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      in Soccer

      Leeds out to beat Tottenham to £20m Robin Koch transfer as Marcelo Bielsa moves on from Ben White

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      LEEDS boss Marcelo Bielsa has set his sights on Freiburg centre-back Robin Koch after missing out on Ben White.
      And Bielsa is ready to pay £20million for the twice-capped German, 24,  following Brighton’s insistence that White is not for sale.

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      Promoted Leeds hope to land Spurs target Robin Koch from Freiburg Credit: AFP – Getty
      White, 22,  starred on loan at Elland Road last season, but United have moved on after having a third bid of £25m rejected.
      Bielsa likes ball-playing centre-backs, and Koch, is rated as one of the best in the Bundesliga.
      The German side want to cash in on Koch now rather than lose him on a free at the end of the season.
      He is also wanted by Tottenham, Newcastle, Lazio and RB Leipzig.

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      Elland Road boss Marcelo Bielsa wanted loan hit Ben White permanently but Brighton say he is not for sale Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Bielsa is also eyeing-up a second swoop for Rangers winger Ryan Kent, 23, after having his initial offer of £10m rejected.
      Rangers insist former Liverpool star Kent is not for sale.
      Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard rapped: “The message  is ‘hands off’. Ryan is in a good place and he’s a player we want to keep.
      “Yes, we have had contact from Leeds, and an opening bid has been strongly rejected.

      “They are way, way off with that opening bid. That’s the truth and the reality. Ryan’s  not for sale.”
      Meanwhile, Northern Ireland star Alfie McCalmont has signed a new four-year contract with Leeds.
      The  midfielder, 20, who is now contracted until the summer of 2024, is yet to make a senior league appearance but played twice in the Carabao Cup last term.

      Leeds making shock £10m move for Rangers star Ryan Kent with Marcelo Bielsa huge fan of ex-Liverpool winger More

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      Stoke can be Championship dark horses while Bournemouth struggle, as Charlton and Forest Green eye glory, says Ashton

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      THE fight to get out of the Championship will be as fierce as ever.
      Here, talkSPORT expert pundit DEAN ASHTON tells us his dark horse for promotion to the Premier League – and reveals how he sees some of the relegated clubs struggling in the second tier.
      He also his verdict on Leagues One and Two and what lies in store for new boys Barrow and Harrogate Town.

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      Bournemouth could struggle back down in the Championship, says Dean AshtonCredit: Getty – Pool
      CHAMPIONSHIP
      DARE I say it is more competitive this season than last.
      I keep going through lots of teams and thinking – ‘yeah I can see them going up, yeah I can see them having a good run, the teams who were relegated being okay.’
      The team that I will be certainly looking at for promotion is Stoke under Michael O’Neill.

      The record he had to take them from the bottom of the league to where they were, and he has already brought in some experienced players.
      I think they will be dark horses for promotion.

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      Stoke could have the tools to finally get back to the Premier LeagueCredit: PA:Press Association
      They have a hard start against Millwall. Gary Rowett did a great job to push them to the playoffs so he will be looking to build on that by making them hard to beat.
      That will be a good marker for Stoke to how they will be looking.

      I go through their squad and I still can’t believe they were in the position they were in last season.
      It is who they keep hold of. As it stands right now they will be too strong for most teams with the way that they play.
      They will be better defensively this time around in the Champions having learnt a lot in the Premier League.
      They will be far too good in possession, if they keep hold of their stars then they will get promoted automatically.
      I see Bournemouth struggling. Losing those players and even though the experience the manager has got alongside Eddie Howe. It is different being the manager and getting respect from the players that Eddie Howe had.

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      Dean Ashton is looking forward to an exciting Championshbip seasonCredit: Rex Features
      We have seen it with so many teams before when they lose a manager that had been there for so long.
      It is going to be a real struggle for Bournemouth like we have seen with Stoke and Middlesbrough.
      Play offs are realistic for Brentford. That team looked so good last season and that was their opportunity I think.
      If they keep hold of everyone then they will go again but with the transfer window staying open for a good while after the season starts – if any of them play well they will just be poached.
      The likes of Derby, Forest and Cardiff will be pushing but I quite fancy Blackburn.

