Sports
Frank Smith Reveals When Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury Was Signed
Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith has revealed that Anthony Joshua’s blockbuster fight with Tyson Fury was signed around three months ago, with only the final details surrounding the date and venue still to be resolved.
Fury fuelled speculation over an imminent announcement on Tuesday when he posted on social media that “the one you’ve all been waiting for” was about to be announced.
Speaking exclusively to GiveMeSport reporter Sam Cohen, Smith confirmed that work remains ongoing behind the scenes, but insisted the agreement for the long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown has already been signed.
“There are still some things to be done,” Smith told GiveMeSport. “I did an interview previously where I said the fight was announced three months ago because the fight was signed three months ago.
“It’s just the case now of the final details; where it lands, date, etc. So hopefully we’re close to getting the final details, but still a little bit of work to be done on that front.”
Frank Smith Addresses AJ vs Fury Venue Uncertainty
One of the biggest outstanding questions surrounds where Joshua and Fury will actually meet.
Smith confirmed the original contract stipulated that the fight would take place in the United Kingdom, although discussions over potentially moving the event to the United States remain ongoing.
“The contract we signed three, four months ago or whenever it was announced stated that the fight would have to take place in the UK,” Smith explained. “As people have publicly seen over the last few weeks or so, there’s been a lot of talk about the US and the potential of seeing suggestions of Madison Square Garden, other conversations, etc. Those discussions are ongoing. That’s ongoing right now.
“I would love to see the fight in the UK. I think, as long as it’s in the UK. But we shall see how the next week or so goes.”
Asked whether extended pub opening hours should be considered if the fight heads Stateside, Smith joked that Prime Minister Andy Burnham should intervene.
“I think that’s what Andy Burnham should push for. I think he should agree to a 4am closing of the pubs if it does end up in America.”
Netflix also caused a stir by airing an AJ-Fury promotion during WWE Raw despite the remaining uncertainty. Smith admitted the advert caught him by surprise.
“It was strange,” he said. “It was a bit confusing because there’s still, as is publicly known, details to be ironed out. I just got it sent to me this morning. I don’t watch WWE Raw myself. So yeah, a little bit strange there.”
Frank Smith on Katie Taylor’s Historic Croke Park Night & Retirement
Matchroom will make history on the 5th of September when Katie Taylor headlines the first boxing card at Croke Park in 54 years.
Smith believes the occasion will stand alongside anything Matchroom has previously promoted and described the atmosphere surrounding Taylor’s fights as “unmatched and unrivalled.”
“We’ve been lucky enough to promote shows at AT&T Stadium in Dallas with 73,000 people, with Canelo, Wembley Stadium with Anthony Joshua, Cardiff, stadiums all around the world. But there’s something about a Katie Taylor fight. There’s something about that Irish crowd that is unmatched and unrivalled.
“On September 5th, you’re going to see an occasion that will never be recreated. Katie is a legend, a hero. It’s going to be an event like nothing you’ve ever seen. I can promise you that.”
Smith was keeping any potential surprises Matchroom has planned for Croke Park firmly under wraps, joking: “I’m not giving away surprises. You had Eddie a few weeks ago, he’d tell you everything. I’m the boring numbers guy in the background.”
The Matchroom CEO also believes the historic Croke Park occasion could prove to be Taylor’s final appearance in a boxing ring.
“I think it’s the final fight, personally, but let’s see what happens,” Smith said. “I think she, what a way to bow out, you know, and look, she’s done amazing things in the sport, and she’s been involved in some of the biggest occasions in boxing and has been a trailblazer.
“What a way to bow out at Croke Park in front of 80,000 people. So yeah, for me, I think this is the last one, but you never know. It’s going to be some occasion.”
Eubank Jr vs Brook, Matchroom’s Future & West Ham
Away from Joshua, Fury, and Taylor, Smith also discussed Kell Brook amid links to a fight with his brother-in-law Chris Eubank Jr.
“Providing he’s fit, I think it’s going to be interesting to see what he wants to do,” Smith said. “He’s a massive name in the sport of boxing, especially in British boxing. I’m sure there’s big fights out there for him, but he’s got to take the right fights at this stage of his career.
“He’s got to be carefully guided as to what’s the best thing for him to do. He is, as I say, a big, big name in the sport, in British boxing. And I’m sure a lot of people will be excited to see him back in the ring.”
Smith also believes Matchroom is currently in the strongest position it has ever occupied, pointing towards its schedule of events around the world.
“I think we’re the only global boxing promotion week in, week out, delivering shows all around the world,” he said. “We were in Australia seven days ago. Now we’ve got London coming up this weekend. Next Friday and Saturday, we’re in Orlando and Mexico. Then we’re in Dublin. Then we’re in New Jersey.
