logo
Oleksandr Usyk confirms his place in boxing history with stunning victory

Oleksandr Usyk confirms his place in boxing history with stunning victory

Independent19-07-2025
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Daniel Dubois by fifth-round stoppage at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night.
The victory saw Usyk become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, regaining his undisputed status and the IBF title.
The 38-year-old Ukrainian remains unbeaten in his professional career and is one of the finest boxers of this generation.
This marks Usyk's third overall undisputed championship, having previously held all major belts at cruiserweight.
For 27-year-old Dubois, it was another loss to Usyk, following their controversial 2023 bout in Poland.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Premier League 2025-26 preview No 7: Chelsea
Premier League 2025-26 preview No 7: Chelsea

The Guardian

timean hour ago

  • The Guardian

Premier League 2025-26 preview No 7: Chelsea

Guardian writers' predicted position: 4th (NB: this is not necessarily Michael Butler's prediction but the average of our writers' tips) Last season's position: 4th Securing Champions League qualification on the last day of the Premier League season and an unlikely Club World Cup triumph have transformed the club, their finances and ambitions for 2025-26. Chelsea stayed relatively under the radar for much of the Club World Cup – in part because of their relatively kind route to the later stages – but their commanding 3-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the final means they are again regarded as a potentially dominant European force and perhaps even as contenders for the Premier League title. That is if Chelsea are ready – mentally, physically and tactically – for the new season. By the time Chelsea played the Club World Cup final on 13 July, nearly every other Premier League side had started their pre-season. Since then, while Liverpool, Arsenal and co have been hard at work, the players have had three weeks off and returned on Monday, with two friendly matches, two days apart, scheduled before their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on 17 August. To say Chelsea are playing catch-up is a severe understatement. That said, this is probably the most exciting period for Chelsea since the Champions League triumph in 2021. With the exception of goalkeeper and possibly centre-back, Enzo Maresca has a claim to having two elite players in every position and he could yet add further depth with Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho heavily linked. Departures will be needed to trim the fat and balance the books – Chelsea were given a €31m (£27m) fine last month by Uefa for breaking financial rules – but few would argue against them having the deepest squad in the league and one of Maresca's biggest challenges will be maintaining harmony and continuity, on and off the pitch. Last season, the Conference League was a useful chance to rest and rotate players. The Champions League will not be so accommodating. As recently as April, Maresca was at odds with the Chelsea fans and appeared to blame a negative environment at Stamford Bridge for a 2-2 home draw with Ipswich that left top-five hopes fading fast. But five wins from the final six league games secured fourth place, saving Chelsea's season and possibly Maresca's job. 'They were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough,' he said. 'Unfortunately for them, they have all been wrong. So in English, how do you say? Eff-off to all of them.' Chelsea's Club World Cup triumph – and the tactical masterclass by Maresca in the final to neutralise PSG's front three and create pockets of space for Cole Palmer – means he will get a very different reception at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea's league opener. Chelsea's much-maligned financial gymnastics of recent years – the eight-year contract amortisation (a loophole closed by Uefa), the sale of their hugely successful women's team (to their own parent company) and their rampant use of multiclub ownership and the loan system – have infuriated rivals and allowed them to assemble one of the deepest, youngest, most talented squads around. In the Todd Boehly era, Chelsea have spent more than £1.5bn and the club face an additional €60m fine from Uefa if they fail to comply with regulations over the next four years. A bigger stadium would help, but what Chelsea do with Stamford Bridge remains unclear; the 40,044-capacity ground is not easily developed given challenges ranging from the freehold to a nearby railway line. A move to Earl's Court has been mooted. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Estêvão was courted by PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich and is widely regarded as the biggest talent to come out of Brazil since Vinícius Júnior. The 18-year-old's performances at the Club World Cup – including a brilliant strike for Palmeiras against Chelsea in the quarter-final – suggests that the summer arrival is already world class. Players swooned over the teenager at the final whistle in Philadelphia – 'I told Estêvão: 'We are excited for you to join' but he didn't understand a single word I said,' Palmer said after swapping shirts with the £52m signing. Capable off both wings or as a No 10, the slender Estêvão will want to impress the former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, now of Brazil, before the World Cup next summer. 'He potentially can be a top defender for this club,' Maresca said of Josh Acheampong after the defender's performances at the Club World Cup prompted whispers that several clubs in England and Europe were tracking the teenager. How the 19-year-old fits into Maresca's plans remains to be seen, but his versatility, 6ft 3in stature and composure enabled him to enjoy a breakthrough year with 13 first-team appearances. Naturally a right-back or a centre-back but capable of playing anywhere across the backline, Acheampong joined Chelsea as an under-eight and signed a new five-year contract in 2024. 'The clubs that were mentioned, they like Josh, but we also like Josh,' Maresca said. 'The best plan for Josh is to be with us.' Roméo Lavia. The 21-year-old's quality is not in question. Chelsea are a better side with Lavia, more fluid and press-resistant, and he was sensational in a 3-1 win against Liverpool in May when he completed 100% of his passes. Maresca even moved Moisés Caicedo to right-back to accommodate Lavia alongside Enzo Fernández at the back end of last season, but concerns remain over the Belgian's fitness. After a first year when he managed 32 minutes in 2023-24, another injury-hit campaign followed, starting 11 league games. Another year on the sidelines could spell trouble, particularly as Chelsea have Caicedo, Fernández, Dário Essugo, the impressive Andrey Santos and perhaps Reece James competing for two spots in defensive midfield in Maresca's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.

