It says a great deal about Friday night’s grotesque mismatch between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul that one of the promoters involved admits the bout is \u201ccrazy\u201d and that its critics are \u201cspot on\u201d.<\/p>\n
That’s the view of Eddie Hearn, the promoter who has guided Joshua’s professional career: the exhilarating world title wins and the crushing defeats. <\/p>\n
Now he’ll sit ringside in Miami to watch his fighter earn what is likely his biggest purse for punching the head off a YouTuber turned novice boxer. <\/p>\n
It might be funny if it wasn’t so dangerous<\/a>.<\/p>\n In an event widely condemned by the boxing industry, Joshua, 36, plumbed new depths this week when he talked about having a \u201clicence to kill\u201d Paul. <\/p>\n That type of comment might only be brazen fight-week promotion for a show expected to draw tens of millions of viewers on Netflix, but it’s also a bad look for Joshua<\/a> given the potential risk to Paul’s health. So, that begs the question\u2026 <\/p>\n Is Joshua v Paul a real fight? <\/p>\n Paul, 28, who found fame as a social media influencer, first fought in 2018 against fellow YouTuber Deji Olatunji. <\/p>\n The business model back then was for influencers to fabricate an online rivalry, mobilise their vast followings, and then settle it with a lucrative exhibition bout. Paul was at the vanguard of the movement and quickly doubled down on prizefighting<\/a>. <\/p>\n He beat up a sorry procession of retired MMA fighters and basketball players and even plodded about the ring with a pensionable version of Mike Tyson<\/a> last year. <\/p>\n Rumours of contract clauses and gentlemen’s agreements \u2013 ensuring bouts end in Paul’s favour \u2013 have surfaced online but have always been refuted. <\/p>\n Both camps insist Friday night’s clash is the real deal, and despite concerns about safety, it will be a professional contest sanctioned by the Florida Athletic Commission. The commission also confirmed to the BBC that knockouts are permitted. <\/p>\n There are a few stipulations. The bout will be over eight three-minute rounds in a 22-metre ring as opposed to the more customary 20 metres. There is also a weight restriction on Joshua. The Briton is a super heavyweight, while Paul is a cruiserweight. Joshua cannot weigh more than 17st 7lb (111kg) on the day of the weigh-in.<\/p>\n Otherwise, by all accounts, it’s a real fight, with both men wearing 10oz gloves, the normal size for a professional heavyweight contest. <\/p>\n The conspiracy theorists say there is no way Joshua will be allowed to unleash his full arsenal on an ill-equipped opponent. They may yet be proved correct, and any skulduggery should be immediately apparent given the vast gap in pedigree. <\/p>\n Why is Joshua doing this? <\/p>\n Put simply: Money and fame. Joshua has pretty much done it all in boxing, but will now gain more exposure and earn more money for flattening an internet troll than he did duelling with the elite of the heavyweight division. <\/p>\n His promoter Hearn told the BBC: \u201cI have no real defence of Anthony Joshua versus Jake Paul. It’s crazy that it’s happening and I think the critics are spot on.<\/p>\n \u201cBut we just couldn’t turn it down. No boxer in their right mind would have said no. Anyone who says they would are completely lying through their teeth. We took a fight that we believe will be very straightforward, will give AJ a huge profile in America and one of his career-high paydays.\u201d<\/p>\n All of that may be true, but they’d also be fools to believe that it won’t come at a cost to his sporting legacy.<\/p>\n Joshua might once have been celebrated for his Olympic gold medal, or his white-knuckle ride triumph over Wladimir Klitschko<\/a>, but the losses and his growing proclivity for partaking in circus acts will leave a stain.<\/p>\n He has lost four of his last seven outings and, after Friday, two of his last three will have been gimmicks, going back to his two-round demolition of the MMA star Francis Ngannou<\/a> in March 2024.<\/p>\n Anything other than a similarly swift and violent conclusion this weekend will do permanent reputational damage to Joshua, who still hopes to sign off his career against British nemesis Tyson Fury<\/a> in 2026. <\/p>\n Why is Paul doing this?<\/p>\n Paul is a divisive figure but has proven a big draw in the world of combat sports. As Floyd Mayweather once said: \u201cSome pay to see me win, some pay to see me lose, but they all pay.