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Greg Norman ‘heard’ that Tiger Woods prevented him from attending an Open Championship winners dinner 

The fallout from the creation of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league sparked a civil war between some of the sport’s most legendary figures.

Rory McIlroy acted as the face of the PGA Tour in their efforts to critique the new league. He was persistently vocal and adamantly against the new tour, criticising the likes of Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson, who joined LIV Golf.

McIlroy has since softened his stance, admitting he was too judgmental towards the players who left the PGA Tour, but he wasn’t the only one to take that position.

Mouthpiece For The PGA Tour' - Greg Norman Hits Back At Tiger Woods | Golf  Monthly

READ: I can do anything: Tiger Woods hints at possible comeback

Former LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman said that he “heard” that Tiger Woods prevented him from attending a pre-tournament dinner for Open Championship winners.

Greg Norman ‘heard’ that Tiger Woods prevented him from attending Open Championship winners dinner

Before every Open Championship, a pre-tournament dinner is hosted for the previous winners of the historic event. Norman is a two-time Open winner, lifting the Claret Jug in 1986 and 1993. But in 2022, he never received his invite.

Michael Bamberger of Golf.com explained, “When the British Open, the great championship of the world that Norman won twice, was last held in St. Andrews in 2022, Norman was not invited to a pre-tournament dinner of former winners, because, per semi-official R&A word, his presence would be a “distraction,” owing to Norman’s role as the face of the upstart LIV golf league.

“Norman said that he had ‘heard’ that Tiger Woods did not want him there, and that Woods told R&A officials that if Norman attended, he would not. ‘But I don’t know that that’s what happened,’ Norman said. ‘It’s just what I have heard.’”

Woods, the greatest golfer of all time, is one of the greatest ambassadorial assets that the PGA Tour has. He reportedly turned down an offer of $750 million to join LIV Golf, remaining ever-loyal to the PGA.

If Woods did indeed threaten not to attend the dinner if Norman was invited, then frankly, who would the R&A prefer to attend? It’s a no-brainer for them.

Tensions between Norman and the R&A have since thawed. The Australian was spotted at the 2025 Open Championship with an R&A guest badge. But despite a ceasefire in golf’s civil war, a proper resolution doesn’t appear to be on the horizon.

Successful 2025 leaves PGA Tour with leverage over LIV Golf

2025 was a resounding success for the PGA Tour in its ongoing battle with LIV Golf. On the course, all four majors were won by PGA Tour players. McIlroy won the Masters, Scottie Scheffler won The Open Championship and the PGA Championship, and J.J. Spain won the U.S. Open.

Only three LIV players, DeChambeau, individual title winner Jon Rahm, and Tyrell Hatton, were selected for the Ryder Cup. Admittedly, that’s partly because only their major championship performances counted towards the Ryder Cup standings. DeChambeau impressively qualified automatically despite that.

Off the course, the PGA Tour continued to dominate. They reportedly drew up to 10 times the number of viewers on overlapping weekends, with millions of viewers tuning in for some of the PGA Tour’s signature events.

LIV continues to improve its TV ratings following an American broadcast deal with Fox, but overall, their numbers are modest compared to the PGA Tour.

Cracks in LIV Golf’s armour have also begun to show. It was announced in July that LIV was no longer planning to pay players’ fines imposed by the DP World Tour, leading to speculation about the future of European players’ presence on LIV.

Right now, the PGA Tour has all the leverage and has no incentive to work out a deal with LIV Golf.

How Serena Williams breaks the myth about her true personality off the court

When it comes to intensity and passion in tennis, few names shine as brightly as Serena Williams. Her competitive spirit and powerful strokes made her one of the most dominant players in history, defining an era in the sport. However, that same ferocity on the court also fueled a long-standing misconception about who Serena really is off it.

In the inaugural episode of Stockton Street, published on X, the American champion decided to clarify the biggest misunderstanding about her personality. During the conversation, Williams explained that many people labeled her as serious, aggressive, and distant in her private life, simply because she displayed unmatched intensity during her matches.

Serena Williams

READ: Serena Williams Shares Mysterious Post About ‘Difficult August’ an

“For me, the biggest mistake is that people think I’m the same off the court as I am on it. I’ve always been intense, fierce, and passionate in tennis, but in reality I’m loving, I love to joke around and have fun with my family. I’m not as serious as many people think,”she confessed.

