
Elmbridge boy, 7, completes football stadium challenge for uncle
Speaking on BBC Radio Surrey, Zac said: " I feel very good and it's been super fun. Wolves' stadium [Molineux] was a favourite because they let us play on the pitch."My friends think it's incredible."Zac's late uncle Stephen Realf, a trainee RAF pilot, died of a brain tumour aged 26 three years before Zac was born.Maria, Zac's mother, said other family members undertook challenges to commemorate the 10th anniversary of her brother's death.She said Zac was too young for the high-octane challenges, so instead came up with the stadium tour with his father.
"It's taken 12 months and 2,000 miles but he finished it. It's been amazing and a really nice way to connect Zac with Stephen because they never got to meet," his mother siad."I know they would have been the best of friends because they both love football and are daredevils so they would have loved one another, I'm sure."The family are planning two more challenges to complete by next week.
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The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Moses Itauma: ‘A lot of people are too enslaved to their emotions'
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'I feel like everybody has to go through a period of like... a bit of an identity crisis, and actually discover themselves,' he says. Itauma has not only been discovering who he is outside the ring; he has been discovering whether his entire identity is tied to that ring. 'I was a very angry kid,' he admits. 'If you put an angry kid – and a big boy – in boxing, he's bound to do some damage... or receive some.' Thus far, it has been all the former, none of the latter, with Itauma going 12-0 with 10 knockouts. Perhaps the biggest statement so far was the southpaw's December evisceration of Demsey McKean – a sturdy, proven opponent. At least, the Australian had seemed sturdy, before suffering two sickening knockdowns in two minutes against Itauma. Yet Itauma has struggled to enjoy his success. 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He taught me there's actually a whole chess game.' This weekend's main event may not resemble chess, though, to the naked eye. Whyte is a fan favourite for a reason: he is a brawler, and that could lead to an explosive, swift showdown on Saturday. Itauma is the favourite, which says a lot about the expectations on him, but he is trying to stay grounded. 'The first fight I watched where I knew both opponents was Whyte vs Anthony Joshua,' Itauma says. 'I was like 10, and now I'm boxing Dillian, so I'm living the dream. I'm not saying: 'Okay, cool, I got the fight, I'm happy.' I've got an opportunity to showcase my skills, and I won't be happy with anything but a knockout.' Whyte is actually the first opponent that Itauma already follows on Instagram, a unique testament to his respect for the 37-year-old. 'I was thinking about unfollowing him, but I was like: 'This is childish.' I ain't got a problem with him, but it's kinda weird seeing his stuff [and thinking]: 'I'm about to punch your head in.' 'Even yesterday, me against Dillian was keeping me up at night. You know you have that time before you fall asleep, that period of emptiness? The first thought that comes to mind is the most important thing in my life right now: winning this fight. I'm still a kid, I ain't got no responsibilities. The thing that comes to mind is: 'How are we gonna beat him? If he does this, I'm gonna do this, so I can exploit that.' 'That might be a problem with a lot of people; they get too anxious in fights because they're too focused on the outcome. I'm not fussed about that, I'm fussed about my gameplan. When I box to my gameplan, I know I can beat Whyte. It's not keeping me up because I'm afraid, I'm just playing scenarios in my head.' 'When you're picturing Dilian before you go to sleep...' one journalist jumps in, suppressing a grin. 'Ah, come on, man,' Itauma laughs. 'Don't say it like that.' But he adds: 'I think of a scary, mean-looking guy who's ready to take my head off, because I feel like that's what he's gonna [try to] do.' Itauma does not seem to be picturing a fight with Oleksandr Usyk, this generation's greatest heavyweight and the reigning, undisputed champion. Still, he patiently answers repeated questions about the Ukrainian, 38, from various corners. 'Of course, I take my hat off to him, probably the best heavyweight for a long time, but I wouldn't say I admire Usyk,' Itauma says, explaining: 'The only reason is that I don't really like to admire any boxer. Once you put them on a pedestal, you might get a bit starstruck, and it won't lead to positions like Moses Itauma boxing Dillian Whyte at 20 years old. Imagine I see Whyte as the same guy I watched on TV when I was 10, and I'm like: 'Woah, now we're in the ring.' I don't really have time for that.' Yet, when pressed, he says: 'I don't think I'd lose anything from fighting Usyk. If I win, 'wahey'; if I lose, I don't think there's any wrongdoings from that. But I don't ever think I'm going to go into a fight and lose.' In any case, he's trying to dial down the noise. 'I've been tagged, mentioned, everything [to do with Usyk]; I just ignore it, bro. I just turn my Instagram off. I don't want to make the mistake of focusing on Usyk when I've got a serious operator in Whyte.' Saturday could provide a serious test – or more evidence that Itauma is something truly special.


The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Liverpool v Bournemouth live: Premier League season kicks off with Wirtz set to debut for new-look champions
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Scottish Sun
9 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Petr Cech's life as Premier League icon announces wife split, from switching sport to kids following in footsteps
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