Archive July 17, 2025

Oleksandr Usyk v Daniel Dubois 2

Venue: Wembley Stadium, London Date: Saturday, 19 July

Oleksandr Usyk has played down suggestions his age could be a factor when he faces Daniel Dubois in Saturday’s undisputed heavyweight contest at Wembley Stadium.

WBA (Super), WBO and WBC champion Usyk and IBF title-holder Dubois are meeting for the second time, with the Ukrainian having claimed a ninth-round stoppage in August 2023.

Usyk is 38 – 11 years the senior of Britain’s Dubois – as he looks to become a three-time undisputed champion, having already achieved that feat at cruiserweight and heavyweight.

“I respect this young guy,” Usyk said.

“He [Dubois] is motivated but I am too. I am not an old guy – 38 is not old. We will see.”

Both fighters remained calm throughout the news conference, which began 48 minutes later than scheduled, leaving their respective teams to throw out jibes.

Usyk is yet to taste defeat in 23 fights as a professional and has won his three previous bouts in London, although none of them have taken place at Wembley Stadium.

He has fond memories of London as an amateur too, having won heavyweight gold at the 2012 Olympics.

Dubois has won three fights in a row since losing to Usyk with his most recent coming at the national stadium when he stunned Anthony Joshua in September.

“Right now I just want to get it on,” Dubois said.

“I’m going to write my own script. They’ve got their script and I’ll write my own. I’m going to win these belts and I’m going to be the man.”

Dubois has picked up 21 knockouts in 22 victories with just two defeats on his record.

Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas suggested Dubois has not changed as a fighter in the 23 months since they last shared a ring, leading the Briton’s trainer Don Charles to say he must have been asleep.

“While I was asleep, Usyk beat Tyson Fury twice,” Klimas responded.

The Ukrainian made history when becoming the first four-belt heavyweight champion with victory over Fury in May 2024.

He backed up that win with a second triumph against the Gypsy King in December.

But some have suggested those two fights, which both went the distance, have added a lot miles on the clock for Usyk.

Usyk, dressed in a long white robe and traditional black fur hat, spent most of the news conference looking at the table, clutching rosary beads and silently mouthing prayers.

Dubois was much more understated in a tracksuit and baseball cap but also steered clear of any controversy.

Despite being the away fighter, Usyk appears to have the greater support so far this week.

Usyk supporters were much louder than those of Dubois during Wednesday’s open workout and it was the same at the news conference.

Dubois did his best to get his team heard when breaking gaze at the face-off and waving his arms to get them chanting his name.

After the Londoner stepped away Usyk remained in place and invited Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren to a stare down on the stage.

“Daniel’s coming into his prime,” Warren said.

“He has had a great grounding and fought more quality fighters than most heavyweights even at the age he’s at. He knows he can hurt Oleksandr because he’s done it before.

Ons Jabeur has said she is to take a “step back” from tennis for her own wellbeing.

The WTA announced on Thursday that the Tunisian had withdrawn from the upcoming Montreal Open and added that the 30-year-old was “the only player in the top 99 who has not entered next month’s US Open”.

“For the past two years I’ve been pushing myself so hard, fighting through injuries and facing many other challenges,” wrote Jabeur in a social media post.

“But, deep down, I haven’t felt happy on court for some time now.

“Tennis is such a beautiful sport. But right now I feel it’s time to take a step back and finally put myself first: to breathe, to heal, and to rediscover the joy of simply living.”

Jabeur has been as high as number two in the women’s rankings but has now dropped to 71st in the world.

A two-time Wimbledon runner-up, she retired from her first round match at the All England Club this year as she struggled on the tournament’s hottest ever opening day.

Following her Wimbeldon exit, Jabeur said: “I’m pretty sad, it really doesn’t really help with my confidence and what I keep pushing myself to do, even though it has been a very tough season for me.”

She added that she would rest and just “try to disconnect a little bit from tennis” and spend some time with her family.

Manchester United have made a third bid for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo that could be worth up to £70m.

The offer is understood to be an initial £65m, with £5m in add-ons.

Brentford are yet to respond to the offer.

Although United have been strongly linked with Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in recent days, it has always been the priority at Old Trafford to get the Mbeumo deal done in time for Amorim to work with him in the Chicago, where United will largely be based for their 13-day trip.

The 25-year-old scored 20 Premier League goals last season and a number of clubs were interested in him, including Tottenham, now managed by former Brentford boss Thomas Frank.

However, Mbeumo’s preference was to join United.

Brentford’s other main goal threat, striker Yoane Wissa, is the subject of interest from Newcastle.

Last season Amorim repeatedly spoke about United’s failure to convert their chances.