A cheerful and approachable Serena Williams

Far from the rigid image some still hold, a quick look at her social media reveals an authentic and joyful Serena. The former world number one often shares moments full of laughter with her daughters, friends, and family, showing that her essence goes far beyond the intensity she displayed with a racket in hand.

This isn’t the first myth the former tennis star has sought to debunk. Over the years, several misunderstandings have circulated about her and her inner circle, including her own father, Richard Williams.

King Richard and the vindication of Richard Williams

In 2021, the film King Richard, starring Will Smith, showed the world a different side of Richard Williams. Beyond the prejudices that painted him as a villain, the movie revealed his true role as a protector and driving force in the lives of Serena and Venus, highlighting the enormous family effort that propelled the sisters to the top of world tennis.

“It was essential to tell the truth: my father wasn’t the character many imagined. He was a constant support, along with my mother, and together they guided us in a sport that wasn’t always easy for us,” Serena recalled in a past interview.

The combination of her athletic career and the authenticity of her personal life solidify Serena Williams not only as a tennis icon, but also as an inspiring voice unafraid to break myths and show her true self. Today, with Stockton Street, she opens a new chapter to share untold stories and connect more closely with her followers

Phil Mickelson makes it perfectly clear which PGA Tour star he wants to sign to LIV Golf

Phil Mickelson has a vacant position on his LIV Golf team, and the six-time major winner has made it clear he’s keen to recruit record-breaking amateur starlet Jackson Koivun. The 20-year-old studies at Auburn University, known for its successful golfing programmes, but he has already managed to cause quite a stir on the PGA Tour this season.

Not only has he been an exceptional performer in the university circuit for the Auburn Tigers, but has also proven himself against seasoned professionals. Koivun has competed in seven PGA Tour-sanctioned tournaments this season, including the gruelling US Open at Oakmont, which was the site of his only missed cut.

Phil Mickelson names the PGA Tour youngster who's 'destined for greatness'  and encourages him to join LIV Golf instead

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In four tournaments since then, he has secured T11 or better finishes, and he only narrowly trailed world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at last week’s Procore Championship.

Scheffler secured victory at 19-under-par following an outstanding final round in Napa, California, with Koivun finishing just three strokes behind. By achieving that, he became the first amateur to secure three consecutive top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour since Ken Venturi in 1956.

Such displays have unsurprisingly caught Mickelson’s attention, who needs to fill a spot on his LIV Golf side, the HyFlyers, following Andy Ogletree’s relegation last month. Mickelson, 55, went on record with his admiration of Koivun, suggesting on social media that he will attempt to entice the youngster to join the HyFlyers.

“This young man is an amazing talent and destined for greatness. He would also look great in a HyFlers outfit,” Mickelson posted on X, adding a winking emoji. LIV made its entry into the professional golf world by poaching big names from the PGA Tour, including Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka.

However, the breakaway league’s approach has significantly shifted in recent seasons, focusing more on recruiting talents straight from university. LIV’s goal is to build its own stars to supplement the core of big names.

The likes of Josele Ballester and Caleb Surratt, formerly of Arizona State and Tennessee, respectively, are evidence of LIV’s new tactic, and they have both acquitted themselves well in their first steps as professionals.

Koivun is the No. 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, with five wins in 42 counting events. His success comes as no surprise after being the highest-ranked recruit in the 2023 class.

And he’s lived up to that potential in NCAA competition. He clinched the Haskins Award, given to the outstanding player in college golf, as a freshman in 2024. He also claimed an award named after Mickelson, the Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award.

He narrowly missed out on the NCAA Individual Championship in 2024, finishing tied for second, but his performance was enough to guide the Tigers to their first national title in the programme’s history.

Koivun has already secured a PGA Tour card through its University Accelerated programme, but he’s put it on hold until next year. He’s chosen to return to Auburn in pursuit of an individual national title.

Once the 2025/26 university season ends, he’ll likely be faced with the biggest decision of his career to date. PGA Tour membership has already been secured, but it is clear Mickelson – and other LIV teams, for that matter – will have their eyes on signing one of the top talents in the sport.

Tiger Woods has sparked fresh speculation about a comeback after delivering a powerful message that reignited hopes of seeing him compete again as the 15-time Major winner hints at a return.

The 49-year-old has not played since the 2024 British Open at Royal Troon as he continues to battle against injury and fitness, whilst mentoring his teenage son, Charlie, as he looks to turn professional.

