This week Gary Lemke has look at the Premier League showdown between Man City and Liverpool, Max Verstappen to dominate in Saudi Arabia, Joshua vs Ngannou and more!
WHY (RED) IRISH EYES WILL BE SMILING
The Guinness will be flowing in the Twickenham bars before Ireland take on England in their Six Nations match on Saturday. The kegs will have run dry if they managed to derail the chariot and stay on track for a clean sweep after winning their first three matches.
They have 15 points from their wins against France, Italy and Wales and look nailed on to lift the trophy. Can they go unbeaten though is probably the only question being asked right now. And on form through to now, that answer is a resounding yes.
Only two out of the six teams have a positive points difference – Ireland (81) and Scotland (6). England and France, third and fourth and with no bonus point in three matches, have been pale shadows of the team that pushed the Springboks all the way at the World Cup. Almost as if the Six Nations trophy has been gift-wrapped for the Irish.
Match Day -1! 🤩#TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/eYdgzwKBEX
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 8, 2024
YET ANOTHER BLACK EYE FOR BOXING
Last week we had YouTuber Jake Paul win a “fight” and call out Canelo Alvarez. On Thursday we heard that Mike Tyson has signed to “fight” Paul in July. The hits at the credibility of the sport just keep on coming.
But wait, there’s more. Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua takes on UFC star Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on Friday night. It really should be a mismatch, a genuine world-class heavyweight against a powerful man who is having only his second “fight” in a boxing ring.
His first was when he dropped Tyson Fury in an exhibition that got a bit warm. If this is a “real fight”, then I’d have absolutely no doubt that Joshua would beat Ngannou by stoppage or win every round on points. Unless there’s more than meets the eye to these things.
Already written. pic.twitter.com/2cZeyO9sfW
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) March 7, 2024
UNDERDOG LERENA NEEDS TO PROVE THEM WRONG
While we’re talking boxing, when I looked at the betting for the rookie Australian heavyweight Justis Huni (1/5) against South Africa’s Kevin Lerena (16/5) I thought they’d got it the wrong way around. However, there’s plenty of hype around the rookie from Down Under, unbeaten in eight fights.
Lerena is the faster, more experienced and he has underrated boxing skills. If he was such an underdog then I’m not sure why his promoter has matched him with Huni. After all, once you start getting beaten by heavyweights on their way up the ladder, it starts setting you into the journeyman category.
Which is something that Lerena doesn’t deserve to be called. Unless of course, he’s simply not big enough to be a true heavyweight.
Fight day is finally here 🥊 Tonight I am ready to step into the ring with honor and pride, fueled by a greater purpose 🙏 The time has come for the Lerena vs Huni fight, which will be broadcast live on Dazn from 5pm SA time and 6pm local time pic.twitter.com/kOo2Gol9n6
— Kevin Lerena (@Kevlerenaboxing) March 8, 2024
EPL TITLE RACE GETTING TO THE BOIL
We’re starting to get to the business end of the English Premier League season and the title race is between Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal, while at the other end, Sheffield United and Burnley already looked doomed, and Luton Town will do well to stay up.
So on Sunday, it’s a big one. Grab a beer – in fact, stick a cooler box next to you – and watch Liverpool and City fight it out. It’s no exaggeration to suggest the winner will go on to win the League.
Arsenal fans will be hoping for a draw. If that’s the case, beating Brentford at home would lift them to the top. My prediction for both games? 2-2 and 3-1.
Good morning 👋 pic.twitter.com/oXEw5X4lvz
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 8, 2024
IS THIS JUST ANOTHER VERSTAPPEN SHOW?
Whatever is happening off the track at Red Bull, it doesn’t seem to have had any effect on the track where its two drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, made it their first 1-2 of the F1 season last week. They make the short trek from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia for the second grand prix on the calendar.
There will again be a lot of attention, social media and tabloid tales focused on the private life of Christian Horner, but that’s unlikely to unsettle the team’s cool heads behind the steering wheels.
Last season Verstappen won a third world title by taking the checkered flag first in 19 of 22 grand prix. The man is turning into a machine – which the Red Bull is.
After a 10 minute delay we are ready for FP2 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/AaKLMwPsZT
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) March 7, 2024
