CELEB NEWS Archives - Page 13 of 17

Emma Raducanu has received high praise following her return to the court this year

Tennis pundit Mark Petchey believes that Emma Raducanu is capable of winning ‘multiple Grand Slams’ now that she has returned to full fitness. The 21-year-old endured an injury-ridden 2023 but is hoping to get her career back on track on this year’s tour.

Following her US Open success in 2021, Raducanu struggled to build on the momentum gained at Flushing Meadows. Recurring injuries and shaky performances raised questions about whether the Brit can continue to compete at the very top level.

Raducanu underwent surgery on both her wrists and her ankle last year and she has now returned to the court. The former world No. 10 has won three and lost four of her matches so far this year, and slowly but surely she appears to be finding her form.

Several former players have emerged with praise for how Raducanu has returned, with Petchey among those to talk up her chances now that she has gone under the knife. He told The i newspaper: “She is moving well.

BOXING

Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou: Sky Sports Box Office to broadcast heavyweight clash live on March 8

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou will meet in heavyweight clash live on Sky Sports Box Office on March 8; boxing superstar Joshua is the former WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion working his way back to the top of the sport; Ngannou, a UFC champion, fights AJ after Tyson Fury bout

Joshua, the former unified WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion, will fight Ngannou, the one-time UFC titlist whose sudden appearance in boxing has taken the sport by storm, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

Joshua is on a three-bout winning streak after rebuilding from a second consecutive loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2022.

Most recently he dominated Otto Wallin, forcing the Swedish contender to retire on his stool after five rounds.

Mixed martial arts star Ngannou will only be having his second professional boxing bout, but he almost secured one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history in his first.

BOXING

Floyd Mayweather vs. Tommy Hearns: Former World Champ Uses Deontay Wilder Example to End the Debate

On November 19, 2005, Floyd Mayweather Jr. fought his first welterweight fight. Four months later, he would win his first championship belt in the division. But in that duration, on February 4, 2006, an era came to an end. One of the greatest boxers in history, Thomas Hearns, finally hung up his gloves.

Mayweather Jr. retired nearly a decade later. But many can’t help but pose an intriguing question. Towards the twilight years of his career, Hearns fought in the cruiserweight and lightweight divisions. However, he commenced his career as a welterweight. So what would have happened if the two greats had collided as 147-pounders? Who would have won? A former champion seems certain of the route this gripping square-off would have taken.

“Floyd Mayweather versus Tommy ‘The Hitman’ Hearns at 147. Who’s gonna take that one?” Now that’s a million-dollar question. But who would risk the answer? Both are boxing greats and living legends. Where one excelled as a defensive genius, the other relished pummeling opponents with a relentless attack. After spending nearly 20 years inside the ring, Mayweather Jr. retired with an unbeaten record.

Who would win between Deontay Wilder and Floyd Mayweather Jr? - Quora

“It is what it is, y’all. ‘Hitman’ takes that. It is what it is.” He said this during the interview. He shared that he had gone through ‘The Hitman’s career right from his amateur days. Hence, according to Porter, he had never been as skilled as many expected him to be, despite all the boxing he had been doing since a young age.

BOXING

Floyd Mayweather Shared An $18 Million Check He Just Wrote To The IRS

Floyd Mayweather has long made it a practice of flaunting his lavish wealth, and over the recent Super Bowl weekend that included taking to Instagram to tout the $1.1 million he said he spent on luxury Super Bowl suite tickets for himself and 34 friends. But it also included a post about a much larger expenditure, and one that was almost certainly less fun, unless he was rooting for the 49ers: a check to the IRS totaling more than $18 million.

Mayweather started up with a post about his Super Bowl plans with the following caption:

“Just before I paid that light million and change for that little Super Bowl stuff,” Mayweather posted. “I had to pay the IRS aka Uncle Sam $18,047,181. This is what I owed in taxes while I’m retired so just imagine what I was paying when I was activated.”

Mayweather might be retired from boxing but a tax bill like that shows he’s still making plenty of money from endorsements and other investments. Fortunately for him and his inner circle, he seems to still be doing OK, although it might make you wonder how many more people he could have taken to the Super Bowl if he didn’t have taxes to worry about.

CELEB NEWS

Hamilton blocked from Ferrari dream as Red Bull change Horner investigation plans

Red Bull’s partner and future engine supplier Ford has released a statement regarding the investigation into allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ against Christian Horner. The Red Bull boss was grilled by an independent lawyer last week as part of the investigation and publicly addressed the allegations at the team’s car launch on Thursday.

Mercedes 'contacted by manager' of F1 rival to discuss Lewis Hamilton | F1 | Sport | Express.co.uk

As a partner of Red Bull, Ford have now addressed the investigation into Horner. Mark Rushbrook, global head of Ford Performance Motorsport, told Association Press: “As a family company, and a company that holds itself to very high standards of behaviour and integrity, we do expect the same from our partners.

“It appears to us, and what we’ve been told, was that Red Bull is taking the situation very seriously. And of course, they’re worried about their brand, as well.

CELEB NEWS

“I’ve criticized Pete Sampras for saying he wanted to win lots of Grand Slams”: When Serena Williams spoke on setting goals to be World No. 1 again

Serena Williams once claimed that she was drawing inspiration from Pete Sampras to reclaim the World No. 1 rank.