      They gave loads of attacking options, if they get that consistency then they could be the ones to really look out for.
      When talking about relegation, It is hard to look past the teams who got promoted.
      I would expect all three of the promoted sides – Coventry, Wycombe and Rotherham – to be in the bottom six.
      I think it is going to be that tough for them. It is just a case of them getting a decent run and keeping their heads above water.
      There will be a fair few players worth watching, of course.
      QPR winger Bright Osayi-Samuel is certainly one to watch again, if he stays at Loftus Road.
      You also have striker Matt Godden at Coventry as well, whose goals got them up. It’ll be interesting to see how he does at the higher level.
      LEAGUE ONE
      I REALLY fancy Charlton to go up. With Lee Bowyer still there, he is able to bring together a side.
      He showed how well he can do in the low market which will be crucial to most clubs and that is where he has excelled.
      I fully expect Charlton to be right up there fighting for the automatic places.
      I think Sunderland, Ipswich, Hull and Portsmouth – these are big clubs in that league which will all be looking to be competitive and be all in the promotion places all throughout the season.

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      Lee Bowyer can guide Charlton back to the ChampionshipCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      But if I had to pick one it would be Portsmouth. I thought they looked good towards the end of the season and were unlucky the season ended when it did.
      Peterborough are a side that have shown they can match the top sides in the division and if they keep hold of Ivan Toney they will be a big threat as well.
      At the other end, Wigan will be in trouble having lost Paul Cook.
      He was the one the Latics will miss most despite selling all of their players. I think It will be a tough season for them to even try and consolidate mid table would be a good season for them.
      As for my old team Crewe, it’s the big question. For so many seasons now they have been too good for League Two and not good enough for League One.
      It is whether they can make that leap with the strategy they have always had which is to give them young players.
      I see Swindon struggling where Plymouth I fancy to do pretty well.
      LEAGUE TWO
      BOLTON will be the bookies’ favourites but it is a difficult one with them.
      Although the club is big and they have made some signings, you look at the squad and the way they have played over the past few seasons.
      I just don’t see the sudden turnaround in mentality there despite the appointment of Ian Evatt.
      They will be looking for play-offs rather than automatics.

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      Mark Cooper can turn Forest Green Rovers into promotion-chasersCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Forest Green are a team I will probably be tipping quite heavily next season. I liked what I saw last season under Mark Cooper and I think they can build on that.
      Michael Duff’s Cheltenham were another who were strong last season and were unlucky again with the campaign finishing when it did due to coronavirus.
      Tranmere will be champing at the bit as well.
      With what happened to them and the way they got relegated (by Points Per Game after the League One season was stopped early due to Covid-19) they will have an edge to get back into League One.
      And everyone associated with the club will have that anger towards the season and I can see them doing well.

      It is great to see both Harrogate and Barrow, now managed by David Dunn, in the league.
      It will be exciting to see how they get on. People know what great National League sides they are but to see them in the Football League is going to be tough.
      But I would hate to say it but I think it is going to come down to the finances of certain clubs as to where they are at. That is what is going to be key in that league More

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      in Soccer

      Pep Guardiola eyes Lautaro Martinez transfer with Man City ready to splash £81m to beat Barcelona to Inter striker

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      MANCHESTER CITY will step up their efforts to sign a striker with Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez their number one target.
      Pep Guardiola is desperate to sign a long-term replacement for Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane has been his first choice.

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      Manchester City are ready to make a move for inter star Lautaro Martinez Credit: Friedemann Vogel
      But City know it would be impossible to land the Spurs and England striker this year so they are now focusing on Martinez, 22, who featured in the Europa League final defeat Inter against Sevilla.
      Martinez has scored 20 times this season.
      He has a release clause of £81million which City will be able to match although they are keen to offload some players to help fund more buying.
      Barcelona have also been keen on bringing the hotshot to the Nou Camp.

      But they admitted defeat in their pursuit of the ace earlier this week.
      Inter signed Martinez from Racing Club in Argentina for £20m two years ago and has represented Argentina on 17 occasions, scoring nine times – including a hat-trick against Mexico last September.
      The Nerazzuri are keen for him to remain at the club but Guardiola, who has signed defender Nathan Ake from Bournemouth for £41million, wants to buy both a new central striker and a No10.

      Top striker Aguero has one more year left on his current deal.

      And he is set to return back to Argentina to play although City are offering 12 more months.
      Aguero has starred for City since his move from Atletico Madrid in 2011, becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer with 180 goals. More

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      in Soccer

      Ex-Man Utd starlet John O’Kane reveals autism battle after having professionalism questioned by Gary Neville

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      JOHN O’KANE was known as ‘The Spaceman’ because he always seemed to be out there on his own planet.
      Sir Alex Ferguson told him he had more ability than Gary Neville but would slap him on the head before games because he often seemed so distant.