Their 44 Premier League goals was their worst return in a domestic campaign since they were relegated in 1973-74.

If the transfer goes through, it is likely to mean skipper Bruno Fernandes playing in a deeper role as Cunha is earmarked for one of the two inside forward slots behind a main striker that Amorim prefers.

It will also mean there is even less chance of the four forward players presently in first-team exile – Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony – being brought back into the fold.

Safia Middleton-Patel has already made history this month, but the hope is that her time in the limelight can be a catalyst for change.

The goalkeeper – whose father is Indian – became the first female player of Asian heritage to play for Wales at a major tournament when she featured in her side’s 4-1 group-stage loss to France at Euro 2025.

And journalist Miriam Walker-Khan – who founded Brown Girl Sport, a site telling stories of South Asian women in sport – believes Middleton-Patel is the first player of South Asian heritage to play at a women’s Euros for any nation.

“For people who grew up with no representation in sport at that level, that was a crazy feeling.

“I’m not even Welsh, but to see a British player make that kind of history with the name Patel on the back of her shirt is insane and something we’ve been waiting so long for in women’s football.”

Roopa Vyas – chief operating officer of Her Game Too and founder of Her Game Too Cymru – feels it could prove a watershed moment.

“It’s overwhelming in the best way,” she told BBC Sport Wales.

Middleton-Patel’s exploits came after left-back Neil Taylor – whose mother is Indian – became the first player of Asian heritage to play for Wales’ men’s side at a major tournament during their historic run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 in France.

In 2021, Taylor gave his backing to the Professional Footballers’ Association’s (PFA) Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme (AIMS).

The scheme’s strategy is to “develop a sustainable flow of players of South Asian heritage into the professional game” – namely into the Premier League, English Football League and Women’s Super League.

Simone Pound – the PFA’s director of equality, diversity and inclusion – states the scheme has demonstrated “impressive year-on-year growth” – with the programme’s figures growing from just six players in 2019 to more than 140 in 2024.

Speaking on the Football Association of Wales’ Red Wall+ series, 43-cap former defender Taylor said of the initiative: “Originally when we had the conversation, it was about getting participation levels up in the UK.

“Then we actually decided to get some data. What we found out was there’s plenty of participation at grassroots level.

“Where the numbers fall away is from there (grassroots) to academies. So then we got a real idea of what we needed to do.

“The old phrase, ‘you can’t be it if you can’t see it’, I never really believed in it much when I was young. But since I’ve got older and have seen what this has done especially, it does play a big part, and I think there is going to be a shift.

Former Brentford player Riz Rehman runs AIMS as part of his role as player inclusion executive at the PFA.

And Rehman believes Middleton-Patel’s debut at the Euros – her fifth cap overall for her country – has the potential to positively influence the future generation who may have previously felt their route into the game was blocked.

“Visibility is incredibly impactful, especially on a major international stage like the Euros,” he told BBC Sport Wales.

“Representation at the top level plays a huge role in shifting perceptions and positively impacting how people feel about a sport which they may not have previously thought was ‘for them’.

“In that sense, what Safia has done this summer is so important, and it’s right that it’s celebrated.”

While Middleton-Patel’s showing on the big stage represents a landmark moment in numerous ways, Vyas says it must become “a turning point” for future players.

“As powerful as that visibility is, it can’t do all the work on its own,” she explained.

“Safia shouldn’t have to carry the weight of change just by existing in that space. If we want to see more players from South Asian backgrounds breaking through, we need to meet this moment with real, practical action – not just celebration.

“That means challenging outdated assumptions in talent ID, properly supporting girls at grassroots level, and making sure football environments actually feel safe and inclusive – for them and for their families.

“Saf is such an incredible role model and speaks out about so much brilliant stuff when it comes to neurodiversity,” added journalist Walker-Khan. “Saf is a legend already.”

Long before Manchester United’s Middleton-Patel, 20, had even been included in the Wales squad for the summer tournament in Switzerland, she was viewed by many as a strong role model.

She has regularly spoken about living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the various coping mechanisms she deploys.

Her openness on the subject is deemed particularly crucial given that a recent PFA survey showed 60% of professional footballers who have reported they have certain neurodivergent traits have not disclosed them to their team or club.

The goalkeeper was among those to collaborate with the PFA as part of their neurodiversity player research project – which looks at prevalence rates of neurodiversity in footballers and the awareness levels among players.

Vyas – who hailed Middleton-Patel as an “incredible role model” – added: “She’s showing girls and people of all ages that you don’t have to tick every box or edit yourself to belong in this game.

“You can succeed while being true to who you are. And that’s what makes her such a powerful figure.