Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois lead boxing stars at Riyadh Season Card Wembley Edition grand arrivals

British boxers taking part in Saturday’s Riyadh Season Card Wembley Edition made their grand arrivals in London - headlined by Anthony Joshua (left), Daniel Dubois (top right) and promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren (bottom right). (AN Photo/Hasenin Fadhel)
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Updated 18 September 2024
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Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois lead boxing stars at Riyadh Season Card Wembley Edition grand arrivals

  • Fans got a glimpse of the stars and the entire undercard line-up at Leicester Square event

LONDON: Leicester Square in London played host to a boxing fan’s dream on Tuesday night when the 12 British boxers taking part in Saturday’s Riyadh Season Card Wembley Edition made their grand arrivals.

The parade of talent was headlined by Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, who will battle it out for the International Boxing Federation heavyweight title at a sell-out Wembley Stadium.

Fans got a glimpse of the stars and the entire undercard line-up, as well as the promoters of the event - Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions.

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PHOTO GALLERY OF GRAND ARRIVALS HERE

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Joshua admitted at the event that although he was feeling tense about the fight, his body was in good condition and he felt he could continue boxing for another four years.

“I’m tense,” he told DAZN on the red carpet. “I’m tense. The fight’s around the corner – I don’t forget that the fight’s around the corner. This is chilled though. We’re not fighting today so I’m chilled.”

Speaking to Sky Sports, Dubois said he was feeling “in the right place at the right time” to take on Joshua and defend his IBF belt, adding that he needed to “stay in his bubble and stay focused.”

 


England ready for Pakistan's spin assault in second Test

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England ready for Pakistan's spin assault in second Test

  • Desperate to level the three-match series after an innings and 47-run defeat on Friday, Pakistan named three spinners in four changes
  • England left out seamers Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes to bring in Matthew Potts and Stokes, but retained Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir

MULTAN: Returning England captain Ben Stokes said on Monday he hopes a reused pitch for the second Test against Pakistan in Multan will play into the tourists' hands rather than the spin-heavy hosts.

Desperate to level the three-match series after an innings and 47-run defeat on Friday, Pakistan named three spinners in four changes from the first Test.

In a rare move, Pakistan -- who have now gone winless in 11 home Tests since February 2021 -- decided to use the same flat surface on which England piled up 823-7 declared in reply to their 556 all out.

"If you look at the way that the first Test played out, if another wicket like that was produced, maybe that gives us more of an advantage," said Stokes, back in the side after missing the first Test with a hamstring injury.

Despite the first-innings run-fest -- with Harry Brook smashing 317 and Joe Root making 262 -- England bowled out Pakistan for 220 in their second innings to secure a remarkable victory.

England left out seamers Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes to bring in Matthew Potts and Stokes, but kept the same spinners in Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.

"You'd like to think it might be a bit more in favour of the spin, so if it does spin more, or if it does reverse more, there's more options there for both teams," added Stokes.

The all-rounder, who may not yet be fit to bowl, said he has never seen such a strategy before.

"It could be a tactic but I've never seen a pitch before used in back-to-back games. And I've never seen fans that big standing as umpires," he said, referring to two big industrial fans at both ends being used to dry the pitch.

Since Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum took over in May 2022, England have played aggressive cricket, with only one draw.

"I think if we went 1-0 down at home, we would probably be going to our groundsman at the second Test saying 'can we have a bit more of this, bit more of that' to use our home advantage in our favour.

"With me being captain and Baz being coach, that's how we both view cricket, that there should be a winner."

Pakistan's assistant coach Azhar Mahmood believes the pitch will help his team.

"The strategy behind the used pitch is to take 20 wickets," said Mahmood.

"We want to get 20 England wickets and going with spinners will help us dominate."

Zahid Mahmood, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali make up Pakistan's spin trio, with Aamer Jamal the only frontline pace bowler.

Mahmood defended the decision to leave out struggling star batter Babar Azam.

"There is no question that Babar Azam is our best batter," said Mahmood of Azam, who is without a half-century in 18 innings.

"He is not dropped, we have given him rest considering the coming hectic cricket schedule and we thought it would be best for him to come refreshed for the three away tours coming."


Professional Fighters League unveils new championship belts ahead of Riyadh event

Updated 14 October 2024
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Professional Fighters League unveils new championship belts ahead of Riyadh event

  • Each belt contains 12.5 pounds of gold, a main plate with 10 sides in honor of the league’s SmartCage arena, and side plates celebrating each division
  • Francis “The Predator” Ngannou will take on Renan “Problema” Ferreira in the PFL Super Fight: Battle of the Giants main event at The Mayadeen on Oct. 19

RIYADH: The Saudi-backed Professional Fighters League unveiled its new world championship belts on Monday ahead of the PFL Super Fight: Battle of the Giants event in Riyadh on Oct. 19.