Burnley sign midfielder Ugochukwu from Chelsea
Burnley sign midfielder Ugochukwu from Chelsea

BBC News

time2 hours ago

  • BBC News

Burnley sign midfielder Ugochukwu from Chelsea

Burnley have completed the signing of French midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu from Chelsea for a fee of more than £ 21-year-old has signed a five-year deal at Turf Sport understands the fee is similar to the £23.2m Chelsea paid to sign Ugochukwu from Rennes in 2023."It's a great feeling to sign for Burnley," said Ugochukwu."As soon as I was made aware of the club's interest in signing me, I was keen to hear more about the project. I spoke to the manager and Maxime [Esteve] – they were both so passionate about the club and the direction it's heading in. "It feels like this is the perfect move for me at this stage of my career with the ambition the club is showing."Ugochukwu was considered surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea look to sell multiple players in their so-called 'bomb squad' - a group of players including England internationals Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell - training separately from Enzo Maresca's first spent two years at Chelsea, making 15 appearances in all competitions during his first season before joining Southampton on a season-long loan for are also in talks to sign Chelsea's 23-year-old forward Armando say the move could be worth up to £20m but the exact price has not been confirmed.

Irish League club set for financial boost as Northern Ireland striker on verge of League One switch
Irish League club set for financial boost as Northern Ireland striker on verge of League One switch

Belfast Telegraph

time3 hours ago

  • Belfast Telegraph

Irish League club set for financial boost as Northern Ireland striker on verge of League One switch

The 21-year-old is on the move from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth more than £1million. Linfield will also net a financial boost after Taylor joined Forest from the Blues as a teenager in 2020. He spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at League One outfit Wigan Athletic from Forest, scoring 10 goals and providing seven assists in 42 appearances. The striker claimed both the Players' Player of the Year and Player of the Year prizes, becoming the first loan signing since Chelsea's Reece James (2018/19) to achieve the feat. Taylor will be hoping the move helps him add to his nine senior caps for Northern Ireland after making his debut against Lithuania in 2021. His international comrade Jamie Donley has joined Championship club Stoke City on loan. The 20-year-old Tottenham Hotspur forward was hot property following an impressive loan stint in League One with Leyton Orient in the 2024/25 term. He scored eight goals and provided 10 assists as the O's made the Play-Off Final. Although several Championship sides were keen on his signature, Stoke got the deal over the line. Donley said: 'I had a few teams after me, but I decided on Stoke when the gaffer (Mark Robins) called while I was away on tour with Spurs. 'The way he wants to play, both in terms of attacking and defending, definitely suits me. 'I've heard a lot about the coaching staff and how the manager improves young players. 'You can see that in the history he's had in working with different teams. 'I'm very much a team player, Stoke City fans can know I'll work really hard whether that's defensively or making options to receive the ball to play forward. 'I enjoyed a really positive loan last year, I know about the pressure of men's football now and how people look to you to contribute in games. 'I took to that pressure well and I want to carry that on here at Stoke City.' In the Sports Direct Premiership, Crusaders have signed defender Odhran McCart following his departure from Ards. Glenavon have made goalkeeper Tadhg Ryan available for transfer.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store