Author: James Bayley

What major boxing fights can we expect in 2023?

Posted on by James Bayley

Major Upcoming Fights

  • Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk – TBC
  • Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano – TBC
  • Devin Haney v Vasyl Lomachenko – Saturday 20 May

As many predicted, Tyson Fury dominated his WBC title fight against fellow Brit Derek Chisora until the referee finally intervened in the 10th round, announcing the Gypsy King as the victor.

In truth, the writing was on the wall from the first round, as Fury landed jab after jab with searing accuracy. When the fight was over, Chisora’s lip was bloodied and his eye was sealed shut, the veteran fighter, 38, was consoled by Fury with a hug and a kiss.

The bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in front of 60,000 fans will almost certainly be the last of that magnitude in Chisora’s career, but his compatriot Tyson Fury has plans to take on Ukrainian fighter Oleksandr Usyk in 2023, to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

Wembley Boxing Match
Wembley Stadium

Usyk, who was ringside for the Fury v Chisora fight, currently holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts after successfully defending his titles against Anthony Joshua in August.

Although not officially scheduled in the 2023 boxing calendar, it is thought that Usyk is targeting a fight date between February and March next year. According to Talksport, Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas said: “On our side, everything is done […] Right now it’s Tyson Fury’s decision.”

Asked when the fight would be if Fury agreed, he added: “No earlier than February 18, no later than March 4.”

If the spring fight does go ahead, many have tipped Wembley Stadium in London to be the most likely venue, where Fury will be the home favourite in front of 95,000 fans. However, Saudi Arabia has also emerged as a serious contender to host. If that is the case, the venue will most likely be the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, where Joshua lost to Usyk earlier this year.

If Fury defeats the Ukrainian, making him the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, British boxing promoter Frank Warren would like to see Joe Joyce return to fight the Gypsy King at Wembley in the summer. The undefeated Olympic Silver Medalist would set up an all-English fight, but perhaps not the one fans have been crying out for.

Chisora was very much Joshua’s understudy for the Fury fight in December (talks for a fight between Fury and Joshua broke down in October) and AJ is unlikely to meet Fury in the ring anytime soon.

A possible route back into the heavyweight discussion for Joshua could be a fight with American Deontay Wilder, with Wembley as the venue once again. The former WBC world heavyweight champion inflicted a first-round knockout in October against Robert Helenius at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

The hard-hitting American would be a formidable opponent for Joshua but he’s not the only name being touted around.

Fellow Brit Dillian Whyte has been mentioned as a possible comeback opponent for Joshua. The pair fought in 2015, with Joshua coming out on top, but Whyte is in good form now after defeating American Jermaine Franklin in November.

As an all-British showdown, the likely venue will be the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Principality Stadium
The Principality Stadium

Beyond the heavyweight division, standout fights to punch in your diary include; Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Smith, in a middleweight clash in January at AO Arena in Manchester, Jermell Charlo vs Tim Tszyu in an undisputed super-welterweight fight at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas and Oscar Valdez vs Emanuel Navarrete for the super-featherweight, WBO title at the Desert Diamond Arena in Arizona in February.

As the year draws to a close, many boxing fans will be thinking about what could’ve been, as the promise of blockbuster battles, such as Fury v Joshua failed to come to fruition.

However, in 2023, the heavyweight division will be brimming with potential, with the top five fighters in the world all looking to make their mark, from those at the very top of their game like Usyk and Fury to sleeping giants like Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder.

Elton John to go out with a bang

Posted on by James Bayley

As the end of his Farewell Yellow Brick Tour comes to an end, Elton John has announced that his last ever UK show will be at next year’s Glastonbury Festival, where he will close out the show on the Pyramid Stage.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be headlining the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2023 and celebrate the greatest festival in the world,” he said to his 4.3 million followers on Instagram.

He is the first act to be revealed for the 2023 iteration of the festival. However, many have speculated that the likes of Arctic Monkeys and Harry Styles may also be topping the bill – the next wave of artists is typically revealed in March.

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As with every Glastonbury festival, tickets are in high demand. When tickets went on general sale on November 06, they sold out within an hour, as organisers tweeted, “Thank you to everyone who bought one and we’re sorry to those of you who missed out, on a morning when demand far exceeded supply.”

