Latest news with #Ukranian
1News
2 days ago
- Sport
- 1News
'Maybe Joseph Parker' - Kiwi back in title frame after Usyk's stunning win
Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight world champion and perhaps the best heavyweight boxer of his generation, has mentioned New Zealander Joseph Parker as a potential next opponent. Moments after Usyk spectacularly stopped Daniel Dubois in front of 90,000 people at Wembley Stadium this morning to become the undisputed heavyweight champion for the second time, the 38-year-old Ukranian, who many believed would retire after conquering the world yet again, said stopping was not on his agenda. 'Thirty-eight is a young guy, remember,' he said in the ring. 'Thirty-eight is only the start. 'Next, I don't know. I want to rest… I want to go home to my family, my wife and children. 'Maybe Tyson Fury, maybe Derek Chisora, maybe Anthony Joshua, maybe Joseph Parker.' ADVERTISEMENT Parker, 33, a former world champion, is the mandatory challenger of the WBO belt, one of several that Usyk holds. But such are the twists and turns of professional boxing that nothing is guaranteed. Indeed, Parker was lined up to fight Dubois in Riyadh in February only for the Englishman to pull out on the eve of the bout due to a conveniently-timed illness after having a conversation with Usyk, so no one on his team is sure about what will happen next. Joseph Parker knocks out Martin Bakole in Riyadh in February. (Source: Photosport) Parker's manager David Higgins told 1News: 'Our team thought it was great that Joseph was mentioned but at the same time Joseph is the mandatory challenger with the WBO. 'He's earned it on merit and waited a long time. A couple of the names [Usyk] mentioned he's already beaten twice. In our view it's a bit silly fighting someone he's already beaten twice. 'The funny thing about boxing is that anything can happen. On paper Joseph is the WBO mandatory challenger… in practice we hope he does [fight Parker] and if he doesn't, we'd hope the sanctioning body would strip the title or the title is vacated. ADVERTISEMENT 'You might see a scenario where Joseph fights for the WBO title but against someone else.' In other words, nothing much has changed, but that did not stop Parker from pushing his case in the ring afterwards. A social media post published by Parker shows the South Aucklander in the packed ring in the aftermath of the fight congratulating Usyk, still undefeated after 24 professional fights, and inquiring of his plans. 'Bro, I don't know,' Usyk responds in what is a friendly conversation. 'Give me the time, I want to rest.' Professional boxing's capricious paymaster Turki al-Sheik has already stated that he wants Usyk to fight rising English talent Moses Itauma next but previously the Saudi Arabian has spoken of his wish to lure Fury out of retirement to fight Usyk. Usyk, who has now beaten Dubois twice, this second time more convincingly via a stunning fifth-round stoppage, has already beaten Fury twice. He has also beaten Joshua twice. ADVERTISEMENT Such is his quality and accuracy that Usyk always appears improved in rematches so it would make little sense in terms of his legacy to fight either of those English opponents again. Not surprisingly, Higgins agrees. 'If Usyk is about legacy he'll fight Joseph because it will be for the undisputed title – all the belts… if Usyk chooses to vacate the WBO title and fight Fury or Joshua that's about money…' Higgins is not the only one who thinks Parker deserves his shot. English promoter Frank Warren, Dubois' handler, said immediately afterwards: 'The WBO have already ordered that he as the WBO champion has to make his mandatory defence against Joe Parker, so it's Joe Parker's time.' And none other than Lennox Lewis, the English former undisputed heavyweight champion, said: 'Joseph Parker has the best chance now. They have been freezing Joseph Parker out. Joseph needs that next fight so get him in there.' Higgins added: 'In just over 12 months Joe has beaten Zhilei Zhang, Deontay Wilder and Martin Bakole – he's on a roll. He's earned his shot. Hopefully the merit-based system kicks in and Joseph gets his chance.'