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      Former Man Utd youngster John O’Kane has revealed he has battled autism for much of his lifeCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      After he left Manchester United for Everton, boss Walter Smith bumped into him in a Goodison corridor and said: “Oh, you’re the lazy b, aren’t you?”
      Last year, Neville had a Twitter spat with his fellow Class of ’92 member, declaring that O’Kane was wasting his time waging war on United’s owners, the Glazers.
      Neville tweeted: “Are there 2 John O’Kanes?
      “The one I knew that cowered at the thought of giving his all for the club and was unprofessional whilst wearing the shirt.

      “And this one who is a Twitter warrior and represents the fans with all his heart. Can’t be the same bloke surely!”

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      Gary Neville had questioned O’Kane’s professionalism as a footballerCredit: PA:Press Association
      O’Kane is indeed the same bloke.
      It is just that he was never the bloke that Neville, Fergie, Smith and all the others who criticised him for lacking focus and wasting his talent, thought he was.
      O’Kane is autistic and, until now, has never made that public.

      He has just retired after 15 years working with disadvantaged kids because he also suffers from stage four kidney disease.
      There is a danger that, like former United star Andy Cole two years ago, a kidney transplant may be needed to save his life.
      Yet O’Kane, 45, insisted he has never been happier.
      He said: “They’ve got me on pills for my kidney condition and everything is under control.
      “What was never under control when I was playing was my mental state because of autism.
      “My team-mates would call me The Spaceman, because at times I seemed a bit detached.
      “And Sir Alex — in a good way — would whack me to get me going. There was a battle with Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest to sign me when I was 15.
      “I came from Nottingham but Sir Alex got me after he invited me to his home.
      “There was this surreal experience of us having a game of snooker together before we went to a game against Arsenal.

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      Some of John O’Kane’s class of ’92 team-mates enjoyed a bit more success than himCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “He always liked me, always said ‘Come on, you are my best right-back — go out and prove it’.
      “And I knew I was more gifted than most but I was never as committed because I was constantly battling things in my head.
      “All my managers and team-mates knew there was something ‘different’ about me.
      “I always knew I was autistic but I just tried to get on with it.
      “But it was always such a mental drain. Nobody knew what I was really going through.
      “Howard Kendall signed me for Everton in 1998, then got sacked and Walter Smith took over.
      “By then I had the reputation of being too laid back, not committed enough, not hungry enough and Smith made his feelings clear.
      “We never got on and he got rid of me as soon as he could.
      “I never said there was pressure in my brain as well as on my body — I was just ‘lazy’ John O’Kane who threw his career away.”
      The former right-back ended that career at non–league Hyde.
      He quit the game in 2006 and is now writing his autobiography.
      O’Kane added: “Had I been able to be more emotionally committed, I might have been winning the 1999 Treble.

      “But I spent 15 years working with kids in the care sector.
      “They are my medals and I’m prouder of the work I did helping those poor youngsters than anything I ever did in the game.
      “I’m speaking out now about my autism because, if that helps one other person suffering in silence, then that will make me prouder still of my life.” More

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      in Soccer

      New Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman targets Manchester City defender Eric Garcia as man to replace Gerard Pique

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      NEW Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman aims to bring Eric Garcia back to the Nou Camp this summer.
      The Catalan giants have made it clear they want to re-sign Manchester City’s centre-back, 19, who came through their famed La Masia academy.

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      Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman aims to bring Eric Garcia back to the Nou Camp this summer

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      Gerard Pique’s Barcelona future is in doubt and Garcia is seen as his heir

      Yet with funds tight at the club, Barca chiefs were willing to wait until May when Garcia’s Etihad contract will have expired.
      Now Koeman wants to see if their move for the talented youngster — who has been called up by Spain this week — can be brought forward.
      With doubts over the future of veteran Barca defender Gerard Pique, 33, Koeman is hoping to secure a centre-half for the long-term future.
      City boss Pep Guardiola revealed earlier this month that the Spanish superkid has turned down a new deal and is keen to leave.

      But Etihad moneymen are demanding £30million to consider selling now — and Barca are unlikely to reach that figure.

      City would also be happy to keep Garcia next season and let him leave for free next summer.
      Dutchman Koeman admits it will be difficult to make sweeping changes this window, due to the economic impact of Covid-19.
      But the ex-Everton and Southampton chief knows he must shake things up after their humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich — which led to Quique Setien being axed as manager.

