TALKS ARE UNDERWAY FOR TYSON FURY V ANTHONY JOSHUA FIGHT AT CROCK PARK IN WHAT COULD BE KATIE TAYLOR'S FAREWELL SHOW

 

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could be set to meet at Croke Park (Zac Goodwin/Bradley Collyer/PA)

Rumours that Anthony Joshua’s long-awaited heavyweight fight against Tyson Fury could be staged in Dublin later this year have been rippling through the boxing grapevine over the last few weeks and now it has been confirmed that talks are underway to stage the contest at Croke Park in September.

Fury will make his return to boxing when he takes on Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night and he has been speaking about the prospect of finally facing Joshua later this year in the build-up to the fight.

The two British fighters have come close to a showdown on numerous occasions in the past, but deals for the fight to take place have fallen through.

Now influential Saudi Arabian promoter Turki Alalshikh is pushing to get the fight into the diary at last, with Dublin appearing to be the favoured venue for the fight.

A Joshua vs Fury bout in Dublin would also give Katie Taylor a chance to realise her last big dream of a fight at Croke Park, with the stadium’s chief executive Peter McKenna telling the BBC that a deal is being negotiated.

"The real hope is that we will get Tyson Fury here later on in the year. That would be such a world-billing event that we would be able to facilitate a Katie Taylor fight here," said McKenna.

"A lot of stars need to align. Katie's manager needs to agree, Katie's promoter needs to agree, Tyson Fury's promoter needs to agree.

"I am very confident that all three are coming to the sense that this is one of Ireland's greatest sporting athletes and it would be such a 'wow' to have her here and for her to finish her career here."

Security costs have been cited as one of the reasons why Taylor has been denied the chance to fight at Croke Park throughout her professional career, with her promoter Eddie Hearn failing to reach an agreement to allow the Bray-born boxer to fight in front of what is certain to be a sell-out crowd.

Joshua’s last fight came against YouTuber Jake Paul last December and he has yet to confirm when he will make a return to the ring after he was involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.

- Kevin Palmer

CRYSTAL PALACE PUNISH TEN MAN SPURS IN PREMIER LEAGUE TURNAROUND

Tottenham Hotspur V Crystal Palace. Premier League The Crystal Palace players celebrate their goal during the Tottenham Hotspur V Crystal Palace Premier League match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London. Tottenham Tottenham Hotspur Stadium UK Copyright: xMartinxDaltonx Spurs_CPalace_050326_MD_034

Spurs Collapse as Crystal Palace Strike Three in Chaotic North London Clash

Tottenham’s difficult Premier League campaign took another damaging turn as Crystal Palace stunned Spurs with a devastating burst of first half goals at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. What began as a promising evening for the home side quickly descended into confusion and anxiety, leaving Spurs hovering just above the relegation zone and searching for answers.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, delivered one of their most assured performances of the season, turning a tense contest into a decisive victory that lifts them to 13th place in the table.

Spurs Season Drifts Further Into Trouble

Spurs entered the match under pressure, particularly after rivals around them collected valuable points earlier in the week. The expectation inside the stadium was that Tottenham would begin aggressively, yet Crystal Palace were sharper from the outset.

Adam Wharton forced Guglielmo Vicario into action inside the opening minute, signalling Palace’s intent. Tottenham responded with a chance of their own as Mathys Tel tested Dean Henderson, though the match remained finely balanced.

It appeared Spurs had taken control when Dominic Solanke opened the scoring in the 34th minute. Archie Gray surged to the byline before cutting the ball back for Solanke, who finished from close range to give the home crowd brief optimism.

The momentum lasted only moments. Four minutes later, Micky van de Ven misjudged the flight of a ball and brought down Ismaila Sarr, conceding a penalty and receiving a red card. Spurs were reduced to ten men, and the tone of the match changed immediately.

Palace Punish Spurs With Ruthless Burst

Sarr converted the penalty in the 40th minute, sending Vicario the wrong way to restore parity. Crystal Palace sensed vulnerability and accelerated.

Jorgen Strand Larsen then struck just before half time, sliding a composed finish through Vicario’s legs after Wharton delivered a precise pass. Moments later, Sarr struck again, finishing another swift Palace attack to complete a remarkable spell in which three goals arrived in twelve minutes.

Thousands of Tottenham supporters headed for the exits at half time, the scoreboard reflecting both Palace’s efficiency and Spurs’ fragility.

Igor Tudor Faces Growing Questions

Tottenham’s defeat extends their winless league run to eleven matches and leaves them only one point above the relegation zone. The club has yet to secure a Premier League victory in 2026.