Now that the Rocket Man is onboard for his final UK show, the scramble for re-sale tickets in spring next year will be hotter than ever.

The emotional finale at Glastonbury on Sunday, June 25, 2023, will mark a five-decade-long career that has seen the pop superstar headline festivals and sell-out arenas worldwide.

He first garnered international acclaim following his breakout performance at the Troubadour in West Hollywood in 1970, his first on American soil. He stunned the crowd with hits from his debut album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which had just been released in the United States.

In June 1985, when he was already a household name, Elton John performed with the likes of Queen and Wham! in the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in London. The event, known as the ‘Global Jukebox’, helped raise more than $125 million in famine relief for Africa.

Wembley Concert Venue
Wembley Concert Venue

Other memorable performances include his Royal Festival Hall Show in 1972, where he introduced his fifth LP Honky Château, which features arguably his most famous song Rocket Man. His fourth album, Madman Across The Water, had been released just three months earlier and was still in the US top 20.

Elton John is prolific, to date he has released a total of 31 albums and sold 300 million records worldwide, making him the fourth best-selling artist of all-time behind The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson.

Knighted for his services to music in 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II, Elton John has numerous accolades and awards to his name, including 5 Grammys, 5 Brit Awards and two Oscars.

In 2018, Elton John started his Farewell Yellow Brick Tour in Allentown, Pennsylvania. This was intended to kick off a tour consisting of 300 concerts worldwide, however, the European leg of his tour, initially scheduled for winter 2020 had to be cancelled due to the Covid pandemic.

The remaining tour dates were later postponed till 2021, along with the rest of the second European leg and the third North American leg.

Fans were left frustrated again in September 2021, when it was announced that John had sustained a hip injury, causing the European tour to be delayed again, this time till 2023.

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Liam Gallagher 'Definitely Maybe' Tour 2024
Liam Gallagher ‘Definitely Maybe’ Tour 2024 – 6 June – O2 Arena
O2 Arena
Thursday 6 June 2024
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Liam Gallagher 'Definitely Maybe' Tour 2024
Liam Gallagher ‘Definitely Maybe’ Tour 2024 – 7 June – O2 Arena
O2 Arena
Friday 7 June 2024
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Liam Gallagher 'Definitely Maybe' Tour 2024
Liam Gallagher ‘Definitely Maybe’ Tour 2024 – 10 June – O2 Arena
O2 Arena
Monday 10 June 2024
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Music
The Girls Aloud Show – O2 Arena – 22 June
O2 Arena
Saturday 22 June 2024
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Music
The Girls Aloud Show – O2 Arena – 23 June
O2 Arena
Sunday 23 June 2024
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Music
The Killers 2024 – 4 July – O2 Arena
O2 Arena
Thursday 4 July 2024
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Finally, in January 2022, John resumed his farewell tour at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana to a sell-out crowd.

The legendary performer marked the end of his North American tour with one final performance at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in November 2022. Nearly 50 years on from his unforgettable 1975 show at the same stadium, John was joined by collaborators Dua Lipa, Brandi Carlile and Kiki Dee.

His Farewell From Dodger Stadium show was a global event, reminiscent of Elvis Presley’s televised show in Hawaii in 1973, which attracted a billion viewers worldwide.

John’s Dodger’s performance was available to live stream on Disney plus and is still available to watch.

As his unforgettable career draws to a close there are only going to be so many more opportunities to say, “I saw Elton John live.”

“It’s going to be incredibly emotional.” Emily Eavis, Glastonbury co-organiser said: “It gives me enormous pleasure to let you know that the one and only Elton John will be making his first ever Glastonbury appearance, headlining the Pyramid Stage on the Sunday night next year.”

Written by @BayleyCakes_

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What makes Monaco so special

Posted on by James Bayley

Once a year, the world’s second-smallest nation becomes a race track and welcomes the fastest drivers on the planet and a host of celebrities for the most important weekend on the Formula 1 calendar.

The first Monaco Grand Prix was held in 1929, and the track hasn’t changed much since. Using the winding streets of Monte Carlo, the public roads are resurfaced each year before the event, with little room for overtaking on race day.