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Paul’s desire to keep raising the stakes and create mega events has seen him bite off far more than he can chew. Joshua’s chilling knockout of Ngannou should serve as a dire warning. <\/p>\n Like Joshua, he is chasing money and fame, only in his case, it comes with a substantial risk to his health. <\/p>\n Perhaps he has delusions of grandeur and believes he is capable of beating a two-time heavyweight champion? Or, more likely, he hopes to burnish his reputation by doing slightly better than expected and that the referee will intervene and save him at the first signs of distress. <\/p>\n Perversely, should he go out and take his medicine, he might actually leave the ring with his credibility enhanced.<\/p>\n When does Joshua v Paul start and how to watch in UAE?<\/p>\n The first fight on the card is expected to begin at around 1.45am in the early hours of Saturday morning UAE time.<\/p>\n The main card kicks off at 4am with the main event ring walks at about 7.30am. As with all boxing events, the timings are subject to change and can be affected by the undercard. All the action is live worldwide on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n The specs: Fenyr SuperSport<\/p>\n Price, base: Dh5.1 million<\/p>\n Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six<\/p>\n Transmission: Seven-speed automatic<\/p>\n Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm<\/p>\n Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm<\/p>\n Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L \/ 100km<\/p>\n How to help<\/p>\n Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity’s account.<\/p>\n Account name: Dar Al Ber Society<\/p>\n Account Number: 11 530 734<\/p>\n IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734<\/p>\n Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank<\/p>\n To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit\/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae<\/p>\n How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE<\/p>\n When: The one-off Test\u00a0starts on Friday, May 11 Match info<\/p>\n Manchester United 1 Wolves 1 Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.<\/p>\n Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.<\/p>\n \u201cWithin the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,\u201d said Mr AbuShaban.<\/p>\n Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients\u2019 money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client\u2019s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Mercer Wealth\u2019s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.<\/p>\n From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.<\/p>\n Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year\u2019s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.<\/p>\n BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.<\/p>\n Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.<\/p>\n Another general trend in the region is clients\u2019 looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.<\/p>\n \u201cInstitutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,\u201d said Mr AbuShaban.<\/p>\n Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIn this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.\u201d<\/p>\n The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority\u2019s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to \u201ctheir defensive characteristics.\u201d<\/p>\n TOUR RESULTS AND FIXTURES<\/p>\n June 3: NZ Provincial Barbarians 7 Lions 13 MATCH INFO<\/p>\n Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg<\/p>\n Roma 4 Liverpool 2 The%20specs<\/p>\n %3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n Everton%20Fixtures<\/p>\n %3Cp%3EApril%2015%20-%20Chelsea%20(A)%3Cbr%3EApril%2021%20-%20N.%20Forest%20(H)%3Cbr%3EApril%2024%20-%20Liverpool%20(H)%3Cbr%3EApril%2027%20-%20Brentford%20(H)%3Cbr%3EMay%203%20-%20Luton%20Town%20(A)%3Cbr%3EMay%2011%20-%20Sheff%20Utd%20(H)%3Cbr%3EMay%2019%20-%20Arsenal%20(A)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n THE BIO<\/p>\n Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old<\/p>\n Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai<\/p>\n Favourite Book: The Alchemist<\/p>\n Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail<\/p>\n Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna<\/p>\n Favourite cuisine: Italian food<\/p>\n Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Skoda Superb Specs<\/p>\n Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol<\/p>\n Power: 190hp<\/p>\n Torque: 320Nm<\/p>\n Price: From Dh147,000<\/p>\n Available: Now<\/p>\n Wicked: For Good<\/p>\n Director: Jon M Chu<\/p>\n Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater<\/p>\n