Latest news with #MotorpointArena
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Australia Kelpies win Test series against England Thorns
Australia's men's netball team won the Aurora Series after dominating England Thorns in a 62-30 victory at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham to take a 2-0 series, which is the first Australia have contested in England, consists of three lost the opener 63-34 at the Copper Box Arena in London on 25 May and were well beaten in Saturday's second encounter.A dominant last two quarters by Australia sealed the success and the series, although the hosts were competitive at the first-quarter score was 12-9 in favour of the visitors and it was a similar story in the second quarter as good work by James Firminger kept England within touching distance. But Australia's Kelpies stretched their lead to 27-15 at the break and took command in the third quarter to move 47-21 men only played their first international match in 2022, while their opponents have been competing on the international stage since the that experience and quality showed as the Kelpies, led by the impressive Josh Byron, extended their lead in the fourth third and final Test will take place on Sunday at the Copper Box Arena.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Who is Ezra Taylor? Light heavyweight making Nottingham homecoming this weekend
Leigh Wood is the hometown hero headlining the card at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham tomorrow evening live on DAZN, with the super featherweight after Anthony Cacace's IBO world title. However, Nottingham has another fighter in action on Saturday, with light-heavyweight Ezra Taylor fighting in his own backyard for the first time since his professional debut. Nicknamed 'the Cannon', Taylor is emerging as a contender in a division filled with competitive boxers in the United Kingdom, including his opponent, English champion Troy Jones. With the two set to go head-to-head for the WBA continental gold light heavyweight strap in Nottingham, we look at the A side of the co-main event. Ezra Taylor's strong amateur career translate into confident start to professional life Nottingham-born Ezra Taylor took the amateur ranks by storm, becoming the first fighter to hold five separate regional titles at the same time. Harbouring ambitions of making the Team GB squad for the 2020 Olympics, Taylor was unable to emulate the exploits of fellow Notts fighter Carl Froch by winning the England amateur championships. He finished his amateur career with a respectable 15-3 record at the age of 24. In 2020 he would make his professional debut against Latvian journeyman Jevgenijs Andrejevs, stopping his opponent via technical knockout in the second of four rounds. Ezra Taylor set to take on friend Troy Jones Already possessing the Commonwealth silver and WBC international light heavyweight titles with an undefeated record of 11-0 (8), Taylor hopes to add the WBA's continental belt to his collection when he faces Troy Jones. The pair have previously sparred against each other in Dubai. In fact, the duo have described one another as friends, adding a layer of intrigue to the bout between two unbeaten fighters. Taylor was quoted by Queensbury Promotions' media as saying: 'It sounds mad, but he's my boy. I know him, and he's cool. Because since I am cool with him, and I am friends with him, I'm gonna have to deal with him like a professional.' He added: 'So, Saturday, you're going to see I've got no emotion in this game. I'm going to go in there and do my job.' Rivalry with Lewie Edmondson simmering away in the background Whilst Ezra Taylor has been focused on fighting Troy Jones, he has been locked into a war of words with another unbeaten British fighter. Southampton's Lewie Edmondson currently holds both the Commonwealth and British titles. The pair have exchanged insults over the last few months, culminating in Edmondson getting involved at the press conference for Taylor's bout with Jones. Both fighters seem very keen on meeting up later this year, with Edmondson hoping that Taylor comes through unscathed at the weekend in order to set up a clash with the Cannon for himself. Ezra Taylor record Nationality: British Age: 30 Height: 6' 7" Reach: N/A Total fights: 11 Sign up to a DAZN subscription to watch the very best boxing DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. It is not just about fight night, a DAZN membership also includes access to documentaries and features, weekly magazine shows, live fight watchalongs, press conferences, weight-ins, open workouts, exclusive interviews and access to training camps, and podcasts and vodcasts.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Cooper vs Kongo: Two of Ekow Essuman's vanquished foes look to bounce back
Boxers all have something in common. Bravery to step into the ring, grit to remain in it, the willingness to hurt their opponents and be hurt themselves. Owen Cooper and Chris Kongo share another similarity, with the pair having been defeated by Ekow Essuman; Kongo lost to Essuman by majority decision in 2023, Cooper by technical knockout in the tenth round a year later. Now, the pair face each other on the undercard of Anthony Cacace's bout with Leigh Wood this weekend at the Motorpoint Arena in a ten-round welterweight contest live on DAZN. Chris Kongo regaining form after Ekow Essuman loss There is more between the two men than being beaten by a common opponent. Both went into their bouts with Essuman in a bid for titles; Kongo was aiming to take the British and Commonwealth titles off his opponent while defending the WBC international silver strap. Cooper had the chance to earn the WBO European belt. Kongo started strongly in his bout in 2023, winning most of the early rounds. That kept him in contention against the favoured Essuman. Essuman stepped it up down the stretch, showcasing enough to swing a tight majority decision his way. One judge scored it a draw of 114-114, another opting for 115-114, while a third went 116-113, highlighting how far Kongo had pushed the reigning champion. After a year out, Kongo would be thrown straight back into a title fight. He faced the Albanian Florian Marku for the IBO's inter-continental welterweight belt, earning a unanimous decision to take the strap home. Aiming for big fights by moving to super welterweight, Kongo fought twice more in 2024 with points wins over fellow Jacob Quinn and John Henry Mosquera, the latter a journeyman with a record of 5-21-1 at just 22 years of age. Despite earning a belt from the IBO, Kongo remains outside of the title picture for the regional belts with the main organisations in boxing. However, victory over Cooper could provide enough momentum for Kongo to return to the conversation. Owen Cooper looking to put Ekow Essuman defeat behind him Owen Cooper has yet to move on from his loss to Essuman, with the defeat his most-recent bout. Despite the stoppage loss, Cooper acquitted himself well against his opponent. Initially knocked down in the 6th, Cooper rallied to secure a knockdown of his own in the 9th, sending Essuman to the canvas. However, Essuman finished strongly, knocking down Cooper in the 10th before stopping him. At just 24, the first defeat of Cooper's professional career should not be too hard a setback to overcome. His upcoming opponent, Kongo, has shown that one loss does not completely halt a career, having once returned to regional title contention following his loss to highly rated Michael McKinnon in 2021. Cooper will look to reinvent himself – and his career – by stepping up to the 156-pound mark for the first time. Sign up to a DAZN subscription to watch the very best boxing DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. It is not just about fight night, a DAZN membership also includes access to documentaries and features, weekly magazine shows, live fight watchalongs, press conferences, weight-ins, open workouts, exclusive interviews and access to training camps, and podcasts and vodcasts.