Sports
JUST IN: Usyk retains titles after beating Joshua in split decision
Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk beat Nigerian-born Briton Anthony Joshua on Saturday with a split points decision to retain his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight boxing belts in Jeddah.
The fight in Saudi Arabia was a rematch of the one in London in September, which Usyk won after a unanimous decision to take the belts from Joshua.
But Saturday’s 12 rounds were fought with much more intensity and emotion.
The pressure was on both more than ever, with Usyk this time representing a country fighting for its existence after a Russian invasion while Joshua was battling for his boxing future.
Usyk appeared comfortably ahead as the final bell rang at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena to end the fight billed as “Rage on the Red Sea.”
But the American judge awarded the fight 115-113 to Joshua, while the British and Ukrainian judges decided it was 115-113 and 116-112 to Usyk.
The victory took the 35-year-old’s professional record to 20 fights undefeated while Joshua, 32, suffered the third defeat of his career.
Joshua, who had held aloft the Ukrainian flag with Usyk as they waited for the decision in what seemed an acceptance of defeat, then had an uncharacteristic meltdown.
He took two of the belts, dropping them as he left the ring and headed for the dressing room before turning around and stepping back between the ropes.
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The boxer then took the microphone and addressed the crowd: “Usyk is one hell of a fighter. That’s just emotion.
“For this guy to beat me tonight, maybe I could have done better, but it shows the levels of hard work he must have put in. So, please give him a round of applause as our heavyweight champion of the world.
“I was studying Ukraine and all the champions from your amazing country. I’ve never been there. What’s happening there, I don’t know. But it’s not nice … under those circumstances he’s managed to become champion.”
The opening round was tentative, with Joshua’s corner calling for him to adjust his rhythm.
The bout continued with Usyk constantly moving and using his jab and body shots to good effect.
Round nine raised the tempo dramatically, with Joshua enjoying his best round before Usyk came back hard in the 10th.
Needing a knockout and running out of time, the taller and heavier Joshua was unable to land the telling blows against an agile and elusive opponent who hit back hard.
At the final bell the two embraced, with the Ukrainian sinking to his knees.
Carlo Ancelotti, the legendary coach of Real Madrid, is set to face trial next week over allegations of tax fraud, a Madrid court announced on Friday.
Spanish prosecutors are pushing for a prison sentence of four years and nine months, accusing the 65-year-old of failing to report over €1 million ($1.1 million) in earnings from image rights between 2014 and 2015.
The trial is scheduled to begin on Wednesday and will last two days. According to a court spokesperson, Ancelotti is required to be present for the hearings.
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Authorities claim that while Ancelotti declared his salary from Real Madrid, he allegedly used a “confusing” and “complex” structure of shell companies to conceal additional earnings from image rights and other sources, despite being registered as a tax resident in Spain at the time.
A Spanish court initially ordered him to stand trial in 2023, but no date was set until now. Last year, Ancelotti dismissed the case as “an old story that I hope will be resolved soon.”
Ancelotti, who has won a record five Champions League titles as a coach, first took charge of Real Madrid in 2013 before leaving in 2015.
He later managed Bayern Munich, Napoli, and Everton before returning to Madrid in 2021.
With a career spanning top clubs across Europe, he has also secured league titles in Spain, Italy, England, Germany, and France.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced Egypt as the new host of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following Côte d’Ivoire’s withdrawal.
CAF made the announcement in a statement on Thursday evening, revealing that the West African nation pulled out just a month before the tournament due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
Côte d’Ivoire was initially scheduled to host the age-grade competition from April 26 to May 18, but the hosting rights have now been transferred to Egypt.
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“The Confédération Africaine de Football (‘CAF’) today awarded the Egyptian Football Association (‘EFA’) and Egyptian Government the rights to host the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2025,” part of the statement read.
Egypt, which hosted the previous edition of the tournament, will now take on the responsibility once again. The competition has been slightly rescheduled and will now commence on April 27.
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles are drawn in Group B alongside the new hosts, Egypt, as well as Morocco and South Africa.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, while the best two third-placed teams will also earn quarter-final slots.
Furthermore, the four semi-finalists of the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
Egypt’s appointment as host comes as a swift solution following Côte d’Ivoire’s unexpected withdrawal, ensuring that Africa’s premier youth tournament proceeds as planned.
Strategic partners to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited has successfully facilitated a partnership between the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and managers of the elite league for live radio commentaries during match-day activities.
GTI Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, made the revelation following the successful signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both parties in Abuja on Thursday March 27, 2025.
During the signing of the MoU, the NPFL Board chairman Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye described the partnership deal between both parties as a game-changer initiative aimed at further enhancing the popularity of the top-tier League in the country and beyond.
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“The return of regular live radio commentary on FRCN, the largest Radio Network in Africa is a heartwarming initiative because it is a sure channel to bring the magic of the ever-improving NPFL to as many homes, cars and football-loving Nigerians.
“This collaboration which is largely a corporate social responsibility of Radio Nigeria was agreed because of their unbeatable reach and reputation over the years,” he said.
In his response the Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr. Mohammed Bulama an ardent follower of sports and football in particular, said he was pleased that live commentaries of Nigeria Premier Football League are back on the Network Service during his time at the corporation.
Also present at the occasion was the Executive Director of GTI Group, Nelson Ine, who used the occasion to thank both parties for reaching a decision that aims to add value to the fast-rising elite league.
“Today marks another milestone in GTI’s quest in giving the NPFL a new lease of life. The step taken today has added value to the NPFL project because it has given more Nigerians the opportunity to listen to live commentaries of our elite league by bringing it to the doorsteps of our citizens.
“GTI remains committed to improving our league and adding value to it. We are all delighted today because history has been made and we hope Corporate Nigeria will use this golden opportunity to support the project via sponsorship and utilising it for their brand visibility,” he said.
It was gathered that the deal would be in place till the end of the 2024/2025 NPFL season and would be renewed for continuity.
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