      So instead, he will prioritise two or three new faces this summer — with Garcia expected to be one of them.
      Koeman said: “Big clubs are undergoing major losses and I’m aware it may be hard to bring in five or six players immediately.”

      City’s willingness to part with Garcia (right) this summer is likely to be linked to their success in the transfer market.
      They have already paid £40m to sign defender Nathan Ake from relegated Bournemouth.
      And Guardiola is eyeing a move for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, despite the Senegal centre-half’s £80m price tag.

      Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman says he doesn’t know if he has to convince Messi to stay More

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      Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa finally set to sign new £8MILLION-a-year deal with Premier League new boys

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      MARCELO BIELSA is finally set to sign an £8million-a-year deal to stay at Leeds – as they landed a plum opener at Liverpool.
      The Premier League fixtures revealed yesterday pitted them against the champions at Anfield next month.

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      Marcelo Bielsa is finally set to sign a new £8m-a-year contract at Leeds
      Bielsa led Leeds back to the big time after a 16-year exile but fans feared the worst as his contract expired.
      Now he is set to pen a bumper new contract – taking his salary from £6m to £8m – until 2022.
      Leeds chief exec Angus Kinnear said: “I just need to find an appropriate window to get the paper in front of him and for him to sign it.

      “I know fans are nervous, it makes me a bit nervous, but I don’t think there is any reason to be.

      “Marcelo is absolutely focused on training, but like last season where I know everyone was nervous about the contract, it is about him getting the time to focus on signing it.
      “We have conversations daily and it tends to be about the minutiae of the preparations for the season rather than his contract.”
      After falling at the play-off hurdle the season before, the 64-year-old Argentine took Leeds to the title at the second time of asking.

      They sealed the championship in the penultimate game of the season at Derby, where they were charged after their players celebrated with flares at an empty Pride Park.

      Leeds have accepted the charge, with the incident coming on the same day director of football Victor Orta mocked the Rams by celebrating with binoculars.
      This followed ‘Spygate’, in which Bielsa admitted to snooping on Frank Lampard’s Derby training the season before.

      The Premier League opening day fixtures for 2020-21 have been revealed

      Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman says he doesn’t know if he has to convince Messi to stay More

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      Mauricio Pochettino is becoming football’s forgotten man after Barcelona and Juventus rejection

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      WHEN Juventus fired Maurizio Sarri last week, they were widely reported to want Mauricio Pochettino as their next head coach.
      But those ‘expert’ predictions had barely made it online before the Italian Champions appointed club legend Andrea Pirlo.

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      Mauricio Pochettino was overlooked by both Barcelona and Juventus
      The same thing happened the other day, when Barcelona reacted to their Champions League humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich by sacking coach Quique Setien.
      Once again we were reliably informed that Pochettino was top of their wanted list — until it was announced that Ronald Koeman would be taking over at the Nou Camp.
      Poch, it seems, had barely registered in the thoughts of two of football’s biggest clubs before being passed over.
      And now the out-of-work Argentine must be wondering exactly when his big chance is going to come.

      It is more than nine months since he left Tottenham with a £12million pay-off.
      So at least he’s not short of a few bob as he awaits his next opportunity.
      But all those elite manager’s jobs which were supposed to be awaiting him have yet to materialise.
      And we’re rapidly approaching the point where Poch is in danger of becoming the forgotten man of football.

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      Juventus appointed club legend Andrea Pirlo as their new manager
      The Argentine Alan Curbishley, if you like.
      Pochettino could never have envisaged such a situation when he was dismissed by Spurs last November.
      After all, hadn’t he worked a minor miracle during his five years in North London?
      Surely he was destined for the very top after leading Tottenham to second place in the 2016-17 campaign — their highest Premier League finish — and to last season’s Champions League final while working to a limited budget.
      The general consensus at the time was that he was all set to replace struggling Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United.
      Yet just when it seemed the writing was on the Old Trafford walls for Ole, he seized the wheel to turn the United ship around, aided by the signing of £55million man Bruno Fernandes and a s***-load of penalties.
      Now we’re being told it’s actually Manchester City who are lining up Pochettino, if Pep Guardiola decides he wants a new challenge.

