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The Australian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Australian
Tim Tszyu slams rugby players, influencers infiltrating boxing
Tim Tszyu has taken a dig at influencers and footy players infiltrating boxing, saying there's 'no need for the rugby players' in the sport. 'The Soul Taker's' comments come three days before his must-win rematch with Sebastian Fundora, and a mere hours after Paul Gallen's win over Sonny Bill Williams in Sydney. Tszyu is in the co-main event of a card to be headlined by the great Manny Pacquiao, and features a cast of fighters the Australian considers 'old school'. It's a far cry from ex-footy players stepping into the ring for a quick payday. It's also a long way removed from the artificial hype around former Disney star turned YouTuber Jake Paul, who has made a boxing career out of fighting washed up UFC fighters. Jake Paul (R) beat Julio Cesar Chavez. Picture: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images 'It's good that this fight isn't influenced by influencers,' Tszyu said after completing his open workout in front of a huge crowd at the MGM Grand. 'It's influenced by proper boxers, and this is the Mecca. 'This is such a big boxing event, for pure boxers as well. 'There's eyeballs everywhere.' Asked to confirm whether he was talking about Jake Paul, who most recently scored an uninspiring decision win over faded former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, Tszyu quipped. 'Yeah, and rugby players,' he told CODE Sports. 'No need for the rugby players.' Paul Gallen did enough to beat Sonny Bill Williams. Picture: Ayush Kumar/EurasiaAfter a decade of waiting, Gallen outpointed Williams on Wednesday night in a controversial decision that may have settled their beef, but didn't live up to any great heights in terms of skill. It was also widely panned for being contested over two-minute rounds, rather than the customary three minutes, despite each of the former Premiership winners banking an estimated $1 million. Tszyu was fast asleep at his Las Vegas Air BnB when the bout went down and didn't watch. 'I couldn't even watch highlights of it,' he said. 'I didn't watch it. 'But, good on em, they had a go and made some money out of it.' Tszyu worked out in front of a huge crowd at the MGM Grand. Picture: No Limit boxing Tszyu battled through his last weight cut in April, which came off the back of his wedding to longtime partner Alex – who celebrated her birthday in Las Vegas on Wednesday – and an overdue holiday, Tszyu is right on weight as the fight approaches. He's even been dining on an expensive high-protein dinner that he can't find in Australia. 'We've been getting this mad Chilean sea bass,' he said of the delicacy that can sell for a whopping $75 per kilogram. 'Apparently we don't have it at home, so I'm enjoying it. 'I'm right where I want to be, I'm not killing myself and I'm eating. I'm in a good position. 'Me and my chef, Omar, we've just been chilling at home. We've been playing backgammon, and it's my wife's birthday today, so happy birthday, Alex. Love you, baby!' Brendan Bradford Content producer Brendan Bradford is a sports writer for CODE Sports. He primarily covers combat sports, league, union, cycling and athletics. Brendan has worked in sports media for a decade, covering world title fights, World Cups, Grand Slams and Spring Tours. @1bbradfo Brendan Bradford
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Pelvic floor training can help active women avoid exercise-related symptoms
Are you a woman who exercises regularly? If so, here's a vital question: do you train your pelvic floor muscles as part of your routine? If the answer is no, now's the time to start. It's never too late to protect yourself from pelvic floor dysfunction – and the benefits go far beyond avoiding leaks. The pelvic floor is a complex hammock of muscles and ligaments stretching from the front of your pelvis to your tailbone. It weaves around the urethra, vagina and anus, supporting the pelvic organs and helping them stay in the right place. These muscles are essential for bladder and bowel control, sexual function and core stability. In fact, your pelvic floor works alongside the diaphragm, abdominal muscles, and back muscles in what's known as the 'core canister' or 'core rectangle.' Together, they help stabilise the spine, protect internal organs, and support movement, especially in high-impact or strength-based activities. How does sport affect pelvic floor health? Many sports rely heavily on core strength. Running, jumping, lifting and full-contact sports like rugby all demand stability, control and muscular endurance. But they also place significant strain on the pelvic floor. That's