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      Gary Lineker is being replaced by two women and a man on Match of the Day – BBC should be proud to lead the charge

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      THE BBC inclination to employ ever more women in jobs that were once male  territory has evoked not even a hum of male irritation.Gary Lineker is to be replaced by two women and a man on Match of the Day . . .Gary Lineker will step down as Match of the Day host at the end of this seasonCredit: PAGabby Logan will form one third of a new presenting trio replacing the former England strikerCredit: RexReaction: So what!Whether or not three-for-one presenter ratio will work is to become clear after the trio start next season, even if the company’s accountants approve the division of Lineker’s £1.3million salary.Money well earnt and deserved in my opinion.The fact I like this increasing number of women commentators should be no surprise, for when I moved into football 32 years ago women were rarer than a hen’s dentist.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSuch a short time later women are acknowledged as players both on the pitch and in the offices. Only with the whistle or in men’s football management are they rare. But in press boxes, behind microphones and contributing knowledgeably on television, they are as commonplace as they are in boardrooms, politics and executive positions.In several aspects BBC can be very proud to have led the charge away from attitudes that once were summed up in the insult “monstrous regiment of women”. Most read in FootballKelly Cates and Gabby Logan are both outstanding broadcasters.They will work on the show in rotation with Mark Chapman, already a BBC stalwart.Gary Lineker reveals he turned DOWN huge ITV show as he reveals salary demand for reality showsThey are a capable front line to follow the former England striker who will have fronted the show for 25 years. He has been witty and fearless. Criticisms only began seriously after he was revealed to be the corporation’s highest earner.Both Cates and Logan are daughters of league and international footballers, Kenny Dalglish, one of Scotland’s greatest, and Terry Yorath of Wales.Critics will approve their background and wait upon their merits.Kelly Cates has established a formidable reputation as one of Sky’s finest presentersCredit: GettyLogan is probably best known. She ousted male presenters at several Olympic Games and remains a brisk and skilled regular at big events, and deservedly so.Cates has worked on BBC radio and TV, mainly on Sky, for many years and is as slick and personable as you would expect in a skilled presenter.If theirs is a semi-takeover then even more striking was the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, which on Tuesday featured three women, Clare Balding, Alex Scott and (of course) Gabby Logan.Can you name the famous fathers?As Olympic 800 metres gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson became the fourth consecutive female winner of the top prize and, on the night, beat any competition for the most daring dress.Men could only hope their duties did not include the washing up afterwards.The battle for equality is not won yet but the tide is sweeping us forward.It won’t be too long, I suspect, before the US has a female president.After all, even the Garrick Club which defined itself as a club for “men of refinement” has just opened the door to women. It may take some while for one of us to become Pope, Russia’s leader, or to chuck away forced hijabs in Iran but most of the West is now wide open to the new order.And what a shocking waste of human resources the past has been.As long ago as the Second World War, women showed they could shoulder martial discipline as well as intellectual pursuits.The days when us women were nurses but not doctors, are over.READ MORE SUN STORIESWe might not have as much muscle but we have proved that we carry so much else . . . the ability to organise, to lead, to plan and to have children and give birth to every tax payer on the planet.Quite some contribution. More

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      Mykhailo Mudryk ‘pictured in Saudi Arabia for Usyk v Fury’ days after Chelsea star suspended for positive drugs test

