Latest news with #Arum
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Bob Arum ‘really concerned' for Manny Pacquiao as boxing legend returns at 46
Pacquiao is set to challenge 30-year-old Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title on 19 July, as the Filipino boxes professionally for the first time since 2021. In his last pro bout, 'Pac Man' was outpointed by Yordenis Ugas. Pacquiao has boxed in exhibitions since, but Barrios should represent a significantly tougher challenge than his opponents in those bouts, as noted by Pacquiao's former promoter Arum. 'I can't say anything negative, because Manny meant so much to us and our company,' the Top Rank boss told The Ring. 'But it seems really questionable that, at his age, he would put himself at risk by going into the ring with a champion fighter. 'I mean, George Foreman wasn't even that age; he was younger when he beat Michael Moorer. And George had been active over the years prior to that fight with Moorer. Manny hasn't been active at all really. Arum, 93, was referring to the late Foreman's record-breaking title win in 1994, when he became the oldest champion in boxing history at 45. However, a 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins broke that record in 2011 with a win over Jean Pascal. Still, Pacquiao's world-title bid this summer – enabled by WBC rules that allow former champions to become 'qualified challengers' – has drawn criticism in the boxing world. "He's an amazing person, Manny Pacquiao, and if anybody can do it, he can do it,' said Arum. 'But I'm really concerned about it, given his age and his inactivity. 'But again, I will certainly be rooting for him, because he's really a great guy who has meant so much to us as a company.' Pacquiao, widely considered one of boxing's all-time greats, is the sport's only eight-weight world champion. In July 2019, in his second-most-recent pro bout, he beat Keith Thurman to become the oldest welterweight champion in history aged 40. He will look to surpass his own record when he boxes Barrios. Pacquiao is also known for his political endeavours in his home country of the Philippines, where he served as a senator from 2016 until 2022. He also ran for president in 2022 but was unsuccessful, and now he is eyeing a return to the Senate.
West Australian
19-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
Nicola Barton: The hidden dark side of our ‘wholesome' houseplant habit
When I moved into my first rental, I did what most twenty-somethings do to make a place feel like home: I filled it with plants. There were monsteras perched on the shelves, devil's ivy dangling artfully from macrame hangers and English ivy already curling up the balcony trellis, giving the place that overgrown, cottage-like charm. I thought I was doing something good. Making my place greener. Connecting to nature in a small way. It looked lush and it felt wholesome. Then I learned an uncomfortable truth and my view changed completely. English ivy (Hedera helix), as it turns out, isn't a pretty trailing vine. It's a serious invasive weed in parts of Australia. It spreads quickly, climbs aggressively and strangles trees. It's one of hundreds of ornamental species, including popular houseplants, that have made the leap from gardens into the bush and are now causing serious harm. The more I learned, the more I started to notice it. Ivy tangled around gums. Mother in law's tongue creating spiked barren swaths in drier forests and grasslands. Gazanias completely overtaking beach dune systems. Arum lilies choking out creeks. The same plants I once thought of as low-effort greenery, out here, disrupting ecosystems and threatening already-vulnerable wildlife. I didn't know any of this when I bought them — and I'm not alone. Australia has more than 30,000 introduced plant species. At least 3000 of them have become naturalised weeds and many of the worst offenders were first introduced through nurseries, gardens and houseplants. They were planted or dumped, they escaped and now our environment is paying the price. It's hard not to feel angry. How are we supposed to protect nature when the very plants threatening it are sold as 'low-maintenance ground covers' and 'house companion''? Currently, there's no national rule to stop weedy plants from being sold in the first place. Instead, we wait until a species becomes a serious problem, then sometimes we ban it — by which point it's often already widespread and near-impossible to control. The Invasive Species Council is campaigning for a nationally co-ordinated permitted list approach. It's a simple shift: instead of assuming all plants are safe unless proven otherwise, we do the opposite. Only those garden and house plants assessed as low-risk can be sold or imported. It's how we could stop the next lantana before it escapes into the bush. We also need a national strategy to mitigate the damage caused by invasive plants already entrenched in our landscapes. Many of these plants continue to be sold, despite their destructive potential. Without a co-ordinated approach, we're effectively throwing millions into the losing battle of weed control, all while still stocking shelves with the very problem we're trying to eliminate. I still have plants in my home, but now I know where they come from and what they might do if they escape the pot. I've researched what's locally native to me. I talk to my friends and family about it. It's a small shift, but an important one. This isn't a blame game or for guilting people about what's planted in their gardens. It's about smarter rules, clearer information and leadership from government. Because the bush we walk through on weekends — the places we go to feel grounded and breathe — deserve better than to be quietly smothered by plants never meant to be there. If we're serious about protecting nature, we need to start in our own backyards. Nicola Barton is a media officer at the Invasive Species Council
Perth Now
19-05-2025
- General
- Perth Now
The hidden dark side of our ‘wholesome' houseplant habit