why pelvic floor dysfunction is surprisingly common among sportswomen. Around one in two women in the UK will experience pelvic floor symptoms at some point in their lives – but rates are even higher among female athletes. A 2024 study of female rugby players found that 63% experienced pelvic floor dysfunction serious enough to affect both their performance and daily life, often requiring physiotherapy or specialist support. Movements such as jumping, running, landing and breath-holding during exertion all increase intra-abdominal pressure, which pushes down on the pelvic floor. Without proper conditioning, these muscles can become strained or fatigued, especially if they're weaker than the surrounding core muscles. Endurance sports can also take their toll, causing the pelvic floor to repeatedly contract under pressure. Like any muscle, the pelvic floor is susceptible to overuse injuries and needs time to recover. Pelvic floor dysfunction can show up in several ways, including leaking urine or faeces during exercise, coughing or sneezing; disrupted bowel habits; a heavy or dragging feeling in the lower abdomen or vagina; pain during sex; a bulging sensation or visible tissue in the vaginal area; and pelvic organ prolapse. These symptoms may appear during exercise – or at rest – and often worsen over time without the right support or training. Exercise can help with pelvic floor dysfunction – only if the pelvic floor is actively and effectively engaged. Many workouts target the abs or general core, but if the pelvic floor isn't included with the same intensity, muscular imbalances can develop. Combined with gravity and high-impact movement, this puts the pelvic floor at greater risk of dysfunction. The good news? The pelvic floor responds well to training. With regular, focused practice, these muscles become stronger, more coordinated and more resilient – helping to prevent dysfunction and even aiding recovery after childbirth. How to train your pelvic floor Not sure where to start? Here's a simple exercise: Imagine you're holding in wind – gently contract your anus. Next, squeeze your urethra as if stopping a flow of urine. Now, lift upwards through the vagina. Hold the contraction for a few seconds (or as long as you comfortably can), then release. That's one pelvic floor contraction: well done! Try doing a few reps at a time, and gradually build up. You can incorporate these into your run, add them to your core workout, or practise them during rest days or cool-downs. The goal is to make pelvic floor training a regular part of your routine. Your pelvic floor deserves just as much attention as your abs, glutes or quads. If you're a woman who exercises, training these deep core muscles can boost your performance, reduce your risk of injury and support your overall health now and in the future. So next time you lace up your trainers or hit the gym, don't forget your pelvic floor. Your body will thank you. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Holly Ingram does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
News.com.au
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘No need for them': Tim Tszyu calls out the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, Paul Gallen and Jake Paul
Tim Tszyu has taken a dig at influencers and footy players infiltrating boxing, saying there's 'no need for the rugby players' in the sport. 'The Soul Taker's' comments come three days before his must-win rematch with Sebastian Fundora, and a mere hours after Paul Gallen's win over Sonny Bill Williams in Sydney. Tszyu is in the co-main event of a card to be headlined by the great Manny Pacquiao, and features a cast of fighters the Australian considers 'old school'. It's a far cry from ex-footy players stepping into the ring for a quick payday. It's also a long way removed from the artificial hype around former Disney star turned YouTuber Jake Paul, who has made a boxing career out of fighting washed up UFC fighters. 'It's good that this fight isn't influenced by influencers,' Tszyu said after completing his open workout in front of a huge crowd at the MGM Grand. 'It's influenced by proper boxers, and this is the Mecca. 'This is such a big boxing event, for pure boxers as well. 'There's eyeballs everywhere.' Asked to confirm whether he was talking about Jake Paul, who most recently scored an uninspiring decision win over faded former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, Tszyu quipped. 'Yeah, and rugby players,' he told CODE Sports. 