So, the golf world has been waiting patiently for any sign of Woods’ return since his season was cut short by a ruptured Achilles tendon earlier this year and that wait grew more intriguing when Woods used his Sun Day Red brand to share a striking message.

Tiger Woods

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“I’ve always had the belief that I can execute anything in competition because I’ve done it. I’ve done countless reps in practice. That drives my confidence,” Woods says in a silhouetted post online.

The statement, while promotional in nature, was quickly interpreted by many as a signal that Woods is preparing to test himself on the course once again – especially with the accompanying caption reading: “Confidence isn’t given, it’s earned.”

Fans flooded the comments, demanding to know when he will return. Some cheered his resilience, while others expressed hope that this message was more than just marketing. The ambiguity has fueled ongoing debate: is Woods truly preparing for competition?

The renewed speculation comes after years of physical struggles that have repeatedly forced Woods to withdraw from competition. In 2024, he made just five starts, at the Majors and the Genesis Invitational, but only managed to make the cut at the Masters.

He withdrew midway through the Genesis, a reminder of the limits placed on him by injury before the Achilles rupture in March seemed to halt his career once again. The latest in a long sequence of setbacks.

Back surgeries, knee operations, and lingering pain have repeatedly forced him to reimagine his schedule and at almost 50 years old, many observers have questioned whether he could continue at all.

Yet, Woods’ career has long been defined by resilience, each return from injury rekindling his legend and that determination was on display during his most recent public appearance at the Nexus Cup at Liberty National Golf Club.

Fans got a chance to watch him swing a club for the first time since his surgery, and his motion looked fluid and assured, suggesting that his recovery is further along than many expected.

When could Tiger Woods next compete?

While Woods has yet to confirm any concrete plans, speculation is now centered on his Hero World Challenge, an invitational he has traditionally hosted, or even an eventual debut on the PGA Tour Champions, where 50-and-over golfers compete.

Either scenario would mark a new chapter for a player who has repeatedly defied expectations. Fans should be reminded of what he’s capable of from his historic 2019 Masters win.

Meanwhile the next Major for Woods to try his hand at will be the Masters, which will run from April 9-12 at Augusta. This gives him a lot of time to get back up to speed before trying his hand against the very best once again.

The massive Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford event is now in the past, with ‘Bud’ leaving Allegiant Stadium as the undisputed super middleweight champion.

As lucrative as the night was for Crawford, the outcome was equally as opportunistic for another fighter who did not compete on the card.

For years, David Benavidez has campaigned to fight Canelo Alvarez. And for years, his callouts were ignored. Fans wanted the fight, but Alvarez seemed to have no interest.

Canelo Alvarez Terence Crawford

JUST IN: Canelo Alvarez surprisingly beat Terence Crawford in one area as comparison stats highlight several key details

Now, in 2025, the fight might be fully on the table, with Alvarez lacking a definitive direction for his next career move.

Alvarez lost his belts on Saturday, but he is still widely considered to be one of the best fighters in the world. Most importantly, he is still a top-five pound-for-pound pay-per-view draw. As the face of Mexican boxing, there is almost no fight his fans would not show out for.

Nobody was a bigger winner on Saturday than Crawford, who made history and defied the odds in a truly dominant performance. But from a business perspective, the result might not have been better for anyone other than Benavidez.

David Benavidez is a big winner from Canelo-Crawford fallout

David Benavidez Makes New Canelo vs Crawford Prediction: "It Tells You All  You Need To Know" - Seconds Out

Many fans did not like how his title reign went, but there is no doubting Alvarez’s championship aura. Alvarez has been a titleholder for the last decade, and few fighters feel less equipped to hold a belt than he does.

By losing to Crawford, Alvarez does not have a belt for the first time since 2015. Depending on what happens next, it has been almost as long since he fought in a non-title bout.

At this point, being a champion has become ingrained in his personality. It did not define who he was, but Alvarez without a belt nearly seems like a tiger without its stripes. Whoever Alvarez fights next, it will be a pay-per-view headlining bout, and most likely with another title on the line.

Perhaps Alvarez rematches Crawford, but how lucrative would a rematch be at this point? The first fight was not competitive, and fans were not that enthused with the matchup to begin with. People might watch a rematch out of obligation, but the prestige of the fight has already been used up.

