Jai Opetaia produced a fifth-round stoppage to beat Claudio Squeo and retain his IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight world titles.
The Australian dominated the bout on the Gold Coast and landed a firm uppercut in the third round before connecting with some damaging combinations.
Opetaia, 29, then floored Italian Squeo in the fourth round with a punishing shot to the body.
Victory was delivered in the next round after a fierce right hook to the jaw forced Squeo to hunch over and take a knee as the home favourite extended his unbeaten run to 28 fights.
Following the bout, Opetaia once again voiced his desire for a unification bout with Mexico’s WBO and WBA cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez.
“We did what we had to do,” said Opetaia.
“I’m chasing this unification fight and it’s frustrating.
“Gilberto Ramirez – next fight, let’s get it on. I’m chasing the belts. The fight is easy to be made. Let’s do it.”
Meanwhile, Japan’s Junto Nakatani overcame compatriot Ryosuke Nishida, who retired with an eye injury in Tokyo, to add the IBF bantamweight title to his WBC belt.
Nakatani remains the number one fighter in the division after firing several punches towards the right eye of Nishida, which prompted an inspection from the ringside doctor after the sixth round.
Victory for the three-weight world champion extends his unbeaten record to 31 wins, including 24 knockouts.
Another Japanese rival, Naoya Inoue, was watching on from the stands and could be in line for a highly anticipated meeting with the 27-year-old next year.
Countryfile presenter Adam Henson, who has been fronting the BBC show since 2001, has opened up about a ‘very challenging’ year for the farming and tourism sectors
Adam Henson spoke of a challenging 2024 for farming and tourism(Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)
Countryfile’s Adam Henson has described 2024 as a “very challenging” year for the tourism and farming industries, primarily due to the extreme weather conditions.
The past year recorded the sixth wettest spring in history, followed by an underwhelming summer that only saw a brief heatwave in August. In fact, the 2023-24 season witnessed the highest number of named storms since the naming system began a decade ago.
The persistent rain carried on into September and autumn, wreaking havoc on the harvest, according to Adam.
He said: “Yeah, it’s been very challenging for, well, tourist enterprises, outdoor tourist enterprises and farms right across the UK, just because it’s been horrible.
“We’ve certainly got some fields with quite a lot of crops in them that we haven’t actually harvested and we never will. “
Adam and Charlie share two children together (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Article continues below
In a conversation with Minerva magazine, Adam mentioned that nowadays, over 60 per cent of farmers take on a second job as a safeguard against poor seasons. “Duncan, my business partner, over the last 30 years, continued developing the farm park, and then to grow and expand on the types of diversification we’ve got,” he elaborated.
At 59-year-old, Adam reflected on the wisdom he gained from his father Joe Henson, who hosted a TV programme called In The Country. He remembers his dad emphasising that adaptability is crucial for enduring tough times.
Adam shared how witnessing his father’s career flourish through television work and the popularity of the Farm Park taught him the importance of having diverse sources of income at the farm.
Adam took a hands-on approach to the family venture in his teens. “I love the Farm Park – the camping and glamping element too as well as the farming. We have a beautiful spot here and I love to share that. “
The pair had a last-minute wedding after Charlie’s shock pancreatic cancer diagnosis(Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
But he warns that farming comes with its shares of highs and lows. I believe you must be incredibly committed to farming. Many of my friends, who were farmers when I was a kid, never knew whether or not they would have a good year.
Adam’s family farm’s survival was threatened by the Foot and Mouth Crisis, which put him in a dire position.
Adam described that time in The Countrywoman’s Guide as “a really difficult time for us.” We had a lot of money borrowed, on top of our significant overdraft, to help the business advance, and we were both farm tenants. We were also heavily invested in Cotswold Farm Park. “
Soon after he and his business associate Duncan had taken out loans to expand their business, the outbreak began.
Article continues below
The UK was in shock as more than 2,000 cases were recorded nationwide and more than 6 million sheep and cattle were killed to stop the spread.
Adam claims that the epidemic left his company stranded forever. He acknowledged that “it was horrible and we were in trouble.” “Our landlord and the bank were closing in on us, and the farm closed.”
Sam and his adopted mum Jo delighted fans with their unbreakable bond as they competed in season two of BBC’s Race Across The World, in which they ventured across South America together
Grieving family of Race Across The World’s Sam Gardiner ‘overwhelmed’ after £10,000 donated
The family of Race Across The World contestant Sam Gardiner have given a heartfelt ‘thank you’ for the outpouring of love and support they received, after his tragic death last month. As they grieve for their son, his parents have told fans how grateful they are, after more than £10,000 was donated to a fundraising campaign set up in his memory.
The 24-year-old, who competed in the BBC One series alongside his mother Jo, died in a horror car crash last month. A JustGiving page launched by his family, in aid of National FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), has so far raised more than £10,000.
His devastated mum Jo said: “We have been overwhelmed by the tens of thousands of messages of love and support on social media and in comments to press reporting. We would like to thank the BBC, Studio Lambert and everyone at Race Across The World production, fellow contestants and fans of the show for all their support at this terrible time.