Rating: 4\/5<\/p>\n The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo\/GranCabrio<\/p>\n Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)<\/p>\n Engine 4.7L V8<\/p>\n Transmission Six-speed automatic<\/p>\n Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm<\/p>\n Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm<\/p>\n Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) \/ 100km<\/p>\n Film: In Syria Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final<\/p>\n Esperance de Tunis 0 MATCH INFO<\/p>\n Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36′)<\/p>\n Liverpool 1 (Lallana\u00a084′)<\/p>\n Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)<\/p>\n Tonight’s Chat on The National<\/p>\n Tonight’s Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.<\/p>\n Tonight\u2019s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.<\/p>\n Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight\u2019s Chat\u00a0moves the conversation forward.<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Our website<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n Trolls World Tour<\/p>\n Directed by:\u00a0Walt Dohrn,\u00a0David\u00a0Smith<\/p>\n Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake<\/p>\n Rating: 4 stars<\/p>\n Courses%20at%20Istituto%20Marangoni%2C%20Dubai<\/p>\n %3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUndergraduate%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EInterior%20Design%3B%20Product%20Design%3B%20Visual%20Design%3B%20Fashion%20Design%20%26amp%3B%20Accessories%3B%20Fashion%20Styling%20%26amp%3B%20Creative%20Direction%3B%20Fashion%20Business%3B%20Foundation%20in%20Fashion%3B%20Foundation%20in%20Design%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EProfessional%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFashion%20e-Commerce%20%26amp%3B%20Digital%20Marketing%3B%20Fashion%20Entrepreneurship%3B%20Fashion%20Luxury%20Retail%20and%20Visual%20Merchandising%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EShort%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFashion%20design%3B%20Fashion%20Image%20%26amp%3B%20Styling%3B%20Fashion%20Trend%20Forecasting%3B%20Interior%20Design%3B%20Digital%20Art%20in%20Fashion%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20is%20at%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istitutomarangoni.com%2Fen%3Futm_source%3DLocal%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3Dgmb%26utm_content%3Ddubai%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3Ewww.istitutomarangoni.com%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n The White Lotus: Season three<\/p>\n Creator: Mike White<\/p>\n Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell<\/p>\n Rating: 4.5\/5<\/p>\n Where%20the%20Crawdads%20Sing<\/p>\n %3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOlivia%20Newman%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Daisy%20Edgar-Jones%2C%20Taylor%20John%20Smith%2C%20Harris%20Dickinson%2C%20David%20Strathairn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n 3%20Body%20Problem<\/p>\n %3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreators%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Benioff%2C%20D%20B%20Weiss%2C%20Alexander%20Woo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBenedict%20Wong%2C%20Jess%20Hong%2C%20Jovan%20Adepo%2C%20Eiza%20Gonzalez%2C%20John%20Bradley%2C%20Alex%20Sharp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n RIDE%20ON<\/p>\n %3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Larry%20Yang%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Jackie%20Chan%2C%20Liu%20Haocun%2C%20Kevin%20Guo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n MATCH INFO<\/p>\n Euro 2020 qualifier<\/p>\n Croatia v Hungary, Thursday, 10.45pm, UAE<\/p>\n TV: Match on BeIN Sports<\/p>\n UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsJetour T1 specs<\/p>\n Engine: 2-litre turbocharged<\/p>\n Power: 254hp<\/p>\n Torque: 390Nm<\/p>\n Price: From Dh126,000<\/p>\n Available: Now<\/p>\n Fixtures<\/p>\n Sunday, December 8, Sharjah Cricket Stadium \u2013 UAE v USA<\/p>\n Monday, December 9, Sharjah Cricket Stadium \u2013 USA v Scotland<\/p>\n Wednesday, December 11, Sharjah Cricket Stadium \u2013 UAE v Scotland<\/p>\n Thursday, December 12, ICC Academy, Dubai \u2013 UAE v USA<\/p>\n Saturday, December 14, ICC Academy, Dubai \u2013 USA v Scotland<\/p>\n Sunday, December 15, ICC Academy, Dubai \u2013 UAE v Scotland<\/p>\n Note: All matches start at 10am, admission is free<\/p>\n COMPANY\u00a0PROFILE<\/p>\n Company\u00a0name:\u00a0SimpliFi<\/p>\n Started:\u00a0August\u00a02021<\/p>\n Founder:\u00a0Ali\u00a0Sattar<\/p>\n Based:\u00a0UAE<\/p>\n Industry:\u00a0Finance,\u00a0technology<\/p>\n Investors:\u00a04DX,\u00a0Rally\u00a0Cap,\u00a0Raed,\u00a0Global\u00a0Founders,\u00a0Sukna\u00a0and\u00a0individuals<\/p>\n Our family matters legal consultant<\/p>\n Name:\u00a0Hassan Mohsen Elhais<\/p>\n Position:\u00a0legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.