Each belt contains 12.5 pounds of gold, a main plate with 10 sides in honor of the league’s SmartCage arena, and side plates celebrating each division.

In the main event at The Mayadeen on Saturday, the undisputed MMA heavyweight champion of the world, Francis “The Predator” Ngannou (with a record of 17-3) will make his highly anticipated return to the cage for the first time in almost three years when he faces 6 feet 8 inch Renan “Problema” Ferreira (13-3, 3 NC), the 2023 PFL heavyweight champion, for the newly minted PFL Super Fights Championship Belt.

The co-main event is another world-title fight, in which Cris Cyborg (27-2, 1 NC), widely considered the greatest women’s MMA fighter of all time, will put her legacy on the line when she squares off against PFL two-division champion Larissa Pacheco (23-4).

Reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen (15-0) will attempt to maintain his perfect record when he takes on Fabian Edwards (13-3) in a highly anticipated rematch. The main card also includes the return of former Bellator Featherweight World Champion A.J. McKee (22-1), who faces the surging Paul Hughes (12-1), a newcomer to the upper echelon of the lightweight division.


Launch of Arabian Warrior a ‘significant’ milestone for obstacle course racing in the Middle East, says brand’s spokesman

Updated 14 October 2024
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Launch of Arabian Warrior a ‘significant’ milestone for obstacle course racing in the Middle East, says brand’s spokesman

  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Saif Al-Sharqi spoke to Arab News about the new addition to the OCR calendar which will take place in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar

DUBAI: With Arabian Warrior’s maiden season set to launch across the Gulf region this month in Dubai, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Saif Al-Sharqi, the brand’s spokesman, has revealed the impact that the new events will have on obstacle course racing in the Middle East in an interview with Arab News.

What will the launch of Arabian Warrior mean for OCR across the region?

Arabian Warrior is a homegrown brand which has been created with the aim of establishing a global obstacle course racing brand portfolio centered in the Middle East.

We firmly believe the launch of Arabian Warrior is a significant day for the huge OCR community across the region and the long-term future of the sport as we make a commitment to hosting eight events during the 2024-25 season, with races taking place in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, starting in Dubai on Oct. 26.

In recent years, we have witnessed the significant growth of OCR in the region, with events attended by thousands of competitors, made up of all ages and fitness levels, and we see so much room for evolution within the sport.

OCR is a fast-growing sport which aligns with the modern-day focus on health and fitness, and while the current community is extensive, we expect to see a substantial increase in numbers attending our events throughout the inaugural season and beyond here in the GCC.

What can participants and audiences expect from Arabian Warrior?

We will be hosting events during our maiden season across the UAE (Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah), Saudi Arabia (Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh) and Qatar (Doha), with the potential for more to be added to the calendar.

Each event will feature 5k, 10k, 15k, 20k, 50k and kids (1.6k) race options, meaning regardless of age or ability, you will be able to compete. As a fully inclusive brand, that is hugely important to us because when it comes to fitness, there should be no barriers to entry.

Participants can choose to simply come along and complete their preferred challenge in the Open Heats or take part in the more competitive Age Group Heats, where each runner is timed.

Additionally, we look forward to welcoming some of the world’s best OCR athletes to our events as they battle it out in the Elite category, with significant prize funds on offer.

Away from the race action itself, each of our events will feature a Fan Village where competitors and spectators can enjoy some fantastic entertainment while sampling F&B from a vast array of outlets. It is the perfect way to spend a weekend.

What was the thinking behind hosting events in the UAE, KSA and Qatar?

As a Middle East-born brand, we want to ensure we are giving as many people as possible across the region the opportunity to take part in our events. With races scheduled for three separate cities in both the UAE and KSA, where we know the appetite for OCR is huge, those locations are well covered. The sport is also extremely popular in Qatar, which is why we wanted to stage an event in Doha during our first season. We believe it will be a big success with a significant attendance.

Looking beyond this season, there are multiple locations where we could potentially host events, and we are consistently working behind the scenes on ways to improve our product offering.

Given the fact you will be hosting at least three events in KSA during the first season, is it fair to assume you see the Kingdom as an important market?

Yes, most definitely. The importance of sport to Saudi Arabia is crystal clear. Over the course of the last few years, we have seen the Kingdom host some of the world’s biggest events across a wide range of sports, and that particular theme looks set to continue for the foreseeable future, including the rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in December.

From an OCR perspective, KSA is a pivotal destination for many reasons. Most importantly, there is huge demand for the sport, with thousands of competitors attending previous OCR events. In addition, the infrastructure required for hosting large-scale sporting events is in place, while there is also huge support from the relevant authorities who want to ensure the country’s reputation as a global sporting hub continues to grow.

