Sports

Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul ‘agree to fight next year’ after U-turn in talks

Published

1 week ago

September 23, 2025

Jake Paul has reportedly struck an “agreement in principle” to face two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua in 2026, his team confirmed on Monday, September 22.

The YouTuber-turned-professional boxer first called out Joshua earlier this year, sparking widespread speculation about a potential blockbuster matchup.

Paul, 28, will first face lightweight champion Gervonta Davis, 30, in an exhibition bout scheduled for November 14 in Miami. The announcement comes amid ongoing negotiations to secure a heavyweight clash with Joshua the following year.

Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions alongside Paul, led talks with Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, and confirmed that Anthony Joshua remains a target for 2026. “Anthony Joshua is 100 per cent still a target,” Bidarian said. “He’s trying to fight in February, I think in Ghana, they’ve come out with that. But pending this fight and pending everything coming together, absolutely. We have an agreement in principle.”

Bidarian added that the fight is likely to take place in the United States.

Joshua, 35, has not fought since his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, 28, at Wembley Stadium in September 2024. Following the defeat, Joshua underwent elbow surgery over the summer and is expected to return to the ring early next year. Hearn confirmed that Joshua has received an offer to fight in Ghana, which could potentially serve as a warm-up bout before a 2026 matchup with Tyson Fury.

Fury, 37, retired in January after consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 38, but has hinted at a comeback while being called out by Joshua online.

Jake Paul, who moved up to heavyweight last year during Mike Tyson’s controversial comeback at age 58, weighed in at 16st 2lb (227lb) for his previous bout, still two stone lighter than Joshua’s last fighting weight of 18st. The fight drew over 100 million viewers on Netflix as Tyson lost across eight shorter two-minute rounds.

Paul subsequently returned to cruiserweight in June, defeating former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., 39, in California. Plans for a potential bout with Canelo Alvarez, 35, collapsed after Alvarez opted to face Terence Crawford, 37, in a later fight, losing in September.

Gervonta Davis was initially scheduled to fight Paul earlier this year but drew with Lamont Roach, 30, in March. After refusing a rematch, negotiations with Paul’s team resumed, leading to the announcement of their upcoming exhibition. The fight will follow rules including a 195lb maximum weight, 12oz gloves, 10 rounds of three minutes each, with three judges scoring, and the outcome not counting toward professional records.

Bidarian clarified the timeline: “Canelo was the first choice, we believed we had that deal done, obviously there was a different outcome. This was the next fight. There were never any discussions to fight Anthony Joshua in 2025. That was always a 2026 discussion.”

Hearn previously told Sky Sports that while the team is open to a Joshua-Paul matchup, the bout cannot proceed until Paul completes his exhibition against Davis. “We’re certainly not holding out for a Jake Paul fight. We’re making our own plans for January or February 2026,” Hearn said.

Hearn added, “They’ve come on to me and said they want to make that fight [with AJ]. I said I can’t make that fight until you’ve fought Gervonta Davis in this exhibition. If you get chinned by Gervonta Davis, don’t think you’re fighting Anthony Joshua, it’s ridiculous. So we’d rather they didn’t take that fight if we’re going to make the [AJ] fight.”

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Sports

Man United finalise deal for teenage Colombian midfielder Orozco

Published

4 hours ago

October 2, 2025

Newsbreak365_Admin

Manchester United have finalised a deal to sign 17-year-old Colombian midfielder Cristian Orozco from Fortaleza CEIF.

The agreement, confirmed by renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Thursday, will see the young talent join the Red Devils in the summer of 2026 upon turning 18.

According to Romano, all contracts have been approved by United’s lawyers, and the deal was coordinated by lead scout Gerardo Guzmán Antonaccio.

He said on X, “Manchester United have now sealed and signed a deal to bring in 17-year-old Colombian talent Cristian Orozco.

“$1m transfer fee from Fortaleza in a deal valid from summer 2026. #MUFC lawyers approved all the contracts, deal coordinated by lead scout Antonaccio.”

Orozco is a defensive midfielder and captain of Colombia’s Under-17 national team, who has been hailed as a promising talent with strong intensity and potential.

He led his country to the final of the Under-17 South American Championships last year, showcasing his leadership and skills in youth international competitions.

The teenager has made appearances in Colombia’s domestic league with Fortaleza CEIF.

Orozco joins a growing list of young talents at Old Trafford, including recent additions like Sekou Kone and Chido Obi-Martin.

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Sports

Victor Osimhen breaks record, becomes Nigeria’s top Champions League goal scorer

Published

22 hours ago

October 1, 2025

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen, has become the first Nigerian to score 10 goals in the UEFA Champions League (UCL).

The 26-year-old striker reached the milestone after scoring the lone goal in Galatasaray’s 1-0 win over Liverpool at the RAMS Park on Tuesday night, September 30.

Osimhen converted a penalty kick with Alisson Becker diving the wrong way after Dominic Sobozlai had smacked Barış Alper Yılmaz in the face to concede the penalty.

The goal took Osimhen ahead of Obafemi Martins to become the highest scoring Nigerian in the UCL, excluding qualification matches.

He also became the first Nigerian to score for three different clubs in the UCL. He had earlier scored for Lille and Napoli in the competition.

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Sports

Olapade, Okoko shine at Lakowe Golf Classic

Published

1 day ago

October 1, 2025

Newsbreak365_Admin

Nigerian golf ace Sunday Olapade won the professional round of the 2025 Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic with a 10-under par score in 54 holes, as the event came to an end on Sunday.

Youngster Godwin Okoko, also made the winner’s list with a third-place finish in the professional round while also leading his amateur team members to be crowned the Team event winners. The members included Ikechukwu Boniface, David Maji, and Frances Omaruaye.

The 2025 event paraded some of the best professional players from West Africa, including Emos Korblah and Barry Yaw from Ghana, Oche Odoh, Kamalu Bako, Gift Willy, Godwin Okoko, Michael Ubi, and Francis Epe.

Olapade’s rounds were 69, 65, and 72 for the three days to beat Korblah with a five-stroke margin and pocket the N5m purse and an additional ARM champion bonus of N2.5m, totaling N7.5m for his victory.

Golf Manager of Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate, Femi Olagbenro, said Olapade had a brilliant spell at the event and came close to breaking the course’s 54-hole record held by Vincent Torgah.

“I believe every player showing up at Lakowe Lakes Golf Club puts in an extra effort to match the pedigree of the course and the tough field that is always on parade at each Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic event.

“This is a very satisfying win, given the effort I have put into my game in the past few months. I have just come back from a training round in Kenya. It’s been a very challenging routine, which is why this is satisfying. I want to thank everyone who has supported me this while, and believe in me.

In the team event, Kingsley Oparaku led the team of Roland Alexander, Terry Paul, and Abe Ayodeji to the runner-up position.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Chairman of Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate Deji Alli said that the game of golf has impacted his person and outlook of business for the Lakowe Lakes project, despite the challenges of running a world-class facility like Lakowe Lakes Golf Club.

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