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ITV News
3 hours ago
- Sport
- ITV News
Usyk defeats Dubois to become undisputed world heavyweight champion for a second time
Oleksandr Usyk scored a fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion for a second time. The heavily anticipated fight at Wembley Stadium on Saturday saw the Ukrainian seal victory with a crunching left hook to Dubois' jaw. The undefeated southpaw retained his WBA, WBC and WBO belts, and regained the IBF belt he relinquished just over a year ago. Speaking afterwards, 38-year-old Usyk said he had no plans to retire any time soon, naming Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Joseph Parker as possible next foes. "I will continue boxing and I will continue training, but now I cannot say who my next opponent will be," Usyk said during the post-match press conference. "I prepared for three and a half months. I've not seen my family, my wife. Every day I live with my team - 14 guys in one house. Now I want to go back home." Usyk dropped Dubois twice in the fifth round, the second time with a lunging left hook midway through the round after Dubois missed with the right. The London native looked stunned and couldn't beat the count before about 90,000 spectators at Wembley. Dubois joined British countrymen Fury and Joshua in having lost twice to Usyk, who was undisputed world champion as a cruiserweight before he moved up in weight six years ago. 27-year-old Dubois told DAZN: "I gave everything I had. Take no credit away from that man, I'll be back." Dubois was hoping to become the first British heavyweight to hold every major belt since Lennox Lewis just over 25 years ago. Speaking to ITV News ahead of the fight, Dubois said when he thought about Usyk, all he saw was "the guy I gotta go through, the obstacle in my way, the guy I gotta break up and take them belts from". When asked about what he loved most about boxing, he said: "Victory, discipline and the spoils of war." But Usyk was equally as confident when ITV News spoke to him and said "it didn't matter" that London-born Dubois was likely to be the more popular of the two among the crowd at Wembley, saying "focus just [on] the ring, it will be a great win."Their first bout happened in Wroclaw, Poland in August 2023, with Usyk controlling much of the fight. A low blow in the fifth round remains the talking point. Dubois's punch sent Usyk to the floor with referee Luis Pabon ruling it an illegal low blow, though Dubois's camp accused Usyk of pretending to be hurt. Usyk was given nearly four minutes to recover. Usyk scored a knockdown late in the eighth round and ended it a round later with a straight right that dropped Dubois. When asked by ITV News, Usyk dismissed speculation that the recovery time helped him win the match, saying "it doesn't matter". He said the only opinion that mattered was the "opinion of my family, my wife, my team, my children, my mama." After Saturday's fight, when Usyk was asked whether he thinks he's one of the sport's all-time greats, he answered "no". "I don't have motivation, I have discipline. Motivation is temporary," he said.
ITV News
19 hours ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Ceasefire announced in Syria after hundreds killed in sectarian violence
Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has vowed to protect all minorities, as Vincent McAviney reports for ITV News A ceasefire has been announced to try and end the violence in Syria involving government forces, Bedouin tribes, the Druze religious minority and neighbouring Israel. More than 700 people have been killed following sectarian fighting which broke out last Sunday in the southern city of Sweida. Syrian government forces were sent to restore order, but were accused of siding with Bedouins against the Druze. Israel intervened on behalf of the Druze, who are seen as a loyal minority within Israel and often serve in its military. Israeli warplanes bombed the Syrian Defense Ministry's headquarters in central Damascus and also struck government forces in Sweida. By Wednesday, a truce had been mediated that allowed Druze factions and clerics to maintain security in Sweida as government forces pulled out. Early on Saturday, US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack announced a separate ceasefire had been brokered between Israel and Syria. Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa blamed 'armed groups from Sweida' for reigniting the conflict by 'launching retaliatory attacks against the Bedouins and their families.' Addressing the Bedouins, President al-Sharaa said: 'We thank the Bedouins for their heroic stances but demand they fully commit to the ceasefire and comply with the state's orders." The President reiterated that Suweida 'remains an integral part of the Syrian state, and the Druze constitute a fundamental pillar of the Syrian national fabric," vowing to protect all minorities in Syria. He also thanked the United States for its 'significant role in affirming its support for Syria during these difficult times,' as well as Arab countries and Turkey, who mediated Wednesday's truce. More than half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Sam Allardyce reacts to giant mural of ex-England manager eating ORANGE CHIPS in hometown
A mural depicting Sam Allardyce with a bag of orange chips has appeared on a wall in Dudley and the former England manager has given the artwork his seal of approval Former England manager Sam Allardyce says he is "absolutely privileged" after a 10ft mural showing him eating orange chips appeared in his hometown. Allardyce was born and raised in Dudley and the artwork is believed to have been pasted onto a wall on Union Street in the town centre. Orange chips are a Black Country speciality and the mural depicts Allaradyce wearing a suit and tie and enjoying a bag of them. Mystery surrounds the origin of the mural, though, with the artist not leaving a signature. Local resident Scot Simmons told the BBC: "How did he do it without anyone seeing? Did he just put it up in a couple of minutes? Is he trying to remain mysterious?" "Looking at it you don't know how good it is till you come down and see it. It's put Dudley on the map. Big Sam, immortalised here, yeah it's brilliant." Fellow local Andy Smith added: "Local lad eating orange chips, what more do you want? There is a genuine Banksy in Birmingham, perhaps this is Dudley's answer to Banksy." Despite the mystery surrounding the artist behind the mural, Allardyce has given the artwork his seal of approval. "Absolutely privileged to be honest with you, I think it was a very good likeness," he told ITV News. "Chips look a bit hot, but I really enjoyed seeing it. Whoever did it, thank you very much." Allardyce has not managed a club since a short stint at Leeds United in 2023 where he was unable to prevent them being relegated to the Championship. However, he has not ruled out a return to the dugout if the circumstances are right. "I would listen to anybody who picks up the phone and asks for my help," Allardyce told Mirror Football earlier this year. "But it would need to be a good project where we're all pulling in the same direction. "You may think that always happens at a football club but, believe me, it does not. Everyone has to align on the same pathway. "I'm 70 now but I wouldn't have a problem going back to work if the right opportunity comes along – why not? Never say never, but we all have our sell-by date, don't we?"