Igor Tudor, appointed on an interim basis following Thomas Frank’s departure, has now lost all three matches since taking charge. His attempt to alter the course of Spurs’ season has yet to produce a meaningful response from the players.

Yet visible frustration among the squad tells its own story. Pedro Porro’s animated exchange with Tudor after being substituted added to a sense that cohesion is missing at a crucial moment in the season.

Crystal Palace Momentum Builds Under Glasner

For Crystal Palace, this victory reflects a team rediscovering belief. Oliver Glasner has faced scrutiny following a difficult spell, particularly after announcing that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

On this evidence, Palace still possess the attacking clarity that carried them to FA Cup success last season. Wharton dictated play from midfield, Sarr provided cutting edge in attack, and Strand Larsen continues to settle effectively following his January arrival.

If Palace maintain this form, their league position should stabilise comfortably while attention turns toward their Conference League campaign.

For Spurs, however, the coming weeks may define their entire season.

- Ahmed Khan

TONY BELLEW REVEALS HIS SCORE FOR CHRIS EUBANK JR VS CONOR BENN:

Image credit: Matchroom

Tony Bellew has voiced his opinion on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn result.

The two fighters put their family names on the line when they faced off in front of 65,000 fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The history and build up hyped the fight to such a high level and the action inside the ring didn’t disappoint, with both men unwilling to take a backwards step in a back and forth battle.

Much was made of the weight disparity before the fight, with Benn being a natural 147lbs fighter, whereas Eubank has fought as high as super-middleweight before, but Benn proved his chin could take everything that was being thrown at him.

Throughout the fight it was Eubank who was landing the cleaner shots and according to CompuBox out landed Benn in every round, including an incredible 152 punches in the closing 3.

After 36 enthralling minutes it was Eubank Jr who had his hand raised after all three judges scored it 116-112 in favour of the naturally bigger man.

Speaking on DAZN after the fight, former cruiserweight world champion Bellew praised Eubank for his work rate throughout the contest.

“Chris Eubank Jr has done what not many people thought he could do and go 12 rounds at an unbelievable pace and actually finish the stronger of the two, we didn’t think that was possible from the older man but he done it and you’ve just got to tip your hat to him and say well done.”

Bellew believes the right man won, having the contest even after 10 rounds but gave the last two to Eubank.

“To come up from welterweight and trouble a middleweight like that is unbelievable. Eubank didn’t win that because he’s the bigger man, it helps, but the work rate towards the back end of the fight won him the fight. That fight was close with three rounds to go and I think it was the last two rounds that pulled him clear because I couldn’t split them after ten rounds.”

With a rematch deal already done it’s expected the two will face off again before the end of the year, though Benn may consider dropping back down in weight instead.

- Toby Morgan

BILLY JOE SAUNDERS BANNED FROM CHRIS EUBANK JR'S DRESSING ROOM AS CHAOS ERUPTS IN ROW

Billy Joe Saunders was denied entry to Chris Eubank Junior's dressing room as a huge row erupted and Conor Benn's 'mind games' backfired ahead of their fight

Billy Joe Saunders was denied entry to Chris Eubank Junior's dressing room as chaos erupted with a huge row backstage at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The British boxer, 35, was due to inspect the hand wrapping of Eubank Jr ahead of his clash with Conor Benn but was not allowed in to check his wraps.

Conor Benn, 28, planned the stunt in a bid to get into his rival's head, given Saunders' win over Eubank Jr, 35, earlier in their careers. But his plan backfired as Saunders rowed with Eubank Jr's manager after being refused entry.

A member of a boxer’s team is allowed into the opponent’s dressing room when they are wrapping their hands to ensure they are done within the rules.

But Saunders is not a British Boxing Board of Control licence holder so Eubank Jr's team did not have to let him in.

Chris Eubank Jr had insisted Saunders - who beat him in 2014 and been involved in plenty of verbal spats with ‘Next Gen’ - inspecting his hand wraps wouldn't unsettle him.

Speaking this week, he said: "You can't unsettle me. I'm ice cold. Would I be alright with it? I mean, obviously, I would prefer him not to be there, but if he does it's not gonna affect anything, you know, it's not like he's gonna be talking to me.

"He'll be in his little corner, watching and I'll get my hands wrapped and then he'll get out of the room. It makes zero difference."

Earlier in the evening, Chris Eubank Senior sent fans wild by turning up with his son. The iconic fighter, 58, whose fights with Conor Benn's dad Nigel Benn in the 1990s are the stuff of boxing legend, had seemingly become estranged from his child.