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      CHELSEA star Mykhailo Mudryk has reportedly been photographed in Saudi Arabia, days after he was suspended for failing a drugs test.Mudryk, 23, was snapped with a Chelsea fan YouTuber, who shared the image on social media.Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk has failed a drugs test and faces a four-year banCredit: GettyThe Chelsea ace is thought to have flown to Riyadh to support fellow Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk in his blockbuster rematch with Tyson Fury.The YouTuber – known only as Shargi – also reported a brief chat with the £88million winger.He claimed he told Mudryk: “Chelsea fans from all over the world trust you that you did not take a performance-enhancing substance. We love you very much and we trust in your returnAnd the fan reports that the Chelsea star replied: “Thank you very much, I hope everything is gonna be fine.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe Ukrainian winger tested positive for a banned substance in October and is set for a lengthy ban of up to four years.Mudryk denied knowingly taking meldonium, which was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list in 2016. It can apparently allow the body to “use oxygen sparingly and quickly restoreenergyto prepare for new loads of physical stress.”Meldonium is widely used in Eastern Europe and has been on the banned list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2016.Most read in FootballMudryk has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for meldoniumCredit: Getty Mudryk released a statement on Tuesday morning insisting he has never “knowingly used any banned substance.”He said: “I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance”.“This has come as a complete shock as I have NEVER knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened”.Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has come out in support of the £88million signing and believes he will return to the team.He said: “We all believe Mudryk is innocent.“I don’t think Misha’s Chelsea career is over. I think he will come back. “We don’t know when, that is the only doubt we have in this moment.“But for sure, he will be back.”What drug did Mudryk take?By SunSport’s Joshua JonesMYKHAILO MUDRYK returned a positive sample for a drugs test in October.The Chelsea winger could face a ban for up to four years – because the drug was a performance-enhancing substance.It is alleged Mudryk had the drug meldonium in his system.Meldonium – aka mildronate – is a metabolic modulator similar to insulin and is widely used in Eastern Europe.It is used in heart disease therapy but is also claimed to enable athletes to withstand greater stress, use oxygen more sparingly and restore energy levels quickly.Meldonium was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list in January 2016 following its high prevalence at the 2015 European Games in Baku.Just months later, former tennis world No1 and Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova was banned for two years by the International Tennis Federation – although this was later cut to 15 months on appeal.Sharapova had been taking the drug for ten years for various health issues and claimed she was unaware it had been added to the banned list.Also in 2016, Russian boxer Alexander Povetkin was found to have traces of meldonium in his system before he was due to fight fellow heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder. More

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      Tyson Fury at centre of huge row as Oleksandr Usyk’s team furious his BEARD ‘grossly violates’ strict rules

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      TYSON FURY is at the centre of a huge world-title rematch row — over his BEARD!Champion Oleksandr Usyk has accused Fury of “grossly violating” strict rules on the length of facial hair and demanded he gets his razor out.Tyson Fury rematches Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on Saturday nightCredit: GETTYThe Gypsy King is sporting a massive beard for the do-or-die rematchCredit: PATeam Usyk have kicked off over the size of Fury’s beard and demanded he trim itCredit: GETTYThe storm erupted after Fury won his battle to ban the Ukrainian from having a “lucky” crucifix in his corner for Saturday night’s £180million heavyweight Saudi showdown.Britain’s Gypsy King, who weighed in at a massive 20st 1lb — FOUR STONE heavier than his rival — is sporting a full, bushy beard after refusing to shave for 12 weeks.But Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, fumed: “The beard rule is being grossly violated.“The WBC rules clearly say, ‘A boxer may espouse a trimmed beard as long as the hair thickness does not cushion or affect the impact or trajectory of punches, or cause cuts or abrasions to his rival’.READ MORE ON FURY VS USYK 2″So, Tyson’s beard has to be trimmed. We will push it further.”Fury’s matchmaker, Frank Warren, refused to back down.The Queensberry Promotions chief blasted: “He has a beard and there have been a lot of fighters over the years who have fought with beards, and that’s it.”When SunSport quizzed the British Boxing Board of Control, which has trained and supports the Middle East chiefs in charge of the WBC, WBA and WBO clash, they said Fury MUST trim his beard if Usyk complained at yesterday’s rules meeting.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSFury vs Usyk 2 – top storiesREAD MORE on all the build-up to the blockbuster fight in Riyadh..All the info:News, features and interviews: Yet WBC supremo Mauricio Sulaiman insisted: “The matter was discussed and the final decision is with the local commission.“We do not feel Fury gets any advantage. We do not think there will be a problem.”’Ice cold’ Tyson Fury promises ‘pain’ for Oleksandr Usyk – but Ukrainian is winning ‘mind games’Fury, 36, won an earlier squabble when undefeated Usyk, 37, was told he could not have his cherished monk’s crucifix in his corner.He kissed it for inspiration during his split-decision triumph in May’s first Riyadh tear-up.But Warren insisted: “If there’s anything other than water that goes to the fighter’s lips then the inspector will take it away.“If anything is seen to be not correct it will be dealt with.”SunSport understands Usyk’s team have accepted the banning of the cross but are digging in their heels over Beardgate.Fury weighed in at a career-heaviest — a stonking 19lbs bigger than the first fight, while Usyk tipped the scales at 16st 2lbs, just three pounds up on last time.There was another argument around the judges after Miami’s Fernando Barbosa withdrew ill.The warring parties were at loggerheads over whether American Steve Weisfeld or Panama’s Ignacio Robles — who jetted in as emergency cover — would sit alongside Patrick Morley (US) and Puerto Rican Gerardo Martinez.READ MORE SUN STORIESWarren, who wanted Robles, said: “I’ve suggested we toss a coin.”He added: “There’s going to be a war tomorrow.”Tyson Fury and promoter Frank Warren are refusing to back down in the beard rowCredit: GETTY More