“Boxing’s in a great place. And there’s so much investment in the sport of boxing. It’s good to see. Boxing continues to be a sport that everyone wants to get behind because, I guess, it’s a sexy sport to be involved in.
“I think we’re in a great place. I think we’re in the best place we’ve ever been. And I’m excited about what the future holds.”
Reflecting on his own journey, Smith revealed he first met Eddie Hearn aged 14 before eventually joining Matchroom.
“I met Eddie when I was 14 years old, and I realised he had a few quid and I thought I liked money back then. So I thought I’ll go and work for that guy,” he joked. “It’s given me an amazing life, amazing memories. We travel week in, week out, all around the world doing sensational things.
“I don’t think I ever could have envisaged or imagined being where I am now. But yeah, I wouldn’t change a thing about it. As much as I’d like to be on a beach, retired somewhere, I’ve got many more years in it. So yeah, it’s been a lot of fun, a great journey and a great business to be involved in.”
Smith also backed his beloved West Ham to secure an immediate Premier League return following relegation, despite admitting his football knowledge has “dipped right off” since his days as a season-ticket holder.
“They’re going to be looking to go straight back up, and I think they will,” Smith said. “Like I say, a big club, and it would have been a disappointing end to the season for them, but I’ll see them back in the Premier League next year.”
Finally, Smith revealed he attended England’s World Cup semi-final in Atlanta and was hugely impressed by the tournament in the United States.
“It was a spectacular, spectacular event,” he said. “Obviously, football’s changing, and they’re trying to make it a bit more of an entertainment product as well in the US.
“It was an amazing World Cup and very successful from a business standpoint as well. Looking forward to, I think, Spain in the next World Cup. So I’ll be up there for that.”
Sports
All 32 NFL Teams Described in One Word by AI
The NFL season is finally just a month away with all 32 teams looking to claim the Vince Lombardi trophy in Los Angeles.
Last time out, it was the Seattle Seahawks who came out with the win, as they completed a 29-13 shutout of the New England Patriots to claim the coveted trophy for a second time in their history.
This offseason has seen lots of movement around the league with big names like Kirk Cousins, Tua Tagliaova, and A.J. Brown all moving on to new teams in free agency.
There have also been coaching changes, with the most notable being Sean Mcdermott’s departure from the Buffalo Bills as his offensive coordinator, Jon Brady, comes in to hopefully put a strongly rated Bills side in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1994.
But with all that, GiveMeSport has asked AI to describe every NFL team in one word, so let’s see what it has to say about the teams this season.
AFC East
The Bills are going into this season with an unproven but highly valuable head coach in Brady, and Josh Allen will be even more committed to trying to finally get the Bills to a Super Bowl after 32 years away from one.
AI has described the Bills as ‘relentless’, as is the spirit of the Bills Mafia fans, who will never give up cheering on their team and can cause a headache for opposition fans thanks to their perseverance. And the Bills are like that on the field as well. They are known for their aggressive style of play, and they’ll be hoping to bring more of that to the league next season.
Brady will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders with the Bills currently topping the odds on a trip to the Super Bowl, but will he and Allen have the same connection as the star QB had with McDermott?
The Dolphins have been on a downward spiral for quite some time now, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better with this offseason. Having not won a playoff game since 2000 and two losing seasons in a row, it has seen Mike McDaniel fired from the top spot and replaced, with former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley coming in to shake things up.
The Dolphins have also finally decided to trade away Tua, who went to the Falcons, and the new QB in Miami is going to be Mallik Willis, who was back up at the Packers last year, only starting once in that time, but he’ll be hoping to finally get the chance to prove himself as Miami are moving into another transition period.
The Patriots are finally back in the top seat of the AFC East, and they have a Super Bowl appearance to prove it. Drake Maye came out of the shadows in his second year in the league, becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the league thanks to a string of high-volume performances. The Patriots have also got the likes of Christian Gonzales and Romeo Doubs, and the trade for Brown shows that they are very likely to compete again.
The Patriots are described as resurgent thanks to their ability to come back in games and how a disappointing era after the Brady/Belichick coalition ended has been resurged by Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel has been in an off-field scandal this year after being found to have had an inappropriate relationship with an NFL journalist, but hopefully, it won’t mix into what is another chance for the Pats to go to the Super Bowl.
Rebooting is a word that Jets fans will have heard for years and years. It was another disappointing season for them as new head coach Aaron Glenn was unable to do much with a lacklustre side ending with a 3-14 record. The Jets picked David Bailey, an offensive linebacker from Texas Tech, as they looked for protection for their new quarterback, Geno Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jets fans will hope this reboot will finally put them into the playoffs at least for the first time since 2010.