In that sense, if Alvarez is going to fight for a belt in his next outing, it will need to be in another division. He is much more willing to move up than down, having already fought at light heavyweight twice before, including winning the WBO 175-pound belt in 2019.

If he moves up, Benavidez is the obvious answer. Dmitry Bivol is there, but he is already tied up with Artur Beterbiev, making a rematch unlikely. Benavidez and Alvarez have been linked for years, and the fight is one fans believe should have already been made.

Benavidez has a devout fan base, but he is far from a bona fide pay-per-view star. Wins over Caleb Plant, Demetrius Andrade and David Morrell boosted his stock, but he is still waiting for that one big superfight to put him over the edge. Win or lose, Alvarez would be that fight.

Alvarez was asked about retirement in the ring and completely shrugged off the notion. If he returns to another title fight, it has to be Benavidez. ‘The Mexican Monster’ has a massive challenge in front of him with Anthony Yarde, but a potentially lucrative opportunity awaits him should he improve to 31-0.

Perhaps Alvarez returns to the William Scull and Edgar Berlanga route, but that does next to nothing for him at this point in his career. Now under Turki Alalshikh, Alvarez seems inclined to go wherever the money takes him, and for now, that road leads to David Benavidez.

Canelo Alvarez was largely outmatched by Terence Crawford on Saturday night.

In Las Vegas, Alvarez was beaten by Crawford over 12 rounds in the third loss of his career.

It was a remarkable performance from ‘Bud’ to win the undisputed super middleweight titles after moving up two weight classes.

Fortunately for the fans and for the challenger, aside from the AI judge, the scorecards also appeared to be somewhat in line with the consensus opinion.

Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford during their undisputed super middleweight title fight

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While it was clear that the American was winning the majority of the rounds, even if the fight was competitive, the stats provide a greater insight into this.

Canelo Alvarez was more accurate than Terence Crawford despite convincingly losing

With everything that both men have accomplished in their careers, there are countless interesting stats about the records of Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford.

Ultimately, only three figures truly mattered on Saturday night, the scorecards, which were all in favor of the challenger.

While Roy Jones Jr. believes that Crawford’s first win came before a punch was thrown, the stats from the fight paint a pretty accurate image of what fans saw on September 13.

Alvarez certainly landed some shots of his own but his opponent wasn’t affected by them and at points, chose to trade with the Mexican superstar.

The data from Compubox shows just how Crawford was able to consistently stay ahead of his opponent in each round with far more activity.

However, a surprise figure shows that it was actually Alvarez who was slightly more accurate with his punches despite the elusive nature of his foe.

Stats (Compubox) Canelo Alvarez Terence Crawford
Total punches landed 99 of 338 115 of 534
Punch accuracy 38% 37%
Total power punches landed 83 of 260 70 of 208
Total jabs landed 16 of 78 45 of 326
Jab accuracy 20.5% 13.8%
Two other stats also highlight key aspects of Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford

In Compubox’s statistics for the fight, there are two other interesting comparisons that are drawn following Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford.

The first notes that Alvarez landed 32% of his power punches in the fight, compared to an average of 46% in his previous 12 fights.

Given that Crawford was moving up two weight classes many expected him to have a speed advantage in this fight, and while that was true, ‘Bud’ has always had incredible footwork that keeps him out of danger.

While Alvarez may have had an issue with landing something significant on his opponent, he still landed the second most shots of any of Crawford’s former opponents at 99, only being outdone by Egidijus Kavaliauskas at 118.

Some may argue that this was due to ‘Bud’ wanting to prove a point during the fight where he stood his ground for some of the bout’s most exciting highlights.

Anthony Joshua receives update on future in boxing as promoter targets ‘roll of the dice’ fight

Former world champion Anthony Joshua is set to see his immediate future in the ring thrashed out in the coming days, ahead of one final lucrative outing.

Missing out on a planned return to combat before the end of the year, Anthony Joshua had entered the sweepstakes to take on the polarizing Jake Paul in a return; however, the Ohio native is now booked to face Gervonta Davis in November.

Anthony Joshua receives update on future in boxing as promoter targets  'roll of the dice' fight

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And with a comeback potentially as soon as January now in the works as part of a historic trip to Africa for the former gold holder, Joshua is seemingly approaching a career swan song.

That swan song in question also appears to be in relation to the biggest fights in the division, culminating in a summer showdown.