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      Ronald Koeman replaced Quique Setien at Barcelona
      But that’s a big ‘if’, because Guardiola still has a year of his Etihad contract to run and Sheikh Mansour is doing everything in his considerable power to secure a new deal.
      And even if Guardiola does leave City next summer, can Pochettino really afford to wait that long?
      Football club owners, like goldfish, tend to have very short memories and Poch’s previous achievements are rapidly fading into the mists of time.
      He needs to make his managerial return sooner rather than later but if you look across Europe’s elite teams, it’s the same tale of blocked roads.
      Former club Paris Saint-Germain aren’t going to be sacking Thomas Tuchel after getting to Sunday’s Champions League final.And Zinedine Zidane looks equally secure at Real Madrid.
      Bayern Munich are in love with new boss Hansi Flick and none of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ will be in the market for a new boss any time soon.
      Even Newcastle have had to curb their fanciful big-time ambitions after the collapse of their proposed Saudi-backed takeover.

      So that leaves maybe one of the lesser French, German or Italian teams — but none who would be regarded as a step up from Spurs, nor able to pay him the £170,000 a week he was getting in his previous job.
      At 48, Pochettino is far from finished and surely it’s only a matter of time before his star is back in the ascendancy.
      But the anticipated stampede of clubs beating a path to his door has not transpired and that must be a painful blow to his self-esteem.

      Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman says he doesn’t know if he has to convince Messi to stay More

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      in Boxing

      Alexander Povetkin tells Dillian Whyte not to be ‘scared’ and invites him to eat ‘buffet lunch’ after heavyweight clash

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      ALEXANDER POVETKIN reckons ‘scared’ rival Dillian Whyte should stop hiding out in his caravan.
      Brixton ace Whyte has resorted to living in a couple of motorhomes at Brentwood Holiday Inn, while his Russian opponent stays in a regular room.

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      Alexander Povetkin reckons ‘scared’ rival Dillian Whyte should stop hiding out in his caravan

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      Whyte has resorted to living in a couple of motorhomes at Brentwood Holiday Inn
      Whyte, 32, and promoter Eddie Hearn insist it is to stop the pair scrapping on the M25 before tomorrow’s first bell.
      But the heavyweights shared a cordial stage for yesterday’s press conference and Povetkin, 40, even invited his rival to share a buffet lunch with him before he flies home.
      The Soviet slugger said: “I don’t see why it is necessary for him to live in a caravan — but it is up to Dillian.
      “I don’t need to be hidden away or kept separate from him or any of his team but maybe it’s different for him.

      “We are eating and training and walking around in the same places as everyone else with no problems.
      “I don’t care how he feels. Maybe he’s afraid, but he doesn’t need to be — he looks in good shape and I don’t bite.”

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      Povetkin gave Anthony Joshua a serious scare in September 2018, before being brutally stopped in round seven.
      He scored a savage KO win over David Price to land that Wembley showdown with AJ and followed it up with a unanimous comeback decision over Hughie Fury.

      The ex-world champ is close friends with London veteran Derek Chisora and invites Daniel Dubois out to Russia for sparring.
      Now he is hoping to add Whyte to his list of fighting friends.
      He said: “I don’t like fighting or beating UK guys in particular — but I do love the fans here and the atmosphere.
      “I have a very good relationship with Chisora. He was going to come in and train with me but the Covid lockdown restrictions were changing too much.
      “I feel I can shake the hands of Anthony Joshua, David Price and Hughie Fury, too, and Dillian could be the same.”

      I don’t care how he feels. Maybe he’s afraid, but he doesn’t need to be — he looks in good shape and I don’t bite.”
      Povetkin on Whyte

      Povetkin welcomed son Slava to the family in July, making his Covid-hit training camp even more complicated.
      And the proud new father — who has often been painted as boxing’s Mr Bland — opened up on fatherhood at 40.
      He added: “I am a pretty fun guy in real life but maybe the UK reporters didn’t want to know about my personality before.
      “I like to train and keep fit in lots of ways and enjoy time with the baby. But, no, I am not good at changing nappies.
      “I have had a baby but everything is normal, nothing changed with my camp, my wife is doing all of the work very well.”
      On Povetkin’s three previous UK missions he has had judges of mixed nationality.
      Due to British Boxing Board of Control restrictions, all tomorrow’s fight officials will be home grown.

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      Povetkin said: “I won’t be particularly trying to win with a left hook. Any way the win comes will be fine — even a decision.
      “There will be three British judges and a British referee, but hopefully I don’t get any bad scoring from the judges.
      “I hope they are respectful of the fact I’ve taken the fight under these conditions.”

      Dillian Whyte says pressure does not affect him as he prepares to fight Alexander Povetkin More