Latest news with #Kronk
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Battle-damaged log books back together again
Sergeant Charlie Cronk's log book and other possessions were sent back to his family after he was killed during a landing when his plane crashed into a fuel tanker in India four months later. Now his great-nephew, Gradon Conroy, who lives in Christchurch and has had the log book since 2005, has decided it is time to pass it on to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand in Wigram. His grandmother Marjorie Prince, Kronk's sister, gave it to him when she moved into a rest home for safekeeping. "Donating the log book is a great way to share his story and preserve his memory. The logbook was a prized possession in the family," he said. Kronk, 23, was posted to No 243 Squadron RAF in Singapore in late 1941. Made up mostly of New Zealand pilots, the squadron was equipped with obsolete Brewster Buffalo fighters. Their airfield at Kallang came under heavy bombing and a strafing attack from the Japanese in January 1942, as they softened up the British stronghold in preparation for the invasion which would come less than a month later. While on patrol, Kronk and New Plymouth pilot Bert Wipiti intercepted a lone Japanese Ki-46 Dinah reconnaissance aircraft at high altitude. The pair split up and targeted an engine each, firing both firing bursts into the aircraft's twin-engines and sending it to the ground. When he was later interviewed by American war correspondent George Weller, Kronk said: "I came up from underneath and saw the big body of the plane with its great red circles on the wing right over my head. "Then I pressed the tit and emptied everything I had into her. "I kept firing until all my ammunition was gone. "She was burning all the way to the ground." And in an uncanny coincidence, Kronk's log book has the same damage caused by shrapnel or a bullet as the log book of Kiwi airman and Nelson pilot from 243 squadron in Singapore, Flying Officer Maxwell Greenslade, which is also now in the possession of the Air Force Museum of NZ. "When he stacked the two log books on top of each other, the damage lined up perfectly. "It was quite exciting actually. Very rarely can you make a connection like this." Conroy said it was thought the two log books were on top of each other in the adjutant's hut when Kallang airfield came under attack. Conroy said news of Kronk's death would have been tough on his mother, Mary. She had lost her husband two years earlier, and her eldest son, Wally Kronk, was overseas serving in the army. "Wally came back and lived a life, so a lot of the family stories were more about him, but they were both family heroes." Conroy said not a lot is known about his great-uncle. "We only know him from his belongings, which were sent back, and from what grandma told us." He was very proud of him, with a number of reports describing him as fearless in the face of the enemy.
Scottish Sun
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside Jake Paul's training camp on £30m ranch where he almost FIRED coaches after being pushed to limit in brutal heat
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JAKE PAUL took training camp to his new £30million ranch in the sweltering Georgia heat - where he was pushed the point of almost no return. The YouTuber-turned-boxer returns on Saturday night in California against former middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Jake Paul built a gym on his new £30m ranch 10 Paul purchased the property in Georgia 10 It's been described as 'the middle of nowhere' 10 Trainer Theo Chambers on the pads with Paul 10 Temperatures soar in the Georgia heat Paul has lived in his adopted home of Puerto Rico since 2021 - buying a £13m mansion and building his own custom £3m boxing gym. But this year he purchased a stunning 5,700 acre piece of land costing £30m - spending the fortune he made against Mike Tyson. Temperatures can soar past 30 degrees in the height of the summer in Georgia - and Paul felt every bit of it during camp. Head coach Theo Chambers told SunSport: "I like it because one thing, you can't turn the air conditioning on outside! So I loved it. "It was outside and it was hot." Assistant trainer J'Leon Love said: "That was dope. Out in the middle of nothing, nowhere just running. "That land that he has is so far, just to get from the main road up to the driveway is three miles. "And if you know the time of year in Georgia, the heat is insane. So that was good, it was a change of environment and it was good man. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "He needed that and found some fun in it at the same time. You need to keep this s*** fun so I'm looking forward to what's going on tomorrow night." But it was not all smiles for Paul in camp. Jake Paul's trainer admits he refused to coach YouTube star at first... and reveals what convinced him to make U-turn In fact, he threatened to SACK his coaches after being pushed to his absolute limit during the gruelling training camp. Love said: "Listen, if you hire me or you hire our team as a whole, I don't care what you wanna do or what you have planned. "Once the mission is set, we dial in and do what we do and you do it, you know what I mean? That's it. "I don't care how much money you got. I don't care how popular you are, how many followers you have. "When we put a plan in place, that's what we stick to and that's what you're gonna do. "I don't care what you're feeling. You're gonna do it, so that's how we bring it, man. "I mean and that's why we're able to keep climbing this pole and keep grinding and reaching these levels. "But most definitely, Jake was p****d a lot of the time during camp, 'Man, we got this much time out.' It don't matter, get to it, but you get the job done." 10 Paul sparring boxer Steve Geffard 10 Paul with sparring partner Steve Geffard Chambers comes from the legendary Kronk gym in Detroit - made famous by the iconic trainer Emanuel Steward. The coach has rubbed shoulders with some of boxing's best - and expects high standards even for 11-1 Paul who only turned pro in 2020. Chambers said: "I saw the grind from Tommy Hearns, Darrell Chambers, Gerald McClellan, Milton McCrory, Lennox Lewis, Miguel Cotto. "So I personally only know one way and that's to work hard, train hard. Boxing is more mental than it is a physical thing. "So if I'm getting fired. I know I'm doing my job." Paul also has esteemed strength and conditioning coach Larry Wade - who has worked with several world champions - in his camp. And Wade revealed: "We want world championship performance, so we need world championship effort. 