AFC North
It was a disappointing year for most teams in the AFC North and that can definitely be said for the Bengals, as, after Joe Burrow got injured early on, they were kind of trapped pretty early on as they finished on a 6-11 record, which was disappointing to say the least.
The Ravens have always had a reputation for playing committed football with their players putting their bodies on the line in the scrimmage. Just look at Lamar Jackson and his running game. Baltimore had a disappointing season, with Jon Harburgh’s side losing out on a playoff spot for the first time in four years.
Harbaugh’s out and former Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is in as the Ravens look to get back to their best while Jackson is still at the top of his game.
If there’s a franchise to be described as gritty, it has to be the Steelers. The side took advantage of the weakness of the North last season, finishing in the surprising top spot. But the playoff Wildcard game saw defeat to the Texans and the end of Mike Tomlin’s 19-season reign as Steelers head coach.
Former Cowboys and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy has come in as they hope to compete once again in what looks to be a more challenging AFC North this season.
The Browns have always been a chaotic organisation and a 5-12 record last season added to what some might call a circus in the Cleveland backroom, and AI seems to think that as well.
Star player Myles Garrett has been traded to the Los Angeles Rams and new head coach Todd Monken will be hoping to keep the Browns on a steady ship, but many have tried before.
AFC West
The Broncos have had a quick rise under Sean Payton as he’s brought the best out of his side as seen from last year’s playoff run, which saw them finish in the number one seed and get to the AFC Conference final, which ended in defeat to the New England Patriots. Bo Nix has kept on improving and even with the competition in the AFC West, they’ve been able to find a way to compete.
Chargers and energy go together like two peas in a pod, and the Chargers have all the energy on the field as well as in their name, with the side hoping to improve on last year’s Wildcard performance, which saw a defeat to the Patriots even with an impressive 11-6 record in the regular season.
Justin Herbert will be locked and loaded once again, as one of the most exciting teams in the NFL gets ready to gear up once again.
The Las Vegas Raiders have to be one of the most interesting teams in the NFL this year and their audacious attitude has a lot to say about that. Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is in as head coach coming off a Super Bowl win and the Raiders had the first pick in this season’s draft, picking highly talked about QB Fernando Mendoza. They also signed Cousins, as the two will look to compete for the QB 1 spot.
In terms of Kansas, last season was a nightmarish one for Patrick Mahomes and co, as it was the first time since 2015 that the Chiefs didn’t win the AFC West, and it was just overall a lacklustre year and one that Andy Reid will be looking to look past.
The Chiefs should not fear, though. Mahomes will want to win and with it being Travis Kelce’s potential last year in the sport, they should be looking at getting revenge from last season.
AFC South
Jacksonville are a very young team with lots of potential and intrigue around them, as Liam Cohen showed that his side could compete last year with a place in the playoffs. The loss of Travis Ettiene will have disappointed some Jags fans, but the potential of their team with the likes of Josh Hines Allen, Trevor Lawrence, and Brian Thomas Jr shows a bright future for the franchise, and the potential to go again in the playoffs. A 13-4 record last year showed that the Jags are capable of winning, and they’ll be hoping for more of that next year.
Meanwhile, the Houston Texans have been described as bruising with their brilliant defensive record, which was put on full display in last year’s wildcard match against the Stelelers. It looks to be a two-horse race in the AFC South between the Jags and Texans, as Houston looks to make the playoffs for a fourth year in a row.
The Indianapolis Colts have been described as unsettled with their 8-9 record not looking likely to improve this season, but the return of Daniel Jones to the squad and if Jonathon Taylor can go back to his highest form, there is a chance that they could enter the conference championship talk with the Jaguars and Texans.
The Tennessee Titans have been described as Raw. Ever since the loss of Derrick Henry and Cam Ward, there wasn’t the instant impact that many thought he could have, but there is an unproven energy to the side, which AI thinks the Titans could bring to the AFC.
|
AI describes AFC teams in one word |
|
|---|---|
|
Team |
Word |
|
Buffalo Bills |
Relentless |
|
Miami Dolphins |
Adrift |
|
New England Patriots |
Resurgent |
|
New York Jets |
Rebooting |
|
Baltimore Ravens |
Menacing |
|
Cincinnati Bengals |
Explosive |
|
Cleveland Browns |
Chaotic |
|
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Gritty |
|
Denver Broncos |
Ascending |
|
Los Angeles Charges |
Electric |
|
Kansas City Chiefs |
Revengeful |
|
Las Vegas Raiders |
Audacious |
|
Jacksonville Jaguars |
Intriguing |
|
Indianapolis Colts |
Unsettled |
|
Houston Texans |
Bruising |
|
Tennessee Titans |
Raw |
NFC East
The Eagles were the only team in the division to make the playoffs. The 2025 Super Bowl winners were unable to progress past the Wildcard round, with the San Francisco 49ers taking the win in a close match-up, but the Eagles look to come back into the Super Bowl chat with an impressive roster such as Jalen Carter, Saquon Barkley, and Jalen Hurts, with AI describing the side as loaded with six of their players being in the top 100 current active players in the NFL, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see them win the division again.