“It has been very comforting to know that Sam touched so many people. I have been particularly moved by all the messages that Sam was an inspiration to many who have been impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
Sam and his mum Jo shared a close bond(Image: BBC)
“We adopted Sam and he was diagnosed with FASD. As viewers of season two will recall, this was a big challenge both for Sam and for us as his parents.
Article continues below
“National FASD helped us on that journey. If some good comes of this tragedy, it will be that FASD is better understood.”
Sam was involved in the devastating road accident last week when his vehicle dramatically careered off the A34 on Monday, 26 May, rolling and ending up on its side, confirmed Greater Manchester Police. He sadly died on May 29 from his injuries.
Sam tragically died age 24 in a car accident(Image: PA)
Broadcast in March 2020, Sam and Jo ventured across Mexico and Argentina as part of the second series of the BBC show. Mr Gardiner’s father Andrew described Sam as a “beloved son, a cherished brother, and a truly unforgettable soul”.
He said: “When the news broke last week, friends asked how they could help. After some thought, I decided to set up a JustGiving page to raise money for National FASD in memory of Sam. The page is called Sam Gardiner; Super Human.
“I set the target at £500 thinking a few friends might be generous enough to make a donation. So far it’s raised 20 times that. It’s very humbling to see the RATW family rally to this worthy cause.”
The National Organisation for FASD says on its official website that it “provides support to people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, their families and communities, campaigns to raise public awareness, and promotes relevant policies and practices”.
Sam was adopted by Jo and Andrew as a child(Image: BBC)
The website also describes FASD as resulting “when prenatal alcohol exposure affects the developing brain and body.” It says: “FASD is a spectrum. Each person with FASD is affected differently.
“While more than 400 conditions can co-occur, FASD is at its core a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. All people with FASD have many strengths. Early diagnosis and appropriate support are essential, especially for executive functioning.”
A message on the official National FASD Instagram account said: “Sam lived his life full of love, exuberance and adventure as seen on BBC’s Race Across the World. National FASD is both humbled and honoured to help carry on his legacy via donations coming from hundreds.” A private funeral will be held later this month.
In the first stage of the Criterium du Dauphine, Tadej Pogacar defeated his main rivals to claim the line in a sprint for the line.
The Slovenian ran from Domerat to Montlucon on a challenging 196 km route in 4 hours, 40 minutes, and 2 seconds.
With only 25 meters remaining, Team Emirates-XRG rider Pogacar, who won the Tour de France last year, accelerated past Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel to claim victory.
Van der Poel, Van der Poel, Van der Poel, and Remco Evenepoel, both from Denmark, came in second place and Jonas Vingegaard of Team Visma-Lease a Bike came in fourth.
As the riders get ready for the Tour de France’s 5 July start, the riders will compete in eight stages that include a time trial.
Johnson Charles’ attempt at a scoop shot goes wrong as the batsman directs the ball through his legs and onto the stumps to leave West Indies on 117-4 in the second T20 International against England in Bristol.
Iranian intelligence minister Esmail Khatib has stated that sensitive Israeli documents about its nuclear facilities, its relationship with the United States, Europe, and other nations, as well as its defensive capabilities, will soon be made public.
Khatib claimed on Sunday that Tehran’s documents were a “treasure trove” that could help strengthen the country’s offensive posture, but he did not immediately offer any proof.
The Israeli government, which has never provided specifics about its nuclear arsenal, is said to have had significant atomic weapons, making it the only Middle Eastern nation to possess nuclear weapons, but has not yet made a comment on the report uncovered in the leaked documents.
However, Israelis have been detained based on their alleged ties to Tehran during its conflict in Gaza. If the materials were connected to the alleged annexation of an Israeli nuclear research facility last year, it was not immediately known.
“This treasure trove was transferred in a hurry and required security measures. The transfer procedures will remain private, Khatib said, but the documents should be made public soon.
He said that it would be an understatement to talk about the volume because it contained “a lot of documents.”
According to state broadcaster IRIB, citing sources and claiming that the documents had arrived at “secure locations,” there was a period of media silence due to the volume of the materials and the need to securely transfer the entire shipment into the nation.
negotiations and nuclear capabilities
The most recent development is a part of a wider scheme of covert operations that Iran and Israel have been engaging in for years.
Israel has attributed Iran’s support to armed groups in the region that threaten its interests, despite Tel Aviv’s accusations that it killed its nuclear scientists.
Following a report released last week by the UN nuclear watchdog that claimed Tehran had carried out covert nuclear activities, Iran’s nuclear program is also at the forefront. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors will likely criticize Tehran for these program-related questions this week.
Iran has disputed its intention to develop nuclear technology for peaceful, civil-freedom purposes, but it has repeatedly stated that it does so.
Iran and the US have also held a number of indirect discussions in Oman and Italy regarding a potential nuclear deal to end a decades-old conflict over its nuclear ambitions.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the president’s supreme leader, claimed that the US’s current plan to stop enriching uranium was “100 percent against our interests.”
“We repeatedly ask the America’s rude and haughty leaders to stop having a nuclear program. Who will determine whether Iran should be enriched? Without mentioning halting the ongoing discussions, he said.