'No need for the rugby players.' After a decade of waiting, Gallen outpointed Williams on Wednesday night in a controversial decision that may have settled their beef, but didn't live up to any great heights in terms of skill. It was also widely panned for being contested over two-minute rounds, rather than the customary three minutes, despite each of the former Premiership winners banking an estimated $1 million. Tszyu was fast asleep at his Las Vegas Air BnB when the bout went down and didn't watch. 'I couldn't even watch highlights of it,' he said. 'I didn't watch it. 'But, good on em, they had a go and made some money out of it.' Tszyu battled through his last weight cut in April, which came off the back of his wedding to longtime partner Alex – who celebrated her birthday in Las Vegas on Wednesday – and an overdue holiday, Tszyu is right on weight as the fight approaches. He's even been dining on an expensive high-protein dinner that he can't find in Australia. 'We've been getting this mad Chilean sea bass,' he said of the delicacy that can sell for a whopping $75 per kilogram. 'Apparently we don't have it at home, so I'm enjoying it. 'I'm right where I want to be, I'm not killing myself and I'm eating. I'm in a good position. 'Me and my chef, Omar, we've just been chilling at home. We've been playing backgammon, and it's my wife's birthday today, so happy birthday, Alex. Love you, baby!'
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Line-out ability is my back-row edge
Ollie Chessum says he is relishing his opportunity in the back row as the versatile England forward zeros in on a spot in the British and Irish Lions Test started at blindside flanker in the 36-24 win over the Brumbies on Wednesday, scoring a try after 14 minutes and narrowly missing out on another as he was held up over the line late two of his 28 Test appearances for England have been back-row starts, but the 24-year-old - more usually a second row - says his set-piece experience is an advantage over his rivals for a place in the squad for the 19 July series opener against Australia."I think the line-out one is probably obvious, to have that third jumper," he said when asked by BBC Sport about his point of difference as a back row. "But all sorts really. I think that when I get the ball in my hands on the edges I can make a real difference. Playing six frees you up to be both on the edge and in the middle."I have had to work at it, but since I have been 20 or 21 I have played in and around the back row at Leicester."I have had hints of it with England - with the players we have there it works nicely in a bit of rotation. I do really enjoy it."The coaches have been great with me because obviously we have not had that much time to prepare and train so they have freed me up and let me go to work."Hopefully I did what they asked me to tonight." The win over the Brumbies marked Chessum's first back-row start for the Lions. He came off the bench and into the second row against the Western Force and started at lock against Queensland also finished the match in Canberra in the second row, swapping in after Henry Pollock replaced Joe McCarthy just before the coach Andy Farrell has emphasised the importance of players' versatility to ensure his side can adapt tactically and cover injuries during the Lions have also prioritised having a line-out jumper in the back row on recent tours with Courtney Lawes starting all three Tests in South Africa in 2021 and Peter O'Mahony captaining the side in the first Test against New Zealand four years observers have pegged the fixtures against the Brumbies – the strongest Australian province in this year's Super Rugby competition – as a dry run for Farrell's Test Chessum says that with another warm-up game to come against an invitational Australia and New Zealand XV in Adelaide on Saturday - and the hectic schedule leading into the first Test on 19 July - he is taking every day as it comes."I don't know what to expect!" he said of the series opener in Brisbane."These past two weeks has been an absolute blur. You play a game, you are on a flight, we land in the next city, we have a captains' run and then we are playing again."It has been really enjoyable but, as far as what is to come next weekend, as a squad we will see where we want to take the game."That is one thing that has been really good - it has been player led and hopefully we can have our input on what we are going to do next week."
Washington Post
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Injured All Blacks captain Scott Barrett ruled out of the test series against France
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — All Blacks captain Scott Barrett has been ruled out of New Zealand's second and third rugby tests against France after injuring his ankle in the series-opening win. Barrett was replaced midway through the second half of the first test in Dunedin which the All Blacks won 31-27 . Scans have since revealed a tear in Barrett's calf muscle.