The temporary grandstands are installed across the city, alongside famous Monaco landmarks like the Monte Carlo Casino and the world-renowned harbour, where the rich and famous view the race from their boats and yachts.

Only 39,000 people live in Monaco, but come race weekend some 200,000 people travel to the principality for the spectacle.

Monaco Yacht Hospitality

Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet once said that the Monaco Grand Prix was like “[..] cycling around your living room[..],” meaning that the corners were too tight. However, the former world champion also said winning Monaco was, “[..] worth winning twice anywhere else [..].” Unfortunately, Piquet never tasted victory at Monaco.

His compatriot, the late, great Ayrton Senna has claimed the most Monaco GP wins (6). Despite this, the title “Mr Monaco” is reserved for British driver Graham Hill. The moustachioed racer won the event five times during an era of dominance in the 60s. He is also the only driver to have claimed ‘The Triple Crown of Motorsport’, an unofficial achievement, regarded as winning the three most prestigious races in motorsport; the Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix.

The prestige on the track is only matched by the glitz and glamour in the Monaco harbour. Thanks to the region’s status as a tax haven, owing to the unprecedented rise of the Monte Carlo Casino in the 1860s, during a time when gambling was outlawed elsewhere across Europe, many celebrities have since flocked to the region to enjoy its lavish parties.

The rich and famous have been long associated with Monaco. In 1956, the actress Grace Kelly, known for her roles in Rear Window and To Catch a Thief became Princess of Monaco after marrying Prince Rainier III.

Over the years, many famous faces have been spotted in the Monaco F1 paddocks, from Leonardo DiCaprio and Naomi Campbell to Serena Williams and Cristiano Ronaldo, and many are bound to be in attendance in 2023

In the 2022 season, the race was won by Sergio Perez. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes has won the race three times and next year both drivers will be competing once again alongside the likes of Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso. This one-of-a-kind event combines the high-octane energy of a motor race against a backdrop of parties, celebrities and champagne. Whether it be from one of the many yachts in the harbour or in the grandstand, the Monaco GP should be on the bucket list of any self-respecting sports fan.

Our Super Yacht Hospitality

VIP Hospitality at the Monaco Grand Prix is an unique experience like no other on the sporting calendar and you can be there on one of our impeccable yacht packages.

It’s the ultimate form of luxury, with Champagne, premium drinks and premium gourmet food throughout the weekend.

There will be celebrities and sport stars making guest appearances, especially at the exclusive parties that are an important part of the Monaco experience.

With incredible views of the famous Monaco circuit, there’s no better way to spend a weekend in true, luxurious style.

Yacht Hospitality Monaco

Saturday and Sunday Trackside Super Yacht Hospitlaity

  • Guest Meet & Greet and Reception in Fontvielle
  • Transfer from Fontvieille to a Super Yacht in Monaco Harbour by private tender & return
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  • Spectacular views and Giant TV Screen
  • Circuit TV and Timing Monitors in Salon
  • Continental Breakfast on arrival
  • Coffee, Tea and refreshments served all day
  • Complimentary Bar all day including fine wines and Champagne
  • Monaco Grand Prix Buffet Luncheon served on Main Deck
  • Afternoon Tea with pastries and coffee
  • Live Music and Celebrity Guest appearances

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Written by @BayleyCakes_

England’s route to RWC23 Glory

Posted on by James Bayley

As the Autumn Internationals draw to a close, and with it, England’s worst year since 2008, talk of 2023 Rugby World Cup glory may seem a bit premature. However, with England in Pool D and their opponents already revealed, a clear route to the final in Paris can be drawn.

England’s Route to the Final – Updated 26 September

Heading into the tournament on the search for some form, England fans now have reason to be optimistic with the pool stages nearly complete and a 100% record still in-tact following wins against Argentina, Japan and Chile.

Barring any major twists and turns in the remaining matches in Pool D, England will secure top spot in the group to set up a quarter final with the runners-up from Pool C.

After Wales’ statement 40-6 victory over Australia in that pool, they look to have secured top spot. That leaves Eddie Jones’ side are staring at elimination – meaning England will likely face Fiji in the last eight if they are able to record wins against the lower ranked Georgia and Portugal in their final pool matches.