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Business
- Sunday World
Father of alleged gang boss earns thousands housing Ukrainian refugees
Coining it in: Firm that helps asylum seekers made profit of €246k and owns property valued at €420K THE father of alleged gangland figure Jonathan Gill set up a firm that has been paid hundreds of thousands of euro to house Ukranian refugees. John Gill sr later transferred his shares in Astervale Ltd to another director, but he still remains a director as well. Gill senior's Dublin address is listed on company records and is the same one that has been used by his son in various court appearances. It is also the same address given in evidence by the Criminal Assets Bureau which named Jonathan Gill as a member of an organised crime gang along with veteran gangster Paschal Kelly. According to figures published by the government Astervale was paid €414,505 from 2022 until April 2024. Documents filed with the Company Records Office show it made a profit of €246,000 in 2023 and the company owns a property worth €420,000. On the government's e-tender website the company's address in relation to a €134,505 contract was given as 'Astervale self-catering apartments' in Wicklow. Jonathan Gill claims to be a legitimate businessman Gill sr and Ian Bonny were first registered as directors in August 2022 with Gill initially owning 95 per cent of the shares. He then transferred his shares to Mr Bonny in October 2022 who has since been the 100 per cent shareholder in the company. When contacted by the Sunday World this week Mr Bonny said: 'I don't really have much interest in talking to you, sorry.' In May last year the company applied for planning permission to change the use of private house at Kildalkey, Co Meath to a guesthouse. There were several submissions from local people who objected to the proposed development in the rural area. The application as later withdrawn according to the online planning file. How the Sunday World broke IPAS boss's link to gang Last week the Sunday World revealed how another firm which has been awarded emergency accommodation contracts has links to the Drogheda gang feud. Ben O'Brien resigned in May as a director of Secure Accommodation, which has been paid €10.2 million since it was set up in September 2022. O'Brien (31) was among several people named in evidence in the 2022 Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) case against gang bosses Owen and Brendan Maguire. In April 2019, O'Brien was outside his father Derek Kavanagh's home in Hardman Gardens, Drogheda with three others when a gunman opened fire. The shooting is detailed in an affidavit lodged by Cab as part of their case against the Maguire brothers. Jonathan Gill also featured in Cab evidence in a case brought against Paschal Kelly in which it was alleged they controlled a crime gang involved in major cocaine deals, bank robberies and burglaries. Kelly is one of the county's most infamous criminals and is currently serving an 18-year sentence for a €92,000 post office robbery and 'tiger' kidnapping. Unlike Kelly, Gill has no serious criminal convictions and openly runs a mediation service where he offers to sort out disputes for a fee outside of the courts system. Jonathan Gill Gill previously told the Sunday World his company was 'very efficient' at solving disputes and has been hired by couples who are separating but want to avoid going to court. When asked what he would say to people who claim he is involved in organised crime, he answered: 'I'd say, prove it.' However, as part of the original evidence highlighting Kelly's gangland background during the '90s and 2000s, Cab described Gill as 'a close criminal associate' of the caged criminal. A massive €1.3 million haul of cocaine seized at an apartment in Donabate 20 years ago was linked to their organised crime gang, according to the Bureau. 'It is believed the drugs captured belonged to the criminal gang over which Pascal Kelly and Jonathan Gill exert substantial control.' CAB court evidence suggested that Jonathan Gill and Paschal Kelly (pictured) controlled a crime gang It was also claimed the apartment in question was being used to cut up, mix and compress cocaine and officers from Coolock found 19 kilos of the drug. Both men were later prosecuted for separate tiger kidnap robberies for which Kelly was jailed and Gill had charges against him dropped over a 2011 robbery. During one bail hearing before his trial, it was alleged by gardaí that Gill was one of 'top criminals in the country.' had been accused of kidnapping a postal worker, his partner and their 10-week-old daughter before robbing €660,000 from the man's work. He denied the charges. He was also a target for the Criminal Assets Bureau himself and a judgement for €559,000 was registered against him in 2016. In 2023 Gill had teamed up with veteran gangster Martin Foley in an apparent debt collection enterprise.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Oleksandr Usyk cements his legacy as an all-time heavyweight great with brutal knock out of Daniel Dubois