He even went as far as to say he wanted his son's boxing licence revoked ahead of the bout. Eubank Sr had branded his son a "disgrace" and vowed never to be in his corner again after he slapped an egg off Benn’s cheek at a press conference. He then implored the British Boxing Board of Control to stop the fight over fears at what weight the bout was happening at.

But at 8.15pm on Saturday his father emerged, smiling as he got out of a large car and then his son came around the other side and they were arm in arm as they walked into the arena. The crowd in North London erupted into rapturous cheers as footage of the pair arriving together was played on big screens in the stadium.

- Neil Docking

CHRIS EUBANK JR. AND CONOR BENN FIGHT PURSE AND PRIZE MONEY FOR SHOWDOWN FIGHT

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are set to go head-to-head in one of the greatest British boxing matches of the year, and more than just reputation is at stake between the pair of pugilists

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will walk away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having bolstered their bank balance by millions of pounds on Saturday night.

In what is being billed as one of the greatest British boxing fights of a generation, the tension is palpable as the pair of pugilists prepare for their middleweight main event at 'Fatal Fury'. A multi-weight world champion, Eubank Jr holds a record of 34-3 at middleweight and super-middleweight headed into the fight, and an advantage in size and experience may give him the edge as he does battle with his long-time rival.

Welterweight Benn, meanwhile, heads into the bout with a flawless record of 23-0, and will hope to put himself in line for his first shot at a world championship with a statement victory over Eubank Jr. The fight will take place at 160lbs, and a 10lb hydration clause will prevent either man from adding weight between the weigh-ins and fight night in the essence of fairness - given that Benn traditionally fights two weight classes below his opponent.

More than just reputation and records at stake, it is thought that both men will walk away from the bout on Saturday night having benefited financially. It is believed that the total purse for the fight sits at £18million, with a 60/40 split in Eubank Jr's favour.

This means that the son of Chris Eubank Sr will gain £10m for his efforts, win or lose, while Benn will walk away with a cool £8m to his name. It has been a tense state of affairs between the two fighters, who were initially set to face one another back in October 2022 until Benn tested positive for banned substance, clomifene.

As the 28-year-old received a two-year provisional ban, the fight was shelved completely despite Benn insisting that he was not involved in any foul play, and that the substance may have spiked up on account of him eating eggs. Benn was cleared of any wrongdoing last year, and as a result, the fight was re-booked and announced in January.

Face-offs the following month saw tensions boil over completely, as Eubank Jr slapped Benn with an egg before they had to be separated by security - an action that Eubank Jr's father soon after slammed as a "disgrace". Eubank Sr has also been incredibly outspoken on his distaste for the competition taking place at all, given the 13lb difference between his son and a smaller Benn.

Chris Eubank Jr hit Conor Benn with an egg at their face-offs(Image: PA)

He said: "It's against the rules what is happening, 147lbs fighting 160lbs is against the rules. When Kell Brook was made to fight GGG [Gennady Golovkin] it's against the rules. That boy [Brook] had his eye socket smashed. For promoters, it is just a game, but to the warriors, it is a way of life.

"We have to call them what they are, they are trash, they are trashing us. We are not trash, we are the standard bearers... If you are not clever and you are not noble, this [boxing] will kill you, this vocation, what they call sport. If you don't play it right already, Conor, you don't have a career to enjoy."

The Eubanks have a long-standing rivalry with the Benn family given that Eubank Sr met with Benn's father Nigel in the squared-circle twice. Eubank Sr clinched the WBO middleweight title by handing Nigel a ninth-round TKO back in 1990, before the two met once more in a draw in 1993.

But Eubank Sr has also disagreed with media building the bout as a "legacy fight", telling The Sun's No Glove Lost show: "They have built it as a legacy fight. This started in 1990 with me and Nigel. So my son, he smashes an egg on the face of Conor. You want me to be associated with this?

"This is not legacy. That is bringing the game of boxing into disrepute. That would’ve had a disqualifying effect back in my day." He continued: "These two young men are trashing what me and Mr Benn did! They’re trashing it – and the public are following it because ‘Oh, it’s just entertainment’. It’s not just entertainment. Boxing is a standard bearing vocation."

- Aaron Morris

BOXING LEGEND MAKES BRUTAL CONOR BENN PREDICTS - H

Conor Benn is set to fight Chris Eubank Jr this Saturday(Image: GETTY)

With Benn and Eubank Jr set to fight this weekend, many have weighed in on the upcoming clash and one boxing legend has offered his own brutal verdict

Former boxing world champion Carl Froch has weighed in on the clash between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn and insists the latter has 'done nothing.'