<\/p>\n Forced%20Deportations<\/p>\n %3Cp%3EWhile%20the%20Lebanese%20government%20has%20deported%20a%20number%20of%20refugees%20back%20to%20Syria%20since%202011%2C%20the%20latest%20round%20is%20the%20first%20en-mass%20campaign%20of%20its%20kind%2C%20say%20the%20Access%20Center%20for%20Human%20Rights%2C%20a%20non-governmental%20organization%20which%20monitors%20the%20conditions%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20in%20Lebanon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%9CIn%20the%20past%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20General%20Security%20was%20responsible%20for%20the%20forced%20deportation%20operations%20of%20refugees%2C%20after%20forcing%20them%20to%20sign%20papers%20stating%20that%20they%20wished%20to%20return%20to%20Syria%20of%20their%20own%20free%20will.%20Now%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20army%2C%20specifically%20military%20intelligence%2C%20is%20responsible%20for%20the%20security%20operation%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Mohammad%20Hasan%2C%20head%20of%20ACHR.%3Cbr%3EIn%20just%20the%20first%20four%20months%20of%202023%20the%20number%20of%20forced%20deportations%20is%20nearly%20double%20that%20of%20the%20entirety%20of%202022.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ESince%20the%20beginning%20of%202023%2C%20ACHR%20has%20reported%20407%20forced%20deportations%20%E2%80%93%20200%20of%20which%20occurred%20in%20April%20alone.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%20comparison%2C%20just%20154%20people%20were%20forcfully%20deported%20in%202022.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n Violence%20<\/p>\n %3Cp%3EInstances%20of%20violence%20against%20Syrian%20refugees%20are%20not%20uncommon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJust%20last%20month%2C%20security%20camera%20footage%20of%20men%20violently%20attacking%20and%20stabbing%20an%20employee%20at%20a%20mini-market%20went%20viral.%20The%20store%E2%80%99s%20employees%20had%20engaged%20in%20a%20verbal%20altercation%20with%20the%20men%20who%20had%20come%20to%20enforce%20an%20order%20to%20shutter%20shops%2C%20following%20the%20announcement%20of%20a%20municipal%20curfew%20for%20Syrian%20refugees.%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CThey%20thought%20they%20were%20Syrian%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20the%20mayor%20of%20the%20Nahr%20el%20Bared%20municipality%2C%20Charbel%20Bou%20Raad%2C%20of%20the%20attackers.%3Cbr%3EIt%20later%20emerged%20the%20beaten%20employees%20were%20Lebanese.%20But%20the%20video%20was%20an%20exemplary%20instance%20of%20violence%20at%20a%20time%20when%20anti-Syrian%20rhetoric%20is%20particularly%20heated%20as%20Lebanese%20politicians%20call%20for%20the%20return%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20to%20Syria.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY<\/p>\n Wimbledon order of play on Tuesday, July 11 Centre Court<\/p>\n Adrian Mannarino v Novak Djokovic (2)<\/p>\n Venus Williams (10) v Jelena Ostapenko (13)<\/p>\n Johanna Konta (6) v Simona Halep (2)<\/p>\n Court 1<\/p>\n Garbine Muguruza (14) v<\/p>\n Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)<\/p>\n Magdalena Rybarikova v Coco Vandeweghe (24)\u00a0<\/p>\n Desert Warrior<\/p>\n Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley<\/p>\n Director: Rupert Wyatt<\/p>\n Rating: 3\/5<\/p>\n
What time: Each day\u2019s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.<\/p>\n
Fred (18′)<\/p>\n
Moutinho (53′)<\/p>\n
June 7: Blues 22 Lions 16
June 10: Crusaders 3 Lions 12
June 13: Highlanders 23 Lions 22
June 17: Maori All Blacks 10 Lions 32
June 20: Chiefs 6 Lions 34
June 24: New Zealand 30 Lions 15 (First Test)
June 27: Hurricanes 31 Lions 31
July 1: New Zealand 21 Lions 24 (Second Test)
July 8: New Zealand v Lions (Third Test) – kick-off 11.30am (UAE)<\/p>\n
Milner\u00a0(15′ OG), Dzeko (52′), Nainggolan (86′, 90 4′)<\/p>\n
Mane (9′), Wijnaldum (25′)<\/p>\n
Dir: Philippe Van Leeuw
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Diamand Bo Abboud, Mohsen Abbas and Juliette Navis
Verdict: Four stars<\/p>\n
Al Ain 3 (Ahmed\u00a002\u2019, El Shahat 17\u2019, Al Ahbabi 60\u2019)<\/p>\n
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)<\/p>\n