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‘Rage on The Red Sea’ …Usyk Retains Heavyweight Boxing Titles

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Rage on The Red Sea event. Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Rage on The Red Sea event. Asharq Al-Awsat
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‘Rage on The Red Sea’ …Usyk Retains Heavyweight Boxing Titles

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Rage on The Red Sea event. Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Rage on The Red Sea event. Asharq Al-Awsat

In the presence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and a host of elite sports and international figures, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz al-Faisal, Ukrainian titleholder and boxer Oleksandr Usyk won a rematch against his challenger, Anthony Joshua.

By winning the rematch, Usyk retained his world heavyweight boxing titles.

The event took place on Saturday at King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah, where a large crowd of boxing fans was able to watch the match.

Dubbed “Rage on The Red Sea,” the match ended after 12 rounds and a split decision by the judges. Two of the judges awarded the fight to Usyk, and one judge awarded the fight to Joshua.

The fight was witnessed by a crowd of nearly 40,000 boxing enthusiasts from 60 different countries. Many media professionals covered the fight.

Sports events coinciding with the fight took place in the squares surrounding the King Abdullah Sports City Arena.

Oleksandr Usyk v Anthony Joshua - WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight world title - King Abdullah Sports City Arena, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - August 20, 2022 Oleksandr Usyk celebrates winning his fight against Anthony Joshua with the belts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

In the secondary fights that took place, Saudi boxer Ziad Al-Mayouf scored a historic start by defeating his Mexican rival Jose Alator by a technical knockout. Jordan’s Badr Al-Samrin also won the same way over the Azerbaijani Fuad Tarverdi.

“Rage on The Red Sea” is the second international fight hosted by the Kingdom, after the great success that was achieved in the Diriyah Arena fight in December 2019.

Last September, Usyk won on a unanimous decision to take the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight boxing belts from Joshua.

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Arsenal Must Be Ruthless to Earn Statement Win at Sporting, Says Arteta

Arsenal FC head coach Mikel Arteta attends a press conference at Alvalade Stadium, in Lisbon, Portugal, 25 November 2024. Arsenal will face Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League on 26 November. (EPA)
Arsenal FC head coach Mikel Arteta attends a press conference at Alvalade Stadium, in Lisbon, Portugal, 25 November 2024. Arsenal will face Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League on 26 November. (EPA)
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Arsenal Must Be Ruthless to Earn Statement Win at Sporting, Says Arteta

Arsenal FC head coach Mikel Arteta attends a press conference at Alvalade Stadium, in Lisbon, Portugal, 25 November 2024. Arsenal will face Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League on 26 November. (EPA)
Arsenal FC head coach Mikel Arteta attends a press conference at Alvalade Stadium, in Lisbon, Portugal, 25 November 2024. Arsenal will face Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League on 26 November. (EPA)

Arsenal need to be ruthless to secure a win against Sporting and snap their negative run of form away from home in the Champions League, manager Mikel Arteta said ahead of Tuesday's clash.

Winless in their last four European outings, Arsenal arrive in Portugal following a 1-0 defeat against Inter Milan at San Siro earlier this month.

Arteta's side currently sit 12th in the new Champions League 36-team format, where the top eight teams qualify automatically for the last 16 and the next 16 enter a two-legged playoff to join them.

The Spaniard acknowledged that improving their away form is key to his team's chances in Europe's top-tier club competition.

"It's certainly something we have to improve. We have the right steps, and looking back at the way we played against Inter, we dominated the game and should have won," Arteta told a news conference on Monday.

"But the reality is you have to make it happen, and we didn't. Those steps are what we need to take next - be ruthless and much more efficient in the opposition box.

"We wanted to be higher (in the standings), but it's the position we are in right now.

"We have to play in a way that's going to give us a chance to win the game and fight to do it as quickly as possible. Tomorrow we have a great opportunity to do that."

Sporting, who thrashed Manchester City 4-1 in their last outing, are enjoying an outstanding campaign, remaining unbeaten in second place with 10 points.

Arteta acknowledged the Portuguese champions pose a major challenge for Arsenal but also offer an opportunity for a morale-boosting triumph.

"The run they are on is incredible, which tells you it's not only about their qualities but their ambition and the team energy they have. That's the great challenge we have," he said.

"To come here tomorrow, make a statement, and show that we are capable against this kind of opponent by being ourselves and winning the game."