Latest news with #Heavyweight
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Goldberg to risk it all against Gunther in career-defining WWE match
Goldberg and Gunther (Image via WWE) Goldberg is back in WWE , and he is not returning for just any match, he is going straight after the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther. The two are set to face off at Saturday Night's Main Event on July 12 in Atlanta, Georgia. This match is happening in Goldberg's hometown, and it could be the last match of his career. Fans were surprised when he returned and jumped right into a title match, but now Goldberg has shared the real reason he is doing this. At 58 years old, Goldberg says this match is not just about winning a title. It's personal. He wants to finish his wrestling career the right way, and most of all, he wants his son, Gage, to see him in the ring one last time. Goldberg says Gunther thinks he is just an old man Goldberg recently appeared on The National Football Show and shared what he believes Gunther thinks about him. He admitted that Gunther probably does not take him seriously anymore. 'Who I am to him (Gunther) is an old man – is a 58-year-old guy who is hobbled and not like he used to be and he believes that even at my peak, he could have taken me which is absolutely laughable. But, I mean… he's a formidable opponent. He's the World Heavyweight Champion.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Even though Goldberg knows Gunther sees him as past his prime, he still respects the champion. He said Gunther has grown into a top star, and it is an honor to face him in this big match. The National Football Show with Dan Sileo | Wednesday June 18th, 2025 'It's an honor to step into a position to be vying for the World Heavyweight Championship at 58 years old. I don't know of any other ones who've retired with a match like that.' Goldberg returned to WWE during the June 16 episode of Monday Night Raw. As Gunther was in the ring talking about who might challenge him, Goldberg surprised everyone by coming out. Soon after, the match was made official for July 12 in Atlanta. The truth behind Goldberg's WWE return The last match of Goldberg was at Elimination Chamber 2022, and he was not happy with how it ended. That loss stayed with him. Now, he says he wants to go out on a better note. More than anything, he wants his son to be proud. 'Because I ain't freaking going out the way I went out. Period, end of story... I'm gonna do my best… 50 percent of me is better than 99 percent of the pricks on the planet... It's another opportunity to give Gage a platform to see his dad go out and do his thing.' Goldberg has been training for the last six months to prepare for this fight. He knows it will not be easy, and he even said he does not care if he has to be carried out of the ring afterward. 'If they have to drag me out of there or carry me out of there, then that's fine because I chose to do it and I chose to spend the last six months training and preparing for this.' Goldberg to challenge Gunther on Saturday Night's Main Event: Raw, June 16, 2025 As the conversation went on, Bully Ray's comments on Busted Open about Goldberg's return were brought up. Bully Ray said on Busted Open Radio that it did not make sense and was disrespectful to others. Goldberg fired back with a strong response. 'I was 176-0. I don't have to stand in freakin' line… So Bully Ray can bite me. But everybody's got an opinion... I love him to death and I respect his opinion. But his opinion is like an asshole and everybody's got one.' He also responded to fans calling him too old to wrestle. 'Everybody, 'Oh, Goldberg's limping to the ring, Goldberg's small, Goldberg's old.' I am freakin' old. What do you want me to do? … Turn the clock back? But, show me another 58-year-old dude that's willing to go out and do this?' As the big match gets closer, Goldberg is ready to risk everything. He is not just fighting Gunther, he is fighting for his legacy, for his family, and for one final moment in the spotlight. Also Read: Goldberg vs Gunther: Why WWE may end the Icon's Career with a loss Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
RNZ News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Podcast Critic - Missing in the Amazon & Heavyweight
history media 2:10 pm today Ximena Smith joined Jesse to review Missing in the Amazon - a new 6-part investigative series from The Guardian about journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous rights advocate Bruno Pereira who went missing in the Amazon three years ago. She also reviewed Heavyweight a podcast by Jonathan Goldstein, which returns after being cancelled by Spotify in 2023. The show helps people deal with moments from their past they wish they could change - funny, emotional, and thought-provoking without being naff.
The Independent
06-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Jon Jones: UFC heavyweight picture ‘sucks' but ‘I don't pull the strings'
Jon Jones has hinted that he has in fact retired from fighting, admitting it 'sucks' that the UFC heavyweight division has stalled in recent months. Jones has held the heavyweight title since March 2023, while Tom Aspinall has reigned as interim champion since November of the same year. Aspinall claimed the interim belt by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich, after an injured Jones was unable to defend his title against Stipe Miocic. American Jones finally returned in November 2024, stopping compatriot Miocic to remain champion, but only after Aspinall made the rare move of defending the interim strap. The Briton retained the gold with a first-minute knockout of Curtis Blaydes in July. Despite that dynamic atop the division, the UFC has still not booked a unification bout between the champions, and Jones has never publicly said he will fight Aspinall, who insisted to The Independent this week that 'Bones' is retired. Now, Jones himself has offered perhaps the greatest hint yet that he has called time on his career. When one X user told Jones to vacate his title on Thursday (6 June), the former two-time light-heavyweight champion replied: 'I spoke to the UFC a long time ago about what my future plans were. I haven't really worked out since my last fight in New York City. 'Honestly, I believe it's been in the UFC's best interest to keep presenting me as the company's champion—not Tom. I've just been playing the role of the company man by doing nothing at all… and holding the position. 'And truthfully, it's been incredibly lucrative. I've made more money off of Tom being the interim champ than Tom has himself. It sucks to see the rest of the division get slowed down like this, but that has nothing to do with me. I don't pull the strings. 'And remember, you can't strip a guy like me at this point I give the belt up freely. Veni, vidi, vici.' Jones, 38, also took aim at Aspinall, 32, saying: 'Unfortunately, my boy is not as special as his fan base thinks he is right now [...] Time will show. Here today gone tomorrow. 'No, honestly, I wish Tommy no ill will. He is no threat to me whatsoever, he should start with just trying to be the best heavyweight of all time, that goal would be plenty. My career is on a completely different planet if we're being honest. I really don't hate on other fighters, i'm usually just responding to their envy. 'It really has nothing to do with fear [that I won't fight him]. The question I asked my close friends and family is how much higher can a person like me [climb] this sport. The goal for athletes is to build a brand and then take that brand and become so much more than an athlete. 'A lot of the fans and fighters are not used to seeing someone go out on top the way I have. I get that it's uncomfortable and I don't expect people to understand territories that they've never been.' While some view Jones as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, his career has been marred by numerous failed drug tests and run-ins with the law. Still, Jones is effectively unbeaten, with his sole loss having come via DQ in 2009. Meanwhile, Aspinall is 15-3 in MMA and 8-1 in the UFC. In the promotion, his only defeat occurred due to injury, while all of his career finishes have come via stoppage. In fact, Aspinall holds the UFC record for the shortest fight time of an athlete with five or more bouts; all of his wins in the promotion have come in the first two rounds – seven in round one, two in the first minute. Aspinall's decision to defend the interim belt was a rarity in the UFC, as the Wigan heavyweight aimed to stay active during Jones's absence. In that fight, Aspinall stopped Curtis Blaydes in 60 seconds, avenging his injury-induced loss to the American in 2022. This week, Aspinall spoke to The Independent about Jones's apparent retirement, and broke down the skillsets of the other heavyweights whom he could fight next – most likely Ciryl Gane, Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida.