When I moved into my first rental, I did what most twenty-somethings do to make a place feel like home: I filled it with plants. There were monsteras perched on the shelves, devil's ivy dangling artfully from macrame hangers and English ivy already curling up the balcony trellis, giving the place that overgrown, cottage-like charm. I thought I was doing something good. Making my place greener. Connecting to nature in a small way. It looked lush and it felt wholesome. Then I learned an uncomfortable truth and my view changed completely. English ivy (Hedera helix), as it turns out, isn't a pretty trailing vine. It's a serious invasive weed in parts of Australia. It spreads quickly, climbs aggressively and strangles trees. It's one of hundreds of ornamental species, including popular houseplants, that have made the leap from gardens into the bush and are now causing serious harm. The more I learned, the more I started to notice it. Ivy tangled around gums. Mother in law's tongue creating spiked barren swaths in drier forests and grasslands. Gazanias completely overtaking beach dune systems. Arum lilies choking out creeks. The same plants I once thought of as low-effort greenery, out here, disrupting ecosystems and threatening already-vulnerable wildlife. I didn't know any of this when I bought them — and I'm not alone. Australia has more than 30,000 introduced plant species. At least 3000 of them have become naturalised weeds and many of the worst offenders were first introduced through nurseries, gardens and houseplants. They were planted or dumped, they escaped and now our environment is paying the price. It's hard not to feel angry. How are we supposed to protect nature when the very plants threatening it are sold as 'low-maintenance ground covers' and 'house companion''? Currently, there's no national rule to stop weedy plants from being sold in the first place. Instead, we wait until a species becomes a serious problem, then sometimes we ban it — by which point it's often already widespread and near-impossible to control. The Invasive Species Council is campaigning for a nationally co-ordinated permitted list approach. It's a simple shift: instead of assuming all plants are safe unless proven otherwise, we do the opposite. Only those garden and house plants assessed as low-risk can be sold or imported. It's how we could stop the next lantana before it escapes into the bush. If we're serious about protecting nature, we need to start in our own backyards. We also need a national strategy to mitigate the damage caused by invasive plants already entrenched in our landscapes. Many of these plants continue to be sold, despite their destructive potential. Without a co-ordinated approach, we're effectively throwing millions into the losing battle of weed control, all while still stocking shelves with the very problem we're trying to eliminate. I still have plants in my home, but now I know where they come from and what they might do if they escape the pot. I've researched what's locally native to me. I talk to my friends and family about it. It's a small shift, but an important one. This isn't a blame game or for guilting people about what's planted in their gardens. It's about smarter rules, clearer information and leadership from government. Because the bush we walk through on weekends — the places we go to feel grounded and breathe — deserve better than to be quietly smothered by plants never meant to be there. If we're serious about protecting nature, we need to start in our own backyards. Nicola Barton is a media officer at the Invasive Species Council
The Independent
15-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
No ring return for Tyson Fury, says promoter Bob Arum
Promoter Bob Arum does not think Tyson Fury will return to the ring after the former world champion announced his retirement in January. Fury, 36, announced he had quit the sport several weeks after his second successive defeat to Ukraine's current champion Oleksandr Usyk. The British heavyweight had stepped out of retirement on three previous occasions, the latest in 2023, but Arum told the BBC 5 Live Boxing podcast he does not expect another U-turn. Arum said: 'If I was a betting man I would say he will never fight again. Marvin Hagler had an expression – 'a rich guy who goes to bed wearing silk pyjamas doesn't get up in the morning to do road work'. ' Tyson, really, I don't think wants to get up in the morning and do road work and go through the experience of having to train when economically he doesn't have to do it any more.' Fury was undefeated before back-to-back losses to Usyk in Saudi Arabia, in May and December last year and his record stands at 34 wins, one draw and the two defeats. Fight fans speculated Fury was ready to return after being seen working out in his own gym, while current promoter Eddie Hearn last week said a long-awaited showdown with Anthony Joshua could still take place.
BBC News
15-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Fury will never fight again
Promoter Bob Arum believes Tyson Fury will not return to boxing after the heavyweight announced his retirement in 36-year-old Briton made the surprise decision just a few weeks after suffering a second successive loss to WBA (Super), WBC and WBO champion Oleksandr has retired more than once in his illustrious career, but American Arum - who promoted him in the past - does not expect another U-turn from the fighter."If I was a betting man I would say he will never fight again," Arum told the 5 Live Boxing podcast with Steve Bunce."Marvin Hagler had an expression - 'a rich guy who goes to bed wearing silk pyjamas doesn't get up in the morning to do road work'. "Tyson, really, I don't think wants to get up in the morning and do road work and go through the experience of having to train when economically he doesn't have to do it any more."Fury's last three fights took place in Saudi Arabia, having last fought in the UK in 2022 when he outclassed compatriot Derek Chisora at Tottenham Hotspur has a record of 34 wins, one draw and the two defeats. Those two losses came against Ukraine's Usyk, who ended Fury's 15-year unbeaten streak as a professional in their first contest last May before winning the December the retirement announcement, it has not stopped rivals calling Fury out, or fans speculating about a potential comeback following an appearance of him working out in his personal Eddie Hearn last week suggested the long-awaited domestic bout between Fury and Anthony Joshua could still happen - should the Gypsy King personally reach out to his domestic rival.