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I seem to be getting better with age'
Belfast boxer Anthony Cacace says he is "getting better with age" after his latest victory against former two-time world champion Leigh 36-year-old stopped Wood in the ninth round in Nottingham on Saturday to retain his IBO super-featherweight wins over the previously undefeated Joe Cordina and Josh Warrington, Cacace has now beaten three two-time champions in succession in the last year and feels there is still more to come."I'm surprised at myself, I seem to be getting better with age and I'm delighted to be doing everyone proud back home, there has been a lot of support, and it feels amazing performing like this at 36," he told BBC Sport NI."I feel 25, I feel like I've been punching harder than I've ever punched and now I know what I'm capable of, I believe in myself and I'm going to keep getting better." Cacace sets sights on Las Vegas fight Cacace's victory over Wood extended his record to 24 wins and one loss from 25 fights and he admits he is "over the moon" with recent performances."I've been very lucky, and I appreciate it all the last year and a half," he added."I worked extremely hard for 12-14 weeks for the Wood fight, I put my body and mind through hell. It was a very tough camp, but I keep getting the wins and it makes it worth going through these camps."In the aftermath of the fight at the Motorpoint Arena, Cacace spoke of his desire for his next bout to be in Belfast amid talk of a possible WBC super-featherweight world title shot against O'Shaquie Foster."There has only been one person to win the WBC from Northern Ireland - Wayne McCullough, so it would be another great achievement if I was to go win something like that, even talking about these things blows my mind," Cacace said, when speaking on last three wins have come on the road, and he admitted his dream fight would also be far from home, in Las Vegas against one of America's top fighters."America would be nice, Las Vegas somewhere big like that with a massive name. I believe I deserve it because I have wiped out the whole of the UK scene, all of these top champions have lost against me," he explained."Give me more of these world champions, the likes of Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson who people really don't fancy you against, I would be real underdog, and I feel when I get put into those positions, I perform my best."I'm happy to go to wherever, I'm going to take a few months off so we will wait on some good news."
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cacace stops Wood in brutal ninth round to retain title
Belfast's Anthony Cacace retained his IBO super-featherweight title with a ninth-round stoppage of Leigh Wood at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena on Saturday. It was a gripping battle between the two 36-year-olds, which appeared on a knife-edge until Cacace made the big breakthrough and he was in no mood to let the home favourite off the hook. Wood is noted for his powers of recovery, highlighted by his remarkable come-from-behind victory over Michael Conlan three years ago in the same venue. But this time it was beyond him with Cacace ruthlessly closing the show as Wood's corner threw in the towel just as it seemed referee John Latham was about to wave it off. After the victory, the Northern Irishman's record now stands at 24 wins and one defeat from 25 fights. Wood began confidently off the jab as he sought to assert himself, but was snapped back on a couple of occasions from Cacace's right hands and again towards the end of the opener as there was a sense both men could land something decisive. Neither could afford to get reckless as there was clear respect between the pair, but Wood walked into a right hand in the second round which made him think twice. But he did get his best shot off in the dying seconds as he found a home for his own right hand which brought a respectful nod from Cacace. They landed simultaneously in the third before Cacace appeared to make the first bit of a dent as he got through with one of his trademark uppercuts. After briefly switching to southpaw, he thumped home a left hand which seemed to drive Wood back, but was caught late in the round when missing the target and punished by a counter. There was an air of tension as the fight proceeded, although Wood enjoyed a good fourth round as he found his range. It remained on a knife-edge in the fifth with Cacace's stiff jab rocking Wood's head back, but the Nottingham man responded well to have his own success. Cacace grabbed some momentum with a good sixth round as he got through with another uppercut and seemed to be opening up by putting punches together, but was caught in the seventh when switching stances. Early in the eighth, Cacace suffered a setback with blood beginning to pour from his nose, but Wood was made to eat a solid left up close as they began to trade blows late on. The Englishman sought a fast start to the ninth round but it proved his undoing. Perhaps getting a little too excited, he left himself exposed and Cacace pounced and a strong right hand appeared to have a delayed impact as Wood stumbled backwards and, with the ropes keeping him up, referee Latham gave a count. Cacace didn't let him off the hook as he meticulously broke Wood's resistance, thudding home some punishing shots and the towel came in from his corner to save him from an inevitable KO. Earlier, Lisburn's Kurt Walker tasted defeat for the first time as he was outpointed by Liam Davies in their battle for the vacant IBF International featherweight title. The scorecards read 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112 in favour of Englishman Davies on his return to action after his own maiden defeat on points by Shabaz Masoud last November at super-bantamweight. This time, the 29-year-old managed to get the job done in a close contest, despite a good final push from Walker.