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      Inside Tyson Fury’s family life with wife Paris forever by his side as kids again bear brutal brunt of boxing career

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      TYSON FURY’S family has once again borne the brutal brunt of his boxing career.His wife Paris and their seven children live a life of magnificent luxury thanks to the 36-year-old’s fighting skills.Tyson Fury has given his family, which includes seven kids, an incredible lifeCredit: INSTAGRAM@PARISFURY1The Gypsy King has secured generational wealth for his familyCredit: INSTAGRAM@PARISFURY1He’s sealed the futures with bruising victories inside the ringCredit: GETTYWife Paris withheld the new of a tragic misccariage ahead of Tyson’s showdown with Oleksandr UsykCredit: GETTYBut back in May — just days before his original clash with Oleksandr Usyk — all that was suddenly irrelevant when they lost their son six months into pregnancy.When brave Paris could not fly in for her man’s Saudi megafight, he knew tragedy had struck.But she withheld the news from the emotionally vulnerable 6ft 9in star until he was home.Fury refused to use the awful loss as an excuse for his split-decision defeat to the Ukrainian.READ MORE ON FURY VS USYK 2And as soon as the summer was over, he flew out to Malta for a 12-week camp where he trained like a brute and supposedly cut off all contact from his family.When Paris and eldest son Prince arrived in Riyadh and took their places in the second row at Thursday’s press conference, Fury ignored his childhood sweetheart.There was no gushing reunion kiss or cuddle, there was barely even any eye contact.When asked how it felt leaving his brood behind after such a traumatic experience, Fury replied: “Difficult.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSFury vs Usyk 2 – top storiesREAD MORE on all the build-up to the blockbuster fight in Riyadh..All the info:News, features and interviews: “It’s difficult timing but, you know, life is difficult and this fight is even harder.“So I have got to give myself the best opportunity that I can to get the victory.Paris Fury shares ‘chaotic’ Christmas Day plans after Tyson’s fight & insists they have ‘nothing fancy’ at £1.7m mansion“I won’t see Paris before the fight, not until after the fight.“I’m fully focused and I don’t want my mind changing or taking off from where I am in fight mode and going into husband mode and all of that.“In all my career of 36 fights, she’s only missed three of them.“The first was when she was having our first child, Venezuela, on the same night as I boxed in Dublin years ago.“Then there was another at The O2. And the other one was the last Usyk fight.“This time, she’s coming but I won’t be seeing her, not until after the fight.”It feels like a Spartan siege mentality we have never seen the likes of before — and all, apparently, to keep the Morecambe roof over their heads and Christmas presents under this year’s tree.With the £300million the Gypsy King has banked from boxing alone — before you factor in his Netflix, book and sponsorship deals — his claims that back-to-back defeats to Usyk, 37, could lead to an eviction notice are fanciful.But there’s a danger that — after decades of bravado — Fury could be left emotionally bankrupt by another loss, with the kids having to cope with the impact of that.Fury said: “The kids are used to Daddy going away.”Daddy’s got to do his job and pay the bills.Tyson Fury has done everything in his power to make sure his kids feel lovedCredit: INSTAGRAM@PARISFURY1″And if Daddy doesn’t do that, then the house gets repossessed, unfortunately.“If you don’t pay your bills, no matter how rich you are, you get repossessed, don’t you?”While Fury is worried about the mortgage, there is a risk Usyk has been living in his head rent-free.Trainer Andy Lee told SunSport that he won’t know the psychological damage the Usyk defeat has taken on his charge until the first bell.Fury could have had his soul snatched and be a broken fighter by the manner of that first schooling.On the other hand, he might be re-energised, laser-focused and harnessing the challenger mindset every fighter thrives on.Even Fury himself does not seem to really know the answer.He said: “Sometimes you think about the fight — it would be a lie to say you don’t.“I don’t really feel nervous but . . . it’s not nerves for the fight.”Because obviously I’ve had a lot of fights, I’m not bothered about anybody.“But you feel like you’re nervous whether you’re going to perform to your best ability or not. Does that make sense?“It’s not like a pressure of, ‘Oh, I’ve got to go for a fight now’. It’s something I’ve always done, amateur and professional.“But you feel like, ‘I need to be the best I can be.’“Hopefully you’re going to be good, do you know what I mean?”“A lot of people, when they come to training camp, everybody thinks the job’s done.“But fight week is the most important time of your training because during camp you can make a mistake.“You can have a late night, you cannot sleep one night, whatever. And it’s fine.“But make those mistakes in fight week — you go around too many people and catch a cold.Tyson Fury suffered a split decision defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in their first meeting in MayCredit: PAThe Gypsy King has vowed to exact revenge on the slick southpaw on Saturday nightCredit: AP”You get an illness, whatever, even on the day before — and it can all be finished.”Fury’s overbearing dad John — who headbutted a member of Team Usyk in the build-up to May’s clash and confused his son’s in-fight breaks with uneducated instructions — has been exiled from the corner.But the Gypsy King has taken clearer orders this time from an arguably more mature family member.Legends of the boxing world have expressed their offerings on the best approach to the fight.But a tiny little terror — named after an ancient Greek icon more famous for love than war — has provided the most ruthless guidance.READ MORE SUN STORIESFury explained: “My Adonis, that’s my second-youngest son, he wants me to smash Usyk’s face right in.“He’s only five. He wants me to severely smash it in.”Tyson-Fury’s son, Adonis, wants him to “severely smash” Oleksandr Usyk in their second Saudi showdown UsykCredit: AP More

