Olympic champ Joshua to make October pro bow July 24, 2013 OLYMPIC super-heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is set to make his professional debut at the O2 Arena in October, after joining promoter Eddie Hearn’s burgeoning Matchroom stable. Joshua completed a rapid rise to prominence when he clinched Team GB’s 29th and final gold medal at the London 2012 Games, beating Italy’s Roberto Cammarelle on countback, just [...]
Armstrong lawyers urge judge to dismiss government lawsuit July 24, 2013 DISGRACED cyclist Lance Armstrong has asked a federal judge to dismiss the US government’s multi-million dollar lawsuit against him. Armstrong, 41, won the Tour de France seven times between 1999 and 2005 while riding for the US Postal Service and Discovery Channel teams, but was stripped of his titles last year after a US Anti-Doping [...]
Keothavong happy time is right to hang up her racquet for good July 24, 2013 FORMER British No1 Anne Keothavong feels she is leaving the women’s national game in safe hands, after announcing her retirement from professional tennis yesterday. The 29-year-old’s career has been curtailed by two serious knee injuries, dragging her to 285th in the world rankings, with her final appearance coming on Centre Court at Wimbledon last month [...]
Contract row may be error in drafting July 24, 2013 IMPRECISE drafting may be the innocent explanation behind wrangling over Luis Suarez’s contract, a leading sport lawyer told City A.M. last night. The player’s camp are thought to believe that a bid in excess of £40m, such as that made by Arsenal, entitles him to hold talks with suitors with a view to a possible [...]
Spurs sweating as Vertonghen needs ankle scan July 24, 2013 TOTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas fears an ankle injury could rule out defender Jan Vertonghen for the first game of the Premier League season at Crystal Palace on 18 August. The versatile Belgian landed awkwardly on a sodden pitch minutes after coming on as a substitute in Spurs’ 3-1 defeat to Sunderland in the Barclays Asia [...]
Mourinho jibe laughed off by Pellegrini July 24, 2013 MANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini has hit back at claims from Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho that his club is under pressure to win the Premier League title having spent £89m on new talent this summer. City have added strikers Stevan Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo to their ranks, plus midfield pair Jesus Navas and Fernandinho. But [...]
Celtic accept QPR’s Hooper bid July 24, 2013 FOOTBALL: Celtic have accepted a £5m offer from QPR for striker Gary Hooper. The 25-year-old is still to agree personal terms, but R’s boss Harry Redknapp said: “It’s all been agreed. I would love to see him be leading goalscorer in the Championship and hopefully that would mean us being promoted.”
Golden girl breaks world record July 24, 2013 ATHLETICS: Teenager Sophie Hahn set a new world record to win T38 100m gold at the IPC World Athletics Championships yesterday. The 16-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, clocked 13.10 seconds to win Britain’s 10th gold in Lyon. She said: “I can’t believe I’ve just done that. I’m so happy.”
Villas-Boas scotches talk of Bale £50m deal with Real July 23, 2013 TOTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas has reiterated the club have no intention of selling Gareth Bale to Real Madrid this summer, despite reports in Spain that the forward has agreed a bumper €60m (£51.6m) contract to move to the Bernabeu. Uncertainty over the Player of the Year’s future reared its head again yesterday when Spanish newspaper [...]
Mourinho denies plotting wind-up tactics for Moyes July 23, 2013 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has denied attempting to engage major rival Manchester United boss David Moyes in psychological warfare before the new season has even begun. Mourinho insists his suggestion that teams who delay their business until late in the transfer window are needlessly putting themselves under pressure was not a veiled dig at Moyes. [...]