Anthony Joshua backed for one last ‘roll of the dice’ clash in 2026

Not having it all his own way in the ring in the last couple of years, beyond an impressive four-fight rise in non-title fights, Joshua came unstuck in back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

And in his last venture to the ring, the Watford star was stopped in brutal fashion by Daniel Dubois, who launched an assault on the IBF heavyweight crown.

However, with a potential January return expected to serve as a warm-up clash, Joshua has been tipped to secure one final lucrative “roll of the dice” fight against a fellow household name by this time next year.

“He (Joshua) needs to get back in the groove against a top twenty guy, that he can go in, blow the cobwebs off, look good and gear himself up for the last big roll of the dice,” Eddie Hearn said on The Ariel Helwani Show.

“Right now, I would say January or February in Africa is very common, and I would be looking to head out to see AJ next week to try and finalise some plans.”

And amid plans for one final pageantry showdown, a particular fight has been mooted once more in the boxing scene.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua urged to fight by boxing royalty

On a collision course inside the ring for years at this stage, former world champion stars Joshua and his British compatriot, Tyson Fury, have failed to ever get a pairing over the line.

And it’s the belief of former undisputed world champion Lennox Lewis that if they fail to ever make good on their rumored fight, they would end their gold-laden career with a certain regret.

Lewis warned that based on his experience, he would have regretted not bookending his era in boxing with his fight against Mike Tyson, akin to a 2026 fight between Joshua and Fury.

Jake Paul is set to face off against Gervonta “Tank” Davis in what will be the toughest test yet in his boxing career.

Despite the pair agreeing to a bout on November 14, a massive change to the fight has already been made. Paul announced the change via his Most Valuable Promotions. According to the promotion, the planned Paul vs. Davis bout is being moved from Atlanta, Georgia, to Miami, Florida.

The fight was supposed to take place at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, which has a reported capacity of 17,000. Now, it moves to the Kaseya Center, where the Miami Heat play their games. The Kaseya Center holds 20,000 people.

Jake Paul Gervonta Davis

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Paul vs. Davis will still be streamed globally on Netflix, and fans can watch the matchup at no extra cost on the streamer. Considering the venue change, Paul, Davis, and MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian all made statements about the move via a press release.

“New city, same mission, seek and destroy the tank,” said Jake Paul. “Kaseya Center. Friday, November 14. I’m bringing the heat, and Miami will see me take down this angry elf while the world watches live on Netflix.” “Jake Paul has been cherry picking in the sport of boxing for a while now, but he picked the wrong opponent this time,” said Tank Davis.

“He better start losing some weight, chasing some chickens, and pray that helps him some on fight night! Thank you to Netflix for giving me the opportunity to whoop this clown!”

“Most Valuable Promotions, together with Netflix, is bringing the most disruptive fight of the year to Miami, and we could not be more thrilled to showcase this blockbuster event at Kaseya Center,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions.

“On Friday, November 14, fans in Miami and tens of millions watching globally will witness two of boxing’s most electrifying stars collide in a once-in-a-lifetime showdown. We’re grateful to State Farm Arena and the GAEC for their support in this process.”

Paul most recently defeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by unanimous decision in June, and received a world ranking of #74 in the cruiserweight division as a result of his victory. For Davis, he most recently fought Lamont Roach Jr., but their bout ended in a draw.

There were rumors that Roach and Davis would rematch, but he instead chose to fight Paul. It will be interesting to see if Paul can keep pace with the WBA lightweight title holder.

Terence Crawford already made his feelings clear about fighting one specific opponent.

While UFC champion Ilia Topuria is targeting Crawford following this past weekend’s results, there’s a huge name in boxing that has been linked with ‘Bud’.

It isn’t clear where the new undisputed super middleweight champion will go from here after moving up two weight classes to face Canelo Alvarez.

One thing that is for certain is that it didn’t take long for Turki Alalshikh to suggest who he wants to see Crawford face next following a post on social media.

Terence Crawford didn’t rule out fighting David Benavidez but said he wasn’t interested because of the size difference

When he was asked about a potential rematch with Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford stated that his new direction hasn’t been decided yet following September 13.

This would obviously be the biggest fight out there for ‘Bud’, but there is another star that some, including Turki Alalshikh, want to see him in the ring with.

Alvarez has been accused of avoiding the 30-0 David Benavidez in the past.