Both Eubank Jr and Benn will finally settle their rivalry this weekend as the two British boxing stars are scheduled to go head-to-head at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night. There is a real animosity between the two fighters - who have been thrust into a family feud after their fathers' famous fights in 1990 and 1993.

Fans have had to wait nearly two-and-a-half years to see both clash in the ring. They were due to fight back in October 2022, but the dust-up was cancelled just a few days before fight night after Benn failed a drugs test. Since their fight was rebooked, many within the combat sports community have offered their verdict on how it'll play out.

Froch and fellow legend Ricky Hatton have been left torn when predicting the winner as the pair can't seem to agree. In a video uploaded to his official YouTube channel, Froch said: “I think that all the variables you look at who has done what, whose the bigger, stronger man, who has the experience at world level. Eubank fought Groves, Saunders, beat Arthur Abraham, James DeGale, a former world champion, he’s fought at a better level and proved at a higher weight he belongs at world level.

“Conor Benn has done nothing. Nothing, Yes he knocked out Chris Algieri who is a former champ and looked good doing it but it was a way past his best Algieri. If I’m going to pick my immediate favourite in this fight, I’m going with Chris Eubank Jr.”

Benn is set to move up from his natural weight class of welterweight to middleweight. That said, Eubank Jr will have a 10lbs rehydration clause on fight night. While Froch is backing Eubank Jr, Hatton is tipping Benn to get the job done in North London this weekend.

“A lot of people are favouring Eubank. I get why they’re doing it," he said on Froch's official YouTube channel. "Let’s have it right, Conor’s not boxed anyone near Chris’ potential, and when you think who Chris has been in with, Billy Joe Saunders, at that level, at his own weight. To jump up two weights and fight Chris, it is a massive ask.

“Chris has to boil down that little bit extra, that will help Conor. Cause I know him personally, I just know the desire, the self-belief, the drive that he has. He will not be denied, like his dad. Chris has been stopped. When the fight with Conor fell through he fought Liam. He’d been boiling himself down and I think that’s why he got knocked out. Which is what he’s doing again, so I’m gonna go with my mate Conor.”

- James Evans

CHRIS EUBANK JR ISSUES VIOLENT THREAT TO CONOR BENN'S DAD NIGEL IN HEATED EXCHANGE

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn went face-to-face once again on Thursday night ahead of their fight, with Eubank Jr issuing a threat to Benn's father Nigel

Chris Eubank Jr and Nigel Benn clashed (Image: Getty)

Chris Eubank Jr issued a stark warning to Conor Benn's father, Nigel, following a fiery encounter last night. The British boxing stars were once again in close quarters on Thursday, two days after their tumultuous press conference in Manchester.

They are poised to clash in a middleweight bout on April 26 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Chaos erupted during their initial press conference on Tuesday when Eubank Jr hit his arch-rival with an egg during the face-offs, prompting security to step in and separate the entourages.

Footage later showed Benn Sr quickly approaching and grabbing Eubank Jr by the throat. Security was heightened for last night's press conference at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium due to fears of another altercation. A scheduled face-off on Wednesday had been scrapped over safety worries. Eubank Jr didn't hesitate to reference the scuffle with Nigel before delivering a menacing threat.

"I understand the frustration and the heat you were experiencing after I egged Conor," Eubank Jr remarked. "But you did put your hand around my neck, so I'm going to give you a pass. "But I'm just letting you know, if my hand ever touches you again you won't get it back." In an intense exchange during the press conference, Conor leapt to his father's defence with a fiery outburst, demanding: "Shut your f****** mouth. Oi silly b******s, shut your f****** mouth. Silly b*****s, threaten my dad again see what happens. "

His father Nigel then interjected with an apology, stating: "Listen Con, I can handle this. I'm old school. I'm really sorry I done that but you put your hand on my son." The exchange became even more personal when Conor brought up Eubank Jr's relationship with his own father, retorting: "Your dad doesn't like you, shut your mouth. You're just jealous.

"The altercation had escalated from when Eubank Jr landed an egg on his rival earlier in the week, an act he later admitted he felt no remorse about. Reflecting on the high-tension scenario, Eubank Jr held nothing back, claiming: "I'm sitting up here on a stage with two of the scummiest characters in boxing in my opinion; a drug cheat and a man who did everything in his power to help him get away with it. " He justified throwing the egg by saying: "Me throwing an egg at someone who absurdly claims that's why he failed two drug tests, I think that's light; he deserved the embarrassment.

If I had the opportunity to do it again I would. Unfortunately I came unarmed today, I've been thoroughly searched multiple times, I couldn't sneak anything in. This is going to be a real fight, this is going to be a bloodbath."

- JAMES EVANS