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
UK to lower voting age to 16 in landmark electoral reform
The British government said on Thursday it planned to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all UK elections in a major overhaul of the country's democratic system. The government said the proposed changes were part of an effort to boost public trust in democracy and would align voting rights across Britain, where younger voters already participate in devolved elections in Scotland and Wales. "They're old enough to go out to work, they're old enough to pay taxes ... and I think if you pay in, you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on, which way the government should go," Prime Minister Keir Starmer told ITV News. Globally, most countries have a voting age of 18, however in last year's European Parliament elections European Union members were given the option to allow people to vote from the age of 16, a move taken by Germany, Belgium, Austria and Malta. The change in Britain will require parliamentary approval, but that is unlikely to present an obstacle because the policy was part of Starmer's election campaign last year which gave him a large majority. Despite that win, Starmer's popularity has fallen sharply in government after a series of missteps set against a difficult economic backdrop. His party sits second in most opinion polls behind Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform UK party. Keir Starmer and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) visit the Airbus facility in Stevenage, southern England, on Thursday. AFP A poll of 500 16 and 17-year-olds conducted by Merlin Strategy for ITV News showed 33% said they would vote Labour, 20% would vote Reform, 18% would vote Green, 12% Liberal Democrats and 10% Conservative. There are about 1.6 million 16 and 17-year-olds in the UK, according to official data. Just over 48 million people were eligible to vote at the last election, in which turnout fell to its lowest since 2001. The next election is due in 2029. Britain's Conservative Party, the second largest in parliament but which has fallen further behind rivals since losing power last year, said the reforms were being rushed in without proper consultation and were inconsistent for young people. "Sixteen-year-olds will be able to vote in an election but not stand as candidates, and they will be able to vote but not permitted to buy a lottery ticket, consume alcohol, marry, or go to war. This is a hopelessly confusing policy," said lawmaker Paul Holmes, Conservative spokesman on community matters. Research from other countries has shown lowering the voting age had no impact on election outcomes, but that 16-year-olds were more likely to vote than those first eligible at 18. "Voting at 16 will also help more young people to cast that all-important, habit-forming vote at a point when they can be supported with civic education," said Darren Hughes, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society. To tackle foreign interference, the government plans to tighten rules on political donations, including checks on contributions over 500 pounds ($670) from unincorporated associations and closing loopholes used by shell companies. "By reinforcing safeguards against foreign interference, we will strengthen our democratic institutions and protect them for future generations," democracy minister Rushanara Ali said in a statement. Reuters
ITV News
a day ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Former Afghan army officer says UK data breach put his life ‘more at risk' from the Taliban
A superinjunction was issued by the High Court to try to stop the Taliban from discovering the leak, as ITV News Political Correspondent Carl Dinnen explains A former Afghan army officer who worked with UK military advisors and Nato during the war has told ITV News the Government data breach has made his life harder and left him "more at risk". After working in what he described as a 'dangerous' role for the UK military, he was left behind, like many others, during Britain's chaotic evacuation from Kabul in August 2021. To support those left behind and at serious risk from the Taliban, the government launched the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap), which offers relocation to the UK for those who qualify. But in February 2022, a defence official accidentally released a dataset containing the personal details of nearly 19,000 Arap applicants. The Ministry of Defence only became aware of the breach in August 2023, when parts of the dataset were anonymously posted in a Facebook group. A superinjunction was issued by the High Court to try to stop the Taliban from discovering the leak. That injunction was lifted on Tuesday after a review. Those affected were contacted by email and warned of the potential danger. ITV News has spoken to a man who fled Afghanistan to protect himself and his family while on the run from the Taliban. For security reasons, we cannot reveal his exact role. He told us that despite taking precautions since 2021, the data leak has made his life even harder. "The UK Government's data breach has made things even harder. It exposed my personal information, making me and others even more at risk," he said. Though he added that even with "all his suffering," he does not regret helping the UK mission. He said that when the Taliban took over in 2021, they came to his home three times looking for him. Fearing for his life, he said he had 'no choice' but to flee to another country. Now on the run, he said: "I'm jobless. I do heavy jobs like truck loading and other things, just to buy food and pay rent." He hopes, like others, that he will receive an offer to relocate to the UK under the Arap.