The 28-year-old last competed at super middleweight in November of 2023, before moving up to light heavyweight for the next two bouts of his career.

Crawford, who beat the older brother of ‘The Mexican Monster’ (Jose Benavidez Jr.) in 2018, was asked about the prospect of facing him down the line during an appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast earlier this year.

“My thing is, Benavidez is a big dude,” Crawford replied. “Not to say I won’t fight him, I fought his brother. His brother was big when I fought him. The only reason why I entertain Canelo is because he’s not a big dude. He might be thick but he’s not a big dude.

“Benavidez is like six foot something, then he’s gonna come in 190, 200 maybe, you know what I mean? You never know, that’s a big dude… I might as well go to heavyweight if I fight Benavidez.”

How David Benavidez compares to Terence Crawford and some of his former opponents

As the youngest super middleweight world champion in boxing history at just 20 years old, David Benavidez has been one of the most exciting rising stars for some time.

While his undefeated record is very impressive, he hasn’t had the opportunity to face a star like Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford, or even Dmitry Bivol or Artur Beterbiev as of yet.

For a comparison, here is how Crawford and Benavidez compare to one another, along with Alvarez and Jose Benavidez Jr., who was stopped by ‘Bud’ in the twelfth round.

Stats according to BoxRec Terence Crawford David Benavidez Canelo Alvarez Jose Benavidez Jr.
Age 37 28 35 33
Height 5’9” / 175cm 6’2” / 188cm 5’7½” / 171cm 5’10½ / 179cm
Reach 75” 74½” 70½” 71”

As Crawford himself said, the stats show that while there wasn’t much physical difference between him and Alvarez, Benavidez would be a whole different story.

Oleksandr Usyk has spoken out after he was spotted taking part in a charity football match despite sustaining some minor injuries following his clash with Daniel Dubois.

On Monday evening, the undisputed heavyweight champion featured in the ‘Legends Charity Game’ – which was held at Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon. Several football legends took part in the match, including Luis Figo, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Deco, Kaka, Peter Schmeichel, Petr Cech, Edwin van der Sar, Carles Puyol, Cafu and Michael Owen.

Pepe, Figo, Pauleta and Helder Postiga all scored as Portugal legends secured a 4-1 win over World legends in the inaugural Legends Charity Game. One of the biggest surprises from the match saw the Ukrainian swap the boxing gloves for the football boots. Usyk played 17 minutes in the first half and 6 minutes in the second half.

Oleksandr Usyk sparks outrage as he makes shock football appearance while  nursing injury that delayed Joseph Parker fight | talkSPORT

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The aim of the charity match was to raise over €1,000,000 for several charitable organisations, including the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, Portuguese Red Cross, International Alert, and Caritas Portuguesa. Fans were left stunned after Usyk took part in the game despite having to postpone his mandatory world title defence against Joseph Parker due to an injury claim.

The Ukrainian was previously ordered to defend his WBO gold strap against Parker after beating Daniel Dubois in July. That said, the bout has since been delayed on medical grounds and recent reports revealed that Usyk’s team had been successful in their appeal for a 90-day extension.

Despite suffering a few injuries against ‘Triple D,’ Usyk remained under the close supervision of his team and medical staff in Lisbon. Speaking about the charity match, the two-time undisputed heavyweight champion said: “Football is my childhood dream. Now I want to help Ukrainian children to make their dreams come true. The Usyk Foundation raises money to help sixty four families have a home again. This is just a drop in the ocean — a million of Ukrainians have lost their homes. But we do what we can.” He added: “I consider sport as a very powerful tool to make the world better.”

Usyk, 38, participated as a guest, but also wanted to draw attention to his own charitable initiative – the Usyk Foundation. The current fundraising campaign by his foundation aims to raise €3million (£2.5m) for the ‘construction of new housing for 64 Ukrainian families who lost their homes due to Russia’s full-scale invasion.’

Last month, Usyk grabbed the headlines after he was filmed dancing at a music concert. After the clip went viral online, Parker’s promoter – David Higgins – was quick to question the Ukrainian’s injury. “I haven’t actually seen the medical evidence but you would think that a serious injury would prevent that sort of activity,” he said. While Usyk is not expected to return this year, Parker will have at least one more fight before facing the Ukrainian. The Kiwi heavyweight will take on British star Fabio Wardley in London on October 25.