In 2002, Williams sat atop the WTA Rankings for the first time after winning Wimbledon, defeating her sister Venus in straight sets. However, the subsequent year saw her fall down the ladder due to surgery on the quadriceps tendon in her knee, during the US Swing in August.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion returned to the sport in 2004 after a short hiatus and concluded the year ranked No. 7. This was followed by a No. 11 finish in 2005, marking her first time finishing a season outside the Top 10 since 1998.

When starting her campaign at the 2006 Australian Open, Serena Williams was asked by reporters if she had set herself any new goals of reclaiming the World No. 1 rank.

Williams replied in affirmative, citing Pete Sampras’ example. She mentioned that although she used to criticize her compatriot for his constant ambition, she gradually came to understand his perspective.

Williams was eliminated from the Melbourne Slam that year in the third round by Daniela Hantuchova in straight sets.

Subsequently, the American took a six-month break from professional tennis due to suffering from depression. By the end of the year, she was ranked World No. 95, marking her lowest year-ending rank since 1997.

BOXING

Tyson Fury injury could derail plans for five-fight bonanza to end his professional career

Fury‘s ambitious five-fight plan, which has been jeopardized by the postponement of a highly anticipated bout with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.

Fury‘s decision to delay the fight came after he sustained a cut to his eye during a sparring session, forcing the bout to be rescheduled from its original date of February 17.

Critics have called for Fury to retire from boxing, especially after his lackluster victory over Francis Ngannou in October. Even Usyk‘s camp has joined in the calls for Fury to hang up his gloves.

However, Fury remains adamant that he will not retire and is planning to have as many as five more fights before closing out his professional career.

What did Carl Froch say?

Fury has stated that he intends to fight Usyk twice, with the first bout scheduled for May 18, before focusing on Anthony Joshua. He aims to have two highly anticipated fights with Joshua, as well as a rematch with Ngannou before retiring.

Carl Froch, however, has cast doubt on the feasibility of Fury‘s plan. He believes that Fury‘s decision to continue fighting will depend on his performance in the first bout with Usyk. If Fury is soundly defeated, Froch suggests that he may decide to retire due to a lack of desire or energy to continue.

BOXING

Mike Tyson Launches Tyson Transformational Technologies Academy in Phoenix

In a groundbreaking move in the realm of education and philanthropy, former World Champion Boxer, Entertainer, and Entrepreneur Mike Tyson has recently unveiled the Tyson Transformational Technologies Academy (TTA) in Phoenix, Arizona. This academy, catering to students from 6th to 12th grade, represents a collaborative effort between Tyson, MLMPI Prep Academy, and President Daniel Puder, an undefeated MMA fighter and WWE Champion.

Daniel Puder expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “As a society, we get to build our youths for the next generation. We are so blessed to have Mike Tyson part of our school system. He inspires our students.”

Similarly, Mike Tyson himself shared his motivation behind this endeavor, saying, “It’s important to me that I am able to share my life experiences to inspire the next generation. This new educational institution will build core values that I am honored and grateful to be part of the Arizona community. I was thrilled to be part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony and meeting some of the students.”

BOXING

Keyshawn Davis Accuses Canelo Alvarez of Making “Excuses” to Not Fight Terence Crawford

Is Canelo Alvarez afraid of fighting another great fighter Terence Crawford? Well, after his dominating victory over Errol Spence Jr. in July last year, ‘Bud’ Crawford expressed he wanted to become a three-time undisputed champion in the sport. In this, regard, he suggested facing Canelo Alvarez at 158 lbs, a catchweight

However, Canelo Alvarez remained averse to the idea of facing ‘Bud’, the champion at Welterweight. In his latest interview, while the boxing world waited for Canelo’s next opponent, the Mexican claimed he would be subjected to criticism if he faced Crawford. But, Keyshawn Davis strongly disagreed. Here is what he told FightHype.

In his latest interview with Box Azteca, Canelo Alvarez said that if he potentially defeated Terence Crawford, people would criticize the Mexican boxer for facing a smaller fighter in the ring. “I have everything to lose and nothing to gain because if I win, they’ll say, ‘Oh, he was too small, and everything!” said Alvarez. As a result, the 33-year-old feels a match against ‘Bud’ Crawford is simply not worth it. However, Keyshawn Davis feels otherwise.

According to Keyshawn Davis, despite everyone expecting a sure win from Canelo, the Mexican fought several smaller fighters in the past. Therefore, Davis struggles to believe that Canelo would turn down ‘Bud’ simply because everyone thinks the Mexican has a better chance at winning. “Everybody knew he was going to beat Charlo, right? Right or wrong? He was going to beat Caleb Plant, right? Right or wrong? So, sounds like excuses to me,” said Davis.

CELEB NEWS

Novak Djokovic returns: he hits the practice courts for the first time since being eliminated from the Australian Open

Djokovic returned to practice on the tennis court for the first time since he was surprisingly eliminated by 22-year-old Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open in January.

Although he said goodbye without being able to win the first Grand Slam of 2024, Novak will compete in the 2024 Indian Wells tournament to be played from March 6 to 17, according to the schedule published on his website.

Djokovic will seek to win his sixth Indian Wells title in this 2024 edition, after having won it in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016. His last participation in this tournament was in 2019.

The 36-year-old tennis player currently holds 40 ATP Masters titles. The last time Djokovic competed in a Masters tournament was in Paris in 2023, where he took the title by beating Grigor Dimitrov in the final.