10 "And if you don't know that, it could be considered a physical and more so mental challenge, and that was the key. "And once he was able to grasp that, hey, we weren't backing down, he was just forced him to just absorb it and say, 'OK, let me get this work in.'" Paul returns for the first time since November when he beat Tyson - who controversially made a comeback aged 58. He has since dropped TWO STONE to drop back down to the 200lb cruiserweight limit of 14st 4lb to face Chavez Jr. Paul says victory could land him a shock ranking with the WBC and put him in line to challenge for Badou Jack's world title. Trainer Chambers said: "I like to be challenged. So I like my guys to be challenged. These MMA guys, they do not stand a chance with Jake Paul. "So I would like to see him fight guys like Chavez, guys like Badou Jack." Love, who spent years training alongside Jack, added: "I know who Badou is as a fighter, he's a dog. "If that is something that happens in the future, wow that'd be dope and great. It'd definitely be a mission. "You know who Badou Jack is, the world knows who Badou Jack is. That would be a great challenge right there." 10 Paul facing off with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr Credit: Getty 10 Larry Wade, J'Leon Love, Jake Paul and Theo Chambers
Scottish Sun
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Jake Paul's trainer admits he REFUSED to coach YouTube star at first… and reveals what convinced him to make U-turn
JAKE PAUL has put his boxing career into the hands of esteemed trainer Theo Chambers - the man who once wanted nothing to do with him. Chambers - nicknamed Third - comes from the legendary Kronk gym in Detroit - made famous by iconic trainer Emanuel Steward. 5 Jake Paul training with coach Theo Chambers 5 Chambers initially refused to work with Jake Paul 5 J'Leon Love, middle, introduced Chambers and Jake Paul The coach has worked with world champions like Andre Dirrell and Cornelius Bundrage - and most importantly J'Leon Love. Love - a former super-middleweight contender from Floyd Mayweather's Las Vegas gym - has been part of Paul's camp since his professional debut. And the assistant coach tried to recruit Chambers to join the YouTuber-turned-boxer's team. But Chambers told SunSport: "I said no! I was training world class fighters, ranked fighters. READ MORE IN BOXING PAUL OVER Furious Jake Paul storms out of Piers Morgan interview after fiery on-air row "I mean, at the time when he said YouTube, I didn't even know what that meant. And then when I actually found out what it meant, then I really wasn't." Eventually, Love persuaded Chambers to watch Paul's 2022 victory over UFC legend Anderson Silva. And after Paul took Tyson Fury's brother Tommy the distance a year later - despite losing a split-decision - he was convinced to accept the gig. Chambers said: "Every fight that Jake had, J'Leon was there so he would always call me before the fights. 'Hey, watch it on TV, watch it, watch it.' CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "And you know, because I love J'Leon, he's my brother and I've been training him since he was 15 years old, so I watched the kid. "And it ain't so much me looking at skill-wise, it's where's his heart? Where's his passion at to even be a boxer. Jake Paul vows to send Julio Cesar Chavez Jr into sad boxing retirement and goads 'I'll be there for you' "But when he fought Anderson Silva, that's what let me know that he had it in him. "Then when he fought Fury, even, even in his loss with Fury with me he won. "So then when they came back around to me, 'Would you train Jake?' I said yes I will train Jake." Paul parted ways with former coaches BJ Flores and Danny Smith after defeat to Fury - with Chambers hired as the replacement. He has cornered Paul to five victories on the spin since - most recently against Mike Tyson who controversially came out of retirement aged 58 in November. Paul, 28, now returns on Saturday against former middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39, back down at cruiserweight. Victory could see Paul handed a shock WBC ranking - putting him in line to challenge for Badou Jack's belt. Chambers said: "I like to be challenged. So I like my guys to be challenged. These MMA guys, they do not stand a chance with Jake Paul. "So I would like to see him fight guys like Chavez, guys like Badou Jack." 5 Jake Paul facing off with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Jake Paul's trainer admits he REFUSED to coach YouTube star at first… and reveals what convinced him to make U-turn