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      Inside Brentford’s mad home run with Bees on track to obliterate Chelsea’s record from Double-winning season

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      THOMAS FRANK is embracing Brentford’s reputation as the Premier League’s kings of home entertainment.And the Bees boss vowed: “We want to be even MORE attacking at our fortress.”Yoane Wissa celebrates with Brentford boss Thomas FrankCredit: PABryan Mbeumo and strike partner WissaCredit: GettyGtech Community Stadium fans have seen a whopping 40 GOALS in eight top-flight games so far, ahead of today’s clash with Nottingham Forest.Spread over a full season, that average of five per game would smash the record of 82 goals set at Chelsea in their Double-winning season of 2009-10. And if it carries on at the same rate, the Gtech tally could end up close to 100 goals — a thought that lit up Frank’s eyes.The Dane, 51, said: “That would be quite a story, huh?READ MORE IN football“Maybe it’s a little bit linked to us being too open, you never know. But I want us to be as offensive as possible.“We did it in the Championship. For the two years I was in charge before promotion we were the top scorers.“When I talk about having a little bit more control in the games, it’s more about whether we can get to a position where we can look to play a ball in behind, or spread it across, or maybe go on the counters.“But I like to play quite open games. That gives us opportunities, because we have great players that can exploit that space, with way we’ve been building the squad over the last four years.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“That has given us this opportunity now. The structure, everything in the club, makes us want to go even more offensive.”Frank points to Mikkel Damsgaard, Kevin Schade and 19-goal dynamic duo up front Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wisse as summing up a philosophy he has carried since he was a youngster.Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo shows his skills on the training pitch He added: “I’ve always studied the game massively and for many, many years, I’ve been most attracted to more offensive football.“I always looked a little bit at the Ajax team, the total football idea, and then it was Barcelona, the first Dream Team under Johan Cruyff — which of course also had Michael Laudrup, another Danish player, at the heart of it.“So I watched all those games, incredible. And then, of course, Pep took them to another level.“The first for me was Morten Olsen. He was the head coach of Denmark for 15 years and then was in Cologne and Ajax.“First because he was Danish, in the national team.“He was a centre-half as a player, although more of a librero, the guy who was driving through the lines himself, very offensively minded.”As a coach he was the one who first came up with the 4-2-3-1 formation, with very wide wingers. “He was a little bit ahead of his time in many ways and a big inspiration for me.“But I was also inspired by watching what Jurgen Klopp did at Liverpool.“They were the most difficult team to play against from a defensive side because they attacked from all angles.“Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal as well. I liked some of that, with Bergkamp and Henry, Ljungberg, Pires . . . that was some fantastic football as well.“I got that inspiration and tried to merge it into my own blueprint.”Frank is one of the Prem’s great showmen on the sidelines, too, a whirling dervish in the dugout, kicking every ball and seeking to engage the Brentford fans.Excitement is his demand, although he conceded it might not bring the biggest prizes.’We like to be entertaining’Frank said: “Hopefully, you can be a great entertainer and a great winner at the same time.“Ultimately it is all about winning, no doubt about that. Winning is the most important thing.“So we’ve been looking into it quite a bit. Are we too open? Is that why we’re giving too much away? Do we need to adjust a tiny bit?“I don’t think you can achieve anything massively big without also being quite solid at the back.“We saw it with Liverpool when they won the championship. They’d been close but they bought Alisson and Van Dijk and ‘boom!’ — suddenly they had one of the best defences in the league.“City and Arsenal have done things a little bit the same at times and it is extremely important.“But we like to be entertaining if we can. There’s been quite a few games where we scored and then immediately concede, scored and conceded again.“Then we’ve been good enough to score the third one and finally be on top and in control of the games.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I’d like to have a few more matches like the Leicester game, where we’re winning 4-1, that’ll be nice — and then I’d be a little bit more calm on the touchline.“But we are playing against some good teams.” More

