Latest news with #BetFred
Irish Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Taylor v Serrano: Head clashes will play role in trilogy bout says ex-opponent
Head clashes could play a crucial role in this evening's trilogy bout between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor. That is the opinion of Natasha Jonas, who lost to Taylor by unanimous decision in 2021. Head clashes have been a feature of Taylor's last two bouts. Accidental collisions in Taylor's 2023 win over Chantelle Cameron irked the Northampton native, while Taylor was docked a point in her most recent bout with Serrano last November. Serrano has made head clashes a topic of conversation heading into this fight, bringing up Katie's recent record on numerous occasions and even stoked the fires by wearing an amateur boxing headguard to one of the early press conferences. Taylor has been adamant that any collisions are completely accidental and revealed last month that she was still annoyed by the referee's decision to dock her a point in her second fight with Serrano. Jonas agrees that any head clashes are accidental, however, she still thinks they will be important this evening: 'I think the referee will be wary of head clashes and I think that will play a pivotal role. I don't think Katie does it on purpose, but I think it's something she can't help doing," Jonas told BetFred. "I think the referee last time was the first that was brave enough to take a point off her for doing it, where she possibly deserved points off in other fights for doing it and that would have changed the course of those fights. I think that could play a big role because I don't think that's something she could change and I think it could be something that Serrano encourages.' On who she thinks will win, Jonas said: 'I can see a way for both of them to win. I think there's a lot in Serrano's favour and what they're both waiting for is one chance to win. Like I've said, the referee will play a big role and I think that Katie's smart enough to win and Serrano's got the power and workrate to win.' Throughout the build-up, Taylor has seemed more animated and willing to engage in trash talk than usual. However, at the final press conference before fight-night, the 2012 Olympic champion rejected these suggestions and insisted that she is focusing on doing her talking in the ring once again. "Do I seem fired up?," Taylor asked. "I think I'm very calm, actually. No, I'm not fired up at all. "I think I've been very calm throughout these press conferences but I am allowed to speak up as well." She added: "I actually still hate these things to be honest. I am not a natural trash talker. I don't think it is trash talk. I am just responding to what is being said. "Enough is enough of the nonsense, all the complaining and whining about decisions in fights. Enough is enough of that. I don't mind speaking my mind when I have to."
Wales Online
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Mark Williams stunned Crucible as bizarre press conference unfolded
Mark Williams stunned Crucible as bizarre press conference unfolded The Welshman is no stranger to causing a bit of a stir Mark Williams conducts his post match interview without any clothes on after winning the 2018 World Championship (Image: PA ) Mark Williams has never been afraid to have a bit of a laugh, even when he's under the gaze of the biggest stage in snooker. The Welshman has already delighted fans at this year's World Championships in Sheffield, enjoying a cheeky moment with referee Olivier Marteel during his first-round match with Yize Wu at the Crucible Theatre. But nothing will ever come close to the scenes that followed his 2018 title win, the third of his career, with Williams duly delivering on a previous pledge to get naked if he managed to go all the way. Article continues below He would subsequently go on to conduct his press duties afterwards with nothing but a towel to preserve his modesty. "I'll never forget it," he told WalesOnline in 2023. "I was in the dressing room and I came in and I was called for the press conference, and just thought 'Here we go'. So I took all my clothes off and everything." Fans were left in stitches, but snooker chief Barry Hearn wasn't at all amused. "He burst through the door and was just saying 'there are kids in there, you can't do it. You've got to wear this towel'," Williams said. "He pops up with this BetFred towel. I told him I didn't want it. So I was walking down with my hands covering, walking down, and he was insisting. He must have already had it planned, I don't know. "I've still got the towel in my house!" After signing off from media duties, Williams then embarked on an infamous kebab-fuelled night out, live tweeting his exploits throughout the celebrations, which carried on well into the following morning. His love of kebabs was recently immortalised in a doner-themed birthday cake for his 50th birthday last month, in a more recent and hefty nod to those legendary celebrations. But while he clearly enjoys the chance to toast his success, he's never quite been one to take himself too seriously, even in the heat of competition. During a tight first-round match at this year's World Championship, where he edged to a 10-8 win, Williams seemingly stepped in after a foul went uncalled as the pink ball was potted in error. Referee Marteel didn't spot the mistake at first, prompting Williams to swiftly retrieve the pink from the pocket and return it to the table, much to the amusement of the crowd, who broke out into laughter. Marteel, with a smile, tried to clarify his oversight by saying: "Yeah, I was talking, I was talking to someone in the crowd. No, it's OK (as Williams picked ball up)." Article continues below In a bid to reassert control, Williams returned the ball, and the official then loudly declared: "Foul, Mark Williams, six." Williams continues his World Championship campaign against Iran's Hossein Vafaei, with the opening session set to get under way at 10am on Friday morning.
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans approved in Manchester for tallest UK tower outside London
Plans for the UK's tallest skyscraper outside of London have been approved for Manchester. The 76-storey tower, planned by developer Salboy for the city centre, will stand at 246m high (656ft) and include 452 flats and a 160-bed hotel. It is one of two new high-rise buildings proposed by the firm, with a smaller 23-storey tower also approved by Manchester City Council. Simon Ismail, managing director of Salboy, said the development would "shape Manchester's skyline for years to come". Salboy previously said the 76-storey tower would become the tallest residential building in Western Europe. A spokesman for the developer said the flats would be "luxury residences" aimed at meeting demand for "high-quality accommodation for the international city's residents and visitors". Meanwhile the smaller building would include 133 affordable apartments, he added. Mr Ismail said the firm was "delighted" with the approval and said the scheme, known as Viadux 2, would help meet the "substantial need" for accommodation at different price points and tenure developer, founded in 2014 by BetFred owner Fred Done is behind many of the high-rise developments across Salford and Manchester. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