The Dallas Cowboys were described as frustrating with the wait for a Super Bowl coming back to Dallas being 31 years, and it doesn’t look to be getting any better.
The Commanders and the Giants aren’t expected to do much either this season. With the Commanders seeing Jayden Daniels injured for most of the season, the team were affected big time, and it doesn’t look to get any better this year. Meanwhile, the Giants look to be desperate, according to AI, as they haven’t competed since the days of Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr.
NFC West
Potentially the most competitive division in the league, it proved to be very entertaining last season with the 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, and the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks all competing in it. All the teams got into the playoffs last year and the Seahawks will look to defend their record and go again, while the Rams are also expected to be competing with Matthew Stafford, Deviant Adams, and numerous others, making up a superb team that they’re sure to want a Super Bowl on home soil with it being hosted in LA this season.
Meanwhile, the 49ers have been described as fragile due to what has been a chaotic training camp with multiple injuries and the news of Kyle Shanahan’s car accident which rocked the camp, but they will be hoping to once again compete with two other amazing teams in the Seahawks and Rams.
The Arizona Cardinals are a team to feel bad for as they seem to have no chance with the stack of talent in the division, and their team is very uncertain this season in such a competitive sphere, and it could be another tough watch for the Arizona faithful.
NFC North
The Chicago Bears finally had their breakthrough last season thanks to Caleb Williams’ heroics, and the team finally looks like it could compete on a larger scale. Ben Johnson has been an impressive addition to the coaching staff and the hype has been real over his future as a world-class head coach.
They have stiff competition from the Packers, however, with an impressive free agency which saw Benjman St Juste join the team, but Jeff Hafley leaving to join Miami might have an effect on the side. They’ll be hoping to get revenge on the same Bears that won the division and the Wild Card playoff defeat.
It was a very close division with the Detroit Lions and Vikings just missing out on the playoffs even with a five-game winning streak to end the season. The Lions have been described as hungry, with an impressive side of a sturdy QB in Jarred Goff and a great team behind him.
NFC South
The losing division as it was known last year, every team had a losing record, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Carolina Panthers all finishing on 8-9, with the Panthers making the playoffs after winning the division, with a close wildcard game to the Rams being the nail in the coffin.
AI has described Carolina as emerging with Bryce Yuong continuing to impress and the young team around him has people looking at the Panthers as a competitor for the future.
The Buccaneers haven’t been able to get over Tom Brady’s departure for quite some years now, but they’ll be hoping their team stars of Baker Mayfield, Vita Vea, and Tristan Wirfs can be the impacts they need to achieve a winning record this season.
The Falcons will hope their young squad can finally gel, as new QB Tua will be hoping to finally get his career back on track after multiple concussion injuries and, with a young squad around him to lead, there is definitely the opportunity for that.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints finished 6-11 last year, but they’ve had an impressive free agency to add to their rebuild, with the biggest of them all being Travis Ettienne and David Edwards. But the loss of Alontae Taylor and Demario Davis will have an effect on the team, but there is the potential of the Saints being in the conversation to win the NFC South with it being so open.
|
AI describes NFC teams in one word |
|
|---|---|
|
Team |
Word |
|
Philadelphia Eagles |
Loaded |
|
Dallas Cowboys |
Frustrating |
|
New York Giants |
Desperate |
|
Washington Commanders |
Rebounding |
|
Los Angeles Rams |
Frightening |
|
Seattle Seahawks |
Defending |
|
San Francisco 49ers |
Fragile |
|
Arizona Cardinals |
Uncertain |
|
Detroit Lions |
Hungry |
|
Green Bay Packers |
Balanced |
|
Chicago Bears |
Breakthrough |
|
Minnesota Vikings |
Calculated |
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Stubborn |
|
Carolina Panthers |
Emerging |
|
New Orleans Saints |
Rebuilding |
|
Atlanta Falcons |
Potential |
Sports
Romano Says Tottenham Star Vicario has ‘Signed his Contract’ with Juventus
Tottenham star Guglielmo Vicario’s move to Juventus is set to become official in the coming hours. It has been a busy summer for Spurs, who have been on a transfer rampage, splashing out more than £235million on Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke.