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      Who is Adam Smith? The ‘Voice of Boxing’ who battled cancer and returns for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2

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      Adam Smith has covered some of the biggest fights in modern history during his glittering career and has earned the nickname the ‘Voice of Boxing’.But he was diagnosed with cancer in late 2023 and has mostly been off our screens while he fought the illness.Adam Smith will commentate on Fury v Usyk 2Credit: GettyFollowing a year away, fans will be buzzing he’s back in the commentary booth – but not with Sky Sports, where he spent more than three decades, with Smith back in the booth with DAZN.Smith will be providing his expert analysis for the fight of the year — Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2.Who is Adam Smith?Adam Smith is a renowned figure in the world of boxing commentary.He is widely recognised as the “Voice of Boxing” for his distinctive delivery and knowledge of the sport.read mroe on adam smithAdam’s journey in boxing commentary began with Sky Sports in August 1994.He has gone on to establish himself as one of the leading voices in the game. Over the years, he has commentated on some of the biggest fights in modern boxing history.He’s called bouts featuring legendary fighters including Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, Roy Jones Jr, Chris Eubank, Ricky Hatton, Lennox Lewis and “Prince” Naseem Hamed.Most read in BoxingMore recently, Adam called Anthony Joshua’s incredible 2017 victory over Wladimir Klitschko, as well as AJ’s rematch loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2022.Battle with cancerAdam was diagnosed with bladder cancer at the start of 2023.In September 2024, Adam told the Independent: “It was a brutal period. I’m very, very lucky to be here today.“I didn’t feel great physically or mentally, something was wrong. Eventually I found blood in my urine.Fury v Usky 2 – Longest face-off in boxing history before fighters are forced apart”It was sporadic, but I knew people who’d had prostate cancer, so I monitored it until it got worse and worse.”After three decades with the channel, Adam departed from his role at Sky Sports in November 2023.During his time there, he never took a sick day until his cancer diagnosis, and said he couldn’t remember ever staying home from school with an illness as a youngster.He continued: “The NHS put me on a very fast programme. I had a CT scan, and then I had a call almost straight away.It was a brutal period. I’m very, very lucky to be here todayAdam SmithThe Independent”I went back in and I knew it was serious. A urologist told me I needed a nephrostomy [a tube inserted into the kidney] and a biopsy.”He showed me a screen and said: ‘This is one of the biggest tumours we’ve seen in a bladder, and it’s extremely near the bladder wall.’”My kidney had failed, so I had about four days to have the nephrostomy or I wouldn’t make it.”I had it within two hours, and the biopsy the next day.”Adam called AJ’s classic victory over Dr SteelhammerCredit: GettyAll clearFollowing a six-hour operation, the removal of 19 lymph nodes, three months of chemotherapy, more than 150 blood tests and further months in private and NHS hospitals, Adam finally got the all-clear near the end of 2023.Speaking to Jim White on talkSPORT in February 2024, he was counting his blessings ahead of his return to the commentary box for the Thomas Essomba vs Elie Konki fight at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield.He said: “I’m excited. I love commentating, as you know, and since I was nine or 10 years old it was the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.”It’s a passion that I’ve had through my life.”The last year or year-and-a-half has been pretty tough, brutal, and I’ve missed it. I’ve missed everything.Fury vs Usyk 2 – top storiesREAD MORE on all the build-up to the blockbuster fight in Riyadh..All the info:News, features and interviews: “It’s good to be back and good to be back in Sheffield — a city that I know so well from the days of Prince Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson, Ryan Rhodes and all the others.”It’s good to be back in Sheffield, good to be back with Spencer (Oliver) — we’re going to commentate together and it’s really exciting.”Adam Smith’s Fury vs Usyk 2 predictionAhead of the mega-fight on Saturday, December 21, 2024, Adam opened up about who he thinks will come out on top in the incredibly close-to-call fight.He told YouTube channel Boxing Social: “[Fury’s] looking really good in camp and I expect him to come in a bit heavier.”He’s got to try and use his size advantage and he can’t be playing around like last time… Usyk won it, it was a good fight.READ MORE SUN STORIES”He should have stopped him in the ninth round, but we start again, it’s a new canvas.”The difference is they both know each other will so there will be respect this time… Fury also has a very good record in rematches.” More

