1. Boxer Day dead at 27
American boxer Patrick Day has died from a brain injury suffered during Saturday’s super welterweight bout against Charles Conwell in Chicago.
The 27-year-old was put into a coma after being knocked out in the tenth round and it was confirmed last night that he had passed away.
Promoter Lou DiBella said: “He was a son, brother, and good friend to many. Pat’s kindness, positivity, and generosity of spirit made a lasting impression with everyone he met.”
Fellow American Conwell wrote a letter after the bout which said: “I never meant this to happen to you, all I wanted to do was win. If I could take it all back, I would. No-one deserves this to happen to them.”
2. Lionesses sell out Wembley
The Football Association has announced that all tickets have been sold for England women’s match against Germany on 9 November.
Wembley has a 90,000-seat capacity, so next month’s fixture could see a record attendance for a women’s match in the UK. The previous record was 80,203 for the London 2012 Olympic final between the USA and Japan.
3. Ozil: I’m not leaving Arsenal
Mesut Ozil has told The Athletic he has no plans to leave Arsenal. There has been speculation in recent weeks that the German midfielder could depart for Turkish club Fenerbahce or Milan rivals Inter and AC.
The 31-year-old still has two years left on his current Arsenal contract and when asked if he would be heading for the exit, he said: “No. I have a contract until the summer of 2021 and I will be staying until then.
“When I signed the new deal, I thought about it very carefully and said it was one of the most important decisions of my footballing career. I didn’t want to stay for just one or two more years, I wanted to commit my future to Arsenal and the club wanted me to do the same.
“You can go through difficult times, like this, but that is no reason to run away and I’m not going to. I’m here until at least 2021.”
4. Solskjaer out, Allegri in at Old Trafford?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s days at Manchester United appear numbered with a slew of outlets reporting that Massimiliano Allegri is “very close” to agreeing a deal to replace the Norwegian.
It’s claimed that the Old Trafford board are “ready to act and are closing in on the appointment” of former Juventus boss Allegri.
5. ‘Forget form – it’s a one-off game’
Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson says even though the Premier League leaders have won eight games in a row and that Manchester United are struggling, form will not count in Sunday’s huge clash at Old Trafford.
The Liverpool left-back said: “It’s Man Utd vs. Liverpool. It will be a one-off game and we’ll see who comes out on top.
“I’m absolutely sure that they will be firing and wanting to kick-start their season. For them, there would be no better time to do it than against us.
Man Utd vs. Liverpool: preview, team news and predictions
6. Korean football match was ‘like war’
Tuesday’s historic football clash between North Korea and South Korea was “like war”, the vice president of the Korea Football Association has said.
The Fifa World Cup qualifying match at the Kim Il-sung Stadium ended 0-0 and Choi Young-il said: “It was like war. I’ve never seen such [aggression] in football until now. North Koreans wouldn’t even make eye contact when I talked to them, not to mention respond.”
7. Gascoigne cleared of sexual assault
Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a woman on a train. The 52-year-old was arrested at Durham railway station on 20 August last year after being accused of “forcefully and sloppily” kissing a female passenger on a service from York to Newcastle.
Gascoigne wept in the dock upon hearing the verdict, which was greeted with cheers of “yes” from supporters in the public gallery, the BBC reports.
The jury at Teesside Crown Court is still considering a lesser charge of assault by beating.
8. Alfa boss Vasseur praises Giovinazzi
Alfa Romeo Racing have already confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen will drive for the team in the 2020 Formula 1 season but no word has yet been said about Antonio Giovinazzi’s future.
However, last week’s Japanese Grand Prix saw Giovinazzi out-qualify his team-mate for the third successive race.
His recent form has certainly impressed team principal Frederic Vasseur, who said: “I think that Antonio is doing a very strong job, that he was matching Kimi in the last six or seven qualifyings in a row. He’s doing the job, he’s improving and I’m very confident with Antonio.”
9. Jones: Ford has an important role to play
England head coach Eddie Jones has sprung a surprise in naming his starting XV for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash against Australia. Out goes George Ford, who is replaced at fly-half by Owen Farrell.
Captain Farrell has appeared at centre so far this tournament, but Henry Slade replaces him in the midfield, forming a potent partnership with Manu Tuilagi.
On his decision to leave out Ford, Jones told Sky Sports: “We don’t see it as dropping. I know the media does – but we see him as playing a different role. He is going to finish the game for us, and have an equally important role as when he was starting.
“We have a number of other players in our squad of 31 who are disappointed, but they are all professional enough. They have got a great team spirit and they know they have got a role to play.
“Everyone has got a role to play on the Saturday, even our guys outside the 23. George understands the role he has to play. Obviously he would have liked to start but he is coping with it well.”
England vs. Australia: preview, team news and predictions
New Zealand vs. Ireland: preview, team news and predictions
10. Itoje’s racism warning for rugby
Maro Itoje says the abuse suffered by England footballers in Bulgaria this week was “appalling” and “abysmal”, but the forward has warned that rugby union is not immune from racism.
Itoje, who will line up for England in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Australia, said: “I know people in rugby who have experienced it in the professional game – not necessarily in the Premiership but playing in different parts of the world – and grass roots.
“It’s important never to just assume that this is a free zone from any form of discrimination.”
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