But Spurs have also done some smart free business that has included the signings of Martin Dubravka, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson. Attention is now turning to the attacking positions, with wingers at the top of Roberto De Zerbi’s list of priorities.
At this point, it’s unclear whether Spurs will sign a new goalkeeper, but with Dubravka presumably signed as a number two, it looks likely Antonin Kinsky will be given the chance to be the number one based on some impressive performances at the back-end of last season.
Coming into the summer, it was always likely that previous starting stopper Vicario would be sold, with the Italian having been keen to return to his home country, and it now looks as though he will get his wish, but initially on a loan deal.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano wrote on X: “Guglielmo Vicario has signed his contract as new Juventus goalkeeper from Spurs. Free loan, €8m buy option clause not mandatory, €2m add-ons.”
Spurs will have wanted to bring in some immediate cash for Vicario, but they have settled for a loan deal with the potential of a future sale. Vicario has been a fine servant for Tottenham, although he battled injury issues last season. The Italy international has been with Spurs since 2023, making 93 league appearances so far.
“You talk about a sweeper keeper, I’ve never seen anything like that. He’s been an absolute revelation since he came to Tottenham.” – Jamie Carragher in 2023
Even amid reports of wanting an exit last season, Vicario clearly cared plenty about Tottenham’s fate, seen watching the season finale intensely on the sideline, rather than the bench, and celebrating with De Zerbi as though Spurs had won a title rather than securing Premier League safety.
Vicario has been an important player for Spurs
Former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou regularly described Vicario as ‘outstanding’. He said after one game in 2023: “Vic was outstanding today with a couple of brilliant saves. He’s been brilliant from day one for us.”
Spurs legend Les Ferdinand said in 2025: “Not the best at crosses but in terms of shot stopping he’s up there with the best and he showed that tonight. We looked at his percentage of when he plays and you can see why Spurs were desperate to get him back – he makes those important saves.”
Sports
Man Utd Have to Make Major Change to Third Kit For Champions League Games
Upon their return to the Champions League this season, Manchester United are being forced into a major change to their third kit. The Red Devils looked worlds away from returning to the pinnacle of football a little over six months ago, while still being spearheaded by Ruben Amorim.
But their fortunes soon changed when Michael Carrick took over from him in January, with United finishing third in the Premier League, prompting Sir Jim Ratcliffe to have no choice but to brandish the retired midfielder – one of the most underrated players in English topflight history – a permanent deal.
The club will now be eager to keep the good times rolling, with the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era only now looking to be on a steady upward trajectory. However, they will have to do so with a change to their cream ‘three-pronged’ third shirt in some matches.
Why Man Utd Must Make Change To Third Kit in Champions League Matches
The standout feature of United’s third shirt (as seen above) is the retro-looking crest and Snapdragon logo being centralised, a unique look that has received widespread praise amongst fans.
However, while the shirt will be worn in domestic competition this term, reportedly including the season opener away at Hull City, UEFA rules mean that the ‘Snapdragon’ word mark will be added to shirts for any Champions League matches it is worn in.
This is due to strict UEFA Equipment Regulations, which state that main front-of-shirt sponsor branding must remain consistent across all registered match kits (home, away, and third).
The Meaning Behind United’s Third Kit Revealed
Earlier this month, Adidas design director Inigo Turner gave an insight into the design of the kit, which was worn for the first time during United’s recent pre-season clash against AC Milan in Poland, which saw Carrick’s side fall to a 4-2 defeat. “Now, there’s a story behind those [colours] too,” he said on Inside Carrington.
“They’re not just there randomly. Around Manchester, you see it a lot with the architecture of the city, the old buildings, the red brick. So the red brick is a direct reference to the dark red [accents on the shirt].
“And then often on these buildings, so like, you know, walk around the city centre, the Peveril of the Peak, and all of these very famous landmarks we like to visit. [The green stripes] represent the green pipes and things, and windowsills, and ledges [found on these landmarks].”
A building that formed part of the inspiration for the colour choice is the famous Salford Lads and Girls Club, a youth club that’s helped generations of children by offering activities such as sport and music, with the venue being very closely linked to The Smith.
“The colour palette is really inspired by the geographical location, but the story here is about youth and a lot of the youth institutions from Manchester,” added Turner. “So for over 100 years have been youth institutions, principally supporting like the working class communities within the city. These are synonymous with Manchester and we lean into that.”
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