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      England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford downs shots and parties in same bar as Lauryn Goodman during wild night out in London

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      ENGLAND goalkeeper Jordan Pickford downed “shot after shot” with party girl Lauryn Goodman and pals during a wild night out.An onlooker said that Pickford, who has two children with wife Megan Davison, was doing “slammer after slammer”.Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford bought shots and partied with Lauryn Goodman during a wild night out in LondonCredit: GettyLauryn has two children with Manchester City and England ace Kyle WalkerCredit: AlamyHe was seen buying drinks for team-mates and Love Island celeb Lauryn, 33, at upmarket hotspot Bagatelle in Mayfair, West London.She has two children with Manchester City and England ace Kyle Walker, who was wed to Annie Kilner.An onlooker said: “Jordan’s missus Megan might not be best pleased to know Jordan was partying alongside Lauryn given her track record with Kyle.“Megan knows Annie too from England games so it was amusing to see him buying shots for people at Bagatelle, including Lauryn.”READ MORE ON FOOTBALLEverton stopper Pickford, 30, propped up the restaurant’s bar on Sunday alongside a handful of other Toffees players.The onlooker added: “There was no awkwardness, everyone in the room was having the best night and Jordan later moved on to Mistress of Mayfair with everyone.“Jordan was the life and the soul of the party and was splashing the cash, doing slammer after slammer.”Pickford was in the capital following Everton’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal last Saturday. Most read in FootballThe following day he went to Winter Wonderland before going to Bagatelle.The onlooker said: “He made an absolute wonder save in their match against Arsenal so was clearly in the mood for a celebration.”But a second source added: “Jordan had no idea the shots he bought were drunk by Lauryn. When the players realised she was there, they asked security to move her.”Lauryn was in London to meet MP Peter Kyle to discuss issues around the Child Maintenance Service.Kyle Walker and ex-lover Lauryn Goodman in fresh row over intercom security system at her £2.4m homePickford is married to his long-time partner, Megan DavisonCredit: Alpha PressKyle Walker was married to Annie Kilner when he fathered two children with LaurynCredit: GettyJordan didn’t know he was buying shots for Lauryn, claim teammatesCredit: Getty More

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      Tyson Fury is never more dangerous than when he’s the underdog – the world shakes when Gypsy King has his game face on