The Independent
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
UFC faces increased pressure to strip Jon Jones of heavyweight title after petition skyrockets
The UFC continues to face mounting pressure from fans to strip Jon Jones of his heavyweight title after a petition surged to almost 140,000 signatures. The Change petition has called for the legendary American to be removed as undisputed heavyweight king in the UFC, with Tom Aspinall patiently waiting for his opportunity as interim champion. The Briton has not fought since beating Curtis Blaydes by knockout last July and has grown tired of waiting for Jones to make a decision on his future, with conflicting comments suggesting the 37-year-old could opt to retire. With just over 138,000 signature at the time of writing, Dana White continues to face calls to make a definitive decision on Jones' future, with negotiations continuing to drag. The petition claims Jones has 'refused' to fight Aspinall, and that the 32-year-old is poised and ready to fight the American. 'We as fans must let Dana White know: It is time to strip Jon Jones of the heavyweight title. He clearly has no intentions of fighting anytime soon,' the petition concluded. The latest comments in a war of words between both sides has seen Jones fire back at his rival, ordering him to 'shut up and do what you're told'. In one of the most controversial UFC sagas in recent memory, Jones and Aspinall continue to hold a heavyweight title each, without having a unification bout booked. Jones, a former two-time light-heavyweight champion, won the vacant heavyweight belt in March 2023, but a planned defence against divisional great Stipe Miocic collapsed later that year when Jones suffered an injury. Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich stepped up, with the Briton knocking out the Russian to win the interim title, while Jones's clash with Miocic was delayed by 12 months. Last November, Jones stopped his fellow American to retain the regular belt, seemingly setting up a fight with Aspinall, who retained the interim strap last July. However, Jones has continued to play coy over the prospect of that contest coming to fruition. As such, Aspinall opened up on the mental toll of the saga this week, telling UFC legend Demetrious Johnson: 'I've been almost a year inactive with no prospects of anything apart from 'wait'. So, now it's actually a bit more of a tricky time for me mentally than it was [when I was out for 12 months with an injury, from 2023 until 2024]. 'Now, it's just like: 'Just be ready and we'll just let you know.' It's kind of difficult mentally, but this is the fight against Jon Jones. The fight is another thing, this is the tricky bit where I really have to stay switched on, stay motivated, and I'm trying my best. It's tough sometimes.' Verdict MMA shared the 32-year-old's quotes on Instagram, and 37-year-old Jones commented, 'Shut your mouth and do as you're told,' along with a laughing emoji. The comment comes during a week in which Jones has been as vague as ever over the chances of him fighting Aspinall. In one video, he said, 'I'm done,' though he tweeted on the same day: 'I don't know if I wanna call it retired, I feel like I'll always have an ability to pop out and show em. I've had many breaks throughout my career, my identity outside of fighting is well intact. I'm genuinely enjoying life, I'm growing in different ways.' And earlier in the week, he tweeted: 'Yall barkin up the wrong tree. I told the Ufc my plans a long time ago. I have no clue why they haven't shared them with you guys yet. 'Lol do I come across as the type of person who cares about things like [being stripped of the title]? [...] This, this attitude, right here is making me a very wealthy man. This desperation [from fans] is incredibly lucrative, so thank you. Keep it coming.' With the UFC , Jones vs Aspinall is unlikely to happen before October. UFC president Dana White did vow this month that he would soon announce the bout, but fans continue to await such an announcement.
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Ready and fully charged' – Anthony Joshua breaks silence on Tyson Fury retirement confirmation and hints it's STILL ON
ANTHONY JOSHUA is refusing to give up on a Battle of Britain with Tyson Fury - despite his rival's doubling down on retirement. Fury, 36, called time on his career for a FIFTH TIME in January just weeks after his second straight loss to Oleksandr Usyk. 4 4 4 The Wythenshawe warrior unsurprisingly performed a U-turn late last month but has since doubled down on his latest hanging up of the gloves. But AJ isn't buying what The Gypsy King is selling and is confident their long overdue domestic dust-up will come to fruition. Along with a picture of Fury in the ring, he wrote on his private Snapchat: "One of these days it'll be standing in the opposite corner. "Read and fully charged spiritually." THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
