration – not just with Blitz but with the tax man too.
      Yet experienced Curle has a managerial career that spans six previous clubs, including 2020 promotion to League One with Northampton Town.
      The 57 year-old is certain he can spark a revival and insists he is doing things his own way – as he has always done –  that he is his own man, not just a company man.
      Paul Scholes lasted only 31 days in the job at Oldham before walking awayCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Many fans are calling for Lemsagam to sell the clubCredit: Getty
      Curle hints that some of his predecessors may have taken the easy way out and allowed Lemsagam to carry the can rather than look at their own efforts.
      The former Manchester City captain declares that won’t be the case with him.
      He stresses that if he fails to keep Oldham up: “I’ll take all the blame. That’s what I do.
      “When we win a game I applaud everybody that’s helped.
      “When things aren’t going well I shoulder the responsibility. The easy thing to do is look at the past circumstances.
      “But I know when I have all of my players fit and available we will be competitive in this division.
      “I know where Oldham can get to but the route there is not a straight line.
      “A straight line is having £3M in the bank as your budget, you get the best players for the division, and you double up on it.
      Oldham manager Keith Curle is tasked with keeping the club up this seasonCredit: Getty
      Last weekend, Oldham lost 2-1 at home to Harrogate TownCredit: Alamy
      “As proven by Salford, it ain’t as straight a line as you think it is.
       “Whatever get thrown at me, I deal with it in eight words : it is what it is, deal with it.
      “It’s not arrogance, it’s not being aggressive or having a confrontational approach.
      “I’m just not one of those people that keep complaining about problems. I find solutions.
      “Being bottom of the league without ten injured players and working within the restrictions of an EFL transfer embargo is a problem.
      “But I know the solution and we continue to put things together to create that solution.”
      Lemsagam’s brother Mohamed is under fire from the fans, who believe the sporting director has only helped deepen the club’s crisis with dressing room interference.
      Curle stresses : “I don’t know what went on before, but it doesn’t happen with me.
      “That’s not the relationship that we’ve got. I make my own mind up, I make my own decisions, I pick the team.
      Curle insists he hasn’t had any issues with team meddling with the Lemsagam brothersCredit: Alamy
      However, should Oldham fall out of the National League they could be headed to extinctionCredit: Getty

      “How else can it work? It’s the only way I work.”
      Oldham fans will be praying his efforts save their side and their efforts in raising awareness of unrest might make the owners appear more transparent.
      Otherwise, if the club falls out of the National League, they could fall into oblivion like neighbours Bury. Imagine the fans protests then? More