We are very much looking forward to hosting events in KSA throughout the first Arabian Warrior season and beyond.

The MENA region’s sporting calendar attracts many more competitions with each passing year — are you confident Arabian Warrior can compete with some of the more established events you will be going up against?

We believe the vast number of elite-level sporting events taking place across the region is something which should be celebrated and, as far as we are concerned, there is a place for everybody.

After all, we have come a very long way in a short period of time, and it would be foolish to view other events as rivals given the fact each offering is completely unique.

As a new brand, it is important for us to focus on ourselves and achieving both our short and long-term goals, which will only be possible through sheer hard work and the whole team pulling in the same direction.

We have total confidence in our product, and we believe Arabian Warrior events will quickly become highlights of the GCC sporting calendar.

Finally, what would you say to anybody who is thinking about taking part in their first OCR event?

Do not think about it, just do it. The OCR community is hugely welcoming and supportive. There is a reason why people who attend an event for the first time keep coming back, and there is a reason why the sport is growing in popularity at such a rapid rate.

OCR is a fantastic way of meeting new people while achieving something positive and improving your own well-being, whether that is from a physical or mental perspective. There really are no downsides.


Al-Ain victorious at end of fourth round of Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Updated 14 October 2024
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Al-Ain victorious at end of fourth round of Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

  • Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club finished second and MOD UAE was third at Zayed Sports Complex in Fujairah

FUJAIRAH: Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club has claimed the top spot on the final day of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship — Round 4 (Gi) at Zayed Sports Complex.

Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club finished second and MOD UAE third.

With the fourth round over, Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club leads the overall Gi rankings, followed by Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club in second place and Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club in third.

After securing victory on Sunday night, Al-Ain Club coach Zayed Obaid Al-Kaabi said: “The competition today was tough, still our athletes showed great skill and tactics. We aim to achieve strong results and compete for the top spot in the championship. Our team, with 250 male and female athletes, is eager for the final round, where we’ll push harder with even more athletes.”

The final day had seen 800 athletes take part in the boys U-14 and U-16 divisions.

Mohamed Hussain Al-Marzooqi, director of marketing and corporate communications at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of the Abu Dhabi executive council, attended the championship yesterday, and his presence had a significant impact on the event, the organizers and the athletes. It inspired the athletes to push even harder in future competitions. His highness watched some of the matches, met with the athletes, and took photos with them. This visit reflects the strong support and attention that our leadership continues to give to the sport of jiu-jitsu.

“The championship’s success over its four rounds is in line with the goals of our sponsors, who have been crucial to its achievements,” he added. “We’re proud of how jiu-jitsu has become part of our culture, and our athletes are building a lasting legacy. Their hard work preparing for the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship really showed in their determination and competitive spirit. We’re excited to see our local talent continue to thrive on the global stage.”

Theyab Mohammed Almessabi, an Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club athlete who won gold in the 34 kg white-belt category for U-14s, said: “I’m really happy to win my first gold medal and earn more points for my club. I had won silver in the third round of the championship in Sharjah, so this feels great. I want to thank my family for always supporting me, and my coaches and teammates at Al-Ain club.”


Pakistan to re-use Multan pitch for second England Test

Updated 14 October 2024
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Pakistan to re-use Multan pitch for second England Test

  • England scored mammoth 823-7 in first Test on pitch severely criticized for batting-friendly nature
  • Pakistan skipper Shan Masood, Head Coach Jason Gillespie inspected pitch during practice on Sunday

MULTAN: Under-pressure Pakistan are set to re-use the controversial Multan pitch used for the first Test against England for the second match starting Tuesday, in a rare move as they seek to level the series.

England scored the fourth highest Test score of 823-7 to inflict an innings and 47-run defeat on the home side on a pitch severely criticized for its batting-friendly nature.

Pakistan scored 556 in their first innings.

Sources in the Pakistan camp confirmed the same first Test pitch will be used on Tuesday.

“We have decided to use the same pitch of the first Test and it is watered and being dried for the use,” said a source who did not wish to be named.

Industrial-sized fans were used at both ends to dry the pitch while both teams practiced at the ground on Sunday.

Pakistan skipper Shan Masood and head coach Jason Gillespie inspected the pitch and had a lengthy discussion, while England head coach Brendon McCullum also had a long look.

The ICC playing conditions allow re-use of a pitch for successive Tests, but it could result in getting a poor rating if the surface does not play well.

Pakistan has a history of flat pitches, with former Australian great Dennis Lillee denouncing a pitch as “bowlers’ graveyard” back in 1980.

Two years ago, the Rawalpindi stadium pitch was deemed “below average” by the International Cricket Council, after 1,187 runs were scored in a Pakistan-Australia Test for the loss of only 14 wickets.

But the ICC rescinded the one demerit point after the Pakistan Cricket Board appealed against the decision.