Sports
Chris Eubank Jr taken to hospital after gruelling Conor Benn win | Boxing | Sport
Chris Eubank Jr has been taken to hospital as a precautionary measure after his win over Conor Benn. A gruelling 12-round battle went the way of Eubank Jr with all three judges scoring it a 116-112 victory in the 35-year-old’s favour at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The British middleweight was then advised by the British Boxing Board of Control doctor to go to get checked over and he left the stadium in an ambulance. Such actions are commonplace for boxers who have gone the distance in tough fights as a precaution. Eubank Jr wore a cut over his right eye after a clash of heads and looked exhausted towards the fight’s conclusion after dropping down to make the 11st 6lb middleweight limit.
Speaking after his win, Eubank Jr said: “First of all, thank the one above. I knew I was capable of that. I just needed someone to bring that out of me. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t expect he’d be the guy to do that. The fact our fathers did what they did all those years ago, it brings out a different soul, a different spirit into you.
“That’s what we both showed here tonight.”I pushed through. There’s a lot of things that have been going on in my life that I’m not going to get into right now. I’m happy to have this man back with me. We’ve upheld the family name like we said we were going to do. Onwards and upwards.”
Eubank Sr was present to witness the fight despite previously requesting for it to be called off and calling his son a “disgrace” for slapping Benn with an egg at a press conference. The 58-year-old turned up by surprise alongside his son and later insisted in the ring: “I was always going to be here.”
Asked about having his dad present, Chris Jr said: “It was a big lift. It was one of those things that was special. It was special. He needed to be here. All of this was because of what he did. And we did it again baby.”
On his opponent Benn, Eubank Jr admitted: “Everything surprised me. I didn’t know he had what he had in him. I really didn’t. I thought I’d break him early. I underestimated him. I didn’t train for a fight like that. I didn’t know he had that in him. He’s never shown that but then again he’s never had to show it. He had to show it tonight. So did I.”
While the defeated Benn reacted: “Maybe fourteen months out of the ring played a factor. That’d be the only thing – inactivity. Apart from that, I felt like it was a close fight. I’m not going to go, ‘Yeah I think I won it.’ and all that, I’ve got to watch it back. I know it was close.
“I stayed on the ropes maybe a bit too long. He worked harder towards the end. But I’ll have to watch it back. But I enjoyed it and a massive thank you to all my supporters who came out. Some homecoming. We always knew Chris is a good fighter. All the fighting talk is fighting talk.
“He’s a good fighter. I believe I can fight at 160lbs. If we don’t do the rematch, which I’d love to avenge that loss, I’ll drop down to welterweight and win the WBC world title. It’s either Mario Barrios or the rematch with Eubank. Whichever happens next I’ll be content with.”
Sports
FIFA chiefs stage Gianni Infantino protest with mass walk-out after Saudi Arabia furore | Football | Sport
Senior FIFA figures staged a walk-out in protest over Gianni Infantino’s late arrival at their latest congress in Asuncion, Paraguay. The controversial FIFA president had been forced to apologise after delaying the high-profile meeting several times due to joining Donald Trump’s tour of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Infantino made a late decision to join U.S. President Trump’s delegation in the Middle East. The meeting of the FIFA Council had already been delayed to Thursday and changed to a virtual event, having initially been scheduled to take place in person on Tuesday. Infantino had been present for meetings between President Trump and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and the Qatari Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
While Infantino was touring with the 78-year-old, representatives from worldwide football associations were holding meetings in his absence in Asuncion. Frustration with his decision to travel to Saudi Arabia and Qatar is said to have boiled over.
In a further delay, Thursday’s meeting was moved back to 12:30pm after Infantino’s flight was held up. Reports this evening suggested that European delegates would walk out during the break after Infantino’s speech to show their displeasure over the situation. However, several members of the FIFA Council ended up leaving as part of the protest.
Among those reported by The Times to have walked out are FA chairwoman Debbie Hewitt and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. Several senior members of the congress made their displeasure known as Infantino spoke.
After finally arriving at the FIFA congress, Infantino said: “As president of FIFA, my responsibility is to make decisions in the interests of the organisation. I decided to be the last two days in the Middle East knowing the 2034 World Cup will be in Saudi Arabia and the World Cup in 2022 was in Qatar.
“The ‘25 Club World Cup and ‘26 World Cup will be in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Some important discussions took place in regard to the World Cup, and I felt that I needed to be there to represent football and all of you.
“We had an issue with our flight, which made this delay happen. Apologies. Sorry, and I am looking forward to spending time with you here.”
Infantino has been FIFA president since 2016 but his management of the global football governing body has split opinion in recent years. He has previously defended his close alliance with President Trump as “critical” due to the USA’s joint-hosting of the 2026 World Cup.
Sports
Golf LIVE: Rory McIlroy buries rivals at PGA Championship as fourth big player withdraws | Golf | Sport
No doubting the star attraction today with Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele off together on the 10th at 1.22pm.
Selected groups:
12pm: Luke Donald (Eng), Padraig Harrington (Ire), Martin Kaymer (Ger).
6:03pm: Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Adam Scott (Aus), Will Zalatoris (US).
6:14pm: Dustin Johnson (US), Collin Morikawa (US), Justin Thomas (US).
6.25pm: Ludvig Aaberg (Swe), Patrick Reed (US), Jordan Spieth (US).
6:47pm: Bryson DeChambeau (US), Viktor Hovland (Nor), Gary Woodland (US).
7:09pm: Brian Harman (US), Justin Rose (Eng), Cameron Smith (Aus)
Starting at Hole 10:
12:38pm: Rickie Fowler (US), Brooks Koepka (US), Shane Lowry (Ire).
12:49pm: Jason Day (Aus), Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Phil Mickelson (US).
1pm: Patrick Cantlay (US), Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng), Jon Rahm (Spa).
1:22pm: Rory McIlroy (NI), Xander Schauffele (US), Scottie Scheffler (US)
Coco Gauff has apologised to her doubles partner at the Italian Open for her standard of play during their matches.
Gauff and Alexandra Eala lost in the quarter-finals to home duo Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani, but had won two matches to make it that far.
The American felt that she was to blame for their disappointment, pointing out that Eala saved them from an earlier exit.
“And in our match yesterday, she definitely got MVP for that,” Gauff said. “I was just kind of there. So, I told her sometimes I forget how to play because sometimes it’s been a while. It’s just one of those things.
“You know how they say, you don’t forget how to ride a bike, doubles you definitely forget how to play.
“I told her I’m like a deer on ice at the net, that’s what I feel like. Many times I’ve apologised to her, but she’s quick, she’s fast, so she’s there to cover me.”
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