JAKE PAUL has put his boxing career into the hands of esteemed trainer Theo Chambers - the man who once wanted nothing to do with him. Chambers - nicknamed Third - comes from the legendary Kronk gym in Detroit - made famous by iconic trainer Emanuel Steward. 5 Jake Paul training with coach Theo Chambers 5 Chambers initially refused to work with Jake Paul 5 J'Leon Love, middle, introduced Chambers and Jake Paul The coach has worked with world champions like Andre Dirrell and Cornelius Bundrage - and most importantly J'Leon Love. Love - a former super-middleweight contender from Floyd Mayweather's Las Vegas gym - has been part of Paul's camp since his professional debut. And the assistant coach tried to recruit Chambers to join the YouTuber-turned-boxer's team. But Chambers told SunSport: "I said no! I was training world class fighters, ranked fighters. READ MORE IN BOXING "I mean, at the time when he said YouTube, I didn't even know what that meant. And then when I actually found out what it meant, then I really wasn't." Eventually, Love persuaded Chambers to watch Paul's 2022 victory over UFC legend Anderson Silva. And after Paul took Tyson Fury's brother Tommy the distance a year later - despite losing a split-decision - he was convinced to accept the gig. Chambers said: "Every fight that Jake had, J'Leon was there so he would always call me before the fights. 'Hey, watch it on TV, watch it, watch it.' Most read in Boxing Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr JAKE PAUL'S controversial boxing career rolls on this weekend with the Problem Child facing boxing royalty in Anaheim, California. The Mexican, 39, has fought just once in the last four years but has the best boxing resume of any fighter to step into a ring with Paul - bar INFO Everything you need to know about Paul vs Chavez Jr LATEST NEWS & FEATURES CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "And you know, because I love J'Leon, he's my brother and I've been training him since he was 15 years old, so I watched the kid. "And it ain't so much me looking at skill-wise, it's where's his heart? Where's his passion at to even be a boxer. Jake Paul vows to send Julio Cesar Chavez Jr into sad boxing retirement and goads 'I'll be there for you' "But when he fought Anderson Silva, that's what let me know that he had it in him. "Then when he fought Fury, even, even in his loss with Fury with me he won. "So then when they came back around to me, 'Would you train Jake?' I said yes I will train Jake." Paul parted ways with former coaches BJ Flores and Danny Smith after defeat to Fury - with Chambers hired as the replacement. He has cornered Paul to five victories on the spin since - most recently against Mike Tyson who Paul, 28, now returns on Saturday against former middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39, back down at cruiserweight. Victory could see Paul handed a shock WBC ranking - Chambers said: "I like to be challenged. So I like my guys to be challenged. These MMA guys, they do not stand a chance with Jake Paul. "So I would like to see him fight guys like Chavez, guys like Badou Jack." 5 Jake Paul facing off with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr Credit: Getty 5 WBC champ Badou Jack is linked with fighting Jake Paul Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Tyson Fury's dad rips into son's corner and claims he saved Gypsy King getting KO'd by Oleksandr Usyk
JOHN FURY has blasted his son Tyson's coaching team and claimed he saved him from getting knocked out by Oleksandr Usyk. Fury, 36, lost his undefeated record and WBC belt in a points loss to 5 John Fury claimed he saved son Tyson from getting knocked out by Oleksandr Usyk Credit: Splash 5 Fury with trainer SugarHill Steward Credit: Getty But father John - John told "He was listening to the wrong instructions and got caught going to the left of a southpaw. I'm a southpaw, you don't go to the left on me because I'll catch you. "He was listening to ill-advise, too many people in the corner and I'm his father, if it wasn't for me, he not only stayed in the fight he won the 11th, he shared the tenth because his legs were gone in the tenth. READ MORE IN BOXING "He was a miracle man to get out the ninth round but it was me who kept him in there. If it had been left to them, he'd have been knocked out." Fury has been coached by Sugarhill Steward - nephew to legendary trainer Emanuel - since 2020 while also having ex-world champion Andy Lee as assistant. But dad and former boxer John fumed: "He was listening to people that haven't got any fighting experience. "And at the end of the day, if he was that good of a trainer, Sugarhill, his uncle Emanuel would have left him the top job, wouldn't he? Most read in Boxing 5 CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "He would've left him the full business, Jonathan Banks ended up with it. Why didn't Tommy Hearns have Sugarhill? Why didn't Lenox Lewis have him? "Why didn't all the other Kronk fighters have him? There's a reason for it. Why do all these British fighters have him and sack him? Because he's incapable and I'm the first to say it. Tommy Fury calls out 'b****' Jake Paul after making boxing comeback after 18 months "I don't mind the man as a man, I'm talking on boxing terms only. The man is a very nice man, he's never done me no harm in any way shape or form. "But, we're talking boxing politics here and they just don't work Tyson hard enough, he's too soft with him and Tyson's telling him what to do half the time. "And like I say, they're not going to tell him he's wrong because they need the money." Sugarhill has also coached the likes of Ben Whittaker and Lawrence Okolie in the past - later splitting with both. He was mentored by his late uncle Emanuel, who shot to fame as the trainer to the likes of Lewis and Wladimir Klitshcko. But after Emanuel's death in 2012, his former fighter Banks inherited his stable including Klitshcko. Sugarhill has also worked with former world champions in Anthony Dirrell and Adonis Stevenson. And Fury credited the American for turning him into a power-puncher, with two stoppages over Deontay Wilder. The Gypsy King was beaten again by Usyk on points in their December rematch - without dad John in the corner - But, with rumours of a future fight against Anthony Joshua, 35, Fury recently reunited with Sugarhill in his Morecambe gym 5 Sugarhill with his uncle Emanuel Credit: @kronksugarhill 5 Oleksandr Usyk twice beat Fury on points Credit: PA