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      TYSON FURY shook the world when he dethroned the great Wladimir Klitschko with a defensive masterclass back in 2015.And the Gypsy King sent reverberations around the planet again when he demolished Deontay Wilder, the Alabama Sledgehammer, with a brutal attacking onslaught in 2020. Tyson Fury stunned Wladimir Klitschko in 2015Credit: –Fury stopped Deontay Wilder in their 2020 rematchCredit: GettySo whatever the odds, and whatever the logic, do not underestimate Fury as he seeks to become a world heavyweight champion for the third time here against Oleksandr Usyk in the Saudi capital tonight. Fury is never more dangerous than when he is the underdog. There is little wonder that Usyk starts as a clear favourite with the bookies and the boxing aficionados after he inflicted the first defeat of Fury’s professional career here in May. The Ukrainian has always been a model of cool-headed consistency, his record almost flawless – an undisputed world cruiserweight champion before he outpointed Fury seven months ago to become the first undisputed heavyweight king of the 21st century. READ MORE IN BOXINGThe 6ft 9in Fury is an erratic, and always contradictory, beast. The karaoke-singing showman; the bad-mouthing lout. The ducking, weaving craftsman; the bull-in-a-china-shop wallop merchant.  Trying to pin down Fury, inside or outside the ring, is like attempting to lasso a hurricane. The 36-year-old from Morecambe is a force of nature, his mind whirring even faster than those Fred Astaire feet which belie his colossal frame. Most read in BoxingFury vs Usyk 2: Ring walk time, TV channels and undercard – all you need to know for big rematchCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSYet few fighters have ever upset the odds so spectacularly on more than one occasion. Klitschko was a 1-4 favourite before he was toppled in Dusseldorf nine years ago.Watch Tyson Fury’s terrifying rant as Gypsy King vows to put ‘f*****’ Oleksandr Usyk ‘in the hurt lockerWilder, the biggest puncher in the game, was widely fancied to win both of his first two bouts with Fury – who had failed a drug test and journeyed to the edge of reason during two and a half years out of the ring. And yet after an extraordinary Lazarus act when knocked down late in their initial draw, Fury unleashed an explosive all-out attacking display to dismantle Wilder’s unbeaten record in Las Vegas five years ago.  Fury himself claims a victory tonight would not be anywhere near as seismic as his defeat of Klitschko – the Ukrainian who ruled boxing’s blue-riband division for almost a decade before the Gypsy King deposed him. He said: “When I beat Klitschko, I was expected to get the floor wiped with me.  “Beating this fellow (Usyk), after losing by one point in my last fight on a split decision, … not a great night for me. “It wouldn’t be the end of the world. It wouldn’t be like, ‘oh my God, massive upset’.  “I finished stronger than him in Round 12. He got carried back to the changing room, believe it or not. He was smashed to bits. Klitschko was outboxed by Fury before losing on pointsCredit: AFP or licensorsWilder dropped Fury twice in their first fight in 2018Credit: Getty – ContributorFury also beat Wilder in 2021Credit: Reuters“I’ve got a picture on my phone, three days later I never had a mark on me.  “Three days later, he was butchered, broken jaw, broken eye socket, the lot. And that’s not even me at my best, nowhere near.  “I feel sorry for the lad, honestly. They’re talking about trilogies, but the beating I’m going to put on him on Saturday night, he’s going to be moving back down …  I’m sure of that.  “But then again, money talks all languages, doesn’t it? There’s a lot of dough involved, so he might want to take another good hiding.”Fury’s confidence is not shared by many in the fight game. But then he has ridiculed those experts before. With humble thanks to his very excellent excellency Turki Alalshikh – as everybody always says in these parts – Fury and Usyk face off again and the prospect of a trilogy fight next year is what the great Saudi matchmaker craves.If the 37-year-old Usyk prevails tonight, as is widely expected, he will stand as undeniably the pre-eminent boxer of his generation. Oleksandr Usyk defeated Fury on pointsCredit: PANow they rematch back in Saudi ArabiaBut for all the riches available to Alalshikh, there will be no great matches left for him to make in the heavyweight division any time soon.Another Brit, Daniel Dubois holds the IBF crown but Usyk has already defeated him comprehensively. Boxing is at a crossroads. The purity of tonight’s fight – two great heavyweights contesting three of the four major belts – will not be surpassed for years. Instead, there will be a diet of freak shows – YouTubers fighting has-beens or MMA crossover acts. The noble art is threatening to descend into reality TV show territory. Vacuous celebrity so often trumps genuine talent in the online sphere. Fury had dipped his toes into that world – almost suffering a stunning defeat by former UFC world champion Francis Ngannou here last year. READ MORE SUN STORIESBut this week, he’s had his meanest game face on – adamant that there will be none of the face-pulling showboating he rolled out during the initial fight with Usyk. And when Fury is fully-focussed and deadly serious, the world has been known to shake. Fury is never more dangerous than when he is the underdogCredit: PA More