Home favourite Dubois was back at the national stadium 10 months on from his stunning knockout win over Anthony Joshua and in the ring with Usyk for a second time. Usyk had shown his class during a one-sided contest in Krakow in 2023, where Dubois was adjudged to have landed an illegal low blow in the fifth round, but the Ukrainian had been warned throughout fight week he would face a 'different' boxer on this occasion. Yet, the undefeated 38-year-old again proved too strong for Dubois. After Usyk enjoyed the better of the opening four rounds, he produced a masterful fifth-round finish to further cement his status as one of boxing's all-time greats. After Usyk put Dubois down with a powerful right punch, the British boxer bravely made it back to his feet but was floored again a matter of seconds later by a huge left hook to lose for a third time. It earned Usyk the 24th win of a stellar professional career and ensured he got his hands back on the IBF title to add to his WBA, WBO and WBC belts and become undisputed in the blue riband division for a second time, in what was dubbed his penultimate bout. Usyk spoke to the Wembley fans after his latest big win and he didn't waste any time in calling out potential opponents for his next fight. "Maybe it's Tyson Fury,' declared Usyk. "Maybe we have three choices, Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua. Maybe Joseph Parker. Listen, I cannot now say because I want to go back home. "Nothing is next. It's enough, next, I don't know. I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children, I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest." Daniel Dubois spoke to DAZN and admitted he was beaten by the better man. "I have to commend him on the performance, I gave everything I had. Take no credit away from that man, I'll be back,' said Dubois. "I was just fighting, trying to pick up round by round. It is what it is." Promoter Frank Warren paid tribute to Usyk, as he suggested New Zealand's WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker will be the next opponent for the Ukranian. "Usyk is a modern day legend. In any generation he would be a great fighter,' said Warren.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Student Expelled In China Over Sex With Ukrainian, University Says It Hurt 'National Dignity'
Last Updated: Dalian Polytechnic's decision to expel a student for her 'improper contact with a foreigner' has triggered outrage on Chinese social media. China's Dalian Polytechnic University came under fire after it announced that it expelled a female student for 'improper contact with a foreigner" and 'damaging national dignity", according to a report by the South China Morning Post. The decision came after videos went viral online, which suggested that the female student was intimate with an Ukranian man who was a video gamer. The university located in northeastern China released a statement to the public where they identified the student by her full name and detailing the reasons for her expulsion. The move has received severe backlash on Chinese social media, the South China Morning Post report said. A separate report by the New York Times said that many highlighted on Chinese social media that in other cases that involved sexual harassment or assault on campus, perpetrators often faced milder consequences and criticised the university for publicly shaming the student and violating her privacy, labelling it 'harsh and discriminatory". Ifeng. The university said the student's actions during the December 16 incident had 'caused a negative impact." It did not elaborate but stated the punishment was in line with its regulation on 'civic morality." According to that rule, students who engage in 'improper contact with foreigners" and harm 'national dignity or the school's reputation" face disciplinary action — starting with a demerit, depending on the severity. view comments First Published: July 16, 2025, 21:25 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Fury 'in gym' and wants to fight Usyk again
Tyson Fury will not be in the ring this year but he wants to fight Oleksandr Usyk again, the British heavyweight's promoter Frank Warren says. Fury, 36, announced his retirement from boxing in January after losing twice against the WBA, WBC and WBO champion Usyk - who fights Daniel Dubois in an undisputed heavyweight bout at Wembley on Saturday. But two-time heavyweight champion Fury - who retired in 2022 before returning six months later - has hinted at a return. "I spoke to him [Fury] over the weekend about boxing. He won't fight this year," Warren told the 5 Live Boxing podcast."He's got this Netflix second series coming but he's in the gym. He's in it for his wellbeing, physically and mentally. It keeps him in a good place."Earlier this month, Fury took to social media to announce plans for a trilogy bout with Ukranian Usyk at Wembley Stadium in April. "He's got that mentality that he's in the gym and he needs to do something," Queensberry boss Warren, who also promotes Dubois, added. "He's made it clear he wants to fight Usyk." Warren, who has promoted Fury since his comeback to boxing in 2018 after a two-year hiatus from the sport, dismissed suggestions the Morecambe fighter will take a tune-up fight. If Fury - who has a record of 34-2-1 - does return, the long-mooted fight with Anthony Joshua or a match-up against Dubois could also be possible. "He had some tough fights against [Deontay] Wilder. A fight I don't think he was right for against [Francis] Ngannou and then the two tough fights against Usyk," Warren said. "He's controlled most of the fights he's been in but he's not getting any younger. Knowing him, he'll want to go straight in."