Looking further ahead, should England get past an unpredictable Fiji side (or potentially Australia if they slip up) in the quarter-finals, they will likely face the winner of France – who look in control of Pool A – and South Africa in the semi-finals at the Stade de France.

Who is in England’s Pool?

There is cause for optimism for England fans, after being handed what many critics have described as a favourable draw to the knockout stages. England is joined in Pool D by Japan, Argentina, Samoa and Chile, who are making their first-ever appearance at the RWC.

The draw, which was based on 2020 rankings due to the impact of Covid on international rugby, placed England in Band 1, alongside holders South Africa, New Zealand and Wales.

In Band 2 were the hosts France, plus Australia, Japan and Ireland. Band 3 consisted of Scotland, Italy, Fiji and Argentina. Bands 4 and 5 were made up of qualifiers outside of the top 12 ranked teams.

Based on England’s possible opponents for the Pools, the draw is as close to the best-case scenario as possible. Eddie Jone’s side has managed to avoid France, the current bookie’s favourite and Ireland, the number one ranked team in the world at present. Based on rankings, Japan was the most favourable team to draw from Band 2, and England will be confident of getting a result against Argentina, who themselves are ranked 8th.

France v Argentina Rugby World Cup

When does the tournament start?

The tournament kicks off Friday, September 8, 21:00 (local time) as hosts France take on New Zealand in a blockbuster tie at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis in Paris.

When does England play?

England’s first game is against Argentina, arguably their toughest rivals in the group, on Saturday, September 9, at 21:00 (local time) at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille. The city, home to the largest port in France, is perfectly positioned on the Mediterranean coast and was a host city for the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2007 RWC.

For the second Pool game, the England team will travel east along the French Riviera to Nice, the capital of the Côte d’Azur region. The match kicks off on Sunday, September 17, at 21:00 (local time) at the Stade de Nice. With 300 days of sunshine on average per year, travelling fans will be able to enjoy some nice weather at the very least.

The final two Pool games both take place in Lille, close to the Belgian border at the Stade Pierre Mauroy. The first is against Chile on Saturday, September 23 at 17:45 (local time). England’s final Pool game before the knockout stages is against Samoa on Saturday, October 7 at 17:45 local time.

England’s route to the final as Pool winners

Barring any major shocks, England should make it out of the Pools, most likely as Pool winners.

If England finishes first in Pool D they will face the runners-up of Pool C, which, based on current world rankings is likely to be Wales (9th in the world). This quarter-final match will take place on Sunday, October 15 at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille at 17:00 (local time).

Marseille Rugby

Beyond the quarterfinals, all matches will take place at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris. The bookmakers currently have England as the fifth favourites to win the tournament behind host nation France, three-times-champions New Zealand, Grand-slam champions Ireland and title-holders South Africa.

Following England’s projected route as Pool winners, the red and whites will face France based on current rankings in the semi-final. That match will kick off Saturday, October 21, at 21:00 local time, at the Stade de France.

The final of the 2023 RWC is on Sunday, October 28 at 21:00 (local time) at the Stade de France. If all goes to plan, England’s opponents will be Ireland (based on current world rankings).

England’s route to the final as Pool runner’s-up

Should England finish second in the Pools, travel plans won’t have to be altered too much as the quarter-final contest, most likely against Australia will still be in Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome, although a day earlier on Saturday, October 14, at 17:00 (local time).

The semi-final, most likely against Ireland or New Zealand, will take place at the Stade de France on Friday, October 20, at 21:00 (local time).

If England lost the semi-final, they would play in the Bronze Final on Friday, October 27, at 21:00 (local time) at the Stade de France.

So there we have it, England’s projected route to the 2023 RWC final, via Marseille, Nice, Lille and finally Paris where the semi-finals and final will take place. Given England’s favourable draw in the group, it might be wise to make your travel arrangements for the knockout stages sooner rather than later, especially with the quarterfinals and semi-finals guaranteed to be in Marseille and Paris respectively.

Secure your Rugby World Cup Hospitality Today

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Written by @BayleyCakes_

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